Periscope

Feminists give no respite for Jaiswal

 There are rumours that union coal minister, Sriprakash Jaisawal’s days are numbered.  Not  because of the coal allocation scam. But because of his sexist remark. In party, which is  ruled by a woman (Sonia Gandhi), Jaisawal went ahead and took a dig at women,  particularly wives. Addressing a kavi sammelan he went on to say wives lose charm over  time. Trying to be humourous, he said: Nai jeet aur nai shaadi ki alag hi baat hoti hain. Jaise samay beet jaata hain, jeet purani ho jaati hain, patni bhi purani ho jaati hain. Woh  maza nahi rehata (A new victory and a new marriage is a different matter. As times  passes, the victory  becomes old and the wife also becomes old. Both lose charm). This  time, the coal minister, who is already facing heat of coal bloc allocation has perhaps  chewed more than he could bite. Mrs Gandhi is reportedly seething. Jaisawal has  apologised. But if the Congress leaders are to be believed, time has finally run out for this  witty man.

All dressed up, but man, not really charged up
 
Now Rahul Gandhi is all set to assume an “important role” in the organisation. He is  planning to rejig the Congress.  Congress leaders, particularly the likes of  Ahmed Patel   are now concerned over Rahul’s stepping into the organisation.  Rahul, insiders say is  now planning to overhaul the entire organisation starting from AICC to the district  committees.  There are talks of young turks replacing the old guard. The old guard, which  is now concerned about the survival, feels that it would have been better if Rahul had  been inducted in the ministry. There is no clarity on how Rahul will introduce the changes  and how he is going to strengthen the weak party units in certain states. Party is going  downhill in Andhra Pradesh, Maharshtra. Organisational changes are likely in Uttar  Pradesh, where Rahul had a disastrous run during the Assembly polls. One person,  however, is trying hard to survive by projecting himself as Rahul’s man Friday is Digvijay Singh. Sensing his electoral and organisational track records do not provide him  immunity, Digvijay is working hard to find a secure place in the new order.

Horns locked

So what if  the West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress supremo, Mamata  Banerjee has decided to take the government head on. The Congress at the Centre is now  requesting its Bengal units not launch any major attack on Ms Banerjee’s government.
This is  mainly because, the Congress does not want Trinamool to field any candidate for  the Jangipur bypoll.  The seat fell vacant after Pranab Mukherjee became the  President.   His son, Abhijit is the Congress candidate for October 10 by-poll.  It is learnt that the  President, Mr Mukherjee is also in “touch” with “didi” and trying to persuade her not to  field any Trinamool nominee against his son.

Wooing ever willing BSP

 Apprehending that Samajwadi Party might just join hands with the Trinamool Congress,  which has threatnened to bring a no-confidence motion against the government, the  Congress is now trying to woo the BSP supremo, Mayawati. The party is believed to have  offered BSP with 21 MPs in its kitty, the railway ministry, which was under the  Trinamool in the good old days. However, it uncertain whether the BSP would take the  bait as, Mayawati has not yet responded to Congress’ overtures.

President in a mood to celebrate puja

President Pranab Mukherjee is all set to conduct Durga puja at his ancestral village of Mirati village in Birbhum district of West Bengal later this month. Durga puja is  the most important event in Mukherjee’s personal calendar and security  and protocol issues are being fine tuned to make the visit possible. Mukherjee is known to spend this annual festival at his ancestral village each year and it  seems that the President doesn’t want to change his annual devotional trip even after  being elected as the head of the republic. Durga puja is scheduled to take place between October 19-23 this year.