Ranjan Bhattacharya has been out of public gaze for a long time. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee wanted his foster son-in-law to mind his own business. Obviously, Baapji, as the PM is called at home, was hurt after some of the senior party leaders -- including RSS functionaries -- wanted Ranjan not to be seen with him in public. Though these leaders failed to give any evidence of any wrong-doing by Ranjan, he was constantly under attack.

Now Vajpayee has decided to call their bluff. It has been decided that Baapji's son-in-law would be a regular with him during the tour campaign.

Search for Lucknow

The AICC establishment has launched a massive search for a candidate against Atal Behari Vajpayee in Lucknow. Sunil Dutt was an ideal choice. He is a Brahmin, would have got Muslim votes. But Dutt declined. Dilip Kumar was also not willing. Niloufer Bhagwat, wife of sacked Naval Chief Vishnu Bhagwat, is under active consideration. But strategists at 10 Janpath haven't beenable to evolve a consensus. Sonia is keen to pin Vajpayee down in Lucknow. She had been told by her confidants that the BJP may field Vajpayee against her if she declared her candidature from Bellary in advance. The Operation Bellary was kept under wraps primarily because of this tip-off.

Battle of bahus

The BJP is out to trap Sonia in Amethi too. If it is Sushma in Bellary, it could be Maneka Gandhi in Amethi. Sanjay Singh can be moved to nearby Sultanpur. If the `videshi bahu' can contest from two places why not the `desi bahu' from Pilibhit and Amethi.

Time to back out

Margret Alva, a key person in the Sonia Gandhi establishment, sold out her flat in the posh Kailash Towers. The fact that it was allotted to her from the discretionary quota of Delhi's Lieutenant Governor long ago under the refugee category is not of much significance. After all, Vajpayee and Buta Singh have also got flats in the same building. While they are retaining them, Alva sold her's. Reason: She is moving toGurgaon to a palatial bungalow built on land allotted by Bhajan Lal from his discretionary quota and wanted some extra money to contest Lok Sabha polls from Karnataka.

But sensing the general mood, Alva backed out. She is the third woman leader to do so after failing to find a safe seat. Selja declined to contest after being nominated from Sirsa while Ambika Soni failed to find a seat for herself.

Midnight mission

But for External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Samata Party leader Digvijay Singh, the alliance between the BJP and Janata Dal (U) would have collapsed. When bargaining was on for Assembly seats in Karnataka, J.H. Patel went to sleep after telling George Fernandes and Ram Vilas Paswan firmly that nothing less than 105 seats would be acceptable.

Rama Krishna Hegde who was camping Bangalore was also not available. The BJP team led by Govindacharya was unwilling to concede more than 90. L.K. Advani was in Goa and the BJP president was fast asleep. Finally, Digvijay Singh was deputedto wake up Jaswant Singh at 12 midnight to seek the PM's intervention.

Jaswant Singh woke up Vajpayee, Digvijay Singh rushed to PM's House and five more seats were conceded. Kailashpati Mishra of the BJP signed the agreement on behalf of the BJP as Govindacharya was unwilling to take the burden.

Branching out

Fed up of moving contingents from Delhi to provide security cover to the VVIPs, the Special Protection Group has now set up its units in almost state capitals. These units would be stationed permanently during the next two months to provide cover to PM, former PMs and their family members who are touring frequently. A video crew has also been hired in every state capital to film public meetings addressed by the VVIPs and his movements.