Lucknownama

Tricky maths

Maintenance of public order was the declared purpose of detaining Varun under the NSA. Officials privy to what happened before the late night announcement,however,said there were other factors at work too. Certain officials were against invoking the NSA,but a coterie had its own logic. Their argument was that Varun’s detention would send a positive message to Muslims all over. Also,the BSP may lose Pilibhit,but it had never won this seat in the past,it was argued. That sealed Varun’s fate and Mayawati gave her nod.

Breaking new grounds

What Atal Bihari Vajpayee,the five-term MP from Lucknow,could not do in his lifetime has been done by his chela Lalji Tandon. Never in the history of the BJP did the election office of the party candidate for Lucknow function from the premises of the party headquarters on the Vidhan Sabha Marg. But Lalji Tandon has created history,much to the chagrin of the rank and file. Party leaders and workers visiting the BJP headquarters from across the state are confused whom to meet for election-related work. Many first-time visitors run into the office of Lalji Tandon,only to be told they are knocking at the wrong door. They all go away with an unmistakable impression that Tandon is someone very big who has occupied the state BJP office for running his poll campaign.

Amar kahani

Amar Singh’s reputation as a go-getter in the SP is widely recognised,often grudgingly. He was credited with the feat of bringing Mulayam Singh and Kalyan Singh together. Now even other party leaders have started acknowledging his skills. Recently,when Mulayam appeared before the media hand in hand with Lalu Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan,one of them disclosed that “it was courtesy Amar Singh that they all could come together on one platform”. Should it surprise anyone that Amar Singh commands so much influence with Mulayam Singh?

Fear factor

Months after the Mumbai terror attacks,foreign players are still reluctant to visit India. The security scare has cast its shadow on the UP Tennis Association’s First Asian Ranking Tennis Championships for under-14 boys and girls,beginning next week. Said honorary secretary of UPTA CP Kackar: “So many countries come under the umbrella of the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) but only one foreign player has turned up. We have been told that this poor response is due to security reasons”. If IPL moves to South Africa for security reasons,how can one blame foreigners who don’t want to come to India?

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