The budget session of the Parliament is set to start from March 16. It may be remembered that the budget will be presented after that.

Justice Dalbir Bhandari has made preparations to go as a judge at the International Court of Justice, because the law ministry has accepted this file of his.

West Bengal’s finance minister Amit Mitra doesn’t seem to too comfortable with his responsibilities, and sources say that he met Mamata Banerjee and clearly told her that she should look for his replacement. Actually, Mitra, who was once the apple of Mamata’s eyes, has had enough of Mamata’s populist policies, especially the no tax policy. Mitra, who is primarily an economist, can’t digest this strange marriage of economics and politics. Sources close to didi have revealed that she is set to give a major shock to Dinesh Trivedi before the forthcoming Railway Budget.

Preparations are done for the appointment of a few new governors, the extension of some and a shuffle for some. There are at least two governors who are not keeping well, and the government is pondering over removing them. Maharashtra Governor K Shankar Narayan is suffering from a heart disease and makes frequent visits to the hospital. Kerala’s governor MOH Faroukh is admitted to a Chennai hospital for some renal problems and Karnataka’s governor Hansraj Bhardwaj has temporarily got the additional charge of Kerala. Reliable sources say that at least two governors will be removed and two will get another extension of give years. Several names are creating waves in the political corridors for the post, but the UPA government seems to be keeping quiet about it.

It looks like the newly-appointed media advisor to the prime minister, Pankaj Pachauri, has started his work. The prime minister’s Twitter account “PMO India” has come into being. The strange thing about this is that no one is following this account.

The current President Pratibha Patil, whose tenure is set to get over this July, she has put her priorities in order. Before she gives up the post, she has readied a schedule to visit all the states in the country, in May she will meet the additional secretary to the government of India and other senior officials senior. Additionally, she will also meet the judges of the Supreme Court, prominent media personalities and executives and founders of India’s significant NGOs. She is also planning to meet the members of the Cabinet in the first week of July. This is what the highest placed sources in Rashtrapati Bhavan have to say.

Sonia Gandhi made it point to be in Delhi for the Republic Day celebrations, despite having a busy election schedule. Those who were there also witnessed how at the advice of a news channel, the respected President interacted with school children for the first time and reminded one of her predecessor APJ Abdul Kalam, who had a special liking for children and the young. Experts believe that this act by the President will give further impetus to her claim at the post for a second time.

No one knows what kind of lovely coincidence is this when two polar opposites of the political spectrum came face to face at Lucknow airport. When Varun Gandhi, thought to be at the heart of the Hindu community, met Mulayam Singh, who is all ready to pose as the shelter for Muslim interests, Gandhi made a go to meet Singh. Both leaders were talking with such intimacy that even the Samajwadi leaders and workers who were present there became a little uncomfortable for a bit. A Parliamentarian from the Samajwadi party quipped to an NSG commando present there for Mulayam’s security that they should surround both leaders from all sides so that their meeting does unnoticed by the media. As it is in Delhi, Mulayam’s government accommodation and Varun’s mother Menaka’s residence at 14, Ashok Road, face each other. Obviously, both leaders get to see each other at times, and their intimacy has increased with changing times.

Popular Tamil actor Dhanush’s extremely popular son “Kolaveri di” can be heard in its own avatar in the run up to Uttarkhand elections. Recently, to talk about the corrupt leaders in Nainital, a group of local young boys created a song and even uploaded it on Youtube. The words are, “Why this dhokhadhari ji?” It goes without saying that Kolaveri di is ruling the hills and valleys of Uttarakhand elections.

For Uttar Pradesh state 2012 elections, Mulayam Singh and Family’s footsteps can be clearly heard. Mulayam may well have handed over the reins of UP elections to his son Akhilesh, but the family’s third generation is also trying its hand at campaigning. Among these are Mulayam’s nephew Ramvir Singh’s (who is no more) son and Netaji’s grandson Tej Pratap, who is back from foreign shores after completing an MBA, as well as the B-Tech Aditya, Mulayam’s brother Shivpal Singh Yadav’s son. Mulayam’s younger brother Rajpal Singh Yadav’s son Anshul and Prof Ram Gopal Yadav’s son Akshay are also giving it their all campaigning for the elections. Mulayam’s another son Prateek is taking care of his uncle Pramod Gupta’s campaigning, who is contesting the elections from the SP ticket. Mulayam’s family’s young generation is pedalling with all its might on cycles in Bharthana, Etawah and Lucknow.