Glamour unleashed
To entice the media persons into the media conferences the state government convenes, the state information department has stepped on an ‘original’ idea-to use lady IAS officers as baits. This was an imperative too. Since N Ravishankar assumed charge as the chief secretary he has remained firm on one thing — principal secretary and others of the rank of secretaries must address the media regularly. Initially, the response was good. But as days passed the conferences lost sheen and the presence of media persons considerably thinned. The information department officials were in a quandary. They were bound to implement the CS’s directive. But the media’s enthusiasm was waning, on one hand, and, on the other, the senior Babus were wary of facing the media. They then hit upon an innovative idea to bring all on board. They started sending SMSs to the media persons, saying that the principal secretary, secretary and a woman IAS officer would address them together at media centre in the secretariat. Seemingly cajoled into the trap, the media persons turned up in strength to the glee of the crafty officials who have laid the trap. But what happened thereafter is that as the conference began the lady IAS vanished into thin air. When quizzed, they chuckled and admitted to have unleashed the lady to lure them into attendance.
CMO’s ‘positive’ activism
With many of the Chief Minister’s announcements falling flat, chief minister’s office (CMO) has sat up in alarm. There are reasons for them to worry. Several DMs have written notes, citing this and that order that there would be no execution with the announcement being revoked. With such instances increasing and the CM’s image consequently taking a beating, CMO has issued a communiqué to the head of each department, asking him or her to ensure that such notes rescinding CM’s announcement must bear the signature of the officer concerned. Moreover, the next Assembly election drawing imperceptibly nearer, CMO has obtained Rs50 crore by way of budgetary sanction to ensure that the developmental largesse the CM rolls out for this financial year do not face roadblocks for their execution on the ground.
Clout of cap
Nepalese community population in Uttarakhand that comprises Garhwal and Kumaon regions keeps growing rapidly, landing it in a position to tilt the electoral balance this or that way in a string of Assembly constituencies. True, it does not yet enjoy the number to have a candidate elected on its own strength. But it is very much in a position to make or unmake the contenders by adding or cutting into votes. Notably, the victory margins are so small that it looks that the candidates win or lose by whiskers. Placed thus, those who firm up electoral strategies for parties are now focused on endearing the parties to the community. Consequently, the leaders and activists across the political spectrum are being seen sporting the caps that mark the Nepalese community’s identity. A score of leaders like the leader of the Opposition Ajay Bhatt, Pauri MlA Dilip Rawat, Mussoorie MlA Genesh Joshi and Raipur MlA Umesh Sharma Kau is being seen donning such caps to show their empathy for the community. When quizzed over their preference for Nepali cap to those epitomising Kumaoni and Garhwali identities, one of them quipped that Nepalese cap is more comfortable. Politically, of course, as sentiment of ethnicity tends to pale into insignificance when it comes to win or lose the great democratic engagement.