Face Value
After AIADMK bosses hurriedly unveiled a life-size bronze statue of J. Jayalalitha on her 70th birth anniversary at the party HQ, all they received were brickbats as the statue, especially the face, had no resemblance to the late leader. There are several jokes doing the rounds. According to one, the statue resembles the wife of EPS, the Tamil Nadu CM, while another suggests it resembles yesteryear actresses, depending on the side you viewed it from. The best perhaps was one claiming that the ministers don’t remember Amma’s face as they were too busy falling at her feet. The sculptor blamed it on the short deadline of two weeks.
Building Problem
Now that the swanky BJP headquarters has been inaugurated, the Congress, too, is keen to expedite the construction of its new office across the road. While the basic structure of the six-storey building was completed a while ago, sources claim the Grand Old Party has run out of money to finish the work on its exterior and interior furnishings. Party treasurer Motilal Vora is believed to have written to senior leaders and former ministers to donate to the party fund. Talk of the Congress facing a cash crunch began soon after it lost the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Incidentally, Rahul Gandhi’s team is expected to get a new treasurer—there are whispers that it could be Kanishka Singh. Vora, meanwhile, is waiting for senior leaders to loosen their purse strings.
Numbers Game
It is not just assembly polls in various states that are keeping the BJP top brass busy. They are also keeping a close tab on elections for the Rajya Sabha, where the party does not have a majority, despite having the largest share of seats—58 of the total 245 MPs. The ruling party has faced many embarrassing situations when the Opposition came together to stop the passage of important bills. That’s unlikely to change anytime soon. By the BJP’s own calculations, the party may still fall short of the magic figure of 123 even after the elections for 58 seats scheduled for March 23. Of these seats, the party expects to win only 15.
Overheard A book on Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot, penned by his mother Rama Pilot, wife of late Congress leader Rajesh Pilot, is expected to come out in time for the assembly polls.
