Photographers and TV journalists, other than official and agency media, once permitted to stand near the Makar Dwar entrance, have now been restricted to a glass caboose-like cabin over 20 metres from the building, making it nearly impossible to have any contact with MPs entering Parliament.
The architecture and rules of the new Parliament segregate not just journalists from MPs, whom they are expected to report on, but also Rajya Sabha MPs from Lok Sabha MPs and former MPs from sitting MPs. The absence of Central Hall, hitherto the common meeting place, has been much written about. What is unusual is that Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha members have separate cafeterias. When a former TMC MP recently secured a one-day pass for the new building, he was informed it did not permit him to enter the MPs’ lounge to meet his friends. The TMC was allotted a party office in the new building but its access was through a bewildering maze of corridors. So the TMC decided to retain its previous office in the old building. Photographers and TV journalists, other than official and agency media, once permitted to stand near the Makar Dwar entrance, have now been restricted to a glass caboose-like cabin over 20 metres from the building, making it nearly impossible to have any contact with MPs entering Parliament.
Shadow PM?
The Congress is riding high on Rahul Gandhi’s impressive new image. Ever since his strenuous yatras displaying vim and vigour, Gandhi has attracted many more supporters, particularly youth. There was a time when senior functionaries in Gandhi’s team had no permission to disturb him between 10 pm and 11 am, even when they wanted to consult him about issuing an urgent press statement. But recently, his staff was pleasantly taken aback when Gandhi tweeted at 1.52 am that he feared an ED raid. Ever since he finally accepted the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, the Congress presumes that Gandhi is the PM-in-waiting who will take charge in the eventuality of an INDIA majority. But not all allies are convinced of Gandhi’s suitability. Mamata Banerjee has made her scepticism known, but, surprisingly, SP’s Akhilesh Yadav also indicated that the choice was still open. When asked recently by a TV anchor about possible names for a shadow cabinet, Akhilesh said, “What about proposals for a shadow Prime Minister?’’
Out of his shadow
Mohan Yadav, the new CM of Madhya Pradesh, has large shoes to fill. The little-known legislator was picked last year to replace Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the longest serving CM in the state who is credited with dramatically uplifting MP’s economy. Understandably, Yadav is keen to shed his anonymous image and his PR team is in overdrive to promote him on social media and liberally offer local journalists interviews, although normally an interview with the CM is considered a special privilege granted only to a few. Yadav’s PhD topic as a student at an Ujjain university was media coverage of Chouhan’s achievements. Interestingly, when Chouhan first returned to Bhopal after being sworn in as agriculture minister in Delhi, his followers arranged a grand reception, preceded by a train journey from Delhi to Bhopal, where he was cheered at stations along the route. However, the local unit of the BJP put a spanner in the works by declaring that the felicitation ceremony in Bhopal should not be just for Chouhan, whose national profile has increased considerably of late, but for all MP ministers serving in Delhi. On the day of the reception, the function was cancelled on the pretext that the wife of a former minister, who was unconnected with the reception, had passed away.
Ajit turns pink
Poll strategist Naresh Arora of DesignBoxed, whose previous clients have included Congressmen D K Shivakumar and Ashok Gehlot, was hired last month by NCP’s Ajit Pawar for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, which are just months away. Arora has advised Ajit of the need for a makeover. In the united NCP, Ajit was perceived as the key organiser who liaised with the cadre and elected representatives, while his uncle Sharad Pawar was the public face. Since Ajit will now be seeking votes in his own name, his strategist has suggested that he project a softer, brighter and less abrasive image. For starters, the Ajit-led NCP should have a distinctive colour in contrast to the Shiv Sena’s orange, the BJP’s saffron, and the NCP (Sharad) and Congress’s white with a tricolor.
DesignBoxed recommended pink and lately Ajit is seen wearing only pink jackets and his posters have a pink or mauve background with specks of yellow. Ajit has increased his presence on social media and a video on him attracted over 8 million views. He has also started yatras through his strongholds in Maharashtra. His party is keen to project a more women-friendly persona and, as in Karnataka, Maharashtra has started a scheme, “Majhi Laadki Bahin”, which provides Rs 1,500 as well as three LPG cylinder refills for women. Despite combating serious anti-incumbency, his MLAs haven’t deserted Ajit yet.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
First uploaded on: 11-08-2024 at 07:31 IST
