In the name of the PM

And even worse,they used the PM as a reason to scuttle the meet before the Planning Commission

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced last month at a public rally with Rahul Gandhi in Bundelkhand that the committee formed to come up with a Bundelkhand package would be meeting on May 20,but the BJP MPs on the committee ensured that no meeting took place. And even worse,they used the PM as a reason to scuttle the meet before the Planning Commission. They claimed that they had to be in Bina because Manmohan Singh was there to inaugurate a refinery. Such a display of fraternity with the PM did raise eyebrows,but was not enough to honour his public commitment on Bundelkhand.

RED FLAG

Tamil Nadu is not a Maoist-affected state but the result of the recent Assembly elections is likely to have a major repercussion on the fight against Naxalites. The new Chief Minister,J Jayalalithaa,is learnt to be actively seeking the services of IPS officer K Vijay Kumar,currently Director General of CRPF,to head the states police force. A 1975-batch officer of Tamil Nadu cadre,Kumar was brought into the CRPF only last year to launch a crackdown on the Maoists.

ADVANCE PLANNING

The TV footage showing a distinctly deferential D Raja bowing when he came face-to-face with AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa at her swearing-in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has been noticed in Left circles with keen interest. Till this happened,Raja was perceived to be personally close to DMK chief M Karunanidhi,who had given him a Rajya Sabha seat in 2007 notwithstanding the fact that the CPI had only six members in the Assembly. Though his Rajya Sabha seat is booked till 2013,Raja obviously has to start working on Jayalalithaa well in advance to try for a second coming. Two years can be a long time in politics.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE

The CBI always at the receiving end of the Opposition criticism and currently at the centre of multiple controversies seems to be in a mood to receive some tips from foreign intelligence experts to improve its functioning style. After inviting a former FBI director,the agency has extended an invite to Ian Blair,the former commissioner of Londons Metropolitan Police,for attending its raising day function in June. Blair was the commissioner from 2005 to 2008 and this is the first time that the agency is inviting a foreign guest for its annual event. Blair,who had received several honours during his tenure,is likely to speak on tackling corruption- and terrorism-related incidents. Clearly,he will be heard with rapt attention.

TARRED WITH THE SAME BRUSH

The standard defence by the BJP top brass against the constant accusations against Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa is that his predecessors had done more wrong than him. Perhaps taking a cue from the partys central leadership,the BJP state unit has now listed out the number of leases for mining recommended by Congress and JDS chief ministers and in the process unwittingly put the focus on BSY as well. A pamphlet brought out by the Karnataka BJP says BSYs predecessors had actively colluded with the mining lobby and allowed rampant and excessive mining. To prove its charge,it alleges that S M Krishna had recommended to the Centre for a grant of 16 iron ore mining leases during his tenure,Dharm Singh 43 and H D Kumaraswamy 47. Curiously,it lists 24 recommendations against BSYs name too.