Candid Notes

Anticlimax & bequeathing bouquets

That the BJP is a regimented party and its leaders are more like command driven soldiers than politicians was on full display in the whole process of removal of one TSR (Trivendra Singh Rawat) and coronation of another (Tirath Singh Rawat) on coveted position of CM in the Himalayan state. The entire plot was so astutely written and perfectly executed that a vast majority of leaders including the MLAs of the saffron party were unaware about the choice of the high command till the name was proposed by outgoing TSR in the meeting of the legislature party of BJP. The announcement was nothing less than a bolt from blue for the supporters of the leaders whose names made rounds as probable CM of the state. Some of the enthusiastic supporters had arrived with packets of sweets and bouquets on the assumption that their leader would don the prized crown. However all their enthusiasm evaporated into thin air when the party high command showed its ace.  It is another matter that the bouquets meant for someone else had to be handed over to the person who had came alone and unnoticed in the meeting to take the cake away.

Numerology gone awry?

It appears that the ritual of change in the spelling failed to make any positive impact on the political fortune of the indomitable Satpal Maharaaz. The leader had recently changed how his name is spelt, from Maharaj to Maharaaz. In the recent political storm in the state unit of the saffron party which resulted in change in leadership in Uttarakhand, the supporters of the spiritual cum political leader were confident that Maharaaz would finally get what he is destined for but things unfolded in such a manner which ensured that his wait would continue. Meanwhile a word spread that Maharaaz would vacate his Chaubattakhal seat for Tirath Singh Rawat to facilitate his entry in the assembly to fulfill the constitutional requirement and would in turn get fielded from Garhwal parliamentary constituency which further annoyed a sulking Maharaaz. He promptly issued a statement that he has no such intentions. It would be interesting to notice the moves of Maharaaz in coming days on the political chessboard in the poll bound state.

Changing stripes

In sharp contrast to the tumultuous political activity which manifested in changing of the chief minister in Uttarakhand, the administrative activities of the state virtually came into a grinding halt. The Babudom remained busy in watching the game of political brinkmanship from the sidelines which resulted in arrest of file movement and other important functions. With the change of guard at the helm everyone is now waiting for the change in the responsibilities and important assignments. True to their nature many have either changed loyalties or are finding appropriate door to knock at for seeking plum appointments under the changed regime.

Friday, 12 March 2021 | Gajendra Singh Negi