Kejriwal’s rally in Surat was tucked up with security. He was apprised from his secret sources that there might be an ink attack or shoe attack on him. The organizers instead of trusting the Modi’s police hired bouncers on all four entrances. People who were on the front row were checked thoroughly and they were made to wear a wristband. The stage was barricaded with a tin sheet. Alas! Kejriwal himself was encircled by bouncers once he reached there. It seems his shadow has left him in lurch.

Union Minister of Ministry of Human Resource Development, Prakash Javedkar invited journalists on last Friday at his home for Chai Pe Charcha. One special thing about this gathering was that Madam Javedkar was also there. Javedkar while sipping tea began counting his 100 days of achievement. A journal was also distributed named ‘100 days as Human Resource Development Minister’. The journalists sniffed out the idea behind the story. Notably, Javedkar went to a program of the foreign ministry. The well-known personalities were introduced by the announcer but when it came to Prakash Javedkar the lady announcer said he is our Environment Minister Shri Prakash Javedkar. That was the moment he decided to bring a periodical to make people aware of his portfolio. Of course, the beginning had to be with the journalists.

The duo of Modi and Shah has decided that Gujarat’s Assembly election will be held in March with Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. They believe that surgical strike has been favourable for BJP. Congress is well aware of this fact. Gurudas Kamat, the chief of Gujarat Congress, met a prominent leader Bharat Singh Solanki in last few days. They decided that ticket will be distributed to candidates in December. In this way, the Congress candidates will get enough time for the campaign. The workers will also be tightened up within time. December 2017 is fixed for Gujarat Election. This is why BJP leaders feel that till then it would not be possible to keep spur of nationalism intact which was certainly an outcome of surgical strikes.

Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal’s journey from people’s movement to the seat of power, has been a rough ride. He has learnt many political lessons on the way. Kejriwal is well aware that most of the media houses under Modi’s influence. So instead of wooing media barons, he decided to woo the journalists working in these very media houses. He declared a year back in presence of his favourite journalists that it is his duty to ensure implementation of wage board wage board recommendations for them. He got one of his most reliable bureaucrats to prepare an affidavit on behalf of Delhi government keeping the interest of journalists in mind. Couple of days before the affidavit could be filed in the court, the secretary was transferred. Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia got the competent bureaucrat, deputed to his ministry. Soon a new Secretary was appointed to serve Kejriwal. In a tearing hurry the new secretary amended the affidavit and submitted to the court. This affidavit was immediately accepted and acknowledged by the court. It also shocked Kejriwal’s favourite journalists. They were flabbergasted to find that the previous affidavit was changed to such an extent that the new one is entirely in favour of the media house owners. The journalists felt cheated and complained to Kejriwal for betraying them. Mea culpa! The Chief Minister realized all at once that the new secretary has changed the affidavit altogether. Immediately he got a fresh affidavit prepared and appealed to the court to acknowdge the new affidavit. The court accepted his plea. Kejriwal heaved a sigh of relief. It’s a classic case of right hand being unaware of what the left hand is up to. Before attempting to capture power in other starts, he needs to first put his own in order.

The political battle of father and son in Uttar Pradesh is having sudden brush with truth. The Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is trying to come up with a new way beyond the combative and corrupt politics of his father and uncle. Akhilesh’s supporters are trying to connote this entire spat as Young vs. Old. Akhilesh has jumped headlong into electoral fray with all his achievements and aspirations.
But like drowning man he is trying to catch at straws. He is keeping his options open about aligning with Congress. For that he has stepped up communication with Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi. In order to swing Jat vote, he has suddenly become interested in coalition with Chaudhury Ajit Singh’s Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD).
His father and uncle Shivpal are quite experienced in the game of politics. They have old friends and power of organization and a trump card in Amar Singh. If they lack anything it is freshness and vigour of Akhilesh Yadav’s persona. This is why the duo has chosen Netaji’s second son Prateek who is also young and enthusiastic with all the traits of his father. Mulayam who usually avoids being seen in public with Prateek has recently inaugurated a gym for Prateek. Mulayam has made his first move. In response, Akhilesh too has moved out of Mulayam’s house into the chief ministerial residence and has also decided to operate out of so far defunct office of Janeshwar Mishra Trust, instead of Samajwadi Party’s office.
A wrestler turned politician Mulayam has been proficient in all the strategies and intricacies of politics. But when the battle is with son, it becomes difficult to carry the fight with same zeal.

From pilot to politician Rajiv Pratap Rudi’s has been a swift journey. But, he has an added responsibility of a Union Minister as well. But, at the same time he also holds commercial pilot’s license (CPL). In order to keep his licence in order, it is mandatory for him to fly at least 10 hours every month. To come over this dilemma, he has decided to join hands with private airlines. He has been ‘flying’ indigo airline. One reason of not choosing Air India could be a fact that there is a fear of RTI in AI which can oftebn prove to be troublesome. It was safer for Rudy to go for private airlines which are out of purview of RTI. Certainly, the skills of Skill Development Minister are laudable.

After Dussehra, PM asked the Ministry of Skill Development for a presentation. The PM wanted to know what work that has been completed in past two and a half years. PM’s order initiated the Ministry into action and they started sifting out the facts and figures. The officials were flummoxed to find out that all the plans and programmes were just on the paper and nothing has been implemented yet.
After deep analyses, the Ministry recognized 41 sectors where employment could be generated. But nothing substantial could be done in this regard. Significantly, 141 new ITI were to be opened. It was discovered that more than 4 lakh applications have arrived from one state. Under sectorial scheme corporate leader had been formulating schemes. However they found that not many applicants were fulfilling the the norms that have been to start an ITI. Indeed, the Ministry had to burn midnight oil to make the presentation.

Ever heard of a serving minister topping the list of fans of the prime minister? Well, you’re hearing it now. The suave and personable Piyush Goel is right up there on the NaMo app with 3,500 points, awarded on the basis of the number of tweets and messages where he has tagged the prime minister. Behind him is the ruling party and at number three is Union Minister Kalraj Mishra. Credit for the new look and new features of the app apparently goes to the Apple CEO Tim Cook, who gave Modi some advice on how to upgrade the app and make it more interactive and responsive to the public. The app also helps him stay connected with his Cabinet Ministers, celebrities and ordinary people, many of whom are his fans. The app is now offering some incentives to keep the communications going. Badges will be awarded to those who consistently tweet or message and those hitting 131 points win a badge. When a person reaches the figure of 1000 tweets or messages, he or she will get the title of Explorer, and at 2000 points one wins the title of Know It All. There’s also a super fan badge for those who hit 5000 points. Going by that, Goyal may be well on his way to topping the list.

Rahul Gandhi has been on a roll with his yatra through UP. In Awadh from Purvanchal, he got an overwhelming response from people who gathered from far and wide to welcome him. But things changed when the yatra passed through Agra, Meerut, Amroha and Moradabad districts. The crowds began to thin, many drifting away. Muslims gathered in small groups just to watch him. The lack of enthusiasm seemed to have affected Rahul’s confidence, even that of the party men. The scores of posters condemning Pakistan and others claiming an emphatic BJP win in UP next year, did not help Congress morale. Unfortunately, Rahul (and adviser Prashant Kishor) compounded his party’s problems by attacking Modi when street wisdom demanded that they focus on bread butter issues such as water availability, building of roads, development and farmers distress.

Word is Prashant Kishor is upset with Motilal Vohra for not clearing his travel and other bills. Kishor seems to feel that Vora tends to delay and unnecessarily over small amounts. But Vora may beg to differ. There’s a view that rather than persisting with the puri-sabzi given to party workers, Kishor is treating them to lavish lunches in expensive restaurants. Kishor spoke to Rahul about it but Vora is yet to move, demanding clarifications on the contents of certain bills. Clearly, Rahul cannot argue with an old Congressman like Motilal Vohra.