Goa sun again proves too hot

The Goa jinx seems to be taking its toll. Three years ago, when the BJP National Executive last met in this sunny beach resort, it was at lo...

The Goa jinx seems to be taking its toll. Three years ago, when the BJP National Executive last met in this sunny beach resort, it was at loggerheads with AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa. Within days of the meeting, she withdrew support to the Vajpayee Government, leading to the dissolution of the 12th Lok Sabha.

This time, it8217;s TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu who is on the warpath and once again, the BJP is back from Goa with its government in danger. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan couldn8217;t help but point out the irony of the situation to the BJP8217;s partners when the NDA met on Monday evening to appeal to Babu not to rock the boat. He made a wry note of the other factor which has made the jinx truly powerful. Both the National Executive meetings took place at the same time 8212; during the mid-term break of the Budget session!

Taking a leaf out of Indira8217;s diary

Although Sonia Gandhi is gradually developing her own distinctive style, she retains some of mother-in-law Indira Gandhi8217;s touches. She took time off from the hectic schedule at the Guwahati chief ministerial meet to visit the famous Kamakhya temple early in the morning. The tell-tale evidence was the tika she wore on her forehead when she appeared for the post-meet press conference. And like Indira Gandhi, she made it a point to wear a sari typical of the region. In this case, it was Assam8217;s Mekhala chaadar.

Of course, Sonia was not the only one to pay obeisance at Kamakhya. Several chief ministers and Working Committee members made a beeline for the temple as did some journalists who had gone to Guwahati to cover the meet. But according to local belief, it needs nine visits for a wish to be fulfilled.

Sangma lands in a spot at airport

It will surely go down as one of NCP leader and former Congressman P.A. Sangma8217;s most embarrassing moments. The day the Congress conclave in Guwahati ended, he entered the VIP room at the city airport only to wonder whether he had walked into the AICC headquarters by mistake. The waiting room was full of Congress leaders waiting to board their respective flights home.

Before he could decide whether to stay or go, Congress general secretary Mahavir Prasad said derisively, 8216;8216;Kyun Sangmaji, aaj aap galat raaste par kaise bhatak gaye How did you find yourself in the wrong place?8217;8217; Sangma was like a cat on a hot tin roof and he left as soon as decency permitted to wait in one corner of the general lounge. Obviously, his erstwhile colleagues are determined to keep the feud with the NCP alive despite their mutual political and electoral needs in Maharashtra and Meghalaya.

Diggy travels: Fly economy, ride high

Ever since he lost his government plane to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, Madhya Pradesh strongman Digvijay Singh seems to have decided to make a virtue out of austerity. He insisted on flying economy class to Guwahati along with the Congress proletariat. In the same plane, but in business class, were Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit, Deputy Leader of Opposition Shivraj Patil and Chief Whips Priyaranjan Dasmunshi and Pranab Mukherjee.

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When he was asked why he decided to be different, he quipped: 8216;8216;Both sections get to the destination at the same time.8217;8217; It8217;s not clear whether he won brownie points with Sonia Gandhi for his strict adherence to her austerity orders at Guwahati, but she did give him a pat on the back at her press conference for the success of his government8217;s education-for-all programme.