Madhya Pradesh Political Punch: Tussle Over Flag Hoisting, Congress Protest, Ministers Vote

In a bind

A legislator in the state is up the creek these days. A relative of this lawmaker is entangled in a case. The issue relates to another state. Despite all efforts, the legislator has failed to rescue his relatives from the case. His efforts to save his kin, rather than helping them, have created a tricky situation. A criminal case was already going on against his relative outside the state. Another case has been filed against him.

The legislator has made all efforts in Delhi as well as in Bhopal, but his attempts to rescue his relatives from the tangle have so far come to naught. There are reports that the troubles the legislator is in have tarnished his image in his assembly constituency. A Congress leader, who is against the legislator, is creating an atmosphere against him through a vilification campaign. Some BJP leaders are also reportedly against the lawmaker. This is the reason that his problems remain unsolved.

Tussle over flag hoisting

There was a tussle over hoisting the national flag on Independence Day. The ministers were not satisfied with the way the districts for hoisting the national flag were allotted to them. In the first list, three ministers were allotted the districts under their charge. Then another minister was given the district under his charge.

Three ministers got the districts changed and got them allotted near their hometowns for hoisting the flag. Some ministers also complained that their home districts were not allotted to anyone. They wanted to know the reasons for asking the collector to hoist the national flag in their districts. There are a few districts where the collectors unfurled the national flag for the first time. On previous occasions, the ministers used to unfurl the national flag in these districts. The government asked the ministers to hoist the national flag in the districts under their change so that they may at least visit there.

Blowing hot and cold

The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has made vote theft a major issue across the country. He is targeting the Election Commission and the BJP over the issue. The state Congress also demonstrated in support of their leader. The main problem with the state Congress leaders was that they raised other issues than the one Rahul Gandhi had raised.

Although Rahul Gandhi is also referring to the assembly elections in MP and Chhattisgarh at the time of raising the issue, the state Congress leaders have just sidetracked the state polls. The Congress leaders are holding agitations in support of their central leader, but they feel the agitation is not going to have any impact on the government. The government has been formed and will last for five years. They feel, instead of holding such agitations, the party leaders should strengthen the organisation to form a government in the coming days.

Blue mood

A minister in the state cabinet is unhappy about the fact that the principal secretaries transferred to his department do not listen to him. Initially, a woman principal secretary was posted in his department. It is well known that she does not listen to anyone. Nobody is happy with her style of working. After the woman officer was transferred from the department, a senior officer was sent there.

The minister is not on good terms with the officer, who, too, did not give him much importance. The officer discussed the issues of the department with the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary. The minister, however, got the officer transferred from the department by using his clout. Then the officer, posted to the department, is also considered arrogant. Now, the minister is blaming his luck for what is happening to him. He also says such officers have been transferred to his department as part of a conspiracy.

Ministers vote

There was a flurry of activities over a club election in the national capital. The election was for the Constitution Club, consisting of members and former members of Parliament. The election became more interesting because it was BJP versus BJP. A former union minister was in the fray against another former union minister who has been in the club for many years. The other leader who threw his hat in the ring had the support of senior BJP leaders.

Two ministers from the state also went to Delhi to cast votes. Though it was not known who these leaders voted for, some people in the corridors of power began to speculate about it. It was clear that these leaders had cast their votes in favour of two different candidates. One of the ministers supported the candidate belonging to his community. About the other minister, it was said that he had supported the candidate whom the senior BJP leaders stood by. The results of the election were also out. The candidate, who had the support of top BJP leaders, lost it. But the control of the leader over the club, who has been there for a long time, will remain intact.

Jhanda uncha rahein…!

Tiranga Yatra has become a tool for some ruling party leaders to display their strength. A legislator from Bhopal, setting his eyes on a cabinet berth, took out a massive Tiranga Yatra to draw the party bosses’ attention. But he was not alone. Many other politicians of the ruling dispensation also took out impressive Tiranga Yatras in their respective areas to get political posts in boards and corporations.

Similarly, the ruling party leaders organised Tiranga Yatras in other parts of the state. Their purpose was the same as their counterparts in the state capital – to draw the attention of the party bosses to grab a political post. These politicians are competing with one another to keep their own Jhanda Uncha…!