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August 2, 1999
 Cover Story
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Issue Contents |
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Sacking Power
Delhi: The Janata Dal may be going to
pieces, but its president Sharad Yadav carries on unmindful. Last week, just before the
split in the JD, a harried Yadav was cornered by reporters on the fate of his party and
his own diminishing clout within. Instead of giving an objective assessment, Yadav chose
to impress them. He called up JD Secretary-General Bapu Kaldate and ordered him to expel
party general secretary Wasim Ahmed. Then turning to the scribes he gloated, "Saw my
power?" As for Ahmed's fault, he had suggested a merger with Laloo Yadav's RJD. Cooling the Media
Delhi: The BJP's Ashoka Road
headquarters is getting a much-needed facelift. Finishing touches are being given to the
rooms that will house the media and advertising cells during the elections. But the
swankiest is the one meant for the fourth estate. Right through the summer months,
journalists had been sweating it out under a shamiana during the party's daily briefings.
From next week onwards, the briefings will be held in a huge, freshly-painted hall with
marble flooring, new chairs and 16 air conditioners. Something that no other political
party can boast of. Undoubtedly, one of the perks of being the ruling party.
Ray of Dissent
Calcutta: At a district Congress meet
last week, Siddhartha Shankar Ray, the former chief minister, was at the receiving end of
some aggressive party workers. The point raised by many was: why should Ray be the party's
automatic choice for the relatively safe Calcutta North-west seat. "What about
us?" asked state Youth Congress chief Paresh Pal. Ray maintained his customary poise.
But will poise be enough to get him the ticket?
Neighbour's Enemy
Bhopal: Kamal Nath has, in public at least,
always referred to Digvijay Singh as "my younger brother". During the 1993
election campaign, Nath had somewhat pompously declared that Digvijay would become chief
minister and would stay on for six years, i.e. till December this year. With D-day
approaching, Nath is getting restless. As a member of the dissolved Lok Sabha, he got a
bungalow allotted to himself right next to Digvijay's official residence. Then he got the
bungalow entrance changed according to vastu. Presumably, it will deny Digvijay the chance
to keep tabs on Nath's callers. But whether it brings Nath the luck needed to shift to the
house next door remains to be seen. |
