Delhi Confidential: Good Allies

Senior BJP leaders Amit Shah and J P Nadda on Wednesday had a detailed discussion with their senior leaders from Tamil Nadu on the party’s strategy in the southern state. Sources said the central leaders clearly conveyed that the party will have to strengthen its ties with the AIADMK and that its state leaders should work in coordination with its ally. The state leaders were also told to refrain from making any public remarks against AIADMK or its leaders. However, conspicuous by his absence in the meeting was former BJP state chief K Annamalai while almost all other senior leaders, including the current state chief Nainar Nagendran, were present. It is learnt that Annamalai was invited for the meeting. His absence, however, has triggered speculation given that he had reservations on the party’s alliance with the AIADMK.

Double Invite

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president J P Nadda are set to host separate dinners for all party MPs attending the “BJP MP Karyashala” scheduled from September 6 to 8 in New Delhi. Nadda will host MPs at his residence on the opening day (September 6), while the PM’s invite is for September 8, on the eve of the Vice Presidential election.

Joint Effort

Days after senior BJP leader Vijay Goel, who has been vocal about the stray dogs issue, met Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh to press for changes in the existing Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules, a large number of activists have reached out to the minister through emails, urging him not to amend the rules. Singh’s office has received dozens of emails sent from different addresses but carrying identical text, indicating a coordinated effort to oppose any change in the rules, it is learnt.

Closure

Janata Dal (U) had issued a show-cause notice to its Banka MP Giridhari Yadav in July after he criticised the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. Sources in the party said Yadav submitted his reply last month, which was accepted. Insiders say the party decided not to pursue the matter further considering Yadav’s seniority, who is a four-time MP.