Periscope: Trump will take office on Friday

In other news, Rahul Gandhi cancelled his China visit

All eyes will be focused on the United States this week. On Friday, Donald Trump will be inaugurated President. Soon thereafter will follow a number of policy statements, roll-out of a new health care plan, the outlines of an outsourcing policy (Trump has said companies that relocate their manufacturing plant outside the US because producing abroad is cheaper, will find that under his presidency, this will no longer be the case). Trump's foreign visits will be firmed up and every statement he makes after Friday will be parsed and dissected minutely.

So, the week beginning Friday is going to be crucial not only for India but for the world.

Rahul cancels China visit 

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi should have been in China all this week (January 14 to 22 ) on an invitation from the Chinese Communist Party but has called off his visit because there are pressing political issues relating to elections, the timing of the Union Budget and alliances in Uttar Pradesh that need his attention. 

The week will see the Election Commission of India (ECI) deciding on the tussle in the Samajwadi Party over the symbol of the party (the hearings are complete and the order was reserved last week). If it cannot take a decision, the symbol will be frozen, although elections to the legislative council have been notified and being contested on the existing SP symbol. So, confusion will reign unless the ECI can inject some sense into all the parties involved and reveal its mind. The Supreme Court has deferred any decision on the matter as it is before the EC, the appropriate body to decide.

Also, the Cabinet Secretary's explanation about an early Union Budget 2017-18 and why it will not have any bearing on the Assembly elections is already before the EC. An order on that is expected this week as well. 

Meeting between RSS, Modi 

A meeting is expected between the leadership of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week. It will review the working of the government.

BSP to launch video campaign

The Bahujan Samaj Party for the coming Assembly election in the Uttar Pradesh will launch a video campaign, a first such move by the party. The title of the campaign is ‘Behenji ko aane do’. Prepared by the party's social media team, the videos will be made available on Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, You Tube and television channels before the party rolls out its election campaign on Tuesday.

"The 'Behenji ko aane do' video series is our reply to Samajwadi Party's 'Kaam bolta hai' and Bharatiya Janata Party's 'Na gundaraj, na bhrashtachar, abki bar BJP sarkar'," a BSP leader said.

In the past, BSP depended on traditional campaigning for both the Assembly and the Lok Sabha elections, relying on public meetings, hoardings, posters, leaflets and booklets to take the party's message to the masses.