All work,no play

The possibility of Parliaments winter session being extended to pass the Lokpal Bill has created a problem for some MPs and ministers

All work,no play

The possibility of Parliaments winter session being extended to pass the Lokpal Bill has created a problem for some MPs and ministers,particularly those linked with the BCCI. MoS for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla and BJP member Anurag Singh Thakur are among those hoping that the House does not sit on December 27,28 and 29,as proposed. For,if the session is indeed extended,Shukla and Thakur will have to abandon plans to fly down to Australia for a great New Year party watching the Boxing Day Test that begins in Melbourne on December 26.

Journey Continues

Senior BJP leader L K Advani heaved a sigh of relief when he got the opportunity in the Lok Sabha to finally take up the adjournment motion on black money last week. He promptly used the debate to underscore the Jan Chetna Yatra that he undertook across the country on the issue. The focus on his Jan Chetna Yatra continued today when he held a screening of a short documentary on the yatra at his residence for NDA leaders whom he had invited for dinner. Those attending had to watch the approximately 45-minute long film,made by his daughter Pratibha and including clips and interviews of Advani and other BJP leaders during the Yatra.

Staying the Course

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T K A Nairs shift from being the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister to being just an advisor has not completely reduced his relevance. Nair recently undertook a trip to the Naxal-affected districts of Jharkhand to make an assessment of Rural Development Minister Jairam Rameshs claims of having taken up the Saranda Forests area on a mission mode for development. The forests were recently declared free of Naxals. Nair is said to have checked on the feasibility of the projects suggested by the Rural Development Ministry.

Up and away

Ajit Singh may have taken over as the new Civil Aviation Minister,but he can rest assured that Uttar Pradesh will not leave him even in his high-flying ministry. After all,UP rules the roost in Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan these days. Consider this: Secretary Syed Nasim Ahmed Zaidi is an IAS officer of UP cadre and so is the CMD of Air India Rohit Nandan. Alok Sinha,one of the joint secretaries,also belongs to the UP cadre.

Date Watch

The Congress is anxiously awaiting the Election Commissions declaration of dates for the forthcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and it is not just because Rahul Gandhi is drawing sizeable crowds. At the Cabinet meeting on Sunday evening,some ministers were heard discussing the issue. Ten members of Rajya Sabha from the state are retiring in the first week of April. If the current Assembly is maintained till then,the BSP is assured of at least six seats. The Congress is quite keen to see that the new Assembly is formed earlier than that. It is hoping that it will increase its strength in the Assembly and would be able to send a couple of more members to the Rajya Sabha. Crucially,the Congress lacks a majority in the Rajya Sabha as of now.