Priyanka plans to set up permanent residence in Wayanad
Priyanka Gandhi appears to be actively searching for a permanent residence in her Lok Sabha constituency, Wayanad, Kerala. This move comes ahead of crucial assembly elections early next year, where the Congress is striving hard to win after two consecutive defeats to the Left Front. A suitable residence in Wayanad will also allow Priyanka to spend more time in her constituency, avoiding the perception of her as an absentee MP, a charge leveled against her brother Rahul Gandhi when he was MP from the region. However, finding a suitable home is proving difficult. Wayanad is a popular tourist destination known for its hill stations, but it remains largely underdeveloped due to limited road connectivity. The nearest medical facility is located in Calicut, a considerable distance by road through the Western Ghats. Security concerns are also being carefully considered before making a final decision. However, having a home away from home in Wayanad has several advantages. Priyanka will not only be able to devote herself to her constituency but will also be a significant help to the Congress during elections.
Priyanka has considerable experience managing her constituency, having spent considerable time assisting her mother and brother in Rae Bareli and Amethi. Of course, Kerala is quite different from Uttar Pradesh, which Priyanka is familiar with. Apparently, she is also learning Malayalam to better connect with the local residents. Will the politics of prohibition prove costly for Nitish? Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's controversial decision to implement prohibition has become a topic of discussion amid preparations for the assembly elections to be held in October-November this year. It appears that both his rivals, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and Jan Suraj leader Prashant Kishor, have promised to review the ban if they win. The prospect of ending prohibition has raised enthusiasm in the state, and disgruntled voters are looking more seriously at Tejashwi Yadav and Kishor. The promise to reconsider prohibition reflects hope for change after Nitish Kumar's nearly two decades as Chief Minister.
Nitish Kumar banned the sale of alcohol nine years ago. Apparently, it was implemented at the behest of women voters who blamed alcohol for domestic violence. Prohibition was one of his main election issues in the 2015 assembly elections. However, as events have proven, prohibition has had no impact on alcohol consumption. Alcohol is still freely available through smugglers and traffickers. Meanwhile, the state is losing revenue, as alcohol sales constitute a major portion of all state income. It seems that women have also accepted the end of the ban, as domestic violence continues unabated and the sale of illicit liquor, coupled with rising alcohol prices, is draining household resources.
Kejriwal wants a house!
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seems to have abandoned the common man's politics that brought him to power in the capital for two terms. He is fighting for a government bungalow in the high-security, exclusive VIP residential complex in Lutyens' Delhi. His party claims that as the president of a national party, he is entitled to a government residence. The AAP has even approached the court for allotment. But the Delhi government has still not provided him with a government residence. A bungalow recently vacated by BSP chief Mayawati was reserved for him, but was allotted to someone else at the last minute. Kejriwal is currently living in the government residence of a party MLA and waiting for his own residence. It is ironic that a popular leader who gained national prominence in the struggle for power is waiting for a proper government residence.
Is Kangana Ranaut the queen of controversies?
Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has been embroiled in controversy in Mandi, the constituency she represents as a Lok Sabha MP. The latest controversy erupted during her visit to her constituency following the devastating rains and floods in Himachal Pradesh. Apparently, locals were upset by her lack of empathy for their plight. Instead of expressing concern and promising help, she began talking about her own problems. She claimed that she too was badly affected by the floods and that her newly opened restaurant had been damaged.