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Deep Throat

A regular column on the essential buzz

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Deep Throat
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Bihar
Two To Tango

The continuing ‘tango’ between BJP MP ‘Bihari Babu’ Shat­rughan Sinha and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar remains a source of embarrassment for the BJP. While BJP leaders were conspicuous by their absence when Sinha recently made his appearance on stage in Patna, both the chief minister and RJD chief Lalu Yadav turned up to applaud his performance. Sinha in turn has been lavish in praising the CM. While the BJP has been critical of the chief minister’s handling of flood relief, Sinha felt the work done was commendable and left BJP leaders seething.

New Delhi
Tell-All Books

Political circles admit to be waiting with bated breath for publication of former telecom minister A. Raja’s tell-all book on the 2G scam. The publication was put off last year at the last moment, but the buzz is that the title is all set to hit the stands in the next few weeks. Yet another book about to hit the stands is the more innocuous memoirs of former ISRO chief K. Radhakrishnan. Titled My Odyssey, the most interesting chapters are said to be the ones about Madhavan Nair. With the CBI having filed the chargesheet in court against Nair in the case related to the Antrix-Devas deal, the impending publication has generated much interest in the investigating agency as well.

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Mumbai
Courtesy Call

Last year, the Shiv Sena had protested a proposed ban on sale of meat during the Jain paryushan period, while several BJP leaders had supported it. Amidst heightened speculation, therefore, of a rapproachment, the recent visit to the Breach Candy Hospital by Sena chief Uddhav Tackeray is deemed significant by political observers. Thackeray called on Jain spiritual guru Prem Surishwar Maharaj, being treated in the ICU. While the visit has been officially described as a courtesy call, observers believe there is much more to the visit than meets the eyes.

Heard Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah plans to induct K.J. George in his cabinet. George was made to resign earlier after cop M.K. Ganapathy accused him of harassment before committing suicide.

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Overheard The day Reliance launched its 4G network with PM Modi as model, a Left party ­leader, tired of his unresponsive MTNL connection, was asking people to call on his non-MTNL numbers.

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