Delhi Confidential: Pages of History

IS THE Samajwadi Party, which is trying to mollify an upset Shivpal Yadav, facing another row within the party? At a well-attended function to celebrate Azam Khan’s birthday, in the national capital on Tuesday night, many made a pitch for a larger national role for the senior party leader. The event was organised by Rajya Sabha MP Munvvar Saleem. Shankaracharya Swami Adhokshanand Saraswati, who released a book on Khan, said if anyone was capable of maintaining the integrity and unity of the nation, it was Khan. Some shouted slogans like, “desh ka PM kaisa ho, Azam Khan jaisa ho”. Among the others who attended the function was party MP Chandrapal Singh Yadav.

Highs and Lows

FOLLOWING NITISH Kumar’s prohibition policy, BJP leaders from Bihar are extra cautious when they visit their home state. For instance, former Union Minister Shahnawaz Hussain apparently calls up his host to inquire whether there are any “bottles” at home. He tells them to ensure not even empty bottles are lying around in the backyard. He even instructs his driver to lock his car when he is not around so that nobody can plant bottles inside his vehicle. Hussain is a teetotaller, but fears that being an opposition leader in the state, he can potentially be a target of mischief.

Hand of Friendship

FACING STIFF challenge from the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab, the Congress is planning a counter move. It is planning to reach out to rebel AAP MPs Dharamvir Gandhi and Harinder Singh Khalsa. The party has decided to send feelers to both of them, inviting them to the party. This comes amid reports that Gandhi and Khalsa are in touch with the BJP. The issue was discussed when top party leaders from the state met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday.

Mission UP

WHEN THE Congress announced its upcoming campaign programme for Uttar Pradesh — one yatra to be led by Sheila Dikshit and another by Raj Babbar — some prominent names were missing from the list of names on the yatra team. Senior vice-presidents Imran Masood, Rajesh Mishra and R P N Singh, and vice-chairman of the campaign committee Jitin Prasada were not included. But soon after the announcement of the yatras, AICC general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and other top leaders sat with the newly-appointed vice-presidents and other leaders and assigned roles to those who had been left out — they will be deputed in the four zones and will work with the AICC secretaries.