Delhi confidential: Maken’s show

The functioning of the AICC media department seems to have undergone a transformation since former minister and party MP Ajay Maken took over. Unlike earlier when party leaders were involved in media affairs, now it’s mostly Maken’s own team comprising back-room workers loyal to him who run the show. So much so that Secretary of the department Tom Vadakkan who has been running the show for over 15 years has to take instructions from these “outsiders” who are close to Maken. This has caused unease and disgruntlement in the party but nobody is speaking out against Maken given his proximity to Rahul Gandhi.

ATTACK MODE
THE Congress seems to have gone on overdrive to attack BJP’s PM candidate Narendra Modi for not revealing his marital status in earlier election affidavits. Besides submitting a petition to the Election Commission, the party not only held an exhaustive press conference on the issue through its woman spokesperson Shobha Ojha on Thursday but it also held two back to back press conferences on the same issue addressed by different spokespersons on Friday. The first briefing was addressed by spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed and the other by Union minister Kapil Sibal who had submitted the petition to the EC. A section of the party, however, remains apprehensive about the issue boomeranging on the party

BOOK MARKED
MADHU Kishwar’s focus on Narendra Modi does not end with one book. It is learnt that she is working on another book targeting all those who have made allegations against Narendra Modi. This book — she recently revealed — will feature the whole “rogue’s gallery” who have built a “web of deceit” around the BJP prime ministerial candidate. It is expected that those whom Kishwar will attack in her book will include activist Teesta Setlavad, former IAS officer Pradeep Sharma and former IB official Srikumar.

CAMPAIGN CONTROL
FACED with ever increasing instances of politicians indulging in inflammatory speeches during election campaign, and often having to depend on video footage provided by complainants, the Election Commission has directed all Chief Electoral Officers to ensure that organisers, in whose names permission is granted to hold rallies and public meetings, are made to hand over two copies of unedited CDs of the speeches made during a rally or a public meeting within six hours of the completion of the event. Those seeking permission to hold rallies and public meetings will be given written instructions to comply with this