What an Idea

During the tense last few minutes of the Lokpal debate in the Rajya Sabha,the Chairperson had adjourned the House for 15 minutes to discuss with floor managers

During the tense last few minutes of the Lokpal debate in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday,the Chairperson had adjourned the House for 15 minutes to discuss with floor managers of all parties whether the House could be extended beyond midnight that day. With the government and Opposition deeply divided on this issue,it was CPM MP Sitaram Yechurys remark that lightened up a tense atmosphere. Yechury suggested that the Chairperson can let the House function according to the Hindu calendar according to which a new day starts at sunrise.

Time to shoot

Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singhs love for photography is no secret. His amateur skills are now being utilised in the election rallies in Uttar Pradesh. Recently,at a Rahul Gandhi rally,he was seen clicking furiously at the crowd while standing right behind the Congress general secretary. Clearly,being in-charge of Uttar Pradesh,one of his minor duties would be to record the attendances at the party rallies in the state.

Fogged out

They were the ones who put a fog on the Lokpal Bill. But when it came to the real fog,they were rendered helpless. After the midnight drama in the Rajya Sabha,many Trinamool Congress MPs,including Mukul Roy,headed straight to the airport to catch their flights to Kolkata. Only to realise that their flights were delayed because of fog. Having reached the airport at around five in the morning,they had to wait for close to six hours before their flights could take off. The partys Lok Sabha MPs were,however,luckier. Since the Lok Sabha had been adjourned early,many of them could catch their flights on the same day. Kalyan Banerjee left for a pilgrimage-cum-tourism holiday to Puri while Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi headed for South India.

Clan War

Nephews of two senior leaders of Maharashtra leaders ganged up to settle political scores with one of them. Dhananjay Munde has humbled uncle Gopinath Munde by masterminding the defeat of the latters nominee in the election for the presidentship of the municipal committee of home-turf Parli. Dhananjay had fallen out with the senior Munde after his claim for a ticket in the 2009 Assembly polls were ignored in favour of Mundes daughter Pankaja Palwe. Helping him in his endeavour was Finance Minister of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar,nephew of Sharad Pawar. The Pawars have been extremely upset with Munde ever since his campaign against Sharad Pawar for alleged underworld links. Mundes candidate unfortunately got caught between the fight between the two warring clans.

Horns of Dilemma

Karan Singh,hopeful for the office of the President of India,is faced with a dilemma. His Rajya Sabha term is expiring this month. While he is seeking a renomination,if he does get another term,that could mean the end of his Presidential ambitions yet again. The elections for the President of India is scheduled for the middle of this year. While there is no bar on a Rajya Sabha MP being elected to the post,the Congress is unlikely to nominate someone only for six months. But if he leaves Rajya Sabha seat in hope of Presidential nomination,he is in danger of losing both.