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Gracious
Host Delhi: In these
stressed-out political times, one would expect Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to be a
much harried man. But last week saw him completely at ease while hosting top
industrialists to dinner at his Race Course Road residence. They were all there -- the
Goenkas, the Tatas, the Ambanis and the Wadias. After a meeting of the Prime Minister's
Advisory Council on Trade and Industry, the corporate captains were pleasantly surprised
to see Vajpayee play the perfect host. Standing near the door, he waited for his guests to
enter the dining area, and it was "pehle aap, pehle aap (you first)" for a
while. The prime minister went in first but quickly picked up the dinner plates and handed
them out to his guests. Again, courting the corporate world Lucknavi style.
Son's Prayers
Bangalore: Karnataka Chief Minister J.H.
Patel may have won over the H.D. Deve Gowda camp but that hasn't helped him quell the
rebellion in the ruling Janata Dal (JD). On December 11, the JD Government marked the
completion of four years in power but there were no celebrations. Instead, Patel -- who is
still recovering from a hernia operation -- decided to fly abroad to attend the wedding of
Malaysia Minister for Works Swamy Velu's son on December 12. Meanwhile, taking a cue from
Deve Gowda's son and state Housing Minister H.D. Revanna, who had organised special pujas
for his father in Mangalore and Madurai, Patel's son Mahima organised a puja to Kalki
bhagwan at the city's Ravindra Kalakshetra auditorium apparently for the
"welfare" of his father. For someone who grew up an atheist, Patel, who had
talked about the ghost of Deve Gowda haunting him, could well do with some divine help to
retain his gaddi -- at least until the elections to the state Assembly scheduled for
November next year.
Blurred Vision
Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister
N. Chandrababu Naidu is having problems with long-term vision. Andhra Pradesh, Vision:
2020, a 337-page document prepared by consultants McKinsey for a fee of Rs 2.5 crore, is a
well-researched declaration of good intentions. But modern management buzzwords are not
impressive enough and it may not be released until March next year. Some of Naidu's
cabinet colleagues and officials who are aware of the contents have pointed to several
drawbacks and suggested that it should be made people-friendly. Caught in a bind, Naidu is
trying to get a group of administrators and academics to "enrich the document"
to avoid any flak while trying to share his vision with the people.
Cheif Patron
Jaipur: A day after the assembly elections
and two days before the results were out, Ashok Gehlot visited the Pink City Press Club to
participate in a discussion on "the emerging political situation in the state".
At the outset he said he held a grudge against the club for not giving him a membership. A
few days later he surprised officials at the club when, while returning from a function,
he ordered his car to be stopped there. Gehlot walked inside to once again remind the club
officials that he was still looking forward to getting a membership. Moments later, he
walked out a happier man, having learnt that as chief minister he was automatically
entitled to an honorary membership. |
