Lucknownama; Twists in the tale of a turncoat

Twists in the tale of a turncoat

Veteran party hopper Naresh Agarwal, who left the BSP and joined the Samajwadi Party along with his son Nitin last week, had first sent the feelers about five months ago. But Akhilesh Yadav, the youthful state party president, did not want him in. But Mayawati got to know what he was up to. Agarwal met PWD Minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui and told him that he wasn't going to quit the BSP. Siddiqui then reportedly pleaded Nitin's case with Mayawati. She listened quietly but said nothing. She already had received a complaint from Science and Technology Minister Abdul Mannan. An old BSP hand who also comes from Agarwal's Hardoi district, Mannan had conveyed to the chief minister that Agarwal had inspired a complaint against him before the Lokayukta. Mayawati decided to teach Agarwal a lesson by denying the party ticket to his MLA son from Surasa. His game in the BSP up, Agarwal turned to his connections in a corporate house to persuade Muyalam Singh Yadav to take him back. The father overruled the son and Agarwal was let in.

Top babu's political High & official Low

The announcement of elections has brought much relief to state government officers, particularly those who were expected to report for meetings with Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh almost on a daily basis. After Opposition parties demanded Singh's removal for crossing the sacred line by addressing the press on political matters, he has suddenly become low profile. Very few meetings are being held and he tries to ensure that there is no tension. Nevertheless, the officers are waiting to see what view the Election Commission will make out of the complaints.

Touchy, not anymore

As the CBI investigation in the NRHM scam gathers pace, certain bureaucrats and Health Department officials are a worried lot. Some of them have already been interrogated while others have received notices to appear for questioning. In the next few days, the agency is going to lodge some FIRs. The anxious officials are paying visits to union ministers and MPs in Delhi. Among them is an IAS officer who had, in his heyday, created an impression that he had such excellent connections in the top bureaucracy at the Centre and the Congress party that no one would dare touch him. Now the "connections" aren't much of help. CBI officers have received some informal requests to see that these people aren't put to avoidable harassment, but with a clarification that it does not mean the agency should not do its job.

... contd.

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