Cool Breeze: Union Minister in the dock?

Union Minister in the dock?

Lutyens’ Delhi is abuzz with rumours that a Union Minister of State was recently pulled up by the Prime Minister. The cause of the PM’s ire, say sources, was not the minister himself but the extra-consitutional role of his wife in his ministry and the PSUs associated with his portfolio. This is not the first time the minister has been pulled up because of his spouse. It is believed that the PM wanted to send a message to the rest of his team by taking a hard line against the erring minister. Of course, these are just whispers in the corridors of power, but as far as the PMO is concerned, these should echo right down the entire Council of Ministers.

Gen Next Troika in UP

With Akhilesh Yadav raising the banner of revolt against the older guard in the Samajwadi Party, there was a lot of confusion about him endorsing Rahul Gandhi’s “khoon ki dalali” comment. There is also talk of a possible tie up with the RLD.  While Ajit Singh has denied this, his son Jayant is in touch with Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi. And now with Akhilesh’s overtures to Rahul, can the three GenNext leaders forge a common platform in the cow-belt? Watch this space for more.

Honey Trap or Political Plot?

There is much speculation about the timing of the revelations of a honey trap against BJP MP Varun Gandhi. With UP elections around the corner, he had been projecting himself as a possible chief ministerial face. This had not gone down well with some of his party colleagues. What is also interesting is the lack of support from the BJP, for unlike the allegations against Sushma Swaraj and Vasundhara Raje, the party has left the young MP to defend himself. Pictures of a 22-year Varun in compromising positions have gone viral. But then as he says this was a time when he was not a public figure, was 22 and single. There have been other political leaders caught indulging in an extramarital affair and who have survived the scandal. Question for Varun is not if public memory will move on, but whether his party is ready to do the same.

Not so funny, after all

The joke doing the rounds at the Congress party office in New Delhi is “Vote for BJP and elect  your old Congress MP”. Clearly, the inference is about the number of Congress leaders exiting the party to join the BJP. But doesn’t the Congress realise that the joke is actually on them?