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Bugging video
A video of a Congress leader, holding an important position in the party, is in discussion these days. The video shows the leader waltzing with some important people in the government. The dance performance was part of a function held on the occasion of Holi. At least the people in the corridors of power say so. But the opposition as well as the ruling party is discussing the Congress leader’s conduct. The party insiders say they have never seen Rahul Gandhi walking hand in hand with the important people in the Central Government. Although the national leaders of the Congress have always maintained a distance from the Central Government, one can hardly discern the reason behind such comportment of the state Congress leaders. The way the Congress leader is functioning has raised several questions. He has kept mum over an important issue against the government. Party insiders feel everything is going on according to a plan. There are reports that the state Congress wants to present the issue to the party high command. The purpose is to keep the top leadership posted with the goings-on in the party unit.
Weepy law-makers
Assembly session means talks over important issues, the opposition’s fierce attack on the government, and the ruling dispensation’s forceful arguments. But its recent budget session will leave an imprint on the people’s memory as the crying session. The government as well as the opposition seemed to be weeping without rhyme or reason. The people’s representatives looked helpless as never before. A minister, replying to the opposition’s question about a case of police brutality, began to weep. This minister remembered an incident of police brutality concerning his son. He was in the government, but the police rained lathi blows on his son. Similarly, another legislator began to weep, talking about his own problems. The legislator raised some important issues. But the government as well as his own party MLAs kept away from listening to him. So hurt the legislator was that he began to cry. Apart from these two legislators, many others looked melancholic and emotional.
Back row
A Congress leader who has switched over to the BJP and become a minister believes: in the ruling party, those who remain in the back row get the real benefits. When he was in the Congress, he was highly active. During Congress rule, the minister used to organise several functions that gave him publicity. The minister was once very active. But now, he maintains a low profile. He feels someone being highly active in the BJP brings loss upon himself. He is trying to please all the leaders of the party. He has already wooed two union ministers, the head of the state, and a few more. This minister is also close to the opposition. This is the reason that the opposition keeps away from raising the corruption cases of his department. Except for a former chief minister, all the leaders of the Congress are close to his minister. There are reports that soon after his joining the BJP, he was accepted in the organisation.
Still powerful
A former minister of the state is still so influential that the party workers welcome him wherever he goes. Furthermore, several ministers met him at his residence during the assembly session. He is the only former minister of the ruling party at whose residence people regularly gather. This happens after his defeat in the election. Several ministers and senior leaders of the party continue to visit him. His political stature has become so high that people believe he may stage a comeback any day. The administrative changes still take place in his constituency according to his wishes. The party men recently welcomed him in his old constituency. A large number of people gathered at some functions held on the occasion of Holi to welcome him. The influence of this leader has shocked many of his colleagues who, after losing elections, are enjoying their life in loneliness.
Ministry expansion
Most of the BJP leaders have set their eyes on a proposed ministry expansion. Now that the assembly session is over, the BJP legislators are hopeful of a reshuffle in the cabinet. Expecting a berth in the ministry, many legislators are trying to please the Chief Minister, the state party organisation, and the leadership in Delhi. One such legislator is doing all he can to impress the central leadership for a cabinet berth. There are murmurs that some ministers may get the axe. So, a few controversial ministers are trying to save their chair. To keep his ministerial position intact, a minister is making all efforts to please the head of the state with the help of a powerful politician. Surrounded by controversies, the minister is ready to do anything to maintain his position.
Critical of govt!
A few BJP legislators made the ruling dispensation more uncomfortable in the House during the recent budget session than their counterparts in the Congress did. The questions they raised were highly critical of the government. The opposition camp was happy, for more than a dozen members of the ruling party were doing their job of mounting pressure on the government. Nevertheless, the legislators’ conduct set alarm bells ringing. And the ruling party swung into action to check whether there was any resentment among the legislators. It happened for the first time that the ruling party took the goings-on in the House seriously. After the incidents in the House, the party is even ready to clip the wings of one of the legislators for being vociferous against the government. Or, it may have been the government’s ploy to prevent the opposition from raising any issue in the House at the cost of its own embarrassment. Else, the ruling legislators know they can hardly afford to bite the hand that feeds them.
