Pradip Singh Gangai is the most backward parliamentarian from a backward constituency of Bihar. The population of Araria parliamentary constituency now knows its strongman MP by a new name and that is Pradip Singh `Nangai’. So what was so shameful that people gave him this new nickname. Some days ago the MP along with his supporters reached a puja programme organised in Sultan Pokhar area of Forbesganj and demanded that he and his supporters be allowed to take the women’s line for having darshan of Ma Durga. At this the organisers came running and urged the MP to take the gate meant for men. At this, drowned in power, the MP got agitated and his supporters began creating a ruckus. The organisers also were in no mood to relent and decided not to allow the MP or his men entry through the gate meant for the women. An angry Gangai went away without having darshan of the Devi; perhaps his pride came in the way of his paying obeisance to God. Gangai is an MP of BJP, a party which is said to hold unflinching faith in Hindu religion and culture. But it seems that this saffron parliamentarian is more committed to Shahnawaz Husain than to his party because in Delhi’s political circles he is known as a favourite disciple of Shahnawaz Husain. Will mother Durga pardon such ignorant followers of hers?

Uddhav Thackeray is not being able to settle with his relations with BJP. He believes that BJP has no contact man like Pramod Mahajan in the party now who could keep the dialogue open between BJP and Shiv Sena during every up and down. Sena still believes that BJP is a party of Marwaris and Gujaratis. The impact can be seen in Marathwada and Vidarbha which are separate from the cities of Maharashtra. Marathwada is the area of Gopinath Munde. In rural Marathwada about 30 per cent . The Sena wants BJP to field as many Marathis here as possible but here Munder has given tickets in bulk to people of his Banjara caste and about half a dozen tickets have gone to his relatives. So now BJP has gone out of the fight for Maratha pride here and Congress has taken a lead here.

The Ghatkopar assembly seat from which Pramod Mahajan’s daughter Poonam is contesting in Mumbai has always been considered a BJP stronghold and the easiest of seats for the party. Because of the eight municipal wards here, BJP-Shiv Sena had won in seven. But a former Shiv Sena councillor is this time contesting as a rebel candidate and he has made Poonam’s journey somewhat difficult. And Raj Thackeray’s MNS has also come into the picture to increase her problems. But despite hostile conditions, Poonam is maintaining her lead over her rivals.

The Maharashtra unit of BJP has made it clear that for their election campaign they need neither Advani nor Shatrughan Sinha. Advani has been done in by his love for Jinnah and brother Shatru is deep in worshipping Rahul and this is something the State BJP unit is unable to digest.

Jayati Chandra Secretary Youth Affairs to Government of India (GOI) has been appointed Secretary in Indian Government’s Ministry for Development of North Eastern (DoNER). She is an IAS officer of the 1975 batch & belongs to the Uttar Pradesh cadre. She had earlier served in the Planning Commission. Secretary Parliamentary Affairs P J Thomas has been appointed new Secretary Telecom. He is 1973 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre. Thomas is younger brother of Maharashtra Chief Secretary Johny Joseph.

Union Textile Minister Dayanidhi Maran is doomed to lead a life of seclusion. Fertiliser Minister M.K. Azhagiri has issued clear directions to the DMK parliamentarians that they continue their boycott of Maran. Perhaps this is a reason why neither are DMK leaders or parliamentarians going to his residence to meet him and neither are they being anywhere close to his house in Chennai. It is only the Congress parliamentarians and leaders who are seen interacting with Maran. Though Maran’s Tamil daily has come out in his full support but Azhagiri is not budging an inch from his stance.

In the end, BJP and Haryana Janhit Congress could not form an alliance in Haryana. The reasons were many but in the center was a prominent leader of BJP who was never in favour of this agreement. The remaining formality was completed by Kuldeep’s insistence that the coalition project him as the next Chief Minister. On the other hand, BJP’s interlocutors wanted a safe passage and they were okay to the idea of projecting Bhajan Lal. And otherwise the BJP leaders were of the opinion that the Maharashtra model should be replicated her as well and the Chief Minister should be from the party which bags more seats. Nevertheless, with the coalition not getting formed, many are very pleased.

Is the charisma of Babulal Marandi on the wane in the Santhal Pargana area of Jharkhand? BJP has made an elaborate plan to capture the stronghold of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha where one Shibu Soren’s writ would run. Here the entire unit of JMM is ready to join BJP now, it is only waiting for the right moment and date.

Recall what slogan Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had given during the country’s war of freedom. `You give me blood and I will give you freedom’. And crossing the limits of morality another warrior of the Indian democracy and Thakur leader from SP in UP had raised a new slogan – `You give me a kidney and I will give you a post’. So, an MLA of U.P. heard his cry and reached Singapore to give shape to this political slogan.

The rental of the magnificent suite of a five star hotel in Delhi in which honourable Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna was staying (it is believed the per day charge for it was Rs 1 lakh) was paid by Café Coffee Day company. It is a chain of coffee cafes in which Krishna’s son-in-law has a significant holding.