Capital Buzz: 'War Room' to Ganga travels, BJP is buzzing with excitement

Why has Mukul Rohtagi refused an extension as Attorney General? Is an 'insult' to be blamed? Uma Bharati is travelling thousands of kilometres up the Ganga, but why won't she take a helicopter?  A New President is checking in, and there is a flurry of activity, including the setting up of a 'War Room'. 

Rohatgi says no to an extension, and court circles are buzzing

The buzz in the Supreme Court is all about the sudden decision of Mukul Rohtagi not to accept an extension as Attorney General. Currently, Rohtagi is enjoying the Champion's Trophy cricket matches in London. 

He has served well for three years in the Modi dispensation. Before this, Mukul was the Additional Solicitor General during the Vajpayee regime. What else you need? Friends of Rohtagi speculate that considering his age and experience, a private practice in the Supreme Court would be more fruitful, especially regarding money. 

But at the same time, gossip is that Rohtagi felt humiliated that he was not sent to argue for India in the International Court of Justice in the Hauge. The External Affairs Ministry preferred Harish Salve instead. 

Is this then the reason for his quitting? 

Are the many travels of Uma Bharati making the Ganga any cleaner?

Union Minister for Water Resources Uma Bharati's pet project is the 'Namami Gange Programme', which seeks to spread awareness about keeping the river's ghats clean. 

Bharati interacts with at least 5-10 thousand people on a daily basis. Officials describe her nature as mercurial. But she is often seen as too soft on certain individuals and personal acquaintances. 

'Namami Ganga' is dear to her heart. She briefs the Prime Minister soon after Cabinet meetings are over about
her tours, and the successes in cleaning up the Ganga.

After her appearance in the Lucknow Lower Court on the Ayodhya Ram Janma Bhoomi case, Bharti took a car convoy for six days, travelling more than 2000 kilometres along the Ganga river. 

Bharti set out for the 'Ganga Nirikshan Abhiyan' on May 26, 2017, from Ganga Sagar in West Bengal. Since then she has travelled thousands of kilometres, addressing thousands of people during the Ganga Chaupals, meeting officials and interacting with other stakeholders. 

Interestingly, despite the distances involved, Bharti seldom travels by helicopter, as she is scared of its low flying nature.

New President kicks off a flurry of activity in Delhi

New Delhi is sprucing up for the next President. This correspondent visited three places where a flurry of activities is happening. The Rashtrapati Bhavan is now getting ready to receive next President on July 25, 2017 at 12.45 pm. 

Military Secretary Major General  Anil Khosla is getting all protocols in order. The drill is the same, but Khosla has to give a fine tuning to the entire army drill. The second spot with heavy activity is 10 Rajaji Marg, where Pranab Mukherjee will settle down after demitting office on July 25. 

Military lorries have been spotted unloading large numbers of reference books, double beds and huge trunks. It is being overseen by the deputy military secretary to the President. Anil Khosla said while sharing his thoughts to this correspondent, that the Blue Book on security was very clear. 

"With the active help of the Intelligence Bureau and Military Intelligence, we work out possible threats to Pranab
Mukherjee. For the first one month, the security drill will be the same as of the President. Slowly, after monthly reviews, we reduce the strength," said Anil Khosla.

The Military Secretary will be a link between the outgoing President and the incumbent President. Anil Khosla's term in Rashtrapati Bhavan as Military Secretary to the President is up to October 2017. 

Therefore once the new President is elected, Major General Anil Khosla will serve the New President. It is not yet certain whether Omita Paul, the secretary to Pranab Mukherjee, will continue to serve the new President. 

The new President may appoint a new Secretary much before the swearing in, as the Secretary to the President has a lot of official coordination with the Government of India, with Governors, Union Ministers and the Armed Forces.

So why did the BJP postpone its meeting in Vizag? 

The loudest buzz is the question - why did the BJP postpone its National Executive in Visakhapatnam scheduled
for July 15? 

Rumours say the reason is the upcoming Presidential Poll, for which BJP MPs, legislators and leaders will be busy. 

This is Amit Shah decision was taken recently, along with specifying three rooms in BJP national headquarters as the 'War Room'.

This War Room shall have a special wi-fi zone with computer facilities that have sophisticated communication systems, connecting the state BJP Offices - for the quick transmission of instructions about the Presidential polls.

This War Room will coordinate the state tours of the BJP Presidential candidate to various state capitals, seeking appointments with the NDA alliance partners and heads of other political parties. 

The BJP office is certainly bubbling with enthusiasm, as the next President will certainly be from the BJP. 

Since, as Amit Shah claims, the 2014 Lok Sabha polls results were a resounding 'yes' for Narendra Modi, interestingly, people also voted (indirectly) for a BJP President and BJP Vice President. 

Though most BJP leaders are wondering when will Amit Shah - Narendra Modi finalise the name of the new President of India.

R Rajagopalan is a senior journalist and analyst based in New Delhi. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect those of Asianet Newsable