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Why Dr Manmohan Singh won't go in a hurry
What is the 'Rahul Congress'?
Why C P Joshi and P C Chako are smiling
Why Sharad Yadav is a worried man
All this and more in this week's Dilli Gupshup.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's Rajya Sabha term is ending next month. There is virtually no doubt that Manmohan would get re-nomination from Assam but a section of the Congress is said to be "hoping against hope" that he opts out. These faceless but influential Congressmen were among those who led "inspired leaks" about reported differences between him and Sonia Gandhi over the removal of Pawan Bansal and Ashwani Kumar from the Union Cabinet.
What is their game-plan? Some prime ministerial aspirants and their camp followers reportedly feel that another term for Manmohan could mean his continuation beyond 2014 if a Congress-led UPA is formed after next year's general elections. The entire hype and build-up over Ashwani Kumar was carefully aimed at weakening the prime minister, but going by current indications, it appears that their calculations have failed and there is no chance of an interim prime minister in 2013...
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What is the 'Rahul Congress'?
Away from public glare, the Congress is witnessing a quiet, smooth and significant transition from Sonia Gandhi to Rahul Gandhi. During the Karnataka polls, many high and mighty leaders of the Congress played little or no role in electioneering or selection of the chief ministerial nominee.
These seemingly powerful AICC functionaries are now fearing the "Rahul axe" in the AICC revamp which is on the cards later this month. It appears that the AICC restructuring will usher in the "Rahul Congress".
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Why C P Joshi is smiling
These days, Union minister C P Joshi cannot wipe the smile off his face. This is for the second time that the Union surface transport minister has been given additional charge of railways. Joshi had held temporary charge when Mamata Banerjee's Mukul Roy and other Trinamool Congress ministers had left the UPA.
Joshi now plans to spend more time in Rail Bhavan. But there is a catch: there is an acute paucity of rooms in Rail Bhavan. As a result, Joshi's personal staff has to function from Tansport Bhavan.
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Why P C Chako is happy
P C Chacko is a happy man these days.
The Kerala politician heading the JPC on 2G scam loves courting controversies. Chacko believes the 2G probe has given him an "all-India reach" and put him at par with Shashi Tharoor.
The former close aide of K Karunakaran and Arjun Singh, now serving as Congress spokesman, is a firm believer in a Urdu couplet that says, "badnam hue to kya naam na hoga!" (if I become controversial, would not my name become popular).
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Why Sharad Yadav is a worried man
The Janata Dal-United is slated to elect its new president. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is keen to grant third term to Sharad Yadav. But there are some disturbing signs that are worrying Yadav.
When Nitish held a press conference recently, he was flanked by R C P Singh and Sabir Ali while Yadav was missing. Sabir, a Rajya Sabha MP, has been given charge of Delhi without getting a prior nod from Yadav. The socialist is praying hard these days.
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