After days of build-up to this day for the November 1 rally of Opposition Parties’ on Ramlila Ground in New Delhi, it was a huge disappointment. Imagine party cadres of over a dozen political parties had gathered but they all had to disperse without a firm agenda for future action. That too in a poll season. How would the Opposition parties be able to take on the BJP and ruling NDA without a coherent plan? It was all because Rahul Gandhi who for some reason had worked up  grievance against the Election Commission for the Congress’s inability to win elections and organised  movement  of political parties against the CEC and the Modi government, inexplicably abandoned his plans to challenge them politically and fell back on his familiar “love ki dukaan” option. Yes, he now seemed comfortable sending out goodwill to each one of his targets. What made Rahul Gandhi change his tack? Did he realise that he will never be able to oust CEC Gynesh Kumar?  Or realises he has no case against the CEC? In fact, it was left to Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav to do some reality check and use the opportunity of the rally to amp up the message for UP Assembly elections to be held early next year. Akhilesh raised all the relevant election issues including chanda chori at Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir. He launched a sharp attack on the ruling BJP and the Election Commission for the way Pilibhit assembly voter’s list had been manipulated.

It is learnt that former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar (2009-2014) was very reluctant to preside over the so-called INDIA bloc session of the Mock Parliament held on October 31. Having once presided over the august office, she had problems about it even being called the “Mock Parliament”. It was apparently at her instance that Congress leaders agreed to recast it as a “People’s Impeachment” (Jan Mahabhiyog) at 10 Rajaji Marg, the New Delhi residence of Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge. Being daughter of Congress stalwart Jagjivan Ram, Meira Kumar may have been an ideal choice for the Opposition to preside over its meeting but did it help the Opposition win the narrative? Not quite. PM Modi simply proved to be leagues ahead. It was in the manner in which National Unity Day was celebrated at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat this year.  A major highlight was a theatrical presentation on Naxal Mukt Bharat by the National School of Drama, featuring around 2,000 artists drawn from 126 districts that had witnessed armed Naxalism. Through their performances, the artists portrayed the struggles experienced by communities when armed Naxalism threatened their lives and property. The parade featured an estimated 10,000 personnel drawn from the Police and Paramilitary Forces. A key highlight was participation of 144 women commandos of the District Reserve Guard, specially deployed on the Bastar front, who had proven their bravery in anti-Naxal operations. However, the icing on the cake was vintage PM Modi all over again as he took on the Opposition. On the back of a World Bank report lauding India for reducing poverty from 26% to 2% and lifting 50 crore Indians from poverty, Modi thumbed his nose at Gandhi siblings saying Garibi Hatao wasn’t just a slogan for him. Meanwhile the buzz is cousin Varun Gandhi– Sanjay Gandhi’s son– could possibly join the Congress at the Ram Leela rally.

After the roaring success of Mookuthi Amman (directed by RJ Balaji), Vel’s Production and Vignesh Shivan’s Rowdy Pictures have strung Mookuthi Amman 2 with all the mythological glitter to make it a cult film especially for female viewers. And why not? Nayanthara heads a bevy of beauties…Regina Cassandra, Sneha, Abhinaya, Urvashi and Iniya, plays two roles to mesmerise her fans. Mookuthi is the diamond nose pin worn with much pride by women in Tamil Nadu. Nayanthara could launch her own line of glitter nose pins after this film. But first we must tell you the myth of Kanyakumari Amman, she who holds sway as a stunning virgin waiting for Lord Shiva to come marry her. The temple of Kanyakumari (who takes avatar to slay Banasura) stands right at the divine confluence of three oceans…The Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. The one about her Mookuthi is oft-quoted. A Mariner saw this shining diamond, mistook it for a lighthouse, wrecked his ship on the huge rocks that signal land’s end(the famous boulders where Swami Vivekananda meditated). From then, the Eastern doors are kept shut, opened only on certain occasions. Since the film rides on yet another diamond nose ring, the mythological and real aspects are sure to be integrated. But what is most talked about for this film is its 60 feet cut-out of Nayanthara which is the first time a female lead gets this size of a cut-out. Nayanthara says “I am particularly touched by this film. Director Sundar C. has imbued it with a gripping story.” A Diamond is Forever…especially a rock set as a Mookuthi.

It was one of those regular visits PM Narendra Modi makes to his home ground, Gujarat. However, on October 30 when he arrived to lay the foundation for development works worth Rs 14,000 crore in Bhildi town in Gujarat’s Banaskantha district, it was different. It was a roadshow. Modi travelled in an open jeep, accompanied by chief minister Bhupendra Patel and deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghavi, from the helipad to the Banas Dairy plant in the village.  People gathered in large numbers on both sides of the road to greet him. Modi waved at the crowds, who shouted his name and raised various slogans. However, the most interesting bit was that they also carried placards bearing the slogan, “Jab tak Bharat viksit nahi hoga, Modi kahin nahi jayega” (Modi will not go anywhere till India becomes self-reliant). Another placard read, “Modi will not go anywhere till India becomes one of the top economies of the world”. The placards were clearly responding to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s recent remarks made in Patna, Bihar that even “Modi’s father will have to go”. The Congress leader had dragged in Modi’s father in the party’s desperate bid to oust the BJP from power at the Centre. It was interesting to see a poll-bound Gujarat rally behind Modi. Of course, PM Modi is too pre-eminent to be endorsed by just one state or community; he transcended limitations of state boundaries and is accepted across the nation. Meanwhile, Modi will be attending the Ekta parade in Ekta Nagar, Kevadia on October 31 to mark Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary.

It may be part of the usual push to showcase cleaning of River Yamuna ahead of Chhat Puja in Delhi. And what better way to do that than have a splash in the river. BJP MP – North East Delhi – Manoj Tiwari took a dip in the Yamuna and tasted its water at Sonia Vihar recently claiming that the river’s pollution load had been reduced by half under the Rekha Gupta-led government. Tiwari’s assertion about clean Yamuna was of course challenged by the AAP. While the BJP’s Delhi unit claimed that the government had achieved in two years what the Congress and AAP could not accomplish in 27 years. The AAP is of course sceptical about BJP’s claims, questioning whether the water at Sonia Vihar represented the condition of the entire river in Delhi. But then BJP has announced projects to clean Yamuna by May 2029.  A few days ago, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched 43 projects worth Rs 8,941 crore aimed at cleaning the Yamuna which flows for around 52 km through the national capital. Even as the AAP mocked Tiwari’s river splash, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju rallied behind his colleague’s effort. He offered a swimming competition on Yamuna. “Manoj ji, don’t you think that in Yamuna ji’s much cleaner water, there could be a swimming competition between the two of us?” To which Tiwari made it clear that beating the minister in swimming would not be easy, he agreed that competitive swimming would be a great idea.” Let’s fix the date”.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP and spokesman Sanjay Raut has given a clean chit to absconding liquor baron Vijay Mallya. Refusing to call Mallya an ‘absconder’ (Bhagoda), Raut feels that he should have been bailed out by the Modi government, which he said has anyway done for a number of defaulters. These and other observations and claims of Raut are part of his upcoming new book, “Bodh Keertan.” Raut has written 17 books so far, the latest being about his 100 days in ED custody. The book did not cause ripples as expected. However, the new book may become sensational but its contents are known only selectively at the moment. Also, the possible date of release is not made known so far. The book consists Raut’s observations, memories, anecdotes and mini poems. In the book, Raut has reiterated his prophecy that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be out of power by April 2027. While these are not taken seriously, his fulsome praise of Mallya has raised many eyebrows. Recalling a meeting with the elusive distiller at Mumbai airport, Raut has vividly described how Mallya was sporting a tilak on his forehead and carrying a pooja flower. The timing of the book teaser is considered significant in view of a closed-door meeting of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis with Uddhav and Raj Thackeray at a book launch event.

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis hit two birds with the same single stone while taunting Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray and MNS leader Raj Thackeray. The occasion was the launch of a compilation of cartoons which have appeared in Marathi publications over the past one hundred years called ‘Hasya Reshaa.’ Taking a dig at the cousins, Fadanvis said, “Uddhav is an ace photographer, Raj is an accomplished cartoonist while I am good in politics. I feel that each of us should pursue the path we have chosen.” Expectedly, there was a huge applause. The event became memorable since Fadnavis and Uddhav were sharing a stage for the first time after the Shiv Sena (UBT) was divested of power in 2022. Fadnavis did not fail to again quip, “I was never hesitant about attending any programme but they (UBT) never invited me.” Compiler of the volume Prashant Kulkarni revealed that it was Raj Thackeray’s idea to invite the CM. Seizing the opportunity, Raj remarked, “Many more invites can be extended to Fadnavis. But just keep him in his seat till 2029.” The oblique reference was to the current developments in Maharashtra in the aftermath of the legislative council elections in which the ruling NDA was drubbed. The Sena (Shinde) and the BJP are at each other’s throat for the debacle. Interestingly, none of the three leaders failed to glorify Maharashtra’s liberal political culture which does not allow party policies to come in the way of personal relationships.

It seems Tata Steel’s ambitious Rs 12,000 crore Subarnarekha port project at Chaumukh in Balasore, Odisha is finally gaining traction after cumulative 17 years delay. This ambitious mega port project is now backed by legal clearances, successful public hearings and local communities support to make way for the ambitious port project. It is learnt that the current Balasore District Magistrate, Mayur Suryawanshi played an important role to get the project going. He is now deemed to be lucky as per administrative peers because his dynamism of conducting successful public hearing, gaining local communities support for the ambitious port project yielded results. As per Suryawanshi’s own admission a fresh foundation stone is being planned by Tata Steel in January 2027. It is also learnt that in the next three months’ time there will be greater clarity on further milestones to be achieved by Tata Steel and its partners. The big news is Tata Steel’s proposed port operation in Chaumukh is meant not only for exporting steel products from its Jamshedpur plant but also possibility of a commercial shipbuilding yard being built over 400 acres with the support of the Government of India. However, getting the various clearances from CRZ, EIA, MoEFCC could take two years before commercial operations begins.

Ram Gopal Varma’s upcoming crime drama Police Company, starring Harshvardhan Rane as encounter specialist Daya Nayak, produced by T-Series, and slated for a 4 June 2027 theatrical release, is now under a cloud after Eclatant Films Private Ltd issued a public notice against him.  Besides, Eclatant Films also sent RGV a legal notice on 15 October 2026 demanding payment of Rs 29.67 crores, which includes accumulated interest of about Rs 11.39 crore. The claim arises from an agreement dated 10 April 2010, also referenced in a Bombay High Court order of 17 April 2013. The company has given him until 30 October 2026 to clear the dues. Under the agreement, RGV is required to obtain a prior written No-Objection Certificate from Eclatant Films before any film production, co-production, direction, writing, or third-party association until the amount is fully paid. The public notice (published in Complete Cinema) warns producers, distributors, broadcasters, and OTT platforms against dealing with him or exploiting rights in related projects without that NOC, stating they would do so at their own risk. The core conflict is this long-standing unpaid financial obligation from the 2010 agreement, not a new creative or production dispute over Police Company itself. Whether the film proceeds on schedule will depend on how the dues and NOC issue are resolved.

One big feat missing in Tanush Kotian’s numbers was a 10-wicket haul in a single first-class match, namely the Ranji Trophy. As a Mumbaikar, he has been around for eight seasons, but a 10+ wicket haul, which brightens a bowler’s achievements in a match and lifts his profile as a match-winner on his own, had eluded him. The right-arm finger spinner — thanks to Mumbai and skipper Siddhesh Lad’s inclination to enforce the follow-on against Haryana and toss the ball to his leading spinner — went for the jugular and dismissed eight Haryana batters in the second innings and crossed the ten-wicket mark in a match (he had taken three in the first innings). It was his 50th first-class match, and he would be pleased as punch; but his best effort in eight seasons also explained why the selection committee hadn’t seriously considered him for multi-day Test cricket so far. Kotian sent down 34.3 overs at the BKC and took 8 for 81 on a fourth-day pitch and won a third straight match for Mumbai in the Elite ‘D’Group match. His match figures of 11 for 151 have to be seen as a big deal; he will be in the basket now for the five-Test series against Australia in the first quarter of 2027. Kotian joined the national squad two winters ago when Ravichandran Ashwin retired midway through the series in Australia and Axar Patel was unavailable. Now he could stake a claim by showing consistency in the remaining league matches. The spinners come into play after the new ball bowlers do their stint, and it’s not child’s play to dismiss 50% of the rival team. Now that Kotian has done it, he should look for more bagfuls! His next duty will be against the Railways at the Brabourne.