Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s dismissive remarks on the Indo-Iran gas pipeline project are not entirely because of American pressure. The PM is irritated by the Petroleum Ministry’s tendency to cut out the Ministry of External Affairs from the negotiations with Iran and Pakistan on the pipeline deal. During Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyer’s visit to Iran last month, his Additional Secretary, Talmiz Ahmed, broke protocol by bypassing the Indian embassy in Teheran while setting up the minister’s meeting with Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh. Rather than the MEA, the Petroleum Ministry has been using the services of a leading, but highly controversial, NRI business family with old links in Iran as a facilitator. But with President-elect Mahmoud Ahmedinejad certain to replace the oil minister, who was close to President Khatami, the Petroleum Ministry may have erred in putting all its eggs in one basket. Ahmedinejad has talked of reprisals against those who have profiteered from oil at the expense of the national exchequer and it is assumed that Zanganeh is one of his targets. Dal mein kuch kala Two Marandis from Jharkhand, both with a grouse against their respective parties, flew to Mumbai recently fueling rumours about new political alignments. Stephen Marandi of the JMM is furious with his leader Shibu Soren for promoting his son at his expense. The BJP’s Babulal Marandi, a former chief minister, is fuming at being completely sidelined in the present dispensation and has aligned himself with another malcontent, Yashwant Sinha. The general assumption in Jharkhand is that the Marandis went to Mumbai to talk with Sharad Pawar, the NCP boss, who has the uncanny knack of attracting disgruntled political elements. Pawar, who has never bothered with the sensibilities of his Congress ally and recently lent his shoulder to the disgruntled TRS MPs to cry on, is busy expanding the NCP in many States. Pawar, however, denies that he met the Marandis. ‘‘I do not know these two gentlemen’’ was his cryptic comment. The rather facile explanation in Congress quarters is that both Marandis were trying to woo disgruntled BJP MLAs of Maharashtra but the plan got aborted after the RSS onslaught on Advani. But why would two politicians from Jharkhand try to influence Maharashtra’s MLAs is not clear. Buttressing tenuous claim The much-speculated upon Cabinet reshuffle has once again been put on hold. Since the rumour was that Congress general secretary Ambica Soni was certain to be made a Cabinet Minister, her detractors in her own party were quick to trumpet that her wings had been clipped yet again. An MP quipped ‘‘her face may glow, but it does not match her political low.’’ But considering the large number of Congress persons who line up seeking an audience with her, Soni still clearly remains a power to reckon with in the party. Foreign Minister Natwar Singh joked that it was remarkable how despite all the clipping of Soni’s wings they kept growing back to full size. He suggested that clipping may not be enough, her wings would have to be plucked! Cabinet hopefuls from the Congress ranks may per force have to swallow their disappointment in stoic silence, but one who is on the warpath over the constant postponement of the Cabinet expansion is Shibu Soren. He had not bargained that after his attempted coup in Jharkhand failed, he would not automatically get back his old slot in the Cabinet. Metro-Nomical Though Connaught Place was officially re-named Rajiv Gandhi Chowk back in 1991, few in Delhi ever called New Delhi’s oldest shopping centre by that name. But now thanks to the newly installed Metro line, the name Rajiv Gandhi Chowk is finally gaining currency.
