Third eye: Chavan's missing supporters, DK's rebellion, and Punjab's musical chair

Leader And Followers Take Differing Paths
Former Congress leader Ashok Chavan's decision to join the BJP was expected to boost the latter's fortunes, particularly in Nanded. However, only Chavan appears to have moved to the BJP, not his supporters. Sensing the tone, he was left asking for the BJP candidate to be elected since failing to do so would result in a loss of face in the party. When there were no people at a recent event in Nanded, organisers resorted to putting tiny tots on chairs to create the illusion of a crowd.

Remaining At Odds With Party
DK Shivakumar, Karnataka's Deputy CM, wears two hats. He is the president of the Pradesh Congress Committee and also a Vokkaliga leader. His party and its leader, Rahul Gandhi, are committed to conducting a national caste census, yet he has signed a Vokkaliga petition against a caste census that has already been conducted in Karnataka. He claims to have an opinion on the matter, but his party dominates it.

No Less Than Musical Chairs
In an unusual turn of events, KAP Sinha, a 1992 batch IAS officer, has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Punjab, succeeding Anurag Verma, who barely completed a year in the top position this July. Verma, in particular, has been strangelymoved as additional CS. This is the state’s fourth CS in the past 2.5 years under the Aam Aadmi Party government.