Rejig in Nitish Cabinet? 

There is a possibility of the Bihar Cabinet being reshuffled after 14 January when the ongoing Kharmas period (considered inauspicious as per the Hindu belief) ends. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar categorically ruled out the possibility of appointing a deputy other than Tejaswi Yadav, ending speculations that a top leader of his JD(U) was being considered for the job. New faces may, however, be inducted in the council of ministers from the allies RJD and the Congress. Two ministers from the RJD quota – Sudhakar Singh and Kartik Kumar resigned within a couple of months of the formation of the Grand Alliance government in August last year. Moreover, Congress, which has been given two berths, is seeking a representation commensurate with its numerical strength in the assembly. 

Churning in SP

SP’s National president Akhilesh Yadav is now getting very secretive about every political step. It has become difficult to judge the party’s next move. After winning the Manipur by-elections and bringing Shivpal Yadav into the party fold, he is now gearing up to build up a political ground; afresh from home.  It’s the first time he is focusing with full intensity on Yadav land seats such as Etawah, Manipur, Etah, Firozabad, Auraiya, Farrukhabad, Kannauj, Kanpur Rural and Budaun. Focussing directly on and connecting with the youth of every village and marking out a strategy for the future. About 8 per cent of the voters in Uttar Pradesh are from the Yadav community, which accounts for 20% of the total population of the OBC community.  After the Mandal Commission, there was such a mobilisation in the Yadav community that it became the core voter of the SP. Mulayam Singh Yadav thrice and Akhilesh Yadav once became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh based on Yadav voters. 

Bidding for unity

The invitation by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to the leaders of 21 like-minded parties has been sent the list, which includes names such as DMK, JD(U), TDP, RJD, JMM, SP, BSP, Shiv Sena, NCP, IUML, PDP, MDMK, HAM, RLSP, RSP, KSM, VCK, Trinamool Congress, CPI, CPIM. All of them have been asked to join the concluding function of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Srinagar on January 30, saying their presence would strengthen the yatra’s aim and message of truth, compassion and nonviolence. Parties including AIUDF, AIMIM, BJD, YSRCP, AIADMK, JD(S), TRS and AAP were not invited. In a letter to the presidents of the parties, Kharge said, “At this event, we will commit ourselves to eliminate hatred and violence.”