Mishra back in action

After the change of guard in the state unit,the BJP seems to have become quite active. While the new state party chief,Surya Parat Shahi,is yet to announce his team,the party is making attempts to take up political issues. Besides ensuring a good show during the recent protest against price rise,the BJP also attacked the Mayawati government for debarring political parties from contesting the civic polls in the state. Since the BJP has eight mayors in the state,this particular issue is of interest to the party. The BJP leaders,including the eight mayors,met Governor B L Joshi and registered their protest. The party was also quick to attack the UPA government over the recent hike in fuel prices. BJP leaders are apparently buoyed by the party’s good show in the Domariyaganj Assembly bypolls,where the party candidate secured the second position.

Big brother watching

Almost every Secretariat building in the state capital has a new system in place for keeping a close watch on visitors. The state government has installed cameras at strategic points in all these buildings. The control room has been set up in the Lal Bahadur Shastri building,also known as the Annexe building. A big monitor has been placed in the chamber of Principal Secretary (Secretariat Administration Department) V S Pandey,so he can keep a watch as well. “The government is spending about Rs 50 crore to put this new system in place,” said Pandey. Meanwhile,the government has also installed biometric system of attendance for government employees.

Fuelling the rumours

All eyes are now on Rashtriya Lok Dal president Ajit Singh who returned from abroad last week. Although speculation is rife about the possible merger of RLD with the Congress,Singh has remained quiet. His decision to support the Congress candidate,Satish Sharma,during the Rajya Sabha polls has strengthened the rumours about such a merger. In the prevailing situation,RLD workers find themselves in a fix. “Ours is a small party. We are not in a position to attack the UPA government over price rise. Our voters are mainly Jats who are associated with agriculture,” pointed out one party leader. Many emphasise the political urgency in view of the Assembly elections due in 2012.