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Paper Leak Issues Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot took to social media for criticising the BJP-led Gujarat government over alleged paper leak for recruitment in the state. However, Gehlot immediately came under attack from the social media users for his inability to prevent similar paper leaks in Rajasthan. Several people also asked the Congress leader to stop such leaks in his state first rather than pointing fingers at others.   

Awaiting Lalu's Return? The political circles are abuzz with talk of an imminent major change in Bihar politics after the return of former chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. The RJD strongman, who has been under the watch of medical professionals after his kidney transplant, is expected to make changes to the top leadership of the ruling alliance soon. It is believed that the RJD wants a clear message for voters over leadership in Bihar as the country heads for general elections next year. 

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Sukhu's 'Desi' TouchNew Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has been winning hearts across the state due to his touch with the grassroots. This week, Sukhu was seen eating at a small roadside dhaba in Bilaspur. Sukhu, along with his entourage, had a hearty meal at the dhaba. This also provided him with an opportunity to connect with the local people and hear their problems.

Raje Returns?The wedding ceremony of BJP chief JP Nadda's son this week led to growing speculation of major changes in Rajasthan politics. The event in Jaipur saw former chief minister Vasundhara Raje meeting Nadda, fuelling talks that the central leadership may give her another shot at the top post in the state. BJP hopes to win the state back from Congress and is trying hard to end factionalism within saffron ranks. Rajasthan goes to assembly polls later this year.

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R-Day Flag Hoisting at BJP HQBJP National Vice-President and Former CM of Chhattisgarh Dr. Raman Singh hoisted the National Flag at party's Deendayal Upadhyay Marg headquarters in New Delhi. The vice-president of the party was roped in for the task generally reserved for the BJP chief as party president JP Nadda is out of national capital due to his son's wedding.   

MCD Mayoral PollsThe election for MCD Mayor seems to be an unending task. With the House being disrupted again, the poll was cancelled for the second time. While AAP and BJP traded charges over who was to be blamed for the delay in election, it seems that getting a mayor for Delhi will not be an easy task. With each passing day, the role of independents and smaller parties like Congress has also become important. The third date for mayoral polls is yet to be finalised.   

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Capt Amarinder’s New Innings?With Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari expressing his desire to step down from his post, speculation is rife over his replacement. It is learnt that the government may place former Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh as the next Maharashtra governor. Koshyari had courted controversy with his remarks on Chhatrapati Shivaji and the state has been witnessing a slew of protests by various groups over the same. Buzz in political circles is that the former Punjab chief minister, who had recently joined the BJP, might be sent to Maharashtra as his replacement.

Celebrating the Girl ChildFrom Union ministers to politicians from other parties as well as prominent personalities, people from all walks of life shared posts and pictures on the occasion of National Girl Child Day. The posts highlight a common idea on empowerment of girls and celebrating their achievements. Dharmendra Pradhan, Union education minister, shared a post stating that it is yet another day to prioritise education and health for girls, ensure equitable opportunities and empowerment and remove gender-based stereotypes. MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar posted a collage featuring photos of female athlete Deepa Karmakar, cricketer Mithali Raj, as well as Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu and mentioned in his tweet that 'Give her a pen today and she will design tomorrow's India'. Similarly, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge shared a picture and wrote that gender equality is the foundation of progress.

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Khattar's Troubles Weeks after BJP's defeat in Himachal Pradesh, the Manohar Lal Khattar government may be facing trouble as its ally Jannayak Janta Party is keen to push for Old Pension Scheme implementation in Haryana. Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala has publicly demanded clarity on the implementation of OPS. The JJP is insisting on an announcement of a rethink on the issue or its remodeling to help ensure that employees are not angered.  

R-Day HonourA unique honour wil be accorded to construction workers involved in the building of Kartavya Path and new Parliament House. Officials have been directed to ensure that 850 of these workers are present at the Republic Day celebrations this year. This is being done to honour the contribution of these workers and acknowledge their hard work.   

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End of T-shirt Debate? Congress leader Rahul Gandhi ended the T-shirt debate as he resumed his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir. Amid light showers, the Wayanad MP donned a black jacket over a white T-shirt --- the first time he wore a jacket during the Kanyakumari-to-Kashmir march. Over the past few weeks, the Congress leader had been donning the T-shirt, even in the chilling cold wave conditions in north India during his foot march. However, later the Congress claimed the black pullover was not a jacket but a raincoat.

UP Readies for Global SummitThe Uttar Pradesh government is going to spend Rs 296 crore on organising the UP Global Investors Summit next month. As per a recent order of the government, this is the amount requisitioned by an event management company and various other government departments for the organisation of the summit which has involved road shows conducted abroad and in various parts of the country. Hundreds of global investors are expected to fly down to Lucknow for the three-day summit next month. The state government says it has already been promised a huge amount of investments by global and domestic companies.

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Quizmaster VaishnawUnion Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw finds Twitter the right place for a quiz game as he shared pictures of a snow-covered railway station surrounded by mountains and asked social media users to guess it. Though for some users it may look like pictures from places like Switzerland, the minister tagged the Ministry of Railways in his tweet, sending the first hint that the station is located in India. While the mesmerizing pictures stunned many social media users, some said it is Jammu and Kashmir's Qazigund railway station, which is absolutely possible as Kashmir is known as heaven on Earth.

Bommai’s Freebie DilemmaIn the national executive meeting in New Delhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Basvaraj Bommai is said to have complained to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the Congress has been giving out freebies just before the assembly elections. To this, PM Modi reportedly replied that if Bommai has given good administration, he must not fear the Congress or their freebies.

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DK Shivakumar’s Pink CampaignIn a bid to woo the women of Karnataka, the Congress appears to have decided to ask those who attended the public meeting to wear pink as a sign of solidarity with womanhood. Many of them were seen wearing shades of pink in the crowd. Interestingly, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and DK Shivakumar were seen twinning in the colour that symbolises women power. 

New Chopper for Uttarakhand VIPsThe government has decided to buy a new chopper for VIP operations that can fly the CM and the Governor. The state has floated global bids for the same, saying it wants a twin-engine chopper capable of flying with a minimum of seven passengers and two pilots in VIP configuration, which means two VIP seats with armrests. Use of a chopper for VIP operations is crucial in a hilly state like Uttarakhand which does not have many airfields for aircraft to land.

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Priyanka’s Long WaitThe speeches of senior Congress leaders visibly exasperated Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who was made to wait for a very long time until she was finally allowed to speak at the 'Na Nayaki' convention in Bengaluru. She also had to repeat her introduction twice after Mahila Congress state leader Laxmi Hebbalkar could not immediately translate the speech from English to Kannada.

It’s Raining Goodies for BJP DelegatesAt the two-day BJP National Executive, the party provided bags of goodies to its delegates containing edible items made in India as part of PM Narendra Modi's 'Vocal for Local' pitch. These bags had several kinds of candies and quick bites from various parts of the country. Many delegates were seen enjoying the treats while on the NDMC premises where the BJP meet took place.

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Mobile Restrictions at BJP's National Executive MeetThe BJP's National Executive Meeting at the NDMC convention centre in Delhi is taking place amid tight security. With the top leaders including PM Narendra Modi present, the delegates are not being allowed to take their mobile phones inside the meeting. A seperate area has been provided for the use and submission of these electronic devices. Sources said it has also been done to avoid any real time leaks originating from the crucial meet.   

Masks and CylindersWith the AAP-BJP war of words continuing, the parties are trying to find interesting ways to score points over each other. While AAP MLAs protested by entering the Well of Delhi Assembly, BJP MLAs entered the premises wearing oxygen masks and cylinders. The BJP legislators were protesting against the alleged inaction of the AAP government over the issue of pollution in the national capital.   

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BJP's Rajasthan RejigWith factionalism continuing to rear its head in Rajasthan BJP, the central leadership has decided to effect major changes in state's organisational structure. It is learnt that the central leadership of the BJP is unhappy with the factionalism and changes are likely to be made after the National Executive meeting scheduled to be held in the national capital on January 16-17. Months ahead of the crucial Assembly polls, the unit is expected to be overhauled with the appointment of a new president and other office bearers.

Mayoral Election in Delhi in LimboThe delay over the Mayoral election in Delhi continues, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and BJP trading charges over the electoral process. The ball now seems to be in the Lieutenant-Governor's court. The Mayoral polls may take place in the last week of January or first week of February as the announcement is expected to be made soon. After the recently concluded MCD polls, the AAP and BJP are eyeing the top post.  

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Corruption Spectre Haunts BommaiAt a time when the BJP in Karnataka is fighting against corruption allegations, a rather bizarre incident has got the issue back in the news. A public works engineer was caught with Rs 10.5 lakh in cash inside the Vidhana Soudha premises, triggering a war of words between the Congress and the BJP over whom the money was meant for. While the Congress accused the BJP once again of 40 per cent corruption in governance, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said a thorough investigation will be conducted. “Our own people (police) have caught the engineer red-handed and will investigate the incident. Where was he taking the money and to whom was it to be given? We will do a full-fledged investigation,” Bommai said.

Transfer TalesUnion Home Minister Amit Shah, during his speech at an event held a few days ago, took a dig at DG BPR&D Balaji Srivastava, saying Srivastava was upset and awkward initially when he was transferred from Delhi to BPR&D but now, under his leadership, the department is working efficiently. Srivastava was expected to take charge as CP Delhi but the government had some other plans which as usual surprised all.

The EV PushUnion Minister Nitin Gadkari attended the Auto Expo motor show 2023 which, this time, is mostly about electric vehicles. As the government continues to push for the EV ecosystem, all the big players as well as the start-ups mostly introduced EVs. Some people were found comparing the last expo and the current one, predicting that soon fossil fuel vehicles would be out of the market. Exhibitors are also expecting to see a massive number of visitors at the Motor Show 2023 from January 13 as the Covid-19 scare has reduced.

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Stage Set for Sidhu’s ReturnBig plans are in the works for the release of Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu this month. In a few days, a massive 'yatra' of his supporters will be launched from Ludhiana. The 'yatra' will travel through Amritsar and Patiala and then receive the former cricketer-turned-politician when he comes out of jail. Posters and hoardings saying “Coming Soon” are also going to be placed at strategic points. Sidhu's loyalists are eagerly awaiting Congress' response. However, plans on launching Sidhu's own “platform” are also in the process.

BJP’s Bengal TroublesThe West Bengal BJP may face another round of exits in 2023. It is understood that three prominent BJP MLAs are in touch with the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Some of them have already met national general secretary of TMC Abhishek Banerjee and are expected to jump ship soon. In November, Banerjee had said that if he opens his party's door, a lot of leaders will come to the TMC from BJP. Speculation is rife on whether there will be any 'Ghar Wapsi' of saffron soldiers to TMC soon.

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Siddaramaiah the Tipu? The BJP is planning to release a book, which compares Leader of Opposition and former Congress CM Siddaramaiah to Tipu Sultan. The erstwhile Mysore ruler is considered by the saffron party as a tyrant who killed hundreds of Hindus to expand his base. Siddaramaiah, during his Chief Ministership, had introduced Tipu Jayanti -- a day to celebrate the ruler who they believe was not only a freedom fighter but gave India, especially the Old Mysore state, path-breaking technology in terms of warfare and administration. The BJP will launch the book 'Siddu Nij Nijam', which will highlight the alleged misrule in the state during Siddaramaiah's tenure and paint him like a tyrant, just like Tipu.  

G20's Monkey TroublesAhead of a G-20 event in Uttar Pradesh when foreign delegates visit the Taj Mahal in Agra, the Archaeological Survey of India has a unique problem: the monkey menace at the Taj Mahal. The ASI will now be spending Rs 9 lakh to hire agencies who will clean the sandstone at the monument and help control the monkey menace. Given that the G20 is a prestigious event, clearly, the ASI does not want any embarrassment.  

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Big Jump from Centre to State PoliticsSeveral senior politicians, who are sitting MPs, are aspiring to contest the upcoming Karnataka assembly election as they would want to fare better and continue in active politics. Leaders such as BJP's Prathap Simha (Mysore), Shivakumar Udasi (Haveri), Ramesh Jigajinagi (Vijayapura) and K Sanganna (Koppal) are among the few who have expressed their interest about the election ticket to the party high command. One of the leaders also stated that there is a need to bring in a second rung of robust leaders.    

Cabinet Rejig Shadow on New YearThe first few days of each year are marked with luncheon and dinner meets for celebration of new year in the power corridors of national capital. However, with the talk of an imminent union cabinet and BJP's organisational rejig on the cards, the start for this year has been rather dull. Not many ministers and political leaders have been hosting new year's gatherings as most of them eagerly await the unfolding of events. Most leaders are rather spending their time to call on senior leadership to secure a better position in the forthcoming rejig.

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Tirumala's Rich Start to 2023For the famous Tirumala temple, the new year has started on a super-rich note. The temple received Rs 7.6 crore donation in its hundi (collection box), the highest-ever made on a single day. This beat the previous single day record of Rs 6.3 crore that was received on October 23, 2022. Located in Andhra Pradesh, the temple is considered to be one of the richest religious institutions in the world.

G20's Media BlitzkriegThe G20 Secretariat is getting a specialised agency for video recording and photography of meetings and events, seminars and conferences, lectures and dialogues, besides the coverage of media briefings and special press interactions, photo and video coverage of venue arrangements, visits and excursions of foreign delegations, cultural events and gala dinners. The agency will be in charge of live-streaming of events, producing high-quality videos for social media and maintaining the G20's YouTube Channel.

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Unending Desert Storm Despite projected appearances, all is not well in Rajasthan Congress. The top Congress leadership is likely to meet next week to resolve the leadership issue in the state. With less than a year to go for state assembly polls, the party is hoping to end the tussle between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot. The feud has continued to irk the leadership of the party even as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is on his Bharat Jodo Yatra. The party hopes to resolve the differences between the two in an effort to preserve its government and seek re-election.

Destination Delhi for BJP LeadersWith the top leadership of the BJP set to participate in its national executive meet, party leaders from across the country are headed for Delhi. All roads will be leading to the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg headquarters of the saffron unit as leaders are likely to make their cases in front of the top leadership as they embark on plans to rejig the organisation and also give inputs for the imminent reshuffle of the central cabinet. This is expected to be the last major reorganisation by the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

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KCR to Deploy Early Poll Ploy?Political circles in Telangana are abuzz with the talk that KCR might go for early Legislative Assembly polls, like he did in 2018. The Chief Minister has been on an inauguration spree since last November and has also launched his national party recently. Analysts say there is a risk that, if held on schedule, the Assembly elections may be coincide with the Lok Sabha elections, and KCR would like to avoid that. Though he has declared that he will not go for early polls, the feverish pace at which KCR's government is working indicates otherwise.  

Delhi BJP Unit to Get New Chief SoonThe BJP is likely to appoint a new chief for its Delhi unit soon. The party is currently making do with an interim chief, Virendra Sachdeva, after it recently suffered its first-ever loss in the MCD polls in 15 years. The senior leadership of the party is understood to be finalising the candidates for the top job in the city unit. Party sources stated that a decision is expected any time as the saffron unit wants a full-time Delhi president to be in command much ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls to prepare a strategy and put a team in place for securing all seven seats in the national capital.

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BJP's Haryana HeadacheThe Haryana unit of BJP is staring at another crisis as Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh is understood to be adamant about fielding his daughter Arti Singh Rao as a candidate for the forthcoming assembly polls. Singh also made his thoughts public at a recent meeting with his supporters in the state. The former Congress leader had joined the BJP ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The central leadership is understood to be carefully examining the issue as Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is already under pressure from several quarters to accommodate various communities and castes.

Change of Guard in Telangana BJP?Strong political buzz doing the rounds in Telangana is of an imminent change of guard in the BJP's state leadership. As part of the BJP's southern expansion and keenness to garner votes in the state, Bandi Sanjay is likely to be inducted into the Union Cabinet whenever a rejig takes place. Speculation is rife that Huzurabad MLA Eatala Rajender may be appointed as BJP's state unit head ahead of the 2023 assembly elections. Rajender hails from the Mudiraj community, which has a considerable electoral influence to affect the outcome of assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

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Varun Jodo in UP? The BJP is keenly watching as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra is set to enter Uttar Pradesh.  With speculation over BJP MP Varun Gandhi likely to support the yatra, the saffron unit will soon need to decide on the future of the rebel MP. It is believed that Varun's constant targeting of the Central government may have ruined any chances of a reconciliation with the top leadership of the BJP. And, ahead of the 2024 polls, the BJP wants to stem any kind of indiscipline in the party.

BJP's Millet Luncheon to Go NationalDays after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's directive to popularise millets and coarse grains in the country, the BJP is understood to be planning to organise such millet luncheons across the states. In the international year of millets, party units across the country have been asked to popularise millets as part of a regular diet. A similar millet luncheon was organised in Parliament for MPs and officials in the recently concluded winter session of Parliament. 

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Hockey DiplomacyWith the Men's Hockey World Cup to be held in Odisha in January, a new kind of diplomacy has been unleashed by the Naveen Patnaik-led state government. Most cabinet ministers from the state have been touring various states, calling on chief ministers of states across the country. The Odisha ministers are inviting these CMs to the state for the international sports gala and also seeking the support of other states for the occasion. A patron of hockey, Naveen Patnaik is seemingly leaving no stone unturned to make the international sports event a success.  

Is Shivraj Singh Chouhan Secure?Will the BJP take lessons from wins and losses in the recent Assembly polls? The party is contemplating a change of guard in Madhya Pradesh. After a success in Uttarakhand and Gujarat and a loss in Himachal Pradesh the saffron unit is thinking strongly of making a change at the helm in the central Indian state. The throne of Shivraj Singh Chouhan may not be secure if the party decides to remove him to end anti-incumbency in the state, which goies to polls next year. The party has already changed its Chief Ministers in Karnataka and Tripura, which go to polls this year.     

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Abhishek Banerjee’s ‘Besharam’ PlaylistEven as the Besharam Rang controversy rages on, TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee has included the controversial Pathan song in his playlist of the year. The list also includes three songs sung by Arijit Singh, who finds himself at the centre of a tug-of-war between the BJP and TMC. Quoting music maestro AR Rehman, Banerjee said: “Music is language itself. Music is one, only cultures are different. Music is the language of languages. It is the ultimate mother of languages."

Winter KindnessWith the cold wave enveloping North India, several leaders have reached out to help the common people with warm clothing and food. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath was seen reaching out to the homeless to distribute quilts. His deputy, Brajesh Pathak, at an interaction with people offered his own jacket to a person who was seemingly shivering in the low temperature.

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UP AppointmentsAfter last week's meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, political circles are abuzz with the talk of appointments to over 50 boards and corporations in the state. Leaders, who have not yet been accommodated for their services in the Assembly polls earlier this year, are likely to be placed in these. By placing its mid ranking and regional leaders in these important posts, the BJP wants to send out a clear message that the party was willing to accommodate workers that had helped ensure its victory in the Assembly polls in March this year. This would also ensure loyalty of these leaders and support ahead of the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Has Azad Lost the Plot?Within a few months of its launch, Ghulam Nabi Azad-led Democratic Azad Party (DAP) seems to have lost the plot. The party suffered a major blow as over a hundred of its leaders quit after Azad expelled three top functionaries -- former assembly speaker and deputy chief minister Tara Chand, ex-minister Manohar Lal Sharma and former legislator Balwan Singh -- for hobnobbing with the Congress. The action against these leaders came as they were reportedly planning to join the Bharat Jodo Yatra of former Congress president Rahul Gandhi during its Jammu and Kashmir leg.  

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Rahul's Surprise Bharat Jodo InviteThe Congress has reportedly invited former deputy chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Dinesh Sharma to its ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra. Interestingly, he is the only senior leader from the BJP to receive such an invite. Many in the saffron party have expressed surprise as to why Sharma, who has strong RSS roots, was invited for the yatra being undertaken by Congress scion Rahul Gandhi. The Bharat Jodo Yatra, which is on a week-long break, will enter Uttar Pradesh in January. 

BJP Hopes for Chandigarh-Like Surprise in DelhiDespite its loss in the recent MCD elections in the national capital, the BJP isn't giving in to the AAP easily. The saffron party has also fielded its candidate, councillor Rekha Gupta, for the mayoral polls scheduled to be held next month. The BJP is hoping to pull a Chandigarh-like surprise, where it got its mayor elected despite not being in majority. The BJP is also banking on Congress, Independents as well as AAP councillors for some secret or open help since anti-defection rules are not applicable in municipal polls, a senior leader quipped.

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Rahul Gandhi’s T-ShirtEven as Delhi shivered in the midst of a North India-wide cold wave, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was seen at Veer Bhumi, Sadaiv Atal and other memorials in just T-shirt and trousers and walked barefoot. Rahul Gandhi is in Delhi for a week-long break from his Bharat Jodo Yatra. The Congress leader had earlier responded to media queries on braving the chill, saying: "They keep asking me how I do not feel cold. But they do not ask the farmer, the worker, poor children this question."

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Union Cabinet, BJP Rejig?There is strong buzz of a cabinet reshuffle in the Union government post January 15 which happens to be Makar Sakranti, considered an auspicious period. This is expected be the last cabinet reshuffle before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. There could be some changes in the BJP organization, too, as the party prepares for General Elections and some crucial state elections. Some key performers are expected to be rewarded both in the government as well as the party while a few surprise changes could be seen too. Watch this space.

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BSY Back in VogueLearning from its Himachal Pradesh loss where it didn't seek the advice of strongman Prem Kumar Dhumal, the BJP has decided to go for the services of former chief minister BS Yediyurappa in upcoming Karnataka elections. Yediyurappa is considered to be the face of BJP in Karnataka and the leader who toiled hard in its southern bastion. The senior leadership of the party has now involved the former CM in strategy planning for the upcoming Assembly polls.

Jai Ram Thakur in ParliamentFormer Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur was seen in Parliament on at least two occasions last week. Thakur was apparently in Parliament to brief the senior leadership of the BJP, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, about the recent loss suffered by the saffron party in the hill state. The party is understood to be reviewing various reasons for the poll debacle in the state so as to avoid a repeat in 2024 Lok Sabha polls. This is also expected to help in finalising the saffron unit's future strategy in the Himalayan state.

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Tripura CM’s Hidden TalentTrain journeys are best when you have a singer in the group, it is said. BJP leaders were in for a surprise when Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha broke into an impromptu song while travelling from Agartala to Unakoti to attend a BJYM programme. The CM enthralled the delegates taking the train ride with a popular Kishore Kumar song. The chief minister's songs were appreciated by the accompanying party and promptly posted on various social media websites.

Miffed Ex-Ministers to Spur Karnataka Cabinet Rejig?Two former BJP ministers, KS Eswarappa and Ramesh Jarkiholi, have refused to attend the Belgavi assembly session unless they are given ministerial berths. Both leaders were forced to resign after controversies dogged them, causing major embarrassment to the ruling party in Karnataka. Rumours have it that Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's several visits to Delhi to discuss cabinet expansion yielded no result. Now, the buzz is that Eswarappa and Jarkiholi will be given ministerial berths after the Winter Session being held in Belgavi comes to an end.

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Mask Up Like ScindiaWith Covid cases rising exponentially in China, US, Japan and South Korea, the masks mandate may be imposed again. As Covid numbers had fallen over the past few months, not many among political class were seen wearing masks though. Albeit with one exception -- BJP leader and Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia is always seen in public wearing a mask. Scindia has also reportedly been appreciated for this by several senior leaders during the ongoing Parliament session. 

Congress' UnityThe Delhi unit of Congress was finally able to present a united face this week. The DPCC, which was unable to get its leaders on a same platform during the recent MCD polls, was able to gather all factions on stage for the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The tagging along and presentation of a happy family was much like the one presented by the unit in Rajasthan. The party is also trying to propagate the unity as a victory of Gandhi family. The party always stands behind them unitedly, said a leader. 

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Access Denied: Tharoor’s Parliament PlightCongress leader Shashi Tharoor, who faced a lot of difficulty in entering Parliament as he is wheelchair-bound due to a sprained foot, was understandably miffed. Taking to social media, Throor posted: “When you need to enter Parliament in a wheelchair, there's only one entrance with a ramp, at door 9, a good four minute trip (with the assistance of helpers) to the Lok Sabha. This temporary disability has taught me how poorly equipped we are to support people with disabilities.” However, the Congress MP may be in for a pleasant surprise as the soon-to-be-inaugurated new Parliament building is equipped with modern-day accessibility features for the disabled.

Washout for Firebrand Leader?With the assembly polls in Telangana just a few months away, BJP's state unit is finalising names for prospective candidates and it is learnt that the party's Goshamahal MLA, T Raja Singh, might not make the cut. The BJP top brass has taken serious objection to the controversial remarks made by the legislator. The top candidate in the reckoning now from the seat is Vikram Goud, a young BJP leader. Son of Congress leader Mukesh Goud, Vikram had joined the BJP in 2020.

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Kangana’s Parliamentary ActBollywood actor Kangana Ranaut has sought permission to shoot in the Parliament complex. The permission has been sought for shooting of her upcoming film 'Emergency'. In her letter to the Lok Sabha secretariat, the Bollywood actor Ranaut requested that she be allowed to shoot the film. The proposal is still under consideration. It must be pointed out that shooting permission is not generally granted to private entities. Only state broadcaster Doordarshan and Sansad TV are allowed to shoot inside Parliament.