Left red-faced
The raids by Income-Tax and Lokayukta sleuths have embarrassed two former transport ministers in the state. I-T sleuths also acted against a person close to one of the former transport ministers during the raids. His rival was happy after the action, thinking that it would denigrate the former minister. The next day, a raid by Lokayukta sleuths shocked the politician. The person, on whose residential premises the raid was conducted, has direct links with the minister. A former constable of the Transport Department works for an aide of this minister. So, the buck stops with him. Both former transport ministers are in trouble because of the raids, after which the names of several other politicians have figured in the case. Now, this leader is in trouble thinking lest his name should also crop up in the financial rip-off. Nevertheless, he knows the storm that the raids have kicked up is yet to peter out.
Cong leaders’ influence
How important the Congress leaders are for the ruling party has again been proved. The appointment of Saurabh Sharma on compassionate ground has confirmed it after the raids by the Special Police Establishment (SPE) of Lokayukta on his residential premises. It was a former minister of the Congress who made first efforts for Sharma’s recruitment in the Transport Department on compassionate grounds. This former minister called up the then transport minister and officers recommending Sharma’s case. Sharma has family terms with the former minister who has always stood by him. This politician is trying to sweep the case under the carpet. There are reports that Sharma got closer to some of the leaders during the Congress rule. So, these leaders are keeping mum over the issue.
New responsibilities
There are speculations about what will be the responsibilities of BJP’s state unit president. Once a new president takes over, he will be adjusted either to the Union government or to the party organisation. There are discussions about it in the corridors of power. Some BJP leaders think after the appointment of the party’s national president, he will be made national general secretary. A few BJP leaders have even predicted that whenever there will be an expansion in the Union Ministry, he will be included in it. It is clear that he will get some responsibility. After joining politics, this leader unexpectedly got all important responsibilities like a ticket for the Lok Sabha election and an important position in the party. So, it is difficult to say what he will get in the coming days.
Boxing match
There is no end in sight to the internal squabbling in the Madhya Pradesh Congress unit. After the recent raids by investigating agencies on the residential premises of some builders and on those of a former constable of the Transport Department, the Congress leaders, instead of taking the government to task, are busy displaying their own strength. But a leader of the party held a press conference and slammed the government making several allegations against it. The next day, another leader held a press conference about the raids. On the other hand, another leader, holding an important position, is almost keeping mum over the financial scam that came to light after the raids. The leader is waiting for some more spice to add to the case, so that he may speak over the issue afterwards. There are efforts to keep the opposition silent. In-house fighting in the Congress has reached its peak. This is the reason why the protest the Congress leaders planned to organise against the government fizzled out at the eleventh hour and left them with egg on their faces.
Fight for top job
The aspirants for the post of BJP’s state unit president are trying to overpower one another. A campaign has been launched against a powerful contender for the top job in the state party unit. Efforts were made to bring to light through the media some issues related to the permission sought by the son of the leader for business. A few leaders are trying to get some documents against the politician through his rivals in his constituency. Efforts are also made to keep him out of the contest by calling him close to a former chief minister. Because the politician is as astute as his rivals are, he is trying to show that he has fallen prey to a conspiracy. He is close to a powerful leader. So, the politician is trying to win the race for the post of party’s state unit president through him. Whenever he comes across something that smells fishy, he goes to his boss and pours out his pains, saying there is a plot to harass him.
Mard ki baat….!
Politics and ethics rarely walk the aisles – especially in today’s world. If that happens at all, it amounts to something out of the ordinary. A minister in the state cabinet, who was also a former minister in the union government, is a man of words. He ensures that his words are translated into action. The minister was recently included in a committee to give suggestions to the government to carry out the new excise policy. The minister politely refused to be part of such a committee that promotes consuming liquor, for his keeps away from it. He not only declined the offer to become a member of the committee but also said that he found himself unfit to be part of something which he is opposed to. So, a minister from Bundelkhand region was included in the committee.
