Turncoats in tatters
The selection of young Anil Baluni for the Rajya Sabha seat from Uttarakhand has left the Congress turncoats, now in BJP, gloomy. They were confident of the former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna who led the anti- Harish Rawat rebellion and was instrumental in their switch to BJP being rewarded by the BJP high command with the RS berth. The conspicuous absence of Bahuguna and his son MlA son Saurabh Bahuguna during the nomination filing made it clear the sulk mode they were in. Besides, Harak Singh Rawat's late arrival triggered some tense moments for the BJP during the nomination filing process. As he was one of the proposers the BJP leaders, including Baluni, heaved a sigh of relief after the maverick leader arrived. Though Baluni looked relieved after Rawat arrived he could not help tearing into him, quipping that he should not have been so late in coming as he, who was a voter of Kotdwar constituency, had voted for him during the last Assembly election. Speculations are now swirling in the political circles over what Bahuguna would now do. "True, Bahuguna was touched to the quick by the BJP leadership not favouring him with the nomination. But they could not have risked wrath of the leaders who are with the party through thick and thin by humouring a leader who is new to the party. Maybe, he would be humoured with gubernatorial assignment later," says an observer.
Babu’s pain, people’s gain
Dental pain of a Babu ruling over the Babudom of the Himalayan state has proved a boon for the people. It resulted in the authorities immediately ordering purchase of a dental X-ray machine in the Government Doon Medical College hospital. What happened is that that the top Babu in searing tooth pain decided to take services of the dental department of the medical college hospital. An awestruck dentist after examining the top bureaucrat asked for an X –ray for better diagnosis. The anger of the Babu who otherwise has a calm demeanour shot up when he was taken in the X -ray room meant for doing normal full body X- rays. The technician spilled the beans that the biggest hospital of the state doesn’t have dental X -ray machine which hardly costs Rs 2 lakhs. The Chota babu who was in attendance faced the heat of Sahab’s ire which had a magical effect. The file of the dental X- ray machine made such a dash that it would have shamed even Usain Bolt and the machine was ordered much to the relief of hundreds of patients who visit the hospital with dental troubles. Interestingly a team of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) had visited the hospital last year and has objected to the practice of taking dental X- Ray on large X- Ray machine. However Babu’s dental pain did the trick where even AERB’s objection failed.
Champion does it again
Khanpur MlA Pranav Singh Champion is newsmakers’ delight as the redoubtable leader gives them plenty of opportunities to write about him. The security staff of the Chief Minister and Vidhan Sabha got the taste of Champion’s flair during the nomination proceedings of RS candidate Anil Baluni when he entered the high security building with a posse of his body guards. Before anyone could bat an eyelid, the gun totting CISF personnel who always accompany the firebrand leader entered the area where the office of Chief Minister is located. However gathering their wits, the security personnel stopped these burly guards just outside the office of CM and citing security issues asked them to leave the area. Hardly a week before this fiasco, the neighbourhood of Champion in Dalawala area was rocked with what looked like bullet fire in middle of the night. Police was called which after consulting staff of Champion termed it as mere fireworks by overenthusiastic supporters of Champion. However those who know Champion don’t believe in what police is claiming.