Delhi Confidential: In Demand

Another round of governors’ appointments is said to be around the corner now that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is back from the US.

Elections in Haryana are yet to take place but political parties of various hues are already reaching out to one another for possible post-poll alliances in the event of a hung House. Kuldeep Bishnoi’s Haryana Janhit Congress, whose alliance with the BJP snapped few months ago, seems to be the most preferred choice of major parties. However, Bishnoi is keeping his cards close to his chest and has decided to wait for the results before deciding which way to go.

OLD LINKS

When the NDA government came to power at the Centre, many expected RSS workers, especially the self-styled ones, to try and use excuses to stake claim to various offices. However, the reasons being extended by many lawyers and retired high court judges to seek various appointments have become a topic of discussion in the corridors of power. A former HC judge, for example, told senior BJP leaders about his old Sangh links to seek the appointment of his lawyer-son as a law officer. There are also instances of lawyers’ résumés landing up in Shastri Bhawan for appointment as standing counsel due to their RSS links also abound. The government, however, is not ready to move in a hurry.

EXPANSION MODE

With all the extra work the Prime Minister’s Office has appropriated to itself, it is finding the need to expand. It is said to be looking for extra space in the South Block. The casualty is likely to be the Ministry of External Affairs, which is also housed in the same building. It is learnt that the PMO has asked the MEA to vacate at least four rooms. MEA, incidentally, has got a brand new building for itself, the Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan on Janpath, but many officers prefer to work from their old offices in South Block. The PMO’s request might force some more MEA officials to finally shift to their new offices.

MORE CHANGES

Another round of governors’ appointments is said to be around the corner now that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is back from the US. The states where a change is expected are Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and J&K. Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav has been in office since 2011, while N N Vohra has been J&K Governor since 2008. K Rosaiah of Tamil Nadu is a former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh.