Proxy inputs

Samajwadi Party MP Mohan Singh has been avoiding an interaction with his party colleagues ever since he was sacked from the position of national spokesperson

Proxy inputs

Samajwadi Party MP Mohan Singh has been avoiding an interaction with his party colleagues ever since he was sacked from the position of national spokesperson. A member of the partys manifesto drafting committee,Mohan Singh decided to skip the latest meeting of the committee. But just in case his decision was seen as a rebellion against the party,he sent in his typed inputs for incorporation into the manifesto.

In comeback mode

Once faced with hostility both within and outside the party,former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje seems to have everything going for her now. There is a strong anti- incumbency working against the Congress government headed by Ashok Gehlot. And,within the BJP,Rajes former detractors have either got too aged or lost their sheen due to successive setbacks. Everyone in the party is now reconciled to the fact that Raje is all set to head the next state government whenever elections are held. But,Raje,it seems,is in no hurry to step in and embark on any major crusade against Gehlot. With two years still left for the polls,she prefers to wait,reserving her ammunition when elections are close. Timing,after all,is crucial in politics.

English honour

Weeks before his retirement,Culture Secretary Jawhar Sircar has been selected for an honour from the British Museum. The museum has decided to confer its inaugural British Museum Medal on him in recognition for his efforts to pilot reforms in Indian museums and bring in improvements and modernisation. The announcement of the award has almost coincided with the finalisation of a 14-point agenda for museum to improve the sad state of affairs of Indian museums. But while that may take time to implement,the irony is that the National Museum in Delhi doesnt have a full time director general for over a year.

Selection turbulence

Almost four months after a selection panel chose R K Tyagi to head the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited HAL,the official is yet to take over the top post. Tyagi,who is the chairman and managing director of Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd,was selected by the panel in October but has not been appointed,leading to speculation that the ministry is rethinking his selection. Meanwhile,P V Deshmukh,an HAL old timer,continues to officiate as the chairman since October 31,when Ashok Nayak retired.

The elusive rank

The Principal Secretary to Prime Minister generally carries the rank of a Minister of State. But because of some reason,the high-profile Pulok Chatterji is yet to get that. In fact,till recently the website of the Prime Ministers Office showed Chatterji as holding the MoS rank. Curiously,that has been removed now. Chatterjis predecessor T K A Nair,who has now been designated as Adviser to PM,though continues to carry the MoS rank.