Lucknownama: Expressway to glory

Highs and lows

What is the status of Sahib Singh Saini,SP leader from Saharanpur? Saini,who is considered close to rebel MP Rashid Masood,was named candidate for Saharanpur city constituency some time ago. After Masood announced his own candidates,the SP axed Saini and named Mazahir Hasan Mukhiya in his place. At the press conference where the change was announced,Saini,who was sitting on the dais,was asked by Akhilesh Yadav to leave after Azam Khan whispered something in his ear. This happened in Mulayam Singh’s presence. Later,Saini was appointed party national secretary. Azam Khan was even more unhappy when some local newspapers reported that Saini had been given charge of western UP,the region from where Khan comes. Promptly,a statement removing Saini as party secretary was issued. But if Mukhiya is to be believed,Saini has been reappointed. “He was removed,but he had a talk with Mulayam Singhji today and Sainiji was again made in charge of the party in western UP by Netaji,” Mukhiya told The Indian Express.

Waiting to defect

Awadh Pal Singh,who resigned as dairy development minister after indictment by the Lokayukta and was next suspended from the ruling BSP,is said to be anxiously waiting for the announcement of an electoral alliance between the RLD and the Congress. Since it is doubtful that the BSP will field him again,Awadh Pal Singh is banking on the goodwill of RLD chief Ajit Singh with whom he enjoys good relations. If the RLD gets his constituency Aliganj in Etah district in seat adjustment with the Congress,Awadh Pal hopes Ajit Singh would field him. He is also said to be in touch with Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid,parts of whose Lok Sabha constituency Farrukhabad falls in Aliganj,to ensure the Congress agrees to give Aliganj to the RLD.

Allies drifting apart

As elections draw closer,the distance between the BJP and NDA ally JDU(U) seems to be growing. On October 13,JD(U) president Sharad Yadav had flagged off Rajnath Singh’s yatra from Mathura. Party general secretary KC Tyagi had stated that JD(U) workers would participate in both BJP yatras — the other is led by BJP vice-president Kalraj Mishra — to make these successful. But JD (U) workers stayed away. Next came the statement that JD(U) would stay away from the rally at Ayodhya which the BJP has planned at the conclusion of the yatras on November 17. This was followed by BJP president Nitin Gadkari’s statement that his party will not have any electoral alliance in UP. Now the BJP is cosying up to Janwadi Party,a small outfit which focuses on grievances of the most backward,which the JD(U) also claims to represent.

No escape from politics

Apart from politics,what else do you expect at a Kayastha Rajnaitik Chetna Sammelan? But host Kayastha Vikas Parishad has claimed it had nothing to do with party politics,and they invited community leaders from all parties. As the proceedings got under way on Sunday,workers of various parties raised slogans of zindabad for their leaders. Some showed unhappiness that their leaders had not been given due importance and started leaving in groups. When Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai,who was the chief guest,got up to speak,almost half the ground was empty. Suddenly,there was a scramble for the souvenirs. An irritated Sahai remarked,“You cannot learn political knowledge from the souvenir. I will wait till everyone settles down.” By the time some semblance of order was restored,in walked a man waving a Samajwadi Party flag. Many in the gathering objected,and some rushed towards him,but he was promptly whisked away before worse could happen.

Winds of change

Last week saw fortunes of two scheduled caste IAS officers swing opposite ways. J N Chamber was posted as Principal Secretary,Agriculture,after a nine-month exile from the state capital. Until then,Chamber had been Member (Judicial) of the Board of Revenue at Allahabad where he was despatched after his daughter Disha Chamber quit the ruling BSP. On the other hand,Chandra Bhanu,who is secretary to the CM,found his wings clipped. As Secretary and Commissioner,Commercial Taxes,he was his own boss. But the government posted Balwinder Kumar as Principal Secretary,Commercial Taxes,above him. The bureaucracy is busy deciphering the meaning of these changes.