If Ajit Pawar’s widow Sunetra Pawar is emerging as the favourite person to find a place in Maharashtra government as Deputy CM and leader of the Nationalist Congress Party it is not without reason. Political circles in Delhi believe it is one elevation which would be most acceptable to top BJP leadership particularly Union Home Minister Amit Shah. It is being said Shah is inclined to ensure that Ajit Pawar’s legacy survives in Maharashtra. Shah remembers the late Deputy CM as one person who had always gone out of the way to bail out the BJP in tricky situations in the state — whether it was in 2019 or in 2023. It is in this backdrop, Sunetra has emerged as a favourite for the top post. Shah who enjoyed a good equation with the late leader. Shah apparently valued the manner in which Ajit Pawar took the initiative to break ranks with his uncle Sharad Pawar and join hands with the BJP in 2023, a year ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls as well Maharashtra assembly polls. Which is perhaps why he made it a point to travel to Baramati for Ajit Pawar’s last rites. Besides, elevating Sunetra, a Rajya Sabha MP from Maharashtra, would be a simpler affair then say promoting NCP leader Sunil Tatkare, a Lok Sabha MP. It is also felt Parth Pawar could replace his mother in the Rajya Sabha. As for Sharad Pawar who would be retiring from the Rajya Sabha in April it is being said his nephew’s untimely death has totally shattered him and he may not seek another term. It is also being said that the BJP is not inclined to accommodate his daughter and pro-Congress NCP leader Supriya Sule, Baramati’s Lok Sabha MP, in Modi government.

Maharashtra’s deceased deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar fought tooth and nail to claim the election symbol of the Nationalist Congress Party – the wall clock showing the time at ten past ten or 10:10. This symbol was selected by NCP founder Sharad Pawar, who also shaped Ajit’s political career. Owing to political quirks, Ajit took on the elder Pawar and finally split the NCP in 2022, taking a substantial chunk of the elected representatives with him. In this battle of attrition, the timer played a crucial role since it was a political identity for the party. Ajit succeeded in humbling the family boss, at least temporarily. He seized the NCP name and symbol through a court battle. In a baffling coincidence, it has transpired that the identification of Ajit’s body was reportedly done on the basis of his wristwatch. After any fatal accident, personal belongings scattered at the site are helpful in identifying the deceased. According to some media reports, Ajit’s expensive wristwatch was an important tool for identification. The watch on Ajit’s wrist was of a classic design, with a metal strap and a large dial. It had a shiny silver finish, a sturdy metal bracelet and a dial with clear numerals and blue base. The photographs on social media show the watch on Ajit’s wrist as a classic and premium piece. Ajit’s various qualities have been described in detail by the people close to him. Incidentally, one of them was his emphasis on punctuality. Sadly, the chronometer in his life has served him even after his demise.

Sharad Pawar’s response to the tragic plane crash that claimed the life of his nephew, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, and four others is a telling example of political maturity. By unequivocally stating that the crash was an accident and that no politics should be dragged into the incident, Sharad Pawar has demonstrated a rare blend of personal composure, political wisdom and statesmanship—qualities that are increasingly scarce in a climate of instant outrage and relentless politicisation of tragedy. Hopefully, Sharad Pawar’s dignified stance sends a powerful message to leaders like Mamata Banerjee, Mallikarjun Kharge and Akhilesh Yadav who rushed to the television cameras to demand a probe into the plane crash, more so under Supreme Court supervision. Given their long tenures in politics and in government, they should have known that every air accident is thoroughly investigated, irrespective of public demand. This band of leadership with a destructive negative streak in its thinking will prove harmful to the nation one day if not checked in time. In contrast, no political leader in Maharashtra has made any irresponsible statement nor condemned the government. Sharad Pawar has thus initiated the process of promoting healthy politics and articulated maturity of Maharashtra, where political and personal differences are kept isolated. Let Sharad Pawar’s political tribe grow at every level.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has intensified her cultural outreach to the state’s traditional bhadralok — the educated, intellectually inclined middle class — by foregrounding her persona as an author and artist. This strategy was prominently displayed at the ongoing Kolkata International Book Fair, where she released several new works and announced plans for “Boi Tirtha”, a permanent Book Pilgrimage Centre. These efforts underscore how her prolific literary and artistic output runs parallel to her political career. This year, nine of Banerjee’s books are being sold at the fair, bringing her lifetime total to 162 published works. Over the years, she has consistently expressed herself through songs, poems, paintings, and literature, cultivating a distinct artistic identity. During Saraswati Puja, she shared a song on X, with lyrics and music composed by her. She is also a fixture of Durga Puja, often composing theme songs and devotional numbers like ‘Maa Go Tumi Sarbojanin’. Her creative work frequently blends cultural pride with political messaging. Recently, she penned 26 poems opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Her past works have addressed the Singur and Nandigram movements, as well as critiques of central policies like demonetisation, GST, CAA, and NRC. Unlike her predecessor, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who embodied a refined, elite intellectualism, Banerjee is often seen as outside the traditional bhadralok mould. She turns this perceived lack of polish into an advantage, presenting simplicity and emotional honesty as strengths. Boi Tirtha project for which she has assigned Rs 10 crore is envisioned as a museum-cum-mall for rare books, Banerjee has already sketched its design, aiming to provide Kolkata with a permanent literary landmark before the book fair’s 50th edition.

Varun Dhawan’s turn as Major Hoshiyar Singh in Border 2 is nothing short of a revelation. He brings together innocence and intensity, vulnerability and steel, playing a character who is emotional yet detached, fiercely loyal and deeply patriotic. His performance anchors the film: every nuance, small gestures, that trademark half-smile, and sudden flashes of resolve, adds layers to a role many had prematurely dismissed. When the first song, “Sandese Aate Hain,” dropped, social media was quick to mock Varun, spawning memes that focused on his style of acting and that one-sided smile. Those jokes snowballed into a narrative that he might be the weak link in a high-stakes war drama. But Border 2’s reception has decisively flipped the script. Opening around Rs 32 crore and rallying to over Rs 40 crore on its second day, the film was on track to cross the Rs 100 crore mark by the first weekend and possibly Rs 150 crore with the extended Republic Day holiday. Box-office success has a way of speaking louder than criticism, and in Varun’s case it has been vindication. More than just a personal win, this success has bolstered the film’s consolidated standing and reaffirmed Sunny Deol’s mass appeal, while giving Varun a new lease on his career. Critics and audiences alike are now praising his commitment, range, and the emotional truth he brings to the character. To the trolls who wrote him off early, the answer was simple: deliver a performance that connects—and let the numbers follow. In Border 2, Varun Dhawan has done exactly that, turning mockery into momentum and scepticism into applause.

The latest news from Odisha is that IndiGo airlines is planning to discontinue its thrice weekly direct flight service between Bhubaneswar and Dubai from March 2026. The service was launched on May 15, 2023 by then Biju Janata Dal government headed by Naveen Patnaik. It is learnt that IndiGo is not accepting any bookings beyond March this year. Regular air travellers are surprised by this move and have raised concerns. There are over 40,000 Odia diasporas living in the Middle East and this could affect their travel plans, business and tourism. An email query to IndiGo regarding this issue did not get any response. When direct flight scheme was launched, the then Patnaik had made Budgetary provision of Rs 100 cr towards viability gap funding (VGF) every year to ensure sustainability of service, wherein, the state had to bear part of the operational cost until passenger occupancy gets stabilised and the route becomes commercially viable. Sources at AAI New Delhi say when the Dubai flight is going full, why IndiGo is now resorting to this kind of pressure tactic? It seems, the ball is now in the BJP-run Odisha government’s court and how it resolves needs to be seen.

It is not hard to decode the confident stance of Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin in the run up to state assembly elections. Surprisingly, he carefully moved away from the powerful shadow of his father M Karunanidhi to find his own space, emerging as a much talked about CM who could stand his ground. It was not surprising that he used his first Assembly address of 2026 to not just pat himself and his government on the back, but also list its achievements in the face of “daunting challenges”. Stalin was candid enough to admit “when he took over in 2021, there was much trepidation, self-doubt and a sense of fear …could I make TN happy, fulfil poll promises.” The self-congratulatory tone set in fast…“I am a happy man, very satisfied and can claim that we will form government 2.0 and even overtake our success.” This motivated chest thumping had its share of diatribes too…he blamed the previous 10 years of AIADMK rule for bringing down the state in every matrix of development. Stalin’s undiluted harangue and the way he took on the Governor RN Ravi and his running feud with him, added spice. For political watchers, it was an entertaining yet disturbing, unsettling phase when the Centre and State were at loggerheads. Federalism and democratic ecosystems bore the brunt of this clash. Stalin is no doubt a driven man, sure of his ability to pluck the low hanging fruit.

The police have issued a notice to newly elected All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) corporator from Mumbra, Sahar Shaikh, under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) following a controversial remark in which she said the entire town would be “painted green”. The action comes after a video of Shaikh’s victory speech went viral on social media. In the clip, she is seen ridiculing NCP-SP MLA Jitendra Awhad, who had been her political mentor until recently. “In the next five years, every candidate in Mumbra will be from AIMIM. Mumbra must be completely painted green,” she said. Soon after the video surfaced, a BJP delegation led by former MP Kirit Somaiya submitted a written complaint to the police, alleging that the remarks were provocative and could incite communal tension in the sensitive township. Objecting to the statement, Somaiya said, “Mumbra belongs to Maharashtra, and the state bows before the saffron of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.” Though his letter did not name Shaikh, the complaint prompted the police to initiate preventive action. A police official said the notice was issued as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order. Shaikh has been advised to exercise restraint in public speeches and avoid statements that could hurt sentiments or disturb communal harmony. Responding to the controversy, Shaikh claimed that her words were being deliberately misinterpreted for political purposes. She maintained that her remark only reflected her ambition to expand AIMIM’s political presence in the area and was not intended to provoke or divide.

Maharashtra’s politics has long been a maze of caste equations, regional ambitions, cooperative networks and dominant local satraps. But in recent years — and more sharply after the latest civic and local body elections — a striking new trend is seen emerging. All political parties are discarding ideological commitments and old rivalries to cobble together expedient alliances at the grassroots. Across wards and municipalities, the political battle is no longer anchored in principles or programmes. Instead, it revolves around arithmetic, individual clout and the urgency for political survival. Once sworn adversaries, many are sharing rallies, ideological oppositions are sunk and erstwhile bitter enmities are quietly buried in the scramble for seizing power. Crass pragmatism has triumphed over sanctity of philosophy. In short, convenience has replaced conviction. In this arena of local politics, “no holds barred” has become the key word. It is a ruthless realism where power matters more than what one once stood for. While the BJP has established its numerical prime position in the state polity by winning over half of the seats in the 29 municipal corporations that went to the polls, the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray and the NCP established by Sharad Pawar were the main losers. However, in the post-poll scenario that is throwing one surprise after another, both these parties are engaged in forming alliances with some of their former opponents. The clear picture will become visible in a few days once the mayoral elections are held. Till then, the once unthinkable permutations and combinations will be watched by the hapless electors.

Maharashtra political potboiler is over, and yet the real corporate battle has only just begun. Suave Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched into Davos, Switzerland, knowing fully well Maharashtra’s top-notch status cannot be taken for granted has inked 85 MoUs. A state meeting recently witnessed his outburst, “If Hemanta Biswas can, Maharashtra will do better.” The comment was in context of the medical infrastructure blueprint that his Assam counterpart is credited with making progress. Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, a Davos veteran, tom-toms his Hydrogen valley, Data Centre, Bio-Centre Capital of India, Google IT collaboration projects speaking quantum language. Biswas claims Rs 1 lakh crore in FDI to include a Data Centre project making Assam the gateway of South Asia, somewhere in the future. Fadnavis is single-mindedly prioritizing innovation, smart city securing Rs 1 lakh crore from five EU nations. The intense political battle he just won across 29 civic corporations, without involving PM Narendra Modi once, has bolstered his image. His business acumen, infrastructure push in the energy sector is crucial to bringing in business, no mean feat considering three decades old transmission and distribution lines running across the state compared to a fully rejuvenated Gujarat with fully modernized power transmission lines. Maharashtra is setting up 16000 MW of solar power to be distributed free to agriculturists in the state. If only focus on modernizing the three-decade old power infrastructure lines follows, the “theft and dacoity” of electricity as PM Atal Behari Vajpayee put it that hovers around 18-20% would be curbed bringing down electricity cost for industry on parity with other states of India.