As election results started pouring in on Friday, first, it was the party supporters and the media who had gathered in large numbers outside the Poes Garden residence of the AIADMK leader, J. Jayalalithaa. Then the numbers of policemen swelled — initially it was the lower ranks for crowd control, and as the trend became clearer, senior officials carrying bouquets. Finally, came the bureaucrats. When policemen tried to regulate the crowd to make way for officials, an AIADMK worker asked: “Where were you all, all these days? Exasperated, a policeman retorted: “We were in her heart.”

Existential issue

Guess who has more reason to worry after the Assembly elections results in West Bengal? The logical answer: The Left, uprooted by Mamata Banerjee after a 34-year-old uninterrupted stint in power. However, observers say that it is the Congress that needs to worry more. With Mamata getting a majority on her own, and the Left occupying Opposition space, the country's oldest party might find itself grappling with existential issues, they say.

Crossing Over

Businessmen and industrialists found to be better readers of changing political wind than many political pundits proved their mettle this time also. Many had started distancing themselves from the Left Front in West Bengal after the defeat in the Lok Sabha polls in 2009. The municipal elections in 2010 confirmed their apprehension. Now, after the recent Assembly elections, there is praise of Mamata Banerjee, with some of the biggest beneficiaries from the earlier regime going out of the way to criticise the misrule of the last 34 years. Such is life.

Rail Board churn?

With Mamata Banerjee all set to move to Kolkata as the Chief Minister , there will be a new Minister for Railways. But officials appear to be more curious about the Railway Board Chairman, Vivek Sahai. Sahai will retire June end — unless the Government increases the retirement age by two years, or he gets an extension. When he retires, two key posts of the Board will be up for grabs — the Chairman, Railway Board and the Member-Traffic. Sahai has been holding additional charge of Member-Traffic post since June 1, 2010.

Star power

Last September, a Business Line correspondent was confronted by an official from the poultry sector on the prospects of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. “Looks like the DMK will come back to power without any problem, going by the trend in the by-elections,” the correspondent said. The poultry sector official differed. “No sir. Amma (Ms Jayalalithaa) will come back to power. See, it is because of Sani (Saturn) that she is suffering. But while transiting, it gives a lot of rewards. Amma will benefit and return to power. Wait and see,” he said. May 13 has proved his faith in Lord Saturn right!

Wise move

Why did T. S. Vijayan, whose term as chairman of LIC expired on April 30, decide to continue as Managing Director, though it was seen as a demotion? Vijayan has two more years' service left at LIC, and if any of the other existing Managing Directors is promoted as Chairman, he has to report to him. LIC insiders think it is a wise move on the part of their former boss. This is because investigations into LIC's investments are going on and Vijayan may be called for explanation.

Once he is out of LIC, he will find it difficult to get any support from the organisation. He will have to independently fight his case.

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