Delhi Confidential: New & Old

The Ministry of Rural Development has officially shifted to the newly constructed Kartavya Bhavan-03. However, minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, it is learnt, will continue to function from his current office at the Krishi Bhawan. His deputy, MoS Kamlesh Paswan, and senior officials have already relocated to the new premises. Sources say for official consultations from time to time, officers will have to meet Chouhan either at the Krishi Bhawan or at his official bungalow — 12, Safdarjung Road.

In Letter ‘V’ Trust

Amid apprehensions over the impact actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) could make in the electoral politics in poll-bound Tamil Nadu, some Congress leaders are taking solace in the occult insignificance of alphabet ‘V’. Sources said some astrologers are giving little credence to any long-term impact Vijay could make, citing leaders whose names also started with ‘V’. Examples on offer are that of former Rajya Sabha MP Vaiko who started with a bang but his relevance in the state politics ‘has slid’. Then there is the example of Vasan, son of Tamil Maanila Congress founder late G K Moopanar, who also could not make it big in the state’s political landscape. DMDK founder late Vijayakanth started with a strong bonding with the masses and managed to win more than 10% votes in 2009, but the party’s vote share came down to less than 1 per cent by 2021.

Vocal For Local

Amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s renewed push for ‘swadeshi’ products under the GST 2.0 regime, the BJP is learnt to have started preparations for ‘vocal for local’ fairs across the country. Planned in all districts later this month, locally-made products will be up for sale at the fairs in a bid to promote small and medium businesses.