Delhi: Jayendra Saraswati, Shankaracharya of Kanchi, obviously has insights into political importance. During talks with Union ministers and VHP leaders in Delhi, he suddenly asked, "Woh Bhattacharya kahan hai? Usko bulao (Where is Bhattacharya? Call him)." Ranjan Bhattacharya, the prime minister's foster son-in-law, was summoned and his opinion sought. The embarrassed man mumbled a few words and scurried away. Some wondered if the two had met earlier. Others secretly complimented the man from Kanchi for being a seer, literally.

Old Mr Mumble

Delhi: The BJP has been fielding weary and tele-ungenic leaders in TV debates, who instead of defending the party and the Government, are proving to be an embarrassment. Minister of State for Home I.D. Swami, for example, is perpetually fumbling for answers on various news channels. Recently while quoting his senior minister L.K. Advani's promise to abide by the court verdict, Swami was flummoxed when fellow panelist, Amar Singh of the Samajwadi Party, asked, "If Advaniji had to follow court verdicts, why did he go on the rath yatra in 1990?"

Summer Holidaying

Hyderabad: This summer all the 294 MLAs (except the ministers) in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly get a 12-day expense-paid foreign holiday, thanks to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. The roughly Rs 1.5 lakh per head jaunts are being explained away as study tours. The MLAs will visit, in batches, China, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore to "learn" about industry, agriculture and backwardness in these countries. Naidu does know how to keep MLAs on both sides happy.

Friendly Foe

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri is clearly in a big fix. In October 1990, the former kar sevak walked to Ayodhya challenging the then chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. Today as head of a state under President's rule, he has to crack down on his Ram sevak brethren. On March 11, VHP supremo Ashok Singhal and Shastri had a long one-to-one meeting, following which Singhal was allowed to go to Ayodhya unhindered at a time when not a single Ram sevak was being given access to the temple town. Once a kar sevak, always a kar sevak, Governor?