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Just fresh from the resignation of a cabinet minister, and despite fissures within the ruling coalition, the Opposition in Maharashtra has failed to seize the opportunity that has presented itself before them. The resignation of Ajit Pawar aide Dhananjay Munde was not the result of any Opposition campaign but rather it was the result of inter-coalition disputes within the ruling alliance coming to the fore. Munde’s resignation was a result of a strong sustained campaign led by the BJP legislator Suresh Dhas meant to undermine the Ajit Pawar camp. The fodder for the accusation, that the irrigation department was being run on the whims of Fadnavis associate Mohit Kambhoj, was also said to be provided by intra-party elements within the BJP. That the Opposition could not even present a united picture during the traditional post-budgetary press conference was telling about the state of the Opposition in Maharashtra. Uddhav Thackeray addressed it all alone with the Congress missing in action and their senior leaders restricting themselves to issuing statements while Sharad Pawar’s NCP representative Jayant Patil stuck to the TV debates. Uddhav’s decision to go alone in the forthcoming BMC elections, seems to have particularly peeved his coalition partners. Uddhav seems to have lost patience with his alliance partners. In the case of NCP, it seems to be busy dealing with its own internal schism between Rohit Pawar and Jayant Patil that had led to the party yet to declare its leader of legislative party. While Congress seems lost in its internal factionalism with strong leaders refusing to work with the new appointee state party president Harshavardhan Sapkal. Unlike the lacklustre Opposition, the ruling allies, in contrast, are actively working against each other, unsettling the majority Devendra Fadnavis 2.0 government.
BJP MLC Ranjitsinh Mohite Patil’s son Vijayibhav Vishwatjejsinh wed the daughter of UdaySinh Rameshrao Chikli, K Shivanshika at Akluj, Malshiras taluka in Solapur on March 8. While a lakh people attended the holy matrimony to include Maharashtra’s royalty, Rajaharshi Shahu Maharaj, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Chhatrapati Shivendra Raje, Maloji Raje Bhonsale (Kolhapur), Nagpur’s Sangram Sinh Raje Bhosale and the Mewad Rajput clan and yet, no BJP leaders showed up. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde missed the do. Maharashtra’s political history reveals 52 years old Ranjitsinh’s own wedding attended by over a lakh plus people and, even his father, former deputy CM Vijaysinh Mohite Patil’s wedding ceremony way back in 1971 witnessed one lakh people in attendance along with politicians from across the political lines. The lakh plus attendance at the three marriage ceremonies was maintained despite being familial affairs and non-political. When former DCM Vijaysinh Mohite Patil tied the knot with Nandini Devi (Mai Saheb) in 1971 criticism emanated over the sheer opulence exhibited when every well in Akluj (a water scarcity hit region) was filled with slabs of ice in every household to ensure free flow of water. Vijaysinh’s father Shankarrao Mohite Patil (Maharashtra’s founding Minister of Cooperation) simply explained, “Every family invitee to my son’s wedding has hosted me earlier and outside whose house I have washed my hands (had a meal). At my own son’s wedding ceremony, I invited each of them.” The Maharashtra minister is also famously cited for organizing free helicopter flights in his hometown for local farmers who he insisted would easily afford flights upon attaining their true potential as agriculturists.
Rohit Sharma’s bad luck with the toss continued in the ICC Champions Trophy. He lost the fifth continuous toss in the tournament — against Bangladesh, Pakistan, New Zealand, Australia and again in the final against New Zealand. It was also the 12th straight time the toss went against him and the 15th against India in a row. Though Sharma lost the toss, India won the matches while posting a total and chasing 264 against Australia in the semi-final. The toss makes a big difference to the fortunes of a team, in Test matches in particular. One may say Sharma has been quite unlucky at the toss, one of the most intriguing parts of a cricket match at any level. Sharma’s captaincy in one-day internationals started on November 19, 2023. In the toss-loss matches, he has won seven matches, four of them in the Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Stadium. Other India captains who have lost consecutive tosses – six — are Mohammed Azharuddin, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sourav Ganguly. In contrast Sharma has won 10 ODI matches in two months from October to November 2023, all during the ICC World Cup. Sharma has won only four tosses in a row; in February-July 2022. Azharuddin has won a maximum of nine tosses among India captains. Captains call at the toss and also wait for the outcome after the rival captain has called. In Sharma’s case his call went wrong on four occasions. In the final of the Champions Trophy, New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner called correctly at the toss and chose to bat. The final was Sharma’s 56th match as captain.
They may have gone their separate ways. That has not stopped them from finding themselves in news pages. A quiet consolidation is happening around different constituents of the erstwhile TVS Group. Latest action is coming from Gopal Srinivasan (brother of Venu Srinivasan)-led branch of the erstwhile TVS Group. TVS Investments Private Ltd and TVS Electronics are to amalgamate, signalling a consolidation. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has initiated the merger process by directing the company to seek the shareholders’ approval. TVS Investments is a holding company of TVS Electronics. In March last year, three listed companies of Venu Srinivasan group — TVS Motor Company, TVS Holdings Ltd and Sundaram Clayton Ltd — had filed identical communication with the stock exchanges on an arrangement between family members — Venu Srinivasan, his wife Mallika, their son Sudarshan and daughter Lakshmi. Though it was a non-compete pact between them, it signalled succession planning. In the middle of last month, Sundaram–Clayton announced that its board has approved a proposal to sell its aluminium die-casting business at its Hosur plant in Tamil Nadu to third-party purchasers. Post family separation, myriad branches within the larger erstwhile TVS are charting their own business strategies. Indeed, each one is unleashing a new energy. Lots more to look out for in the coming days, it appears.
A year ahead of Tamil Nadu elections, every statement or utterance by political leaders is being micro analysed to see the impact on alliances on the ground. Well that is what happened when Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK)’s special political advisor Prashant Kishor stated that the party will contest the Tamil Nadu 2026 Assembly elections independently and will not form an alliance with the AIADMK, Tamil Nadu’s principal opposition party. Kishor, who had shared the dais with actor Vijay at a TVK event, also claimed that Vijay’s on-screen popularity would ensure the party’s victory in the Assembly polls. Kishor’s remarks came amidst reports that AIADMK and TVK talks for a potential alliance to challenge the DMK in the crucial 2026 elections seemed headed in a deadlock. That was because AIADMK refused to give any edge to the new party and insisted on contesting a majority of the 234 assembly seats. TVK’s general secretary (election campaign management) Aadhav Arjuna clarified that Vijay didn’t launch the new party just to settle for 40 or 45 seats. Did actor Vijay enter politics — on behalf of the DMK only to divide anti-incumbency votes against it? Kishor has had a history of working with the DMK. On his part, Kishor has been trying to keep himself away from the anti-Hindi politics of TVK. Like a grounded Bihari leader he had refused to sign a petition against the New Education Policy of the Centre) at the TVK event. Elaborating on Vijay’s potential to go alone in TN, Kishor said that “…If he goes alone, he stands a very good chance.” Left without an ally, AIADMK is once again looking to fall back on holding hands with BJP which along with its allies had polled 18% votes in 2024 Lok Sabha polls going alone.
The recent release Mere Husband Ki Biwi has bombed at the box office, collecting less than Rs 5 crore in its opening three days against a hefty making cost of around Rs 60 crore. This underwhelming performance marks yet another flop for producer Vashu Bhagnani. Bhagnani, once celebrated for his successful films, has seen a string of failures such as Ganpat, Mission Raniganj and Bellbottom. He has faced financial setbacks with projects like Bade Miya Chhote Miya and is currently embroiled in a legal dispute with its director. The direction of Mere Husband Ki Biwi was helmed by Mudassar Aziz, known for his earlier works like Khel Khel Mein, Pati Patni Aur Woh and Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi. The film’s lead actor, Arjun Kapoor, has struggled to find success as a solo performer, with his recent projects—including The Lady Killer, Kuttey and Bhoot Police — failing to make a mark at the box office. Similarly, the leading actresses, including the likes of Bhumi Pednekar, have also faced a streak of underwhelming films like The Lady killer, Afwaah, Bheed, and Rakshabandhan and thus making it difficult for Mere Husband Ki Biwi to generate excitement among viewers. Rakul Preet Singh is known for other disappointments like Thank God, Doctor G, Runway 34, Attack and Marjaawan. With a cast and crew associated with a series of unsuccessful films, the expectations from Mere Husband Ki Biwi were understandably low. Despite attempts to engage audiences with remixed songs, the film has failed to captivate, illustrating that audiences are no longer willing to watch films that lack compelling narratives and star power.
The Union Health Minister JP Nadda seems gung-ho to eradicate TB from India by the end of this year, 2025. He made this statement recently at a health summit held in Puri, Odisha. To meet this objective, he said he will include aspirational districts and blocks under the TB campaign. What makes Health Minister Nadda confident to eliminate TB from India in 2025 — five years ahead of the global target 2030. This is because India has not diluted its TB eradication target so far. This is evident because India’s TB spread which tops 30 countries with high TB cases has now shown an impressive decline of 17.7% covering 2015-2023 compared to global average decline of 8.3%. Also during the same period the TB mortality has also decreased substantially. As per WHO Global Report, TB incidence in India has been reduced from 237 per 100,000 population in 2015 to 195 in 2023. Now this figure has shown a quantum jump in 2024, sources say. A head honcho from the Pharma industry says “It is wishful thinking at the moment”. Implying there are multiple challenges ahead wherein 64% symptomatic cases avoid seeking medical help or give up taking medicines. Giving way to drug resistant TB cases. Industry sources say Nadda will succeed only if he ropes in industry bodies, incentivises the pharma players, conducts educational campaigns and conducts house-to-house surveys to identify TB cases. Pharma players government should rope in companies like Lupin which has done commendable work both in production of anti-drugs and educational campaigns for decades now.
Indians are compulsorily global now …travel, gourmet food, curated art, Boston Brahmin lifestyles, wine connoisseurs and of course elevating music crowned by symphonies and operas. This maestro is 82, has composed music for 1,000 films in nine languages and is considered as the Kohinoor of music. Ilaiyaraaja is our national treasure and his own pride and exhilaration was hard to hide as he spoke to the press on his way to London to record and launch his first symphony, Valient on 8th March. It is not an effort to denigrate pop and filmi music but composing a symphony puts him in that elite list of iconic names starting with Joseph Hayden (who created his first symphony in 1700), Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovasky and Mahler; legends who took this very structured and elevated creation to heights that few could emulate. Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin called on the genius composer at his home to congratulate him on this achievement. Indeed, it is a matter of pride that India can boast of such a genius. For those of us who want to know why a symphony is special, systemised and soothing. It has four large pieces or “movements”, the first is the Sonata, the highlight of this structured music creation. The second, Scherzo is a slow and gentle exposition that calms your mind. The third is a dance, light and lively, preparing the audience for the fourth …the Finale, an exuberant crescendo culminating with high notes. At the recording, the emcee and music interpreter called Valient “a texturally brilliant piece of music”. Play the video and participate in the creation of Ilaiyaraaja.
Oppressor emperor Aurangzeb continues to haunt Maharashtra politics. Even as a storm is raging about his bloody reign owing to the praise heaped upon him by Samajwadi party MLA Abu Azmi, a demand to demolish his tomb near Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar in the state has started making ripples. The demand has been made by BJP MP Udayan Raje Bhosale, a direct descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He was livid because of Azmi’s statements. Already, sentiments against Aurangzeb have been inflamed after the release of Chhaava, a blockbuster movie. Bhosale’s demand is another angry reaction but is important due to his lineage. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that though Bhosale has articulated everyone’s feelings, the government needs to proceed according to law. Moreover, the tomb has been declared as a protected monument by the ASI during the previous Congress rule, he has pointed out. Aurangzeb died on 3 March 1707 at Bhingar near Ahilya Nagar in north Maharashtra. Respecting his last wishes, he was cremated at Khuldabad in Marathwada near Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. While Rs.6.5 lakh has been expended for the tomb over the past 13 years, an insignificant amount has been spent for a memorial to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, according to Hindu Janajagruti Samiti’s Sunil Ghanwat. The Congress party has adopted a cautious stand. Its leader Vijay Wadettiwar has felt that the government should take a proper decision in this regard. However, it is wrong to create a rift in society over a religious matter, he has warned.
Despite the release of contemporary Bengali films, audiences in Kolkata are gravitating towards the re-released classics of Satyajit Ray. Mahanagar and Nayak, restored and re-released by RD Bansal Productions, have drawn huge crowds to theatres across Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Uttam Kumar and Sharmila Tagore starring Nayak originally released on May 6, 1966, was Ray’s second original screenplay after Kanchenjungha (1962). Mahanagar, first released in 1963, offers a powerful depiction of Kolkata’s transition into a capitalistic society. The restored versions, presented in 2K and 4K, have not only enhanced their visual appeal but also reaffirmed their timeless relevance, attracting both nostalgic viewers and first-time audiences. In contrast, the re-release of Chander Pahar (2013), directed by Kamaleswar Mukherjee and starring Dev, saw a lukewarm response despite commemorating the 130th birth anniversary of author Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay. Similarly, Shudhu Tomari Jonyo, a multi-starrer romantic drama produced by SVF, failed to garner significant attention. The success of Ray’s films has reignited interest in classic Bengali cinema, with discussions underway for re-releases of Joi Baba Felunath and other masterpieces. Meanwhile, Saat Pake Bandha (1963), starring Suchitra Sen and Soumitra Chatterjee and later adapted into Kora Kagaz (1974), is undergoing restoration. The resurgence of Mahanagar and Nayak in cinemas underscores the lasting impact of Ray’s storytelling, proving that masterful filmmaking continues to captivate audiences across generations.
The lure of number nine (9) is manifesting in different forms for the coming Maharashtra assembly election though the attraction is at least four decades old. At present, the BJP, the Shiv Sena (Shinde) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena have chosen number nine for their initial lists of candidates. The BJP has declared 99 nominees so far while the Sena (Shinde) and MNS have announced 45 names each, achieving a total of nine. But the association of number nine and politics in the state goes back to the first Sena-BJP alliance formed by Balasaheb Thackeray and Pramod Mahajan. The division of the 288 constituencies was originally to be 168 (SS) and 120 (BJP). However, at Balasaheb’s suggestion, it was changed to 171 and 117, so as to make the total nine. Incidentally, Raj Thackeray has stuck to the numeral. His party was formed on the 9th, his cars bear the same number and all his important events are connected with nine. A little known fact is that even Union minister Nitin Gadkari chooses the number for his cars, which bear the numerals 27, 2727 or 81 on their number plates. Chief minister Eknath Shinde, too, seems a firm believer in the power of nine. The number of his car is 567, making a total of nine. In numerology, it is called the Cardinal Number, and is held to be very auspicious. How nine benefits which candidate, which party and which formation will become known on 23 November.
In an interesting political twist, Milind Deora, a two time Lok Sabha MP from South Mumbai and presently Rajya Sabha MP from Shiv Sena (Shinde) will be facing off with GenNext Shiv Sena (UBT ) leader Aaditya Thackeray in Worli assembly constituency. Milind is of course no stranger to the area as during the Lok Sabha polls, he was tasked to handle Worli and had managed to restrict the UBT lead in the assembly segment to 6, 500 votes. The idea of fielding a strong candidate is to take on Aaditya Thackeray and pin down the young UBT leader in his constituency who is seeking a second term. The decision to field Deora reportedly took place at NDA leaders meeting in Delhi attended by Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde. It may be recalled that the UBT has cornered CM Shinde by fielding Kedar Dighe, nephew of his mentor Anand Dighe in his assembly constituency . Looks like CM Shinde could be getting even with Thackerays. Acknowledging that he would be in the fray, Milind posted a cryptic “CM @mieknathshinde ji believes that justice for #Worli & Worlikars is long overdue. Together, we’re paving the way forward & will share our vision soon.It’s Worli NOW!” In the initial rounds, Shaina NC’s name was doing the rounds for the seat. But the battle for Worli now has only got bigger and better.
In what can be seen as part of PM Modi’s efforts to explain his latest foreign policy decision vis a vis Canada to people in the country, Sanjay Verma, Indian High Commissioner who was recalled from Canada, was seen across TV channels recounting the way he was treated in that country. Verma was not only sharing incidents of personal trauma — a frightening incident when Khalistani assailants attacked him with a sword in Alberta while he was with his wife. Verma described how the Khalistani “goons” came dangerously close to injuring him, noting that they wielded a sword — not a ‘kirpan’ religious symbol — but a weapon capable of causing harm. “When I was in Alberta a sword came around 2-2.5 inches close to my body…”he said. He also revealed how Canada was forcing students with valid visas to apply for asylum. “The Khalistanis have made Khalistan into a business in Canada. In the name of Khalistan, they do human trafficking, drug trafficking and gun-running. They earn a lot of money through that and also through gurudwaras”. He said that extreme hard-line Khalistanis are only about 10,000 in numbers, and supporters amount to perhaps 1 lakh in a Sikh population of about 8 lakhs. He also shared how gangster Goldy Brar who was put on the wanted list after India’s insistence has “disappeared”. “Canada has its gangs, and Goldy Brar is a name that we gave to them, Lawrence Bishnoi is a name that we gave to them. Verma, an IIT graduate and a nuclear scientist has previously served as India’s ambassador to Japan and Sudan.
Why has Congress backed out of fighting some of the 9 assembly by-elections in Uttar Pradesh? Is it because the Samajwadi Party offered fewer seats for the Congress? Or did Rahul Gandhi feel that Congress could not win them? After the Lok Sabha polls, there was an understanding that the alliance would fight together in all states. However, Congress was so confident of its victory in Haryana, that it rejected the SP’s request for seats in the Haryana assembly polls. For UP, the Congress demanded at least 4 of the 9 seats. The SP said it could not spare more than 3 seats. Also, the seats were not the ones the Congress could win easily. A day after, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav posted on X that all nine candidates would be contested on the symbol of SP. Apparently, Rahul Gandhi and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav spoke twice to sort out the differences. He also reminded Rahul how he was initially reluctant to fight in the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat. It was Akhilesh who had convinced Rahul to fight, and he had won by a sizeable margin. Yadav explained that he was willing to give Phulpur to the Congress. But SP had announced its candidates for Phulpur because the Congress was delaying the talks. Besides, if the SP withdrew a Muslim candidate, Mujtaba Siddiqui from Phulpur to make way for the Congress, it would send a wrong signal in a seat with a sizable Muslim presence. Rahul felt that the Congress could not win the seats offered by the SP, so the Congress leader Avinash Pandey later informed SP leaders that the party had decided not to contest at all.
They think differently. And, they think out-of-box. Sometimes, such thinking throws up a practical solution. On many occasions, such an idea could remain in the realms of utopia. The wars in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran and Ukraine are stark reminders of the enduring instability and violence in the modern world. The human and economic costs of these conflicts are immense. They affect not just the countries involved but the entire globe. The escalating tension has put a pressure of an unusual magnitude on over-populated in these war zones. Is there a mechanism to mitigate this situation? At least Dr SK Prakash believes there is a possibility for this. This senior faculty in the Department of Economics of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College in the city of Chennai is of the view that ‘controlled migration’ could help bring the temperature down in an over-populated war zone. With a passion for articulating newer solutions in the emerging geo-political dynamics, Dr Prakash advocates the creation of a new global institution to address overpopulation in conflict and crisis zones. “Countries facing demographic decline such as Japan and certain European nations could benefit from controlled migration from over-populated regions. A well-regulated migration policy could relieve population pressure in conflict zones while addressing labour shortages in developed nations,” argues Dr Prakash. Any takers!
The Karnataka State Cricket Association must be given a big thumbs up for spending money on the innovative SubAir drainage system that gets the ground ready in under half an hour of the stoppage of rain. Installed at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium seven years ago the SubAir technology has the capacity to evacuate water into a storage area for use in summer days. More importantly, the system enables the ground staff to ready the ground in quick time for the umpires to resume the match. Many associations have gone in for sand-based outfields, but the SubAir guarantees play once rain stops. While the Noida Test exposed the local authorities from getting the facility ready for a Test match between New Zealand and Afghanistan, despite rain affecting a full day of the first Test between India and New Zealand, play resumed in Bengaluru and a result was obtained with two full sessions remaining on the fifth and final day. The authorities in Dharamshala and Mohali have installed modern drainage systems to ensure that the paying spectator is not short-changed. Heavy rains lashed in and around Pune city before the second Test, but the teams practiced the day before the start of the match at the Maharashtra International Cricket Stadium and the full quota of 90 overs was bowled on the first day. The subsidy from the BCCI to its member associations is now around Rs 100 crore a year and hence keeping the cricket fan in mind and also the competitive nature of Test cricket because of the ICC World Test Championship, associations must spend money on technology that will offset the damage caused by rain.
The BJP is scheduled to undertake an ambitious membership drive in West Bengal, aiming to strengthen its base ahead of the crucial 2026 State Assembly elections. This initiative, part of the party’s nationwide membership campaign, holds particular significance for the Bengal unit as it seeks to regain momentum after a disappointing performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It faced a similar setback in the 2021 State Assembly election. Insiders within the Bengal BJP unit reveal that the State BJP President Sukanta Majumder, along with the party’s 12 other MPs, has been tasked with enrolling at least 10,000 new members each. Meanwhile, all MLAs, including Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, have been asked to gather a minimum of 5,000 members each. This aggressive membership push is scheduled to be completed by November 15. Though the membership drive officially began on September 2, following an inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, progress in Bengal had stalled due to the civil society protests over the tragic RG Kar Medical College incident. Now, the party is set to resume its efforts with renewed vigor. The drive will take place in three phases — October 26-30, November 1-7 and November 9-15. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit West Bengal on October 27 to inaugurate this membership campaign. His visit will be crucial, as it marks his first public appearance in the state since the BJP’s disappointing results in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. His address to the party cadre is expected to reinvigorate the base and chart out a strategic path for the 2026 State Assembly election.
The Congress has bitten the bullet in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh by conceding parity to regional partners: UBT Sena, NCP (SP). In UP, Congress similarly left the field open for Samajwadi Party for 9 state assembly by-polls after refusing to play ball in Haryana with SP and AAP failing to come to power. High stakes play for Maharashtra state assemblies sees a wiser Congress high command establishing a direct link up with UBT Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray, who refused to continue seat sharing talks unless MPCC Chief Nana Patole was excluded. Sharad Pawar’s earlier political gambit, in tandem with Thackeray, has paid off big time for the Maratha leader. Pawar will now field 85 candidates just like UBT and the Congress, keeping hopes alive for assuming the helm of Maharashtra affairs as CM himself or, deputing party president Jayant Patil if SP NCP secures most seats among MVA partners while cumulatively crossing the 145 assembly seats mark for government formation. The Congress party has factored in the realization of regional alliance partners including DMK in TN, that Congress’ growth adversely impacted their own regional growth. A pragmatic Congress high command focussed attention on government formation in Maharashtra rather than sitting pretty over high Lok Sabha strike rate (17 MPs) in just concluded general elections. Congress’ Maharashtra observer Ramesh Chennitala forged an understanding with Thackeray ensuring seat sharing discussions excluded Patole, who was only authorized to announce the resultant formula ratio of 1:1:1 (85 seats each). For the remaining 33 seats the field is still open.
Are Hindu places of deep faith and devout worship soft targets for political pillage and desecration? Why are other faith places of worship not dared to be targeted? Secularism is a selective cash cow. After many other such instances of partisan interference, the sacred 9th century Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple built by the Chola kings at the foothills of the revered Thiruvannamalai has now become the target for yet another commercial exploitation. A shopping complex is the ambitious plan. Every year lakhs of pilgrims visit this Lord Shiva temple. The most famous being the full moon night Girivalam, a 13-km trek circumambulating the Hill. The coffers of this place overflow on the festival day of Karthigai Deepam, when the hilltop glows with a massive Jyothi seen for miles. This year, Rs 3.5 crore filled the Hundis in three months. In 2023, TN’s HR & CE ministry came up with a shocking plan to build a shopping complex right across from the Eastern Rajagopuram of the temple to house 150 shops on temple land, by using Rs 6. 4 crore of temple money. Activist TR Ramesh quickly filed a case to strike down this move to commercially exploit the temple land using temple funds. After a quick hearing the Madras HC Division Bench “directed that all construction activity should stop immediately”. Ramesh of the INDIC Collective Trust has got a reprieve from parties that profess atheism and malign Hindu religion for political mileage but want Hindu devotees’ largesse for their gain.
The once ruling Shiv Sena’s split has redrawn the political calculations in Maharashtra. Their impact will be tested in the coming assembly election as over two dozen constituencies will witness a pitched battle between the two Sena factions. The outcome can be decisive as the balance of power will depend on the ultimate political formation, which will happen by consigning the loyalty factor to the dustbin. Over the past few days, defections have been galore and every hour, turncoats declare their commitment for the party they join by deserting their original outfit. With the proliferation of candidates, each constituency’s fate is uncertain. The atmosphere is surcharged as the average Shiv Sena worker, belonging to either faction, is facing a dilemma of sorts. The prominent constituencies include chief minister Eknath Shinde’s Kopri-Pachpakhadi seat in Thane. The rival Sena (UBT) has fielded Kedar Dighe, who is a nephew of late Anand Dighe, the mentor of Shinde. Still, the most interesting fight will be in Dadar-Mahim since there will be three candidates, all of them loyal to the memory of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray. His son Uddhav has selected Mahesh Sawant, who will take on sitting Sena MLA (Shinde) Sada Sarvankar and MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s son Amit. Firebrand leader Narayan Rane’s son Nilesh of Sena (Shinde) will be locked in a fight with Sena (UBT) candidate Vaibhav Naik, a traditional foe of the Rane family. In Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar district, at least half a dozen fights between the two factions will take place. Strangely, several of the candidates from both sides were in other parties till yesterday. When it became evident that their party had overlooked their claim, they changed hats and obtained candidacy, too. The constituencies concerned are Sawantwadi, Kudal, Ratnagiri, Dapoli, Patan, Sangola, Paranda, Karjat, Malegaon, Nandgaon, Vaijapur, Sillod, Kalmanuri, Ramtek, Mehkar, Pachora, Ovla-Majivada, Magathane, Kurla, Mahad, Radhanaari and...
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Editor’s Note: Short Post Noticed By People Who Matter
Four years have zipped by and we are crossing another milestone on 31st January 2025 – it’s our 4th Anniversary. It feels good.
Looking back at the 1460 days, I must say Short Post has made its mark with people who matter via 4000 stories published in the areas of politics, business, entertainment and sports. All made possible by the unflinching commitment and dedication of our senior editors, most of whom have been part of this journey from Day One.
Small pack, big impact is in essence the story of Short Post which was launched at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021. It shows our conviction. In all humility, I can say, we have created a new niche in the news segment space like Hindustan Unilever which created a new segment, when it launched CloseUp Gel.
Yes, we have created a brand (in a limited sense), created demand (readers) and created supply (senior journalists). But we are facing teething problems like all start-ups. What makes us happy and confident is the recognition of our efforts. For instance, we have an arrangement with the OPEN Magazine, part of the $4.5 billion Kolkata-based Sanjiv Goenka-RPG Group. This arrangement sees around 10 Short Post stories posted on OPEN Magazine website every week. This arrangement is testimony that our content has been well received! Also, I may add that the Maharashtra government has recognised Short Post and has allowed our senior editor to cover the Assembly sessions. Ditto: Odisha.
Our goal is to ensure that Short Post becomes a habit. I would like people to keep checking their smartphones to know the latest Authentic Gossip. As regards AI and the fear of it disrupting all businesses including media. On that, personally, I have no such fear as I am confident AI cannot smell news particularly Authentic Gossip. That’s the place we are well entrenched.