Sonia’s food for thought
Battling a ten-year anti-incumbency of the party-led UPA Government, Congress MPs turned in big numbers at the “farewell” dinner hosted by party chief Sonia Gandhi last week. During the informal discussions, Sonia told “some” MPs not to be disheartened and go to the polls with confidence. “Food for thought was sumptuous,” quipped an MP, adding, “but the reality is so different”.
Busy in People’s Court
When political parties are in the people’s court busy with electioneering, the Supreme Court was reluctant to distract them by taking up for urgent hearing an AAP’s petition against imposition of keeping the Delhi Assembly under suspended animation. “With the notification for election out, who is interested in these court proceedingsIJ They are in people’s court,” said Justice RM lodha. But on the persuasion of Advocate Prashant Bhushan, who is also involved in political activities of AAP, the court changed its mind and asked the BJP and the Congress to file their responses.
No Harvard
At a function to release a book on Narendra Modi, senior journalist MJ Akbar invited Subramanian Swamy to speak on economic issues by describing him as an alumnus of Harvard to which Swamy took objection saying “currently I am not comfortable with this word”. Undoubtedly, it was reflection of Modi-Chidambaram
run-ins.
Cong to DMK
For days, Home Minister P Chidambaram was reported to be trying his level best to contact DMK supremo M Karunanidhi for alliance talks. DMK leaders claim that now that DMDK has joined the BJP bandwagon, the DMK chief will have no other option but to start talking PC. “Don’t be surprised if the Congress and DMK bury their hatchet and once again go as a partner in the polls,” said a DMK leader.
Antony’s record
Having set a record of sorts by being the longest serving Defence Minister with a stint of seven and half years, AK Antony came under fire last week after a spate of accidents involving warships submarines. Criticised for handling of the Ministry, Antony’s office put out a 26-page press release highlighting his achievements. But it did not amuse the newshounds. In fact, one veteran journalist quipped “longest serving defence Minister issues the longest ever press release.”
Tharoor’s call
Union Minister Shashi Tharoor is among few Congress leaders who are not giving much significance to several poll surveys giving thumbs down to Congress in the run up to the lok Sabha polls. Tharoor has reportedly pointed out to several MPs that he did a course in political opinions and survey at the United States where he learnt that complex religion, caste, sub-caste, region, mindset combinations will never lead to a definitive survey result. On BJP’s prime ministerial candidate drawing huge crowd, Tharoor contended that t the 1967 rally of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s at Madurai figures in Guinness Book of World Records for the largest number of audience till date, yet the Congress lok Sabha candidate lost his security deposit.
Author Moily
Environment Minister Verrappa Moily, who had been hogging headlines for his superfast environmental clearances or controversies relayed to revision of natural gas price, took time off from decision-making to launch his latest book, Sirimudi Parikrama. Moily said it took seven years of research to compile the book which contains extracts from the Mahabharata. And guess whatIJ He dedicated his book to women to mark the International Women’s Day.