Rajnath Singh first BJP leader to congratulate Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy

Rajnath Singh has good relations with leaders across the political spectrum

Home Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajnath Singh on Wednesday was the first leader from his party to wish the H D Kumaraswamy-led Janata Dal (Secular) and Congress coalition government in Karnataka. In his tweet, Singh congratulated Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara on taking oath. 

“I hope Karnataka will move forward towards peace, progress and prosperity under the new government,” Singh tweeted. Singh has good relations with leaders across the political spectrum and was lauded on social media for rising above the recent bitterness between the BJP and the Opposition. Later in the evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi too congratulated the CM and deputy CM in a tweet.

Mamata all the way

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. (Photo: PTI)

Is West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee trying to project herself as the face of an united Opposition? Banerjee was seen interacting with all the Opposition leaders who were present at the oath taking ceremony of HD Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister of Karanataka on Wednesday. Akhilesh Yadav was seen touching her feet. Banerjee even embraced Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati as the two of them waved at the crowd and was also seen having an animated exchange with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi while holding her hands. Even after the ceremony, Banerjee was one of the few leaders caught giving bytes to the media on how the Opposition had to unite against the BJP.

No power, no tea

The Congress party is facing a severe fund crunch. According to sources in the party, state and district units have been asked to cut down on their expenses. There have also been delays in funds from the headquarters reaching some of the state units. The successive poll defeats also meant certain categories of donors have turned away from the Congress party. There have been times when senior leaders couldn't reach meetings in time because of delays in booking flight tickets due to the fund crunch. Budgets for tea, coffee and snacks for guests and media persons have also been slashed.