Delhi Confidential: Upper hand in defeat

Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Upper Hand In Defeat

A faction feud seems to be brewing within Madhya Pradesh BJP after the defeat in Chitrakoot Assembly bypolls. Party insiders suggest although Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will be disappointed with the result, he is likely to have the upper hand in the blame-game over the defeat. The BJP candidate is said to have been pushed by the party organisation — general secretary (organisation) and joint general secretary (organisation) — at the last minute, leaving little option for Chouhan to get his choice of candidate since he was visiting the US. Chouhan still campaigned extensively to ensure that he is not blamed later for not devoting enough time.

Break In Tension

The tension palpable in court number 8 before hearing began on the petition on alleged judicial corruption gave way to some laughs as Attorney General of India K K Venugopal made his way in through the judge’s podium. Reason: he could not enter through the regular entrance, as the courtroom was filled to the brim. The judges had already taken their seats when Venugopal walked in behind them to the wrong side. Amid a burst of laughter, Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta apologised, saying he had suggested the A-G take the podium route. A bemused Justice Arun Mishra remarked, “We are all equals.”

Off-screen Film Critics

The party high command preferred silence when Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam sought a pre-censor preview of Madhur Bhandarkar’s Indu Sarkar, expressing concern over portrayal of Indira Gandhi and other Congress leaders in the film on Emergency. Now party’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Sinh, who is also president of the Akhil Bhartiya Kshatriya Mahasabha, has demanded a ban on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati, arguing that the movie insults the Rajput community. It is another matter that only last week Sinh’s Rajya Sabha colleague, and senior lawyer, Abhishek Singhvi appeared on behalf of Bhansali in a PIL against the film in Supreme Court.