Raman loves Montek

CM Raman Singh is grinning from ear to ear. Finally out of the shadows of his political mentor, veteran BJP leader Lakhi Ram Aggarwal, he8217;s completed a year as CM. His arch party rivals like Ramesh Bais and Dilip Singh Judeo, both sitting MPs and former ministers, have not been able to harm him. He has also managed to cut Bais, a kurmi, to size by not allowing him to become state BJP president. Singh has appointed over a dozen other disgruntled BJP leaders as chairmen, vice-chairmen and members of different PSUs and statutory bodies. Last week, his ministers and MLAs got a befitting gift after Singh provided a hefty increase in their monthly salaries and perks. But what about growing public disillusionment, the government8217;s non-performance, lack of development and the deteriorating law and order? Surely the CM must answer his public, not just his party.

Shackled Shukla

Former union minister V C Shukla is facing his worst days of political wilderness. But the NCP, which Shukla led here, did not die an unnatural death as was expected after he joined the BJP. In fact, Novel Verma, the lone NCP MLA and state party chief, says the NCP8217;s going stronger in Chhattisgarh. To test its strength, the party has fielded candidates for the urban bodies polls,even contesting the mayor8217;s posts at several places. Last week, Union MoS Suryakant Patil,a NCP leader, held meetings with local leaders and candidates. Patil claimed NCP would emerge as a third force in the state. Perhaps its time for Shukla to rejoin the party!

Cabling an alliance

Every Chhattisgarh politician seems to be fighting for control over the cable-network. G cable, a major network is owned by former Union minister and sitting BJP MP Ramesh Bais. The former central minister says he has not entered into the cable business by choice but by compulsion. Actually he was asked by the party to 8216;elbow out8217; home minister Brij Mohan Aggarwal from the cable trade.

Aggarwal, an influential city MLA had brought his brother Yogesh Aggarwal, a film artist and businessman to the cable job a year back after his men forcibly tookover the famous Akash Channel, earlier run by former CM Ajit Jogi8217;s son Amit Jogi. Aggarwal started Capital Cable Network. But he soon earned the party8217;s ire for misusing his position to control the business, almost the same way as Amit Jogi did in the previous government. So in comes Bais, a staunch Aggarwal rival in the party. Bais has joined hands with a leading city builder and Congress leader Gajraj Pagaria to run the cable network. In less than two months, G-cable has captured almost 99 percent of the cable business in Raipur and now proposes to go to other towns.

Political horror-scope

A senior minister in the Chhattisgarh government is getting his official bungalow redone and office refurbished according to vastu. He has already changed the entrance to the bungalow and is now busy changing the interiors. Brij Mohan Aggarwal, the state8217;s home minister and number two in the government, feels his stars are not favouring him. Ever since he shifted to a sprawling bungalow in Shankar Nagar area, Aggarwal has been beset by crises. Increased Naxalite violence, custodial deaths, murders and bank robberies are a direct result of his failure. Twice Aggarwal has also been pulled up by the CM for his 8216;poor show8217;. Party insiders claim Aggarwal was given an ultimatum either to perform or lose the high-profile portfolio.