At the peak of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protests at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi last week, an embarrassing episode unfolded at Kerala House, the state guest house run by the Kerala Govt located close to the protest site. Congress leader from Bihar, Kanhaiya Kumar, who earned his spurs in Left-oriented politics as student leader of JNU, experienced some embarrassing moments. It may seem odd that Kumar faced trouble when he tried to avail facilities at Kerala House. That too when the Congress led UDF is heading Kerala. So how come Kumar, a member of the influential Congress Working Committee, faced trouble? Apparently, Kumar got detained by the Delhi Police on July 24 following an altercation at Kerala House. Kumar, who is in charge of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) at the AICC, and considered close to Rahul Gandhi, was taken into custody after the Resident Commissioner of Kerala filed a complaint against him. He said he was told that Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar was expected to visit Kerala House later in the day. It seems it is the Governor problem again. “Governor was coming, and Governor is King,” Kumar was quoted as saying. The Congress leader said he had only gone to meet a friend at Kerala House and alleged that his detention reflected the functioning of the Union Govt and blamed HM Amit Shah and the Delhi Police for it. Reportedly, Kumar had gone to Kerala House to stay in a room booked under his friend’s name. However, officials informed him that no rooms were available. He then approached Kerala Resident Commissioner Puneet Kumar to seek clarification. The conversation reportedly turned into an argument, after which the Resident Commissioner called the Delhi Police and requested that Kumar be removed from the premises.

Mayank Yadav’s telling blows caught one’s attention in the three-match Twenty20 series against Zimbabwe. While the attention in the series was anchored on the 15-year-old find in left-hander Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the express fast bowler Yadav who was laid low by injuries, treatment, recovery and rehabilitation for close to 22 months also drew much of the attention. After a three- match series against Bangladesh in October 2024, Yadav was treated for injuries related to a lumbar stress fracture, lower back injuries, side strain and also elbow and toe issues. So different parts of the body were non-functional, but the selection committee — recognising a rare talent who could bowl in excess of 150 kmph — placed their faith in the fast bowler for three engagements in Harare. In four days, Yadav spearheaded the men in blue attack — in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya and Harshit Rana — sending down 11 overs, not bowling the fourth in the second match. He struck in the first ball of his return to international games, removing opener Brian Bennett, and went on to take five wickets at 6.55 an over, virtually choking Zimbabwe in the first six-over power play. Clearly he had been looked after at the BCCI’s Cricket for Excellence facility in Bengaluru over the last 22 months. Yadav can turn out to be a match-winner in the shortest format, but he is not in the Indian team for the Asian Games in Japan, where Bumrah, Arshdeep, Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy are expected to play their parts. But Reddy is down with a left quadriceps injury, and Rana with a Grade 1 hamstring niggle, and there could be an opening for Yadav to get in for the Asian Games squad.

When Dharmendra Pradhan declared himself as a “street fighter” during a brief but sharp exchange with Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on July 27 in the Parliament, it just seemed as if the former HRD minister was all geared up for a long haul. At every step, the BJP leadership had been trying to cushion the blow for him. Two days ago, when he had put in his papers over NEET paper leaks, who’s who of the Union Cabinet – from HM Amit Shah to Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh to FM Nirmala Sitharaman—had visited his residence to express solidarity with him. When he reached Parliament’s Makar Dwar, NDA MPs waited to receive him. As he entered the complex, party colleagues greeted and escorted him inside. Pradhan was apparently seen smiling as his colleagues welcomed him. What moved everyone was the fact that Pradhan had resigned without facing any personal allegation or any direct involvement in the NEET paper leak. After all, those who leaked the papers were three Pune-based Chemistry professor and teachers. Interrupting Pradhan’s interaction with NDA MPs, Jairam Ramesh reportedly approached Pradhan and expressed sympathy over his resignation. “It happens,” the Congress leader told him. “Nothing happened,” Pradhan shot back and snappily added: “I am a street fighter. Not an AC room activist.” The sharp exchange was seen by BJP leaders as a signal that Pradhan remained politically confident despite stepping down. One of the party’s tallest leaders in Odisha, Pradhan played an important role in BJP’s West Bengal campaign, where the party formed its first government; a successive Govt in Haryana. It is likely he could work in Punjab or head for UP. For some odd reason the Congress is trying to block passage of law in Parliament to enhance punishment for those leaking papers. It is more focussed on peripheral issues like use of excessive force against students.

Now all eyes are on former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as to what will be his next role? Pradhan was forced to resign following mass protest by the student-based satirical movement, the Cockroach Janta Party over NEET paper leak. He is too important person to be benched. He played a strategic role in West Bengal, Odisha and Haryana elections ensuring BJP win. Both PM Modi and Amit Shah immensely value his contribution and there are talks he may be asked to work on the forthcoming Punjab election. But in his home state where he engineered BJP’s win to defeat 24-year old well entrenched Biju Janata Dal, there are different kinds of buzz. He may be given a bigger role in the state is one version and chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s group fears that Pradhan entry may diminish their roles. This apprehension may seem correct because Pradhan never hid his aspiration as a contender to become the Odisha CM. But PM Modi had other plans for him at the Centre, and chose Majhi instead playing tribal card. The burning question is: Will CM Majhi face leadership challenge with Dharmendra’s likely entry into Odisha politics? Keep watching this space.

Amidst the rejoicing in Tamil Nadu after the capitulation of the Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and his resignation, the talk about his earlier insults to the Tamilian is flying around like a locust swarm. Quotes and recalls of his deeds and misdeeds are raining …some are not even aware of the why of his resignation. “Ashes flyback into the face of him who scatters them” is the famous Thirukkural quote; any person who does not rein in his speech, stands to regret that which tumbles out. Dharmendra Pradhan an accomplished BJP leader has many credits to his name. As a Petroleum Minister he was known as Modi’s Ujwala man, a reference to his scheme of free LPG cylinders to families below the poverty line. But his continued and vociferous push back of the Tamils when he tried to push through the New Education Policy (NEP) still rankles the state. When DMK MP Kanimozhi and others asked him why this new policy should be adopted, he shot back “Tamilians are uncivilized”, a slur he had to take back. But he hammered the state’s stance insisting that the Tamils are obsessed over language and use language as a political tool to oppose any new programme. Till Tamil Nadu accepts our NEP, we won’t release the education fund. Stalin and his party were enraged by this threat. The curse of the Tamils …is it too far-fetched or is it just an emotional outburst?

Anirudh Ravichander has seen a meteoric rise to the top of the music scale from his Kolaveri song debut in 2012. This young man has since drummed and strummed up many a maniacally magic tune, directed music for all top Tamil hero films. Kavya daughter of Kalanithi Maran and Kavery Maran, the sole heir to her father’s vast media, sports  empire is in her own right just as notable a celebrity. Kalanithi Maran, is the Founder Chairman of the Sun Group which is valued at Rs 30,000 crore. This news was first reported by Tamil website Minnambalam, a digital platform that breaks happening news. Anirudh is particularly close to super star Rajinikanth as his wife Latha is his aunt. His mother Lakshmi Ravichander is a well known dancer and dad has acted in many TV soaps. One of the most eligible bachelors in Kollywood, Anirudh has been in the news for some time …right now is not an opportune time to dredge up old buzz about how smitten he was by Andrea Jeremiah. But this time Kavya and he have truly vowed to be together. Kavya is well known as a career business woman, owning the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise.She is also part of the Sun group‘s other media businesses. Former Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin, Maran’s cousin, is expected to attend the wedding in Barcelona, Spain. Only 100 people are being invited to Barcelona. But a grand reception is to follow in Chennai.

In a surprise move, Dharmendra Pradhan quit as Union Education Minister on July 25 saying the decision was driven by the need to protect the future of students and prevent “anti-national forces” from exploiting the massive youth protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Clearly, his exit must have been on the advice of PM Modi. The nearly month-long protests by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) had virtually affected traffic movements in central business districts of Delhi. Some Congress leaders pointed out that student protests weren’t just confined to India. “We were told Indian students abroad were also planning to protest in the U.S. campuses to seek Pradhan’s ouster. Guess, that’s why PM Modi must have stepped in and asked Pradhan to put in his papers,” says Telangana Congress leader Madhu Yaskhi. Pradhan is the first senior minister of the Modi government to step down bowing to street protests and political pressure. He quit ahead of the government’s second round of talks with CLP. Normally, no minister quits when the Parliament is in session. Guess, PM Modi must have found one week of the Monsoon Session lost in obstructionism too much of a waste of time. Besides Pradhan is such a good political manager for elections, Modi and Amit Shah may have better use for him in a poll-bound state such as Punjab then to subject him to political sledgehammering in the Parliament. As for the pumpkin of the anti-NEET campaign, the crown will certainly go to Rahul Gandhi—who on July 25 morning tweeted that the minister would be moved to another ministry. As for Abhijit Dipke who made cat calls to 7 Lok Kalyan Marg upon Pradhan’s exit, it is being said he must now worry about his return home.  It’s not going to be easy.

Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have decided to hold a demonstration in Mumbai on Sunday (July 26) in support of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) on-going protest in Delhi and elsewhere. This comes on the heels of a ‘bandh’ organised by Republican leader Prakash Ambedkar. Of course, his effort to paralyse Mumbai went almost unnoticed but is viewed as a fresh injection of energising the Opposition, which had failed to nail the Fadnavis government in the just concluded legislature session. Ever since the CJP launched its stir, one Opposition party after another and a large number of their leaders are warning the Union government and PM Narendra Modi of serious consequences despite their meagre strength in the state and Mumbai. Seizing on the situation, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray have announced that their two parties will hold a joint protest in Mumbai on 26 July. This will be to condemn the police action against students protesting in various places. The march will begin from Shivaji Park and conclude at Siddhivinayak Temple, a short distance. On the other hand, Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sakpal, legislative party leader Vijay Wadettiwar and former speaker Nana Patole have kept on attacking the BJP and Modi. Strangely, the three have not addressed a joint press conference so far. Fringe parties like the Communists are seen towing the line of the Congress or the Sena (UBT) while the Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) appears totally confused on how to proceed, especially following Sharad Pawar’s call on Modi.

Officially speaking, PM Modi’s two emissaries, JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh convinced activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his 26-day hunger strike on Thursday night (July 23) by providing three specific written assurances regarding the NEET-UG paper leak controversy. This was after a four-hour high-level meeting chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah. Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh met Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram where Nadda read out and handed over the government’s official commitment. The Centre promised not to register cases or launch punitive action against students who participated in the “Chalo Sansad” march on July 20, or those protesting peacefully at Jantar Mantar. The government officially committed to holding discussion in Parliament regarding accountability in the failing examination system and implementing urgent educational reforms. Lastly, the government agreed to positively consider suitable financial compensation for the families of students who committed suicide following paper leaks. Was there any commitment to Wangchuk on sacking Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan? The answer is not a clear “Yes”. Wangchuk was told that trouble-makers were gathering in strength to unleash violence and he would be blamed for the aftermath. Therefore, Wangchuk agreed to pause his fast despite his initial core demand for the resignation of Pradhan remaining unmet. He stated that protecting the future of peaceful student protesters from legal jeopardy took higher priority. Wangchuk cited that the decision was heavily influenced by appeals from 65 MPs across political parties. Wangchuk was told that a decision on a new Education Minister was not ruled out. It might take some time.  Prior to Wangchuk’s meeting, the Centre attempted to address student grievances by replacing Education Secretary Vivek Joshi and establishing a fast-track court. The ministers also conveyed that the government...

Why is PM Narendra Modi refusing to sack Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan despite intense pressure from Opposition parties and student groups? Is it because of a calculated political strategy focused on maintaining his authority? Or is it to prevent a domino effect of ministerial accountability? Modi’s aides say PM Modi probably thinks that the demand for Pradhan’s exit will not stop with him. There is a good chance the protesters will change the goal-post to next seek the exit of Home Minister Amit Shah citing the police action of some unruly elements near Jantar Mantar. Can Modi afford to allow that scenario? Already, Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal and all those opposed to Modi may be toying with such a possibility. But it is well known that PM does not crack under political pressure. Sacking Pradhan would invite a “chain reaction” of “accountability” prompting the opposition and public to aggressively target other senior leaders such as Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari or Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Also, many senior BJP leaders believe forcing a high-profile minister to step down under public duress will be viewed as an explicit admission of failure of the Modi government. The BJP also thinks that elected governments with a parliamentary majority should not be forced into submission by street marches or hunger strikes. Till date the Modi administration has not capitulated to agitations, preferring to choose its own timing for changes or reshuffles rather than reacting to public ultimatums. But this time, can Modi resist the brewing storm?