Central Govt may defer land Bill till Bihar elections

The Central Government may defer the controversial land Bill till Bihar elections, say sources. Though even then the dilemma to call a Joint Session of Parliament will not be over as next year elections will be held in five States. West Bengal, which is very sensitive on the land issue, will also see polls next year. 

However, sources in the Government say most ministers are opposed to the idea of a Joint Session to get the land Bill passed. Many have also expressed their concern in the Cabinet meeting. Since the Government can’t get it passed in Rajya Sabha without calling a Joint Session, discussions are on to postpone it. 

Speculatively, the Government is looking for a way out. But it will be embarrassed if it goes back on the Bill due to resistance of the Opposition. So, sources say the Bill may be postponed taking recourse of the opposition of organisations of RSS ie Bharatiya Kisan Sangh and Swadeshi Jagran Manch. The Government is now sure that consensus can’t be made in the Joint Parliamentary Committee. So, it has to take a decision before the Monsoon Session. 

lAlIT MODI’S STRATEGY

lalit Modi is working on a peculiar strategy to save himself, and that is to implicate others. One by one, he has made so many revelations that the Congress, BJP, NCP and officials of BCCI are facing the heat. Finally they all will start saving each other, and then the matter might die down. Sources say that working under this strategy, Team lalit Modi put the papers related to Vasundhara Raje in public when the issue of Sushma Swaraj came to fore. After that they targeted Congress MP and present IPl Commissioner Rajiv Shukla. Now, some documents have come to light which show that many ministers of the previous Government had enjoyed the hospitality of lalit Modi. 

He has also said that Arun Jaitley was behind all that happened in IPl and BCCI. His statement indicates that Jaitley was well aware of what was happening during IPl 2. Commissioner of Mumbai Police had met Modi in london; which has also been disclosed in public. Maharashtra’s former CM Prithviraj Chavan could have come under the scanner too, but he said that one influential leader was behind this meeting, indicating towards Sharad Pawar. 

lAlU’S GAME PlAN

RJD chief lalu Prasad Yadav has praised Upendra Kushwaha under his clever game plan. lalu is clearly trying to lure Kushwaha, an NDA partner and a Central Minister, by declaring him a strong CM candidate. lalu knows well that only Kushwaha can leave the alliance if a respectable seat-sharing arrangement isn’t made. 

lalu’s tuning with Kushwaha has always been good. Even before the lok Sabha Elections, both leaders were in talks for a political alignment. To put pressure on the BJP, Kushwaha had gone to meet lalu at Hotwar jail in Ranchi. There are speculations that the two can still have talks. RJD sources say lalu is apprehensive about seat-sharing with the JDU. That is the reason why he praised Kushwaha. This is an indication that if lalu is not heard in the UPA and Kushwaha is dissatisfied with the NDA, then both may come together. lalu’s statement will also prove beneficial for Kushwaha as he can put pressure 

on the BJP. On the other side, citing Kushwaha’s unhappiness, lalu will put pressure on Nitish Kumar for more seats. This game can be played with Jitan Ram Manjhi as well. 

CONG lEADERS ON TARGET 

When the Congress started opposing Sushma Swaraj and Vasundhara Raje, problems of its leaders starting mounting. At many places, investigations have started against Congress leaders. In Gujarat, Shankarsinh Vaghela is under scanner for years old cases, and a CBI inquiry has started against the whole family of Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh. The CBI has filed a disproportionate assets case against Virbhadra. In Maharashtra, ED is investigating against Chhagan Bhujbal, and many of his family members are under scanner. ED has also conducted raids at many of his properties. 

It is being said that former CM of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, can be targeted next. His son Vaibhav can also be put under lens. Some days ago, leaders of Rajasthan BJP had leveled allegations against Vaibhav. State BJP president Ashok Pranami and State Health Minister Rajendra Rathore had alleged that a travel company was started by Vaibhav. In three years, said company didn’t gain any profit, but despite that Vaibhav sold it for a hefty sum. BJP leaders alleged that Vaibhav’s company was bought by a firm with Mauritius links. Both Pranami and Rathore demanded that ED should investigate it. Two days later, two persons from Jaipur, Suraj Soni and Raj Kumar Sharma, formally lodged a complaint with ED against Vaibhav. All related documents have been submitted to ED and investigations can start any time. If that happens, Gehlot and his family are in for trouble. 

 EXPANDING AllIANCE 

The Congress is gearing up to revive the UPA. Sources in the party say Rahul Gandhi seems to be paying heed to the advice that the Congress will have to present a strong option if it has to counter the BJP. Only then it can stop the regional kshatrapas.The party has started working on this strategy in Tamil Nadu. DMK and Congress have again come close with the efforts of P Chidambaram. That is why Karunanidhi and Stalin sent birthday wishes to Rahul. For the Assembly Elections, the Congress can form an alliance with DMK and could adjust small parties like PMK and MDMK. 

In West Bengal, Congress leaders were expecting a tie-up with Mamata Banerjee, but she is seemingly getting closer to the BJP. Now, the Congress is trying for a strategic alignment with the left. In Maharashtra, the Congress is talking to NCP again. That is why its leaders didn’t target Sharad Pawar when the IPl issue resurfaced. To make an alliance in Bihar under Nitish’s leadership, the Congress tried every strategy on lalu. If this experiment is successful, then the Congress will gear up for UPA 3.

 POlARISATION POlITICS 

As the elections near, Akhilesh Yadav is trying to prove himself as a Hindu supporter. SP leaders have are cautious after seeing the politics of RSS and BJP, and have started their positioning. The RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had recently spent several days in Mathura and Varanasi. He declared that the Ram temple issue will be raised again. This agenda of RSS and other Hindu outfits has put SP leaders in a fix. They are well aware that Muzaffarnagar riots, which took place just before the lok Sabha Elections, polarised the people of UP, and the BJP benefited from it. Akhilesh Government has also taken many initiatives for Hindu voters. He has launched a pilgrimage scheme for the old. Now, reportedly, Akhilesh will construct six galleries at Faizabad’s Ram Museum, with each gallery showcasing separate images of lord Ram.

 RAM AND KRISHNA CIRCUITS 

Though the BJP has not started its election campaign in UP, its preparations have started. Not only the BJP, the Central Government is also taking some initiatives. The Ministry of Tourism is going to make Ram and Krishna circuits in UP. The budget of Ram circuit is expected to be `20 crore, while `120 crore will be allocated for the Krishna circuit. The Krishna circuit will be mainly located in Mathura and Vrindavan, whereas the Ram circuit will be made around Ayodhya. Such religious circuits are usually made to promote tourism. 

In Bihar, work is under way on the Buddha circuit. This circuit includes Vaishali and Gaya. Similarly, Muslim and Jain circuits are also being conceptualised. The Ram and Krishna circuits in UP are being seen as part of electoral politics. That is the reason why Opposition parties in UP have targeted the BJP. They are saying that the BJP is doing politics of polarisation before the elections. Amidst the talks of Ram and Krishna circuits, the RSS has decided to raise the issue of Ram temple again. Many BJP veterans have also revived the issue.