Lucknownama

Rahul dig at Maya
Mayawati often makes fun of Rahul Gandhi’s visits to houses of Dalits,saying how somebody living in air-conditioned comfort could know the problems of poor by making such high-publicised visits. Last week,Rahul got a chance to settle the score in Aligarh. While he spoke at a public meeting,the stage for Mayawati was being readied a little away,with four big air-conditioners being placed around the spot where she was supposed to stand and speak. Remarked Rahul,“While I am making all my speeches in this weather without any air-conditioner,just see what is happening on the stage in front of me.”

Bajpai for Vajpayee
While everyone is waiting for the election results,lobbying for the BJP ticket for the Lucknow (West) Assembly seat,held by Lalji Tandon,has already begun. The front-runner is Hero Bajpai of the party’s media department. His claim is based on premise that being a Bajpai,he is the natural choice to fill the vacuum caused by Atal Behari Vajpayee’s absence from Lucknow.

Poll queen
Whatever will be the result,Congress candidate from Lucknow Rita Bahuguna Joshi is confident that she will emerge stronger after the elections. Many others in the party also believe that she will break the two-decade-old tradition where the state Congress president is replaced after every Assembly or Lok Sabha elections. The reason is simple. Whether she wins or loses in Lucknow,Joshi has brought back the Congress on the agenda of political discourse in Lucknow. She was also able to draw out traditional voters of the Congress .

Unsporting!
The BCCI has decided not to grant international matches from September to any association which does not own a ground,but the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association seems unruffled. In 2006,the inter-state one-day final between Mumbai and UP,slated to be organised at KD Singh ‘Babu’ Stadium had to be shifted to Mumbai after the authorities refused to make the stadium available on some flimsy ground. The BCCI had then advised UPCA to plan their own stadium. Since then,nothing has been done. UPCA’s in charge of Sports and Administration Prem Dhar Pathak says,“There are no hard and fast rules. I am sure UPCA secretary Rajeev Shukla,who holds important posts in the BCCI,will put forth our case in a strong way. CM also loves sports. An assurance from the state government will help.” All this may or may not happen,but UPCA will not learn.