New arrangements

Ajit Singhs swearing-in ceremony at the Ashoka Hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan on Sunday was marked by thin attendance with many ministers

Ajit Singhs swearing-in ceremony at the Ashoka Hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan on Sunday was marked by thin attendance with many ministers,including Vyalar Ravi whose Civil Aviation portfolio was given to the RLD chief,failing to attend. This necessitated the removal of some empty chairs and redoing of seat arrangements,which also resulted in Singhs family members being moved twice to another row. Ajit Singhs son Jayant was,however,brought by Rahul Gandhi to the second row,right behind Congress president Sonia Gandhi,and the two young MPs and new allies were seen engaged in animated discussions. As for Ajit Singh,he would begin his new stint in the Cabinet dealing with issues of significant national importance,including the Lokpal Bill and the National Food Security Bill. Incidentally,the RLD has not been on the same page as the Congress as far as the latters stance on these two crucial issues is concerned.

False Expectations

When the Supreme Court decided to favour neither Kerala nor Tamil Nadu last week at the crucial Mullaperiyar dam row hearing,Keralas Water Resources Minister P J Joseph,who had spearheaded his states campaign across party lines,was left the most disappointed. Joseph,flanked by Idukki MP P T Thomas and former one Francis George,was present in court in a show of strength while Tamil Nadu,it is said,had only a secretary-level officer in attendance. Joseph,reliable sources say,had great expectations on the outcome of the hearing and was visibly upset afterwards as he was heard talking to the Kerala legal team in the court corridors. But sources in the Kerala legal team say there was nothing to be done as the Bench already knew the facts of the case thoroughly.

Bharti Darshan

Senior BJP leader Uma Bharti is never short on enthusiasm. Therefore,when L K Advani was on his anti-corruption yatra,the sanyasin had undertaken to embark on two simultaneous yatras,both to mobilise public support for the BJP. The first,UP bachao-BJP lao yatra,starting from December 1,was supposed to take her to all Assembly constituencies of UP. The second,Nadi-Navik Jal Bachao yatra,to be launched aboard a boat a week later,was targeted at Nishad,Bind,Kevat,Mallah and Kashyap Rajput communities,who depended upon the river for livelihood. But,nothing has been heard of the yatras since,though Bharti was briefly in the news in-between,for threatening to burn Walmart stores.

Raj Nostalgia

When it comes to cultural icons,India and Russia still seem to be stuck in the past. At the luncheon banquet hosted by Russian President Dmitri Medvedev for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his visiting delegation,the background music comprised Bollywood songs,all from Raj Kapoor films which were popular in Russia. Two number played at the official banquet were Awaara hoon and Jeena yahan marna yahan.

Conversation Stopper

Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari had a long chat with Congress president Sonia Gandhi before and after Ajit Singhs swearing-in ceremony at Ashoka Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhawan,which raised a lot of curiosity among those present. Sitting right beside Sonia,the two were seen engaged in discussions. At the tea after the swearing in ceremony,Ansari,Sonia and Rahul were again seen engaged in intense discussions.