With polling over in five States, now everyone is tense about the day for counting. Some are ardent followers of Lord Hanuman. They are sure that Tuesday will not disappoint them as this is the day of Hanuman. In fact, a priest in one of the most famous Hanuman temples in Varanasi said that more and more leaders are lining up for mannat (blessings) with a promise that they will come again after the results with bigger offering to the God. What would have happened if the counting had been scheduled for Friday, asks a wag.

Saved again

Former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa was all set to pull the plug on the BJP government on his birthday on February 27 by asking about 20-odd legislators, who are part of his group, to submit their resignations to the party president. But no such thing happened, and the BJP survived another crisis. Partymen are now saying that after this crisis the government does not have to fear the worst, because the next elections are just 12 months away, and who would want to destabilise a government and allow it the benefit of a sympathy wave?

Turning UP into AP?

In the heat and dust of election campaigning in Uttar Pradesh, Rahul Gandhi reportedly said he would convert UP into AP. This drew a rather interesting response from Chandrababu Naidu, former AP Chief Minister. He said during his nine year tenure, he had got Ramalinga Raju of Satyam to share the dais with US president Bill Clinton; IAS officers shone as representatives, facilitating a good investment climate; and corporates made a beeline to set up facilities in the State. But look at what is happening today, he said. During Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy time, Ramalinga Raju was sent to jail. Now, a couple of IAS officers are in prison and dozens of corporate honchos are doing the rounds of CBI offices. Is this what UP wants, he asked.

BJP khush hua?

The BJP seems to have gained from the Babu Lal Kushwaha factor. When it took him into the party, not just leaders from other parties but even some of its own leaders criticised the move. But it seems that the party has gained more from the episode, and the person

likely to be affected is Congress leader and Union Steel Minister, Mr Beni Prasad Verma, who has argued for a Congress tie-up with Bahujan Samaj Party. There is a feeling that the Kushwaha factor has managed to lessen the influence of Mr Verma.

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