We sure aren’t soothsayers, but we can well predict the footsteps down the political corridors. In this very column on December 18, under “Congress’ Operation Maya”, we had written how the Congress stick was about to fall on Ponty Chaddha, close to Maya. We were sure it would happen we observed how places associated with Ponty Chaddha were facing CBI raids one after the other. We had also revealed that getting industrialists close to Maya face tough times was the idea of none other than Congress prince Rahul Gandhi, whose kitchen cabinet’s prominent member Bhanwar Jitendra Singh is controlling the entire operations. A case has been registered against Ponty Chaddha and Jaypee Group under Competition Act (Section 4) and instructions have been given to start investigation has the director level. Is the Jaypee Group next?

Preparations are done for the appointment of a few new governors, the extension of some and a shuffle for some. There are at least two governors who are not keeping well, and the government is pondering over removing them. Maharashtra Governor K Shankar Narayan is suffering from a heart disease and makes frequent visits to the hospital. Kerala’s governor MOH Faroukh is admitted to a Chennai hospital for some renal problems and Karnataka’s governor Hansraj Bhardwaj has temporarily got the additional charge of Kerala. Reliable sources say that at least two governors will be removed and two will get another extension of give years. Several names are creating waves in the political corridors for the post, but the UPA government seems to be keeping quiet about it.

Sonia Gandhi made it point to be in Delhi for the Republic Day celebrations, despite having a busy election schedule. Those who were there also witnessed how at the advice of a news channel, the respected President interacted with school children for the first time and reminded one of her predecessor APJ Abdul Kalam, who had a special liking for children and the young. Experts believe that this act by the President will give further impetus to her claim at the post for a second time.

No one knows what kind of lovely coincidence is this when two polar opposites of the political spectrum came face to face at Lucknow airport. When Varun Gandhi, thought to be at the heart of the Hindu community, met Mulayam Singh, who is all ready to pose as the shelter for Muslim interests, Gandhi made a go to meet Singh. Both leaders were talking with such intimacy that even the Samajwadi leaders and workers who were present there became a little uncomfortable for a bit. A Parliamentarian from the Samajwadi party quipped to an NSG commando present there for Mulayam’s security that they should surround both leaders from all sides so that their meeting does unnoticed by the media. As it is in Delhi, Mulayam’s government accommodation and Varun’s mother Menaka’s residence at 14, Ashok Road, face each other. Obviously, both leaders get to see each other at times, and their intimacy has increased with changing times.

But Pankaj Pachauri of Krishna’s city Mathura had no qualms about reporting to Pulok nor an allergy to Hindi journalists – in fact, he has good relations with Hindi journalists. His wife is a Marathi and so he also has a reach among regional media. But there is still discussions going on in the PMO that Pankaj is not the PM’s last choice and he will stay on only until such time that the right successor for Khare is chosen. It is possible that the news has already leaked outside, because when Pankaj asked for time from Pranab Mukherjee and Advani for an informal meeting, he got only disappointment.

Several veteran journalists, who have toed the Congress line and agenda, are creating a ruckus. Shobana Bhartia of Hindustan Times has already met Sonia Gandhi and clearly told her she doesn’t want a seat in the next Rajya Sabha session. Those who want the seat are the big guys with bigger agendas, such as, Vinod Sharma, Alok Mehta, Mrinal Pandey, Rajdeep Sardesai and Barkha Dutt.

Despite the political ups and downs and contrary situations, the BJP president continues to stay upbeat and is leading the party wherever he wants to. The Sangh Parivar, which controls and directs the party has clearly told Gadkari that he should be ready for the next year’s coronation, too. After the results of elections in five states are out, the party will immediately call for a planary session, in which the party will introduce its Constitution’s amendment, according to which the tenure of the party president will be changed to three years and the amendment will also make arrangements so that a party president can stay on consecutively for two sessions, that is, six years. Since Gadkari has found this out, he is not bothered about his 100 kg weight and is jumping for joy.

To woo the forward castes of Uttar Pradesh, especially the Brahmins, Congress yuvraj Rahul Gandhi is now using the Indira card. Rahul knows that after the Kushwaha episode, the BJP has lost face, especially among the forward castes. No one knows what the Brahmin vote has decided yet, and they are being called floating votes, which can go to any side depending on the candidate and how the wind blows. This time when Rahul was campaigning in areas that had a majority of Brahmins, he stressed on the point that the BJP’s love for Kushwaha was only pretence to attract backward caste votes. Rahul reminded the people that he was the grandson of Indira Gandhi, the son of Rajiv Gandhi and had come to UP not only to win the elections but also because he has an emotional connection with the place. The Congress and Rahul know that they have no vote bank in UP, and so, at a time when the SP, BSP and the BJP was trying to woo the backward castes, Rahul is maintaining his focus on the forward castes. The ad agency taking care of the Congress’ election campaign has been told by Rahul to come up with a campaign keeping in mind this caste.

Everyone knows about Mulayam’s love for Etawah. His loving son Akhilesh Singh is a Parliamentarian from Kannuaj. When the problems of the potato farmers from the area reached Netaji, he was upset and was worried that their crop can’t reach the mandis. There are no takers for potatoes. A lot of times, the crop goes bad just sitting in the fields. Netaji asked an expert Rajiv Tandon to prepare a proposal on potatoes. The topic was: How to bring relief to the potato growers. The proposal was ready and Tandon brought it to Netaji, who asked to add Etawah to it. Later Netaji decided that if a potato processing unit was to be set, it will be in Etawah. Which means the farmers of Kannauj will continue to suffer.

Once the right hand man of Behenji, ever since Babu Singh Kushwaha has embraced saffron politics, there has been a storm of sorts in the BJP. The party was banking on cashing in on the Anna effect in the UP elections but its hopes have been dashed. Within the party, questions are being raised on the loyalty of Gadkari and Rajnath and the party is openly calling it the “5-25 ka chakkar”. Talking about cleanliness and transparency in politics, the Sangh has been quiet through it all, which has left several surprised. In hushed tones, the saffron ranks have been talking whether the Sangh Parivar may be the beneficiaries of the 5-25. When a worried Advani called up Gadkari asking how he could even think of taking Kushwaha in the party, Gadkari remarked, “If we hadn’t taken him, the BSP and Congress were ready to take him in for a long time.” Gadkari is sure that getting Kushwaha within the party will bring votes from the schedules castes and whoever has joined hands with Gadkari is a bonus.