pitroda’s back in circulation
Sam Pitroda needs no introduction, having played a stellar role during the Prime Ministership of Rajiv Gandhi. Urged by the late PM, his contribution to giving a mighty push to taking communication to every nook and corner of the country coupled with bringing about an IT revolution cannot be undermined. Now, he seems to be making his presence felt once again – evoking the name of Congress General Secretary and Prime Minister-in-waiting Rahul Gandhi. Recently, there has been a steady stream of Ministers and other VIPs queuing to meet him in his chamber in a posh hotel. Everyone emerges overawed, hoping to catch the eye or ear of the young Gandhi.
Rahul’s latest coming of age
meetings with mediapersons
After an extended apprenticeship to understand the complex political environment of the country, Rahul Gandhi is finally confident of fielding questions from senior scribes. He has reportedly held a two-hour meeting with about half-a-dozen editors of premier Hindi dailies recently. Before that, he met the owner-editors of major TV news channels. These sessions with mediapersons were characterized as purely background briefings about the goings-on in the AICC and party organizational matters. Obviously, all this is part of his strenuous exercise to derive a proper perspective of national politics. Does this mean that Sonia Gandhi, who earlier held these interfaces with mediapersons, will now keep a lower profile?
The omni-absent Minister!
azhagiri’s rarely in delhi
The Prime Minister’s Office has written to the Fertilizers Ministry asking why there was such a delay in convening the Group of Ministers meeting on fertilizer subsidy. The problem has primarily arisen because of the long absences from Delhi of Union Fertilizers Minister MK Azhagiri, son of DMK supremo and Tamil Nadu CM M Karunanidhi.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has been asking for the note on fertilizer subsidy, on the basis of which the GOM can be convened. The note can be cleared only when Azhagiri appends his signature to it. There is frustration all around because Azhagiri is never available, being in Chennai most of the time. His priorities lie in Tamil Nadu where brother MK Stalin has a clear edge over him in the chief ministerial stakes.
Priyanka reviewing Rajiv Foundation
changes in the offing
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has become very active with the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and is attending office regularly. However, as a result of this, some IAS officers of the rank of Joint Secretary on deputation to the Foundation and those connected with the media who were well past the age of superannuation have had to bid adieu to the organization. It is apparent that a new, younger generation has entrenched itself in the Foundation.
There is also hushed talk that Priyanka’s participation means some radical changes are on the cards. The Foundation was established in June 1991 to commemorate Rajiv Gandhi’s vision for India. It works in areas that were of deepest concern to him, acting as a catalyst to promote effective, practical and sustainable programmes of national development.
