The Congress government in Uttarakhand might have got a scare because of how some party veterans and MLAs supported by them are upset with the party and are showing signs of rebellion, but the party high command has not given up yet. It is trying to repair the damage. Sources say two heavyweight leaders Vijay Bahuguna and Harak Singh Rawat have a big role to play in fanning the rebel fire. Vijay Bahuguna wanted a Rajya Sabha seat for himself, while Harish Rawat was insisting on Congress State President Kishore Upadhyay’s name in place of Bahuguna. The matter now rests with the party high command. On the other hand, Harak Singh Rawat has been pushing two women leaders’ name for the coming Assembly elections. One of them is of his own wife Dipti Rawat, who is also the president of district area. The other name he is lobbying for is Lakshmi Rana, who is the president of the district area from Rudraprayag. Also, several senior leaders in Delhi are hoping for a Rajya Sabha seat from Uttarakhand. The ball is now in the high command’s court.

The BJP’s National Working Committee’s meeting from March 19-20 is a reflection of Team Shah’s strategies and intentions. After being elected as the party president for the third time, Shah is still working with his earlier team, but it is believed that he has prepared a blueprint of a new team. The announcement of the new team can happen in the next month or two. The announcement of the new names might take a while, but the chosen people might be given their responsibility before that. Someone close to Shah believes that this helps gauge the person’s abilities and capabilities well in time.

People who think all’s not well between Modi and Jaitley should clear their confusion. Jaitley is a seasoned player on the chessboard of politics; he not only knows his moves, he also knows how to play them well. So a few days ago when the PM replied to Rahul’s attack, his entire language and thinking came from Jaitley. A day before that, Jaitley had written in his blog, “Ageing doesn’t mean maturity”. So Modi may well have thrown the phrase in the Parliament, but the credit for it does to Jaitley.

Politics is all about trying to find the fine balance between contrariness. The Congress has understood it, but the BJP doesn’t want to. Just before the Budget session, in a meeting with party Parliamentarians, Sonia, contrary to what Rahul wanted, had made it clear that they will have to let the Parliament function, have the bills passed, and also register its opposition in the Parliament when needed. This was probably the reason the government passed three bills in the Rajya Sabha without any ruckus; more bills will be passed in the days to come, but the Congress doesn’t want Modi government to get a pass certificate in the public’s court. Sensing Sonia and Congress’ stance, it seems some serious debate will take place in the Parliament, and the Opposition’s aggressive stand, too. But the Parliament will function, and will do so with aplomb.

The Congress people, who are truly adept at reading the signs, have sprung to action. Dalit leader Raju, who is considered to be extremely close to Rahul Gandhi, went running to Priyanka Gandhi, and told her, “Sahib wants you to take care of the party in UP, and become the party’s face there.” But when she heard it, Priyanka got upset and told a tad rudely to Raju that it was a family matter, and that it would be discussed within the family. Raju had to come back with a long face.

The BJP has got its favourite public opinion survey agency from Rajasthan conduct a big survey. This survey took place in eight states where BJP and Congress are likely to have a face-off. Sources say that this public opinion survey started right after the results for Bihar were out. And if they are to be believed, the survey results are nothing short of a warning bell for the Modi government. The survey says that if the elections take place today, the BJP may shrink to just six seats in Rajasthan, and the BJP has a lead in only urban constituencies such as Jaipur and Udaipur. The picture is less grim in Madhya Pradesh. The BJP’s share of seats in Chattisgarh is a mere 1-2, and the picture is more or less similar in Himachal, Haryana, and Delhi. The Congress seems to be doing better in Uttarakhand as well. In Modi-Shah’s home state Gujarat, too, the Congress is shown as being ahead in 11 seats. The top leadership in the BJP is shocked, and is raising questions on the validity of the survey, as well as it methodology and sample size.

You may consider it an example of how honest the government is. Under the leadership of the ever-strict finance minister, his ministry seems committed to bring in money to the national coffers. In the past nine months, the people whose files the income tax department has sifted through and sent notices to, includes relatives of several Central ministers as well. Also, these Central ministers are those who have an image of being honest. You can’t but find the finance minister’s courage commendable.

BJP Party President Amit Shah could not seal the deal with Assam Gana Parishad (AGP) leaders; the AGP people are putting the blame for this on the BJP president. A few days ago, AGP and BJP leaders had an important meeting regarding a possible coalition, and the meeting was attended by Shah himself. AGP leaders claim that despite being present at the meeting, Shah’s mind was elsewhere; he was repeatedly looking at his watch, while the meeting was attended by AGP leader Atul Vora as well. After an hour-long marathon meeting between the BJP and the Congress, a seat-sharing understanding could not be reached. Then suddenly, Shah got up from his seat and looking at his watch, said, “You people keep talking. I will be back in half-an-hour. I have given time to someone else.” It is said this didn’t go down well with AGP leaders. At the same time, they also wanted to meet Narendra Modi and discuss things with him; but they were made to meet just Ram Madhav. One AGP leader also said that it was Ram Madhav who had proposed to prominent AGP leader Prafful Mahant that he should break the party in half and join the BJP.

Sensing the political climate, Congress leader and Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi was in constant touch with the AGP. Sources say Gogoi has told AGP leaders that while AGP and Congress might not have a direct coalition, but that the Congress is ready for a friendly fight. It is said Gogoi has asked AGP the names of their 12-13 leaders whom they would like to see win. Gogoi’s proposal is that the Congress will launch its weaker politicians against these people, so that these AGO leaders win for sure. The AGP is seriously considering the offer.

The Jat uprising in BJP-led states for reservation has taken the nation by storm. At the same time, it is this BJP that believes that the party still has the support of the Jats. While the BJP’s confidence is soaring after the vice-elections in Muzaffarnagar, Haryana and Rajasthan are crippled under the Jat agitation. Choudhury Ajit Singh is the most worried; he even held a press conference about it a few days ago, and said the Jats have never got any say in the Muzaffarnagar seat. Even during Choudhury Charan Singh’s times, this seat didn’t go to the Lok Dal. That is because even though there are 10,000-20,000 Jat voters, the number of Vaishya voters is about 65,000.