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When the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh prevailed upon the Bharatiya Janata Party to nominate Narendra Modi as its Prime Ministerial candidate six months ago, neither organisation could have imagined that this would entail not just a uniquely aggressive style of politics, but a wholesale takeover of the BJP’s election campaign, indeed the party machine itself, by a tiny clique.

Predictably, with an assessment that the economy is set on disinflationary path, RBI has left the key policy (repo) rate unchanged at 8 per cent, as also the cash reserve ratio and other rates, in its first bi-monthly monetary policy statement on April 1, 2014. However, while headline inflation has moderated in recent months, 'upside risks remain in 2014-15' and the challenge is maintaining the disinflationary momentum over the medium term.

Even as Narendra Modi’s one-man show, to quote L.K. Advani, goes on full steam, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate has faltered on several counts.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It was a judicial bolt that struck Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), riding high on a sense of hubris over its poll prospects.

KOLKATA: Elections to the State Assembly and the lone Lok Sabha seat in Sikkim, the second smallest State of the Indian Union, will be held on April 12. For two decades since 1994, Pawan Kumar Chamling has been the Chief Minister of Sikkim without a break. His control on Sikkim politics has been so pervasive and absolute that there is not a single member in the opposition bench in the State Assembly. In the last elections in 2009, his party, the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), won all the Assembly seats and the solitary LS seat.

BHOPAL: Never in the history of Madhya Pradesh did the Bharatiya Janata Party face an open revolt of such a magnitude as it faced over the selection of party candidate for the Bhopal Lok Sabha Constituency. BJP leadership decided to sponsor Alok Sanjar for the Bhopal Lok Sabha Seat. The moment Sanjar's candidature was announced; the loudest protest was made by Babulal Gaur, a former Chief Minister and senior-most member of the Shivraj Singh Cabinet. 'Why Bhopal MLAs were not consulted before selecting Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate', asked Gaur during a meeting in the presence of Chief Minister Chauhan and other state leaders. Gaur represents one of the Bhopal Assembly seats.

Hardly ten days before the nine-phase Lok Sabha poll 2014 gets into stride, the ruling Congress has come out with a Manifesto “Your Voice - Our Pledge”, hoping it takes adequate care of twin concerns - care for the poor as well as pro-business policies oriented to recapturing the high growth scenario.

The way progeny of politicians have been mushrooming in every nook and corner of the country, it would be better if Indian democracy is henceforth called “dynastic democracy”. Dynastic politics has been around for long and it rules parties across board. Uttar Pradesh may be described as the capital of dynastic politics with over 26 juniors, cutting party lines, already in fray. Congress has 10, SP 7, BSP 6 and BJP 4.

There is a distinct change in the body language of the Kerala CPI(M) leaders these days. The smiles are broad; the walks have acquired an added spring; and the sparkle in their eyes has become more pronounced. Why not? They have been recipients of the biggest slice of luck that has come their way in recent times. The man who has been a thorn in their flesh for over a decade has not only changed his hostile ways but has also started fiercely defending the party to which he belongs!! Wonder of wonders, gush the party leaders. Leaders belonging to the official faction of the state CPI(M) are besides themselves with joy at this astonishing and unbelievable transformation in the stance of their biggest baiter within the party: V S Achuthanandan.

The Congress party’s 2014 poll manifesto may remind one of Idea Cellular’s latest and instantly popular ad blitz — Ullu Banaoing or fooling people – recorded in the backdrop of the current election in which a group of young voters publicly embarrasses a political party candidate during his speech at an election rally with mobile phone video clipping that exposes him making exactly the same promise to voters during the previous election, five years go. The Congress’ 48-page manifesto, at best, reiterates its resolve to build an entitlement regime promising 10 crore jobs, healthcare for all, housing, pension, bank account for all, rural broadband connectivity, 10 per cent manufacturing sector growth, trillion-dollar investment in infrastructure and the fight against black money.