PM Narendra Modi who chaired the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on the back of terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were killed, took a series of steps to corner Pakistan and express India’s anger over Islamabad’s mischief in killing the innocents. Delhi began with what could hit Pakistan the hardest; it declared holding the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 in abeyance with immediate effect, until the recalcitrant neighbour credibly and irrevocably abjured its support for cross-border terrorism. In another significant move, the Integrated Check Post Attari will also be closed with immediate effect. Those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before May 1 2025. It was also made clear Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES). Any SVES visa issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled. Any Pakistani national currently in India under SVES visa has 48 hours to leave India. Cracking down on the Pakistani High Commission, the CCS wanted the Defence/Military, Naval and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi to be declared Persona Non Grata. They have a week to leave India. India will be withdrawing its own Defence/Navy/Air Advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. These posts in the respective High Commissions are deemed annulled. Five support staff of the Service Advisors will also be withdrawn from both High Commissions. The overall strength of the High Commissions will be brought down to 30 from the present 55 through further reductions to be effective from May 1. It was noted that this attack came in the wake of the successful holding of elections in the Union Territory and its steady progress towards economic growth and development.

PM Narendra Modi who flew into New Delhi early April 23 morning after curtailing his Saudi Arabia visit by a day in view of the Pahalgam terrorist strikes in J&K decided to get cracking as soon as he reached the capital. Security officials who were preparing to brief Modi on his arrival at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg were surprised, when they were asked to reach the Palam Air Force base by 6 am for the meeting at the airport itself.  He took stock of the situation along with EAM Dr S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and other top brass of security agencies. Meanwhile as the world mourned the massacre of 28 innocent tourists, Pakistan and Turkey have drawn outrage by using the tragedy to rake up the Kashmir issue. Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara thanked Turkey for its “unwavering support” on Kashmir—just hours after the terror attack. The Resistance Front, a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy, has claimed responsibility for the massacre. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) will meet once HM Shah reaches Delhi and FM Nirmala Sitharaman returns from the U.S. In a post on X, Modi said the attackers would not be spared. “Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice…they will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger,” said Modi. While the CCS could possibly discuss a range of options and authorise retaliatory strikes; timing of such a step would of course be strategised by our security forces. After all, if we recall Pulwama attack that claimed lives of 40 CRPF jawans in February 2019 was retaliated with  Balakote airstrike  a good 10 days later.

In an unusual move, the Congress suspended its Buxar District Cong president Manoj Kumar Pandey indefinitely and stripped him of all organisational posts for “inaction” or low turnout at party president Mallikarjun Kharge’s Buxar rally. The party  apparently decided to suspend Pandey from all posts he was holding in the organisation, including that of Buxar District Congress president, with immediate effect due to lack of coordination and irregularities on his part in connection with “the Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan” rally held at Dalsagar Stadium in Buxar on  April 20, which was addressed by Kharge.  Pandey himself made it clear that it was not lack of coordination but the sweltering heat — about 42 degrees — that had made people stand in the shade. Efforts to get people to occupy empty chairs had failed. Bihar Congress leaders are stunned that Pandey was even being blamed for low-turnout.” Action should be taken against the PCC leadership and AICC in charge Krishna  Allavaru who chose this time of the year to organise these rallies.  How can you organise these Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan rallies when villages are getting busy with weddings? Besides, most of these areas are Brahmin dominant — Buxar, Madhubani and Darbhanga where rallies are being planned, ” pointed out a senior Cong leader. It was also felt that recent organisational changes have been quite ineffective. The new PCC chief Rajesh Kumar — who fulfils Rahul Gandhi’s goals of filling up Dalits in all party posts– has substantially weakened the Bihar unit.  At this rate, under the new set-up Cong men fear their tally which is at present in double digit with 19 MLAs is bound to fall in the upcoming Bihar assembly polls.

The general trend among politicians who move into spacious Lutyens bungalows in Delhi as ministers is to ensure that their children are married in style before their term ends. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal who was voted out of Delhi government on February 8 this year after a three-term stint may have planned well for that; he did not expect to lose power. He was voted out as he built a “Sheeshmahal” for himself and failed to deliver on promises that had disillusioned voters. Yet, he ensured that his daughter Harshita is married off in style. Never mind the propriety of it all. Or else how does one explain that within two months of losing power, Kejriwal was back in the news in connection with Harshita’s wedding with Sambhav Jain, her batch mate from IIT Delhi. What raised eyebrows was the manner in which the wedding and other ceremonies were held at the Kapurthala House, the official residence of Punjab CM in Delhi. Apparently four different events were held. The jaimala and reception were both solemnised at Kapurthala House. A day before the wedding, the engagement ceremony was held at Shangri-La hotel in Delhi on April 17. A video of Kejriwal and his wife Sunita dancing to Pushpa 2 songs has been doing the rounds on X. Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar, in his tweet, took a dig at CM Bhagwant Mann for the manner in which Kapurthala House had morphed into a ‘marriage palace of eminence’…before Kejriwal’s daughter’s marriage, AAP MP Raghav Chadha’s pre-wedding ceremonies with actor Parineeti Chopra had been held at the same venue in May 2023. It’s just a matter of time before CM Mann decides to monetise Kapurthala House” — a model of ‘kranti’ to earn revenue by bankrupt Punjab for solemnising marriages — in Khaas Aadmi style.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not uttered a word about the status of the Indian team’s Assistant Coach Abhishek Nayar who was part of the Gautam Gambhir-steered support staff. But the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has announced that Abhishek Nayar has returned to the franchise — which has confirmed that Nayar extolled by none other than India’s star batter KL Rahul and a few more — has lost his job with the Indian team. Nayar was with KKR from 2018 to 2024, and so returning to the Shah Rukh Khan owned franchise team indicates that KKR was happy with the work done by him. Reports, citing “one or many of BCCI’s million sources” say that Nayar’s position became untenable after India’s 0-3 rout by New Zealand in the home series and 1-3 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. It can be surmised that Nayar was not able to help skipper Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and the others score runs off the Australia pace pack in Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland. Josh Hazlewood did not play the full series after he suffered a calf injury in the second Test in Brisbane. The BCCI believes that Sitanshu Kotak, appointed batting coach of the men in blue teams for the home series against England and continued for the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai, can deliver wonders for the national team. Kotak’s appointment from Centre of Excellence duties to the Indian team was a cue that Nayar was on the way out. A regional broadsheet even went to the extent of suggesting that Nayar was divulging dressing room happenings to the outside world and hence, was asked to go! What a reason!  

The electoral victory of former cricketer Yusuf Pathan from Baharampur rekindled the long-standing debate over whether celebrity status alone could shape an effective politician. Pathan, a political novice, was fielded by the Trinamool Congress (TMC)—reportedly at Abhishek Banerjee’s behest—and went on to defeat Congress heavyweight Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. However, his silence during unrest in Murshidabad led to criticism of his political detachment. A social media post of him sipping tea amid tensions drew backlash, highlighting concerns about celebrity MPs’ lack of engagement. This reflected a broader trend of celebrities being fielded for name recognition or to balance party equations, often without expectations of long-term political commitment. While some like Kirti Azad transitioned successfully, others faded from active roles. TMC’s Satabdi Roy, Dev, June Maliah, Sayoni Ghosh, and BJP’s Locket Chatterjee, Agnimitra Paul showed sustained dedication. Conversely, Moon Moon Sen and Sandhya Roy won seats but failed to leave a mark. BJP stars Hema Malini and Sunny Deol also faced absenteeism charges. Among Pathan’s cricketing peers, Lakshmi Ratan Shukla exited politics; Manoj Tiwary, despite a ministerial post, remained largely inactive. BJP’s Ashok Dinda, however, stayed visible. Though TMC defended Yusuf, arguing that the unrest occurred in a Congress MP’s area, even party insiders admitted only a few celebrities remained actively engaged. BJP’s Dilip Ghosh remarked that most celebrities joined politics for perks, not service. CPM’s Mohammed Salim emphasized that real leadership demanded grassroots work and personal sacrifice—values rarely found overnight.

The AIADMK supremo Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) could not have asked for more. Every wish of his was granted by the BJP that was seeking an alliance in Tamil Nadu with a major party at any cost. The first concession that EPS made in return was in withdrawing the case against Sasikala’s nephew TTV Dhinakaran that he had filed at the height of the battle for the party and its ‘Two Leaves’ legacy symbol. This is the first sign that some sort of rapprochement might come about between EPS and his bete noire O Panneerselvam, who has stood by Sasikala. It is, however, unlikely that any of the Sasikala clan and cronies will be allowed back into the party. At most, they may be accommodated in the seats that the BJP gets from AIADMK. Earlier, the BJP had empowered EPS after it became known that Vijay was bent upon going into his poll debut on his own with his fledgling TVK. EPS and his party have been named the leaders of the grand coalition that the BJP was desperate to cobble together to take on the DMK that has further entrenched its position by being a fierce voice of opposing the ruling national party. Former BJP TN chief Annamalai may have fought tooth and nail to improve the party’s vote share in the Lok Sabha polls but BJP had to ditch him to get EPS on its side. Today, EPS is bold enough to state that there will be no coalition government in TN even if the alliance wins a majority even though Amit Shah had hinted at a sharing of power in the state.

Multifaceted Kamal Haasan launched the first song of Thug Life written by him. The song titled Jingucchhan sounded Chinese to many of the pan India gathering of Journos. Kamal with his inimitable spontaneity started off in Tamil, quite expecting a mild protest…quickly sauntered to English, the “The Link Language” of India. Thug Life is a collaboration of ace director Mani Ratnam and Ulaga Nayagan (world hero) Kamal, after a gap of 35 years. They worked together for the iconic classic, Nayakan released in 1987. Kamal himself wondered why there was this hiatus? Before any surmises, he skipped on to actor Abirami (his one-time heroine), who had talked about being his ardent fan from age 11. A crestfallen Kamal gently chided her “with Trisha on the stage, you need not have referred to my age”. He built up the narrative to interesting highlights, especially the comparison of his two directors …late K Balachander and Mani Ratnam. Not just Kamal’s engaging oratory but Simbu’s compelling presence in a chequered suit and a luxurious man bun further added to his star personality when he openly vouched for Kamal as his Guru. Kamal for his part retaliated that through the movie he had no chance to say I love you to either Trisha or Abirami. Trisha and Simbu are paired after a 15-year gap. As always, a pragmatic Kamal said “now we wait for your verdict, after doing our best”. More memes of Thug Life to blow Tupac Shakur’s creation?

PM Narendra Modi’s ‘Look South’ policy may see former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai’s induction as Union cabinet minister (Rajya Sabha) or general secretary of southern states (TN, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala) like Hemanta Biswa Sarma took charge of North Eastern states. Three-time MLA, N Narendran, elected as AIAIDMK MLA twice under Amma’s tenure, turned BJP president of TN playing a crucial role for fostering improved coalition relationship with his former party. Similarly, four to five state BJP presidents are likely to be replaced before BJP announces its national president by the end of this month. Manoharlal Khattar, Bhupinder Yadav are still front-runners for post, even as Manoj Sinha, Dharmendra Pradhan candidatures were seriously considered. Consultations with RSS next week will finalise the name of the next incumbent. An open secret in BJP that Shah effectively was backseat driving BJP’s politics even while JP Nadda held the post, adding grist to rumour mills over his candidature for presidential responsibility. His holding crucial ministries (Home and Cooperation) is the only hitch. Next incumbent will lead BJP’s election juggernaut at the 2029 general elections so appointment will require persuasion of the Hindutva brigade. Pertinent to note here, Nadda was RSS prerogative in 2014 when PM Modi imposed Shah as national president. Shah’s heightened activity of addressing Parliament, visits to Maharashtra, Kashmir and West Bengal on a single day exposed the fact that he runs BJP’s national politics as de facto president. The May-June cabinet reshuffle may see BJP leaders from Bihar elevated with an eye on the forthcoming state assembly elections.

A dog biting a man (and not vice versa), hit the headlines in Maharashtra reflecting on the way things have changed these days. A stray dog bit Hindutva leader Sambhaji Bhide, who heads the Shivpratishthan Hindustan. As the octogenarian Bhide, hit the hospital for treatment, the Sangli local municipal corporation launched a massive drive against stray dogs on the streets of Sangli. News channels not just reported about the dog bite and the resultant campaign but they also zoomed in visual shots of that particular dog that had bitten Bhide and had led to the furore in town. Some reports even suggested that the local civic administration had been working zealously overnight for almost 36 hours to track the particular dog that had bit the Hindutva leader, even as they detained some 10-12 dogs in the process. All this ado was enough to spark much sardonic commentary from the political class in the state. While Congress legislator Vijay Waddetiwar demanded a SIT inquiry be instituted on why a loyal animal like dog knew not whom he bit. Jitendra Awhad hoped that dogs in his area had the sense to bite some VIP in order to get the authorities to act. An advocate from Ulhasnagar, Jai Gaikwad offered to adopt the canine for his deed. Incidentally, this incident comes on the heels of the controversy over the statue of the pet dog of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Waghya, installed near Raigad Fort. While a scion of Shivaji had been demanding its removal citing no historical evidence about the dog’s existence, Bhide has been vociferous to let the dog’s statue be retained. Clearly, the Sangli stray dog did not know Bhide’s love and support for his fellow dog.

No surprises here in this election but it did create a record. For the 9th consecutive time Naveen Patnaik was re-elected as the President of Biju Janata Dal. So, will he herald a change in governance style considering that the party got a severe drubbing both in the 2024 Assembly and Lok Sabha elections? It is public knowledge that there is a murmur of protests, growing factionalism especially at the district level. The challenge is how to ensure the party regains its pristine glory? Is it possible? Yes and no. The immediate task is to resolve the factionalism at the district level including certain select senior levels. This issue assumes importance because as of now there is no clarity who will serve as BJD’s District Presidents.  Sources within the party opine that the state executive committee of BJD will now pave the way to restructure the party’s from the grassroot level which will include women, students and youth. Patnaik will need to pick future leaders to lead the party in all districts. The need of the hour is to manage the internal dynamics of the party wherein communication cascading and party discipline will play an important role. All in all, what seems apparent is Patnaik’s man Friday VK Pandian who has been under the radar is back in the play. He continues to serve Naveen babu in a personal capacity and looks after his master’s health needs. Pandian continues to play albeit a significant role in advisory capacity to Patnaik but ensuring no direct intervention with the party bigwigs.

Maharashtra’s political scene is abuzz with renewed discussion on the possibility of the two Thackeray cousins coming together. After MNS leader Raj Thackeray gave such an indication, he received a positive response from Uddhav. Both have said that the interests of Maharashtra are paramount and not any personal grouses. Raj sent out this feeler in an informal TV chat with producer actor Mahesh Manjrekar two days ago. Within hours, Uddhav also responded by claiming that there was no quarrel as such. The discussion has been revised in view of the coming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation election since it will determine the fate of the Shiv Sena under Uddhav as well as MNS led by Raj. In the recent assembly election, both Senas had performed dismally, creating a question mark about their future. Several top leaders from the Sena (UBT) have joined either the BJP or the Shiv Sena led by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde after the assembly election. If and when the two Thackeray cousins come together, a formidable pro-Marathi political combination can emerge, in Mumbai-Thane belt at least. Over the past week, Raj has spearheaded a campaign to oppose teaching of Hindi in primary schools in the state. Afterwards, the Sena (UBT) also joined the chorus. Hence Sainiks from both the Senas are awaiting any specific signal. Senior leaders from both sides argue that there should not be any problem in uniting on the issue of Maharashtra’s interests. This has revived the shake hand talk.

Action thriller Ground Zero featuring Emraan Hashmi and Sai Tamhankar in the lead roles is set for release. Directed by Tejas Deshkar, known for his work in both Marathi and Hindi cinema, the film has generated a fair amount of buzz, primarily due to its intriguing premise and the involvement of notable producers Ritish Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar’s Excel Entertainment. Originally, a grand premiere was planned in Kashmir, marking as the first major film event in the region in recent years. However, due to security concerns, this event was cancelled. As the film gets ready for its release, there seems to be a palpable lack of excitement surrounding it, which raises questions about its potential success. Emraan Hashmi, while a recognizable name in Bollywood, has not proven to be a leading man who can shoulder the weight of an entire film. His recent works, such as The Body, Baadshaho, Selfie and Mumbai Saga have not particularly stood out, often blending into the background of a crowded cinematic landscape. Even his much-anticipated role as a villain in Tiger 3 failed to leave a lasting impression, as his character was underdeveloped and did not resonate with audiences. The casting of Hashmi as a Border Security Force (BSF) commander in Ground Zero raises eyebrows as his previous performances suggest he may not possess the gravitas required for such a pivotal role. Hashmi’s track record suggests that he may not bring the necessary passion and dedication to the character of a BSF commander. So, one has to wait and watch to see whether Hashmi will deliver a performance that defies expectations.  

Top Congress leader Sangram Thopate’s decision to join the BJP has dealt a severe blow to the party not just in Pune district but in the state as well. Elected on behalf of the Congress ticket thrice, Thopate lost the recent assembly election. Thopate’s father Anantrao was a staunch Congress worker who had always opposed the domination of his foe Sharad Pawar, who was in the Congress till 1999. Pawar’s efforts to pose a challenge to senior Thopate in Bhor assembly constituency in the district had not been successful. After Anantrao’s demise, Sangram donned the mantle and experienced similar difficulties. So much so that he was never made a minister in Maharashtra. His humiliation was unbearable when his claim to become state assembly speaker was ignored by the high command after then incumbent Nana Patole resigned the post suddenly. Owing to Pawar’s strategy, the Congress party has not been able to influence Pune district’s politics. Still, a handful leaders like Thopate have tried their best to stall Pawar’s monopoly but the Congress party has never acknowledged their single-handed battle. Only recently, former Congress MLA Ravindra Dhangekar in Pune had joined the Shiv Sena led by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. Even then, the Congress party had remained silent. Exasperated by such treatment, Thopate has announced his decision to join the BJP, rendering the Congress still weaker in the district which was once upon a time its stronghold.

Karma has its own way of catching up with transgressions and calculated hurt strategies. Nearly 10 days have passed since K Ponmudy, senior DMK leader made his kamasutra speech insulting not just women but a religious sect and devotional symbols of the so-called majority. Hindus, especially Brahmins have been silently suffering this outrage as they lack unity and as always expect the state law and order machinery to come to their rescue. They were lucky. A Madras High Court Judge was not going to watch this hate attitude passively. Even as Ponmudy’s disproportionate wealth case came up for hearing, this HC Judge took up this “lewd comment” issue which went viral. A weak apology was tendered…“it happened without thinking, it won’t happen again,” said Ponmudy. The HC Judge said, “it is like an arrow that has already left the bow…but no action taken so far…that is worrying.” Such talk by any other person would have erupted into a rash of cases, and he put the video on view for all to see. If action is not taken immediately, officers shall face contempt. Interestingly, the Tamil Nadu DGP did not appear but Advocate General PS Raman was in his place. Even as opposition and political leaders protested and thundered at this bias, Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin who stripped him of all his powers and suspended him, is said to have called Ponmudy to his room at the Assembly and warned him to lie low, and see this storm through. As you sow, you shall reap.

Of late Rohit Sharma has been in the news for many reasons – notable being not in good nick in the IPL matches for Mumbai Indians, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) naming Level 3 in the Vithal  Divecha Pavilion at the Wankhede Stadium in his honour and naming him the Ambassador  of the Mumbai Premier League Season 3. Clearly the five- time IPL winner MI would like him to contribute with weighty performances in order to improve the team’s chances of making the playoffs, but everyone at the MCA was delighted with his presence at the launch of the MPLT20 league. In the course of a fireside chat Sharma — appearing down to earth —  talked about the encouragement received from the MCA, breaking window panes in his neighbourhood, not intentionally but while playing cricket for fun, offered Rs 5 or 10 to play for different buildings in his colony, waiting at the Wankhede in the early years of the New Millennium to catch sight of players like Amol Muzumdar, Wasim Jaffer, Nilesh Kulkarni and others. One of the most elegant batters to emerge from the Mumbai Maidans, Sharma impressed upon Mumbai’s legacy and history citing its 42 Ranji Trophy title wins and pointed out the importance of the MPLT20 in shaping the careers of the budding talents in the city. He was touched by the MCA’s call to name a section of the guest stand after him. “It will be a very emotional moment when I see my name on the stand. When you start playing, you don’t think about such things to happen,” said the India captain who won the Twenty20 World Cup and the ICC Champions Trophy.

Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray has undertaken a sustained plan to rejuvenate the organisation buffeted by continuous desertions by loyal Sainiks over the past two years. Initially, the campaign will focus on Mumbai since the existence of the Sena under him will depend upon who controls the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the richest civic body in India. The Sena (UBT) has been heading the BMC since 1985. On the other hand, the ruling BJP is equally determined to wrest the control from Uddhav, who is its enemy number one at present. Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde has been supplementing the BJP’s planning to end the hold of Uddhav in a bid to avenge the treatment he received when he was with him till 2022. As larger planning, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray is periodically wooed to help the saffron alliance to decimate Uddhav. Assessing the situation, Uddhav has decided to activate his lieutenants to launch efforts to inject  new life into the organisation whose soul is the Sainik at the local level. According to the data compiled by Uddhav, there are over 50000 Sainiks and Shakha Pramukhs who are loyal to him and eager to reestablish the Sena’s hold in Mumbai. Over the past few weeks, he has been liaising with the rank and file so as to give shape to the strategy he will adopt for the BMC polls, likely to take place after the monsoon this year.

 “We are Hindus, not Hindi,” thunders Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) supremo Raj Thackeray. Reason: the government’s decision to make Hindi compulsory along with Marathi from the first standard in English medium schools. Though the move has started evoking protesting murmurs, major political parties have adopted a cautious stand till now. Just a few days after supporting chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Prime Minister Narendra Modi wholeheartedly, the MNS leader has surprised his followers once more by opposing teaching Hindi in primary schools. Only a few weeks earlier, Raj had asked his workers to deal with those bank employees unable to speak Marathi. The stir was withdrawn after incidents of MNS workers assaulting bank staff over the issue of Marathi started spiralling. Although Raj has now declared his opposition to introducing Hindi, his wavering policy will make those with him wary. Expressing his opposition, he has warned the ruling alliance that MNS will stand by Hindutva but not imposition of  Hindi. BJP leader and minister Ashish Shelar has advised Raj to first understand the government policy details in this regard. Raj will be sent a copy of the National Education Policy, which he should study before making any statements against it, Shelar has said. Interestingly, Raj and Shelar are old friends. Even when the ties between the BJP and MNS were strained, Shelar was the conduit to keep the dialogue open between the two sides. Hence, how Raj proceeds with his opposition will be watched by the BJP.

West Bengal may be in hot spot over violence in Murshidabad where Hindus were targeted by mobs protesting over the Waqf Act. However, the news of senior BJP leader and a veteran RSS hand Dilip Ghosh’s marriage has brought a lot of smiles. There has been a flood of wishes for him. Many BJP leaders went to his house in a group on April 18 to wish him well. Among them were state president Sukanta Majumdar and Mahila Morcha general secretary Locket Chatterjee. However, no one knows yet whether Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari will visit Dilip’s house or not. Dilip-Suvendu relationship is not very ‘smooth’. Incidentally, Saturday, April 19 is Dilip’s birthday. Although his birthday is officially shown as August 1. But Dilip’s close friends say that his ‘real’ birthday is April 19. Dilip himself is completely against ‘celebrating’ any occasion with pompousness. Dilip turned 60 last year. Ever since his decision to marry has been on the social media, Dilip himself has been indifferent to it. According to sources close to Dilip, when he was a little depressed after losing the last Lok Sabha elections, Rinku was the one who proposed to him to start a family.  A divorcee and housewife, with a son who works in the IT sector, Dilip initially did not agree to the marriage. She admits Dilip took three months, mainly after his mother’s insistence, to decide. A section in the Sangh wasn’t keen that Dilip should get married. Two members of the Sangh had even gone to Dilip’s house! However, Dilip was adamant on his decision. Finally, on April 18, Dilip became a ‘samsari’.

In a calculated political offensive ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, chief minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly opposed the Centre’s proposed Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025, positioning herself as a defender of minority rights. Speaking at a meeting with Muslim clerics and community leaders, she asserted that the bill threatens religious freedoms and undermines constitutional values. The move is widely seen as an attempt by the Trinamool Congress to solidify its traditional Muslim support base, which accounts for nearly 30% of the state’s electorate and holds sway in key districts like Murshidabad, Malda, and North Dinajpur. Banerjee framed the proposed law as part of the BJP-led government’s broader agenda to interfere in religious matters and weaken India’s pluralistic framework. However, internally, the TMC remains divided over the strategy. While some leaders view the issue as an opportunity to reinforce the party’s core vote bank amid the BJP’s intensifying Hindutva campaign, others express concern that an overt focus on religious identity could alienate moderate and secular voters. Meanwhile, Mamata’s remarks have drawn sharp criticism from the BJP, which accused the TMC of leveraging communal narratives for political mileage. On the other hand, Mamata’s ability to appeal to the Muslim vote comes at a cost for Congress and the Left, who have traditionally relied on Muslim support in Bengal. The Left, in particular, has faced criticism for failing to effectively challenge Mamata’s rising influence among the Muslim community.

The highly anticipated latest Hindi release Jaat which generated considerable excitement with its initial trailer release, ultimately fell short of expectations at the box office. Despite a strong opening, the film’s marketing strategy failed to maintain the momentum created by the initial euphoria. Released on Mahavir Jayanti, Jaat managed to collect Rs 9.5 crore on its opening day (Apr 10), but this figure dropped to Rs 7 crore on Friday (Apr 11). The weekend saw a slight rebound, with Saturday’s collection reaching Rs 9.75 crore and Sunday (Apr 13) peaking at Rs 14 crore, driven by positive word-of-mouth and favorable reviews. However, the following week revealed a decline, with Monday’s (Apr 14) earnings at Rs 7.25 crore and Tuesday dropping to Rs 6 crore, leading to a total domestic box office collection of approximately Rs 53.5 crore within the first six days. Given its production budget of Rs 100 crore, these figures are disappointing, especially since industry expectations were for Jaat to surpass the Rs 100-crore mark during its extended opening weekend. While the film may still prove to be a profitable venture for its lead actors, Sunny Deol and Randeep Hooda, the filmmakers face significant challenges in recouping their investment. The average performance of Jaat highlights the importance of sustained marketing efforts and audience engagement beyond the initial release phase. As the film’s prospects now hinge on OTT platform releases and overseas markets, it underscores the volatile nature of box office success and the critical role of strategic promotion in maximizing a film’s potential.

In a short span of four years, Sairaj Dhond, the brain behind Wakao Foods, a jackfruit-based vegan food company, has made waves in the food industry. This Goa-based company, launched in 2021, is India’s first plant-based product company. It has made successful business out of jackfruit, considered to be one of the most wasted fruits in the country. With jackfruit the company is offering ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat products which are 100% natural, without any artificial colouring, chemicals or preservatives. His range of offerings like Teriyaki Jack, Butter Jack, BBQ Jack, and Jack Burger Patty found easy takers as it was nutritious and delicious. Interestingly, the food needs no refrigeration and has a shelf life of nearly a year. His products are available in the USA, Singapore, Dubai and the Netherlands. Now, emboldened by this success he is now exploring the UK market. UK’s MH12 Foods which runs an e-commerce retail platform has expressed keen interest for a tie up. Dhond will soon begin manufacturing Jackfruit flour. With demand on the rise, the company which already operates a plant in Kerala is setting up a new plant at Kudal in Maharashtra.  It recently introduced the ready-to-eat Jackfruit Biryani that is delivered through Zepto in India. Dhond, it is learnt, dabbled his hands in one too many things, before he found his life calling in the food industry.

The Tata Mumbai Marathon (TMM), a much-awaited street race held in the third week of January every year, has delivered over Rs 53.62 crore for charity from its 20th anniversary race. On most occasions the ebony hued men and women athletes from Africa dominate the running spectacle over a distance of 42.195 km; they take home $s aplenty and tell great human stories. But the TMM, so diligently and passionately promoted by Procam International and in particular, sports aficionados Anil Singh and Vivek Singh, is just not about achieving success in a little over two hours of human potential demonstrated by thousands of runners; it’s also about  people’s involvement in alleviating the lives of the have nots and those suffering from life-threatening diseases and illness. As a doctor treating people with neurological ailments said at the TMM2025 Philanthropy Awards “it’s not easy to raise money” and hence the effort made by over a thousand people, NGOs and the corporate world has warmed the cockles of many a heart. Among NGOs, the Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care raised a whopping Rs 13.67 cr, Light of Life Trust Rs 5.12 cr, United Way Mumbai Rs 4.74 cr, ADHAR Rs 2.36 cr and Isha Education Rs 1.88 cr. The highest fund fundraising Corporate Team were Me-Hin Tech Edge Solutions, Godrej & Boyce and Panasonic Life Solutions. A number of individuals — from young collegians, top executives and professionals — raised money in several lakhs and crores that will go for many causes, but most importantly for people suffering from cancer, dementia, Alzheimer, epilepsy and other health issues. The TMM has raised, over a period of 20 years, Rs 483.20 crore — all for the ultimate aim of caregiving. 

When businessman Robert Vadra appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Delhi for the second day in a row on April 16 in connection with the Gurugram land case, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s public display of affection (PDA) was evident as she stepped out of her car and gave a warm hug to her husband. Later, as the probing agency began questioning Vadra, she sat in the waiting room at the ED headquarters. Robert Vadra, brother-in-law of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, appeared before the ED for questioning in a 2008 Haryana land deal, linked to a money laundering case. It was interesting to see Priyanka rush back from her foreign trip to be with her husband. Only last week she had skipped the extended Congress Working Committee meet held in Ahmedabad on April 8. Earlier, on April 4, she hadn’t participated in the Waqf Bill debate in the Lok Sabha. The party explained that Priyanka had to travel abroad, presumably the UK, to visit an ailing friend. Party leaders feel Priyanka should have at least attended the Ahmedabad CWC meet — something that was planned since January 2025. But then sources say Priyanka increasingly found both her mother Sonia and brother Rahul were not giving her much space in the organisation. They were not elevating her as working president or secretary- general. The Muslim League, the Congress ally in Kerala had protested against Priyanka’s absence during the Waqf Bill debate as she is Wayanad MP. Congress sources said if Priyanka is not given her due in the organisation by her family, the party could face consequences in the upcoming assembly elections in Kerala. Interestingly, Robert Vadra felt ED investigations against him had gathered pace only because he was speaking up for the minorities.  

Twenty20 has always been a “high-risk, high-reward” game, in particular for the batters, and Abhishek Sharma’s go-for-broke knock of 141 when the Sunrisers Hyderabad was seemingly looking down the barrel — chasing Punjab Kings’ 245 at a venue in Uppal in Charminar City — is a case in point. Sharma who plays for Punjab in the Ranji Trophy went through a 5-match poor run, making a mere 51 at 10.20 an innings, but his bellicose-like pounding of the PKS bowlers took his average to 32.08. It was the Sunrisers’ second win in six outings of the Tata-IPL-18, and once again the southpaw opening pair in Travis Head and Sharma took a heavy-duty risk to pave the way for their side to surpass a big target. Teams aim to achieve the maximum potential in the first six over power play and in doing so risk the peril of gifting their wickets. Among the opening pairs, Gujarat Titans’ Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan have made 320 which is a high 27.87% of the team score in six matches; next is the Sunrisers’ Head-Sharma pair which has made 255, followed by the Lucknow Super Giants’ Aiden Markram and Mitchell Narsh pair that has collected 226 and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s opening pair in Phil Salt and Virat Kohli who have contributed 217 to their team aggregate. But the highest run-production has come from the GT’s second wicket pair in Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler who have made 292 which is equivalent to nearly 30% of the team score. The second best here is 274 by LSG’s Marsh and Nicholas Pooran.

Two months after President’s rule was imposed in Manipur, West Bengal’s Murshidabad riots converted Hindu families into refugees pouring in exodus to neighbouring Malda district. Possibilities of imposition of Central rule in West Bengal have turned probable now as mobs of masked (mostly juvenile delinquents) carried out coordinated attacks upon the majority community. Hindu homes were targeted with stones, sticks, sickles by rampaging mobs threatening mass rapes of women in the TMC administered state. They were apparently only venting anger over amendments to the Waqf Board law legislated by the Indian parliament last week. On Friday (Apr 12), right after Muslim congregations offered prayers, coordinated protests were witnessed across Mamata Didi’s West Bengal followed by the targeted Murshidabad terror attacks upon Hindu families that continued well into Saturday. Highly placed sources tell shortpost.in there is clear and present danger of West Bengal being engulfed in communal frenzy as part of the tool kit being perpetrated from across the borders (from Bangladesh and Pakistan). “The BJP led Central government bit the bullet in Manipur, sacking its own party CM Birendra Singh, imposition of President’s rule there. West Bengal is steadily deteriorating over Mamata Didi’s reluctance to act against Muslim hardliner elements (including illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingya immigrants) comprising her core voter base,” sources reveal adding, “For long the possibility of WB’s balkanization into north and south Bengal over communal fault-lines has loomed large. Central rule may become the only option to prevent disintegration of India’s Bhalo Bhashi state. “The Calcutta High Court also ordered immediate deployment of central forces in Murshidabad district. after the incidents of widespread violence, vandalism and arson in the region over the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025. 

Telangana Congress leaders wonder if the new AICC in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan will do them any good. Natarajan replaces Deepa Das Munshi, who is now in-charge of election-bound Kerala. Deepa who helped to bring Congress to power in 2023, faced the brunt of factionalism. The house for which Telangana PCC was paying rent for Deepa in Hyderabad had even become a subject of controversy. In contrast Telangana Congress workers admit that Natarajan is completely low-maintenance. “There hasn’t been much of a lifestyle change in her since she began her career in the Congress two decades ago — when she used to commute by three-wheelers for party work. She has opted to stay in MLA guest house whenever she visits Hyderabad,” said a Telangana Congress leader. She apparently insists on meeting all leaders including ministers in the party headquarters. And dissuades party people from receiving her at the airport. Yet no one is sure if her down-to-earth activism will be able to tame chief minister Revanth Reddy as he didn’t seem to be bothered about Meenakshi. Many Congress leaders wished the party had a high-ranking leader, say a former CMs like Digvijay Singh or Bhupesh Baghel as in-charge of Telangana. However, since Rahul Gandhi is comfortable only with those close or loyal to him, he has opted for Natarajan. Of course, for the past two months Natarajan has been maintaining an equi-distance from all factions and sent a strong message to the party heads that party cadres should get highest respect as it was on their sacrifices that the party came to power. 

Kerala Tourism is introducing cruise tourism across the state’s coastline. The initiative aims to launch cruise routes that connect major and minor tourist destinations in Kerala. The government backed plan offers tourists a chance to explore and experience the state from a different perspective. According to an official of the tourism department, the state is shifting from destination-based tourism to experimental tourism. The plan is to start cruise operations from seven ports in the state — Vizhinjam, Kochi, Alappuzha, Kollam, Beypore, Neendakara and Kayamkulam. Kerala has been facing competition from other tropical countries which offers almost everything it has, the official said. The game plan is to offer a more immersive and memorable travel experience, he added. Private operators will operate vessels with varying seating capacity, cabins and other luxury amenities, says N S Pillai, Chairman, of Kerala Maritime Board, which will be overall supervisor of the project. The operations would be inter-state, inter-district and in the long run linking Goa and Bengaluru. With the operations of the Vizhinjam International Port gaining momentum, plans are afoot to integrate the cruise tourism project with broader port developments. Interestingly, even before the green signal had been given for the internal cruise project, the state government at a cabinet meeting yesterday, approved the sale of liquor on boats cruising across the Kerala coast for a license fee of Rs 50,000. 

Union minister Amit Shah’s 2-day Mumbai visit has posed more problems for the ruling 3-party Mahayuti alliance than it has solved, it seems. Shah visited Raigad Fort to pay tributes to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Later he held discussions with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and both DCMs, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, together and separately. Within minutes of his departure, social media platforms were abuzz with posts that Shinde had complained to Shah that the departments allotted to his party were not obtaining financial provisions. While Shinde has kept mum about this, Ajit Pawar, who holds the finance portfolio, has explained that nothing of the sort has happened. Pawar said he had accompanied Shah throughout the latter’s visit and was not aware of Shinde complaining to the top leader. Significantly, Fadnavis, too, has not commented on the posts. After the Raigad Fort visit, Shah lunched at the residence of NCP (Ajit) leader Sunil Tatkare, who is among the main adversaries of the Shiv Sena led by Shinde in Raigad district. His daughter Aditi is a cabinet minister while Shinde’s ardent supporter Bharat Gogawale from the district is still awaiting a ministership. Shah’s visit was expected to unravel the complication. Instead, leaders from both sides have started coming out with their own versions, once again creating an impression that the Mahayuti is still struggling to iron out its internal wrinkles.

The North South divide along with the Tamil Hindi collIsion are set to hit each other in yet another field, cinema. Never-say-retire Rajinikanth and the suave dancing star Hrithik Roshan are about to wage war for the biggest grosser on August 14 with their Coolie and War 2. Lokesh Kanakaraj directed Coolie produced by Sun Pictures, with Anirudh’s rambunctious music has a marquee of stars from every state –a Rajini backed formula meant to draw the crowds in their home states. Coolie has Sathyaraj, Aamir Khan, Upendra and Nagarjuna with Shruti Haasan as the glamour quotient to bring in hordes of fans to cheer their favourite. The same date is planned for War 2, directed by Ayan Mukherji with Hrithik Roshan, Junior NTR, Anil Kapoor and Kiara Advani. So which film will be paisa vasool for the fans? Obviously, Coolie is sure to lead in the South and it is the talk that Aamir Khan’s souped up role is bound to floor fans. Is Coolie about to carry the big load in the North Indian market too? Even as federalism is in for heated discussion, state supremacy is ostensibly promoted …Nagarjuna the hot favourite in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Upendra in Karnataka and Soubin Shahir in Kerala. War2 Jr. NTR is no pushover, with his overwhelming fan base in Telugu Desam. and may have a better reception overseas too. If you think producers are playing a high stakes IPL, don’t discount and scorn the viewer as a walkover. Cinema is undergoing a huge churning, with multiple dimension competition…from OTT, piracy and small budget but significant story tellers. Many well thought out strategies can fail despite big stakes.

The next Chief Justice of India is tipped to be Justice Bhushan Gavai, who started his legal career from Amaravati in Maharashtra. He is the son of veteran parliamentarian late Ramkrishna Gavai. According to indications available here, Gavai will be administered the oath of office on 14 May when present CJI Sanjeev Khanna retires. He is due to retire on 23 November 2025. Born on 24 November 1960, Gavai started practising in Mumbai High Court. For some time, he was junior to senior lawyer Raja Bhosale, who later worked as a HC judge for some time. Gavai was first appointed as a judge at the Nagpur bench of the HC and later elevated to the Supreme Court on 24 May 2019. Gavai has been known for many of his landmark judgments, especially those upholding fundamental rights. He will head the judiciary soon after earlier Maharashtra jurist DY Chandrachud, retired. While his father, YV Chandrachud, was CJI, Gavai’s father RS Gavai was a member of the Maharashtra legislature as well as Parliament of India. He also functioned as governor of Bihar, Sikkim and Kerala. Justice Gavai initiated some new trends in the Apex Court. For instance, he fixed one day every week for hearing public interest litigations. Gavai’s criticism of the government on deploying bulldozers to raze properties of some of the accused in Uttar Pradesh had proved to be an eye opener.

Tollywood is undergoing a quiet revolution where septuagenarian heroines are taking centre stage, not as stereotypical grandmothers or mothers-in-law, but as leading characters driving the narrative. Breaking away from ageist casting norms and prosthetic disguises, directors are now turning to veteran actresses to bring authenticity, depth, and grace to stories that reflect lived experiences. Legendary actresses Sharmila Tagore and Rakhee Gulzar have made a grand return to the industry, not in nostalgic cameos but as the central protagonists of major upcoming films. Sharmila Tagore, whose last Bengali film was Antaheen in 2009, marks her comeback with Puratawn, directed by Suman Ghosh and produced by the National award-winning actress Rituparna Sengupta. Rakhee Gulzar returns after 22 years with Aamar Boss directed by the popular duo Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukhopadhyay. Her last appearance was in Shubho Mahurat (2003), a film still remembered as one of Rituparno Ghosh’s finest. This return of the stalwarts isn’t a coincidence. Bengali filmmakers are now crafting stories with these legends in mind, placing elderly women in the spotlight — not as background figures, but as emotionally rich, complex leads. Suman for his Puratawn, believed in casting 79-year-old Tagore not for commercial reasons but because she perfectly embodied the character he had in mind. He felt no need to compromise authenticity by choosing a younger actress made up to look older for box office collection. Shiboprasad, co-director of Aamar Boss, slated to release in May, observed that films featuring veteran heroines as protagonists often yield better returns than those led by younger stars. Looks like Bengali cinema is embracing age with pride. 

The Odisha High Court has issued a stay order on the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) proceedings pertaining to the alleged suicide of a Nepalese girl student at KIIT University. This effectively means that HC has temporarily suspended the NHRC’s March 27 order which held KIIT accountable to the suicide incident. KIIT moved HC stating it was not given an opportunity to be heard. One of the KIIT directors told shortpost.in it had to move the Odisha High Court because of victimisation. Justice SK Panigrahi at Odisha High Court while hearing KIIT petition emphasised the adherence to the principles of natural justice in quasi-judicial proceedings. The HC has issued notice to NHRC to respond by April 26 with the next hearing date scheduled for April 29. It may be recalled that KIIT University’s move, asking Nepali students to go back, was a diplomatic embarrassment for India as our country enjoys a good relationship with Nepal. In all this drama being played the general question everybody is asking: Will the deceased Nepali girl student ever get justice?

Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde currently enjoys a special place at the ruling BJP’s table, thanks to the key role he is scheduled to play in the forthcoming crucial BMC polls for them. A straight victory has evaded the BJP in the Rs 59,000-crore budget civic body till date. Politically too, winning the BMC polls for BJP has become crucial since dislodging Uddhav Thackeray from here would truly deliver a big blow to the Uddhav Thackeray Sena and decimate them. Not surprisingly, Amit Shah held a one-on-one with Eknath Shinde at Mumbai for a good half an hour without his own chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in attendance. Shinde has already got down to the task at hand and has been poaching Uddhav’s key supporters quite regularly. Shinde is using the opportunity to get his way around too. Shinde’s men have started grumbling about budgetary cuts introduced by the finance minister Ajit Pawar that have impacted their ministries. Shinde, who had funded many welfare schemes while as a CM, finds many of his schemes being curtailed, folded up or ignored by the Fadnavis government. His pet scheme, the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana, still continues, albeit with many restrictions. Shinde also has Sanjay Raut breathing down his neck, comparing him to a goat with nowhere to go and awaiting his butchering. Unlike the Ajit Pawar’s of NCP, who have warmed up to each other, the Sena factions continue to a collision drive breathing fire and fury against each other. 

John Abraham has long struggled to establish himself as a consistent box office draw, and his recent release, The Diplomat, exemplifies this ongoing challenge. Despite the film’s potential, it has failed to recover its production costs, raising serious questions about Abraham’s viability as a producer. The film faced a protracted release timeline of over a year, primarily due to a lack of interest from its production partner, T-Series, and poor marketing strategies. The promotional efforts, which relied heavily on the presence of a real diplomat, did little to enhance visibility or generate audience excitement. Given the backdrop of several recent disappointments, including Veda, Ek Villain Returns and Satyamev Jayate 2, Abraham’s track record at the box office has become increasingly questionable. While Pathaan achieved remarkable success, it is essential to note that this triumph belongs to Shah Rukh Khan rather than Abraham. The disappointing performance of The Diplomat, which received critical acclaim but failed to resonate with mainstream audiences, casts a long shadow over his upcoming project, Tehran. With the fate of The Diplomat likely to influence the reception of Tehran, Abraham faces an uphill battle in securing a successful release. The lack of spectacular content in The Diplomat suggests that Tehran may encounter similar challenges. As audiences continue to demand engaging narratives and compelling performances, John Abraham must reassess his approach to both acting and production if he hopes to revitalize his career and reclaim his status in the competitive landscape of Bollywood. 

It was clearly a day of hard work and some tough negotiations. Success came at the end of hours of backroom negotiations. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has networked and negotiated several alliances on behalf of the BJP, may have never spent more than a day to finalise the agreement, has been working on the fine details of the pact with AIADMK for nearly two days.  Initially there was anxiety that Shah’s presser that was originally scheduled to be held by noon got delayed by a few hours. He held a wide range of consultations with Thuglak editor S Gurumurthy.  He was determined to secure an alliance with AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) before he left Chennai; his tenacity paid off. He wanted to make sure that the AIADMK and the BJP contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections as part of the NDA alliance. He also ensured that when he announced the AIADMK-BJP pact, both the Gounder leaders — EPS and Annamalai — were present with him. “This election will be led nationally by Narendra Modi and in Tamil Nadu by EPS and AIADMK,” Shah said. Shah also made it clear that EPS had not made any pre-conditions. He pointed out that the AIADMK has been part of the NDA since 1998, and that PM Modi and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had worked together in the past. Even though he didn’t specify, Shah made it clear that EPS would be the Chief Ministerial candidate for the alliance. Avoiding any question on Annamalai’s future role, Shah made it clear that he did not want any speculation about it now. “As of now he is by my side.” Whatever may be the details of the alliance, at the end of the day a happy EPS was hosting dinner for Amit Shah.

With Home Minister Amit Shah in Chennai sort of overseeing transition in Tamil Nadu BJP from K Annamalai to Nainar Nagendran ahead of state assembly polls next year and ensuring sealing of the AIADMK-BJP alliance, there were ripples in the DMK over sexist and anti-Hindu utterances of a senior party functionary and forest minister K Ponmudy. A video clip of his derogatory remarks made on April 6 had gone viral. While senior leader and Udhayanidhi loyalist, Duraimurugan refused to sign a letter sacking Ponmudy from party post, it was left to TN chief minister MK Stalin to sign the order stripping Ponmudy of party post. DMK Rajya Sabha MP Tiruchi Shiva replaced Ponmudy.  It is being said Stalin was advised to take action against Ponmudy by his religious minded wife Durga as his anti-Hindu remarks were found very offensive. Interestingly, the person who first flagged the protest against sexist remarks of Ponmudy in the family was Stalin’s sister and DMK MP Kanimozhi. In a X post, Kanimozhi hit out at Ponmudi and said his remarks were unacceptable. Meanwhile Duraimurugan issued an apology for calling “Divyangs” as handicapped and speaking irresponsibly. However, what these random changes in the DMK indicate is that discontent against Udhayanidhi and the other influential relative (Stalin’s son-In-law  is bound to grow in the run-up to assembly elections.

After three months of suspense Jasprit Bumrah — laid low by back spasms from the second innings of the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney — offered glimpses of his fitness in the Tata-IPL-18 turning up for MI against the RCB at the Wankhede. He bowled four overs in three spells — 4th, 11th, and 18th and 20th, described as death overs. Virat Kohli and Jitesh Sharma smashed him for a 6 each, even then Bumrah finished with a creditable 0/29. While Bumrah will be monitored in MI’s future matches — the other fast and seam bowlers who did duty in Australia, mainly Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna — both of whom bowled their heart out in the Sydney Test in January this year and Harshit Rana have impressed in a format the best in business are torn to shreds. Akash Deep too has returned to action and Mohammed Shami, who was absent in Australia, has looked the champion since his return from the Champions Trophy after a long forced injury lay off. They will have some solid work in the five Test matches in the English summer from June 20 to August 4 at Leeds, Birmingham, London, Manchester and The Oval. Who will be the backup seamer with batting skills the selection committee and the team management will look at? Among the top wicket takers are Hardik Pandya who has a collection of 10 wickets and is among the joint top-3 in the IPL-18 with Siraj and left arm seamer, Khaleel Ahmed and Shardul Thakur with nine wickets in five matches. But the “Big Q” is will Pandya make himself available for Test match cricket?

The mud-slinging against political opponents is not uncommon but in Maharashtra, it is reaching another level. At the receiving end in this case is senior minister Girish Mahajan from Jalgaon in north Maharashtra. The attacker is his former mentor and BJP boss Eknath Khadse, who is now in the Nationalist Congress party led by Sharad Pawar. Challenging Khadse to prove the charges, Mahajan has refuted the insinuations. Over the past few years, Mahajan has emerged as a confidant of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. He has turned the district saffron to the discomfiture of Khadse, who was then leader Gopinath Munde’s right hand. Hit by domestic tragedies, Khadse left the BJP some time ago to join Sharad Pawar. Even then, the BJP granted candidatures to his family members. But unsatisfied and angry with Fadnavis for various reasons, Khadse walked out of the party. However, hurt by successive setbacks suffered by the NCP, he desperately knocked on the BJP’s doors for readmission. However, his efforts have been thwarted. At the same time, Mahajan’s star has been rising. Unable to control his chagrin, Khadse has alleged that Mahajan has extra-marital ties with a senior woman IAS officer in the state. As evidence, he has quoted a journalist, who first made the allegation in a podcast. As the Fadnavis government is buffeted by the sordid deeds of sacked minister Dhananjay Munde, it will have to tread carefully while dealing with the serious charges against Mahajan. It is for the first time that the bureaucracy is made a target of such scandals.

While Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) revived its campaign for Marathi language, this time targeting non-Marathi speaking bank officials, before chief minister Devendra Fadnavis got them to wind it up, the sober Uddhav Thackeray wing chose to do things differently. In response to Raj Thackeray’s agitation, Uddhav’’s Sena launched a drive to teach Marathi to those unfamiliar with the language. Party scion Aaditya Thackeray explained that this was for those unfamiliar with the Marathi language, particularly those working with MNC’s and those who have recently shifted to the city. For those unfamiliar with the party history, the Thackeray cousins essentially split up over their ways of taking up the cause of the Marathi manoos. In 2003, while Uddhav Thackeray had launched an inclusive ‘Mee Mumbaikar’ campaign to woo the North Indian voters, Raj Thackeray had derailed his campaign by attacking North Indian students appearing for railway exams in November 2003. Post-2006, when Raj Thackeray quit the Shiv Sena and set up MNS, he continued with his tirade beating hawkers, taxi drivers while Uddhav wooed the North Indians. The North Indians today comprise about 20% of Mumbai’s electorate making them an indispensable vote bank for all political parties in the forthcoming crucial BMC elections slated close to Diwali.  While Uddhav seeks to woo them, Raj has been trying to polarise his way into the hearts of the weakened 39 % Marathi manoos voter base. Their divergent views continue long after they have gone their own ways in different political parties. This probably explains why despite extending warm relations with each other in their private family functions, the Thackeray cousins fail to find common grounds for political reconciliation.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her party the Trinamool Congress (TMC) face a significant challenge following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Calcutta High Court’s annulment of over 25,000 teachers and non-teaching staff appointments in West Bengal. The SC’s ruling, which cited a selection process “tainted beyond resolution” and mandated a fresh recruitment within three months, has prompted Banerjee to take immediate action. She has pledged to meet with affected individuals on April 7, promising comprehensive support. In her public address, Banerjee sought to deflect blame onto the CPI(M) and the BJP, while emphasizing the possibility of rectifying the situation through the mandated new recruitment process. She also highlighted the independence and efficiency of the newly formed School Service Commission (SSC) and drew parallels to the Vyapam scam, attempting to shift the narrative. However, the TMC is confronting a growing image problem, compounded by the recent R G Kar rape and murder case. Insiders express concern that further unfavorable court rulings, particularly regarding the Other Backward Classes (OBC) matter and another teacher-related case, could exacerbate the situation. Despite these challenges, some TMC leaders remain optimistic, citing the party’s resilience and the time available before the next Assembly elections. They point to the BJP’s reduced Lok Sabha seat count in West Bengal, despite the earlier High Court ruling, as evidence of limited electoral impact. Conversely, some academics suggest that the BJP’s approach might inadvertently bolster the Left’s standing, as aggressive criticism of the TMC could revive support for the Left.

In Odisha, ever since the BJP turfed out Naveen Patnaik’s well entrenched Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in both the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in 2024, the relationship between him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become frosty. Since then the former CM has been opposing the Modi government tooth and nail on various issues at both the Centre and State. The latest one is Waqf Bill. In the Rajya Sabha it supported it. This brought to fore the internal dissensions within the party or whether Patnaik had a change of heart towards BJP. Reportedly, BJD’s floor leader in Rajya Sabha Sasmit Patra, a Christian, along with four BJD members voted in favour of Waqf Bill while BJD’s two Muslim MP’s Muzibulla Khan, and Munna Khan opposed the Bill in Rajya Sabha. Senior party leaders are saying that BJD has traditionally led an equidistant policy. BJD leaders are now demanding immediate probe as to who took this decision to vote for Waqf Bill and if this had Naveen Patnaik’s formal approval. Patra had tweeted that there would be no party whip and members should vote “exercising their conscience”. BJD leader Badri Prasad is wondering if someone else has played a game, clearly hinting if Patra has taken this decision on his own or at the behest of Patnaik’s right hand VK Pandian. BJD MP Debashish Samantaray who abstained from voting has launched scathing attack on Pandian as the main person playing behind the scene role. He said Patra was simply following Pandian’s orders.

The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi is facing a humiliation, this time over the Waqf Amendment Act as Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray has refused to move the Supreme Court over the matter. MVA was already facing tensions since veteran leader Sharad Pawar had stayed over in Mumbai when the Rajya Sabha was voting on the Bill to amend the Waqf Act. When quizzed about his absence at such a crucial juncture, his followers had merely said that his appointments in Mumbai had been decided much earlier. Although both the Sena (UBT) and Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party had opposed the Bill in the Lok Sabha, their sudden change of heart when voting started in the RS had sent out confusing signals. For a long time, no single party or leader can say with certainty what policy Pawar will adopt for a particular matter. Pawar goes ahead with what he feels needs to be done. For instance, his cosy relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has remained a matter of political intrigue. Similarly, his free access to industrialist Gautam Adani has rubbed the Congress party the wrong way since its leader Rahul Gandhi does not spare a single opportunity to abuse Adani and Ambani groups. Despite this, Pawar is unfazed. It was owing to his unambiguous stand that no Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) could be set up when there was a furore against Adani over the Hindenburg disclosures. Pawar’s stance about the Waqf Act is just one more example and MVA will have to gulp it without complaining.

On the auspicious Ram Navami day on April 6, at around 12 noon, PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new Pamban Rail Bridge — India’s first vertical lift sea bridge and flag off a train and a ship from the road bridge and witness the operation of the bridge. Thereafter he will perform darshan and pooja at Ramanathaswamy temple at Rameswaram. At around 1:30 PM in Rameswaram, he will lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation various rail and road projects worth over Rs 8,300 crore in Tamil Nadu. AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) had wanted to meet with Modi in Rameswaram.  In contrast, TN BJP chief K Annamalai has been called to Delhi early next week for another round of discussions with Home Minister Amit Shah to sort out BJP-AIADMK alliance issues and also matters relating to picking up the next state chief. The Pamban Rail Bridge with its reference to Ram Setu in Ramayana carries a deep cultural significance. According to the Ramayana, the construction of Ram Setu was initiated from Dhanushkodi near Rameswaram. The bridge, linking Rameswaram to the mainland, stands as a remarkable feat of Indian engineering on the global stage. It was built at a cost of over Rs 550 crore. It is 2.08 km in length, features 99 spans and a 72.5-metre vertical lift span that rises up to a height of 17 metres, facilitating smooth movement of ships while ensuring seamless train operations. Constructed with stainless steel reinforcement, high-grade protective paint, and fully welded joints, the bridge boasts increased durability and reduced maintenance needs. It is designed for dual rail tracks to accommodate future demands.

A day after the Rajya Sabha discussed The Mussalman Waqf (Repeal) Bill, 2025, past midnight and then passed it with 128 votes in its favour, PM Modi called it a “watershed moment”.  Attending the BIMSTEC meeting in Bangkok, PM Modi had good reason to be satisfied. The only worrying factor was its passage had disappointed Opposition parties as Union Minister Kiren Rijiju pointed out they were out trying to mislead people on the Bill. Details of late night Parliament debate on the Bill were lost as senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, a Rajya Sabha member, even sought to inject an element of outrage as she said that the bill was “bulldozed” in the Lok Sabha. Never mind that the House sat till 2.43 am to pass the Waqf Amendment Bill. BJP leaders found it odd that Sonia was taking the initiative to speak on Waqf, pushing aside her son and LoP Rahul Gandhi to speak on Lok Sabha proceedings? Why was she doing it? Is it because no one in the Opposition cares for Rahul Gandhi? Or is it because the Congress wants to unite Opposition leaders on Waqf — something which Rahul and Mallikarjun Kharge can’t do on their own steam. In her remarks, Sonia said “The bill was in effect, bulldozed through. The Bill is a brazen assault on the Constitution itself. It is very much part of the BJP’s deliberate strategy to keep our society in a state of permanent polarization.” Her remarks drew sharp response from BJP MPs who wanted “Sonia Gandhi maafi maango“. Sonia’s remarks drew a sharp rap from the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla who said that her remarks were “unfortunate” and undermined Parliamentary democracy. After all, the Bill went through Parliament procedures lasting 13-hour discussion, in which 61 members participated. In the Rajya Sabha too, 128 votes were cast in favour of the Waqf Amendment Bill.

The National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) spot inquiry team looking into the suicide of a Nepali girl student at the KIIT University campus in Odisha on February 16, has held KIIT responsible for it. It has labelled it as sexual harassment case. As per NHRC “KIIT officials disposed of the girl’s sexual complaint in a very casual manner.” NHRC has recommended UGC’s National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) to initiate requisite action against KIIT and its sister concern KISS for violating guidelines. Similarly, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Satyabrata Sahu has also been directed to submit his report in next four weeks.  Likewise the Commissioner of Police and UGC have also been directed to submit their action taken report. Amidst NHRC’s strong follow up action initiatives, the student’s community are asking “what happened to the high-powered committee report. It is learnt that KIIT founder-promoter Achutya Samanta is on a damage control mode and is pulling all stops out to water down the negative impact. For instance, his channel Kalinga TV recently held a conclave titled Pragati Pathe Odisha in Bhubaneswar where the who’s who of Odisha cutting across the party lines — BJP, BJD, Congress –not only participated in the event but praised Samanta for this initiative. Clearly, Samanta’s diffusing strategy seems to be working …a few months down the line the incident will be forgotten. Meanwhile, there are reports of another suicide case of a KIIT student. His body was found in the basement of a half constructed building away from KIIT university at Mancheswar, Bhubaneswar a few days ago.

After sporting the famous Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) Lion crest for seven seasons, left-hander Yashasvi Jaiswal has chosen to leave a champion side and join a non-achiever in domestic cricket like Goa from the next season (2025-26). A cricketer raised in the tough world of Mumbai maidan cricket has rarely taken such a move; even Sarfaraz Khan went to UP, but returned to sort of his moorings. Mumbai has a history of encouraging cricketers, and quickly too, at the first sight of gifts in a budding cricketer. Yashasvi was given the opportunity by the MCA. Over a period of seven seasons, he has played 10 Ranji Trophy matches for Mumbai, but never a full season and he has not been on the title winning Ranji Trophy team. Once he started piling up runs for Mumbai, West Zone, India ‘A’ and for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, he was capped in Test cricket and he has played 19 Tests and accumulated runs. As a professional cricketer he availed a BCCI provision and has opted to play for a State, a popular tourist destination known for fish, feni and football. The MCA will not fret over a departure of a talented cricketer; its ecosystem throws up talent aplenty to cater its first-class and white ball competition teams. But why did Yashasvi quit Mumbai? As a professional he has made a move for personal reasons which can be interpreted in many ways. And insiders in MCA are privy to certain unpleasant happenings during the backend of the Ranji Trophy season. Well, Yashasvi has the right to make a career-choice and he has made it.

The recent failure of Sikandar serves as a significant blow to Salman Khan, particularly given its release during the auspicious Eid season — a time when he has historically been a major crowd-puller with hits like Wanted, Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Kick. Unfortunately, the film’s lacklustre performance is just the latest in a string of disappointments that have plagued his recent projects including Dabangg 3, Race 3, Tubelight, Bharat and Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. This trend suggests a worrying decline in his box office appeal. Khan’s portrayal in Sikandar has been criticized for its apparent laziness and lack of enthusiasm. His signature mannerisms, which once captivated audiences, now come across as repetitive and uninspired. Even during emotional scenes, his performance fails to resonate, leaving viewers feeling disconnected. This perceived disinterest in his craft raises questions about his commitment to selecting compelling scripts and delivering performances that capture the audience’s imagination. The essence of Khan’s on-screen persona seems to have shifted towards a brand of “toxic masculinity,” where his attempts to appear effortlessly cool have become tiresome and unoriginal. This disconnect between his star power and the expectations of his audience is becoming increasingly evident, as fans seek more meaningful narratives and authentic performances. The unfortunate fate of Sikandar serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of complacency in the film industry. The film has been rejected by both the masses and critics alike, highlighting a growing sentiment that Salman Khan’s current approach to filmmaking and performance is out of sync with contemporary audience preferences. If he hopes to reclaim his status as a box office titan, a re-evaluation of his acting choices and a renewed commitment to the craft may be imperative.

Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram has thanked the Modi government for exempting Adivasi (tribal) lands from the purview of the newly amended Waqf Board Act. An important outfit of the Sangh Parivar, the Ashram had urged the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for such a relaxation. It had brought to the notice of the JPC that large scale Waqf registrations had been loaded on the Adivasi lands in several states in contravention of the 5th and 6th Schedule of the Constitution. After verifying the claim, the JPC recommended to the government to grant such an exemption. Minority Affairs minister Kiren Rijiju was also petitioned by the Ashram. Its president Satyendra Singh has thanked the Union government for this gesture. In a statement, Singh says the Adivasis across the country are elated owing to this decision, announced by Rijiju in the Lok Sabha while speaking on the Waqf Act Amendment Bill. The other insertion in the new Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 provides for prevention of ASI-protected monuments. It pertains to historical monuments. The amendment concerned says that any declaration or notification issued under this Act or under any previous Act in respect of Waqf properties shall be void, if such property was a protected monument or protected area under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904 or the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, at the time of such declaration or notification. This means ASI-protected monuments have now been excluded from Waqf’s ambit.

Now that both the houses of Parliament have passed the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 with a comfortable majority for the ruling NDA, indications are that the political permutations and combinations in Maharashtra will emerge in a different shape. Maharashtra has over 92,000 acres of land named as Waqf properties. Their worth can run into thousands of crore rupees if developed systematically. But the more dominant consideration will be political. Certain sections in the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi are reported to be uneasy since their party whips had compelled them to vote against the Bill contrary to their will.  Those claiming to be staunch Hindutva proponents are hence feeling the dilemma more acutely. Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde’s son Shrikant has openly invited such elements to the saffron fold while speaking on the Bill in the Lok Sabha. Ever since the Fadnavis government took over, there has been a steady trickle from the MVA towards either the BJP or the NCP led by Ajit Pawar or the Shiv Sena under Shinde. On the other hand, MVA leaders are finding it difficult to keep their flocks together. Sensing the potential of such a huge land bank, the Centre will be devising a formula that will further its objective of liberating the Waqf properties from the clutches of a few and involve a larger number of Muslims in running the affairs of various Waqf boards. Given the volume of opportunities to be generated, shifting of political loyalties is expected to accelerate in near future.

On the penultimate day of the Budget Session, the MPs belonging to the DMK were spotted in the Parliament wearing black shirts. It was not clear what they were protesting about. One of their MPs — P Wilson — who is on the panel to preside over Rajya Sabha could be seen sporting a black shirt and presiding over the House. In the past few weeks the DMK MPs have been protesting Centre’s approach to the state, particularly over New Education Policy and denial of funds to it. schools.  In the state assembly chief minister MK Stalin sported a black badge and even got a resolution moved against the Waqf Bill that was passed by the Lok Sabha. This must be added to the state’s tally of assembly resolutions denouncing the Centre’s moves. First one was on the NEET. Meanwhile, it is learnt Sivaganga Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram managed to get a quiet word with PM Modi last week over the menace of stray dogs. He pointed out how India was home to one of the largest stray dog populations — 6.2 crore – globally. The meeting with Modi must have boosted Karti’s stock among TN leaders and also surprised Rahul Gandhi who has always cold shouldered him. In a post on X, Karti explained how India was endemic for rabies, responsible for 36% of the world’s rabies-related deaths. “I raised concerns about the inadequacy of the current system, where local bodies lack the resources, funding, and technology to tackle this issue effectively. It’s clear that urgent action is required. I suggested establishing a National Task Force to provide a holistic, humane, and scientific solution while working closely with local bodies.”