Sweeping trend

The broom is turning out to be a metaphor for loyalty in politics. After Union minister Charandas Mahant,given charge of the Congress in Chhattisgarh

Sweeping trend

The broom is turning out to be a metaphor for loyalty in politics. After Union minister Charandas Mahant,given charge of the Congress in Chhattisgarh,said he would sweep the floor of the party office if Sonia Gandhi asked him to do so,its now Madhya Pradesh minister Kailash Vijayvargiya who has expressed a similar willingness; he has said he would sweep the floor should his party,the BJP,want him to. This was the industry ministers way of explaining he would contest the election from any seat,provided the party wished to field him. Madhya Pradesh votes later this year. Incidentally,the minister is known for giving morality lessons,usually directed at women,and for swearing by Indian culture.

Collect and score

The Congress has planned a show of strength on July 14 at Nasrullaganj,the home turf of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. But rather than be enthusiastic,local Congress leaders are worried about the event because they have been strictly told that their political careers hinge on the numbers they gather. Congress chief Kantilal Bhurias blunt message at a meeting was,Its your trial by fire. Just showing up wont help,you have to bring supporters along to be in the reckoning for the assembly elections. If reports are to be believed,the party plans to install cameras at the venue,mainly to keep an eye on the turnout that will decide the fate of leaders from Hoshangabad and Bhopal divisions.

For castes dignity

At a gathering of denotified,nomadic and semi-nomadic castes at his bungalow,the chief minister promised a better future for members of these castes,some of whom had been branded criminal tribes during British rule. The CM said he would send a recommendation to the Centre to accord scheduled tribes status on 51 castes. The gathering was told the government would formulate schemes to help make optimum use of their traditional skills and ensure their dignity is restored. Besides identity cards,loans and subsidies,the government promised them land titles. Three years ago,the same government had asked police to make a database of criminal elements in the Pardhi and Kanjar castes and keep an eye on their settlements because they had a criminal past.