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The feud in the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) between President PT Usha and some of her colleagues in the Executive Council over the appointment of Raghu Iyer as CEO — in particular on the matter of his salary — has made a big splash in the last few months. Those who were gunning for the ouster of the CEO did not escalate their position during the Paris Olympics, but the issue has snowballed now with Usha going bellicose directing her angst against the Executive Council for not ratifying Iyer’s appointment. The former sprinter and hurdler who achieved high accolades in Asia, finished fourth in the 400m hurdles at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics and has been training athletes in her home town in Kerala, has now called for a special general meeting of the IOA on October 25 to place all matters under dispute — including corruption and alleged National Sports Code violations — in front of close to 80 national federations. Usha became the first Olympian to head the IOA in December 2022 and that too getting elected unopposed. She may have had the blessings from the most powerful in the government. But so is senior Vice-President Ajay Patel who is said to have an excellent relationship with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Obviously the SGM will vote for an outcome that will either strengthen or weaken Usha’s primacy as the head of IOA. The champion athlete has gone to the extent of saying that the row between her and the Executive Council has disrupted India’s push for the 2036 Olympics dream. IOA watchers are wondering whether the SGM will actually bring warmth at all between Usha and others.
Former Maharashtra minister Harshvarrdhan Patil has decided to join the NCP under Sharad Pawar, his traditional family foe. Patil had joined the BJP in 2019 and had said, “Now I can sleep peacefully, no worry about the ED or the Income Tax department.” His candid admission had provided much cannon fodder to the opposition in general and to Sharad Pawar in particular. Patil’s family elder Shankarrao and the Pawar clan had never seen eye to eye because the Patil patriarch always complained that their empire in Indapur was deprived of development as funding was diverted to Baramati next door. In the last assembly election, Ajit Pawar had held a public rally in Indapur to declare that Harshvarrdhan Patil will be trounced. Ajit’s close follower Dattatray Bharne was elected there. Since then, an exasperated Patil had mounted scathing attacks against Sharad and Ajit Pawar. According to the present Mahayuti formation, the Indapur seat will go to the NCP(Ajit) and Harshvarrdhan will stand little chance of getting a BJP ticket. Maharashtra’s Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had been trying to persuade Patil to stay on but to no avail. Unwilling to wait any longer, Harshvarrdhan Patil has decided to enter Sharad Pawar’s party. Quizzed by the media about his past comment and asked if he will be able to get a sound sleep now, Harshvarrdhan quipped, “No comment.”
The Mahayuti government in Maharashtra has taken a record 71 decisions within a week, most of them with an eye on the coming assembly elections. The three-party government is already under fire due to opposition’s criticism that huge funds are being squandered on various sections of the population to gain their votes. The “Laadki Bahin” scheme, for instance, is mostly targeted by the critics since it has evoked unprecedented support from women, each eligible beneficiary getting Rs 1500 per month. Similar benefit schemes have been announced for the youth and farmers, among others. Although the opposition is screaming about the possible economic burden due to them, it has promised to enhance the provisions if it comes to power. According to another decision, an economic development corporation for the Jain community will be set up in the state. This will be the first such body for Jains in the country. As the community is viewed as affluent, by and large, many eyebrows are raised owing to the decision. Earlier, an economic development corporation for the Brahmin community was announced. Similarly, financial provision will be made for the cultural or academic institutions of the Buddhists. Each such body will be paid Rs 10 lakh by the government. A major decision has provided for abolishing the non-agricultural tax throughout the state. Several institutions are to be renamed, considering the social sensitivities of the individual areas they are operating in. No stones will be left unturned to win the election, the Mahayuti has indicated.
The sudden demise of CPI(M) National General Secretary Sitaram Yechury has left the Left party grappling to find a suitable replacement. In a recent politburo meeting Prakash Karat was appointed as the ‘coordinator’ instead of naming him as ‘Acting’ General Secretary, indicating the party’s hesitance to rush into appointing a successor. Sources say, the CPI(M) is considering West Bengal State Secretary Mohammad Salim as Yechury’s replacement. Salim is reportedly being given time to consider the role ahead of the party congress in April 2025. Salim, who took over as the state secretary in 2022, has been instrumental in revitalizing the party in Bengal despite its diminishing grassroots presence. He played a key role in forming an alliance with the Congress in Bengal. Yechury’s demise has created a leadership vacuum, but Salim’s experience makes him a strong contender for the national post. A two-time Rajya Sabha MP, two-time Lok Sabha MP, and former state minister, Salim’s parliamentary experience is invaluable. Additionally, his fluency in Bengali, English, Hindi, and Urdu positions him well for the national role. With CPI(M) adopting a new age policy of 75 years, Salim, now 67, could potentially serve three consecutive terms, making him an ideal candidate to steer the party through its current crisis. If Salim ultimately accepts the offer, Bengal is likely to choose Sridip Bhattacharya, who is also the choice of present patriarch of Bengal CPI(M), Biman Bose to head the Bengal unit.
Amid the political chaos stemming from the RG Kar rape-murder incident, the West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is now facing a fresh crisis from within her own party. It is learnt that TMC party leaders are shocked that Abhishek Banerjee, National General Secretary and second-in-command, has lodged a police complaint against the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Firhad Hakim, the Mayor of Kolkata and a senior cabinet minister, alleging misappropriation of funds. Party insiders believe the timing is significant, coming shortly after the TMC’s lacklustre performance in several Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) wards during the Lok Sabha elections. Some sections within the party view the move as Abhishek’s way of pushing for the “one person, one position” policy which he has long advocated. Others see it as an effort to cleanse the party of corruption and enhance its image in the wake of mounting public criticism. According to sources, the complaint from Abhishek’s office alleged that the OSD has been extorting money by misusing Abhishek’s name. The allegation has led to an unprecedented escalation of tensions between Abhishek and Hakim, where both have reportedly voiced their displeasure to the party leadership. Hakim, widely regarded as one of Didi’s closest confidants, has expressed his willingness to resign from Mayor’s post but Didi has rejected it. Reportedly she conveyed her displeasure to senior party leaders as to how the situation spiralled out of control. Hakim’s dual role as the Mayor of Kolkata and Minister for Municipal Affairs and Urban Development has long made him one of the most influential figures in the state’s political landscape.
Thirty-seven year old Samantha Ruth Prabhu was married to Nag Chaitanya, Telugu film’s enduring star Nagarajuna’s son for just 4 years before the couple filed for divorce in 2021. Already Nag Chaitanya’s closeness to fast rising Shobhita Dhulipalia is buzzing around. But it is Samantha who has been hit the hardest in the past few years, despite her rise to stardom in both Tamil and Telugu films. The OTT series Family Man brought her much acclaim. But her personal life was hit in a serious way when she was diagnosed with myositis, a medical condition that has punched her psyche hard, understandably. But Samantha was not prepared for the latest turbulence in her life…Telangana Minister for Environment and Forestry, Konda Surekha recently made downright derogatory remarks about the cause of Samantha’s divorce ….alleging that BRS leader KT Rama Rao is the cause for the rift and divorce. Surekha further insinuated that this BRS leader has a knack of intervening and interfering in the lives of celebrities. Telugu cineworld has erupted in anger at this kind of malicious loose talk, and superstars Chiranjeevi, Allu Arjun, Jr.NTR, Nagarajuna have condemned the Congress leader for this unsavoury talk. KTR of course has warned this minister to apologise immediately and retract her slanderous allegation or face a defamation case. The Minister has tended an instant apology on X, especially to Samantha that she had no intention of dragging her into the muck…she just wanted to vent her venom on politicians for their derogatory attitude to women. Samantha may be rueing her bad times…stars too have to cope with Star struck times.
Looks like Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s efforts to build himself up via media interviews have landed him in a political soup. Eager to build himself up in the national media, the Kerala leader got a PR agency to arrange for media interactions. Unlike the state run PR department, enthusiastic private PR, not only arranged for media interview but also seem to have got a reputed South publication to attribute a few lines to the CM about how “seizure of 150 kg of gold and Rs 123 crore of hawala money by the state police” in the last five years were made from Malappuram. Reference to Malappuram, with its overwhelming minority population, was enough to lead to sparring between the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF). UDF alleged that Vijayan was insulting the residents of Malappuram by referring to seizures. The CM’s Office denied making any reference to Malappuram. While CM may be technically correct, the newspaper denial gave away how PR agents were present during the interview. Vijayan now denies using even a PR. His political detractors are quick to point out that the CM was targeting PV Anvar, a MLA, who was recently expelled from the CPM Legislative Party after he unleashed sharp allegations against Vijayan and his Political Secretary P Sasi. CPI(M)considers the Opposition’s attacks as a fabricated move to diminish its growing popularity among minorities in the wake of the LDF government’s “uncompromising stand” on a number of pro-Muslim issues like the Citizenship Amendment Act and Wakf Amendment Bill 2024. Meanwhile, PA Mohammed Riyas, Kerala minister, and son-in-law of Pinarayi said that Jamaat-e-Islaami and SDPI are the ‘sleeping partners’ of UDF.
Andhra Pradesh deputy CM Pawan Kalyan reached Tirumala on foot as part of his 11-day penance over the alleged adulteration of laddus served at the Tirupati temple with animal fat. The actor-turned-politician undertook a three-hour foot march to reach the Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirumala to position himself as a protector of the Sanatana Dharma. Reacting to the Supreme Court’s observation on the prasadam contamination issue, Kalyan clarified that the Apex Court had never said that prasadam “was not adulterated”. “I think the SC judges didn’t say that it was unadulterated, they said there was confusion regarding the date on which it was cleared.” Earlier speaking in Tamil to a private channel, the Andhra leader made it clear that the prasadam issue was not being blown out of proportion just to settle scores with YSRCP leader Jagan Mohan Reddy because he was Christian. “My wife is also an orthodox Christian. I am undertaking this penance only to protect our Sanatan Dharma. I cannot tell you how Hindus across the world are hurt with the way TTD had reduced Tirumala to a money spinning vehicle during the tenure of Jagan Reddy. Until 1953, did you know darshan used to be free? Now for the special darshan, they began charging everyone Rs 10,000 but handed the devotees only a receipt of Rs 500. We have to undertake a lot of reforms and audits of how donations made to the temple are used. All kinds of violations happened in the last 5 years. It is not just about the prasadam issue.”
After a Rs 93 lakh deficit in 1993, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has seen better times, thanks to its ability to command a higher price from the market, especially from the global media rights. The big breakthrough was made in 1999 when under the stewardship of Jagmohan Dalmiya, the public broadcaster Prasar Bharati was given the media rights for Rs 230 crore for five years. And in 2002 the BCCI introduced the Central Contract and match fee for its senior team, match fee in the domestic tournaments and allocated something for the juniors. After three decades, the BCCI’s media rights income for five years is Rs 5,963 crore and the IPL media rights has shot up for the 2023-2027 cycle to close to Rs 50000 crore. But the good development was the BCCI showing its readiness to share money with the players, men and women, retired cricketers and their spouses. India’s women cricketers at the national level get the same match fee and allowances as the men and they also compete in the Women’s Premier League. The BCCI has now extended the match fee to the IPL with the franchises told to set aside Rs 12.5 crore with each player in the XI to get a sum of Rs 7.5 lakh per match. The BCCI and IPL are the big brands in India’s sports canvas, and the authorities have responded in many ways to look after its constituency, the players in particular. The Rs.7.5 lakh match fee is meant to assuage the feelings of the players who are not among the high-price-band cricketers and also the uncapped (not playing for India) players who generally get Rs 20 lakh, has been increased to Rs 30 lakh at the recent AGM in Bengaluru.
With the creator economy in India experiencing significant growth, driven by a multitude of platforms and an expanding community of tech-savvy individuals, influencer-marketing has proved to be the fulcrum for brands to succeed. The influencer-marketing industry is expected to grow by 25% annually. Influencer.in, a well-known influencer platform in the country in association with Social Beat, has just come out with Influencer Marketing Report 2024, its fourth edition. Significantly enough, the report finds the rise of mid-tier influencers. While Instagram has emerged the top choice for both creators and brands, LinkedIn appears to have a low adoption rate among creators at 4.4%. This is in sharp contrast to a 19.5% adoption rate by brands, which use LinkedIn for influencer marketing. Brands have now to go that extra bit to onboard creators to this platform, especially those capable of delivering professional content. The report has articulated the need for brands to recognize the underutilization of YouTube Shorts, with 75% of creators using short-form content for engagement. Today, over 40% of brands spend more on influencer-marketing. Yet, budgetary constraints limit the partnership between the creators and brands. “There is a need for brands to move beyond transactional relationships, recognize the power of creators and empower them with creative freedom,” the report said. If this has to happen, the creators have to align with brand objectives while showcasing their unique value proposition for more authentic and engaging campaigns. The key for a rewarding relationship between creators and brands lies in being adaptable, innovative and aligned with the values of an increasingly discerning audience, according to the report. Together, as Helen Keller said, they can do so much!
The #MeToo movement seems to have resurfaced in Bollywood but in a new avatar with the arrest of Raj Kundra, husband of film star Shilpa Shetty, for allegedly exploiting young girls and actresses to make adult content for his mobile app. Not many cases of #MeToo were reported during the Lockdown but a couple of high-profile cases of sexual assault and exploitation were filed. FIRs were filed against Bhushan Kumar of T Series fame; and Ajit Thakur, former head of content, Reliance Industries. But, no action was taken as both have stated they were ‘victims’ of extortion. Tanushree Datta, who led the #MeToo movement against veteran actor Nana Patekar (the charge failed in the court); and Payal Ghosh against filmmaker Anurag Kashyap are trying to keep the issue alive via media. In the past names of Alok Nath, Vikas Bahl, Sajid Khan, Kailash Kher, Rajat Kapoor, Subhash Ghai and Anu Malik surfaced. Recently, actress Prachi Desai talked about her #MeToo experience. And so did Priyanka Chopra in her book Unfinished though without dropping any names. An actress confides that most people who had spoken out against big names have settled the issue for “consideration”. This is the reason the entire movement within Bollywood has gone kaput. So, will the adult stars like Poonam Pandey, Gehna Vashishth and Sherlyn Chopra revive the #MeToo movement
It is not just BJP leadership which is united to counter Opposition parties on the controversy over the alleged snooping by Israeli cyberarms firm NSO Group by using Pegasus spyware but also the RSS functionaries and the members of Parivar who are solidly behind Prime Minister PM Narendra Modi and the government at the Centre. Pegasus is a spyware that can be covertly installed on mobile phones. The common thread: It is a conspiracy by the Opposition parties to defame and discredit not just the BJP-led government but also India at a time when the country is weathering the coronavirus pandemic. Days after the expose by news agency and the Opposition’s attempt to disrupt parliament, RSS leaders including BL Santosh, Krishna Gopal and Suresh Soni internally met and later communicated with Home Minister Amit Shah and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi extending their support to the government. They assured to talk to Modi for a possible tie-up in a serious bid to argue government’s case among the people. After the scrapping of Article 370 and the NRC and CAA, it is RSS’ turn to be with the government to foil the Opposition and Left wing organisation’s attempt to target BJP, especially Modi.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s return serve, to use a tennis phrase, seems faster than what BJP had anticipated. Even though Didi has won the game comfortably she is not happy. A reliable source says that hurt by party deserters her ire is directed at the mastermind – BJP. And she is doing everything within her might to put BJP on the back foot. For starters, Governor Jagdeep Dhankar who has been highlighting horrific post-poll violence has been called ‘corrupt’, Nandigram election results challenged in the High Court, HC judge handling that case has been asked to recuse from the case by her and now she pledges Khela Hobe with focus on 2024 Lok Sabha polls to oust BJP. In doing so, Didi, according to a businessman, is missing wood for the trees. Election is past tense; now the most important thing before Didi is the West Bengal economy. And she has not made any statements about giving fillip to state industrialisation. The business fraternity, he says, will not embark on any green field projects but perhaps do incremental brown field projects. To avoid being caught in the crossfire in the slanging match between the Centre and State, some businessmen are thinking of relocating out of India. If Didi focusses on West Bengal economy all other problems will solve itself.
The land of the rising sun, sumo wrestling, sushi food, and prime minister Yoshihide Suga is all set to unveil the Games of the 32nd Olympiad on July 23, 2021. The pandemic-caused delay of the Summer Games by a calendar year, has acquired a handful of monikers, notably COVID Games and TV-Screen Games, but the most significant is the one described by the International Olympic Committee, that starts the two-week competitions with the opening ceremony pageant, full of pomp and parade. The IOC has put down “Tokyo 2020” as the most gender-balanced games with more than 200 nations given the option to nominate for the first time, a male and female athlete as flag bearers at the opening ceremony. It’s a norm for countries to nominate its most decorated sports persons taking part in the Olympics for the opening day spectacle that’s much critiqued for a variety of reasons. At the second “Love in Tokyo” games (Tokyo was the host in 1964), India’s flag bearers will be its boxing icon, Manipur’s Mary Kom and the male hockey team captain, Punjab’s Manpreet Singh. Mary is a London Olympics bronze medalist and Manpreet is a two time Olympian (2012 London and 2016, Rio). Mary will be the third woman athlete after Shiny Wilson (1992 Barcelona) and Anju Bobby George (2004 Athens) to be bestowed the honour of leading India’s athletes in the march past.
With the DMK returning to Fort St George after a considerable hiatus, expectations are running high among people. After all, it is a dream come true for MK Stalin, the son of former chief minister late M Karunanidhi. Having become the chief minister, Stalin is in an ideal position. In his ascension to the chief minister gaddi, DMK has an opportunity to refurbish itself to play a decisive role in the national politics. If politics is an art, late Karunanidhi proved himself to be a fine artist. When Karunanidhi was around, he had in him an astute Murasoli Maran, his nephew and Member of Parliament for 36 years. The senior Maran was Man Friday for the former chief minister. And he played the perfect communication bridge between the then DMK government and the ruling class in New Delhi. The erstwhile combination in the DMK kept political channels open all the time. This worked well for the welfare of the state of Tamil Nadu time and again. The connecting line appears to be conspicuous by its absence now. That seems to have put the DMK government under Stalin at a disadvantage. And, that is not doing any good for the Stalin regime. You stay connected in politics. That can be done by a mature mind. Well, Stalin has a quick job on hand.
Chennai’s Greames Road Apollo Hospital is often a stage for intense political drama as VVIPs get admitted there, and warring VIPs come calling. AIADMK presidium chairman Madhusudanan was rushed to Apollo on July 20. Former Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi Palanisami and his entourage came calling to see the ailing presidium chief. Imagine his predicament when he heard that Madam Sasikala, his arch enemy and political nemesis was on the way for the same purpose. Ousted AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala was not just on the way but was travelling in a car similar to J Jayalalithaa’s with the AIADMK flag fluttering proudly on its mast. Edappadi could only squirm and sputter. Many a mighty political warrior had been quelled by the lady in question. He quickly gathered his herd, and exited from Apollo, even as madam’s car stopped in the portico. Now the memes and sarcasm are flooded with the question, will the Presidium Chief be ousted from the party for being in her company? Remember, her recent bizarre strategy of calling up party malcontents in the dead of night, shoot the breeze, record the conversation and go public with such chats has chucked out quite a few from the AIADMK for anti-party activities! Some people have a talent for whipping up trouble. Sasikala is intent on a hostile takeover.
The raging pandemic has triggered in its wake a social distancing of an unusual kind. That has reconfigured the relationships. While relatives staying afar have become digital friends, immediate neighbours have become close relatives. Indeed, the world has changed so much since the outbreak of the virus early last year. Well, that has brought connectivity issues for many religious institutions. The Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu has now sought to overcome this by embracing the digital platform. It is all set to launch a web TV in the name and style of Kamakoti TV. Coming up with the blessings of the current Shankaracharya, it will go live on the auspicious Vyasa Puja Day – July 24. The ostensible objective of launching a TV is to reach the programmes and events of the Mutt to devotees across the globe. Also, the devotees are assured of an ad-free experience of watching the Mutt programmes. Mutt followers – young and old alike – can now hope for a round-the-clock spiritual delight with the advent of Kamakoti TV. Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham was established by Sri Adi Sankara in the year 482 BC and has the distinction of an unbroken line of 70 Acharyas.
There is this oft repeated story of a child asked to describe a cow. “A cow is a four legged animal, two legs forward, and two afterwards.” Whatever the perception of this child, the cow has to be taken seriously in our communication, perception and opinion. Manipur-based Harvard Kennedy School educated activist Erendo Leichombam, and his journalist buddy Kishorechandra Wangkhan learnt a lesson the hard way. On the death of Manipur state BJP president S Tikendra Singh, they posted on FB that science and sense would be a better bet to deal with Covid-19 than ‘cowdung’ and ‘cow urine’. (On social media, Gaumutra has emerged as a slur of choice to attack BJP followers while Islamists routinely use the jibe against Hindus). Promptly they were put in jail on May 13, under the National Security Act (NSA) for causing unrest by such claims! Imagine the consternation of the Lordships, Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah when this matter was escalated to the Supreme Court level by Erendo’s father. The Solicitor General did not contest the plea. Justice Chandrachud ruled, “He cannot be kept in jail even for a day. We order his release today (on bail),” averring that this arrest was a violation of Article 21! The Right to Life and Liberty. Invoking the NSA for such matters must be a matter of concern for our democracy.
TRENDS & VIEWS
Editor’s Note: Big Punch In Small Pack
It is the Third Anniversary of Short Post and as a news media startup launched during the Covid-19 pandemic it certainly feels better than good to find ourselves where we are today. Here, I must cite the unstinted support of our seasoned contributors, all senior editors in the country, who brought a great degree of maturity and sagacity to the Short Post newsroom. But for them, our tagline “Authentic Gossip”, an Oxymoron, would not have matured viably. Our user numbers may be small but our stories have created the desired impact among people who matter — decision makers and influencers. We offer a big punch in a small pack and Short Post with its 225-word stories has been punching above its weight category. Having posted close to 3,000 stories in the last 36 months, Short Post, I feel, is an idea whose time has come.
And this is vindicated by our two marquee advertisers – IDFC FIRST Bank and ICICI Lombard. Both believed in our story and have supported us from Day one. A big thank you to both.
If you look at the media landscape – print, TV and digital — it is a mixed bag. There are job losses as some outfits have closed down while a lucky few were bailed out by large corporate houses. Yes, there is a lot of action in the digital space. However, the entry of corporate houses has raised the question of independence of news media outfits. Sadly, there are just a handful of independent media outfits in the country that are highly respected for their neutrality. At Short Post, our credo is not to take sides, prejudge issues or be biased but, informing readers of behind-the-scenes happenings. In essence, Short Post strives to be a neutral editorial platform — neither anti-establishment nor pro-establishment.
As I said last year, disruptions in the media world are moving at a fast and furious pace. Technology is playing a very big role in how content is generated and consumed. But, we are neither alarmed nor perturbed as it is all a part of the evolution process. What gives us comfort is that AI is unable to create original gossipy content. And that is the news arena where we have achieved a distinction.