Capital Buzz: NCP has a surprise for the Congress, while AAP figures in BJP's plans

The latest gossip making the rounds in New Delhi political circles is indeed shocking. 

Though it seems unbelievable, the grapevine circuit confirms that Sharad Pawar, NCP leader, is in close touch with top BJP leadership. And this despite him accompanying Congress President Sonia Gandhi to file the nomination of Meira Kumar for the Presidential polls. 

Rumours say that a few NCP MLAs and MPs may not vote for Meira Kumar and there will be cross voting by NCP for the BJP candidate Ramnath Kovind. A highly placed source confirms that Sharad Pawar's politics is deep rooted. His prime aim, according to Rahul Gandhi's supporters in the Congress, is to protect his daughter Supriya Sule. 

As it is, NCP leaders like Praful Patel openly accuse Rahul Gandhi and Sharad Pawar or not seeing eye-to-eye.  And this is not expected to make things any better. 

A BJP surprise for Arvind Kejriwal?

AAP Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is in tight spot nowadays. Insiders in the AAP are openly confirming that Kumar Vishwas has become an arch rival of Kejriwal. 

A well-known Hindi poet, good singer and speaker who contested against Rahul Gandhi, Kumar Vishwas and Kejriwal have developed deep uneasiness with each other. It is believed that already Kejriwal has visited Kumar Vishwas' house twice to sort out the differences, and he has also reportedly assured Vishwas a Rajya Sabha seat from the AAP in 2018. 

The poet does not seem to have been moved by this offer. Kapil  Mishra, another dissident of the AAP, is also seen often with Kumar Vishwas, and this is believed to rub Kejriwal the wrong way. 

Since AAP is now down and out, especially after the Goa, Punjab and Delhi Municipal Corporation defeats, Kejriwal is lying low. 

At one point, the AAP reportedly decided to expel Vishwas for his closeness to BJP leaders. But seniors prevailed on Kejriwal to go slow on such drastic decisions. This is due to those very same Rajya Sabha seats earlier mentioned. It is believed that Kejriwal is not concerned about the 21 MLAs possibly being disqualified for having offices of profit.

Kejriwal seems to have confidence that he will get at least 15-18 MLAs re-elected on AAP tickets. 

But the BJP game plan is different. In January 2018, when three Congress MPs - Dr Karan Singh, Pervez Hasmi and Janardhan Diwedi - retire from the Rajya Sabha, the AAP will lap up these seats. 

Politically, the BJP feel these three AAP MPs in the Rajya Sabha will not only create disturbances but will also seek to irritate the PM day in and day out. Kumar Vishwas will come in handy for the BJP in this case. If 21 MLAs are disqualified, and Kumar splits with Kejriwal, taking 5 MLAs with him, the AAP's hopes of having three RS MPs will miserably fail.

Keep watching this space for more developments. 

Being flown by a Union Minister

Rajiv Pratap Rudy, the Union Minister for Skill development, sprang a surprise on Indigo passengers from New Delhi to Raipur, by flying the aircraft. Is it all just to revalidate his Commercial pilot licence? Does Director General of Civil Aviation and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security permit such acts by a pilot not on the roster?  Can the Prime Minister's Office intervene at this stage? 

These are the questions on all minds, but passengers were happy to learn that the aircraft was piloted by a Union Minister.

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