Numbers game

The Congress party is realising that its dependence on the volatile Mamata Banerjee is not going to end even with a favourable result in the UP elections.

Numbers game

The Congress party is realising that its dependence on the volatile Mamata Banerjee is not going to end even with a favourable result in the UP elections. The expected support of the Samajwadi Partys 22 MPs in return for Congress support for Mulayam Singh in forming a government in Lucknow might make Banerjee redundant as far as the numbers for UPA majority in the Lok Sabha is concerned. But the Congress would certainly need Banerjee in getting a candidate of its choice elected to the office of the President of India. The election for Rashtrapati Bhawans next occupant is to be held in July and it is learnt that the Congress has advised its West Bengal unit to restrain from retaliating to Banerjees frequent provocations till then.

Curious Coincidence

The Director General of National Security Guards NSG,

R K Medhekar,has a little over a month left to retire,and the first murmurs about his likely successor has started doing the rounds in IPS circles. The most talked about name is that of Arvind Ranjan,a 1977-batch IPS officer of the Kerala cadre who is currently serving as a Special DG in the BSF. Incidentally,Medhekar,too,is from Kerala cadre and he was also Special DG in BSF before taking charge of NSG. Whether coincidence alone is the reason for Ranjan being the frontrunner at this stage is something that will be known shortly.

Paying the Price

For all its attempts at professionalising cultural institutes and cutting red tape,the government is left in quite a spot when it comes to salary structures. A couple of months back,when the Culture Ministry approached a well-known art historian to head the National Museum,they offered what they considered a competitive salary package of Rs 1 lakh per month. The historian in question,however,is based abroad with a pay packet that comes close to Rs 50 lakh per year. Hardly a surprise that the National Museum continues in its headless state. Meanwhile,the ministry has decided to restart the process of hunting for a head for the countrys top museum.

Baby Steps

BJP MP Tarun Vijay had a unique way to show his concern for the children of the Indian couple in Norway,who have been staying with a foster family for about eight months now. Vijay,who met Norwegian envoy Ann Ollestad,gave her some Amul chocolates and a teddy bear for the two children in foster care. The ambassador promised him that she would get them delivered to the children.