Inside track

For years Kumar, with his trade-mark handle-bar moustache, was Vajpayee8217;s faithful shadow. Kumar drove him everywhere as he had been assigned by the RSS to act as Vajpayee8217;s bodyguard. But what the rebels did not realise is that the faithful retainer is no longer as close to his master. Today, Kumar functions not from the Prime Minster8217;s residence or office but from Vajpayee8217;s earlier house on Safdarjung Road.

Another of the Prime Minister8217;s minions who has embarrassed him by acting without prior authorisation is Sudheendra Kulkarni, a director in the PMO. Kulkarni recently sent congratulations to Sharad Pawar8217;sOfficer on Special Duty, applauding the latter8217;s revolt against Sonia.

Gang against gang

The gang of four 8212; the fourth name varies, but Arjun Singh, M.L. Fotedar and V. George are the three constants 8212; was largely responsible for orchestrating the chorus demanding that Sonia Gandhi withdraw her resignation. It also made the arrangements for the Talkatora AICC session. The coterie ensured none of the members of the CWC, who are all under suspicion for not standing up to Sangma and Pawar at the CWC meeting, should be given any importance. In fact, Sonia8217;s decision to continue as party president was announced a day before the session simply to prevent anyone else from presiding over the function, including Pranab Mukherjee. S.C. Jamir, Nagaland CM, was selected to propose Sonia8217;s name because he is relatively unknown and as he is from the North-East, seen as a counter to P.A. Sangma.

What the gang had not bargained for was Jamir8217;s attack on the coterie surrounding Sonia in his speech. The gangblames Rajesh Pilot, who had worked with Jamir as minister for internal security, for this mischievous insertion, but it could just as well have been because of Jamir8217;s sneaking sympathy for Sangma.

A notable absentee was P.V. Narasimha Rao, who was invited personally by Sonia. Rao politely pleaded ill health. Strangely enough, Sitaram Kesri who has a more serious medical problem 8212; he collapsed on the dais and had to be helped up by Sonia 8212; insisted on attending, even though his heart is with Tariq Anwar.

Darbaris play safe

Just days before the AICC session, there was a meeting of CLP members, PCC presidents and chief ministers. Those who screamed the loudest for Sharad Pawar8217;s head, Ashok Gehlot, Jitendra Prasada and Ambica Soni, were known to be closest to him and feared their loyalty was suspect. In palace intrigues, no darbari is above suspicion, not even the chief tale carrier. Resentful of Arjun Singh8217;s growing influence, Congressmen have suddenly raked up the story that at his father8217;sfuneral some 50 years ago, Singh had sworn vengeance on the Nehru family, which he felt was responsible for sending his father to jail on corruption charges.

Clever non-appearance

Immediately after delivering their letter bomb, Sharad Pawar and P.A. Sangma left Delhi and refused to return for another CWC meeting since they feared, with some justification, that they would be lynched. School kids collected at 10 Janpath to demonstrate support was even taught to recite the rather bloody-minded slogan, 8220;Party ke gaddaron ko, goli maro salo ko.8221;

Pawar8217;s excuse for staying away from Delhi was he had been invited to a bio-technology conference in Pune. Sangma8217;s explanation that he had to attend his son8217;s graduation ceremony at the Wharton Business School in the USA is more credible. But thanks to Sangma, Murli Deora had to cancel a visit to witness his son8217;s graduation at Boston University even though his old friend Henry Kissinger was the chief guest. Deora had per force to remain in Delhi for theloyalist head count.

Damp inaugural

There was a chill breeze at the inauguration of the Kochi International Airport last week and it was not just because the monsoon had broken over Kerala the same day. The three politicians from different parties on the dais Minister for Civil Aviation Anath Kumar, Kerala CM E.K. Nayanar and ex-CM K. Karunakaran did not attempt to hide their antagonism towards each another. Each believes the credit for the airport should go to him. Nayanar in his speech kept referring to the aviation minister as Anil Kumar and hit the roof when the latter suggested naming the airport after the Adi Shankaracharya, whose ashram is just 2 km away. President Narayanan, who inaugurated the airport, interjected to say that Adi Shankaracharya was not known to have travelled by air. Karunakaran grumbled in private about the other two. President Narayanan did not deliver his speech but declared it should be taken as read since his voice would have been drowned out by the sound of thewind and the rain. But the stormy conditions on the dais may have contributed too!