After having spoken about it ad infinitum by our respected prime minister, about $360 billion investments have come into India. But where has the money gone? If sources are to be believed, $320 billion are in the stock market alone. It is with the remaining $40 billion that plans are being made to strengthen the economy.

Cold vibes between the Central government and the President can be sensed regarding the nomination of Rajya Sabha members. Sources say the prime minister himself was keen on nominating a news channel owner for the Upper House; the news channel is an expert at singing Modi’s praise. But the President’s opinion was clear on this one – no such person should be nominated to the Rajya Sabha who might have a legal case registered against him. The alternate name being proposed by the President is that of Anand Bazar Patrika’s owner Aveek Sarkar. It is being said that Modi isn’t agreeable to this idea, and nothing has been concluded so far.

How did the talks break down between Ajit and Nitish? A few days ago when K C Tyagi went to meet Nitish in Patna with Ajit Singh’s son Jayant, Nitish played a big political move, and told Jayant that if his father wanted to merge his party with JD (U), the party was ready to launch Jayant as its party’s chief ministerial candidate in UP. Sources say Jayant expressed that this was a conversation fit for later, but was the JD (U) ready to give his father a Rajya Sabha seat at present? Nitish said that was not possible but he can promise a Rajya Sabha seat for Ajit next year. Jayant then spoke to his father, and the latter told his naïve son that in politics, the deal was always instant barter. Who knew what could happen in a year? And the communication snapped between JD (U) and Ajit.

Recently, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi met Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi, and told him to come to his aide, considering how the political winds were not blowing in his favor. Rahul couldn’t control himself then, and told Gogoi curtly that his family and the people of Assam had always given him respect. But he is so immerse in love for his son these days that while he did only 61 rallies for the state elections, his son conducted no less than 81 rallies. Was it that he was more popular than his father? He said that it was because of Gogoi’s son that Hemanand Biswal left the Congress and joined the BJP. He played a crucial role in giving traction to the BJP in Assam because he has great organizational skills. He had prepared the entire strategy for the BJP. Obviously, Tarun Gogoi didn’t know how to respond to that, and it thought it better to keep quiet thereafter.

It’s like Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s ambitions have found new skies to soar. Otherwise, there was a time when it was more or less finalized that Jharkhand’s Babulal Marandi and UP’s prominent Jat leader Ajit Singh will merge their respective political parties with JD (U). JD (U)’s former President Sharad Yadav had also had a decisive meeting with Ajit Singh about this. Sources say at that time Ajit Singh was also promised a Rajya Sabha seat by the JD (U). But a few days ago when Ajit Singh met Nitish’s ace strategist Prashant Kishore, he was told in clear terms that only after the merger of his party with JD (U) will the offer of a Rajya Sabha seat be considered. It is said this upset Ajit Singh no end, and he said, “I have been a minister at the Centre four times, and a Parliamentarian for seven terms. So please don’t talk to me in that tone.” To this Prashant said that whatever talks he might have had in the past were with Sharad Yadav, and now the party was not in a position to make any decisions. A miffed Ajit went away from there and now his options are open in the BJP as well.

Babulal Marandi, too, is reluctant to go with Nitish now. Sources say a few days ago, Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmad Patel met with Marandi and said that if he was ready to merge his party with another, then why not the Congress? “The Congress is everywhere in Jharkhand. Where is JD (U)?” According to sources, Ahmad Patel then had Marandi speak with party Vice-President with Rahul Gandhi. Now in a changed political atmosphere Marandi is now asking JD (U) strategists what he will get in exchange for his party’s merger with JD (U). Is the JD (U) ready to send him to the Rajya Sabha? So many takers; what will poor Nitish do?

The Vice-chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University Jameeruddin Shah, who is also the elder brother of famous actor Naseeruddin Shah, is due to retire from his post next year. The hunt for the new VC has started already. The Sangh wants this post should go to some nationalist Muslim. If sources are to be believed, the Sangh has given the responsibility of hunting such a candidate to its noted leader Indresh. It is understood that Indresh is busy scouring through the Sangh’s branch organization Muslim Rashtriya Manch.

The prime minister’s appeal has started to bear fruit and big foreign investors seem to be looking favourably at the power and infrastructure sectors. BGS Limited and Kurland GMBH, both big Russian companies that work in the field of solar, hydro, and road construction, are coming to India with proposals worth billions of dollars. The companies big shots are due to arrive in India on March 25-26, and will stay in India until April 2. During this time, they will meet Central Minister Nitin Gadkari, as well as the chief ministers of Bihar, UP, and Maharashtra. The company is showing keen interest in a big hydro project in Bihar; sources say the company belongs to Russian President Putin’s nephew, who has big businesses all over Europe.

BJP’s traditional vote bank has become its own albatross. The latest matter is concerning the Sarafa traders, who are extremely upset with their party. To realize BJP’s Mission 2017 for UP, the party’s six prominent ministers were to address rallies in different areas, such as Moradabad, Saharanpur, Aligarh, Varanasi, and so on. If sources are to be believed, these Central ministers – Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Venkaiah Naidu, Smriti Irani and Harsh Vardhan had made all preparations from their end. An IB report came in at the last moment, saying the silver-and gold trading community might show black flags to these ministers over their displeasure with the excise tax. At the last moment, the party high command gave this responsibility to junior ministers such as Niranjan Jyoti and Kathiria, so that the event does not gather media headlines.

BJP’s National Working Committee meeting was not lacking when it came to refreshments and food. Some BJP leaders loved the food so much that they were seen trying to carry some food along after having eaten what they wanted to. A minister from Haryana was seen telling his PA to have some naan-dal packed and kept in the car since he was in a hurry. Remember Modi ji’s promise of “Won’t eat, and won’t let anyone else eat either”? Everyone is happily gorging in Modi raj.