Belly-button story

PRATIBHA PATIL’S name was included in the Congress’s ‘C’ list of prospective candidates as an afterthought. While preparing a list of woman nominees, in case the Left rejected the Congress’s ‘A’ and ‘B’ lists, the Rajasthan Governor’s name sprang to mind largely because she had just visited Delhi in connection with the Gurjjar violence in the state.

Patil’s resume looks more impressive on paper than in actuality. Her brief period as deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha during Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure as prime minister is cited to show that she is experienced in handling a legislature. But old-timers in Parliament recall that she officiated in the upper house for little over a year before Rajiv Gandhi removed her and brought back Najma Hepatulla. Patil was unable to keep the Opposition MPs in line when the Bofors scandal erupted. After that she was appointed president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee. A prominent Congress leader from the state now supporting her candidature vigorously had remarked at that time, “Why is this liability being thrust on us.”

Indispensable or dispensable

A supporter of Pranab Mukherjee noted bitterly that it took six weeks to come to the conclusion that Mukherjee was not the right name for the president’s post and six minutes to agree on Pratibha Patil’s name. If Mukherjee was so indispensable to the government, how come he wasn’t made prime minister, he wonders. Pratibha Patil was such a dark horse that a DMK leader even asked innocently whether she was the wife of Shivraj Patil when he was first told her name.

Piloting his course

The usual posters and blood donation camps to mark Rahul Gandhi’s 37th birthday last week were missing since the birthday boy was away in London. Some Youth Congress workers nevertheless created a photo op by producing a birthday cake and feeding it to a poster of Rahul. In Hyderabad, children wearing masks of Rahul Gandhi feasted on cake. To the dismay of sycophants, the Gandhi scion believes in keeping his political life and personal life in separate compartments. Not many party workers are aware of the details of Rahul’s private life, including the fact that in keeping with the family tradition he, too, is a pilot of sorts: one of his hobbies is to manoeuvre a miniature plane with a remote control device. While he generally drives a sober Tata Safari, Rahul has been seen testing out some high-speed cars lately, including a blue Lamborghini.

Gandhian approach

The guessing game for the UPA’s candidate for vice-president is on and this time it will be the Left’s call. An obvious candidate is West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi, who has the perfect qualifications. Apart from his impeccable pedigree of being Mahatma Gandhi and C. Rajagopalachari’s grandson, the former IAS officer has served as secretary to the vice-president and secretary to the president, besides holding several ambassadorial positions. But will the CPI(M) be big hearted enough to forgive Gandhi for his criticism of police brutality in Nandigram?

Wake-up call

The names of two prospective presidential candidates, Moti Lal Vora and Arjun Singh, were vetoed on account of their “ill health”. Health was actually a euphemism to describe the general complaint against both MPs that they are often found napping in Parliament.