After two years of keeping a low profile, Odisha’s most powerful ex-bureaucrat and Biju Janata Dal leader V K Pandian is making waves beyond Indian shores. Reportedly, Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez who just experienced two devastating earthquakes asked Pandian to fly to Venezuela to seek his expertise on how to handle natural disasters. Venezuela President had two objectives to learn from Odisha’s playbook: One, how Pandian — one of the architects of Odisha’s disaster management — handled the cyclone and disaster response protocols had zero casualty and lessons for her country from Odisha. Sources say Pandian used this visit to raise his personal profile. Pandian’s supporters are looking at this development as a “proud moment of knowledge sharing for India on the global stage.” The net takeaway from Odisha is that people are comparing Naveen Patnaik’s governance style with that of the current chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

After two years of keeping low profile, Odisha’s most powerful ex-bureaucrat and Biju Janata Dal leader V K Pandian is making waves beyond Indian shores. Reportedly, Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez who just experienced two devastating earthquake asked Pandian to fly to Venezula to seek his expertise on how to handle natural disasters. Venezuela President had two objectives to learn from Odisha’s playbook: One, how Pandian — one of the architects of Odisha’s disaster management — handled the cyclone and disaster response protocols had zero casualty and lessons for her country from Odisha.  Sources say, Pandian used this visit to raise his personal profile. Pandian’s supporters are looking at this development as a “proud moment of knowledge sharing for India on the global stage.” The net takeaway from Odisha is that people are comparing Naveen Patnaik’s governance style with that of the current chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi.    

BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde’s sudden stay in Maharashtra and his meetings with some influential Opposition leaders have heightened the already thick suspense in the state’s politics. Once again, veteran Sharad Pawar continues to be the focus of the intrigue while a couple of senior BJP leaders from Maharashtra are reported to be spending sleepless nights, not knowing what turn their fate is going to take. Tawde self-invited him to the residence of his former mentor Eknath Khadse, who is now with the NCP led by Pawar. Incidentally, Khadse’s daughter-in-law Raksha is Union minister of state while the other daughter-in-law is with Pawar’s party. Tawde’s ‘courtesy’ call on Khadse holds potential to shake north Maharashtra scenario. Tawde also called on Pawar’s trusted lieutenant Jayant Patil, who is tipped to be joining the NDA fold, albeit with Pawar’s tacit blessings. Patil’s name is being mentioned for the post of Maharashtra finance minister. It was earlier held by the late deputy CM Ajit Pawar. One of Pawar’s close associates is learnt to have been entrusted with the task of liaising with the party legislators and parliament members. The NCP’s onslaught against the BJP is somewhat softer over the past few days. Thus, if the pieces fall in place, Pawar’s 10 Lok Sabha members will be a great gift for the BJP. Moreover, it will be a demoralising blow for the Congress in particular and the INDIA Bloc in general.

It seems there is no respite for Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray from the continuous shocks administered by the ruling Mahayuti since whispers about another split taking place in his ramshackle party are only growing. Thackeray’s bete noire Eknath Shinde is said to be behind such moves since chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has declared in unequivocal terms that the doors of the BJP are closed for newcomers. True that it is a political announcement and can be used the way the leaders wish, Shinde has been going ahead unobstructed. The latest entrant into the game is former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, who has publicly stated that half a dozen Lok Sabha members of Sharad Pawar’s party are feeling ‘uneasy’ in the present situation. This means that they can desert the NCP(SP) any time to join the NDA. All these developments are going to weaken the Opposition in Maharashtra even if such defections do not happen forthwith. The casualty will be the Shiv Sena of Uddhav since he was projected as the main Opposition leader and face of the INDIA Bloc after its fabulous victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Sadly for him, the graph of his party is only sliding. Not content with eyeing Uddhav’s legislative win, Shinde is said to be exploring the potential of poaching the Sena’s civic wing. As over 60 corporators under Uddhav were elected to the Mumbai municipal corporation, the hopes of his followers were rekindled. However, the contrary is happening. As a result, Uddhav is an embattled leader right now, with no immediate prospect seen to revive his prospects.    

Will Prashant Kishor succeed this time? The by-election for Bihar’s Bankipur Assembly seat is scheduled for July 30. The seat fell vacant after Nitin Nabin resigned as MLA following, first, his elevation as the BJP National President, and then his subsequent election to the Rajya Sabha. Ordinarily, this may have been treated as a routine vacancy in a safe seat. Jan Suraaj’s Prashant Kishor has announced that he will contest from here, marking his first entry into the electoral contests. The BJP had initially named Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) state vice-president Abhishek Kumar as its candidate. Unfortunately, just days ahead of filing of nominations, BJP had to change its candidate; Neeraj Kumar Sinha replaces Abhishek Kumar who bowed out of the race citing “family reasons”.  These developments pleased Prashant Kishor who said, “This demonstrates that no Assembly or Lok Sabha constituency is anyone’s stronghold or personal fiefdom. If the public rises, even the most prominent leaders can be made to sweat.” Regarding Bankipur, he conceded that until recently, BJP leaders boasted that their fortress was so strong that even if they fielded a dog or a cat, the public would vote for them…” Today, it appears that their own candidate has stepped away. “When the results are declared on the 3rd, a full reckoning will take place,” said Kishor. Bankipur is one of Patna’s most talked-about VIP urban areas. It is part of the Patna Sahib Lok Sabha constituency, represented by BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad. It is a seat dominated by the influential Kayastha electorate. With his entry, Kishor is seeking to make the bypoll a referendum on the NDA government in Bihar. A non-Kayastha, Kishor has opted for an intensive door-to-door campaign and neighbourhood meetings instead of large public rallies. He belongs to the Bhumihar community.

The Modi government may be relieved that the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Canadian government has not named any political leader or a senior police official for the killing of some Khalistani separatist leaders. However, the U.S. Department of  Justice(DOJ)’s indictment of the laxity in Indian jails that allows criminals to get out and pose a threat to the outside world and extort money is not flattering . In fact, it raises the extent of complicity between our jail authorities and criminals lodged in their custody. The FBI launched a sweeping crackdown named ‘Operation Hard Ball’ against jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his close aide Satinderjit Singh alias Goldy Brar. Bishnoi is lodged in Sabarmati jail, Gujarat. It took the FBI a year-long investigation targeting criminal syndicates involved in murder, extortion, drug trafficking and other organised crime activities in the U.S., Canada and Europe. In all, 24 criminals have been arrested in the US, Canada and Europe. The U.S. (DOJ) said that searches were conducted at more than 50 locations. One of the three federal indictments focuses on Bishnoi whom U.S. prosecutors allege directed a global criminal enterprise from a prison in India. Bishnoi and Brar ordered the assassination of Sikh extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in 2023. U.S. prosecutors also named Bishnoi’s key associates Goldy Brar and Rohit Godara. They said that while Brar looked after North America operations, Godara oversaw operations in Europe. The FBI has declared a $50,000 bounty for the arrest of Goldy Brar. The FBI probe also found collusion between some Punjab police officers and the gangs. The FBI has made Gurinderjit Singh Nagra, SHO of Tanda police station in Hoshiarpur, an accused, and his extradition has been sought.

Has West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari decided to copy UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s style? The prime accused in Bengal’s Baruipur rape-murder case, Prabhas Mondal, was shot dead in a police encounter during crime scene reconstruction. Mondal, along with his friends, had raped and killed a 12-year-old girl and thrown her body in a pond.  Mondal’s mother refused to take his body, saying he had shamed the family. But, not surprisingly, political parties like the Samajwadi Party in UP, Trinamool Congress leaders criticised the police encounter, saying it seems to be the beginning of a new type of “goonda raj”. TMC MP Mohua Moitra alleged “this is jungle law” on social media. She wrote, “Bengalis, please welcome new Bengal – Uttar Pradesh 2.0”. TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee took out a protest march in Kolkata, and people threw eggs amidst shouts of ‘chor, chor ‘.  By raising questions about this encounter, Trinamool Congress leaders have invited trouble. Bengal BJP leaders are now listing out cases of rape and murders during Didi’s rule, when rapists were shielded by police and in the RG Kar Hospital rape-murder case, all evidence of the heinous act was washed away, a few hours after the act. CM Suvendu Adhikari has apparently given the police a free hand. Clearly, Adhikari is following Yogi Adityanath’s model. His supporters say, “No state can progress unless criminals fear police. No investor will go to a state where crime and extortion are rampant. In Bengal, there was ‘goonda raj’ during Mamata Banerjee’s rule; its roots were quite deep, killers and rapists were getting police protection. There is a clear change in the situation now. Naturally, Mamata will not like this.”

Dhanush and his 55th film, OM Chapter 1 has already raised heartbeats with its powerful teaser. The title OM is astutely inventive yet familiar like a soft blanket, a brand positioning like none other for Hindutva. If your memory drags up another such title Hey Ram, your RAM has super ready access. OM has already garnered marketable gold nuggets in many forms. Following the runaway hit Amaran, its director Rajkumar Periasamy is signed to direct OM. Posting its initial line up of popular stars, Dhanush, Mammootty,  Sai Pallavi and Kayadu Lohar. After the buzz and curiosity of the teaser, a new announcement was dropped …one of India’s most iconic actors, Naseeruddin Shah (if you haven’t, catch the Titan story where he plays JRD Tata’s role) is to join the cast of OM …just 26 years later after Hey Ram. Shah is to partner Mammootty after 32 years after Ponthan Mada. This hugely awaited film is from Dhanush’s own Wunderbar Films, and unravels a plot about illegal Red Sanders felling, the hero taking up the cause of those who fell the precious wood. Ok, we know It harks back to Pushpa 1 and 2. In cinema, imitation is the best form of plottery . But wait …the plot may be reminiscent. It is the release date planned for Ayudha Pooja day — 16th October — that’s caused a huge buzz. Superstar Rajinikanth’s Jailor 2 and Dhanush’s OM are set to clash as gladiators on the same day. Will the Sasur win? Or will the “estranged “ Damaad create family history?

The men in blue with a new captain Shreyas Iyer has been beaten hollow in Belfast (Ireland) and at three venues in England. Iyer has led in six matches and lost five in a row. The first dig at Chester-lee-Street, Durham did not deliver a result, and England has held its own in Old Trafford, in Robin Hood country Trent Bridge and Bristol. Iyer must be gutted with back to back series loss – and five has now become a record for an Indian captain. Shikhar Dhawan and Mahendra Singh Dhoni have led the men in blue teams that lost four in a row in 2021 and 2009. After looking at the score cards a first question that comes up is “Why is left-hander Tilak Varma batting at No 5 and 6” when his preferred batting number is 3/4 where he has scored 649 runs with 2x100s at 46.36 and a strike rate of 9.12 and 490 runs at 54.44 with a strike rate of 7.72. In the World Cup, Varma batted at No 3 five times, and at No 5/7. He had an overall strike rate of 9.27. India has promoted Ishan Kishan to No 3 from the World Cup match against Zimbabwe in Chennai and since he has scored one half century in 10 innings. Clearly India has not had the best from Varma at No 5 or 6. It’s at No 3 that Varma scored 107* against South Africa at Centurion Park and 120* at the Wanderers in November 2024. His average has dipped batting lower down the order. Tinkering with the batting order has resulted in a downside in the Twenty20 format. India has won 18 matches with Tilak batting at No 3.

In a major political development in West Bengal, three former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MPs — Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik — formally joined BJP. All three had resigned from the Rajya Sabha and TMC in recent weeks, with Roy stepping down first after the party’s electoral defeat, followed by Dev and Baraik. Bhattacharya. West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya described their induction as a major organisational boost. He recalled the contribution of Roy’s father in Bengal politics, accusing successive governments of neglecting Bengal’s historical legacy. Roy’s induction had been anticipated after his recent meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Bhattacharya and other senior BJP leaders. After joining the party, Roy alleged that both the Left Front and Trinamool governments had harmed West Bengal, claiming he was sidelined and harassed, including being summoned by Lalbazaar, iconic Kolkata police headquarters, for raising issues such as the RG Kar case and corruption. Dev said she joined the BJP after concluding that her national aspirations could not be realised in the Trinamool. Citing Assam’s development model, she said she wanted to contribute to the country’s progress under Modi and chose the Bengal BJP on the advice of Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Rejecting criticism that the BJP was indiscriminately inducting Trinamool leaders, Bhattacharya said only those with a clean image would be welcomed, while leaders accused of corruption or scams had no place in the party. He also urged the media not to describe the new entrants as turncoats, saying they should now be regarded simply as BJP leaders. Speculation remains that the trio could be renominated to the Rajya Sabha under the BJP banner.

The ongoing 48-team FIFA World Cup in the Americas, for almost a month, has been unprecedented and exhilarating for a number of reasons; notably for the wonderful goal-getting ability of the super stars led by Leo Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane. And millions of football fanatics have lapped it up! Each one of them have been able to capture the imagination of the fans with their own ways of beating the last line of defence with their lower limb or head.  Christiano Ronaldo, well past his sunset years, was a far cry from his best and the injury prone Neymar Jr hardly touched a ball, benched by the maverick Italy born Brazilian coach Carlo Ancelloti for a major part of the competition. The versatile Argentine Messi has missed dead-ball situations, but has entertained with his alacrity and direction, Frenchman Mbappe has demonstrated speed, pile drivers and deft touches, Haaland has bulldozed his way into the penalty area and delivered winners and Harry Kane has used his height and found a way to the back of the net. Messi leads the Golden Boot race with 8 goals and one assist, followed by Mbappe (7 +2) Haaland (7) and Kane (6+1). The numbers could dramatically change with Argentina, France, Norway and England reaching the last eight. Ronaldo and Neymar Jr have taken a bow from international football, without the World Cup glory. Messi has kept the retirement card close to his chest; he could do so after his team’s last match. Kane may go out on a high should England win the title after 60 years. Mbappe and Haaland ought to be there when Portugal, Spain and Morocco host the World Cup in 1930; but so far, it’s been damn good across the Atlantic!

Temples are in the news post Ram Mandir donation theft. The latest news is from Odisha. Ahead of the grand nine-day planned mega festival of Lord Jagannath Ratha Yatra at Puri scheduled on July 16, 2026, Puri’s titular King Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb — Chairman of 12th century Shree Jagannath Temple Management Committee (SJTMC) has blown the bugle. He has raised serious questions against ISKCON’s international branches and its functioning. He is now seeking the Centre’s intervention to stop Lord Jagannath’s untimely rituals being conducted outside India. While ISKCON India chapter has agreed to abide by SJTMC directives, however, ISKCON centres in Canada, U.S., UK, Europe and parts of Africa continue to host Rath Yatras based on local convenience instead of following the lunar calendar practiced in Puri, thereby deviating from Odisha’s century old tradition. The Puri King says “The sanctity of dates cannot be altered for global convenience because it hurts the sentiments of millions of devotees”. This explains why Puri King has escalated this issue to PM Modi and President Droupadi Murmu and Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi seeking their urgent intervention.

The shocking embezzlement of donations offered by the devout to Ram Lalla has shocked the entire nation. It is logical to compare this with the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), India’s richest pilgrimage site and the mind boggling logistics implemented …not just for footfalls, but collection of donations, daily counting and how the huge coffers are like a corporate …every rupee accounted, audited and spent. Every single day, 50,000 to 70,000 pilgrims wend their way to see Lord Balaji; on special days it surpasses 100,000. With its budget of RS 5,500 crore, TTD is constantly aiming to get the best from the donations. Even as the Ram Mandir theft was unfolding, TTD was taking security to a higher level, partnering with the Institute of Chartered Accounts, for robust accounts and audit. This temple’s daily counting of cash, gold and silver ornaments is itself a protocol not many places of worship follow. S Gurumurthy, Editor of Tamil magazine Thuglak, and RSS functionary has criticised the hypocrisy of the opposition in the New Indian Express in his signed two-part article. But is this just a condemnation of the Ram Mandir Trust and its lack of control? Hindus have long suffered the partisan HR and CE grip on Hindu places of worship. Time to clean up this Augean stables and free temples from the clutches of the greedy.

The resounding success of Ghabadkund has ignited a new era in Marathi cinema, marking the birth of its first-ever cinematic universe. Produced by Dr Rasik Kadam and directed by Pritam SK Patil, the film masterfully blends suspense, action and ancient folklore set against a mysterious cursed reservoir in Maharashtra’s untamed heartlands. It introduces an overarching lore of hidden treasures, forbidden rituals, and awakening malevolent forces, not as a standalone tale, but as the foundation for interconnected stories that celebrate the region’s rich mythology and cultural soul. With a reported Rs 6 crore budget, Ghabadkund has delivered a strong verdict, amassing approximately Rs 7.57 crore in total collections by around Day 16 (Maharashtra contributing the lion’s share). In the producer’s visionary words, “We are creating a universe that belongs to our soil, our stories, and our people. This is just the beginning.” Ghabadkund has paved the way, drawing audiences into a shared world where legends intertwine across time and terrain. The narrative now expands organically, with everyday elements like bustling dhabas along rural highways becoming pivotal nexuses. Here, ordinary lives collide with extraordinary secrets, weaving emotional conflicts, treasure hunts, and escalating mysteries that bind future chapters into a grand narrative. Encouraged by good response, Dr Kadam has announced a massive Rs 50 crore investment for the second chapter. This technologically advanced instalment is poised to be one of the biggest in Marathi cinema history, targeting global audiences while staying rooted in local ethos. Spanning six interconnected films overall, the franchise promises unprecedented scale in visuals, storytelling, and production values. As Ghabadkund continues its strong box-office journey, the Marathi cinematic universe stands as a testament to bold Marathi ambition.

For over a decade, Hera Pheri 3 has resembled its own chaotic plot which was full of twists, betrayals, and shifting alliances. What began as a dream reunion of the iconic trio (Akshay Kumar as Raju, Suniel Shetty as Shyam and Paresh Rawal as Baburao) under director Priyadarshan quickly descended into a messy legal and personal battlefield. Producer Firoz Nadiadwala (linked to the original franchise) fought prolonged rights battles, including clashes with Eros and later South Indian producer Vijay Kumar over copyright claims tied to the source material. Banners shifted when Akshay Kumar’s production house, Cape of Good Films LLP, stepped in and secured key rights from the original producers. This marked Akshay’s transition from star to controlling force. Drama peaked in 2025 when Paresh Rawal exited amid reported fee or creative disputes. Akshay’s company swiftly slapped a Rs 25 crore legal notice for alleged sabotage and unprofessional conduct. The matter was resolved after interventions; Paresh returned, paid dues with interest, and confirmed his participation, proving Bollywood friendships are transactional. Priyadarshan’s recent exit added fuel. He accused Firoz Nadiadwala of repeated insults over years and claimed Firoz allegedly told Akshay never to work with him. Then came the decisive July 4, 2026, public notice in Complete Cinema magazine by Cape of Good Films LLP. It boldly asserted sole, exclusive, irrevocable worldwide rights to produce, distribute, and commercially exploit Hera Pheri 3 across all platforms. This move effectively hands Akshay Kumar full creative and commercial freedom, seemingly sidelining previous partnerships. With the trio reportedly aligned and Akshay asserting dominance, the long-delayed comedy may finally escape development hell. Whether it delivers the laughs or more hera pheri remains to be seen.

The YRF Spy Universe’s latest outing Alpha, starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, has failed to emerge as the massive crowd-puller many anticipated. Despite pre-release hype positioning the two actresses as dynamic, cool young leads ready to anchor a female-driven spy thriller, the film’s opening weekend collections hovered around a modest Rs 34 crore nett in India and approximately Rs 60 crore worldwide; underwhelming figures for a big-budget franchise entry. What began as a seemingly seamless partnership between two young female protagonists quickly soured after release. Word of mouth turned dull, with critics and audiences pointing out that Sharvari’s role felt like little more than a glamorous showpiece with limited depth. Marketing missteps, including a controversial appearance on India’s Got Latent 2, comparisons of the film’s first look to Hollywood’s Nikita, and the perceived forced, superficial cameo by Hrithik Roshan, further dented momentum. The absence of any memorable chart-topping songs, which is a YRF trademark, only compounded the issues. Now, fresh videos of Alia and Sharvari meeting theatre audiences have surfaced, revealing a noticeable shift in their dynamic. While Sharvari appears energetic and engaging, Alia looks visibly upset, subdued, and far from her usual positive, dynamic self. In several clips, she maintains an uncomfortable posture, her expressions hinting at possible jealousy or quiet resentment. The easy camaraderie and playful chemistry showcased during promotions have seemingly evaporated. What was once marketed as a powerful female buddy pairing appears strained in the face of Alpha’s mixed reception. With collections not living up to expectations and personal awkwardness on display, it remains to be seen if Alia and Sharvari can salvage both their professional rapport and the film’s long-term prospects. The early signs, however, suggest everything may not be as picture-perfect as it once seemed.

At a time when Odisha lost some big projects to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, this huge investment from Adani Enterprises and UAE’s International Holding Company has given a big boost to the BJP-run Odisha government. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has every reason to feel happy particularly as there are many of his own partymen trying to show him in a bad light…and would ideally like him to go. Though the mining initiative is denuding into the rich forest reserves of Odisha, the state needs developments too. Adani’s JV with UAE proposes to invest $ 11.5 billion in Odisha to set up an integrated aluminium project which includes green energy plant, ship building and steel plant. These projects are expected to create 53,000 new jobs. It is considered one of the largest FDI projects so far in Odisha. Now political commentators are giving all kudos to CM Majhi’s core team. However, Opposition Biju Janata Dal has labelled the big MOU investment figure as exaggerated political propaganda rather than realized capital.

Even as KVN Productions announced their Big Bang extravagant film, Toxic lead role by KGF fame Yash, the expectations hit the sky. Directed by Geetu Mohandas, herself an actress and artist known for her Malayalam hits, Moothon and Liar’s Dice, she is now firmly in the saddle with her talent to direct. Toxic, a drug mafia gangster film set in Goa from the 1950’s to 1970’s is an action, gore and thriller for aficionados, building up sky high excitement to see Yash in this killer avatar. Toxic is set to hit cinemas on August 26. The team had guarded a big secret till its recent glimpse video…it was all about Yash, but not a word leaked out about the sirens sizzling, spying and socking the male lead. Even as this mystery built up, the producers released the glimpse video. And a treat …the film has four leading ladies…Nayanthara, the Queen of sophistication; Kiara Advani, the artist who electrifies the screen with her appearance; Huma Qureshi, the artist who performs with much dedication; and Rukmini Vasanth, she of Kantara fame, trained at the Royal Academy of Arts. These ladies were not just gangster molls and props, parading in outrageous outfits…each one has a solid role that moves the story and generates twists ….Yash fans are in for a thrilling treat.

Trust Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to be at an Esport event taking gigantic steps in the world. The Mumbai Metropolis’ GenZ crowd was having a whale of time at pavilion 3 of the Jio World Convention Centre at the BKC on July 4 and when two chess Grandmasters — India’s Nashik-born Vidit Gujrathi and Holland’s Benjamin Bok — were trying to outwit each other to win a place in the $ 75 million prize pool Esport World Cup 2026 in Paris. Enter the Chief Honcho of Maharashtra to take the centre stage and announce how the city of dreams via the tinsel world and entertainment is taking guard to show the way in new creative industries like animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, and extended reality (AVGC-XR). Fadnavis’s short speech highlighted Maharashtra and his readiness to be on the front foot and revealing that the setting up of the ‘Indian Institute of Creative Technologies’ in Mumbai will show the pathway to the country’s creative and orange economy and play an important role in developing world class manpower. Fadnavis was at the inauguration of the Maharashtra Government supported Jio Blast India Rising Road to World Cup Paris 2026 – in July/ August. For some time now, the Maharashtra CM has been on an overdrive to take the cricketing infrastructure to the next level nudging the MCA to build a 100,000 plus capacity stadium so that the city can make a strong push to host the final of World Cups and like events and pledge his and the State’s full backing for the  ambitious venture; and now he is showing the big plans for the State in the world of ‘gaming’ that he feels will create employment opportunities for two lakhs in the State and attract an investment of Rs 50,000 crore!

India has sent former Union minister and BJP leader Dinesh Trivedi as its High Commissioner to Bangladesh, marking for the first time in the NDA government’s 12-year tenure that a political leader has been appointed as an envoy. Trivedi has also been given the rank of a Union cabinet minister. Under PM Modi, this is the first time a cabinet rank has been given to a political appointee, though there have been cabinet-rank ambassadors in Congress governments. Dinesh Trivedi is a political appointee, which means someone who is not a career diplomat (an Indian Foreign Service officer) being chosen for the envoy position. There have been a number of political appointee envoys but not all are bestowed cabinet status. The present ambassador to the USA, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, was till recently foreign secretary, but was sent as ambassador to the USA post retirement. He is also considered as a political appointee. There is former Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag, who was appointed High Commissioner of India to Seychelles in 2019. Soon after Independence, then PM Jawaharlal Nehru appointed his sister, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit as an ambassador with cabinet rank. In subsequent years, TN Kaul was given cabinet rank when he went as ambassador to Moscow. Likewise, Dr Karan Singh was given cabinet rank when he went as ambassador to the USA, and so too DP Dhar when he went a second time as ambassador to Moscow. Giving cabinet rank indicates a direct line to the PM; the envoy will not have to go through the hierarchy of the Foreign Secretary or the Foreign Minister. Second, the indication is also to the host country where the ambassador is accredited. In this case, the signal is clearly to Dhaka that this person is held in very high political esteem by PM Modi. All this is bound to help Trivedi to have direct access with Bangladesh top brass.

Nearly a month after the “chanda chori scam” broke involving top leaders of the Sangh, the top RSS leadership for the first time opened up on the scam involving the Ayodhya Ram temple. Looks like the Sangh first wanted to understand the extent of the theft and the persons involved. But, once the RSS realised that the loot was extensive and PM Modi and UP CM Yogi wanted a crackdown to catch all thieves, big or small, a statement was issued by RSS general secretary Dattareya Hosbale. From the statement it is clear, the Sangh was not going to protect anyone —howsoever close to the Ram Temple cause. For the first time Sangh shared a sense of hurt that has been bothering Hindus at large. In fact, there was even a sense of unease in the Sangh that Yogi’s SIT may end up ferreting out more details of the loot. For some reason, the Sangh and VHP treated the temple more as personal fiefdom and have landed in a mess. The RSS statement also assumes significance because of the Sangh’s long and central association with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. The Sangh and its affiliates played a pivotal role in mobilising the nationwide campaign that culminated in the construction of the temple after decades of political, legal and social mobilisation. Even after the temple’s inauguration, the Ram Temple Trust had leaders associated with the Sangh. The statement marks the RSS’s first formal intervention in the controversy. The row has already claimed its biggest casualty with Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust’s general secretary Champat Rai stepping down from his post amid mounting pressure. Investigators have also arrested his former driver as part of the probe into the alleged theft.

Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray’s declaration to revert to Hindutva has come at a time when his party is constantly assaulted by his arch enemy and one-time disciple, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. While half a dozen Lok Sabha members of the Sena defected to the NDA camp, Uddhav and son Aaditya remained content on just criticising the rival Sena, led by Shinde. With great fanfare, announcements were made that the ‘betrayers’ will be taught a lesson. However, barring a couple of protests, nothing much happened. Since 2022, ever since the unified Sena suffered a vertical split, Uddhav has been seen taking differing stands on certain issues. To the discomfiture of the Congress party, he proclaims his loyalty to Veer Savarkar, the Hindutva icon. Similarly, Uddhav Sena’s insistence on the issue of Marathi Manoos and Marathi language has not wavered. This is not to the liking of the other two partners of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, which had installed Uddhav as chief minister. Seeming to be befuddled by the current exodus from his side, Uddhav has now announced that a “Ram Raksha” agitation will be launched at Dadar in Mumbai on Sunday by him. Ram Raksha is among the most sacred Marathi scriptures, paying tributes to Lord Ram. It is chanted in chorus, generally. Uddhav’s fresh move has created some suspense since it is seen as a signal by some to the BJP under Hindutva veneer. However, the rival Sena’s leaders have ridiculed Uddhav for forgetting his embrace of the Congress party since 2022 and taken the coming event lightly.

The debate surrounding the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has once again moved to the forefront of public discourse with the Maharashtra government initiating steps towards drafting and implementing a common civil law framework for all citizens. The recent decision of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to appoint a committee headed by a retired High Court judge to prepare a draft UCC marks a significant development in Maharashtra’s legal and social landscape. The move reflects a growing recognition that personal laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption and succession should be guided by the constitutional principles of equality and justice rather than differing religious traditions. For decades, Goa has operated under a common civil code inherited from the Portuguese legal system. More recently, Uttarakhand became the first state in independent India to enact and implement a modern UCC. Some other states, too, are contemplating implementation of UCC. The momentum is growing across India. In March 2026, the Gujarat Assembly passed a Uniform Civil Code Bill, becoming the second state to legislate in this direction. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh has announced its intention to introduce similar legislation.  Against this backdrop, Maharashtra’s initiative is considered timely and necessary. Maharashtra is India’s second-most populous state and one of its most socially diverse regions. It has long been a leader in social reform movements. One of the strongest arguments for implementing a UCC in Maharashtra is the need to ensure equal rights for women. Little resistance is expected to take place to the initiative.  

Keralam chief minister V D Satheesan objects to Adani Group selling its 49% stake in Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Ltd to Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). The Keralam CM tweeted saying that it was announced without prior consultation with or intimation to the Government of #Keralam. “I have conveyed the State Government’s strong displeasure to the management of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. Any change in the concessionaire’s shareholding structure requires government approval and will be examined strictly under the provisions of the concession agreement and applicable regulations.” The Government remains committed to safeguarding Keralam’s interests and strengthening Vizhinjam as a globally competitive transshipment hub. CM’s tweet seems to have evoked mixed reactions. Why can’t investor sell his part of the stake to an investor ask many. It is micro management by the state government that is seeing the investors hesitate to invest in Kerala. If an investor legally sells shares to a foreign company, what is wrong with that? If the state government has concerns, it can buy those shares instead of creating unnecessary hurdles for investors. Countering this argument veteran journalist J Gopikrishnan posted on X that “Since the Port is under PPP Model, Kerala Govt has to approve the sale of ownership…Adani sold the 49% shares of around Rs 15000 crore …. Let us see what happens in coming days.” Yes, wait and watch is the operative word for now.

He was to visit Odisha and energise the local BJP team ahead of three-tier Panchayat polls and also inaugurate BPCL’s the Rs 1775-crore 2 G ethanol plant in Western Odisha. Now, it is learnt that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has abruptly cancelled his three-day Odisha tour fuelling speculations in political circles. Tongues are wagging saying that the abrupt postponement of Amit Shah’s Odisha tour is not connected to “official” bad weather version; it may well be related to the imminent cabinet reshuffle issue. It is no secret that Amit Shah has been pushing for a brand new BJP organisation team in Odisha under party president Nitin Nabil with a possibility of Union Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan getting transferred to Nitin Nabin’s camp. On social media, rumours are flying thick and fast for the last few days that ministers like Dharmendra Pradhan, Hardeep Singh Puri, Nirmala Sitharaman who may get new assignments. Rumours that the former RBI governor Shaktikanta Das, currently part of PMO, may get ministerial berth is also doing the rounds. Modi, it seems, is keen to appoint people with domain expert in key ministries.

Habits die hard, especially of the notorious ones. Notably, nay irritatingly, of India’s cricketers — in particular the men in blue — getting dissected every ball, every inning and every match. The team led by Shreyas Iyer lost 0-2 to Ireland and critics across platforms are twisting the knife on batters who won the recent World Cup for the country in spectacular fashion, but failed to get going in Belfast.  The selection committee and the team management have placed their faith on the opening pair in Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson whose opening stand scores delivered 195 in four Twenty20 World Cup matches at 48.75, the best by an Indian opening pair in any World Cup in the shortest format. Samson dropped for a few matches, scored 321 runs off 161 balls in five outings with scores of 97*, 89 and 89 in the last three matches of the World Cup in India and Abhishek, after a 3-duck start and three more light scores made two 50s. The admirable part was the team management continued with Abhishek because of his approach – quick scoring ways in the power play. Samson’s scores in three innings in Ireland and England have been 5,0 and 1 facing a mere 12 balls. Clearly the likes of Head Coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Iyer are firmly behind the Abhishek-Samson pair; they have not succumbed to pressure, but will be forced to introduce the rollicking and rip-roaring 15-year-old left hander Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to international cricket very soon. The circumstances will create opportunities for Sooryavanshi to show his talent in two-three matches of the remaining four remaining Twenty20 matches in England. Hopefully he will not be dissected every time he goes out to bat. Hits and flops come with the format.

It’s over a month since the electoral tsunami struck Tamil Nadu uprooting strongly entrenched Dravida models. The TVK under superstar Vijay stormed to power but needed support from small parties. The CPI, CPM, VCK and IUML gave the lifeline. But now every day seems to be a challenge to stay in power. Especially after the undignified show of taunting put up by the CM Joseph Vijay and an equally distasteful repartee by LoP Udhayanidhi Stalin (a wife is roaming the Chengalpattu Court in search of her husband). House decorum is often violated by such events when those with tenuous links dare to criticise. The Congress waited a full three days to react…presumably, the High Command had to okay it.  Former TN Congress leader K Selvaperunthagai condemned it saying “This is not a film set. Assembly is a historical institution”. Knowing the Congress penchant and predilection to latch on to power, Selvaperundagai’s quick and ignoble exit is not surprising. Of all the support givers, VCK’s Thirumavalavan is probably a step higher in the hierarchy. But when he too criticised CM’s choice of Karnataka Venkatnarayana (producer of Jana Nayagan) as TN’s representative to Delhi, the elasticity snapped. Vijay’s Man Friday Aadav Arjun quickly dialled Thiruma’s secretary and conveyed “It’s okay for all those wanting to quit the alliance…to go. We are capable of managing the government”. You can conjure up the shocked reaction of these small players who are clinging on for dear life … berths that have fallen like rare diamonds into their laps. Has Vijay found his grip over power? Or as many surmised, has Capo Di proved yet again that he is the real power?

It’s over a month since the electoral tsunami struck Tamil Nadu uprooting strongly entrenched Dravida models. The TVK under superstar Vijay stormed to power but needed support from small parties. The CPI, CPM, VCK and IUML gave the lifeline. But now every day seems to be a challenge to stay on in power. Especially after the undignified show of taunting put up by the CM Joseph Vijay and an equally distasteful repartee by LoP Udhayanidhi Stalin (a wife is roaming the Chengalpattu Court in search of her husband). House decorum is often violated by such events when those with tenuous links dare to criticise. The Congress waited a full three days to react…presumably, the High Command had to okay it.  Former TN Congress leader Selvaperundagai condemned it saying “This is not a film set. Assembly is a historical institution”. Knowing the Congress penchant and predilection to latch on to power, Selvaperundagai’s quick and ignoble exit is not surprising. Of all the support givers, VCK’s Thirumavalavan is probably a step higher in the hierarchy. But when he too criticised CM’s choice of Karnataka Venkatnarayana (producer of Jana Nayagan) as TN’s representative to Delhi, the elastic snapped. Vijay’s Man Friday Aadav Arjun quickly dialled Thiruma’s secretary and conveyed “It’s okay for all those wanting to quit the alliance…to go. We are capable of managing the government”. You can conjure up the shocked reaction of these small players who are clinging on for dear life … berths that have fallen like rare diamonds into their laps. Has Vijay found his grip over power? Or as many surmised, has the Capo Di proved yet again that he is the real power?

Cocktail 2 entered its second week on a relatively stable note despite the arrival of a major competitor in the name of heavyweight, Welcome to the Jungle. After a strong first week of Rs. 70.50 crore net, the Shahid Kapoor-Kriti Sanon-Rashmika Mandanna starrer collected Rs 4 crore on Friday (Jun 26) which was the 8th day, followed by Rs 4.25 crore on Saturday (Jun 27) and Rs 4.40 crore on Sunday (Jun 28) i.e. 10th day. These numbers were respectable for a film facing fresh competition, showing it could still command decent screens and audience interest over the weekend. However, Monday, the 11th day, it was a completely different story. Cocktail 2 crashed to just Rs 1.75 crore net from 3,873 shows at a low 16.51% occupancy, taking its domestic collections to Rs 84.90 crore. The nearly 60% drop from Sunday’s Rs 4.40 crore was brutal and exposed the film’s inability to sustain momentum once the new release tightened its grip. In stark contrast, Welcome to the Jungle delivered a blockbuster opening. The Akshay Kumar-Suniel Shetty comedy raked in Rs 15.25 crore net on its first day, jumped to Rs 20 crore on Saturday, Rs 24.75 crore on Sunday, and still posted a solid Rs 8.50 crore on Monday which was its 4th day. In just four days, it amassed Rs 72.25 crore net in India; more than Cocktail 2 managed in its entire first week plus four days of the second. But the moment Monday arrived; the ultimate testing day for every film’s staying power, Cocktail 2 completely surrendered. A Rs 1.75 crore Monday against a competitor’s Rs 8.50 crore is not a hold; it is a rout. The numbers don’t lie; competition killed Cocktail 2’s second week and effectively ended its theatrical momentum far earlier than it deserved.

The much-anticipated Union Cabinet reshuffle may simply get put off. Initially, there was excitement when George Kurian quit as Union Minister for Minority Affairs. It was presumed that he had set the ball rolling. With Modi government keen to push some important laws in the upcoming Monsoon Session of  the Parliament and increasing  its numbers in the House, there was a sense that a number of new ministers would soon join the government. For some reason, neither PM Modi nor Home Minister Amit Shah are in a mood to rush through this exercise and repent later.  With a series of international engagements for PM Modi beginning with a Seychelles visit at the end of June and a packed diplomatic schedule in early July, it now seems Modi is unlikely to reshuffle his team. Modi is expected to undertake visits to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand between July 6 and 11. In addition, Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi is scheduled to visit New Delhi from July 1 to 3. In view of these international engagements, BJP leaders say the likelihood of a Cabinet reshuffle before July 11 appears remote, although they remain confident that the exercise will be completed ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament that is expected to begin third week of July. BJP sources also discount the possibility of any major change in the Finance Ministry like easing out FM Nirmala Sitharaman or getting former RBI Governor Dr Shaktikanta Das to head the ministry. Sources say significant portfolio reshuffles in the Union government are most likely when elections are held for the office of President of India in 2027.

Finally, Biju Janata Dal has inducted ex-IAS bureaucrat Sujata Rout Karthikeyan in the presence of BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik. She is the wife of V K Pandian, the most powerful bureaucrat in Odisha once upon a time. Meanwhile, Naveen Patnaik has put to rest rumours by announcing that he will continue to lead the party till the next election. Sujata’s claim to fame is her association with BJD’s flagship programme Mission Shakti aimed at women’s empowerment wherein, she created 70 lakh Self Help Group building an impressive vote bank for the BJD. Soon after her induction she chucked a googly saying “The future of politics lies in “We” and not “I” highlighting the importance of team work and shared responsibilities. A highly placed BJD sources said, “BJD needs to diversify its leadership with induction of more people with diverse background and experience as it did with Sujata Rout.” Who will take over the party eventually is the rumour that has been doing rounds for the last two-three years and there was an indication Sujata R Karthikeyan was being groomed for top leadership position? This is because Patnaik trusts the Pandians totally. Now, the big message that is coming out of BJD Headquarters is that Naveen Babu is not passing the baton at least for now. That should be like sweet music to the ears of the senior BJD leaders.

The ‘Little Master’ Sunil Gavaskar has been spending a lot of quality time in “Aamchi Mumbai” these days. Even if he has relinquished the NRI status, the champion batter of the yesteryear, has shown remarkable energy and enthusiasm to travel hell of a lot in India and overseas for commentary duties, to raise money for charitable causes and catching up with fellow cricketers and friends. Very recently he had rostered his “annual do” at the Harish Thawani founded ‘The Indus Club’ in Bandra-Kurla-Complex (BKC) — for Club cricketers upwards, and on June 25, the first batter to breach the 10000 runs barrier in Test cricket, organised a “nice and comfy” evening with the flannels-wearing ‘ Kapil’s Devils’ of the 1983 Prudential World Cup winning team. Kapil himself, of the brand Tunbridge Wells-175 not out and magnificent catcher that ejected Vivian Richards in the final at Lord’s, was in the midst of the twilight hour party at BKC – dressed in Black Pathani and jacket. Each and every one of the team was ‘cool like a cucumber’ and relishing the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of the phenomenal achievement of knocking down the mighty West Indies. In attendance, apart from Kapil and SMG were, the Delhi gang in Mohinder ‘Jimmy’ Amarnath, Kirti Azad, Madan Lal and Sunil Valson, Bombay Boys, Sandy ‘Storm’ Sandeep Patil and the patka-clad swing King, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, “Nalla Madras’s Krishnamachari Srikkanth, and hip-hop Bangalore’s Roger Binny. Missing were Dileep Vengsarkar, Ravi Shastri and Syed Kirmani, all three busy elsewhere in the world. SMG shared his thoughts about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Rohit Sharma, Pratika Rawal and a lot more! It was a lovely evening at “The Indus Club” soon after Shyam Bhatia and Aditya Bhushan’s “Her Story, Her Glory’ book on Indian women’s cricket was launched...

Disturbed by reports of squirrelling away of Ram Temple funds, PM Modi made it clear to both the RSS and VHP that everyone linked to the Ayodhya Ram Temple donation theft case must face a probe. Apparently, the PMO got details that shocked both Modi and UP CM Yogi Adityanath alike. It showed a wider network of influence, with several accused staff members being close associates of former temple Trust office-bearers such as Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, both of whom resigned after the FIR was filed. Rai incidentally is also a senior office-bearer of the VHP. Most of the eight staff members named in the FIR were close associates of both Champat Rai and Anil Mishra. Two of them have been arrested by the police and produced before a local court. Yogi’s Special Investigation Team could only find CCTV footage of temple donation counting for only 45 days. Video footage recovered so far showed the accused pocketing currency notes at least 70 times inside the counting room. Several of the accused have confessed to stealing donation money, while others have returned the stolen cash. The key person among the eight named in the FIR is Ramshanker alias Tinnu Yadav, Champat Rai’s driver. Tinnu had the keys to all the boxes containing donation money. He played a key role in hiring people for the temple and also allocating counting duty. Tinnu owns properties worth more than Rs 50 crore in Ayodhya and Lucknow. He owns a plush residence and several costly sedans. What has upset top Sangh leaders is that Champat Rai showed gross negligence in running the temple’s affairs. He even tried to obfuscate PM Modi’s efforts to get ahead with the probe. His role needs to be thoroughly probed they say. Anil Mishra, the trust member who resigned, owns a big residence in Ayodhya, and his personal property has increased several times in the past five years.

After the BJP’s shocking performance in UP in the Lok Sabha polls of 2024, the central BJP and its UP unit leaders, including UP CM Yogi Adityanath are working to ensure the assembly polls next year are better coordinated and ego hassles are avoided. The latest organisational overhaul in the Uttar Pradesh BJP is a good example of a new approach of caste balancing. It is designed to counter the Samajwadi Party’s PDA (Backwards, Dalit and Minority) strategy. A lot of representation has been given for backward classes, Dalits, EBCs and women. Top leaders agree that the BJP must consolidate a broader social alliance before the 2027 electoral battle in UP. The new team reflects the party’s effort to combine caste arithmetic, regional balance and organisational experience. The newly constituted state team bears the imprint of the new national BJP chief, Nitin Nabin, and the UP organisational in-charge, Dharampal. Kameshwar Singh, who is considered close to CM Yogi has been appointed as a state vice-president. Several leaders perceived to be close to key BJP functionary Sunil Bansal, including Triyambak Tripathi and Vijay Bahadur Pathak, did not find a place in the new setup, though Archana Mishra has been included.  Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s close aide, Ankur Sharma, has been appointed as state secretary. Union minister Pankaj Chaudhary was appointed as a state chief in December 2025.  Among the 19 vice-presidents, the BJP has appointed four Rajput leaders: Suresh Rana, Ramesh Singh, Neeraj Singh, and Kameshwar Singh; three Brahmin leaders: Archana Mishra, Braj Bahadur and Shankar Girihave have been included; Kritika Agrawal and Alok Gupta represent the Vaishya community. As for non-Jatav Dalit communities, they have appointed Devesh Kori and Priyanka Rawat as vice presidents. A significant part of vice-presidential positions has gone to OBC leaders representing different caste groups. To maintain caste balance, the party has named eight general secretaries.

After the removal of Trinamool Congress founder Mamata Banerjee as party chairperson, the rebel TMC faction on June 22 approached the Election Commission seeking recognition as the “real” TMC and stake claim to the party name and its election (twin flowers with grass) symbol. The dissident MLAs not only ousted Mamata Banerjee but also Abhishek Banerjee from the post of national general secretary. Former minister Arup Roy was unanimously elected chairperson, while the rebellion is being led by Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, who claims the support of 65 of the TMC’s 80 MLAs. In a counter move, Mamata submitted to the EC a list of what she described as the legitimate national working committee, that includes herself as chairperson, Abhishek as national general secretary, Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen as joint secretaries, Subhashish Chakraborty as treasurer and Sovondeb Chatterjee as Assembly leader. The crisis comes amid mounting challenges for Mamata, including a breakaway group of Lok Sabha MPs aligning with the NDA and the resignation of three Rajya Sabha MPs. While the rebels want her retained only in an advisory role, her camp has shrunk to loyalists such as Kalyan Banerjee, Madan Mitra, Mahua Moitra, Sougata Roy, Nadimul Haq and Kunal Ghosh. The TMC leadership has expelled several dissidents, including Javed Khan, Firhad Hakim, Rathin Ghosh, Biplab Mitra, Sabina Yeasmin, Aroop Biswas and Snehashis Chakraborty. Adding to the turmoil, TMC bank accounts holding around Rs 440 crore have been frozen following complaints by the rebel faction seeking an audit. With parallels being drawn to the Shiv Sena and NCP splits in Maharashtra, the battle is expected to involve the EC, Assembly Speaker and Supreme Court, potentially triggering a prolonged legal and political confrontation.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) which faces its biggest existential crisis has given revival hopes to both the Left and Congress in West Bengal. With several senior leaders and workers either leaving the TMC or becoming politically inactive due to internal conflicts have created opportunities for both the Opposition parties to regain relevance. In the rural areas, TMC leaders and workers are reportedly joining the CPI(M) or Congress, strengthening grassroots networks and public outreach programmes. With a view to rejig its political strategy, the CPI(M) will be holding a two-day session of the party’s State Committee on August 30 and 31 to review the changing political situation, particularly developments within the TMC, organisational strengthening, future political plans and anti-BJP movements. CPI(M) General Secretary M A Baby and several Politburo members are expected to attend. Incidentally, despite leading major protests across the state over the past five years, the party’s vote share has remained around 5%, with major voters shifting towards either the BJP or the TMC. However, winning an Assembly seat and finishing as runner-up in Falta, CPI(M) leaders see encouragement within the party. Leaders are also optimistic that a section of minority voters may gradually return. For organisational strengthening, the CPI(M) has inducted farmer leader Meghnath Bhuniya, youth leader Dhrubajyoti Chakraborty and Democratic Women’s Association state secretary Monalisa Sinha into its State Committee, while Domkal MLA Mustafizur Rahman Rana has been made an invited member after helping the party secure representation in the Assembly. Meanwhile, Pradesh Congress has simultaneously launched an expansion drive and is planning large-scale induction programmes. According to State president Subhankar Sarkar, anyone accepting the party’s ideology would be welcomed, except those facing corruption allegations. The party also plans to bring Rahul Gandhi to Kolkata to accelerate revival efforts.

Tamil Nadu Assembly has overnight changed into a bitter battleground by the verbal power sparring of the two political aspirants …the Victor and the Vanquished. After the ceremonial Governor’s address, the formality of Thanks for this inaugural has quickly deteriorated into an unpleasant and distasteful war of insults. Chief minister Joseph Vijay has emerged the victor, but is not about to settle down to critical issues. Are his melodramatic actions (the chopping hand imitation of Stalin Sr) and thinly disguised anecdotes about where the father is, a constant throwback to his hero status. LoP Udhayanidhi Stalin for his part is no less eloquent in dredging up personal issues that have no bearing on the crucial problems of TN….” There is a wife searching for her husband in the Chengalpattu court”, snidely referring to the divorce proceedings of Vijay and wife Sangeetha. Political history is peppered with glaring instances of arch enemies (born out of ambition or betrayal) locked in bitter conflict. Coincidentally, we are reminded of the mortal enmity of Russia’s Joseph Stalin and Leo Trotsky…Stalin known for his slick manoeuvres to cut Trotsky’s talent for fanning revolution, to get a grip on power. But what happens to the issues of TN’s overpowering direct debt of Rs 10 lakh crore, the serious power deficit, farmers demands, law and order problems? A newly elected government cannot wish away serious problems as legacies left by the previous government.

A silent but potentially transformative battle is unfolding beneath Mumbai’s frenetic redevelopment boom — the business of rubble. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has rolled out the beta version of its ‘Malba’ portal ahead of a full public launch on July 1 and India’s financial capital becomes the second city after Delhi to digitally track construction and demolition (C&D) waste. The timing is significant. Mumbai is in the middle of one of its biggest urban churns — old housing societies are being razed, slums redeveloped, metro corridors expanded and infrastructure projects accelerated. But every demolition leaves behind an uncomfortable by-product: millions of tonnes of debris. For decades, that rubble disappeared into vacant plots, creeks, mangroves and roadsides, creating dust pollution, choking fragile ecosystems and adding to urban chaos. What was dismissed as waste is now being recast as economic inventory. The Malba platform aims to connect waste generators, transporters, recyclers and regulators into a single compliance chain, allowing authorities to track debris from demolition site to recycling plant. Delhi’s early experiment has already established the proof of concept. Mumbai could now scale it. The larger opportunity lies beyond enforcement. India’s redevelopment economy is creating a parallel debris economy — recycling aggregates, paver blocks and road-building material from yesterday’s concrete. Industry estimates suggest recycled debris utilisation, currently in low single digits, could touch 50% by 2030. If that happens, rubble may no longer remain the cost of development. It could become one of its most valuable raw materials. Sources reveal that even the Adani group is in talks to set up a crushing plant within the largest urban renewal project it is currently seized of at Dharavi in Mumbai    

In a jaw-dropping display of corporate desperation, Netflix, the self-proclaimed king of global streaming, has been forced to its knees by comedian Samay Raina. Season 2 of India’s Got Latent premiered on June 20, 2026, at 7 PM IST in a historic simulcast on both Netflix and YouTube. This marks the first time the platform has abandoned its ironclad exclusivity demand for a major title, all because Raina commands a fiercely loyal independent army that no contract could conquer. Raina, with over 9.4 million YouTube subscribers and hundreds of millions of views, built his empire brick by brick on raw, unfiltered chaos. After the explosive 2025 controversy that briefly took the show offline and drew police scrutiny, Raina emerged stronger. Netflix, facing stagnant Indian growth and creator fatigue, reportedly shelled out Rs 20 crore upfront just to get in the room, while Raina shrewdly retained full YouTube control for ad revenue which will roughly go to Rs 60 lakh monthly. Insiders whisper this hybrid deal could net Raina Rs 2 crore per episode through combined streams, brand tie-ins and his strong fanbase. Netflix also greenlit an exclusive stand-up special with him. Here, the giant blinked first. No more “Netflix Original” stranglehold; Raina’s community power forced a revenue-sharing revolution that echoes TVF’s early indie wins but on steroids. This isn’t collaboration; it’s capitulation. In the cut-throat OTT wars, Netflix admitted what Bollywood A-listers and rival streamers won’t: a creator with authentic followers is bigger than the corporate muscle. Raina didn’t just get a deal but he made Netflix share the throne, proving that owning your audience turns even the biggest platforms into desperate suitors.

Kangana Ranaut once zoomed through Bollywood like a queen in a sports car; bold, unstoppable, collecting hits and National Awards. But her recent journey has turned into a comedy of errors on four wheels. With Bharat Bhagya Vidhata crashing as the fourth consecutive flop, the highway to silver-screen glory now has a big flashing “Road Closed” sign. It’s time for a playful pit-stop analysis of the last four bumpy rides. First gear: Dhaakad (2022) — Kangana played a slick, gun-toting spy in this high-octane action vehicle. It looked flashy on the trailer highway but the audience took a different route. The film stalled spectacularly; a certified disaster with barely any collections. Flat tyre number one. Second gear: Tejas (2023). She soared as a brave Indian Air Force pilot in a patriotic drama. The emotional highs were there, the aerial stunts impressive, yet the box-office altimeter showed a steep nosedive. Another disaster. The plane of expectations never really left the runway. Third turn: Emergency (2025). Kangana took the director’s seat and played Indira Gandhi in a politically charged drama. It sparked debates and controversies like rush-hour traffic, but multiplex counters saw more tumbleweeds than ticket buyers. Disaster number three: the road was getting narrower. Fourth and final blockade: Bharat Bhagya Vidhata (June 2026). In this intense tribute to the unsung hospital heroes of 26/11, Kangana delivers a sincere, grounded performance as nurse Geeta and even co-produced the film. Noble theme, strong supporting cast, gripping real-life inspiration… yet the audience stayed home. The film city highway looks permanently barricaded for Kangana. Maybe it’s time to take the political exit ramp, where her fiery speeches and larger-than-life persona can still draw crowds and headlines. Or perhaps she’ll do what she does best; go back to the beginning, struggle, fight, and rebuild from scratch.

  The Mohan Charan Majhi-led government in Odisha is facing intense public and political backlash over the newly printed Odisha SCERT textbooks for Classes 1 to 8, revised under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and found to contain 1,678 glaring errors, including factual, geographical, and typographical mistakes. The state has spent over Rs 50 crore to print these new text books which now will have to be replaced with the right one. The unpardonable blunder has affected over 40 lakh school students. For instance, Isaac Newton has been identified as a “greatest pilot”, Temple in Hampi described as Konarak Sun Temple, Karnataka’s Legislative Assembly shown as Odisha Assembly and Odisha’s Niyamgiri hills are shown located in Jharkhand. Apart from these blunders, there are spelling mistakes galore with names of eminent personalities incorrectly spelt. The public at large say BJP came to power in Odisha on the plank of protecting Odia identity, but instead now schoolchildren are fed wrong information. Opposition parties like the BJD termed this issue as a national embarrassment. Most political analysts say Odisha’s first-time Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj with a BTech degree and corporate experience seemed the right man but Majhi government overloaded him with other responsibilities. Majhi government has now set up a three-member high level committee to investigate how these grave mistakes escaped everybody’s eyes, who is responsible for it and what’s the remedy. The committee has been asked to submit its report within the next seven days.

The rebellion by 20 of the Trinamool Congress’s 28 Lok Sabha MPs against party chief Mamata Banerjee was the result of months of planning rather than a sudden revolt marking the biggest crisis in the TMC’s history, according to well placed sources. While Didi and her close aides had been monitoring dissident MPs, they reportedly underestimated the scale of support for the rebellion and did not anticipate that nearly two-thirds of the party’s Lok Sabha members would break ranks, mirroring the earlier revolt by MLAs who formed a separate bloc in the Assembly.  The crisis escalated after TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Shekhar Roy resigned and a group of Lok Sabha MPs led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar informed Speaker Om Birla that they sought recognition as a separate bloc for 20 MPs and intended to join the BJP-led NDA. The dissidents have merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India, a West Bengal-based party registered in 2023. Among the most significant setbacks for the TMC are the exits of Kakoli, veterans Sudip Banerjee and Mala Roy, and Saayoni Ghosh, considered a close associate of Abhishek Banerjee. The split traces its roots to the aftermath of the Assembly election defeat. Tensions sharpened when Mamata and Abhishek removed Kakoli as the party’s chief whip in the Lok Sabha and reinstated Kalyan Banerjee. Sources said the move marked the beginning of her estrangement from the party she had served for four decades. After publicly expressing disappointment on social media, Kakoli was approached by BJP leaders and later received Y-category security. By late May, she resigned from all party posts. Significantly, MPs majorly refused to accept Abhishek’s leadership. Further some such as Satabdi Roy, Sarmila Sarkar, Arup Chakraborty claimed that the leadership is right now directionless.

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde walked out of the unified Shiv Sena on 21 June 2022. Since then the Sena’s UBT faction has never recovered from the shock, albeit it was in seventh heaven for a short while after making a handsome show in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Ever since, it has lost every election held in the state, be it for the Rajya Sabha, the legislative council or for a non-descript local body. Even as Uddhav Thackeray’s six Lok Sabha members are presently preparing documentation to formally join Shinde, the deputy CM’s planners are reportedly working on another ‘Operation.’ It is said that they are eyeing veteran leader Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction’s Lok Sabha group. If they are successful, the NDA’s tally will be enhanced by another half a dozen. Moreover, the Shinde team appears not content with poaching just the parliament and the state legislature wings of rival parties. It has trained its focus on the Mumbai municipal corporation, which is already in the saffron pocket. If they succeed, the Opposition in the civic body will become even more feeble. Those reporters who were active in covering the first ever split in the Sena in 1991 and the tricks played by the Congress party to hide the dissenter Chhagan Bhujbal from the ire of violent Sainiks chuckle when they compare today’s UBT Sena’s mere verbal outbursts. The clout wielded by Balasaheb Thackeray is now the subject of just a historical tale, they feel.

From the moment it became obvious that six Lok Sabha members of the Shiv Sena (UBT) had made up their mind to desert the party, search was on for a whipping boy. Finally, it has zeroed on Aaditya Thackeray, son of party chief Uddhav. After the 2019 coup, Uddhav became the chief minister and Aaditya was inducted in his team as a cabinet minister, no matter it was his maiden term and had no experience of administration or governance. Since then, Aaditya has become the butt of many barbs. The latest has come from his arch critic, Nitesh Rane. He has compared Aaditya with Mamata Banerjee’s much maligned nephew, Abhishek Banerjee. After the TMC lost West Bengal, many of its top leaders were facing showers of eggs and other missiles. To guard himself, Abhishek had to wear a head helmet, some images showed. Nitesh has predicted that a day will come when Aaditya will have to put on a helmet before venturing out of Matoshri, the Thackeray family mansion. He will be sending a helmet to Aditya soon, he has announced. Nitesh has alleged that Uddhav and Aaditya had been working on a plan to merge their party with the Congress, which had agreed to appoint Aaditya a general secretary of the party. “The six MPs of Sena (UBT) decided to align with the Shinde Sena after learning of this planning,” Nitesh says.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi presented himself as sort of a “bad boy” in the tri-series match against Sri Lanka ‘A’ at Dambulla last week. The 15-year-old has, until the confrontation with the home team, rarely or not been criticised for misconduct in the field. He has built a reputation for fearless batting and hitting sixes in the Tata Indian Premier League (IPL) Season 19 for the Rajasthan Royals. He has turned out to be the show pony of the IPL and the poster boy of Indian cricket in the Twenty20 format. Hence his deportment, nay turning slightly physical, in the first tri-series the ‘A’ teams of Sri Lanka, India and Afghanistan has come as a bit of a surprise. The discerning are disappointed and feel that the authorities should crack the whip sooner than later. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar did not mince words saying that, as a disciplinary measure, Sooryavanshi should have been dropped for the match against Afghanistan ‘A’. The left -hander who helped India win the Under-19 World Cup and was selected for the Men in Blue Twenty 20 Indian team for the tour of Ireland and England and the Asian Games may have to lose 50% of his match fee and skipper Tilak Varma, 30 % of his match fee. The ball is in the BCCI court now! Sooryavanshi has been around for three years and someone in Bihar, Rajasthan Royals or the Indian teams should have told him about the preamble of the game that says that “Cricket is a gentleman’s” game. What his legion of followers in the world look forward to from him is to understand the niceties of the game and behave appropriately, on and off the field. The BCCI should take the lead on this count.

As former British Airways, IAG and IATA chief William Walsh prepares to officially take over as IndiGo CEO on 3 August 2026, he inherits an airline facing growing questions over its international expansion strategy. The carrier has suspended its direct Manchester-Mumbai and Manchester-Delhi services, from August 31 citing rising operating costs and longer flight times caused by continuing international airspace restrictions. IndiGo is also temporarily halting flights to Langkawi, Krabi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Siem Reap until the end of September. Behind the scenes, industry sources say IndiGo is exploring ways to continue its partnership with Norse Atlantic Airways despite plans to return one leased Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The move has fuelled speculation about how quickly the airline can rebuild its long-haul ambitions before its own Airbus A350 fleet arrives. Passengers affected by the Manchester suspensions are being re-accommodated through IndiGo’s Mumbai-Amsterdam and Mumbai-London services, with full refunds available for those unwilling to travel. Attention has now turned to IndiGo’s codeshare arrangement with KLM. If maintained, travellers could still reach Manchester via Amsterdam, preserving an important link between northern England and India. The Manchester routes were launched with considerable fanfare and were viewed as a key step in establishing the IndiGo brand in Europe. Supported by both UK and Indian officials and coinciding with the UK-India Free Trade Agreement, the services were expected to generate tens of millions of pounds in exports, tourism spending and productivity gains while creating hundreds of jobs. With regional business leaders disappointed by the suspensions, the spotlight is now firmly on Walsh. Aviation insiders will be watching closely to see whether one of the industry’s most experienced executives can revive IndiGo’s European ambitions and restore confidence in its long-haul strategy.

Lakshmi Kaul who worked as Senior VP at global development consultancy firm Mott Macdonald has put in her papers and to take over as the CEO of Grin, a media publishing company and think tank.  She is also the contributing editor and Advisory Board member of Global Order. Kaul, a former resident of the UK for over two decades, moved to New Delhi in 2022. Laxmi has had a distinguished career across India and the United Kingdom. She has held many key roles- as political aide to the British Member of Parliament Bob Blackman, she was the Head of the CII in the UK, a board member of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, the Manchester-India Partnership, and the West Midlands-India Partnership. Kaul seeks to vigorously expand Grin’s publishing programme in India with Penguin Random House India and around the world. Kaul will build a curated team not only for Grin’s own expansive publishing programme, but also for books which are a better fit elsewhere, and will craft a strategy where Grin is also able to guide books to other publishers for publication. For the next phase of Grin, Kaul and her team are clear that they take inspiration from uniquely Bharatiya sources — the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust created by Srila Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON, and the Gita Press in India. Also well known as a social activist, Kaul will also explore how to translate the books Grin publishes into audio-visual adventures (films, documentaries etc.) for audiences at home and around the world. An ardent music lover, she was the founder of the Jammu and Kashmir Festival in the UK in 2016.

Despite intense speculation that PM Modi may cut short Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s two years governance, the big news is CM Majhi will continue for the full term. It is learnt that PM Modi is in favour of his continuation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu are expected to visit the state on June 20 to jointly attend a mega state level rally at Mayurbhanj district to celebrate the second anniversary of Odisha government. Yes, CM Majhi’s two years governance was not without blemish — slow implementation of policies, gaps in delivery coordination issues, deteriorating law and order situation, multiple portfolios held by his ministers who were unable to deliver results. Hence, the social media was buzzing that Odisha may see leadership change. However, CM Majhi has proved everybody wrong and disappointed some of the leaders who were eyeing his chair. CM Majhi has already shifted to his refurbished official residence bringing his family with him. PM Modi wants to strengthen CM Majhi’s position through suitable team adjustment. This means, say political observers “expect few ministerial heads to roll for not delivering.” To be fair to CM Majhi, his leadership was not an absolute failure; he opened up Puri Jagannath’s Ratna Bhandar and its four gates premises, introduced the Subhadra Yojana programme and enhanced input assistance to farmers. His biggest concrete achievement has been the elimination of Naxalism in Odisha.

When did Karan Johar discover he is Janus-faced? After producing bling, bauble, bubble, highly commercial cinema that clicked with high voltage entertainment, he now wants to move on from fantasy illusion to folklore psycho horror illusion. Johar leaps into the perfectly crafted, absorbing and thought-provoking world of Malayalam cinema. He may counter your question why this shift? Karan Johar being Karan Johar may respond ‘Yeh zindagi hai ek maya hai’ …illusion. Malayalam cinema aficionados are chomping at the reins, waiting for the now in progress mega project from Dharma Productions …already Mammootty’s Brahmayugam and Pranav Mohanlal’s Dies Irae have raised the excitement for this genre of films …Folklore based battle between Truth and Illusion, normal and preternatural. Odiyan is a film set in 19th century Kerala. A matriarchal family Is threatened, violated by horror filled encounters with an Amanushya shapeshifting, para normal being. Kerala’s tradition and lore are full of such mystical events and ways of worship. It is said that the 4th Veda, Atharva veda deals mainly with paranormal phenomena. This epic spectacle has Karan Johar, Adar Poonawala, Apurva Mehta and Supriya Menon pooling their talent and skills. But wait …who leads the Odiyan illusion? Prithviraj Sukumaran and Manju Warrier are battling it out for supremacy in this script, directed by ace director Samuel Rahul Sadasivam. For those of you wanting more of shape-shifting horror …Werewolves, Japanese Kitsune (mythical forests), Norse God Loki (European) the faceless men in Game of Thrones, Harry Potter wizards and witches, Odiyan: The Age of Illusion is all set for scaring and socking the viewer – spectacularly.

Ever since its defeat in the Tamil Nadu elections, the DMK’s relationship with Congress has turned frosty. As a result, it did not join the INDIA Bloc meeting held on June 8 in the Constitution Club, New Delhi. Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha Secretariat has accepted the DMK’s request to have its MPs seated separately from Congress MPs in Parliament following the alliance split. “Three of our allies (Congress, IUML, VCK) are now part of the TVK government led by chief minister Joseph Vijay. It means that they are no longer in the INDIA Bloc. AAP has already left and we are not in that alliance now,” says DMK spokesperson T K S Elangovan. He recalls that the Congress was in such a hurry to join the TVK government that they did not even have “the courtesy” to inform us. “At least, the Left Parties informed us…” What has hit the DMK hard is the Congress wishing to contest forthcoming local bodies’ elections along with the TVK. It is learnt that DMK is exploring to form a non-Congress front. What has bothered the DMK is Rahul Gandhi’s issuing a statement asking the southern regional parties to partner with the Congress for the 2029 Lok Sabha polls. It seems Sonia Gandhi’s is keen to have DMK in INDIA bloc for the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.  Sonia is convinced that Rahul Gandhi will need DMK’s support to become PM in 2029. Does it mean that the Gandhis aren’t convinced that Vijay’s TVK is enough to see the Congress through the Lok Sabha polls in TN? During his address at the INDIA Bloc meeting on June 8, Rahul Gandhi vouched that the DMK would be part of the Bloc. Will be nice to know what CM Vijay thinks about Congress keeping its option open with DMK.

Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay has a deep devotional side to his colourful persona. Immediately after the NITI Aayog conclave in Delhi, he wended his way to Karnataka’s Kudajatri Hills of the Western Ghats…a serene, incredibly beautiful stretch of the South, dotted with numerous pilgrimage sites. After getting a warm welcome at the Mangaluru airport, Vijay drove straight to the revered 1200 years old Mookambika Temple at the foothills where the Sauparnika river flows past the Goddesses peetam…there are numerous hoary, ancient and venerable tales of this Shakti Peetam…the most alluded is the one of Adi Shankara. It is believed that after intense meditation Goddess Parvati appeared and asked the sage to lead the way but never look back, Shankara couldn’t control his impulse to turn back and make sure She was still there. The Goddess stopped there. Adi Shankara is said to have built the Mookambika temple on that spot. Vijay performed the Shatru Samhara Pooja for vanquishing enemies and attaining ambitions. To this day devotees to this temple remember MGR and his gift of a golden sword to Mookambikai Amman. Vijay gifted a silver sword, after praying here. He has to overcome a formidable phalanx of Shatrus. The 130 km return trip to the Mangaluru airport was memorable for onlookers and fans as Vijay himself drove to the airport. He is surrounded by challenges to his historic win and right to the CM’s chair. Yet, he doesn’t yearn to look back at his unchallenged Superstar spot and lose his hard won victory.