Khurana plays shrinking violet

Khurana, who had publicly stated that the chief ministership ought to have been returned to him once he was cleared by the Supreme Court of wrongdoing in the Jain hawala case, apparently believes that nothing short of a miracle can turn the party8217;s fortunes around in the state. Sources close to him say that he would rather his arch-rival and current CM Sahib Singh Varma carry the can if the BJP does not return to power. Nevertheless, the BJP top-brass is using all its powers to persuade Khurana to step into Sahib Singh8217;s worn-out shoes. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee even had a one-to-one meeting with him today.

Sahib Singh had a breakfast session at 29, Ferozeshah Road 8212; the residence of Venkaiah Naidu, who is in-charge of the Delhi elections. He was joined by his cabinet colleagues and the state party chief Mange Ram Garg. By afternoon, Naidu was in the Delhi party office at Pant Marg where he had meeting with Garg and other senior state leaders.

Garg skirted a question of a change in the leadership with a cryptic reply: 8220;I have nothing to hide. I have never said the Delhi CM Chief Minister is not going to change. The elections are coming8221;!