Blurred lines

An article in the Samajwadi bulletin,the mouthpiece of the ruling party,has evoked much curiosity among party workers. It is about the “Samajwadi victory in France”. Some party workers from Jaunpur were seen discussing the article at the party office. One of them asked SP spokesperson Rajendra Chodhary: “Is our party also present in videsh? Here it says that it has won in France. So now we are international!” A bemused Choudhary gave them a little lecture on the socialist movement in Europe.

Amenable choice

Why did the CM include Health Minister Ahmed Hasan,and not his senior Azam Khan,in the search committee for the selection of eight information commissioners? SP sources said Khan had been lobbying for some persons. If included in the committee,he would have pushed hard for their selection. Ahmed Hasan,on the other hand,is a far more amenable man.

New deal?

As Leader of Opposition Swami Prasad Maurya was also included in the search committee. But,in spite of the BSP and SP’s political rivalry,Maurya authorised the Chief Minister to make the selection. Clearly,it was a different Maurya from the one who,throughout the Budget Session of the Assembly,and later outside,had been constantly attacking the government. One theory has it that Maurya cut a deal with the government to accommodate BSP candidates. But who were those?

Fruitful Old ties

Ahe allotment of bungalow number 24 at Gautampalli to BJP MLA Kalraj Mishra has surprised many in his party and other parties. For,it is one of the bungalows that are normally allotted to ministers,high court judges or senior officers. Mishra is a first-time MLA. Unlike him,senior BJP MLAs,including legislature party leader Hukum Singh and party president Laxmikant Bajpai,have been given flats in Vidhayak Niwas. Sources said Mishra got the bungalow because of his good personal relations with Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav. Back in 1982-83 when Loktantrik Morcha was formed in UP,Mulayam was its president while Mishra was general secretary.

Status Update

An indicator of the Congress’s current situation is its website. Until March 25,it regularly carried updates on events in the state and at the Centre – press releases,political commentaries,the party’s history and mild vanity. Then,these stopped. The photo section,however,was updated last week after nearly nine months,with photos of UPCC iftar,which took place last Friday,and a remembrance programme organised on Rajiv Gandhi Jayanti on Monday. The photographs posted before were those of Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the state in November last year.

Signs of arrival

The post of DG (Telecom) ranks fairly low in importance in the police set-up. Nor does it require frequent interaction with other officers. But incumbent Rizwan Ahmed,a 1978-batch IPS officer,is getting many visitors these days. Field officers visiting Lucknow usually make it a point to call on him. Ahmad is often seen at the DGP Headquarters or at the CM secretariat. He was seen looking after the arrangements at the iftar party hosted by the chief minister. Officials posted in different police wings called on him to convey their Eid greetings. What is the secret of Ahmed’s new-found popularity? The IPS grapevine has it that DGP A C Sharma is on his way out and Ahmed is going to succeed him.

Last words

V K Sharma,a 1976-batch IAS officer,who officiated as chief secretary in Javed Usmani’s absence,got the unexpected honour in his last days of service — he is retiring on September 28. For one month,Sharma sat in the chief secretary’s office and used the vehicle with the chief secretary’s flag. After Usmani’s return on August 23 evening,when Sharma quietly left the office,the staff members came down to the portico to see him off. In his brief stay,Sharma left a mark — unlike Usmani,he was accessible,remarked an officer.