Cool Breeze: Strange Choices

STRANGE CHOICES

Much has been written about AAP’s list of Rajya Sabha nominees. Apart from Sanjay Singh, who is a party man, the other two names on the list have been raising eyebrows, for the tickets were given to relative nobodies and outsiders. While N.D. Gupta is a chartered accountant, Sushil Gupta is a Delhi-based businessman, who fought the 2013 Delhi Assembly elections on a Congress ticket. Interestingly, Congress Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ajay Maken tweeted that Sushil Gupta offered his resignation from the Congress as far back as 29 November last year, telling Maken that he had been promised a Rajya Sabha ticket from the AAP. The nominations have overlooked party faithfuls such as Ashutosh and the latest rebel, Kumar Vishwas.

ON A TIGER HUNT

After Rahul Gandhi was trolled for going to see a movie on the night of the Gujarat election results, Congress national spokesperson and a key member of Team Rahul, R.P.N. Singh was heard quipping during a television debate that he too planned to go see a movie. Being an avid Salman Khan watcher, he decided to opt for Tiger Zinda Hai. However, BJP leader Chandan Mitra, who was also on the panel, took his comments at face value and asked if he was referring to Rahul Gandhi as the Tiger who had suddenly shown signs of life (or a fight) during the Gujarat elections.

CHASING THE AIADMK VOTE

Why did the AIADMK vote against the government’s bill banning triple talaq? According to BJP leader Dr Subramanian Swamy, the AIADMK, especially the Sasikala faction, was upset with the spate of raids carried out against her recently. However, he is convinced that, if his help is sought, he would be able to persuade her nephew T.T.V. Dinakaran to support the bill. And if the AIADMK supports the government, then it will help the bill to cross the Rajya Sabha as well. Well, Swamy has three weeks to work his magic before Parlaiment is reconvened for the budget session.