With eyes on forthcoming assembly polls, expected at the end of this year, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is on an overdrive to please the media. He recently announced laptops to accredited journalists across the state. Lest it sounded like bribing journos, he has announced laptops for meritorious students too.
The announcement was made during the budget session in March. Before that, Gehlot had announced a residential plot scheme for journalists across the state in the year 2010. At the district level, majority of journalists have availed the scheme while in Jaipur the plots were allotted to 571 journalists through a lottery on 17 April. In the scheme, the plots are allotted on concessional rates to assist journalists in “fulfilling their residential needs”.
Undoubtedly, the journos are more than happy and going gaga over Gehlot’s magnanimity as his predecessor, and likely successor, never appeased the media people this way. Gehlot had earlier also showered plots during his previous in the year 2000.
While on the subject of Gehlot’s largesse, his Holi dinner deserves a mention. Usually, selected senior journalists are called to the CM’s residence for feasting but this time Gehlot called a large number of journalists, though officials claim they were selective, for the Holi feast at his official residence at 8, Civil Lines.
As a modest Gandhian, as Gehlot likes to be called, the chief minister personally met all the attendees and was more than happy for the camera. Likewise, all guests made most of the opportunity and did not forget to pose for the shutterbugs. Some photos even found way to the social networking sites with an avowed aim of leaving impression of people in the friends list.
He has already announced ‘Free Medicine’ and ‘Free Diagnostic Tests’ schemes apart from schemes for BPL to gain favours with the public.
But will these overtures pay Gehlot in elections? It is too early to reach any conclusion.
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