That's what friends are for Meet the new political bum-chums. The Union minister, LK Advani, and the Tehelka ravaged former defence minister, George Fernandes, are now inseparable. They talk for long hours, travel together and hold rallies to live down the NDA's Tehelka shame. One other subject of common interest between the dosts - to get even with the Vajpayee-favourite Jaswant Singh, who has within his clasp the crucial portfolios of external affairs and defence. Another thing between friends - once the Venkatswami commission gives a clean chit to the NDA convenor, Advani and George allegedly have plans to swap posts. The home minister would become raksha mantri and George the minister for internal security and home. For Advani, who recently found out that Sardar Patel actually occupied the South Bloc and not his present office, it will be his chance to inhabit the chamber Patel once sat in. But if occupancy of a seat made one into its former occupant, Advani should have become BR Ambedkar by now. Looks like personal choice has stalled the process here. Anyway, our minister with his dear friend is trying his utmost to stave off the Tehelka storm. One reason to meet the media baron and TDP sympathizer, Ramaji Rao, who was requested to persuade N Chandrababu Naidu to join hands with the NDA. With the 29 TDP MPs, NDA could make up for the recent desertions. Friends in need are friends indeed? Pandemonium in the house If Congresswallahs haven't developed a fear psychosis about Parliament, it would be a miracle of sorts. Proceedings in the two houses are becoming a nightmare for the party because every advantage for the opposition somehow turns into the stickiest of points. The second part of the budget session proved to be no different when after its hopeless performance in the Lok Sabha, the Congress found itself the laughing stock in the Rajya Sabha as well. Manmohan Singh decided to take on Yashwant Sinha on customsgate, challenging the finance ministry on how it had appointed BP Verma as chairman of the Central board of customs despite the vigilance inquiries. One could see Singh eating his words when Sinha promptly got up and began reading from the confidential report given by the finance ministry when Manmohan was himself in charge. The CR, much to Singh's consternation, spoke highly of Verma. Unable to bear it any longer, Singh and his party were seen trooping out of the house as Sinha continued to regale members with more details of Verma's CR. Little wonder the Congress so readily agreed to the adjournment move. All there is in a name The other side of politics. The common surname with the former Samata Party president, Jaya Jaitly, seems to have become a major problem for the other Jaitleys. Each time there is an allegation against Jaya Jaitly, it is presumed by the minions that the woman is the better half of the Union law minister, Arun Jaitley. To elaborate on this difficulty. Soon after the Tehelka expose, Arun's wife had gone for a medical examination. At the medical centre, Mrs Jaitley was amazed to find doctors, nurses and the other members of the staff looking at her rather strangely. Some even went to the length of sympathizing with her, adding that she was being harassed for no fault of hers. Our lady continued to be befuddled by the varied expressions, till the medical reports reached her. The reports were addressed to Jaya Jaitley, w/o Arun Jaitley. The attendance of the Arun Jaitleys at the wedding of Jaya Jaitly's daughter, Aditi, was probably to clear the confusion. One Jaitly, presumably, is not as good as the other. Monkeys in our orchard The other side of Calcutta. At the Chandni Chowk Metro station, reveries were suddenly broken by a loud bark, 'You cannot do this'. This was either from the footballer Chima, or a Chima look-alike and meant for a bhadrolok who had displayed a rare agility by suddenly overtaking the man in front and punching his ticket on the exit gate. While the one with the athletic frame argued that it was his turn, the other slunk away. But he had the bhadrolok brigade to take up his cause. In a chorus, thebabus hurled their choicest invectives at the rebel. His colour was discussed and so was his race. Then he, together with the rest of his breed, were referred to as jambubans (monkeys), who had taken over Bengal's sports and who dared to hold the bhadrolok in contempt. All this in pure vernacular and in third person to the back of the gigantic man who strode out of the Metro station and into the burning Central Avenue beyond. Would you still doubt Bengali courage? Footnote / He's got the ticket to ride It's one man holding up the Congress baton. Chief minister of Chhattisgarh, Ajit Jogi, starts his day and his speeches in the praise of Soniaji, 'Unke kripa se, unki aashirwad se mein mukhya mantri bana hoon ('With her wishes and blessings, I have become the chief minister'). And quite justifiably. The former party spokesman, was neither an MLA, nor an MP from Chhattisgarh. He had, moreover, lost the Lok Sabha elections from Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh. And in the rat race for the hot seat, he was struggling behind a dozen candidates with only three of the 48 Congress MLAs in the state by his side. It was madam who made him the CM and Jogi is all gratitude. Naturally he believes, 'Is desh ko agar koi sawar sakta hai, saja sakta hai, chala sakta hai, woh hai Soniaji (if there is anyone in this country who can nourish it, embellish it, run it, it is Sonia)'. Naturally also, it is Jogi and not Digvijay Singh, the one who finally garnered 41 MLAs to Jogi's side, who gets a joyride with madam in her aircraft for the next programme in Bhopal. And thereafter for another meeting in Mumbai. Looks like Jogi will go places.