Poll-starsChandra Shekhar's contribution in developing his Ballia constituency is minimal, his attitude is that issues like building roads and water and electricity shortages are too mundane for a leader of his national stature. Shekhar is so confident that he held his first meeting in Ballia just a week before the poll date and he did not utter a word, but allowed Mulayam Singh Yadav to do all the talking. If Shekhar remains the undisputed front-runner in Ballia, it is not because of his national image, but simply because Thakurs, the community to which he belongs, and Yadavs, who support him courtesy Mulayam, arithmetically make a winning combination in this region. His only real competition is from the BSP, for the BJP has fielded a weak candidate, perhaps intentionally.Incumbent MPs in UP are generally at a disadvantage, unless they have done appreciable work in their constituencies. The BJP's only Muslim MP Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi from Rampur has an additional problem. He delegated a relativeknown locally as `chachaji' to handle his constituency. Now when Naqvi goes asking for votes, constituents complain that `chachaji' used to charge for getting any work done. `Chachaji' is no longer very visible in Rampur, but Naqvi has to bear the brunt.Down south, former Speaker G.M.C. Balayogi who has carefully nursed his Amalapuram constituency is leaving no stone un-turned. The Lok Sabha secretariat has even bought out a compilation of his parliamentary speeches and he has distributed 5,000 glossy booklets (cost Rs 160 apiece) in his constituency. If no party has complained about the misuse of official machinery, it is because in any case few voters here read English.Future ShockIt is expected that if the NDA returns to power, the Janata Dal(U), whose members have always held that the tale should wag the dog, will spell trouble. But the BJP's internal dissensions will be equally problematic and perhaps more immediate. Kalyan Singh will not be fobbed off with a central ministership if he isdumped as Chief Minister of UP. Kalyan is seriously considering aligning with Mulayam to form an OBC party of Yadavs, his fellow Lodhs and Kurmis. Kalyan feels he has been pushed to the wall by the upper castes in the party. The BJP candidate from Aligarh, Sheila Gautam's recent petition to the Election Commission expressing lack of confidence in her own party Chief Minister is an open declaration of war by the upper castes. The BJP should have learnt a lesson after the Vaghela debacle in Gujarat. Not surprisingly Vaghela, also an OBC, is in touch with the Kalyan camp.Selective entryThe specifications for the post of Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission are so specific that only three men qualify for the job. The appointee has to be a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and under 70 years. With M.S. Venkatachalliah about to retire the choice boils down to J.S. Verma, A.M. Ahmadi and M.M. Punchhi, with the present government favouring Verma.Retiring Chairman Venkatachalliahhad his share of problems with the members. Former Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha Sudershan Aggarwal is often absent because of spondilytis. Former CBI director D.R. Karthikeyan has his own busy schedule addressing conferences and the NHRC is not kept informed of his programmes. Another member has a habit of issuing sumo moto notices to the government demanding relief for the petitioners without first investigating the case.Computer campaignerDewang Mehta, the dynamic president of NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Service Companies), is a campaigner who cuts across party lines, doing his bit for those who have helped the software industry. In Allahabad, he addressed a rally in favour of the BJP's Murli Manohar Joshi who has installed an IIIT (Indian Institute for Information Technology) in Allahabad. In Mumbai, he campaigned for Congress MP Murli Deora whose MG Institute of Computer Education offers free computer education. Another stop was Hyderabad to lend a hand to the TDP'sChandrababu Naidu who has transformed Hyderabad into a hi-tech city.Insecurity over securityThe SPG is hurt that motives are being attributed because it is doing its level best to protect Sonia Gandhi during the campaign. After the announcement of elections, the Prime Minister at a special meeting with IB and home ministry officials emphasised that Sonia was to be given additional security because of the increased threat perception. More policemen have been inducted for Sonia's security cover and state police forces are posted at every junction along her route, which is why her programme cannot be altered at the last minute. Sonia cannot travel more than 50 kilometres at a stretch by road and an open jeep is definitely out.
