Raman Singh's surprise

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh is addicted to springing surprises on his political opponents but for the next one, they can be sure of one thing at least: it will come in the annual state Budget due sometime in February. Singh has said he would make a “historic” announcement in the Budget for 2013-14, which should surprise no one since the state is due to have Assembly elections later this year. But Congress leaders are now deeply worried about the kind of concessions Singh will announce because they are bound to benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. It has, accordingly, put its intelligence wing to work to figure out exactly what Singh is planning.