The CBI still hasn’t got a solid lead about Bhanwari Devi but sources reveal that she was in constant touch with Maderana for the past five years and they became close. Maderana had assured Bhanvari that he will surely make her a minister or a member of the Assembly. Bhanwari’s political ambitions knew no bounds and when Maderana could not do anything for her, it is said that she hid a video camera in a window AC and got a CD of hers made with him. She then went to the biggest political leader of the BJP in Rajasthan and told her that if Rs 2 crore were paid, Gehlot’s government could fall. The BJP leader saw the CD and said that Maderana was not such a big player that his crime, if proved, could fall the government. If the matter came to light, he would simply be told to leave the government. . When Maderana came to know about the CD, he asked Bhanwari for the same. It is said that Maderana was angry with Bhanvari, who said that for others the price was Rs 2 crore, but for him, it would be nothing less than Rs 5 crore. And thus Bhanwari disappeared, never to be found again.

A prominent media group organised a big reception at Delhi’s five star hotel Maurya Sheraton for the King of Bhutan and his bride. The media group also runs some educational institutes and is interested in opening one of its schools in Bhutan, too. The reception invitees were about 300 chosen few. The king of Bhutan was in a kurta pyjama and the queen was in a sari, and the king could often be spotted in the hotel’s coffee shop clad in jeans. The queen is fond of Twitter and the king is fond of giving in to her whims and fancies because he knows she is 11 years younger than him.

For this Diwali, there was a new name among the list of guests who visited Pranab Mukherjee’s house. He visited Pranab da’s house just before Diwali with a big gift, and not only that, he loaded all workers in the house with gifts. Anil, Mukesh and Vijay Mallya are regular features at dada’s house for Diwali, but this new visitor’s big real estate project at Lavasa is in troubled waters, and also owes a lot of tax. At such a time, expecting understanding from dada is a given.

The party constitution of Marxists clearly states that party members have to seek the party’s permission before making a journey out of India. But looks like they are all cocking a snook to the party and are enjoying vacations in foreign countries. Even if we don’t talk about Sitaram Yechury, but when has Brinda Karat cared about party rules. She is away in South Africa with her sister and brother-in-law vacationing. Prakash Karat chose not to leave India, and instead, is in Uttarakhand at his co-brother-in-law Pranab Roy’s farm house. All in all, since the party has been bid goodbye from West Bengal, the party members are out holidaying.

Uttarakhand’s former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank is now trying to find a place for himself in national political arena. He is eyeing Tarun Vijay’s Rajya Sabha seat and feels that come what may, Vijay will have to relinquish his post in connection with Shahla Khan murder case. So he is already in the process of sharpening his skill to stake his claim on the seat. On the other hand, BJP’s central leadership wants Nishank to be limited to Uttarakhand politics. It is trying to convince Nishank that he will soon be made the Speaker and the present Speaker in Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly will be made a minister in the Khanduri government. Actually, the party knows that if the party does not keep Nishank on a tight leash, he may end up ruining 10 or more party seats. So the party’s plan is to keep him in the dream sequence of “Mungerilal ke haseen sapne”.

Defeats not only gives you wounds to nurse but also an insights into looking at the changing political scenario. This is the same Buddhadeb Bhattacharya who se daily routine didn’t change for even a day when he was the chief minister. He would head for his home from Writers’ Building in Kolkata at exactly half past one in the afternoon. He would enjoy a siesta after lunch at home and would head for office at 4 in the evening. Of if there was a rally or a party meeting where Buddhadeb had to be present, it was either before one or after 4 in the afternoon. But after the recent election defeat for the party, he is available to his party workers and leaders at any time – even between one and four.

What is it about Subramaniam Swamy that whenever the prime minister meets him, there is nothing but warmth from his side and seems to enjoy talking to him? Although Swamy has Sonia Gandhi and her family on target, the PM is unaware of any of it. For the October 2 programme, Swamy actually sat on the front row – it was the PM, then Sonia Gandhi, then Professor Ramgopal Yadav and then Swamy sitting next to each other. There’s one thing for sure, which binds both Subramaniam and Manmohan together – the America connection.

Narendra Modi has turned down the Sangh’s suggestion that Modi should be the party president for the next elections because Gadkari’s tenure ends December 2012. So to give a new momentum to the party, the Sangh Parivar wants that Modi should be at the helm of things. Sources reveal that Modi turned down the offer saying that he has a lot of Constitutional rights being the CM because of which the Congress can’t do anything to harm him try as it may, and if he resigned from the position, the Congress wouldn’t let him breathe, and the everyday routine of courts and cases would start. Thus, Modi made it clear to the Sangh that if it did want to do something for Modi, it should try to make him the PM while he is the CM. The Sangh has agreed and maybe that is why Gadkari may get another term as the party president.

Once Amar Singh went to jail and got unwell, the closely confident to the Thakur leader, Jaya Prada, started to run down Amitabh who was Amar’s elder brother in his hey-days and his other friends. The result was that within two days Amitabh was there to ask Amar after his health, along with his daughter. Sanjay Dutt and Tina bhabhi went, too. It is said that this two-hour meeting between Amar Singh and Amitabh was highly emotional. Initially Amar Singh wasn’t ready to forgive bade bhaiya for all the emotional atyachaar. But when the chill between relationships thawed, gurgling streams of love burst forth. Big B also said that he really wanted to go and meet Amar in Tihar but his busy schedule got the better of him. But somewhere inside, Amar was still hurt that Jaya bhabhi didn’t come to see him.

Beni Prasad Verma is trying to focus on UP and is working on his image makeover project in full steam. Gonda, which is also his constituency is seeing a lot of hand pumps being put (the work is being done by a PSU). Big banners, cut-outs, hoardings, posters of Verma was being put up. TV and newspapers are also printing advertisements with his mug frequently. Beni’s work is being taken care of by two extremely close people to him – RCP Singh and Sheetal Singh. When he was the information minister, RCP Singh used to be his PS. Beni’s current PS Raveesh Kumar is also said to be close to RCP. He is also close to Nitish for his caste analysis. Sheetal Singh is a part-time journalist and a businessman in Delhi is also had a great camaraderie with Joint Secretary U P Singh. Together, RCP and Sheetal in a way control Beni Prasad’s entire office dealings and have a big say in all the decisions taken by the office.