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Inasmuch as one would like to pat the selection committee for facilitating Indian cricket skip a few steps ahead by naming Shubman Gill as captain of the men in blue one-day international team, the committee refused to state its position on the status of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma vis-a-vis their selection for the 2027 World Cup. Ajit Agarkar was right in saying that that October 2025 is not the right time to take an affirmative call for an event that’s going to happen in October-November 2027. Surely Agarkar and his committee could no way have “blocked” Virat and Rohit’s seats well in advance to leave the other contenders short-changed. The selection committee may or may not remain the same after next year’s BCCI AGM but a matter of vital importance is whether Virat and Rohit would continue to be picked for all one-day internationals — in all 21 ODIs after the three-match series in Australia. India is scheduled to play South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, West Indies and Sri Lanka (all a three match series at home till November 2026 and England and New Zealand, all a three-match away series) and indeed by end of 2026, a few more cricketers would be pressing hard for a place in the one-day team for the World Cup. India’s Test team will be occupied with a five-Test series at home in January-February 2027 before the scheduled WTC final in London, after which the focus will be on a round of a 50 over matches/tournaments. The million $ question is whether the selection committee and head coach Gautam Gambhir will allow the Virat-Rohit thorn to be in their flesh for that long.
After successfully pushing through GST-2 reforms, PM Modi had been looking for innovative ideas for governance. It was this search for ideas to further fuel his Viksit Bharat that led to him to interact with about 85 secretary-level officers of the government on October 6. About two dozen secretary-level officers heading various ministries and departments actively participated in the discussions. It is learnt officers were thrilled with the personal interaction they had with the PM. Three days after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan was already acting on their suggestions. On October 9, he wrote to the secretaries and asked them to roll out their ideas. Among the key points of action was promoting “indigenous development” of digital and social media platforms. The directive on digital platforms is significant as the number of internet subscribers in India as on March 2025 stood at 969.1 million, with most using foreign platforms like Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and X. Significantly, PM Modi pushed for use of local platforms coinciding with the launch of Arattai, the messaging app developed by Tamil Nadu-based Zoho Corporation. Earlier, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted on X that he was switching to Zoho’s homegrown office suite software. Likewise, Home Minister Amit Shah too switched his official email service to Zoho Mail. In his letter, the Cabinet Secretary had also dissuaded ministries/departments from avoidable litigation and filing unnecessary court cases and wasting resources. Officials were also told to reorient PhD programmes to promote innovation and development of new ideas, and technologies, through topics that fit the emerging needs of the country – and conceptualise awards at the international level to recognise excellence in various fields. Overall, the ministries have been asked to promote “Atmanirbharta” and reduce imports.
In the last 14 India-West Indies Tests there were 25 centuries and all but two of them were by Indian batsmen. Making hundreds against the West Indies has become almost routine but the remarkable feature is that the Indian youth brigade is coming regularly to the party these days. Shubman Gill, just 26, who made his fifth Test century in just 12th innings as captain, was only a few innings behind Alastair Cook (9) and Sunil Gavaskar (10) in recording the feat. Even Sir Donald Bradman took 13 innings to make that fifth hundred as captain of Australia. Having also assumed responsibility as captain on the tour of England, Gill has five hundreds in the calendar year in his 10 Test centuries overall as he emulates Virat Kohli in making merry when hitting a purple patch of batting form. Pushing him hard in making Test centuries is the opener Yashasvi Jaiswal whose hunger for runs has become a lot more famous than his satiating his physical hunger by helping out at a Pani Puri stall outside the tented ground that was his home in Mumbai. The anger he showed in seeing his captain turn his back on him as he sought a quick single when in his 170s is evidence of how run-hungry Jaiswal is. Not yet 24, he joins South African Graeme smith as a quick collector of seven Test centuries as opener. Run making may get more difficult when Team India plays tougher opposition like South Africa in a home series, but the fact remains that there is a youth brigade that is making India proud again since the halcyon days of Gavaskar in 1971 when the breakthrough victory came in the Caribbean.
In a watershed year for Indian cinema, Kannada and Malayalam industries are leading the charge with blockbuster epics that blend cultural depth with universal spectacle. Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter 1 has shattered records, amassing Rs 500 crore worldwide, fuelled by its raw portrayal of Karnataka’s ‘Bhoota Kola’ rituals and environmental folklore. Shetty’s dual role as the fierce Panjara— a forest guardian clashing with modernity—delivers visceral action and spiritual resonance, backed by immersive folk music and stunning Udupi landscapes. The film’s grassroots appeal exploded through dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, turning rural myths into pan-Indian anthems and earning global acclaim at festivals like Busan. Hot on its heels, Malayalam’s Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra released on August 20, 2025, surged past Rs 300 crore in just six weeks, heralding a superhero saga rooted in Kerala’s matrilineal heritage. Director Dominic Arun masterfully fuses high-octane VFX with emotional intimacy, as producer Dulquer Salmaan crafts a universe where heroine Chandra (Kalyani Priyadarshan) wields ancestral powers against cosmic threats. Priyadarshan’s nuanced turn — from vulnerable orphan to empowered icon — fills a void in female-led genre tales, while spicy dialogue controversies sparked viral debates, boosting theatre footfalls. Salmaan’s bold vision promises spin-offs, blending local lore with Marvel-esque flair. This duo’s dominance underscores a broader renaissance: Gujarati’s Chhello Show 2 breached Rs 100 crore with its heartfelt immigrant saga; Marathi’s Dashaavtar hit Rs 50 crore via satirical family dramedy; and Tamil’s Coolie topped Rs 250 crore in labour-rights thriller mode. Smart OTT tie-ups, dubbed releases, and culturally authentic narratives propel these beyond regional silos, outshining Hindi’s faltering Param Sundari and Sunny Sankari ki Tulsi Kumari. As indigenous voices claim centre stage, Indian cinema evolves into a vibrant mosaic....
IndiGo seems to have cracked it. Their experiment to introduce direct flights between Manchester and Mumbai on July 1, seems to have more than enough takers. Emboldened by such a good response the airline has chalked up plans to add one more destination, Mumbai-London from October 26, making it the 45th destination. IndiGo has direct flights to Manchester and Amsterdam from Mumbai, and now it will be in direct competition with the established British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Air India. IndiGo continues its code-sharing as a partner carrier with some European and Middle Eastern airlines. The tremendous traffic growth — both business and regular travellers, the latest signing of the Free Trade Agreement between India and the UK, surge in India–UK activities on all fronts, including culture, has prompted IndiGo to offer this direct service, say aviation insiders. IndiGo will provide a trendy, competitive lower price at Rs 22,000 upwards for return tickets. IndiGo aims to attract budget travellers on its long-haul service. In addition to direct flights between Mumbai-London, it will also commence direct flights between Manchester-Delhi from November 15. It will certainly be good tidings to the residents of Delhi, north India, Gujarat, and Central India. with the vast network it operates from Delhi, being its headquarters. Mumbai serves as a hub for western India pockets. It is contemplating increasing its 3-day a week frequency to its current Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday schedule between Manchester to Mumbai, thus probably making a service of 9 flights freely in a week from Manchester.
Recruitment scam seems to be the new normal. Now, the state of Odisha is rocked by the Sub-Inspector Recruitment Scam. The Opposition parties, BJD and Congress, have been staging demonstrations against the ruling BJP government demanding a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in Combined Police Service Examination (CPSE) 2024. It is said that the written examination for recruitment of sub-inspectors conducted by the Odisha Police Recruitment Board was postponed after Berhampur Police busted a major recruitment racket with the arrest of 114 aspirants and three middlemen from the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border on September 30. Subsequent investigation revealed the role of an “organised criminal syndicate” was in place to subvert the entire examination process and give job to people who were willing to pay speed money. Sources say such a scam cannot happen without the blessings of senior government officials. It is alleged that each Sub-Inspector post was being sold for Rs 25 lakh. Informed sources say the scam could be worth around Rs 200 crore. So far Vanik Coaching Centre in Odisha is in focus. In the last 15 months, 16 recruitment exams have been cancelled at the last moment, leaving job aspirants frustrated. The BJP-led government by chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi says the recent recruitment scam in police is the legacy of the previous Naveen Patnaik’s BJD government. When Short Post contacted DGP Y B Khurania he refused to comment saying, “he was going on leave”.
The idiom aging like an old wine seems apt for the 56-year old Bobby Deol. Finally, he has stepped out of the shadow of his father Dharmendra and brother Sunny Deol. For an actor who almost became a recluse and took to drinking, the comeback has proved all his detractors wrong. What changed his life was an innocent question by his children: why is daddy home and not going to work? This is what he said in an exhaustive interview to Times Now‘s Navika Kumar. He went out looking for a job and he was lucky. A web series came his way and his role as Baba Nirala in Aashram (2020) made audiences sit up again. Then came Animal (2023), where his near-silent performance stole the spotlight despite limited screen time. Suddenly, Bollywood’s “forgotten Deol” was the industry’s most talked-about star. Bobby made his debut in Barsaat (1995). With hit films like Gupt, Soldier, Badal and Bichhoo he had carved a niche for himself as the romantic action hero. His downfall started some time in 2010 as a lot of new faces emerged who were versatile. Now cut to current days, he seems breezing with confidence… zipping in and out of film sets or TV news studios. Sure, Bobby has bounced back but diehard industry watchers have a piece of advice for him. “Now, that films are coming the way, he should pick and choose…he should strike a fine balance between art and commerce…that’s a craft he needs to master”.
In the intensely competitive ecosystem of Kollywood, traversing 22 years and reaching Lady Super Star status is no mean feat …in the same demanding profession where beauty, fitness and a modicum of acting talent combine to make a star. Forty-year old Nayanthara has achieved this milestone, still holding steady as one of the highest paid heroines (Rs 7 crore per film) pan India. Before she turned into the legend Nayan, she was Diane Mariam Kurian, dad Kurian Kudiyattu from the armed forces and mother Omana Kurian who bestowed her beauty and grace. Maybe she carried her military disciplined upbringing to her profession. But Nayan, went through some stormy and controversial romantic hookups too…her dalliance with a married Prabhu Deva, her brief affairs with Simbu and Arya provided much chomping fodder to the media, hungry for titillating bits and bytes. From her first film, Manasinakkare in Malayalam in 2003, to playing Sarat Kumar’s lead in Aiyya in 2005 …pairing with Rajinikanth in Chandramukhi which put her in orbit …soon Vijay, Ajitt, Suriya, Vikram, Simbu, Dhanush and Arya were her co-stars. Nayan’s name guaranteed a good box office run. She carried a mythological, Mookuthi Amman on her shoulders and turned a craze among women; the director is now ready with Mookuthi Amman 2. Vignesh Shivan, her husband came into her life with his directed film Naanum Rowdy Thaan, a relationship that merged into marriage in 2002, a much-hyped wedding… Netflix filmed and marketed it. Her twin boys, Uyir and Ulagh keep her busy, even as she still works in films with the same zeal in heroine-oriented roles. Nayan’s cosmetics start-up is sought after by fashionistas.
Jindal (India), part of the BC Jindal Group, is all set to expand its Howrah steel plant in West Bengal with Rs 1,500-crore investment. Already operating two plants in the state producing a range of steel-based downstream products, the group will significantly enhance its production capabilities with this addition. The Jindal Group’s latest investment aligns with its broader plan to scale up steel production across India, aiming to invest Rs18,000 crore over the coming years to enhance overall manufacturing capacity. The new Rs 1,500-crore downstream facility in West Bengal, with an annual capacity of 0.6 million tonnes, is expected to boost the company’s existing capacity by 60%, significantly increasing production of coated flat products, pipes, and crash barriers. According to the company, the commissioning of the new cold rolling complex marks the completion of a key phase in the expansion project, raising Jindal India’s total downstream steel capacity from 1 million to 1.6 million tonnes annually. Currently, Jindal India operates two advanced West Bengal facilities specialising in cutting-edge colour coating, galvanising, and galvalume technologies, further strengthening its position in India’s steel sector. Beyond West Bengal, the company, through its subsidiary, Jindal India Steel Tech is setting up a greenfield steel manufacturing plant in Dhenkanal, Odisha. JISTL plans to invest a total of Rs 15,000 crore in Odisha in three phases by 2030, with the current Rs 3,600 crore investment marking the first phase of the project.
Each time Kerala’s ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) attempts to appease Lord Ayyappa, something horribly goes wrong. With elections around the corner, first municipality in December 2025 and assembly elections in early 2026, the CPM-led LDF has been doing its best to appease Lord Ayyappa. The Kerala government held a Global Ayyappa Sangamam on the banks of river Pamba last month, in the name of commemorating the platinum jubilee of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages Hindu temples across the state. The meets agenda also included promotion of pilgrim tourism and exploration of investment opportunities. The meet failed miserably when the Opposition Congress-led UDF and BJP opposed the meet. It ended in a whimper with very low attendance. The hype behind the meet led to the focus shifting to release of Ayyappa devotees arrested in the 2018 Sabarimala protest against the Supreme Court judgement permitting women of menstruating age to worship at the shrine. While devotees and people at large ignored the Supreme Court ruling, the LDF took special interest in implementing the Apex Court order by forcefully taking young women to the shrine with full police protection. This act left LDF not only alienating the Hindus in the state but also families of CPM cadres. The Left-oriented cadres, at least on paper may be atheists, but not their families.
After successfully pushing through GST-2 reforms, PM Modi had been looking for innovative ideas for governance. It was this search for ideas to further fuel his Viksit Bharat that led to him to interact with about 85 secretary-level officers of the government on October 6. About two dozen secretary-level officers heading various ministries and departments actively participated in the discussions. It is learnt officers were thrilled with the personal interaction they had with the PM. Three days after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan was already acting on their suggestions. On October 9, he wrote to the secretaries and asked them to roll out their ideas. Among the key points of action was promoting “indigenous development” of digital and social media platforms. The directive on digital platforms is significant as the number of internet subscribers in India as on March 2025 stood at 969.1 million, with most using foreign platforms like Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and X. Significantly, PM Modi pushed for use of local platforms coinciding with the launch of Arattai, the messaging app developed by Tamil Nadu-based Zoho Corporation. Earlier, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted on X that he was switching to Zoho’s homegrown office suite software. Likewise, Home Minister Amit Shah too switched his official email service to Zoho Mail. In his letter, the Cabinet Secretary had also dissuaded ministries/departments from avoidable litigation and filing unnecessary court cases and wasting resources. Officials were also told to reorient PhD programmes to promote innovation and development of new ideas, and technologies, through topics that fit the emerging needs of the country – and conceptualise awards at the international level to recognise excellence in various fields. Overall, the ministries have been asked to promote “Atmanirbharta” and reduce imports.
Recruitment scam seems to be the new normal. Now, the state of Odisha is rocked by the Sub-Inspector Recruitment Scam. The Opposition parties, BJD and Congress, have been staging demonstrations against the ruling BJP government demanding a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in Combined Police Service Examination (CPSE) 2024. It is said that the written examination for recruitment of sub-inspectors conducted by the Odisha Police Recruitment Board was postponed after Berhampur Police busted a major recruitment racket with the arrest of 114 aspirants and three middlemen from the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border on September 30. Subsequent investigation revealed the role of an “organised criminal syndicate” was in place to subvert the entire examination process and give job to people who were willing to pay speed money. Sources say such a scam cannot happen without the blessings of senior government officials. It is alleged that each Sub-Inspector post was being sold for Rs 25 lakh. Informed sources say the scam could be worth around Rs 200 crore. So far Vanik Coaching Centre in Odisha is in focus. In the last 15 months, 16 recruitment exams have been cancelled at the last moment, leaving job aspirants frustrated. The BJP-led government by chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi says the recent recruitment scam in police is the legacy of the previous Naveen Patnaik’s BJD government. When Short Post contacted DGP Y B Khurania he refused to comment saying, “he was going on leave”.
Each time Kerala’s ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) attempts to appease Lord Ayyappa, something horribly goes wrong. With elections around the corner, first municipality in December 2025 and assembly elections in early 2026, the CPM-led LDF has been doing its best to appease Lord Ayyappa. The Kerala government held a Global Ayyappa Sangamam on the banks of river Pamba last month, in the name of commemorating the platinum jubilee of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages Hindu temples across the state. The meets agenda also included promotion of pilgrim tourism and exploration of investment opportunities. The meet failed miserably when the Opposition Congress-led UDF and BJP opposed the meet. It ended in a whimper with very low attendance. The hype behind the meet led to the focus shifting to release of Ayyappa devotees arrested in the 2018 Sabarimala protest against the Supreme Court judgement permitting women of menstruating age to worship at the shrine. While devotees and people at large ignored the Supreme Court ruling, the LDF took special interest in implementing the Apex Court order by forcefully taking young women to the shrine with full police protection. This act left LDF not only alienating the Hindus in the state but also families of CPM cadres. The Left-oriented cadres, at least on paper may be atheists, but not their families.
Women journalists were conspicuous by their absence at a press conference by Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi at the Afghan embassy in New Delhi on October 10. The participation was limited to less than 20 reporters. The exclusion of women journalists sparked political outrage nationwide. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra demanded that PM Modi clarify his position on the incident, calling it “an insult to India’s women journalists.” In a post on X she asked “If your recognition of women’s rights isn’t just convenient posturing from one election to the other, then how has this insult to some of India’s most competent women been allowed in our country, a country whose women are its backbone and its pride.” In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that it had no involvement in Muttaqi’s press interaction. The press conference was organised at the Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi following bilateral talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Muttaqi. TMC MP Mahua Moitra in a post on X attacked the government saying, “How dare our government allow Taliban foreign minister Amir Muttaqi to exclude women journalists & hold a ‘male-only’ news conference on Indian soil with full protocol? How dare @DrSJaishankar agree to this? & why did our emasculated spineless male journos remain in room?” Former Union Home Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram also expressed shock and disappointment, saying “male journalists should have walked out in solidarity with their female colleagues.” During his bilateral meeting with Muttaqi, Jaishankar had announced that India would upgrade its Technical Mission in Kabul to the status of the Embassy of India. The Taliban minister will continue to be in India until October 16.
Janata Party President Navneet Chaturvedi filed his nomination for the lone Rajya Sabha seat out of seven from Punjab that became vacant when Sanjeev Arora resigned from RS after he was elected MLA from Ludhiana West seat on AAP ticket. Interestingly, unlike assemblies, Rajya Sabha nomination mandates sponsorship by 10 sitting MLAs and Chaturvedi claims support of 10 MLAs from AAP that currently rules Punjab. AAP officially announced the candidature of billionaire Rajendra Gupta, chairman Trident Group, with two decades as Punjab minister under erstwhile Akali Dal and then Congress state governments. Gupta recently resigned his post as vice chairman of the State Economic Policy and Planning Board and chairman of the Kali Devi temple advisory board in Punjab. Chaturvedi has little confidence that 60 AAP MLAs of the 92 MLAs (out of 117 totally elected MLAs of Punjab) would actually vote him to the upper house and yet, feels his nomination upsets the existing trend of two decades when the Rajya Sabha seats from the state have been an unopposed political affair thus far. “RS candidates should also reflect the people’s aspirations in Punjab, be well versed with peoples’ issues rather than business people to whom political parties literally sell Rajya Sabha seats. There is certainly an undercurrent within AAP about its party chief Arvind Kejriwal holding de facto CM post while dominating over official CM Bhagwant Mann. My consistent endeavor is to revive and rejuvenate the Janata Party that once boasted its own Prime Minister through then chief Morarji Desai,” says Chaturvedi.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is apparently keen to move beyond the RJD’s traditional support base — the Yadavs and Muslims. It is being said that he is planning to contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly Election from two constituencies. Tejashwi currently represents the Raghopur seat. He is also toying with the idea of contesting from the Phulparas Assembly constituency in Madhubani district. The seat is currently held by Sheela Kumari of the JD(U). Phulparas is seen as a JD(U) stronghold. Significance of the Phulparas assembly seat is that it was once represented by notable OBC icon and former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur — both incumbent CM Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav were seen as his followers. The Modi government had posthumously awarded Thakur Bharat Ratna in January 2024. His son, Ram Nath Thakur, is a MoS in the Modi government. Phulparas holds historical significance because Karpoori Thakur contested from the seat after becoming Chief Minister in 1977. Tejashwi believes that if he also contests from Phulparas, it could significantly influence the support of extremely backward castes in the Kosi and Seemanchal regions. In January this year, the RJD held a grand event in Phulparas to mark the birth anniversary of Karpoori Thakur, which Tejashwi attended. During the event, local leaders and supporters urged him to contest from the constituency. Meanwhile, CM Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar, could enter the electoral fray in Bihar. The supporters of the CM have reportedly urged him to field Nishant in the upcoming elections, and speculation is rife that Nitish Kumar may heed their demand. According to party insiders, JDU leaders and workers are keen for Nishant to contest from the Harnaut Assembly seat in Nalanda. The final decision, however, rests with Nitish Kumar.
Why has BSP leader Mayawati realised that her main enemy is the Samajwadi Party and its leader Akhilesh Yadav, and not the BJP? Is it because the SP wooed her Dalit voters? At a rally in Lucknow on October 9, she lavished praise on the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in UP for maintaining the Kanshi Ram memorial. The BSP supremo had returned to deliver a fiery address at the Shradhanjali Sabha for her mentor Kanshi Ram. “I am grateful to the current state government because they did not hold back the collection of funds from the sale of tickets to the memorials built during my regime, for their upkeep,” she said. Mayawati said she had written to CM Yogi Adityanath in this regard, who, she added and he had kept his promise. “Isliye humari party unki abhari hai (So, the BSP is grateful to CM Adityanath).” In contrast, she said, “The SP regime had held back the funds meant for these memorials, which had led to their deterioration.” At the same time, Mayawati blamed the BJP-led Centre for “falsely framing” her and her family members in some corruption cases through the CBI and Income-tax. She said that the Congress regime had done the same thing during the UPA regime. Mayawati also urged BSP supporters to back her nephew Akash Anand in the same way they supported her. The BSP’s electoral fortunes have been steadily declining since the 2022 UP Assembly elections when its vote share fell to 12.88% and it won only one seat. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BSP’s vote share dropped further to 9.39% and zero seats. These BSP vote share figures indicate that the party’s support base is now confined to its core group of Jatav community.
BJP has escalated the recent attack on its Maldaha Uttar MP Khagen Murmu and Siliguri MLA Shankar Ghosh in flood-hit North Bengal into a major political narrative, framing it as violence against a tribal leader. The party plans to use the image of Murmu’s bloodied face to highlight what it calls the TMC’s failure to protect elected representatives and to question the INDIA Bloc’s commitment to tribal welfare. While BJP has accused TMC supporters of carrying out the assault, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee visited Murmu in a Siliguri hospital. According to BJP sources, the state leadership had recently submitted a report assessing its North Bengal strength, predicting 44–48 wins out of 54 Assembly seats, up from 30 in 2021. The report highlighted TMC’s weak position, except in a few minority-dominated areas in Malda and the Dinajpurs, and suggested the Murmu incident could further consolidate BJP support. In 2021, BJP won 30 seats, TMC 23, and the Tamang faction of GJM one; by-elections have since adjusted the tally to 25 for BJP and 28 for TMC. In the last Lok Sabha polls, BJP led in 32 segments, TMC 15, and Congress-backed candidates seven. State general secretary Deepak Barman said relief may not sway rural votes but can influence urban middle-class sentiment. The party intends to nationalize the Murmu attack, highlighting tribal issues in Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha, aiming to weaken Mamata’s national stature and put Congress and JMM in a difficult position within the INDIA Bloc. Interestingly, BJP believes this campaign could influence tribal voters in Bihar’s border areas.
Union home minister Amit Shah stated that though the top trio leadership of Maharashtra, namely chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and his two deputies — Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar — the trimurtis of Maharashtra were not banias; they displayed the trading community trait and knew exactly how to get their work done. At the invited event, all three cornered me together seeking drought relief from Centre, Shah chuckled. Though the Centre has assured aid to deal with the havoc of heavy crop damage due to heavy rains and floods, it has been held up due to incomplete damage assessments. A proposal for aid from Centre can be sent only once and cannot be revised, Fadnavis has been trying hard to explain to distraught farmers and a highly vocal Opposition. Incidentally, the Opposition had been cornering Fadnavis by demanding for wet drought, a non-existent term that was coined by Fadnavis when was an Opposition leader in 2020. Fadnavis also refused to declare a drought instead suggesting that all drought-like sops or exemptions would be granted without officially being declared a drought. While the Opposition has been demanding that the state waive off crop loans and declare a state of drought, the Fadnavis government refused to bite the bait and refused to waive off crop loan. Fadnavis’ logic. Mere loan waiver won’t help farmers as they won’t have money to invest for next cropping season. Though the floods lashed the state in the last week of September, the state has been promising aid only before Diwali assuring them that their Diwali won’t be dark this year.
Slain police sub inspector Prakash Pandurang More’s daughter Anushka has finally been appointed in a government job. Her father was killed by Pakistani terrorists in the 26/11 Mumbai attack in 2008. Anushka has obtained a bachelor degree in pharmacy. She has been posted in the medical education department of the state government on compassionate grounds. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had urged the Maharashtra Public Service Commission to relax the relevant rules so that Anushka could be accommodated in a suitable government job. Fadnavis handed over the appointment letter to Anushka at a function in Mumbai on Friday. He said, “It is our duty to do justice towards the families of the valorous jawans. The appointment of Anushka is a salute to the gallantry of PSI Prakash More. I feel that I have fulfilled a sacred responsibility.” More was among the many police personnel killed during the attack. Subsequently, the government had initiated the process of absorbing their dependents in the government service on the ground of compassion, an old practice in Maharashtra. Tears in her eyes, Anushka recalled the bravery of her late father and said he died for the country. She said the family was satisfied that the sacrifice had been honoured. Anushka is among the thousands of appointees, who have been employed by the state on compassionate grounds.
The Election Commission of India announced that Bihar Assembly elections will be held in two phases November 6 and 11. The counting will be on November 14.”Bihar poll is the mother of all elections, which is why a total of 8.5 lakh officers are deployed for Bihar elections,” said CEC Gyanesh Kumar. Closely questioned about the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls carried out in Bihar, the CEC assured, “People can still get their names added to voter lists till 10 days before the filing of nomination papers by candidates”. The electoral battle in the state will witness a direct contest between the ruling NDA led by chief minister Nitish Kumar and the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ led by the RJD. The NDA currently holds 131 seats — BJP 80, JD(U) 45, HAM(S) 4, and two independents. The Opposition has 111 seats — RJD 77, Congress 19, CPI(ML) 11, CPI(M) 2, and CPI 2. Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj will also make its debut, contesting all 243 seats in the state. The CEC also said the number of voters at each polling station has been capped at 1,200 and that the serial number font and candidate photos — which used to be in black and white — will now be in colour. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav tried to strike an emotional chord with voters via X. He wrote “Bihar will vote for a change in the coming assembly polls. After 20 years, a grand festival will arrive that will dispel all sorrows and troubles. On that day, every Bihari will join Tejashwi in celebrating victory, because on that day, every Bihari will become Bihar’s CM – that is, CHANGE MAKER”.
In an interesting twist, the BJP’s Madhya Pradesh government has appointed DMK lawyer P Wilson in a OBC quota case before the Supreme Court. Wilson is presently Rajya Sabha MP of the DMK. An additional solicitor general of the UPA government, he apparently got another term in the RS from the DMK after his successful legal battle questioning powers of the Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi. BJP circles were quite puzzled that the MP government should opt for a DMK counsel. The buzz is Wilson was not the direct pick of the MP government. Apparently, chief minister Mohan Yadav had requested the OBC Mahasabha to suggest a name for legal representation. The Mahasabha had recommended Wilson. The OBC Mahasabha filed an affidavit in the SC last week ahead of the regular hearing on the implementation of 27% OBC reservation and unfreezing of 13% reserved posts in MP. The SC is scheduled start regular hearing on OBC quota next week.CM Mohan Yadav had earlier convened an all-party meeting on August 28, where there was unanimous political support for the 27% OBC quota. The quota for OBCs in MP was raised from 14% to 27% through an ordinance by the previous Congress government under Kamal Nath, which ruled from December 2018 to March 2020. OBCs make up 51.8% of the state’s population. Choice of advocate P Wilson is interesting, considering he comes from TN where reservation for OBCs is 69% and was placed under 9th Schedule — that is cannot be challenged — due to efforts of AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa. Wilson as a lawyer for the MP government has set off a political buzz that perhaps a loose alliance of sorts is being worked out between the DMK-TVK and the BJP.
Unified Shiv Sena’s leader Ramdas Kadam has alleged that Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray’s body was kept at Matoshri two days after he died. Kadam said Balasaheb’s finger prints, too, were taken. A former close associate of the Thackeray family, Kadam has switched to the Sena faction of deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde and since then has been a relentless critic of Uddhav and the Sena (UBT). Kadam made these damning allegations at the Dussehra rally of his party. He has dared Uddhav to prove him false by facing him. Kadam has time and again lambasted Uddhav but his attack on Thursday (Oct 2) against Uddhav was particularly vitriolic. Kadam has demanded that his charges should be investigated by the government and warned Uddhav that he would come out with more damning information which will ‘shake Matoshri.’ Kadam said Uddhav is the only leader who tried to finish the political career of his followers. Kadam reiterated his allegations at a press conference. In one context, the name of veteran leader Sharad Pawar, too, has surfaced. Significantly, no prominent leader belonging to any party has reacted to Kadam’s charges. Most said they were unaware of the circumstances Kadam was talking about. Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut came down heavily against Kadam but almost all other leaders have found it wise to keep away from the controversy, at least for the present.
The absence of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena founder Raj Thackeray at the Dussehra rally organised by Shiv Sena (UBT) has once again created an atmosphere of suspense about two cousins coming together for the coming local body elections in the state. When Uddhav and Raj shared a stage a couple of months ago, those advocating their union were overjoyed, expressing confidence that the duo will sweep the civic election in Mumbai, Thane and in some other important cities. On his part, Uddhav has repeatedly reassured his followers and those wishing the alliance that MNS will stay with his Sena. “We were present on the same dais to tell you that we will be united in the future,” Uddhav said at his rally held at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai. Raj Thackeray’s mansion, Shiv Teerth, is just across the park grounds. Many fervently expected Raj to turn up for the public meeting, which was attended by Sainiks in large numbers despite the slush created by rains. As it became clear that the MNS leaders would not arrive, efforts were made to find solace in Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut’s statement that the other Shiv Teerth, too, should be regarded as ‘ours.’ The Shivaji Park precinct is traditionally described as Shiv Teerth (Pilgrimage to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj). A few years ago, Raj constructed his second abode opposite Shivaji Park grounds, naming it Shiv Teerth. Hence, the word play, which has failed to end the suspense.
Nothing has rattled the Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin more than the NDA team’s visit to assess the Karur incident involving TVK leader and actor Vijay. He charged the BJP of attempting to exploit the Karur stampede, which had claimed 41 lives, for political mileage rather than concern for the state. The NDA team led by Tamil speaking popular actor Hema Malini not only interacted with local people but the visitors have also shot off a letter to CM Stalin seeking department-wise accountability and responsibility for the incident. The letter is signed by one of the eight MPs on the team— former Union Minister Anurag Singh. Annoyed by the quick footed action from the NDA over the stampede, Stalin has claimed that the Centre had never responded when the state was struck by three major disasters that had left thousands suffering. He also charged that Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had neither visited immediately nor released funds, but had now chosen instead to go to Karur. Interestingly, the FM had interacted with survivors directly seeking to know first-hand, if the Central assistance of Rs 2 lakhs announced by PM Modi had been credited to their accounts. Stalin sought to know why the BJP had not sent fact-finding committees to probe similar incidents in BJP ruled states like the Manipur internecine clashes or the Kumbh Mela stampede. He felt the NDA team was only being rushed to TN because of the upcoming assembly elections. Interestingly, controversial DMK minister Senthil Balaji held a presser at Karur, post the visit of the NDA team, to counter allegations that his henchmen had triggered the stampede.
Garlands For Vijay’s Campaign Vehicles, But No Candles For 41 Dead? This year’s Ayudha Pooja in Tamil Nadu was overcast by the heart -rending death toll of 41 lives, including a 2-year old child and a 60 year’s elder at Karur, when the grandstanding campaign presence of TVK Vijay turned into a massive stampede. The country was still reading about this serious death toll and the Tamilian craze to catch a glimpse of a film star. The usual claims of “heart broken”, “I am too numb to process this” and the blame game of who or what caused the human tragedy, flew thick and fast. But wait, who said the Ayudha Pooja celebrations had been cancelled, so this party could pay homage to the dead, even light candles (Vijay is of the Christian faith and even candle were not lit to mourn the dead) . Instead, the pictures of his campaign vehicles fully decorated with Banana saplings and garlands went viral, but not a word of condolence, even as a one man commission of retired Judge Aruna Jagadeesan had been set up to probe the tragedy. Are campaign vehicles and their sanctity more important than human lives? Time and again such death tolls and heart wrenching tragedies happen. Soon, more campaigns and political aspirant pied-pipers will spring up …the star struck public will be wooed to come in large numbers, supplicants and suppliants, blind faith and mindless following just ripe for more such disasters.
With at least 41 people getting killed in a stampede at a political rally in Karur organised by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) of actor Vijay, a lot has changed in Tamil Nadu politics. The tragedy has completely rewritten the way Vijay can do politics in the state. It seems he cannot afford to go solo and needs to hitch his bandwagon to an alliance. May be the AIADMK-BJP alliance. Or some third alliance. Or else he may find crushed by the DMK. At least, three days after the stampede Vijay conceded that the stampede was a conspiracy that should have never happened. It is being said the stampede has so shattered the confidence of his followers and his workers that in a video message to CM MK Stalin, Vijay sought to know if the ruling party was seeking revenge. Clearly the DMK was unsettled by the kind of response he was getting from people. With a huge fan following, Vijay was not willing to have an alliance with the AIADMK. During his initial talks with AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) he had demanded that he be projected as CM. After the Karur incident, Vijay knows he needs friends desperately. To be fair, EPS promptly came out in his support. Former TN BJP chief K Annamalai pointed out that the presence of 400 cops at Vijay’s rally was inadequate. With Vijay seeking a CBI probe into the incident via petition in Madras High Court, it is important that he builds bridges with the Centre. It is learnt that Home Minister Amit Shah also reached out to Vijay. Meanwhile, TN Congress leaders are puzzled that Rahul Gandhi should even call up Vijay. That too when nine Cong MPs had met CM Stalin to discuss their constituency work only last week. Was the Congress deliberately misleading people about TN alliances?
After Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu now language war erupts in Odisha. The tug of war about signboard language is already heating up in Odisha just like other states. Trade bodies and shop keepers representing commercial establishments are now on the frontlines of Odia language imposition tussle. The labour and ESI department in Odisha have swung into action issuing over 1606 show cause notices to commercial establishments for not displaying their outlets name in Odia language boldly. This has been confirmed by Labour Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia’s in the Assembly this week. Out of 1606 served show cause notices, 100 owners have been issued show cause notices for repeating the violations with Jharsuguda and Khurda district taking the lead followed by Balasore in Odisha. From Odisha state’s point of view, giving importance to Odia language isn’t just about words, it’s about keeping Odisha’s identity and history alive. The government’s immediate objectives are two-fold: introducing amendments to reinforce states’ commitment to Odia language preservation, two promote pride in Odia language and culture just like other states have done to preserve their local languages. To push compliance, the state government’s Labour and ESI departments are organizing rallies to raise awareness of this issue. As an incentive for compliance, the Odisha government has offered a 5% discount on trade license renewals for shops and commercial establishments that follow the rule using Odia script.
“My heart has broken, I am in unbearable, inexplicable pain and grief,” actor-politician Vijay said in his first reaction after tragedy had struck hours earlier in the form of a stampede that took 41 lives at TVK’s rally. Meanwhile, a campaign had taken off in Tamil Nadu to place the blame entirely on the actor whose political movement is attracting so many people on his weekend visits to various places in the state that it has become quite a political phenomenon not seen in the cinema-crazed state for decades now. The government put out an immediate message to journalists about inexperienced organisers not following rules or instructions, how Vijay came seven hours late to the venue leading to restlessness and the actor not taking any responsibility and running away from the spot. Be that as it may, this avoidable tragedy was everyone’s fault, including that of Vijay’s unruly fans of whom much has been said in the two weeks since he began his political campaign. The administration has been placing 25 restrictions on his meetings and even if he faithfully follows all of them, there is no saying when a mad following will burst the controls and surge towards the magnetic star as they did that night in Karur when the stampede that everyone had feared took place. Police control over the crowds in his rally have been very lax too. His political foray having snowballed into a GenZ phenomenon, Vijay will have to be cautious on how he can control the crowds that he is attracting, and which is drawing political envy and fear as well.
India’s stunning win against Pakistan in the Asia Cup final and refusal of Congress leaders particularly Rahul Gandhi to acknowledge it has become an intense subject of political scrutiny. The BJP was quick to point out that it was perhaps similar to how the main Opposition party couldn’t congratulate the Indian Army for its stupendous strike during Operation Sindoor. Party’s I-T chief Amit Malviya in a post even suggested that the Congress was perhaps “waiting for permission from Pak minister Mohsin Naqvi and their other handlers in the neighbouring country” before joining the nation in celebrating the Indian cricket team’s success. Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Dr Sudhanshu Trivedi said “both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra should keep sports separate from politics”, as they did not give any reaction to India’s victory over Pakistan. He said that the Congress and the opposition alliance are always ready to side with Pakistan at every level be it sports or diplomacy and this is their true identity. He pointed out it was India’s 9th victory in the Asia Cup. In this tournament, India defeated Pakistan three times consecutively. The Indian team made a clean sweep by winning all the matches in this Asia Cup. For this, the Indian cricket team, its captain Surya Kumar Yadav, and all the fellow players certainly deserve congratulations. PM Modi tweeted “Operation Sindoor on the games field. Outcome is the same — India wins!. Congrats to our cricketers.”
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was spearheading the demand for statehood for Ladakh and had been on an indefinite fast for 15 days, has been arrested. Wangchuk’s journey from thanking PM Modi for granting Ladakh’s UT status in August 2019 to inciting violence that left four people dead as recently as September 25 symbolises the dangers of political opportunism and external manipulation. Thousands of people had come out and indulged in arson and stoning. Local BJP office was set on fire. Wangchuk called off his indefinite fast soon after the violence spread. It is worth mentioning that the Centre had scheduled October 6 for talks between the agitators and the high-powered committee. Previously, informal talks were scheduled to begin on September 26. Despite these firm assurances, the agitators resorted to arson and violence. It’s not easy to understand the logic behind it. BJP leaders allege that Congress instigated the violence because the party wanted to create a “Nepal-type” situation in India. Why does Wangchuk now raise hackles in India’s power circles? One it is his close and continuing association with foreign funded LEAD India and International Association for Ladakh Studies. His climate project ICE STUPAS faced criticism from the locals for being unsustainable. His recent calls to halt the Army’s infrastructure projects in Ladakh citing climate concerns have sparked serious unease. Besides his American wife Rebecca Norman and her connection with Ford Foundation and Soros’s Open Societies have been a matter of concern. In 2023, Wangchuk began his outdoor hunger strikes, demanding “constitutional safeguards” like inclusion in the Sixth Schedule. It is unbelievable that the engineer-innovator Wangchuk who had developed solar power tents for Indian Army and inspired actor Aamir Khan’s character Phunsukh Wangdu in the popular film Three Idiots, is being portrayed as a NGO person using foreign funds– to undermine the country.
With Bihar assembly elections around the corner, both the BJP and the Congress were seen wooing women voters. While PM Modi reached out to women in Bihar via video conference from Delhi, formally launching the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana that promised to reach out to 75 lakh women across the state. Under the scheme, women would receive Rs 10,000 each through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into their bank accounts. Modi described the initiative as a transformative step for entrepreneurship among rural women. In his address, PM Modi said the scheme was possible because of the Jan Dhan financial inclusion programme launched 11 years ago. He called the scheme part of the government’s effort to make women “Lakhpati Didis” — women earning at least Rs 1 lakh a year — under the central government’s campaign to create 3 crore such women nationwide. The launch of the Rs 10,000 scheme by PM Modi clearly upset the Congress and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. For a party that has come to power in two southern states — Telangana and Karnataka — on the basis of guarantees it was odd that Priyanka even questioned the basis of DBT pay-outs in Bihar and its timing. Speaking to groups of women, she said the promise of Rs 10,000 so close to elections was a transparent attempt to secure votes. Why didn’t BJP give you Rs 10,000 for the last 20 years. Priyanka announced a Congress poll promise of granting land ownership to women. She said every landless family in Bihar would receive 3 to 5 decimals of land, and that ownership titles would be in the names of women.
Even as torrential rains ravaged drought hit regions of Maharashtra causing much destruction, the state is stuck in limbo unable to help its farmers. With state debts crossing Rs 9.32 lakh crore, the state is struggling to deal with this natural calamity of this scale and is now looking at the Centre for aid. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis rushed to Delhi to present his case but hasn’t yet got anything concrete in hand. Till then the government has been trying to play with numbers to dissipate agrarian anger. The Rs 2215 crore aid package announced for farmers turned out to be the release of pending aid for earlier damage assessments. For the 31.64 lakh farmers in the state, this would have just meant Rs 7000 per head, pointed out farmer leaders. Insensitive gestures like plastering mugshots on aid kits as done by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde generated more uproar than goodwill. Umpteen ministerial visits lacking concrete assurances after being ordered by the CM, also aggravated public sentiments on the subject. Unrelenting media coverage and backlash from the opposition members only added to the state discomfiture. The opposition is pushing for complete loan waiver for farmers and aid of Rs 50,000 per hectare. Incidentally, it took Uddhav Thackeray, who always gets accused of operating from his home, to get the government to step up in action. He demanded that the Centre dig into the Prime Minister’s Care Fund to help farmers. State Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal wondered how the state fell short of funds only for aiding farmers and never for funding its mega projects.
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has asserted that he will stay in the state for the full term of five years. Talking to senior editors at the India Today Conclave in Mumbai, Fadnavis reiterated that he is making this statement since he is conversant with the way the BJP takes important decisions. Fadnavis is considered a front-runner to take up the BJP’s presidency and media speculation has been rife on this count. Rejecting any such possibility, he said the successor to present BJP president JP Nadda will be a staunch follower of the RSS ideology. Nadda has been given extensions amidst reports that the RSS and the BJP are still to agree on the next incumbent of the single largest political party in the world. Taking a dig at the media forecasts, Fadnavis said he was amazed to read some of the names mentioned to be in the race. Fadnavis has also discounted reports that a discord exists between him and deputy CM Eknath Shinde. He said, “During my first tenure, Shinde was in my cabinet. Later, I became deputy CM in his cabinet. Now, the position has reversed again. We are working in close coordination and there is no substance in the reports that we are at loggerheads.” Fadnavis has been the focus of opposition criticism for some time on different issues and it has been suggested obliquely that some of his cabinet colleagues are fomenting unrest against him. Hence, his unambiguous assertion about leading the state for the full term is likely to dampen any such attempts, if they are made in reality.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has once again turned Durga Puja into a campaign arena and cultural outreach, leaving Opposition parties scrambling to match her scale. While the BJP views the festival as a potential political weapon, Mamata has neutralised it, ensuring the celebrations remain firmly under her influence. Over the past seven years, the number of Puja committees spanning Kolkata and remote districts has grown from 28,000 to 45,000. Likewise, the financial support during the same period has also scaled up from Rs 10,000 to Rs 110,000 this year alongside electricity bill waivers. In effect, Mamata expanded her reach from Cooch Behar to Kakdwip as chief patron of the festivities. During the Left Front era, the CPI(M) maintained organisational control in several spheres but deliberately kept a distance from Puja. Leaders like late Subhash Chakraborty occasionally engaged, but the party never made the festival a political stage. This allowed Mamata, post-2011, to steadily enlarge her presence, transforming Puja inaugurations into high-visibility public relations opportunities. Even Opposition leaders like BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari seldom attended Puja inaugurations in Kolkata or districts, leaving the party largely absent from major events. Apart from Sajol Ghosh in Kolkata, BJP has no significant foothold. Initially questioned in courts, these grants have been strategically tied to Bengali cultural identity, intertwining Durga Puja with heritage and pride recognized by UNESCO, effectively transforming the festival into both a cultural and political instrument. Didi has also expanded the Puja arena not only through grants but the puja idol immersion carnival inspired by Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro, now institutionalised and set for Red Road on October 5.
Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar is finding himself in troubled waters for his two recent statements. Firstly, Pawar told agitated flood victims in no uncertain terms a couple of days ago, “You can make any claims but money can’t become available unless you have it.” He was interacting with the aggrieved farmers who have been demanding substantial assistance since they have lost everything in the current flooding calamity in many parts of the state. His candid admission has caused consternation, some of which is political. Pawar has been called insensitive by his detractors. Secondly, Pawar’s assertion that reservations should be based on an applicant’s economic status has invited ire by his closest associate, firebrand leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who has been championing the OBC reservation cause. Bhujbal said the reservations was not a Garibi Hatao programme but it was a measure to uplift the communities that have been backward socially. Bhujbal’s vocal opposition has once again bared the split in the polity of Maharashtra. At the core of the conflict is the state government’s recent resolution to grant ‘Kunabi’ status to Marathas, which is considered a higher caste on the social spectrum. Bhujbal has not minced his words in the past, either. So far, Pawar has not reacted to his outburst. But either way, the reservation issue is bound to have repercussions in the coming local body elections that will determine the shape of the politics in Maharashtra.
Ahead of assembly elections in Bihar, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, the BJP has deployed several Union ministers to take charge of these states’ elections. For Bihar, the BJP has appointed Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as its election in-charge. Alongside him, Union Minister CR Paatil and Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya have also been named as co-in charges. Significantly, Pradhan and Maurya are prominent OBC leaders. With the Congress trying to play catch up with the NDA in OBC politics by releasing a resolution for Most Backward Classes or Atipichda Nyay Sankalp at its recent Patna CWC meeting, it is interesting that the BJP managers are prominent OBC leaders. The Bihar Legislative Assembly election for all 243 seats is scheduled for October–November 2025. The previous polls were held in October–November 2020, after which the NDA formed the government with Nitish Kumar as chief minister. In August 2022, JD(U) broke ties with the NDA and joined the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan, only to return to the BJP-led NDA in January 2024, once again installing Nitish Kumar as CM. For West Bengal, the BJP has appointed Union Minister Bhupender Yadav as its election in-charge. Former Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb has been named as co-incharge. It is important to note that the BJP has appointed senior leader Baijayant Panda as election in-charge for Tamil Nadu, while Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol has been named as co-incharge. Party sources feel the choice of Panda for TN assumes significance as he was credited for turning around BJP’s fortune’s in Delhi and wresting the state from AAP this year. It is quite possible that the party leadership has similar expectations from him in the southern state too.
A fresh feud is taking shape in the family of RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, following a cryptic post by his daughter Rohini Acharya, who had donated her kidney to her father in 2022. While Tej Pratap has been sulking ever since father expelled him from the party earlier this year, Rohini who has been nursing political ambitions, raised eyebrows with a series of cryptic tweets in the past few days. Rohini, 47, wrote X: “I have been performing my duties as a daughter and a sister and will continue to do so. Neither am I hankering after a post nor do I have any political ambitions.” A medical graduate who chose to be a homemaker and settled with her husband in Singapore, Rohini first came to the limelight in 2022 when she donated a kidney to her father, who was in need of a transplant. Last year, she made an unsuccessful electoral debut from Saran constituency, which was represented by her father long ago. Speculations were rife that she wanted to try her luck again, in the upcoming assembly polls but got a cold shoulder from brother Tejashwi. Her brother’s refusal to accommodate her in state polls, made her attack his close aide – tech savvy Sanjay Yadav– a Haryana born leader Rajya Sabha since April 2024. He was introduced to Tejashwi by Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav. It is not clear if it was Sanjay Yadav’s idea to restrict “kith & kin” in ticket distribution. Whatever it is, the family feud is worrying the Congress — a key ally which is holding the CWC meeting in Patna on September 24. Meanwhile, to openly project Tejashwi as CM, Congress will look for some decent seat share.
Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai is once again in focus. The buzz in Chennai BJP is that he is probably working for the DMK. Or else it is inexplicable that after being cajoled into coordinating with his party colleagues by senior BJP leader BL Santosh — he had even dropped by Annamalai’s residence only last week — and had promised to work for the AIADMK-BJP alliance. Party sources say he was found liaising over the weekend with a breakaway AIADMK faction – TTV Dhinkaran’s AMMK — which he had insisted must be re-inducted into the NDA. This development so upset the state unit that TN BJP chief Nainar Nagenthran rushed to Delhi to meet BJP national president JP Nadda. It was felt Annamalai could be reaching out to Dhinakaran as part of Home Minister Amit Shah’s general advice to ensure BJP presence in southern districts of TN. But does that mean Shah would signal Annamalai to wreck the very foundation of BJP’s ties with the AIADMK and the understanding reached with party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS)? Possibly not. Party insiders feel Annamalai was most likely acting on his own as he expressed regret over Dhinakaran’s exclusion from the alliance. Sources say Annamalai is determined to weaken AIADMK chief EPS and split the BJP-AIADMK alliance. All this is being done with an eye to benefit the incumbent DMK, which is bound to benefit from a split in non-DMK votes. It is also possible he may be driving AIADMK, in desperation, towards the actor Vijay-led TVK. He wants to take revenge on EPS and prevent him from becoming CM in 2026.Within BJP, he is targeting his successor Nainar Nagenthran.
Actor-politician is getting more daring by the day even as crowds keep flocking to his Saturday meetings in district towns of Tamil Nadu. The latest salvo he fired at Stalin was to challenge him to cut the audio system or the power when the Prime Minister, the Home Minister or the RSS chief comes to Tamil Nadu. It is a fact that whatever caused these disruptions, they did take place at Vijay’s meeting in Trichy when the audio of his speech did not carry to the several lakh people who gathered at his rally and mysterious power cuts took place. Try imposing the conditions – about 25 are thrust upon his meetings before permission is granted by the police – when the PM and the HM come calling, says Vijay. For all the lofty liberal principles of respecting political opponents that the ruling DMK may profess, it is clear they are rattled by the momentum Vijay is gaining. The imposing of strict conditions – including that he speaks only for 30 minutes at any rally – is a clear sign that the ruling DMK will do its best to disrupt Vijay’s campaign as he poses the biggest threat to Stalin emulating his father in getting re-elected. That may still happen as the DMK is still ahead in the race, but their image will have taken a beating as they are doing exactly what ruling parties tend to do in trying to rein in rivals to power.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena is testing its own concoction, that too, in Dadar, Mumbai where the Shiv Sena was born. The Shiv Sena and its breakaway faction, MNS, have invariably championed the cause of Marathi and Marathi Manoos. It always taunts the BJP on this count. But the wheel has turned a full circle now. The trigger is an eatery, ‘Indori Chaat and Much More’ started by staunch MNS spokesman, Sandeep Deshpande in the heart of Dadar. The chef and the menu are, of course, from Indore. The restaurant attracted attention when two famous food bloggers visited and then praised it. The BJP has seized the opportunity to troll Deshpande. The media, too, has reminded MNS of its original agenda of preserving Marathi, jobs for locals and justice for the sons of soil. A BJP social media activist has taunted Deshpande for an earlier MNS declaration that the next Mumbai mayor will be a Marathi Manoos. “You can’t even find a Marathi chef but boast of installing a Marathi mayor in Mumbai,” says one of the posts. Incidentally, Maharashtra and Indore have a historical connection. The Indore rulers, the Holkar clan, had their origins in Maharashtra. Indore’s most illustrious ruler, Devi Ahilyabai, was born in the state’s Ahmednagar district, which is now renamed as Ahilya Nagar after her. Deshpande’s restaurant has given his detractors a chance to hit back, literally in the belly.
Maratha reservation demand’s uncrowned king Manoj Jarange Patil is known for his stinging tongue. His two favourite targets are Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and NCP’s senior OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal. While attacking them, Jarange has crossed the limit occasionally and has had to apologise, too. As the intensity of the Maratha agitation is waning for a variety of reasons, Jarange has warned the government of staging a mass rally in Delhi to press the demand afresh. The protest action led by him in Mumbai a couple of weeks ago elicited a huge response but the government resolution issued subsequently is now mired in controversy. Hence, to keep the steam up, Jarange had organised a meeting of his close associates at his village, Antarwali Sarati. As the meet was underway at an open field, those present started running helter-skelter suddenly. The reason was that a swarm of honeybees had descended on the group, forcing the activists to abandon the discussion. Fortunately for Jarange, some of them had a shawl with them. They covered the leader and took him to a safer place. In the reconvened meeting, Jarange did not forget to warn Bhujbal in his trademark style. But the social media discussion centred on the poetic justice dispensed to Jarange. “If you bite others, beware of a fallout,” some suggested wryly.
The sweet and sour friendship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and NCP leader Sharad Pawar has been vexing political circles for all these years. Neither loses a chance to reiterate its existence nor to take pot shots at each other. But both have maintained a dignified level. On the other hand, the Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) don’t waste a single opportunity to criticise Modi and the BJP. Both these parties had reminded Modi on his 75th birthday that he himself had imposed the age limit for retirement from active politics. Of course, the BJP had soon thereafter clarified that the observation did not apply to Modi. Still, some mediapersons approached Pawar to elicit his comments on the issue, hoping to extract a juicy quote. Pawar being Pawar, he floored them all. He said, “If I myself have not retired, how can I advise anyone to bow out?” Pawar was born on 12 December 1940. Interestingly, there were no further questions. Pawar has disappointed INDIA Bloc and other Opposition parties on many occasions by taking a clear stand on several issues without caring for the possible criticism. For instance, when there was a demand to appoint a JPC to probe the Hindenburg allegations against the Adani Group, Pawar had dismissed the proposal as a non-starter. It is another matter that the industrialist has been a regular caller on Pawar. It is also a coincidence that Pawar’s statement about Modi’s 75th birthday has come on the day Adani has been exonerated by the SEBI of any wrongdoing.
BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar’s shocking statement expressing doubts about the parentage of senior NCP(SP) leader Jayant Patil has been roundly condemned and is causing grave concern the depth to which political culture is sinking in the state. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has admonished Padalkar, who has declared that he will abide by the CM’s order and refrain from making such a statement again. Padalkar, a former aide of Republican leader Prakash Ambedkar, is known for his audacious utterances. But the barb at Jayant Patil has crossed all limits, Sharad Pawar told Fadnavis in a phone call. Initially, Padalkar had refused to apologise by arguing that Pawar was silent when some INDIA Bloc bigwigs had made objectionable statements about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his mother. However, as the intensity of the criticism went on mounting, Padalkar relented. Jayant Patil is the son of the late Rajarambapu Patil, who was a heavyweight leader in the 1970’s and 80’s. He was tipped to become the chief minister of Maharashtra. His son Jayant is an astute politician and has handled the finance portfolio of the state for a long time, creating a record of presenting the maximum number of budgets. Jayant is among the closest colleagues to Pawar. The other angle to the acrimony between Padalkar and Jayant is that while the former belongs to the OBCs, Patil is a Maratha. At present, the two communities are at loggerheads on the issue of Marathas demanding reservations from the OBC quota. Tempers have been running high between the two sides. Padalkar has only added fuel to the fire by his reckless remark.
With the Bengali persecution issue placing the Bengal BJP under pressure, the party is seeking to recalibrate its electoral strategy by leaning harder on the Hindutva plank. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), already implemented but seen by insiders as an “unfinished project,” has been identified as the rallying point in the run-up to the 2026 Assembly elections. The BJP, along with its ideological parent RSS, is preparing a coordinated campaign to push for citizenship benefits under the CAA. The RSS convened a special coordination meeting attended by senior leaders of both organisations. BJP state president Shamik Bhattacharya represented the state unit, national general secretary BL Santhosh represented the central leadership. From the RSS, senior office-bearers Pradeep Joshi, Ramapada Pal, Jaladhar Mahato and Jishnu Basu, representing the all-India leadership in eastern India. BJP sources confirmed the central focus was ensuring the maximum number of refugees eligible under the CAA secure citizenship without delay. A concrete plan was drawn up to guarantee swift, fear-free submission of papers. The meeting also reviewed the upcoming Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Besides Bhattacharya, BJP regional leaders were present during the meeting, including legislator Deepak Barman from North Bengal, MP Jagannath Sarkar from Central Bengal, and state general secretary Jagannath Chattopadhyay from South Bengal. Insiders said these three leaders will supervise the CAA campaign across their respective regions. The RSS indicated that organisations under its umbrella will join the ground campaign, though sources stressed the BJP will lead. Ensuring citizenship for all eligible applicants was described as a non-negotiable target. The meeting, convened on an emergency basis, sought to prepare for large-scale mobilisation on the CAA agenda.
The implementation of the three-language formula is turning into a contentious issue for the Maharashtra government. Part of the National Education Policy, the failure to implement the pet project of the Modi government in BJP’s key state would be a loss of face for the party. When the Devendra Fadnavis government tried to unroll the three-language format from Class 1 in July, 2025 a huge public uproar that perceived it as imposition of Hindi language overriding local Marathi language forced its withdrawal. While a committee headed by renowned educationist Dr Narendra Jadhav was meant to provide a decisive lead on the issue, the eight-member committee chose to pass the buck rather than take a call on the issue. Dr Jadhav, who was part of the Planning Commission during Dr Manmohan Singh’s tenure has realised the strong public undercurrents against Hindi, and has decided to sidestep it. The public uproar in Maharashtra against Hindi imposition in the education sector seems to match similar sentiments one saw in Tamil Nadu. Sure enough, Dr Jadhav, has decided to visit political leaders like Raj and Uddhav Thackeray, who had strongly opposed it. He is also embarking on an eight-stop visit across the state to gauge public sentiments. Incidentally, while Maharashtra’s cultural affairs minister Ashish Shelar, had earlier stated that 20 states had already implemented the three-language formula, Dr Jadhav informed that only two states including Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir, had implemented NEP and other states were keenly watching how Maharashtra was enforcing Hindi in the state.
It is not just the BJP and its cadres that celebrated PM Modi’s 75th birthday. Even NDA’s ally and TDP Minister Nara Lokesh, currently on an official visit to the UK made it a point to pray for PM Modi’s health and longevity at ISKCON Temple in London, asserting confidence in Modi’s Leadership to build Viksit Bharat. Sharing his birthday wish for PM Modi, Andhra Pradesh IT, HRD, and RTGS Minister Nara Lokesh offered prayers at ISKCON London. He tweeted, “Started the day with prayers at @iskconlondon on the 75th birthday of our Hon’ble Prime Minister @narendramodi ji. I sought blessings for his long life and his visionary leadership of our great country. I am confident we will achieve Viksit bharat under his guidance.” Interestingly, a day earlier the Andhra Pradesh government had hosted a high-profile Investor Roadshow in London at the Institute of Directors, Pall Mall, as part of its global outreach to attract investments ahead of the CII Partnership Summit 2025, scheduled to be held in Visakhapatnam on November 14–15. The event brought together more than 150 senior executives and global leaders representing sectors such as advanced manufacturing, finance, energy, and technology. In his remarks during the conversation with global leaders, Lokesh positioned Andhra Pradesh as India’s fastest-growing state. “Our message in London is clear: the sunrise state of Andhra Pradesh is the best place to do business in India. In just 15 months, we have facilitated investments worth over Rs 10 lakh crore and are now engaging global partners to be part of our journey towards becoming a $ 2.4 trillion economy by 2047″
There was much media hype about the revelation that Rahul Gandhi was to make in his press conference. He had hinted it would be a “hydrogen bomb” on ‘vote chori’. However, by afternoon Rahul was found diluting his own utterances via a post on X. The Congress leader who was raging about deletion of votes in Aland assembly seat in Karnataka in 2023 polls at a press conference at the AICC headquarters and had given the Election Commission a week’s time to reply to Karnataka CID’s letters and notices, was found looking for cover. He rushed to correct his mistakes after realising that the Aland seat was won by the Congress. This was pointed out by the BJP. Rahul Gandhi had “held an entire press conference” claiming that 6,018 votes were fraudulently deleted in Aland assembly seat and that the EC was blocking the CID investigation. “Until we pointed out that BR Patil, the incumbent MLA, is a Congress candidate. He even paraded people who claimed that their names were misused to delete votes, without the knowledge of the very individuals whose names were allegedly deleted. Now he makes a U-turn, saying their candidate could have lost if the votes were deleted! What a waste of public time,” said BJP’s Amit Malviya on X. The EC was quick to rebut all the charges. In a strongly worded response, the EC made it clear that no deletion of any vote can be done online by any member of the public, as “misconceived” by Rahul Gandhi. A FIR was filed by the EC itself to ensure the matter was investigated. One interesting giveaway from Rahul Gandhi’s attack on the CEC, was his claim that he had some Trojan horses within the EC who were leaking him info about EC’s working. No prizes for guessing…possibly officials brought in during the Congress time.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh’s response to the Supreme Court’s clean chit to Vantara has apparently not gone down well with the Ambanis. The Congress leader who takes a lot of pride in his earlier avatar as an environment minister in the UPA government tweeted on X questioning the speed at which an expert panel headed by Justice J Chelameswar probed alleged goings on in Vantara and submitted its report to the apex court, clearing the animal care centre of any wrongdoing. Party sources said sensitivities about Vantara were conveyed to Jairam by party bosses. The party leadership were equally shocked about the tone and tenor of Jairam’s post. In his post, Jairam even took pot shots at the judiciary for acting expressly. “When it chooses to, the Indian judicial system, which is defined by long delays, moves with the greatest of speed.” On August 25, 2025, the SC ordered an inquiry by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the affairs of Vantara, the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre established by the Reliance Foundation in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The SIT, comprising four distinguished members, was directed to submit its report by September 12, 2025. The SIT submitted its report in a “sealed cover” meeting the deadline. The SC accepted its recommendations and closed the case which had been triggered by a PIL filed on August 7, 2025. If only all cases were dealt with and settled so expeditiously and categorically — of course without this mysterious “sealed cover” business! Incidentally, while Jairam has taken a contrarian view on Vantara order, animal activists like Maneka Gandhi came out extending her strong support to Vantara. She said “We have visited Vantara…It is here that animals get life.” Vantara is a project closely monitored and managed by Anant Ambani, the younger son of Mukesh Ambani.
The BJP leadership is all geared up to putting its Tamil Nadu house in order. With AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) meeting Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Tuesday (Sep 16) evening to firm up alliance in the state, ground was laid in TN to ensure smooth working within various groups and leaders. For a start, a coordination meeting of various state-level leaders within the state BJP was held in Chennai. The meeting was held in the presence of senior BJP functionary BL Santosh. The effect of the meeting was such that former TN BJP chief K Annamalai who was so far playing truant appeared mellowed down. For the first time, Annamalai conceded that EPS was drawing crowds in the state. Party sources said he had praised EPS in the party’s internal meeting too. This means Annamalai has come a long way; from initially opposing BJP’s alliance with the AIADMK to now agreeing to campaign with EPS. This would not only consolidate Gounder community votes in favour of the alliance but also consolidate victory. With Santosh in the chair along with TN BJP chief Nainar Nagendran it was decided that Nainar, Annamalai and EPS would now jointly campaign from Oct 1. It is not clear if Annanmalai had toned down his anti- AIADMK position because of a personal compulsion He is now compelled to answer queries over purchase of around six acres agricultural land in Coimbatore worth several crores of rupees. Annamalai said he had purchased it using a loan, his personal savings and that of his wife Akila. He had paid Rs 40 lakh in stamp duty and registration charges. Of course, no one in the BJP believes it.
Kerala’s Chief Secretary, A Jayathilak is facing flak for his high-handed behaviour from his IAS colleagues and state’s IPS officers. Jayathilak has come in the way of the career progression of at least three officers. Senior IAS officer, B Ashok, also principal secretary has alleged that Jayathilak refused to give him a vigilance clearance in June 2025 when he applied for deputation to the post of chief controller, VSSC, Department of Space. In his petition before the CAT, Ashok has contended that “the refusal to provide clearance despite the fact that there had not been any vigilance cases or disciplinary action against him, speaks volumes of the malice harboured by the chief secretary.” Jayathilak flagged a vigilance case regarding irregularities in the sanction of pay and allowance in the Ayush Department under Ashok. Following this, Ashok was forced to submit that the inquiry was completed and the government recommended no further action. This led to Ashok submitting a representation to the Chief Secretary to rectify his earlier statement. Interestingly, the correction was made only after the last day prescribed for submission of the application for the post in VSSC. Likewise, DGP, Yogesh Gupta who currently heads Fire and Rescue Services Department has initiated legal action against the State government for withholding a vigilance status report on him sought by Union Home Ministry for clearance for securing a post in the central service. Yogesh too has approached CAT. He has accused the government of using vigilance reports as a tool to control bureaucrats. And if this is not enough, Jayathilak has a running match with junior IAS officer, Prasanth N, who is under suspension for nearly one year, without giving proper reasons, which is against service rules. Sources say a fierce power struggle is brewing in the state’s IAS hierarchy with the tide slowly turning against Jayathilak.
Mumbai has registered a drastic 72% dip in tree plantations thanks to rapid urbanization and lack of spaces for tree plantations. The number of tree plantations in Mumbai have slid from 72,212 trees in 2023-24 to 20,044 in 2024-2025 as per the latest Environment Status Report released by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). This includes about 9234 saplings planted in the city by Maharashtra’s forest department as part of its target to undertake plantations of over 10 crore saplings this year to increase the state’s green cover from 21.25% to 33 %. The state has already achieved 50% of its target by undertaking plantations of over 5.32 crore saplings this year. Deterioration of Mumbai’s air quality has been attributed to its depleting tree cover. No tree census has been conducted since 2018. This means the actual number of trees remains unknown and we are stuck at 29,75,283 trees. Conservation activist and founder of Waghoba Foundation Sanjiv Valsan questions the validity of the figures released by the government pointing to the glaring absence of figures of trees that are officially cut to make way for various urban megaprojects in the city like Metro, Bullet Trains etc. The actual number of trees lost to rapid urbanization and redevelopment of old buildings, which is not revealed, could be quite high. Reportedly, an estimated 40 trees are lost daily to make way for various projects. “Miyawaki plantations can never compensate for the loss of tree cover since they are essentially vertical stalks lacking canopy and unable to provide equivalent benefits like oxygen generation or carbon sequestration,” observes Valsan. A small relief is the BMC policy now to earmark spaces for planting trees alongside cement concrete roads.
The Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi is seriously planning to make the state capital Bhubaneswar shine like Singapore. Call it infection from Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s Singapore inspired capital, Amaravati or PM Modi’s vision to create several Singapore within India. The Odisha government has already appointed Singapore-based Surbana Jurong Infrastructure to design the master plan for the proposed Bhubaneswar New City Project covering 800 acres with an estimated investment of Rs 8,179 crore. The new city will encompass three villages Daspur, Gothapatna and Malipada. The vision is to make it a multi-economic growth zone aligned with Odisha state’s long-term vision Vikshit Odisha 2036. The new city will have a total built up area of around 21.7 million sq ft covering residential, office space, commercial, industrial and neighborhood shopping area having MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) facilities and incorporating global standards and best practices in urban planning. The Odisha government intends to accommodate 15,000 housing units and 60,000 people in the planned Singapore style Bhubaneswar. Sources say Odisha government’s intention is to incorporate best practices and global standards in urban planning. It wants to make the project sustainable, vibrant and green, supporting Odisha’s economic growth, urban living, trust and shared future.
A little-known historical episode concerning the relations between India and Nepal has gone viral on the social media over the past few days. As the symbiotic bonds between the two countries are recalled by many people from both sides of the border, the role of Indian leaders concerning Nepal is under scanner once again. One such topic is the merger of Nepal with India that did not happen. It speculates how this probable relationship could have changed the political map of South Asia. Then PM Jawaharlal Nehru has been blamed for stalling this possible merger. It is said that Nepal’s then King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah proposed that merger. However, Nehru rejected the idea, according to references in former President Pranab Mukherjee’s memoir, ‘The Presidential Years.’ Mukherjee observed that had Indira Gandhi been in her father’s place, she would have accepted, just the way she later integrated Sikkim into India. Former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar also has backed Mukherjee’s claim. In his Hindi autobiography, moreover, he has stated that Nepal could have been a part of India but for Nehru. In ‘Jeevan Jaisa Jiya,’ Chandrashekhar has described how Nepalese leader BP Koirala was disturbed when then Deputy PM Charan Singh broached the subject of merger at their meeting in presence of PM Morarji Desai. Earlier this year, Nepal’s Deputy PM Prakashman Singh lauded Chandra Shekhar’s role in consolidating the Nepal-India relations at an interaction organized by the Ganeshman Singh Foundation on 7 April. Interestingly, Nehru was criticised in the past for rejecting a similar offer from Baluchistan, whose leaders wanted to join India.
Even as the Opposition Congress cribbed about PM Narendra Modi’s first visit to Manipur on September 13 as being “too little too late”– as it came nearly 2 years after the outbreak of ethnic violence — Modi used his presence in Imphal to send across a message of friendship to Nepal. He first congratulated Sushila Karki on becoming the country’s first woman Prime Minister. He lauded Karki’s elevation as “a very good example of women’s empowerment.” Speaking at a public meeting in Imphal, his first visit since violence broke out in 2023, PM Modi called Nepal a “close friend” of India and said the two nations are connected by “shared history and faith”. Among the small states in the North East, Manipur is the only Hindu majority state. More than reaching out to Nepal’s PM Sushila Karki, what is of significance is the manner in which Modi lauded Gen Z protesters — referring to images of Nepal youth cleaning and painting roads. Modi said “For the last few days, young men and women of Nepal can be seen working hard to clean and paint the roads of Nepal after violent protests. I have seen their pictures on social media as well. Their positive thinking and positive actions are not only inspiring but are also a clear indication of the new rise of Nepal.” It is believed Modi’s words were also meant for youth of Manipur who have been caught up in ethnic protest. In his opening remarks, PM Modi lauded how many Manipur children were involved in Op Sindoor – he particularly recalled the martyrdom of Deepak Chingakham.
All eyes are on BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik as to how he will manage serious internal party rumblings and keep the party united? This is because a few of the top leaders have started deserting the party. First salvo was fired following BJD’s shocking performance in 2024 elections – Lok Sabha and Assembly — wherein two Rajya Sabha MPs Mamata Mohanta and Sujeet Kumar resigned from the party. But their exit did not create ripples compared to the recent resignation of two BJD senior leaders N Bhaskar Rao and Lal Bihari Himrika who are known to have strong grassroot connections. What raised the eyebrows in political circles is that BJD’s ex-mines minister and four times MLA Prafulla Mallik’s resignation threats over dissatisfaction with BJD leadership. The party high command suspended him for anti-party activities and labelled him an opportunistic politician. According to Mallik, BJD has failed to function effectively as the main opposition party in the state. The general feeling is Patnaik cannot take on the might of PM Modi because of his health issue and nip the rumblings within the party. The future of BJD seems uncertain with no clear leadership to lead the party. It is learnt that splinter group is now considering changing BJD’s party name and springing a new regional political outfit. Political observers commenting on this situation say “political Tsunami” is building up in Odisha and it’s music to the ears for the BJP.
Why did Rahul Gandhi as Leader of the Opposition (LoP) of Lok Sabha skip the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan on September 12? No, it has nothing to do with the miserable manner in which INDIA Bloc candidate B Surendra Reddy lost to CPR. It is being said Rahul’s office initially made inquiries to know where the Gandhi scion would be seated; whether he would be seated on the same row as PM Modi. When it was made clear that as LoP he enjoys Cabinet rank and would be seated with CMs on the third row, Rahul seems to have decided to skip the function. In fact, after PM Modi and former Vice-Presidents, the second row was taken up by governors, followed by the CMs. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi was caught in yet another controversy with the CPRF writing a letter to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, stating that Rahul was not taking his security cover “seriously” as he was mostly travelling abroad “without informing anyone”. The CRPF referred to Rahul’s foreign tours to countries: Italy (Dec 30-Jan 9), Vietnam (Mar 12-17), Dubai (Apr 17-23), Qatar (Jun 11-18), London (Jun 25-Jul 6) and Malaysia (Sep 4-8). The Rae Bareli MP is violating the protocols mentioned in the Yellow Book of the CRPF. As a former Congress president, he currently enjoys Z+ category security with Advanced Security Liaison (ASL). Z+ ASL is among the highest level of protection provided to individuals facing significant threat perception, and comprises roughly 55 security personnel, including National Security Guard commandos. In 2019, the Union government withdrew the Special Protection Group protection given to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, almost after three decades. The security cover was replaced by the CRPF.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray has planned a ‘Sindoor Raksha Abhiyan’ in Maharashtra on Sunday to protest against the India-Pakistan cricket match to be played that day. Sensing the anger still seething in the public mind against the Pahalgam terror attacks, the Sena has decided to push the Modi government in a tight corner by reviving those dark memories. Uddhav has tempered his appeal by alleging that the match is allowed since Union home minister Amit Shah’s son, Jay Shah is chairman of the International Cricket Council. According to an announcement by Sena MP Sanjay Raut, the party’s women’s wing will stage protests on 14 September throughout the state. A couplet, ‘Mera Sindoor, Mera Desh’ will be chanted on the occasion. Later, Sindoor will be sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from lakhs of homes to remind him about the Pahalgam attack and that India should not play cricket with Pakistan. “Why is the BCCI so excited to play a match against Pakistan?” Aaditya Thackeray has asked. He has recalled how Pakistan decided to boycott the 2025 Men’s Hockey Asia Cup as the tournament was being hosted by India. Why can’t we also boycott? The BJP has changed its ideology…It is very unfortunate that we are playing a match with Pakistan. BCCI is anti-national,” the former minister and Uddhav’s son has quipped. The BJP has hit back by reminding the Sena (UBT) about the visit of Javed Miandad to Matoshri with a couplet of its own, “My Javed, My Biryani.”
The three-party Maharashtra government led by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is facing internal unrest over the Maratha reservation quota acrimony. Ever since a government resolution (GR) containing some assurances to Maratha agitation proponent Manoj Jarange Patil has been issued, the state is in turmoil since the sizable OBC communities have joined hands to rise against this decision. Veteran minister Chhagan Bhujbal has come out openly against the GR, warning of an OBC protest on the lines of the Maratha protest that had paralysed Mumbai. The situation turned grave on Friday as an OBC protester took his own life in Latur in Marathwada. Bhujbal and former minister Dhananjay Munde rushed to the bereaved family to console them. Bhujbal literally broke down, which was unlike his steely demeanour. The onlookers were speechless seeing his tears. The youth, Bharat Mahadeo Karad, committed suicide by jumping in the Manjara river. Bhujbal cancelled his scheduled tour to reach the family. Besides Bhujbal, senior minister Pankaja Munde, too, has demanded that the OBC reservation quota should not be touched. Fadnavis has time and again declared that it will not happen, but inflamed passions continue to erupt. On the other hand, Jarange has warned the government that he can launch another protest action if the assurances are not fulfilled by it. At the moment, it appears that neither side is ready to relent, indicating a protracted legal and political conflict over the thorny issue of reservations.
The elevation of Chandrima Bhattacharya, Minister of State for Finance and Health, as chairperson of the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) is being read as more than a routine appointment. Within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and administrative circles, the move is seen as part of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s strategy to recalibrate responsibilities among her trusted lieutenants, thereby reinforcing her grip on key institutions. Incidentally, Didi is the head of the departments of both health and finance. Already managing the party’s women’s wing, Chandrima now assumes control of an agency instrumental in developing Kolkata’s fringes — New Town and Rajarhat and other major urban infrastructure projects. HIDCO’s chairmanship has been a hot seat in recent years, with another close aide of Mamata and senior cabinet minister for Urban Development, Firhad Hakim heading it since 2021. However, in December 2024 the cabinet shifted HIDCO out of his department and placed it under Administrative Reforms and Personnel, overseen directly by Mamata. Hakim was removed from the chairmanship and the state’s former chief secretary Harikrishna Dwivedi temporarily held the fort. At the time, Hakim publicly maintained that it was solely Didi’s decision and a matter of cabinet prerogative, brushing aside speculation of alleged fallout with Mamata. Observers point out that such shifts underline the political weight HIDCO carries and several allegations and rumours of corruption in land distribution by the Opposition. By handing over the reins to Chandrima, Mamata has underscored both her close scrutiny of government functioning and her intent to silence any speculation around administrative decisions.
The shadow of Maratha agitation leader Manoj Jarange Patil continues to haunt and loom large over the Devendra Fadnavis government much after he wrapped up his fast in Mumbai and returned back home. Just when the Maharashtra government was breathing easy after having tackled Patil’s hunger strike, Patil is back with his threats after his bete noire Chhagan Bhujbal has demanded withdrawal or modification of the Government Resolution that had granted reservations for Marathas. While a natural backlash from the OBC community was expected as a natural reaction after yielding to the Maratha demand for reservation, the reaction is clearly overshadowing all other works that the state is doing. For Fadnavis, it has become a tightrope walk between pleasing the politically strong Marathas community or his own party’s support base of the OBC community. Soon after granting reservation to Marathas, a strong media blitzkrieg was launched in the state with front page advertisement campaigns splashed across mainline dailies emphasising Fadnavis as a personal brand addressing him as “Devabhau” or brother and showing him paying reverence to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Maratha idol. Funded by anonymous sources, this media campaign was viewed as an attempt by Fadnavis to cash in on the goodwill generated by the Maratha community. But the opposition from OBC community particularly from Bhujbal, belonging to NCP, has riled the Marathas, forcing them to launch a fresh salvo. Patil has now threatened that in case the government fails to implement the reservation by September 17, he would block supplies of essential commodities like dairy, vegetables to Mumbai and not let ministers walk free. Jarange too seems to have learnt his lessons from his 9th fast in Mumbai. He has figured out that the only way to get his issue sorted is by inconveniencing the high-profile residents of Mumbai.
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Editor’s Note: Short Post Noticed By People Who Matter
Four years have zipped by and we are crossing another milestone on 31st January 2025 – it’s our 4th Anniversary. It feels good.
Looking back at the 1460 days, I must say Short Post has made its mark with people who matter via 4000 stories published in the areas of politics, business, entertainment and sports. All made possible by the unflinching commitment and dedication of our senior editors, most of whom have been part of this journey from Day One.
Small pack, big impact is in essence the story of Short Post which was launched at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021. It shows our conviction. In all humility, I can say, we have created a new niche in the news segment space like Hindustan Unilever which created a new segment, when it launched CloseUp Gel.
Yes, we have created a brand (in a limited sense), created demand (readers) and created supply (senior journalists). But we are facing teething problems like all start-ups. What makes us happy and confident is the recognition of our efforts. For instance, we have an arrangement with the OPEN Magazine, part of the $4.5 billion Kolkata-based Sanjiv Goenka-RPG Group. This arrangement sees around 10 Short Post stories posted on OPEN Magazine website every week. This arrangement is testimony that our content has been well received! Also, I may add that the Maharashtra government has recognised Short Post and has allowed our senior editor to cover the Assembly sessions. Ditto: Odisha.
Our goal is to ensure that Short Post becomes a habit. I would like people to keep checking their smartphones to know the latest Authentic Gossip. As regards AI and the fear of it disrupting all businesses including media. On that, personally, I have no such fear as I am confident AI cannot smell news particularly Authentic Gossip. That’s the place we are well entrenched.