Delhi: The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), it seems, upped the ante on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi only after Food Minister Shanta Kumar demanded his resignation. Was Kumar's attack inspired by a signal from A.B. Vajpayee? At least the good TDP thought so. Kumar, instead, was publicly rebuked by Vajpayee and referred to the BJP's disciplinary committee. Two years ago, Madan Lal Khurana took on the RSS allegedly on Atalji's say but only lost his cabinet job. Perhaps Kumar too needs a lesson in PMO semiotics.

All the CM's Men

Chandigarh: While Punjab Chief minister Amarinder Singh ordered a freeze on recruitments in the Government, it didn't extend to his office. Most of his political confidants have found jobs in the CMO, outnumbering regular civil servants. Singh has two advisers (one ministerial rank) and five OSDs. Top bureaucrats, piqued at the army of aides, have sent a circular asking other officers not to take orders from these non-official advisers.

Thumbs Up

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Governor Bhai Mahavir is in a win-win situation in his running feud with Chief Minister Digvijay Singh. Mahavir had earlier opposed the list of bureaucrats sent by the Government to the Centre saying it was not authentic. The Centre has now struck down the list and changed the postings of at least 40 IPS officers. Mahavir had also opposed powers of contempt for the Lok Ayukta and the President has nodded to that. Now the grinning governor is sharpening his knife to oppose the Police Reforms Bill passed by the Assembly.

Summer's Scapegoat

Jaipur: Ram Singh Vishnoi, Rajasthan minister for public health and engineering, got into trouble recently when a raid revealed that his son's cement factory also made narcotics. With summer approaching and not enough funds in his hands to provide drinking water supply Vishnoi thought it wiser to quit than risk unpopularity. But Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has other ideas. He wants to make Vishnoi a scapegoat this summer by not accepting the resignation. This way Gehlot can also strike a deal with him and the Vishnoi community that forms a large number in his constituency. For poor Vishnoi, it's a long summer.