The search for two Anglo-Indians for nomination to the Lok Sabha is on. A close aide of Narendra Modi has suggested two names, of which one was of BBC’s former journalist Mark Tully and the second was a well-known name in theatre and films, Tom Alter. But incidentally, none of the two names fulfil the criteria for being Anglo-Indian. So Modi now wants that two such names should be proposed by the public, and people can give their suggestions on the website or through the social media network.

To give new winds to the government’s ‘Beti Bachao campaign’, a significant two-day meeting is going to take place in Panipat from January 22. The meeting will be addressed by the prime minister himself, and it is hoped that more than a lakh people will take part in the programme. Although Union Minister for Women and Child Maneka Gandhi was of the opinion that the programme should have taken place in Delhi so that the entire nation and the media can notice it. But Modi considers Haryana as a symbolic state for the same, because the state is the worst when it comes to female foeticide and the state performs abysmally low in sex ratio as well. So after becoming the chief minister, Manohar Khattar’s first challenge will be to mobilise the crowd for this. This will be nothing short of a test by fire for him.

The CBI might have sent Mamata’s powerful minister Madan Mitra under the 22,000-crore Saradha Chit Fund scam, to prison until January 2, but he allegedly experienced breathing trouble within an hour of reaching Alipore Jail. As a result, he had to be sent to SSKM Hospital. It is worth mentioning here that Mitra is also the co-founder of Rogi Kalyan Samiti, and the committee has the hospital under its ambit. Needless to say, it is like a second home for Mitra. Are Mitra and Mamata trying to tell the Centre that no one can harm them in any way?

Known for her no-nonsense behaviour, Jaya Bachchan is now learning to enjoy her sweet and sour relations with the Parliamentarians. A few days ago when Jaya went overseas, she got a special kind of tamarind from there. She introduced several fellow MPs with the taste of this tamarind. For a few select friends in the Rajya Sabha, she had got special gift packs of this tamarind made for them. It was Rajiv Pratap Rudy who was most impressed with how the tamarind tasted. Thanks to him, the taste of the tamarind reached several journalists, and some among these journalists included those who like to point a fiery flame towards the BJP once in a while.

It’s the same story for the Congress everywhere. Something similar is happening with Sheila Dikshit, who had ruled Delhi for 15 continuous years. A few days ago, a Ghazal programme was arranged at India Islamic Centre at Lodhi Road. Madam Dikshit was the chief guest at the programme. When Sheila’s car arrived at the venue 15 minutes before the programme was to start, the guards at the entrance of the centre did not allow for the car to pass through. The guards said the car neither had a red beacon, nor a blue one, and neither had the management given the car’s number to them. Delhi’s former chief minister decided not to make the incident a big one and left the car at the gate and walked to the venue. Coincidentally, no organiser was there to receive her either. Just then, an official from the centre saw her and he escorted her to the auditorium. A week after the incident, a documentary film on Maulana Azad was to be released at the same venue. Najma Heptullah was invited to the programme along with Dikshit. Taking a lesson from the past incident, the director of the Islamic Centre Sirajuddin Qureshi was present at the gate well in advance. Not only did Sheila’s car manage to get inside the gates, Qureshi received her and escorted her to the auditorium himself.

The BJP is all excited and confident after the pre-poll survey results have come. The saffron party can see getting a complete majority in Jharkhand and forming a government. According to a survey, the BJP may get more than 50 of the 81 seats in the state. At the same time, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha might emerge as the second-largest party with 15-17 seats. If that happens, what will happen to the Congress and other parties?

Miffed at Amit Shah’s successful rally in Kolkata, members of Parliament from the Trinamool Congress made a lot of noise in the Parliament with a red diary. The red diary was indicative of a similar one that the income tax department had got during a raid at the Sahara Group offices. Trinamool members believe the “A S” in the diary has a connection to the BJP President Amit Shah. On the other hand, reliable sources close to the government believe that Shah has nothing to do with Sahara whatsoever. But yes, another politician with the “A S” initials does have all connection with the Sahara controversy.

Neither Sheila Dikshit, nor Ajay Maken is ready to become the face of Congress’ chief ministerial candidate in the coming Assembly elections. And the party is not ready to field the same old faces that are eager.

The Congress may be questioning Rahul’s leadership capabilities but Sonia Gandhi has full confidence on her son to take the party to newer heights. Thus, Sonia is in the process of handing over all powers to Rahul gradually. Nowadays, Sonia is not only oversensitive about Rahul but has also become extra protective about him. Thus, she doesn’t like to hear one word against him. Thus, when any Congress member talks about bringing forward Priyanka in place of Rahul, the displeasure shows on her face. At the same time, if someone suggests that sister Priyanka should also be encouraged along with brother Rahul, she seems comfortable with the idea.

The masks are off several faces of journalists after the change of government at the Centre. Barkha Dutt, who had hit enough wrong noted about the Congress, has been allegedly snubbed by the party. Congress strategists feel that Barkha and Rajdeep worked more for themselves than the Congress. This is the reason Barkha is courting Mamta Banerjee nowadays; she had sent her the questions that would be asked before the interview. Rajdeep is daggers draws with India Today’s Rahul Kanwal. Sources reveal that Rajdeep feels it was Rahul who leaked the video in which Rajdeep was shown being physically assaulted by the crowd in the US. But he has got a kiss of life with the way Modi replied to Kanwal’s tweet about cartoonist Ramesh. It is being said that Rajdeep is showing interest in buying a website by India Today, but he has not been successful so far. That is because the owner of the group Aroon Puri has been told by his well-wishers that he should beware of Rajdeep – he bites the hand that helps him.