Delhi confidential: Forcing Change

Now they do not want the Bihar voters to talk about the quota agitation because it will have larger repercussions, say leaders.

Hardik Patel

Hardik Patel’s agitation has demolished the BJP’s plans to showcase the Gujarat model of development before voters in Bihar. Party strategists had planned to pick some people from Bihar for a tour of Gujarat so that they can go back and do a “word of mouth” campaign in favour of BJP’s governance record. However, the Patel agitation has spoiled the plans of the leaders. Now they do not want the Bihar voters to talk about the quota agitation because it will have larger repercussions, say leaders. However, groups from Patna will be leaving for other BJP-ruled states — Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh — on September 7.

[related-post

Internal Issues

Assembly Elections may be round the corner in Bihar, but Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is busy with another task — sorting out differences in party units in other states. Assam posed a problem after Himanta Biswa Sarma’s exit. Rahul has had several rounds of meetings with state leaders. Then came Punjab, where the problem is trickier. And Rahul is spending a huge amount of time finding an amicable solution. Amid this has come West Bengal. Most senior leaders are rebelling against state unit chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. Few days ago, leaders like Somen Mitra, Manas Bhuniya and Abdul Mannan met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to complain against Adhir. Rahul has now summoned Adhir on Friday for a discussion to find a way out.

Special Guest

UAE’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has been given special treatment in terms of protocol, weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi was received by the UAE King along with his four brothers at the airport. Minister of State Rao Inderjit Singh received the UAE minister at the airport, although ministers go to receive only heads of states and governments. And, instead of holding the bilateral talks at the Hyderabad House or the Ministry of External affairs, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj hosted him at a luxury hotel. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval too hosted him for a dinner.

Musical Talent

Story continues below this ad

New German ambassador Martin Ney is a man with a musical talent. A trained career diplomat, he plays chamber music and was the co-principle flautist in the German air force band during his military service. He has performed as a soloist with the Sarajevo Symphony Orchestra and has also played at the UN General Assembly, when he was posted in New York. Ney, has, however, got down to business, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel is visiting India within a month of him presenting his credentials to the President.

Home Cadre

The toppers of the civil services examination, it seems, want to work closer to their homes. Eight of the 10 top-rankers who opted for the IAS this year have been allotted their home cadres. This includes Ira Singhal, who is from Delhi and has been given AGMUT cadre, and three others among the top five successful candidates this year.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram