The Central Cabinet may get more members before the winter session in the Parliament starts. This may find more place for those from Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra. Politicians such as Ajit Singh and Chiranjeevi may get lucky. The Congress is trying to concentrate on the states where it feels there is a scope for new possibilities.

The Congress is planning its strategy in Andhra Pradesh about Chiranjeevi. That’s because the Kapu caste the superstar belongs to has quite an influence on 12 Lok Sabha seats from the coastal part of the state. And here other seats have at least 25 per cent Kapu votes that will decide a seat’s win or loss. The Congress is hoping that it will sweep through the in the coastal parts if it manages to get a right balance with Dalit, Muslim, schedule castes and Kapu. Where Rayalseema is concerned, it is Jagan’s stronghold, where the Congress will not be able to do will even if it wants to. That’s because Jagan is hell bent on causing injury to the Congress at the cost of the party and even himself. Clearly, Chandrababu Naidu will gain from the situation.

The dollar is becoming more expensive while the rupee is slumping. The way the defence ministry has been quick to make purchases has raised questions. The main question is why was the ministry in such a hurry to seal every defence deal? Who were the people who were so interested in it and who are the people who will benefit from this? The country deserves to know this much, at least.

A prominent media group organised a big reception at Delhi’s five star hotel Maurya Sheraton for the King of Bhutan and his bride. The media group also runs some educational institutes and is interested in opening one of its schools in Bhutan, too. The reception invitees were about 300 chosen few. The king of Bhutan was in a kurta pyjama and the queen was in a sari, and the king could often be spotted in the hotel’s coffee shop clad in jeans. The queen is fond of Twitter and the king is fond of giving in to her whims and fancies because he knows she is 11 years younger than him.

Sharad Pawar is getting ready to form the fourth front and Jagan Reddy is one of his new mates. In the past few days, Pawar has had three-four meetings with Jagan. He is already in touch with Navin Patnaik, Nitish Kumar and Mamata Banerjee. Sources reveal that Pawar is actually eyeing the 2014 elections where if the BJP is unsuccessful, Pawar will jump in with his fourth front, where the Congress may be forced to support his front because he already has close ties with the BJP and Shiv Sena.

No matter who is going to meet Amar, is being repeatedly told by him that he got a bail only because of Sonia ji. And anyways, Amar had given the Diwali deadline to the Congress that he should either be granted bail or his mouth just might open and out will come the secrets.

It seems Sudheendra Kulkarni has accepted his life in jail. He eats whatever he gets in jail and never wanders around the canteen. Since his family lives in Mumbai, there is no question of getting home cooked food either. Kulkarni is most upset with Advani. He feels that in order to protect one of his protégés, he is not even mentioning the “case for vote” in his awareness yatra.

For this Diwali, there was a new name among the list of guests who visited Pranab Mukherjee’s house. He visited Pranab da’s house just before Diwali with a big gift, and not only that, he loaded all workers in the house with gifts. Anil, Mukesh and Vijay Mallya are regular features at dada’s house for Diwali, but this new visitor’s big real estate project at Lavasa is in troubled waters, and also owes a lot of tax. At such a time, expecting understanding from dada is a given.

The party constitution of Marxists clearly states that party members have to seek the party’s permission before making a journey out of India. But looks like they are all cocking a snook to the party and are enjoying vacations in foreign countries. Even if we don’t talk about Sitaram Yechury, but when has Brinda Karat cared about party rules. She is away in South Africa with her sister and brother-in-law vacationing. Prakash Karat chose not to leave India, and instead, is in Uttarakhand at his co-brother-in-law Pranab Roy’s farm house. All in all, since the party has been bid goodbye from West Bengal, the party members are out holidaying.

Digvijay’s attack on Shri Shri Ravi Shankar is a part of a well thought-out strategy. Digvijay Singh has got hold of all such papers that prove how during Anna’s 13-day fast and function at Ram Lila Maidan was assisted by Shri Shri by way of money, effort and labour. From tents and pandals to puris made of pure ghee came at a daily expense of about Rs 6 lakh, which was born by Shri Shri’s organisation. Ravi Shankar is Mahesh Yogi’s disciple and he has very good relations with the BJP, especially Advani. No wonder the Congress is eyeing him with eyes full of suspicion.