Perhaps in keeping with the changed political equations, a new political wall appears to have come up. This was apparent when Chinese President Jiang Zemin visited India last week. For the banquet at Hyderabad House, Congress president Sitaram Kesari was seated next to Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda. And former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao was seated way down the table, far from the seats of power. Even when leaders were being introduced to Zemin, Rao had to walk up to him alone, while Kesari was escorted.
Political chairs
Congress joint secretary Chandra Raj Singhvi is not one to mince words. Singhvi is in charge of Madhya Pradesh, and was recently told to meet Madhavrao Scindia. On reaching Scindia's house, he found that the chair meant for Scindia was placed high up, very much like a throne, while two stools were placed across the table for visitors. Singhvi obviously did not like this, and insisted on not occupying one of the stools. Known to take his job as the joint secretary in charge of Madhya Pradesh seriously, Singhvi instead ensconced himself on the nearby sofa and invited Scindia over.
Spirited one-upmanship
When it comes to one-upmanship, the puritanical BJP does not lag behind. In this, party leaders would appear to surpass other parties too. The recent Jaipur meeting of the BJP's national executive, however, was the stage for political oneupmanship of a different kind. Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat one day played host to newsmen and senior party leaders over dinner at his official residence. Next day, his rival, state party chief Ramdas Agarwal, sent out invitations for a similar dinner. This apparently did not go well with Shekhawat who put his officer on special duty (OSD) on the job. The OSD visited hotels where newsmen were lodged, and offered the finest of spirits available. No prizes for guessing how many newsmen turned up for Agarwal's dinner.
