Kataria's gubernatorial nomination to intensify infighting
The nomination of Gulab Chand Kataria as Assam Governor is set to intensify bickering in the BJP. Kataria, who holds the Leader of Opposition post in assembly, is a known Raje detractor. Now with he leaving the state politics, there will be struggle for LoP post between Raje camp and Satish Punia, who is party's state president and also a Raje dissident. The BJP high command will also have a task cut out to settle this as early as possible as the state goes to elections later this year.
Modi's late invite doesn't go well with Gehlot
Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot's bonhomie with PM Modi seems to have ended. In a tribal rally held in the southern part of the state last year, both the leaders showered praises for each other. But now for the inauguration of the first phase of Delhi-Mumbai Expressway which links Delhi to Dausa, Gehlot didn't get proper invite from the PM office. A day before the event, Gehlot received a call from PMO, whether he (Gehlot) was coming or not. To which Gehlot responded that the ‘late' request was under consideration. However, later Gehlot joined the inauguration programme through video conferencing sitting at his home. Perhaps, he wanted to use this opportunity to attack Modi over ERCP. Gehlot has been pressing PM to make ERCP a national project.
Officers await reshuffling of cards
In the election year, officers are waiting for transfer orders. Those sitting on plum posts are willing to go on relatively ‘cold' posting so that in the next government, they don't appear in bad books. There are some officers on ‘sensitive' posts who are lobbying hard to get central deputation. The Buckstopper has heard that a senior officer close to CM has even dialled a corporate leader, close to PM Modi, for a favourable posting in central government. However, a few officers are said to be at comfort as they know that the government- whether Congress or BJP – has no other option.
The BuckStopper, run by a group of seasoned journalists, holds the powerful accountable. The buck stops with them, as they cannot shrug off their official responsibilities.
