BJP’s change of plans in UP; Rajnath Singh to step in for December 24 meet

There is a change of plan in BJP’s rally schedule for poll-bound UP. While PM Modi was earlier expected to address a major rally in Lucknow on December 24, just in time for the Election Commission’s notification of polling dates, he is now likely to attend the rally on January 3 or 4. Home Minister Rajnath Singh will instead hold the fort at Lucknow on December 24.



Bureaucrat on Mt Everest
The only IAS officer apparently to have scaled Mt Everest, Ravindra Kumar of Sikkim cadre, has penned a book on the feat. ‘Many Everests’ was released on Monday and the top bureaucrat of the day — Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha — was the chief guest on the occasion.




Losing Sheen
The eighth Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit seems to be the coldest affair since its inception. While last year’s summit witnessed an enthusiastic participation, this year the show has lost its charm due to turbulence in the state politics. It seems that leaders are now going all out to ensure that industrialists take part in the show. Priorities seem to have shifted more to fire fighting.



Lord Ganesha & Ambedkar
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar appears to be very fond of Lord Ganesha. Several idols and statues of Ganesha adorn his drawing room at Tughlaq Crescent residence. Another conspicuous picture in the house of this Brahmin leader from Karnataka is that of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, a Dalit icon and father of the Constitution.