Readying for change

Exit polls in Punjab give no clear verdict with both the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP combine and the Congress on an equal footing. However, there is evidence of an awaited vote for change at the residences of both Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and the Badals. After polling, the CM has spent most of his time with friends from across the border at his Dochi Palace in Patiala. As for the Badal home, it resembles a household waiting for the bridegroom, decked in marigold and meals being served round the clock. Expectedly, besides party workers, visitors include bureaucrats and ministerial aspirants eager to meet Sukhbir Badal, the heir apparent.

Cause before self

Ever since he was stripped off his post as chief national spokesperson, the BJP’s Arun Jaitley has not visited the party office even though his official residence is right next to it. Therefore, it was surprising the party nominated him to speak on the Quattrocchi arrest last Saturday, his name a late addition alongside that of the original speaker, M Venkaiah Naidu. But party office-bearers accept Jaitley is the best qualified person to speak on Bofors, after his interventions all these years. So, it was a sniffy Jaitley who quipped at his nomination, “The ego can’t be bigger than the cause.”

Tailpiece

CPI(M) MPs are squirming in private about the heavy party levy on their salaries. The poor comrades have to shell out as much as Rs 35,000 of their Rs 42,000 monthly salary, leaving some to lament that they have to take bank loans to run their vehicles. They also point out that even MLAs are left with more money in hand than the MPs. For instance in Kerala, the state legislator pays only Rs 2,000 out of the Rs 16,000 salary. But maybe this will goad them to push through the pension bill soon.