Late Bloomer

BJP president Nitin Gadkari used to deliberately keep himself away from the power circuit of Delhi

BJP president Nitin Gadkari used to deliberately keep himself away from the power circuit of Delhi. After all,he liked to distinguish himself from the other Delhi-centric leaders in the party. So it was some surprise when Gadkari made his appearance at the swearing-in ceremony of President Pranab Mukherjee probably the first government ceremony he has attended. He used to otherwise shun government functions. Coming as it did close to the end of his three-year tenure,one would assume he is not a fast learner. But then,there is another way to view things: the BJP chief has taken to the power circuit quite early for his second term,which would begin towards the end of the year. Therefore,not too late.

Funding Freedom

IN its quest for better management of the nations monies,India Against Corruption seems to have missed a few tricks in its own fund management. IACs new website the topmost link in which is donate has done away with several regulations it had put in place earlier. The organisation used to desist from accepting online donations and had a Rs 10,000 per year cap on donation from a single individual. In the new donation form there is no ceiling,online donations are welcome,and there is no way to check the sums coming in from a single source unless one actually sits down to tally PAN details that have to be mandatorily disclosed as per law.

Changing Room

PARLIAMENTARY Affairs Minister Pawan Bansals meeting room was temporarily converted into a dressing room for Chief Justice of India S H Kapadia for the swearing-in ceremony of Pranab Mukherjee as President of the country. The CJI has to be attired in a specific dress that includes a white tunic and black coat. However,since he did not want to come dressed from home,the adjacent room to Bansals ministerial office was converted into a changing room with a portable washbasin and a mirror. The CJI changed his clothing here before proceeding for the swearing-in ceremony.

Reconciliation Rules

WHILE it was only Tuesday evening that the NCP announced its patch-up with the Congress,the signals of a truce had become evident in the morning itself. NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and his colleague Praful Patel,both of whom had not been attending to their ministerial functions for the last few days and had even boycotted the Cabinet meetings,sat in the ministers row during the swearing-in ceremony of President Pranab Mukherjee. Pawar also seems to have reconciled himself to the number three position in the Cabinet. In the row,he was sitting after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,former President A P J Abdul Kalam and Defence Minister A K Antony.

Political Role?

POLITICAL circles were surprised with filmstar Mithun Chakrabortys inclusion in Mamata Banerjees guest list for Pranab Mukherjees swearing-in on Wednesday. While Mithuns closeness to Didi is known in Bengal,what is not known is that Mithuns name featured in Pranab Mukherjees original guest list for the occasion as well. Sources said that the day Mamata Banerjee declared that she would,after all,vote for Mukherjee in the Presidential poll,Mithun called up Mukherjees close aides to convey the good news. Mithun was part of Mamatas entourage that flew down from Kolkata with her. He was also one of the few people who Mamata took to Pranabs residence on Tuesday night. With the TMCs penchant for bringing people from the film industry into politics,many were left wondering whether Mithun was being readied for a political role as well.