Mayawati’s search for a flower

UP Chief Minister and BSP chief Mayawati has launched a search to replace the state's flower 'brahmakala', which went to the hill state of Uttarakhand after the bifurcation of the state.

Acting in hurry, the officials suggested 'palash' (Butea frondosa or Flame of the Forest). She liked it instantly. But even as an executive order was being typed, her officials discovered that palash had the official flower tag of the neighbouring state Madhya Pradesh.

Poised for nuclear plunge

The UPA-Left committee on the Indo-US nuclear deal is about to be wound up, if insiders are to be believed. The Congress has decided to take the nuclear plunge. The countdown has begun for a November or February elections.

Despite opposition from a section within the Congress, what tilted the balance of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was the stout support from Amethi MP and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

Singh, who had staked his personal prestige on the deal, must be a relieved man. With the decision to go ahead on the nuke deal, Singh will have good news to convey to Bush when he meets him at the G-8 Summit in Tokyo next month.

Once the deal goes to the IAEA next month, it is for the US to get it cleared by the NSG and the US Congress. Singh supporters hope that Bush will push hard get it passed in the lame-duck session in December, to add a feather to his cap.

A rising daughter

Realising that he cannot pass on his political legacy to his son Ajay because of the latter's lack of interest in politics, aging Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh has now pinned his hopes on daughter Beena.

She was visible in Rewa last week when Sonia Gandhi held a pre-assembly polls public meeting in Madhya Pradesh. And she had an opportunity to make an impression on Sonia.

Beena's presence was more telling as Arjun's son Ajay and other MP leaders, including Digvijay Singh, Kamal Nath, Suresh Pachauri and Jyotiraditya Scindia and Ajay Singh could not attend the meeting. They had boarded a chartered plane which strayed near Khajuraho and failed to locate Rewa. Bad weather further delayed and forced them to abandon Rewa.

If Arjun has his way, Beena would be contesting from Sidhi Lok Sabha which has recently been de-reserved.

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