Awaits pilot’s next move

Political scenario in Rajasthan is hyper-excited with reports that estranged Congress leader Sachin Pilot is just about to announce his next course of action. As the party high command – president Mallikarjun Kharge waiting for ex-MP Rahul Gandhi’s return to India – guarding its decision on Pilot’s demands on three issues, Pilot is facing immense pressure from his supporters, many of whom have chided him on social media that the 2018 scenario should not be repeated. At that time, Pilot had toured the state prior to the Assembly election leading to a big win for Congress, but was sidelined in favour of Ashok Gehlot. Now, some believe Pilot will join Aam Aadmi Party to head the state unit, another section says he will form his own outfit and decide whom to support in case he gets reasonable numbers in the coming election.

BJP ACTIVATES SOUTHERN INITIATIVE
Reports about a likely tie-up of the Bharatiya Janata Party with the Janata Dal (S) in Karnataka have indicated that BJP’s south India initiative is being activated in double speed – the move comes close on the heels of Telugu Desam chief Chandrababu Naidu meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah, for a possible tie-up in Telangana. The BJP had been quick in analysing the reasons for defeat in Karnataka, and the attitude of JD (S) just before the final results had been quite indicative of what could follow. With the Vokkaliga base of JD (S) still worth a few seats, it is believed that the BJP would like to pursue a new alignment, since the initiative to retain Lingayat support under ex-CM BS Yediyurappa’s leadership did not yield the desired result. The proposed BJP-JD (S) alliance will leave little space for Yediyurappa to call the shots any more.

IS THE END OF THIS BOUT IN SIGHT?
The protest by a section of medal-winning wrestlers against the Wrestling Federation of India president BB Sharan Singh has seen many twists and turns and the latest turn appears to have the possibility of ending the stir. The wrestlers’ earlier meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the latest meeting with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur comes after the protesting wrestlers have staged a long sit-in, staged a march to Parliament, went to Haridwar to immerse their medals in the Ganga river, and one of the protestors having joined her duty. The on-off support of Kisan leader Rakesh Tikait and the khap panchayats too failed to come to bring about a solution.