A Pawar highway

On finally reaching Nashik, Pawar swiftly made a decision over a long-pending local demand. Nashik, almost as equidistant to Mumbai as Pune has always sulked over favouritism by western Maharashtra leaders to Pune at its cost.

That very day Pawar announced that four-laning of the Mumbai-Nashik highway would be taken up with the Union cabinet. He immediately shot directions to officials, ministers of both state and central governments and fixed a meeting in Delhi to finalise the issue. Of course, it got the nod.

Family hold back

Until October, vendor turned high-profile politician, Kripa Shankar Singh was recognised as the most powerful Congress leader in Maharashtra for the simple reason that he had direct access to 10 Janpath.

Singh was probably the only politician in Maharashtra, capable of securing an appointment with Congress president Sonia Gandhi at a day8217;s notice. Even Vilasrao Deshmukh during his earlier stint as Chief Minister, was completely dependent on Singh for appointments with 8216;Madam.8217;

But Singh did not know that his power and access to 10 Janpath was shortlived. When Deshmukh declared his cabinet, his name was glaringly absent from the list.

Quickly, accompanied by his entire family, Singh called on Sonia to plead his case. But this time, it did not work.

Will Pune be Bangalored?

The world8217;s largest software company8217;s India head Ravi Venkatesan had a warning for emerging IT hub, Pune.

His message was out loud and clear: Shape up or lose out. For, Pune is going the Bangalore way. Giving a clear notice to the state government, Venkatesan made it clear that Pune was not on the Big Brother8217;s expansion radar. And the reason: the government is not promoting the state anywhere near as aggressively as it should be doing. Will Pune be Bangalored?

Simply Marvellous Krishna

The opposition Shiv Sena and BJP leaders stayed away from governor S M Krishna8217;s swearing-in ceremony on Monday. But those who did make it whispered that SM was short for Simply Marvellous.

Political bickerings over former Karnataka CM Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna8217;s 72 8216;8216;anti-Maharashtra8217;8217; stance over two states8217; lingering border dispute were voiced aloud on news of his appointment, but big-time investors have reason to be only happy.

On assuming office in Mumbai, Krishna said: I know, investors are coming to Maharashtra in a big way,8217;8217; he said. 8216;8216;I will certainly guide them if they come to me.8217;8217;

Big city bikes

When former mayor of Bogota, Enrique Penalosa, made a presentation about his city, he spoke of a city without cars, a model city, where roads are meant only for people. And he did have a solution for Pune8217;s traffic mess too. Forget the BMWs and Toyotas, travel by a two-wheeler or bicycle!