Lucknownama: Late shift

Absent awardee

Not only did Mulayam Singh Yadav not go to London to receive his International Jurists Award,but none else went to receive it on his behalf. The organisers had invited son Akhilesh Yadav also,but he could not go when the Assembly was in session. Sources in the Samajwadi Party said Akhilesh did not want his father to go either because he was working on his first budget and thought he may need help. Somebody then suggested that Mulayam could send cousin Ramgopal Yadav to receive the award on his behalf. But Ramgopal,too,did not show any interest.

Talking matter

Among those the state government invited for an interaction with Bill Gates at the Chief Minister’s residence was Apna Dal’s first-time MLA Anupriya Patel. Her inclusion in the group,which otherwise consisted of ministers and ruling party MLAs,caused some surprise. Even Anupriya was surprised on getting the invitation,it is learnt. Official sources said she was invited because she is articulate and,unlike Samajwadi Party’s first-timer MLAs there,fluent in English.

Candidate calculations

Dinesh Sharma’s supporters see a conspiracy behind the decision to name him as the BJP candidate for the Lucknow mayor’s election. They say that some senior leaders want to ease Sharma out of contention for the party ticket for the Lucknow Lok Sabha seat in 2014. Sharma had won the mayor’s election in 2006 with good votes,and was keen on contesting the next Lok Sabha election. But quite a few senior party leaders were also eyeing the Lucknow seat because it is considered a BJP stronghold. Among them is a national leader who has developed the habit of changing his constituency in every election. These leaders pushed Sharma’s name with the simple calculation that if he wins,the party will ask him to continue as mayor; but if he loses,it can be used as an argument to reject his claim to the ticket for the Lok Sabha election.

Protest for protocol the bandh called by the Samajwadi Party against the petrol price hike evoked good response in the state. But in Lucknow (North) constituency,party workers did not organise any protest. In other adjoining constituencies,however,they took out processions and closed shops. A partyman explained: “North is the constituency of Mantriji. Let him come and organise the bandh.” Mantriji is none other than Abhishek Mishra,Minister of State for Protocol. Mishra,who is often seen with Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav,may perhaps be the most sought-after minister,but partymen in Lucknow (North) complain he has no time for them.