Buzz in Delhi: The man who defied Amit Shah

BJP National President Amit Shah enjoys godly clout over party and the government. Going against him, in present day political set up, would be somewhat equal to political suicide. But, a rebel from his own party, Ghanshyam Tiwari, has defied him time and again. A bete noire of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje, Tiwari had refused to meet Shah when he was on a visit to Rajasthan. When BJP leaders tried to convince him to meet Shah, he declined saying that he is ‘Shanshah’ (Emperor) while Amit is only ‘Shah.’

He recited a famous couplet written by Kabir Das to convey why he is bigger than Amit Shah:

Chah gayi, chinta gayi, manwa beparwah

Jisko kachhu na chahiye, wo hi shanshah

( I have no desire or anxiety, my heart is stress free, the one who needs nothing is the real emperor)

Sonowal helps but in the name of Modi

Two bitter political foes – BJP and Communist Party of India (CPI) - are fighting in West Bengal and Kerala. But that has not come in the way of Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal extending financial help to ailing CPI veteran Drupad Borgohain.

Former Rajya Sabha member, Drupad Borgohain, is suffering from kidney-related ailments. When Sonowal came to know of his illness, he announced immediate help of ₹2 lakh for his treatment. Sonowal helped but did not forget to mention Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name. Quoting Modi, he said there are no enemies but only competitors in politics.

Is PK still working with Nitish Kumar?

After a divorce of three years, poll strategist Prashant Kishore was rumoured to be back in the NDA fold. Buzz coming from Patna suggested that PK managed to have a patch-up meeting with BJP president Amit Shah in Delhi but he could not break the ice. So, he decided to quit silently.

In new political order, PK, who enjoyed considerable clout as an adviser to CM Nitish Kumar, felt increasingly side-lined. It is believed that Amit Shah clearly mentioned Kumar to get rid of PK for the smooth functioning of the alliance in Bihar. Kumar happily followed the dictate from the ‘Big Boss’, quipped a Patna based journalist.

Sharad Yadav – half happy, half helpless

Disgruntled JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav received a grand welcome in Patna airport when he landed there to kick off his three-day state tour on Thursday. A huge crowd gathered in front of Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport to greet Yadav in Patna. Criticising Nitish Kumar, people shouted slogan in support of Sharad.

But, his happiness did not last long as the crowd started shouting slogans in favour of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his son Tejashwi Yadav.

People present in the ‘welcome rally’ commented that Sharad’s happiness ended in helplessness as he could neither ask the crowd to stop sloganeering nor ask his supporters to raise their voice louder.

Irani’s ambition for Goa film festival

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Smriti Irani likes to be known as a task master and a busy bee. And of course, to justify her labels, just after taking charge at IB ministry, she disbanded the Goa film Festival Screening Committee constituted by former IB minister MV Naidu.

Though the exact reason is not known, it is speculated that she wants her Bollywood friends in the committee. She has also reportedly planned to stop giving the hefty amount of ₹40 lakh to the winner of Golden Peacock Award which is given to the best film in the foreign category. The buzz is that the IB minister is of view that such a hefty amount should be given to an Indian filmmaker, not foreigners.

Lohani – record holder right man for the Railways

Is newly appointed Chairman of the Railway Board Ashwani Lohani the right man for the railways? The buzz in the ministry is that after a series of accidents and mishaps, government has finally appointed the right man for the right job.

Reputed as a turnaround man, Lohani holds the Limca National Record for his engineering degrees too. An officer of the Indian Railway Service (1980 batch), Lohani has four engineering degrees. He has completed chartered mechanical engineering from UK-based institute of Mechanical Engineers. Besides, he holds degrees of electrical engineering, metallurgical engineering from Institute of Engineers of India. Lohani is credited for improving passenger services of Air India during his stint. So, expectation is high.