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Friend in Need Delhi:
Before he became the vice-president of India -- with a little help from friend and then
prime minister I.K. Gujral -- Krishan Kant was quite close to CPI(M) leader H.S. Surjeet
who called the shots in the United Front's Steering Committee. In fact, Kant, who was then
governor of Andhra Pradesh, had lobbied hard for the coveted post, calling up Surjeet
almost every day from the Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad. However, after he became VP, the calls
to Surjeet stopped. Recently, when the two met at a reception, Kant extended a friendly
hand but the comrade chose to ignore him. Later in the week, he received a call from the
VP's office asking if he wanted to talk to Kant. Surjeet said he had no such intention.
Fifteen minutes later, the VP himself was on the line saying he wanted to make amends.
Surjeet brushed him off. "I'm used to such people. I'm sure you'll need me in future
too." The call, perhaps, was an indication of that need.
Chance Parleys
Hyderabad: Home Minister L.K. Advani, on way to Gulbarga to unveil a statue of Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel, had to land in Hyderabad after his special aircraft was diverted
because of bad weather. The unscheduled stopover put state Home Minister A. Madhava Reddy
and TDP Parliamentary Party leader K. Yerrannaidu in a tizzy. Alternative arrangements for
travel by road had to be made at short notice. Even Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu
could not be contacted as no one had his cell phone number. Meanwhile, former Union health
minister Renuka Chaudhary, who had just landed from Chennai, took charge and invited
Advani home. The home minister politely declined, but the two of them nevertheless spent
some time discussing various issues -- much to the discomfiture of the two waiting TDP
leaders. The upshot of what was a chance meeting -- as interpreted by Renuka's detractors
in the TDP -- is that she was trying to impress Advani to get into the BJP. Small wonder
that Renuka is now gloating over the media speculation and the mileage she is getting for
free.
Airborne Campaign
Shimla: The BJP Government headed by teacher-turned-Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal
is a study in contrast to what the party preached when it was in the opposition. After his
recent switch from the official Contessa car to a brand new Mitsubishi Lancer, Dhumal is
planning to be airborne, at state expense of course. His government recently floated a
tender for acquiring a helicopter on wet lease -- the deal for the 20-seater chopper with
night-landing facility would cost the fund-starved state exchequer Rs 6 crore a year.
Apparently, Dhumal is keen to give a flying start to his campaign for the crucial Baijnath
by-election later this month. Clearly, Dhumal's lesson in "austere governance"
is something the Himachalis can't digest easily.
Official Homage
Delhi: It's
routine to see prime ministers of all hues pay their respects to the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.
Indira Gandhi's 14th death anniversary on October 31 was one such occasion. With a slight
difference though. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was conspicuous by his absence at
the function organised by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust. Reason: it was not an official
event and there was no reason to play second fiddle to Sonia Gandhi. The prime minister
went to Shakti Sthal -- Indira Gandhi's samadhi -- in the morning and stayed away later,
unlike his predecessors I.K. Gujral and V.P. Singh. But then, Vajpayee is also not
dependent on the Congress for support. |
