If presumptions and assumptions are to be made from Rahul Gandhis’ popular speech at the Chintan Shivir in Jaipur, it would be that Digvijay isn’t as adored by Rahul as he used to be. In other words, now Digvijay doesn’t enjoy as much clout in the Congress as he used to. But the reality is quite the opposite. You see, Digvijay Singh is a minister without a portfolio. For instance, be it revenue secretary, CBI director, top officers at the CBI, enforcement director, DRI chief, Sebi chief, all are said to be extremely close to Diggy Raja. Because of his closeness with agencies and their chiefs, Diggy is also equally adored at 10, Janpath. Sonia Gandhi is maintain the tradition of Nehru and Indira Gandhi. In Nehru’s Cabinet, it was Lal Bahadur Shastri and D P Dhar in Indira’s Cabinet, who enjoyed the same privileges.

Is Navjot Siddhu’s being upset with his party real or a political ploy, because of the way the media played up the news. Actually, the Punjab BJP president Kamal Sharma and Siddhu don’t seem to be seeing eye-to-eye. When Rajnath Singh called up Sidhu, he merely said, “Sir I will come to Delhi and speak with you.” Sources reveal that Sidhu’s entire strategy is to contest elections from West Delhi instead of Amritsar.

Modi from outside and opposition from within – that is how Rajnath Singh is treating the shining star of the BJP Narendra Modi. While Rajnath Singh is busy praising Modi at different party forums, he is also trying to shake the ground beneath Modi’s feet from within. Under Rajnath’s leadership, a group of prominent BJP leaders is trying to ensure that no matter what, Modi should not be projected as the prime ministerial candidate from the BJP. In order to appease Modi, there is discussion if Modi will be made to head the campaign committee from the party’s behalf. But if sources are to be believed, Modi is not happy with it. But what is the reason behind this changed perspective of Rajnath Singh? Sources reveal that an astrologer close to Rajnath has said that by 2014, Rajnath’s stars will align in his favour and defeating other party leaders like himself, he may just become the prime minister.

Narendra Modi and Arun Jaitley are the most vocal about Amit Shah being made the party general secretary. These leaders want him to take up that post and they be made in-charge Uttar Pradesh. But some leaders from the party are opposed to the name of Shah for general secretary. Their logic being that in the election year, the party should consider each one of its move with great caution or it could tarnish the party’s image. Sources reveal that of all the cases that have been filed against him, he has been found guilty on two charges. Mumbai High Court will also give its historic decision on Sohrabbuddin case soon. His bail is sure to be rejected for the same and he may be sent to prison yet again. If that happens, the Congress will get enough chances to attach the BJP directly.

A strange incident occurred on February 6 at the Bamrauli Airport in Allahabad, which is holding the Mahakumbh. Around three-thirty in the afternoon, a big group of BJP leaders was present at the airport. All of them were carrying garlands made of flowers and chanting for BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi was gathering steam. Joshi’s Indian Airlines flight was just about to land, when the group of party people and leaders were told that the BJP president had taken a dip in the holy waters and was on his way to the airport to board the special chartered plane back to Delhi. The minute they heard this, there was a flurry of activity among the group and they all ran outside, chanting slogans and threw the garlands on Rajnath’s car. Any local leader who managed to get close enough to garland him considered himself lucky. Amid all this activity, Joshi’s flight also landed and when he reached the gate, one a handful of people were there to greet him. Both Joshi and Rajnath met briefly and then Rajnath went on to board his flight. The BJP group then rushed to Joshi but they no longer had garlands. But Rajnath’s car was still there and covered with, what else, garlands. The party supporters and leaders made a grab for them and greeted Joshi with them. Poor Joshi had to make do with second-hand garlands.

Mulayam Singh Yadav is said to be pretty upset with his son nowadays. Sources reveal that he had given a time period of two months for Akhilesh Yadav to bring about some changes in his work. Netaji has clearly told his son that he should either change or make way for change. Which means that in a way, Mulayam has made up his mind to lead the government in the state. For some time now, party leaders and workers are tired of Akhilesh’s working style and are complaining to Mulayam about it. The state’s investigative agencies have also revealed that the BSP’s popularity graph is increasing in the state, but at the cost of the SP. The way the Muslims have become disillusioned by the SP in the past few months and if the status quo is maintained, the SP may find it hard to repeat its performance of winning 22 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. And this is eating Netaji.

BJP’s women’s wing Mahila Morcha’s President Smriti Irani is looking for new possibilities for her role in the party. Her desire and lobbying point towards becoming the party’s chief secretary, but sources reveal that her path may not be so simple after all. So much so that the post of leading the women’s wing may also be taken away from her. Actually, Rajnath Singh is looking for a less glamorous face for the post. And the name for the Mahila Morcha’s president’s name may surprise a lot of people – an unknown name, like that of Saroj Pandey.

The supporters of Pranab da haven’t given up just yet and they are ready to swim against the tide. There are old Congress people among Pranab da’s supporters who believe that in the coming Lok Sabha election in 2014, the Parliament’s picture may be but a hazy one. That is, while the BJP might get about 150 seats, the Congress will get only about 125 seats. At such a time, Pranab da may emerge as a candidate who is agreeable to all. And in such a circumstance if Pranab da goes to 7 Racecourse Road, Vice-president Hamid Ansari may take his position as the President.

Famous advocate Ram Jethmalani’s apology letter and his return to the BJP is proof that the Sangh Parivar is hell-bent on ensuring that their candidate Nitin Gadkari should remain the party president for another term. So while several senior party leaders opposed this suspension ending, Gadkari chose to remain silent about it. It is believed that the Hinduja brothers had a big role to play in Jethmalani’s return to the party. The Hidujas were not only in constant touch with the Sangh leadership but also had a big role to play in Advani and Gadkari patching up.

The BJP government may have fallen in Jharkhand, but there is a big section of BJP leaders whose confidence has received a boost after the Munda government fell. Munda, too, is citing some Central leaders as the reason behind his government falling. And the needle is pointing at Yashwant Sinha, because he is still harbouring hopes of becoming the state’s chief minister. And it is pointing at Nishikant Dubey, who has the support and blessings of a leader at the Centre. Of the three-agenda list Hemant Soren had presented in front of Arjun Munda, the number two demand was that Nishikant Dubey, that is Guruji, should apologise to Shibu Soren about the wrongful words he had uttered against Guruji. Nishikant and Munda were at loggerheads anyways regarding the lobbying of some industrial houses and Dubey wanted to settle scores with Munda. The battle was such that the party didn’t matter at all.