With Congress leader Rahul Gandhi having opened a front against the Modi government and BJP during his visit to the US, Opposition unity efforts are yet to take shape. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal continued with his mobilisation efforts, having reached Ranchi to include Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren in the campaign against the Centre’s ordinance over control of administrative services in Delhi. Kejriwal is accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The two had met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin a few days ago. It remains to be seen how many leaders turn up at the meeting called by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 12. So far, only Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav’s participation has been confirmed.
BRS CHANGES TRACK WITH NGO BARB
Telangana minister KT Rama Rao, son of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao of BRS, has said there is no need for opposition unity just because of “hatred” against one individual. He also attacked Rahul Gandhi, calling him non-serious. His “better run an NGO” barb at Rahul Gandhi is likely to put a final stop to KCR’s efforts towards opposition unity, as he is set to push forward his ‘Telangana model’ for opposition parties. He had held many meetings with opposition leaders and even renamed his Telangana Rashtriya Samithi (TRS) as the Bharatiya Rashtriya Samithi (BRS) to make it an all-India outfit.
UP GETS YET ANOTHER ACTING DGP
Senior IPS officer Vijay Kumar has taken over as Acting Director General of Police (DGP) after the retirement of RK Vishwakarma, who had been the Acting DGP since April. UP police have been headed by an acting DGP for more than a year after Mukul Goel was removed in a sudden move in May last year. An officer of the 1988 cadre, he is holding charge as DGP Vigilance and CB-CID. Vijay Kumar’s retirement is due in January next year, a few months before the Lok Sabha elections. He will have to be given an extension in service if the government wants him to head the police force during the elections. It is causing some consternation among the officers next in line in order of seniority.