Third eye: When chips are down, play it safe

When chips are down, play it safe The hallmark of Congress RS nominations, say party insiders, is how all nominations went to either senior leaders/lawyers or known supporters of entrenched AICC players. None of ‘Rahul Gandhi loyalists’ aspiring for RS berths could make it. When Karnataka Congress refused to accommodate P Chidambaram, he was fielded from Maharashtra by denying renomination to Rahul’s “chela” Avishan Pandey and Sonia loyalist SK Shinde.

Menu fit for President Pranab President Pranab Mukherjee on the state banquet in China last week went for a vegetarian menu. The fare included hors d’oeuvres, coconut tofu soup, mixed vegetable stew, curry bean, curd, steamed stonecrop leaf and grilled tofu. Deserts included pastries, fruits and mashed blueberry and yam. However, the President is believed to have eaten frugally, for he was busy sharing his thoughts with President Xi Jinping.

NextGen Chinese with Indic names About 25 Students of Hindi section in Peking University met President Pranab Mukherjee in Beijing on May 26. These students have taken up Indic names like Neelam, Ganga, Yamuna, Rama, Sita, Lakshmi, etc. Even their examination papers and certificates shall have Indian names once the Chinese students graduate. When asked, these students said they were keen to come to India after their studies.

Switching to green support A recurring problem in his back has got BJP national president Amit Shah to change his vehicle to ensure better comfort and support. Shah, who has preferred a SUV for his travels, has now shifted to a sedan for the time being after medical advice. But, the ruling party president has not lost sight of the green drive of his government and opted for a hybrid version of the sedan.