Delhi Confidential: Mega Yoga Plans

After meeting home buyers and farmers, Rahul Gandhi will now interact with fishermen at a coastal hamlet. The Congress vice-president is set to reach Kerala on May 26 for a two-day visit. While the initial plan was for him to visit Kerala for a day to address a state Youth Congress meet, he will now stay back to meet and interact with fishermen at Chavakkad beach in Thrissur district. Rahul will then travel to neighbouring Aluva, where he will meet rubber farmers hit by falling prices. Sources said he is also likely to visit Gujarat next month for three-four days.

Without Approval

After Sanjay Kachroo was allowed to function as HRD Minister Smriti Irani’s OSD without having his appointment cleared by the DoPT, the practice is now being repeated in Rural Development Minister Birender Singh’s office. The request for the appointment of Inderjit Mann was forwarded after Singh took charge in November last year, but his appointment is yet to be cleared by the DoPT. Despite this, Mann has been going to the ministry everyday where he interacts with officials and has a cabin allotted to him.

[related-post]

Tough Choice

Right after its Rajya Sabha MP Srinjoy Bose resigned as a fallout of the Saradha scam, Trinamool Congress now faces the risk of losing yet another MP. Anupam Hazra, who was elected on a Trinamool ticket from Bolpur Lok Sabha constituency, has been served a notice by the Assam University for being on leave for too long. He has been told to either forego his job or join work at Silchar, leaving him with a difficult choice.

Track To China

After the PM’s trip to China, top officers of the Railway Ministry are also heading there. Chairman of the Railway Board A K Mital and two other board members will visit China and Japan next week to check out modern electric train sets, which the Railways has decided to buy. Member (Staff) Pradeep Kumar will also be on a separate mission later this week to interact with authorities at Railway universities in China, which had expressed interest in partnering with India for its first such venture. The trips will lay the groundwork for Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu’s proposed visit to China and Japan next month, officials said.