Anger issues
The prime minister, Narendra Modi, decided to maintain continuity in governance by retaining almost all the ministers from his previous government in his third term. It was a deliberate strategy to prove that he remains in command despite the Bharatiya Janata Party losing its majority in the Lok Sabha. But this seems to have caused trouble in the ruling dispensation. Many BJP parliamentarians have been complaining privately about being overlooked for cabinet positions. “My patience is being tested,” said a five-time MP who is miffed about not being made a minister. However, Ramesh Jigajinagi, a Dalit legislator from Karnataka, has gone public with his displeasure. He told reporters how he had joined the “anti-Dalit BJP” against the advice of his well-wishers but the saffron party did not consider him for a ministerial berth even though he was elected to the Lok Sabha for the seventh consecutive time. He emphasised that upper castes get preference in the BJP, underlining the fact that all the senior cabinet ministers in the Modi government hail from the upper castes. The third Modi cabinet was expected to go for an overhaul and induct fresh faces. But that has not happened. Many in the party thus fear that more disgruntled MPs could vent their frustration in the future. With assembly elections due in three key states — Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand — later this year, the anger building in the party ranks could impact the BJP’s electoral performance.
Strategic move
The humility shown by the Union education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, during the rath yatra in Puri caught the people’s attention. When the former chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, reached the venue and greeted the ensemble of dignitaries, including President Droupadi Murmu, from below the podium, Pradhan rushed down and invited Patnaik to come onto the dais. He even escorted Patnaik to the podium and ensured that he was seated next to the governor, Raghubar Das, and Murmu.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan PTI
Pradhan has lately been under fire for the irregularities in the NEET. But his humility towards Patnaik won people’s hearts. He seems to have been aware that any show of disrespect towards Patnaik would put the BJP in an awkward situation. But Pradhan’s act failed to convince his sceptics who argued that the seating arrangement at such an important event is planned to the last detail well in advance.
Protective shield
Caste is often used as a shield by politicians. The Karnataka CM, Siddaramaiah, was recently confronted with allegations of a scam in the form of land allocations in his wife’s name. The BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular) accused the CM of swapping a parcel of rural real estate for pricey housing plots in Mysuru. Siddaramaiah refuted the charge by saying that he was being targetted because he belongs to the OBC Kuruba community.
Other roots
The poll consultant-turned-politician, Prashant Kishor, who is set to launch his Jan Suraaj Party later this year, found himself mentioned in an official Rashtriya Janata Dal communiqué. Written by the party’s Bihar unit chief, Jagdanand Singh, the letter cautioned RJD workers against poaching attempts by Kishor’s Jan Suraaj party, terming it a regressive move against social justice and underlining the fact that Kishor is a Brahmin.
On the other hand, Kishor also sent a letter to the Jan Suraaj office bearers saying that those who owed allegiance to other parties should quit. Politicians opined that the RJD was unnerved that Kishor’s grassroots networking could pose a challenge in the 2025 state polls.
Home team
The Bihar CM, Nitish Kumar, knows how to rile the RJD chief, Lalu Prasad. While campaigning for the Rupauli by-poll, Nitish slammed Lalu for fathering nine children and indulging in dynastic politics. “Does anybody give birth to nine children? He has done so. The result is that he remains entangled in his family. See me, I have never given priority to my family,” Nitish said.
Lalu had vowed not to ally with Nitish again after the latter made similar comments during the general election. Lalu expressed anger at Nitish’s remarks and iterated his vow. While oldtimers said that Lalu and his wife, Rabri Devi, kept having kids to fulfil their wish for a son, a few joked that perhaps the couple wanted to have a cricket team at home.
Mum’s the word
MB Patil, the Karnataka industries minister, is a busy man these days, scouting a location for the proposed second airport in Bengaluru. Land sharks have been waiting for this opportunity to make good money but Patil seems to be in no mood to give away the location of his choice. Instead, he said that the government is considering six different locations. But the rumours are that those close to the power centre might have already sniffed out the location by now.
