Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee is on a PR overdrive these days it seems and is trying to keep even the media in good humour. As was witnessed recently at a dinner organised by the Parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Bansal on the conclusion of the key Budget Session of Parliament.
Dada, as the FM is fondly called by the journos, answered all media queries, even the ones related to his possible nomination as the Congress’ Presidential nominee. In fact it seems dada’s nomination is getting support cutting across party lines.
As a Shiv Sena MP was heard saying on the concluding day of the Parliament that if Congress nominates Mr Mukherjee, all parties will support him. Now that’s great PR both in politics and media Pranab dada.

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BJP’s loss spells hope for Sibal
While BJP is still recovering from the shocking defeat of its deputy leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha, S.S. Ahulwalia, one man who must have heaved a huge sigh of relief is the Union HRD minister Kapil Sibal.
As is fairly well-known, Mr Ahluwalia had strongly opposed some of the key bills related to Mr Sibal’s ministries. Now that Mr Ahluwalia is not likely to be nominated to the Upper House again, Mr Sibal must be quite hopeful that the bill will finally see the light of the day in the coming Monsoon session of Parliament.

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Amma’s no-show disappoints scribes
When Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa visited the national capital recently to finalise the plan outlay for her state, journalists were disappointed on two counts. First, the visit turned out to be a routine one with the AIADMK supremo launching a scathing attack on the Centre for its attitude towards the states. Scribes, who anticipated the Dravidian leader lining up a few meetings to firm up her strategy for the upcoming Presidential polls, were a frustrated lot as their hopes were belied.
Secondly, reporters who had turned up in considerable number at the Tamil Nadu Bhavan expecting the three-time chief minister would interact with them not only felt let down because it did not happen but officials at the Bhavan also erected a barricade to ensure they all were kept at a distance from the chief minister. Obviously, the disillusioned mediapersons created a hullabaloo over the restrictions but to no avail. Can anyone challenge the writ of Amma and her coterie?

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Budget tales of Pura 2.0
Budget head is the most dreaded chapter, which few ministers touch. After the “Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (Pura) launched by former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam failed to kick off, the Ministry of rural development tried to rechristen it in some other ways. However, the move could not go further. The reason was that it takes at least two years to get fund allocation under budget. Since Pura was already getting funds under Budget-head, there was no point touching it, which could have deprived the ministry of budgetary allocation. So, Pura became Pura 2.0, with focus now on areas where there are no municipalities along with the key element that it would now be implemented through PPP (public-private-partnership) mode.

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Power woes of MLAs
The frequent power cuts in Delhi are giving sleepless nights not only to the residents but also politicians. While the ministers and the other higher-ups sleep in relative comfort, it is the MLAs who realise that they would be at the receiving end of the residents’ ire if the power cuts go on for very long hours. Some of the MLAs don’t forget to ensure an early visit to the affected areas next morning. “It’s the best way to calm the residents,” said a politician.
Another MLA decided that it is better to ensure that his area gets power supply by remaining awake till the early hours so that he does not have to visit the affected areas next morning. “I try my level best to ensure that my area gets uninterrupted power supply during nights. I go to bed only after 2 am.”