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Deep Throat

A regular column on the essential buzz

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Deep Throat
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Vapours From Tata House

Corporate pashas are stung that they have not yet figured out what led to the biggest breakup of 2016—Le Tata-Mis­try Affaire. The latest, unv­eri­fiable theory is that Cyrus Mis­­­­try cut out at least five people close to Ratan Tata from Tata Group contracts. This inc­ludes two lobbyists, two industrialists and a former exe­­­­cu­­t­­ive. A shareholder, obviously innocent of job perks, had also reportedly inquired as to why a lobbyist got subsidised accommodation in Tata-owned hotels in London. Then, there are vicious rumours (hotly opp­­­o­­sed by the Tatas’ many PR firms) that Nira Radia is back to giving strategic advice to Tata.

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Strategic Setback

It seems Prashant Kishor, who made political consultancy fashionable, has become a liability for the Congress. Snubbed by the party old guard, his role in UP elections seems as good as over. The buzz is that he is holding on by the skin of his teeth only because the party  feels it will send out a negative signal if it sacks PK before polls. It appears PK’s role has been limited in Punjab too. Amarinder Singh has not taken a shine to the strategist and is letting him handle only two campaigns for him—Coffee with Captain and Halke Vich Captain. Meanwhile, PK tried to extend his utility by trying to play the matchmaker between Congress and the Sama­jwadi Party. That too didn’t quite work. Losing his touch, is he?

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Diaries Leak Intrigue

The corridors of power are humming with talk that a former fin­ance minister may be the source of the so-called Birla/Sahara diaries that allege payoffs to several leaders, including CMs of various sta­tes. The reason why people bel­ieve that this Davos man is at the leak’s source is that his own name does not figure in the diaries, whereas the name of his rival—also a former fin­ance minster—finds a mention. Ano­ther notable name missing is that of a powerful aide of Con­gress president Sonia Gandhi.  These diaries have something common with the Radia tapes: involvement of the inseparable lobbyist-lawyer couple.

Overheard Sartaj Madani, PDP general secretary and CM Mehbooba Mufti’s uncle, addressing party workers on Sunday:  “Being a PDP worker should be enough eligibility to get government jobs.”

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