Nitish utters PM’s name

Chief minister Nitish Kumar has been reluctant to take Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name at his public meetings. However, while addressing a gathering at a recent function he recalled that Modi, while campaigning for Assembly polls in Bihar, had repeatedly asked: “Bijli ayee, bijli ayee (Has power arrived)?”. 

The chief minister said: “We were surprised at the PM’s utterances, because we had done so many things to improve power in Bihar. In Samastipur, a section of the crowd at his rally even replied that ‘bijli aa gayee (power has come)’. You all know what happened afterwards. When Modi visited the state after the elections, he praised work done in the power sector.” 

Nitish’s supporters and allies were surprised. “We have waited for so long to hear Nitish utter the Prime Minister’s name,” said an RJD worker. “But ever since the two met during Prakash Utsav in January, Nitishji has never uttered a word in favour or against Prime 

Minister Modi in public. Today, he broke the self-imposed embargo.”

Holi dampener

Holi is no longer what it used to be at RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s house. The former chief minister, who popularised kapra phaar Holi (wild play of the festival of colours marked by tearing apart of clothes), stuck to the civilised use of gulal this time. He claimed he was observing a low-profile Holi because of deaths caused by hailstorm. But BJP leaders attributed the low-profile celebrations to his son-in-law’s defeat in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. 

They even said Lalu was shocked by his son-in-law’s defeat. One place where the Holi mood was unhindered by the BJP’s sweep of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls was 3 Deshratna Marg — the official residence of Lalu’s eldest son Tej Pratap, who is also the health minister. “Tej Pratap and his friends played a wet Holi. The only time he was upset was when he learnt why a friend of his arrived late for the revelry — because he had gone to meet Tejashwi,” said a source.

Positive change

The NDA held a routine meeting of its legislators recently when the two Houses were in session. When an NDA MLA was handed over an invitation for the meeting and dinner, he declared he was “pleasantly surprised”.

“Previously, the meetings used to be held at senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi’s official residence on Polo Road, followed by a vegetarian dinner, as Modiji is a vegetarian,” an MLA said. “This time it is being held at a posh hotel in Patna. The results of the Assembly polls in five states appear to have had a positive impact on the NDA in Bihar.”

Scam impact

The impact of the BSSC question paper leak scam is still being felt in the corridors of power. The most affected are personal assistants (PAs) of ministers - who usually call up authorities to express the desire of their political bosses. A senior minister’s PA recently lost his cool when an acquaintance called him up to seek favours in his department. 

“Are you not aware of the climate prevailing now,” the minister’s PA shot back. “People are going to jail for just making a telephone call. Do you want me to land in jail,” he asked before slamming the phone. “It is having a positive impact, too,” another PA remarked. “I know of cases where PAs used to drop the minister’s name without his knowledge.”