Demand for PM Modi’s pickle, VHP president and wife attend Ram temple function

Selecting a suitable Yajaman (a consecrator who performs religious rituals as per the instructions of the priests) for the Pran Pratistha ceremony to be held at the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22 was not an easy task for the organisers. While the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, was the obvious choice for the task, he was not eligible as the host is required to be present at the religious ceremony along with his wife. The occasion is such that the host has to be of great stature. Finally, the organizers welcomed the National President of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and eminent orthopedic surgeon, R.N. But decided. Lion. Singh was very happy to get this responsibility. “The presence of the wife is necessary in religious functions. My wife and I will leave for Ayodhya on 18th or 19th January. We will be responsible for performing all the rituals…on January 22,” Singh told this newspaper. While the Prime Minister is also preparing for the big day, it will be Singh and his wife who will be fasting for the main event. “I have diabetes and hope Panditji will allow me to eat some fruits. Even if he doesn’t do it, it will be fine because this is a big opportunity for us,” Singh said. Sources said the couple will initiate the ceremony but will then hand over the reins of the rituals to Modi. When asked about the unusual arrangement of the investiture ceremony and the importance of a wife in a man’s life, many senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders remained silent. By now he knows better than to express his opinion on matters related to ‘Modiji’.

quick as a flash

Former cricketer, Ambati Rayudu played perhaps the sharpest ‘Twenty20’ political innings when he joined the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress party headed by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and then resigned. The former national as well as Chennai Super Kings middle-order batsman, who has some fine innings to his name, has joined many seasoned politicians in his quick exit from a political party citing disagreement with the party’s ideology.

After leaving YSRCP, Rayudu met Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan and found that his views matched the ideology of the party. Rayudu, who calls himself ATR, is currently representing Mumbai Indians in the International League T20 in Dubai.

The sidelining of old leaders in the saffron party, including former chief ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Vasundhara Raje Scindia, has raised fears of similar action for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Most of the BJP MPs in their 70s and above fear that the government may fall on them. Although the unofficial retirement age in the BJP is 75, party leaders fear that those below this benchmark may also be removed using the ‘winnability’ factor.

The party leadership is extremely secretive about its moves and even senior leaders are not aware of what is being planned. Narendra Modi and Amit Shah look keen to replicate the ‘Gujarat model’: The pair had in one fell swoop replaced many state leaders – from CMs to ministers – with new faces in 2022. A similar exercise can be done later after the successful experiments of candidate selection in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. In such a situation, many senior MPs will find themselves marginalized. It is noteworthy that Narendra Modi is also 73 years old. But of course, that’s an exception.

prickly appearance

Lok Sabha member Sumalatha Ambareesh is proving to be a thorn in the side of both the BJP and its new ally Janata Dal (Secular). The actor-turned-politician, who entered the fray as an independent candidate in the 2019 elections after she was denied a ticket by the Congress despite her husband being a loyal member of the party, ultimately won with the support of the BJP. But now when the JD(S) wants to field its own candidate – possibly a relative of former prime minister, HD Deve Gowda – the BJP is trying to woo him away from the Mandya constituency which is part of the Vokkaliga stronghold. But Sumalatha is determined to contest the elections. It remains to be seen whether Congress will support him this time or not.

more whispering

The meeting between Biju Janata Dal MP Bhartrihari Mahtab and Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence in New Delhi earlier this week has fueled speculations about the former joining the BJP. Mahtab has a very good rapport with BJP leaders including the PM. The Cuttack MP had earlier faced the wrath of the BJD leadership for criticizing the party in the daily newspaper edited by him. It is no surprise that Mehtab’s meeting with Shah has irked the BJD.