The Importance of Being Amar Singh
What was Amar Singh doing when the Samajwadi Party nearly split over him? Well, away from the storm, the Rajya Sabha leader and party general secretary was in Kolkata attending an event in the city along with Virender Sehwag and even visiting the offices of a regional daily. As Akhilesh Yadav raged against him, Amar Singh was unmoved, telling the media that after Mulayam Singh Yadav spoke out in his support, his stand was vindicated. This is interesting because soon after his return to the SP earlier this year, he told NewsX that “he was not a Samajwadi but a Mulayamwadi.” His task is simple — ensure Mulayam’s return as the CM of the state, with the help of a regional alliance along with the JDU, the RLD and the Congress. Mulayam knows that with anti-incumbency, a rising BSP and an ambitious BJP, the chances of the Akhilesh government getting a second term are pretty dim. So he is hoping that his old friend Amar Singh will help him network a workable alliance, with himself at the helm. No wonder, Amar Singh remained unmoved by the high drama in Lucknow, only commenting that for a politician, it is always good to be in the limelight.
Ram Gopal’S U-Turn
Political watchers in Lucknow are deeply amused at Ram Gopal Yadav’s role in the recent Samajwadi Party soap opera for he is said to have a great deal of influence over Akhilesh Yadav. He is also known unoffiicially as the party strategist and think tank, a sort of an in-house Govindacharya of old (that comparison itself makes for an interesting aside, comparing the fortunes of both “thought leaders”) . Anyhow, what is amusing the local pundits is that it was Ram Gopal who had come down heavily on the youth brigade that is close to Akhilesh, way back in 2012 when the SP formed the government. At a party national executive, Ram Gopal pulled out a visiting card being flashed by the youth leaders that simply said “Team Akhilesh” and asked what is this Team Akhilesh? There is no Team Akhilesh and no Team Mulayam, the party is one team. Ironically, four years later, it is the same Ram Gopal who is pushing for a Team Akhilesh. Clearly, even “Thought Leaders” are allowed to do a rethink.
A Healthy Precedent
Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Kiren Rijiju hit upon a novel idea recently and have come out with a short video of the two of them working out at a gym. The subtext here is to motivate the rest of India to follow a healthy, workout regime, making health a priority. Dressed in T-shirts and track pants, the two certainly send out a strong message — that they are indeed very fit for their job!