Picture with high & mighty matters

picture with the most powerful person can do wonders. According to political circles in Patna, dissident JD(U) MP Rajiv Ranjan alias Lallan Singh recently realised it. Ever since a photograph of chief minister Nitish Kumar and Lallan appeared in newspapers, cars have started stopping outside his house and his telephone has started ringing. After he revolted against Nitish three years ago, even Lallan's neighbours deserted him,” said a senior JD(U) leader, stressing that he did not know if Lallan would be taken back in the party fold. “But the picture appears to have worked favourably for him,” the JD(U) leader stressed. It is not surprising that politicians flaunt photographs of themselves with the most powerful political figure in their drawing rooms.

Governor transfer talk

he speculation about Governor Devanand Konwar being removed from his post appears to have intensified after a report of accountant-general (AG) indicted him for “illegal appointment” of VCs and “unauthorised visits” outside the state — particularly his home state Assam. Konwar, also the chancellor of the state universities, has aired his resentment over the “selective leaks” of the report. “The main reason for his worry is that a central agency has sent the AG report to the Union home ministry. But Konwar Saheb should be able to sail through this situation. Neither he, nor his appointed VCs appear to believe in following the rules. All of them have powerful connections,” said a JD(U) minister, recalling that there was strong indication about Konwar's removal about a year ago. “But he survived,” mourned he minister.

Tabs on the ally

hile the war of words between the JD(U) and the BJP has subsided, the mistrust still appears strong. Cameramen are being hired by the district BJP units to cover the programmes of their ally. “The district units of the BJP have been asked to send videos of the JD(U) programmes to the state headquarters,” said a BJP leader, defending the decision on the ground that his party must keep a tab on the JD(U). “If they ditch us we will know how to deal with them,” he said. Incidentally, the JD(U)’s tree plantation and membership drive in on. In a few days, the chief minister will be visiting all districts to drum up support for the party’s Gandhi Maidan rally scheduled on December 6. “The picture of the crowd drawn by the chief minister should give the BJP something to worry about,” said a JD(U) leader.

Worry of BJP

he anxiety in the BJP is growing before the monsoon session of the Assembly. The post of the chairperson of Bihar Legislative Council still appears to elude them. It had the post before it refused to extend the tenure of Tarakant Jha. The party is now projecting former minister Awadhesh Narayan Singh as a candidate for the post. “The problem is that the new man has to be initiated on the post by chief minister Nitish Kumar. But Nitishji is playing cool,” said a BJP leader. Jha, the former chairperson of the House, is saying that he is no longer in the BJP. But senior BJP leaders insisted that he was in the party and was making such statements out of anger.