Plush plane
President Ram Nath Kovind is stated to be excited about the new VVIP Air India One aircraft, equipped with the newest functions, which includes a sophisticated defence technique and audio/video communications. Its plush interiors with conference rooms and suites are reportedly on a par with the US President’s Air Force One.
Kovind was keen to attempt out the aircraft devoted for the exclusive use of the President, Prime Minister and Vice President, and went on the inaugural flight. The aircraft landed in Chennai and the President travelled to Tirupati in a helicopter. PM Modi has but to use the aircraft and is reportedly waiting till he flies abroad.
All doors open
There is main churning on in talks for Tamil Nadu’s Assembly polls to be held subsequent year. The DMK’s M K Stalin is stated to be discussing the possibility of an alliance with S Ramadoss’s PMK. If the alliance have been to materialise, then Dalit leader Thirumavalavan of the VCK would stroll out of the DMK camp. His preference would be a joint front with the Congress and Kamal Haasan’s celebration. The snag is that Rahul Gandhi is unlikely to abandon the DMK, even if the Congress is allotted a humiliating quantity of seats. Another choice for the VCK is to join hands with Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM, a move which could harm the DMK. The AIADMK, meanwhile, is preparing a tie-up with the BJP and actor Vijayakanth’s DMDK. The essential query of course is with whom superstar Rajinikanth ties up. As a Tamil Nadu politician place it, “All doors are open at this juncture.”
Filling his footwear
The Congress faces a difficult time acquiring a appropriate replacement for Ahmed Patel. Pawan Bansal may well have been appointed interim treasurer, but Patel’s function was far extra wide-ranging. He was a essential intermediary involving Congresspersons and the Gandhi household. When Congressmen sought time to meet Sonia Gandhi, she invariably recommended they speak to Patel, hardly ever directing them to Rahul. No senior celebration leader has Patel’s invaluable attributes. Ashok Gehlot and Kamal Nath are viewed as probable replacements, but each have their drawbacks. Gehlot’s organisational contacts and accessibility give him an edge, but he has small connect with other political parties and the Mumbai organization globe, the latter becoming Nath’s strength. Nath’s drawback is his lack of approachability. Also, Gehlot will resist any suggestion to step down as Rajasthan Chief Minister. Indeed, he has so far refused to relinquish any of his nine ministerial portfolios, though asked to do so by a 3-member committee, which integrated Patel. A third contender is Karnataka leader D K Shivakumar, who is adept at fundraising.
Sad phenomenon
In the final fortnight of November, senior MP Ahmed Patel, former CM Tarun Gogoi, and Rajasthan MLA Kiran Maheshwari died of post-Covid complications. That marks a worryingly higher mortality price amongst VIP politicians. To date, at least 4 MPs and eight MLAs have died immediately after testing Covid optimistic, apart from other identified names in the political globe. The list of fatalities incorporates former President Pranab Mukherjee, Union MoS for Railways Suresh Angadi, UP ministers Chetan Chauhan and Kamal Rani Varun, former RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, former Central minister from Leh P Namgyal and former Goa wellness minister Suresh Amonkar.
Even Central ministers
Amit Shah and Dharmendra Pradhan have had protracted post-Covid complications.
A Covid-19 specialist believes the explanation could be political leaders plunging straight away into regular activity immediately after recovery, as an alternative of taking it quick for six weeks.
Limited achievement
The Haryana Police was told to protect against the Kisan brigade, travelling in tractors and buses, from reaching Delhi. Their hands have been tied although, as they have been ordered not to use lathis or fire gun shots. The police resorted to water cannons and tear gas, but the farmers just retreated and then re-grouped. The Haryana Police’s only recourse was to erect blockades along the road with heavy-duty cranes and seemingly insurmountable iron barricades. But the nicely-ready farmer organisations came armed with implements and accompanied by educated mechanics and effectively cleared the roads.
A police officer claimed that though they could not protect against the farmers ultimately reaching the Delhi border, they managed to slow down the march.