Dashing hopes of the BJP, a fragmented opposition, the AAP and the Goa Forward Party have joined forces to create a new alliance called ‘Goa First’ with the hope to win the 2027 Goa Assembly elections. AAP’s national convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, said the alliance is an alternative to the BJP and Congress. Kejriwal said voters deserve an option beyond these two major parties, arguing that they pretend to oppose each other during elections while collaborating behind the scenes. The Goa Forward Party, led by former deputy CM Vijai Sardesai, is a regional political outfit. Currently, it holds one seat in the 40-member state Assembly. The AAP has two MLAs. Ironically, for the past two years, Sardesai has wanted to merge the GFP with the Congress and had approached the party through multiple channels. In return, he sought either the post of LoP or the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) presidency. The Congress’s Yuri Alemao, who stayed with the party despite lucrative offers from the BJP, is the current LoP in the Goa Assembly, and the Congress was reluctant to replace him. The BJP has ruled Goa since 2012. In 2017 and 2022, it won because opposition votes were divided among multiple parties. Now in its 15th year the BJP government faces strong anti-incumbency. Allegations of land-transfer irregularities and a multi-crore cash-for-jobs scam have surfaced. The Congress won 11 seats in 2022, but eight of its MLAs defected to the BJP. Most Congress MLAs elected in 2022 came from South Goa, where the State’s Catholic-majority areas supported it. The AAP says it cannot have an understanding with the Congress in Goa, as it is the principal challenger in Punjab. Goa and Punjab go to polls in February-March 2027.

Is the Government reaching out to the Opposition for a special session of Parliament to pass the Delimitation Bill? Sources say Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju’s office has reached out to Congress chief and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Mallikarjun Kharge to see whether a session can be held before October 11, when Navratri begins. It is learnt that Rahul Gandhi is in no mood to help PM Narendra Modi to pass the delimitation bill to usher in women’s quota. The talk is that the government may also consider holding it during Navratri, citing the festival’s association with the worship of Goddess Durga and its symbolism around women’s empowerment. The Govt’s efforts are to secure the two-thirds majority required to pass the Constitutional Amendment Bill. Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die on August 13. A few days ago, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the government had broken its previous record for the longest delay in proroguing both Houses. In response, Kharge wrote to Rijiju, reiterating the demand that the government convene an all-party meeting and disclose the proposed agenda before deciding. The issue of delimitation has remained a major political flashpoint, with the Congress demanding that the Lok Sabha’s existing strength of 543 seats be frozen for the next 25 years and that 33% reservation for women be implemented from the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. On April 17, during the Budget session, the Constitutional amendment bill (to implement women’s reservation before the 2029) was defeated in the Lok Sabha. The buzz is that the government has opened channels with the DMK, which has 22 Lok Sabha MPs, to vote for the Bill. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether the government has a two-thirds majority. Recently, DMK MP Kanimozhi, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar met fuelling speculation over opposition consultations on delimitation.

In a significant move, the Congress leadership has appointed Madhu Goud Yaskhi —a close aide of Rahul Gandhi and prominent OBC leader from Telangana—to head the All India Professionals’ Congress (AIPC).A former two-term Lok Sabha MP, Yaskhi replaced Praveen Chakravarty who has been leading the body since November 2023. Like Yaskhi , Chakravarti too was close to Rahul but he was too engrossed in much political work and delicate political messaging, handling tricky alliance issues for the party in Tamil Nadu. Chakravarty was among the Congress leaders who had explored a possible alliance with actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) ahead of the Tamil Nadu elections. He had met Vijay before the polls to explore the possibility of a tie-up, though the Congress remained with its long-standing ally DMK, only to finally dump them and join hands with the TVK. That is why perhaps he was eased out of the AIPC charge within months of getting elected to the Rajya Sabha from TN. Party sources pointed out that AIPC, a very “dear project of Rahul Gandhi” was founded in 2017 to reach out to working professionals. Shashi Tharoor had first headed AIPC. He moved out after he had challenged Kharge in the Congress presidential election in 2022. With Yaskhi ’s appointment, the party hopes to connect with the salaried class. Yaskhi ‘s appointment brought a lot of cheer in Telangana considering he had chaired the Telangana Congress Campaign Committee. Telangana CM Revanth Reddy significantly took to X to congratulate Yaskhi and also organised a felicitation for him in the state assembly. On his part, Yaskhi resolved to strengthen “the Congress Party from the state level to the national level and to make Rahul Gandhi Garu the Prime Minister of India,” Yaskhi wrote on his X.

Even though the election dates for Panchayat and Urban Polls to be held in 2027 have not been finalised yet, that has not stopped Odisha’s leading political parties – BJP, BJD and Congress – from getting poll ready. It is learnt that Odisha’s Election Commissioner Madhusudan Padhi has swung into action for poll preparation that cover Rourkela, Sambalpur and Puri. The immediate task for the Odisha government is to conduct statewide door-to-door surveys for updating the electoral roll. The survey is slated to begin from October 26 to November 7, 2026. The cut-off date for inclusion of new votes has been fixed for January 1, 2027. This explains why BJP’s state and national leaders of about 400 functionaries recently participated in the two day deliberations in Odisha to chalk out a road map on how best to strengthen its numbers in the 2027 Panchayat and Urban Local Body polls. Similarly, two opposition parties BJD and Congress are leaving no stones unturned to put BJP on the backfoot. Political observers say the challenge for ruling BJP is cut out. This is because in the 2022 Panchayat elections, BJD had secured an overwhelming 766 out of 852 Zilla Parishad seats while BJP wrested only 42 seats and Congress was able to manage 37 seats. The challenge for the BJP government led by Mohan Charan Majhi government is: How will he strengthen and secure statewide grass root support in the village panchayat level which is dominated by BJD & Congress?

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s India visit on Saturday (Sept 12) and his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi acquired significance beyond the BRICS summit, coming at a time when Russian President Vladimir Putin has been actively pushing for a thaw between the two Asian powers. Putin’s private message to Modi had been unequivocal: India must move beyond the bitterness over Chinese incursions and anti-India posturing that had strained ties for the present, notwithstanding the personal equation Modi had painstakingly built with Jinping over the years—first as Gujarat Chief Minister and subsequently as Prime Minister. The Russian President’s intervention assumes greater significance against the backdrop of Moscow’s own strategic calculations. With Russia seeking stronger relations with both India and China, Putin has an obvious interest in preventing the two major Asian powers from remaining locked in confrontation. There is also an intriguing economic dimension to this triangular relationship. Chinese shipping vessels have been deployed to carry Russian crude to India, underscoring how geopolitical compulsions can override the otherwise adversarial India-China relationship. For New Delhi, Russian energy remains strategically important; for Beijing, facilitating the movement of Russian crude to the Indian market demonstrates the complexities of its relationship with both Moscow and New Delhi. For Modi, however, forgiving Beijing is hardly a question of forgetting. The relationship carries the baggage of the border dispute and China’s incursions, even as economic and geopolitical realities demand engagement. Xi’s visit—the first to India in seven years—therefore provides an opportunity to reopen a channel that had effectively narrowed after the military tensions on the Line of Actual Control. For Putin, a Modi-Xi rapprochement strengthens the larger Eurasian equation. For Modi, it offers strategic space to engage Beijing without surrendering India’s position...

Four months into its first government in West Bengal, the BJP is confronting a political battle it may have expected to fight outside government — over what constitutes Bengali culture. The immediate flashpoint is Durga Puja, the state’s defining festival that featured prominently in the BJP’s electoral pitch around Bengali identity. The fault line has sharpened over attempts by sections of the hardline camp advocating vegetarian food during the five-day festivities. To add to this, the state government hosted self-styled godman Dhirendra Shastri aka Bageshwar Baba who has not only professed vegetarianism during Durga Puja, but also terming non-veg eating Bengalis as “pakhandi”. He was welcomed by chief minister Suvendu Adhikari and his Cabinet and a gala dinner was hosted for him. The ruling party had to address growing discontent over Baba’s  term as well as “food diktat”, arguing that such prescriptions run against the lived cultural practices of Bengal and risk turning “Bangaliana” into an electoral slogan rather than a political commitment. The CM has announced restrictions on DJs, liquor sales and road blockades, alongside financial assistance for smaller puja committees and plans for a major Mahalaya programme at Eden Gardens with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The political optics have been complicated further by the government’s decision to discontinue the Durga Puja carnival on Kolkata’s Red Road, the brainchild of former CM Mamata Banerjee. The carnival had evolved into a major public spectacle, showcasing award-winning idols and puja committees. The irony is hard to miss. In 2021, UNESCO recognised Durga Puja in Kolkata as an intangible cultural heritage. For BJP that campaigned on reclaiming Bengal’s cultural identity, the question is no longer merely who controls Durga Puja — but who gets to define Bengal.

Why do two senior Congress leaders take opposite stands on the same issue? Does one do it to please Rahul Gandhi, or does the other want to show he thinks independently on the matter? A day after P Chidambaram questioned the tangible benefits India has gained from recent BRICS Summits, saying he had not seen any significant outcomes from the last two or three meetings, his party colleague and MP Shashi Tharoor said that the grouping shows India’s “diplomatic convening power”. Speaking ahead of the BRICS Summit in Delhi, Tharoor called the summit an important platform for the Global South. Tharoor highlighted the importance of the BRICS Summit and said the 11 BRICS countries represent a majority of the world’s population and 41% of global GDP. Saying it is no small matter, he said the rest of the world must take it very seriously. Earlier, Chidambaram talked about the BRICS Summit 2026 in Delhi and questioned what concrete benefits the country has received from it. He said he doesn’t know how many Presidents and how many Prime Ministers are coming, but he doesn’t think the last two or three BRICS Summits have delivered tangible benefits or results for India. However, the BJP lashed out at Chidambaram and called him part of the “naraaz phupha” lot (angry uncle as described by Modi) who can’t digest India’s growth and development. India assumed the BRICS chairmanship for the fourth time on January 1, with its 2026 presidency driven by the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. Among the delegates are Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and several other global leaders who have come to Delhi to attend the summit. It is being said the Congress is upset that Chinese President Xi is also attending BRICS summit. And the party felt left out of the loop.

Following bilateral talks at Bharat Mandapam, PM Modi and President Putin travelled together in an armoured Aurus Senat limousine to the INNOPROM industrial exhibition on September 11, marking their fourth shared ride within a year. Normally, talks between top leaders usually happen across negotiating tables. It was the same “Aurus Senat” car that made headlines after Modi rode in it with Putin during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in China in September 2025. The two leaders have used cars for secret negotiations. Putin shares car rides — often dubbed “carplomacy”— to showcase their strong personal bond and hold private, uninterrupted discussions. Travelling together creates the world’s secure private room away from aides and officials, allowing the two leaders to speak candidly about major geopolitical updates or sensitive matters. It is uncommon for PM Modi to travel with a foreign dignitary in the same vehicle, but an exception was again made for Putin who visited India for the first time in four years. Back in September 2025, during the SCO Summit in Tianjin (China), the two were seen travelling together in Putin’s bulletproof car, drawing widespread global attention. Later, Putin said, “The car ride with Modi was my idea. It was a symbol of our friendship. We talked throughout the drive; there’s always something to discuss. We even sat inside the car for quite some time afterwards.” Modi has shared car rides with a few foreign leaders in the past, former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe during a 2017 roadshow, and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during a 2024 roadshow. Putin last visited India in December 2025 for the India-Russia summit, but it will be his first in-person participation at a BRICS Summit outside Russia since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022.

Pune, the seat of the vast Maratha empire, continues to hit headlines, mostly for wrong reasons. However, an observation by the Bombay High Court on Friday (Sept 11) has somehow restored Pune’s pride and pleased its tippler community immensely. The bench has castigated the Pune district administration for imposing an arbitrary liquor sales ban for the duration of the Ganesh festival. Already, the administration has banned the use of DJ sound systems and laser beams during the famous public celebration of the festival, ending September 26. That restriction has been welcomed all around. However, the liquor ban was immediately challenged by the wine shop owners while those enjoying a swig or two were waiting patiently for divine intervention. It has come from the HC, which said that the ban is an arbitrary decision. The bench has queried why only Pune has been singled out. It noted that Mumbai and other areas have no such restrictions. The court observed the ban unfairly portrays Pune residents as troublemakers after drinking. The judges remarked that stopping alcohol for 10 days could cause medical issues and flood hospitals with habitual drinkers. The Bench was headed by newly appointed Chief Justice M C Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna. The Petitioners are hotel and wine shop owner associations, who unitedly rose to challenge the Pune district collector’s order. The HC has asked the authorities to withdraw the ban or face direct judicial intervention.

Odisha has now broken into NITI Aayog’s top five most competitive investment destination today. It has scored 52.4 points lagging behind Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Goa. NITI Aayog is all in praise for Odisha because of its policy reforms, abundant natural resources in the mineral sector accounting for nearly 50% of India’s mineral production. Apart from this NITI Aayog has also praised Odisha’s prudent fiscal management measures, logistics infrastructure, low interest payment and incorporating strong fiscal management processes. It has praised Odisha’s prompt business registration processes, affordable industrial parks for startups and aggressively pursuing industrial expansion. The big news is NITI Aayog has now recommended Bhadrakh to set up the next international airport. Objective is to ease pressure on Bhubaneswar including improved road and rail connectivity, expanding port access to Dhamra and having single window system for it’s air and sea cargo. NITI Aayog is also pushing Odisha to rev up its inadequate inland warehousing capacity, container depot stations and improving overall transport connectivity in the state henceforth. It has advised the state government to incorporate single window system for its air and sea cargo and faster allocation of industrial land by IDCO. As per NITI Aayog, Odisha needs to simplify its rules and making administrative process faster welcoming new businesses. Odisha Industry Minister Sampad Charan Swain said “Odisha is no longer just a resource rich state – it’s now getting ready to the demands of modern industrial hub”.

PM Narendra Modi is not someone who will easily let his critics think he has lost his connection with the youth — because of the rise of a new brand of student leaders upset with the system. So, on September 5, Modi returned to Delhi’s 100-year-old Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), 13 years after his first high-profile address there as Gujarat CM. He used the occasion to deliver something more than a political speech. It was part economic defence, part political broadside, and part appeal to India’s teachers and young people to think beyond the classroom. The SRCC,   founded in 1926, was celebrating its centenary, bringing together generations of students, teachers and alumni. Modi used the occasion to draw a dramatic contrast between the India he encountered at the college in 2013 and the India that exists today. At the centre of his argument was the latest growth number: India’s economy expanded by 7.8% in the first quarter of 2026. Modi presented the figure as evidence of economic resilience at a particularly difficult moment, with war and instability in West Asia disrupting trade, energy markets and global confidence. Modi wanted the students to see the contrast for themselves. His message was essentially this: judge the transformation not merely by political rhetoric but by where the country was in 2013 and where it stands today. That comparison is central to Modi’s political narrative. His government, he argued, replaced what he called “policy paralysis” with “policy dynamism”. Whether Modi’s SRCC address will work depends heavily on which audience is evaluating it. As a core piece of political messaging, it aims to reinforce his economic track record and capture the imagination of Gen Z voters.  More importantly, the BJP cadres are upbeat that Modi has shown he is in full command.

Political analysts in Chennai were quite taken aback by the public reception to Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay’s speech in the state assembly on September 7 when he made a stinging attack on the DMK leadership. He had after all only pieced together old corruption stories and narrated them. So “why make a big deal?” was their dismissive reaction. We’ll tell you what’s new about it. Clearly, the younger generation was not clued into these old stories. The beauty of what Vijay did was to string all the old deeds of DMK crimes or pearls of action together and serve them with fire and brimstone to his audience.”Ennadhu, ivlo corrupta!” is the reaction he wanted from his virtual warriors and Gen Z supporters. The DMK thought the Sarkaria Commission story was long forgotten. The party had also assumed its MISA sacrifice during the Emergency would never be pooh-poohed. They never, in their wildest imagination, expected to be called out for taking commissions in the name of a “party fund”. For the first time Vijay dared to change rules of the game. Now that Thalapathy has given them the synopsis, the faithful will add their mirch-namak and make it spicier. The mythology of DMK corruption will reach every nook and corner. Honestly, the DMK doesn’t know how to react. The AIADMK, being a pangali or partner in crime, never gave them a hard time. TVK is a very different kettle of fish. They’re out to paint the DMK as “thooya sakthi” (evil force). How is the DMK going to come out of this phase? No one in the party knows.  

On September 5, former DMK minister R Gandhi while addressing a public meeting in Kanchipuram, the silk city, openly described the Tamil Nadu’s electorate as 1.79 crore “muttaalgal” (fools) in chaste Tamil. There was nothing soft or silky in his open condemnation of what he thought of those who had pole-vaulted TVK and Vijay to the top position. Is it a case of act in revengeful hate/haste, repent and rue in leisure? Has Gandhi overstepped the democratic right to express his frank opinion or is he culpable of insulting the state’s voters who did their rightful and free democratic duty? The jury is still out on this….in fact the jury is yet to be formed, as parties and polemics need strategy to get on and gain with alliances or lose out as critics. What led to Gandhi’s caustic comment? The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC had conducted lightning raids on former DMK Minister K N Nehru’s office and residence, a move quickly and predictably protested as witch-hunts by the new government to cut Nehru, a veteran of political manoeuvring and muscle flexing. Is Nehru taking on the TVK in the assembly? Gandhi as the spokesperson derides …“Is it a state legislative assembly ? 110 days and what has the reel government done? This party climbed into the top seat because 35 % foolish people who cannot discriminate between reel cinema and realpolitik voted for them to bring a change.”  

After his spectacular performance in Pune, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is making plans to storm Nagpur, the birthplace of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The likely visit has raised mixed feelings since the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the RSS are considered two sides of the same coin. Rahul was in Nasik in north Maharashtra on Wednesday (Sep 2). There he interacted with some prominent Congress leaders from Maharashtra. At the meeting, the Nagpur plan was discussed. Although no date of Rahul’s visit has been fixed, it is indicated that it will be by the end of September. The engagement will be an interactive outreach with youth and students. It will be a replica of the recently held ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event in Pune. The programme’s objective is to give a fillip to the Congress efforts to liaise with students and young voters and rejuvenating grassroots activities across Vidarbha region, once upon a time a Congress stronghold, which is now under control of the BJP. The visit will be a message to the Hindutva camp to prepare for a serious challenge in the days to come. Rahul was in Nasik to conclude a 10-day camp organised for the Congress cadres in Maharashtra. A highlight of the meeting was Rahul’s interaction with tribal students from Nasik, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and from Vidarbha region. The discussion is considered a trigger for a decision to hold a meet in Nagpur.

Pune is justly called the cradle of social reforms in India. It was in Pune that the first ever girls’ school started almost 180 years ago. The movement to encourage widow marriages was launched in Pune. The 10-day Ganesh Festival was incepted in Pune by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak over 130 years ago to unite people against injustice. It is now celebrated all over the world. Hence, there is no wonder that a demand to ban the use of deafening loudspeakers and DJ music systems should originate from Pune.  Vidyanand Bapat and Sharad Kelkar are two common Pune residents who are spearheading the agitation to seek ban on very loud music at all hours during festivals and public celebrations, irrespective of the religion to which the celebrants belong. The campaign took an ugly turn on Thursday (Sept 3) when Bapat was assaulted by a youth for demanding the control over noise intensity during Ganapati celebrations. The attacker has been arrested and Bapat is provided police protection. Kelkar has moved the National Human Rights Commission to urge it to direct Maharashtra Pollution Control Board authorities to implement the noise level decibel regulations. Incidentally, it was many years ago that an activist, Yashwant Oke, had moved the Supreme Court to frame rules for noise limitations in public places. The campaign has received a boost since veteran leader Sharad Pawar has endorsed the stand taken by Bapat. Indications are that a procession planned for Sunday to demand enforcement of the noise regulations will receive massive support. Thus, Pune will once again show the nation how to curb a public menace through statutory means.

A new team has taken over the management of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The new Chief Executive Officer, Air Marshal (Retd) Jeetendra Mishra, who has taken over said he served the nation for 43 years in the Indian Air Force and will now spend his life in the service of Lord Shri Ram. The Trust treasurer, Govind Dev Giri, has taken over as general secretary, replacing Champat Rai. Delhi businessman and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) activist Mahesh Bhagchandka will be the new treasurer. The decision to appoint ‘Operation Sindoor’ fame Air Marshal (Retd) Mishra is seen as a move approved at the highest level of the government, possibly at the Prime Minister’s level. Modi is said to be keen to fully restore public trust in the management of the Ram Mandir, which was embroiled in political controversy when it was found that some counting staff members were stealing temple donation money. With a decorated Air Marshal appointed as CEO, no one will have the courage to indulge in politics over his selection. Even Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav refrained from commenting on the decision. The retired Air Marshal was selected through due process and in a transparent manner. With the baton in the hands of a retired Air Marshal (Retd), Modi hopes people will regain confidence in how the Trust works. The decision to install Govind Dev Giri as general secretary is also a good one. It will ensure continuity. The new treasurer, Mahesh Bhagchandka, is a successful businessman. The team has a big challenge ahead: restoring the common man’s trust after the image of Ram Mandir was dented.

As Uttar Pradesh is headed for polls in early 2027, chief minister Yogi Adityanath continues to face problems from his ministers, who are very upset with the bureaucracy, which remains loyal to Yogi. Senior BJP leaders say there have been several instances of differences between ministers and bureaucrats over the past three years. During Yogi’s second term in July 2022, deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak wrote to the then Additional Chief Secretary, Medical and Health, Amit Mohan Prasad and expressed his displeasure over the transfer of doctors in the department. The transfers took place while Pathak was out of the state. Since then, several ministers have written letters expressing their dissatisfaction with government officers. Many of these letters have later surfaced on social media and gone viral. The latest is Panchayati Raj Minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar, who has accused senior officers in his department of ‘non-cooperation’ and sought their removal. Rajbhar has written to Yogi, alleging negligence in his own department. He accused Principal Secretary Anil Kumar and Director Amit Kumar Singh of failing to implement government decisions properly. Last year in July, Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Nandi made serious allegations against officers, accusing them of ignoring government policies, being negligent, not following ministerial instructions and favouring certain individuals.

Almost every day, Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay announces bounties of mega projects in the TN Assembly, like the monarchs of yore did for their subjects. But with one difference …every scheme is under Rule 110, an order that bypasses legislative debate and discussions. The TN Assembly saw heated reactions; not that earlier regimes under DMK and AIADMK have not resorted to such “impressive announcements” under 110. What is becoming a buzz of protest after 70 years of Dravidam rule, TVK and Vijay had been elected to be a change, a new order. Four months have elapsed since TVK came to power, but so far not much has happened by way of people centric action. Predictably, LoP Udhayanidhi Stalin lashed out, “TN was on top gear in our regime…now turned reverse gear”. Vijay is sure that all the world class racing formula cars he plans to race shall vroom past with hi-octane turbo speed to keep TVK in power. Not just losing the position of power, retaining only his Lop status Udhayanidhi has to limit the ambit of his questions …skeletons have a way of tumbling out of the past. But Naam Thamizhar Katchi leader Seeman, the enfant terrible tore into the government’s schemes asked: Why have a budget if you are invoking Rule 110? What are not debated issues are announced as schemes. On August 17, TVK announced projects/spending worth Rs 73,900 crores in the budget for green energy, free bus rides and milk subsidies. TN khazana is already facing a staggering Rs 1.76 lakh crore debt. Stop using Rule 110 to push through non critical projects.

It seems the case of old wine new bottle. Before the West Bengal Assembly elections, the BJP had promised a reckoning with the Trinamool Congress’s alleged corruption, political violence and organisational network. But, months after the change of government, however, the party is confronting an uncomfortable question from within on “old Trinamool” becoming the new BJP. The unease has intensified since March 4, with the Trinamool effectively splitting into four political formations. Three Rajya Sabha MPs resigned and joined the BJP before returning to Parliament. Twenty Lok Sabha MPs after a meeting Union Minister Bhupender Yadav left Trinamool and joined the little-known NCPI and became part of the NDA. A third faction comprising 65 MLAs led by Ritabrata Banerjee and claiming to represent the “real” Trinamool saw Banerjee becoming LoP. The fourth remains aligned with the Kalighat camp. It is the first three formations that have created the most difficult political problem for BJP. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had repeatedly warned before the election that Trinamool “goons” would be dealt with firmly. Yet several leaders once targeted by the BJP are now political allies or members of the ruling party. State BJP president Shamik Bhattacharya has acknowledged the contradiction where he stated that people voted for a change in the person inside the political attire, not merely a change of attire. The induction of Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik and nominated to the Rajya Sabha has particularly unsettled sections of the BJP leaders.It may be recalled  Baraik was once attacked by former state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar as a “cow smuggler”. The same disquiet surrounds the Ritabrata faction. BJP leaders had accused several of its members of corruption, yet critics allege that the government has adopted a softer approach towards them.

The BJP’s rise to power in West Bengal has altered the political landscape with the principal fight now emerging as “saffron versus red”, the CPI(M) said at its extended state committee session. The party urged cadres to build organisation and movements around livelihood concerns, without entering any “dead end” created by the BJP-RSS. It said the BJP had sought to brand the Left “anti-national” since coming to power, and called for reaching people directly rather than getting trapped in that debate. The party is also seeking to restrain the use of the “Azadi” slogan. The party accused the BJP government of pursuing policies against the poor, dividing people on religious lines, shrinking space for free thought and attacking Bengali culture. District leaders attributed the BJP’s rise to public anger over Trinamool Congress corruption and authoritarianism, but said the BJP was now following an authoritarian path. They called for exposing its “mask”, claiming support was increasing in the State, particularly in minority areas. They also alleged the RSS was keeping the former chief minister politically relevant. State secretary Mohammed Salim said the party must identify successes, failures and gaps of the past decade and formulate strategy accordingly, overcoming obstacles. General secretary M A Baby stressed that the CPI(M) must revive in Bengal. He asserted the political situation in India is at a turning point, and that the countdown to the Modi government’s “downfall” had commenced. He also said that in West Bengal, the Left forces are in the process of regaining influence among the masses.

The BJP’s landslide victory in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election has opened a new political space for the Hindu nationalist ecosystem to expand its presence beyond electoral politics into Bengal’s cultural landscape. The Hindu Right is seeking to build an alternative cultural infrastructure, with Kolkata’s College Street, or Boi Para, emerging as an early site of contestation. Long regarded as a hub of books, ideas and political debate, and historically shaped by Left intellectual traditions, the area is now witnessing the emergence of new cultural organisations. Two such platforms are the Bangiya Grantha Shilpa Parishad (BGSP), launched on June 1, and the Association of Bengal for Literature & Culture (ABLC), founded on June 27. Both present themselves as non-partisan bodies representing the book and cultural sectors. However, their emphasis on nationalism and the revival of Bengal’s “glorious culture” has prompted debate over their ideological positioning. The contest has also reached the Kolkata International Book Fair, with both organisations informally projecting themselves as potential alternatives to the existing organiser amid allegations of politicisation and irregularities. Parallel efforts are underway across the wider cultural sector. The Shyamaprasad Artist Forum and Bangiya Shilpa Kala Parishad have sought to consolidate artists, while the Lekhak Shilpi Samanway Samiti has expanded its activities and helped facilitate the Paschimbanga Natya Parishad for theatre practitioners. In music, Performers of Bengal has emerged as a platform for professionals, promoting what it calls a “Clean Culture, Healthy Culture”. The Hindu Right is also challenging what its supporters describe as Bengal’s “seku-maku” — secular-Marxist — intellectual culture. RSS-linked literary and historical organisations have further widened their networks, while newer groups are advancing alternative interpretations of Bengal’s history, identity, and cultural inheritance in Bengal.

On August 22, PM Modi interacted with all 65 newly appointed BJP national office-bearers during a meeting at the party headquarters in New Delhi. It lasted around four-and-a-quarter hours and reportedly went beyond midnight.  It marked Modi’s first interaction with the new team since BJP president Nitin Nabin announced the 65-member organisational team on August 17. Modi wanted the new team members to freely suggest ways for the BJP to strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level, develop fresh ideas and deepen its connect with the public. Since then, BJP’s IT cell has suddenly become aggressive. The IT cell units in different states are bombarding social media with memes and videos against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. It all began with Rahul Gandhi’s “Chhatron Ki Goonj” rallies. A website named “Jhooth Ki Goonj” has surfaced to carry out a ‘fact check’ of all allegations levelled by Rahul Gandhi. According to this website, Rahul Gandhi levelled a total of 40 allegations in his four programs. Of those, 29 were completely fake, and 11 were misleading. The website claims it used government data and other facts from 134 sources for fact-checking. Congress leaders have alleged that this website has a BJP connection, but the saffron party has officially denied any connection. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said the BJP has nothing to do with this website, which has been promoted by Gen Z creators. He said the website is exposing Rahul Gandhi’s PR stunts. Clearly, Congress is in a daze after this on social media by the BJP.

Can Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay really become Prime Minister in 2029? Given TVK’s presence only in TN, it doesn’t seem possible today, even as his government has completed 100 days in office. A recent India Today-C-Voter Mood of the Nation Survey, however, placed Vijay third in the national preference race for Prime Minister at 9%, trailing Narendra Modi (49%) and Rahul Gandhi (27%). This apparently added an element of tension between Vijay’s TVK and the Congress in TN. Several TVK ministers and leaders including PWD Minister Aadhav Arjuna and D Sarathkumar, publicly pitched Vijay as a future PM, arguing for a leader from southern India. Some TVK cadres and members put up promotional posters in towns like Tuticorin projecting Vijay as the next national leader. The development has caused a difficult situation for the Congress, which supported the formation of the TVK government after the Assembly election early this year. TVK had won 108 seats, 10 short of the majority mark. The Congress was the first party to join hands with them back then. Rahul Gandhi remains the Congress’ principal national face and a possible Prime Ministerial candidate. Vijay is now being presented by his own party as a possible alternative. Amid mounting friction between the two coalition partners over the issue, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Praveen Chakravarty met Vijay on August 31, a day after a Congress minister warned that the party’s two ministers in the state cabinet would quit if TVK did not back Rahul Gandhi for the top post. The Congress needs TVK in Tamil Nadu, where its own independent strength is limited. It may also need an electoral understanding with Vijay in the 2029 Lok Sabha election. However, TVK’s PM campaign may aim to strengthen its negotiating position with larger national parties.

Did Sonia Gandhi refuse to accept editorial changes proposed by Penguin Random House India for publishing her memoir Belonging: A Journey of Love? Sonia apparently did not agree to suggestions to tone down her criticism of PM Narendra Modi and the BJP. Both Sonia and Penguin decided to drop the project. On August 28, the company released a statement on Instagram that said: “Any suggestion that Penguin Random House India decided not to publish ‘Belonging’ because the author declined editorial changes does not accurately reflect the circumstances.” Penguin also said that, as publisher, it is their prerogative and responsibility to fact-check and provide authors with recommendations in the best interests of their books, calling it “a normal part” of the publishing process. Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi lashed out at Penguin, calling its response a “weak statement,” adding that “Penguin India is more than happy to publish Exam Warriors and several books on RSS.” Exam Warriors is a book by Modi, published in 2018. “No doubt there are those in the BJP government who have now become afraid of a book being read by the people of India,” he added. With Penguin India pulling out, several publishers are said to be interested in the book. HarperCollins is reportedly close to finalising an agreement to publish and distribute the memoir in India, Hindustan Times reported. The memoir is scheduled for an international release on November 10 through Alfred A Knopf, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Knopf earlier announced an initial print run of 1 lakh copies. The memoir is expected to narrate Sonia’s journey from her childhood in post-war Italy to her move to India and marriage to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. Earlier this year, Penguin had issued a statement that it had “not printed” former Army Chief General M M Naravane’s memoirs titled Four Stars of Destiny but a hard copy of the title was flashed by Rahul...

Karnataka chief minister D K Shivakumar met Rahul Gandhi in Delhi for about half an hour on August 27 and discussed, among other things, his meeting with Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani on August 23. DKS apparently clarified to Rahul that he met Adani in his official capacity. He told Rahul it was not a personal matter, citing Adani Group’s investments in the state. Why did he have to clarify, Congress leaders asked? Was Rahul unhappy that his meeting with Adani had become a controversy? The BJP has accused the Congress of double standards and hypocrisy. Many leaders questioned Congress-run state governments’ engagement with the Adani Group, given Rahul’s frequent public criticisms and attacks on the conglomerate at the national level. DKS maintained that Adani met him because he had become CM and “they are doing a lot of work in Karnataka, giving jobs.” Adani met the CM at his Sadashivanagar residence in Bengaluru. It raised eyebrows in political and business circles, because Gautam Adani is the lowest bidder for the State government-proposed road tunnel project in Bengaluru. Adani Enterprises Ltd’s bid for the proposed road tunnel project was Rs 22,267 crore, while the State government estimate was Rs 17, 698 crore — Rs 4, 600 crore above official expectation. The proposed 16.75-km tunnel road is to link the area from Central Silk Board to Hebbal in Bengaluru city; the proposed road tunnel project will be implemented under the Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model. In addition to being the lowest bidder for the tunnel project, Adani Group operates Mangalore International Airport in Dakshina Kannada, the Udupi Thermal Power Plant, and is also investing in renewable energy.

The great alacrity shown by Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in reassuring and actually helping the pilgrims who were stranded in Nepal after the deluge there is universally lauded. The latest example is the safe return to Kathmandu of 37 pilgrims from the state who were caught up in Saga, Tibet, after completing the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, thanks to his initiative. The 37 pilgrims are from Thane, Pune, Alibaug, Raigad, and Dombivli areas. They got stranded in Saga during their return journey. As their India flight from Kathmandu is at 2 pm on 29 August, they were desperate to come back to Kathmandu on time. They and their kin contacted CMO and Fadnavis alerted the Union government immediately. This prompt action made their safe return to Kathmandu possible. Earlier, Fadnavis arranged the travel of 106 Nagpur pilgrims from Kathmandu for Danapur in Bihar soon after disaster struck. Following the CM’s phone call, Nepal MP Sandeep Rana arranged four mini-buses for their trip to Bihar, from where their return journey by train was also arranged. Not to be left behind, state deputy CM Eknath Shinde, too, swung into action. He video called Shiv Sena leader Megha Chorge and her colleagues, who were stranded in Pokhara near Kathmandu. Shinde reassured them that all possible assistance will be rushed to them. Sena’s disaster management cell, too, was activated for relief work. Sena activist Rahul Kanal, along with a team of Shiv Sainiks, left for Nepal to offer help. At present, round the clock communication is maintained to trace the missing Maharashtra pilgrims, whose return is awaited anxiously.

Rattled by the response generated by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s interaction with young girls in Pune earlier this month, Maharashtra BJP has decided to counter the impact by holding a meeting of its prominent workers from across the state in Pune on Monday (Aug 31). Although Pune has been a stronghold of the BJP for a long time, Rahul’s selection of the historic town took BJP strategists by surprise. Moreover, as the meeting was well attended, it boosted the Congress party morale. The BJP meeting will be thus important, from another perspective as well. Newly appointed Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan will get an opportunity to interact with rank and file since this will be the first major meeting under his leadership. Of course, the focus of the conclave will remain chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, whose consummate handling of the political and administrative challenges has given rise to the speculation that he will be shifted to New Delhi soon. Fadnavis has time and again declared that he will be happy to remain in Maharashtra but his admirers and detractors, alike, keep on repeating the prediction. As there is no major election in the state for the next two or three years, Fadnavis has ample opportunity to consolidate his position and propel the state in the race to attract more and more FDI, besides concentrating on increasing the state’s agricultural productivity. All these issues will be on the agenda for the Monday meeting.

Tamil Nadu is a place of dramatic, inevitable soothsayers who are frequently consulted and their electrifying predictions even more frequently published. Vijay’s resident astro (humiliatingly relieved of his government post) has scanned his palm leaves and cowries to predict that the 2029 Lok Sabha elections will send TVK and Vijay to the Centre as PM. Don’t be quick to whack your thighs and pooh pooh this. Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel was quoted extensively in the party-owned TV channel by its MD Singaravadivelan in a candid interview. “TVK will play a pivotal role in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections for bringing together the critical MP numbers…a sweep by Vijay in TN, Keralam, and the other Southern States too. By 2028, TVK will mount its Viswaroopam taking its seat numbers to 60.” Congress and other alliance partners will naturally up their ante. “Panditji is not hinting that alliance will get greedy…or that other parties may see exodus…but it can happen.” Further astro swoop talk …Kavita will wrest power in Telangana, get 10 seats. In AP, the vanquished Jagan may get another 10 MPs. UP’s Akhilesh Yadav, 50 seats.  Dalapathi Vijay whips up a total of 130 plus and the PM ‘s chair. Saving grace …he did not outright claim that Congress will play a cameo/guest role. Do we hear a chorus of OMG chants? Cinema and politics when shaken and stirred by astrology…a high like no other.

Tukaram Mundhe, the man to respect these days, came, saw, and conquered a packed audience on the Terrace of the Mumbai Press Club at Azad Maidan on Wednesday (Aug 26) afternoon.  It was quite unusual of the Chairman of the Press Club, S Balakrishnan, to prod the Fourth Estate members to give a round of applause, which they are not trained for, to the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration Commissioner. The chairman, who was sweating a quarter of an hour before the scheduled start of the interactive session because of the lack of head count, stoked Mundhe’s ego by saying that in the last few months he had crashed through the popularity chart of cinema superstars, including Amitabh Bachchan. The true-blue journalist clapped hard and long before Mundhe said he is not a celebrity and was only doing a job expected of him as the chief boss of FDA, Maharashtra. He proceeded to educate the curious journalists on the nitty-gritty of the FDA Commissioner’s duties, which have been discussed at national conferences for FDA departments across the country, and that violations in Maharashtra in particular dominated the chatter a couple of years ago. Mundhe, who was asked over one hundred questions, said reading is his hobby and that he would like to go trekking in the Himalayas, time permitting. Mundhe 51, cleared the IAS in 2005 and has been tossed about across the State like a yo-yo over 20 times. He doesn’t discriminate between the haves — the rich and the mighty and have-nots! He was game to field all questions, although he was initially told that his first visit to the watering hole of journalists in Mumbai was only for a chit-chat sort of. The journalists were pleased as punch; a lady even described him as her hero!  

Kite flying is a traditional pastime in Delhi. It seems to have peaked in recent times amidst buzz that PM Modi will reshuffle his Cabinet post BRICS Leaders’ Summit on September 11-12. Speculations are rife about leaders who will join Team Modi with BJP organisation revamped under new BJP chief Nitin Nabin. There is much expectation that some leaders could be moved to Raj Bhavan and Governors who have spent more than two terms — such as Anandiben Patel (UP) and R N Ravi (West Bengal) — could be replaced. Modi’s PMO may also see new faces with his principal secretary Dr P K Mishra — who is not keeping too well — may hang his boots. The Gujarat cadre officer who has been Modi’s key aide since 2014 could be made a Governor. Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan could eventually emerge as Principal Secretary. In an interesting development, there is a talk N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Group, may find a place in Team Modi. It gained currency with Chandra’s decision “not to seek another term” when his current tenure ends on February 20, 2027. PM Modi may be keen on having a person of Chandra’s eminence as part of his team because he possesses a rare domain expertise in semiconductor manufacturing, and industrial policy. Modi, it is learnt, was impressed with Chandra for his role in Ram Temple work and in construction of new Parliament building. Though L&T handled the temple’s main structural building and design execution pro bono, Tata Consulting Engineers Ltd acted as the Project Management Consultant for the project. As for the New Parliament, Tata Projects Ltd won the main execution contract for approximately Rs 862 crore. Lead Architect: HCP Design, Planning and Management (led by architect Bimal Patel) designed the triangular complex.

Maharashtra woke up this weekend. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde summoned School Education Minister Dada Bhuse for a four-hour marathon review at Nandanvan. The message was unambiguous: work in mission mode, deliver a time-bound plan to modernise schools, strengthen infrastructure, teacher training, nutrition, health checks and community participation. The timing was no coincidence. It came amid the intensifying “School Thik Karo” campaign by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). CJP’s grassroots audits of government schools; exposing overcrowded classrooms, broken facilities, and basic neglect, have spread from Latur and Hingoli to Mumbai and beyond. In Latur, inspections triggered FIRs and local pushback. An attack on CJP co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka and his team during a Rajasthan school visit further amplified the national glare. Earlier student agitations linked to CJP had already contributed to the resignation of the Union Education Minister over the NEET controversy. Now the same pressure is forcing state-level corrective action. The parallel with figures like IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe is instructive. Mundhe, known for uncompromising enforcement in the food and drug sector, has repeatedly demonstrated that persistent public and administrative pressure can shake entrenched systems. Both the school movement and such accountability drives share a core logic: when ordinary citizens and determined activists refuse to accept decay as normal, even powerful departments are compelled to respond. Maharashtra’s schools may not match the worst conditions seen elsewhere, but the wake-up call is clear, neglect thrives only until it is made politically costly. Student and civic movements do more than generate headlines. They can extract resignations, force marathon reviews, and push for tangible upgrades. “School Thik Karo” is keeping the pressure on. When people insist that public institutions serve the public, the system is left with little choice but to act. That is the real...

Actor Shweta Tiwari has raised serious questions about the culture of Maharashtra following the abuse showered on her in filthy language. A lifelong Mumbaikar, her missive to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray over the alleged online abuse by social media users has gone viral within minutes. Tiwari has shared a series of posts on Instagram, taking exception to the abusive language used against women. She is disturbed by the comments, especially those coming from the people appearing to belong to respectable families. Tiwari is currently seen in the second season of the reality show ‘The Traitors.’ She became famous after her role in ‘Kasautii Zindagii Kay.’  In one post, Tiwari wondered that such abuse can come from people of different ages, professions and backgrounds. Tiwari also shared a screenshot of the Instagram profile of one of the abusers. She said that the man is a doctor and has pictures of his wife and child on his social media account. Questioning how someone could speak about another woman in such a way while having women in his own family, Tiwari also referred to the person’s alleged support for Raj Thackeray and MNS. Tiwari then spoke about her own connection with Maharashtra, saying that she was born and brought up in Mumbai and has lived in the state all her life. She asked Raj Thackeray if such behaviour was acceptable from the people who support him or MNS.

Former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan is inviting derision following his so-called ‘disclosures’ over the past weeks. A Congress leader who could not save his own assembly seat in 2024, Chavan is blamed for the defeat of the then Congress-NCP government headed by him in the 2014 election. Nowadays, he has been repeatedly claiming that he was instrumental in installing the 2019 Maha Vikas Aghadi combine in power under Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray. According to Chavan’s latest assertion, an MVA formula could have come into existence in 2014 itself, but he had rejected such an idea out of hand. However, he explained that it was he who had advocated formation of MVA in 2019 since then chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had weakened the opposition considerably. “Such erosion of the Congress party in Maharashtra was not acceptable. Hence I advised the high command to form a government with Uddhav and Sharad Pawar,” according to Chavan’s latest claim. It is not taken seriously since Chavan was hardly in a position in 2019 to play any significant political role. For the NCP, moreover, his name was anathema since it held Chavan responsible for the 2014 rout in the assembly election. Leaders like Supriya Sule have cryptically said that only Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi will be able to throw light on the comment. Incidentally, Chavan was among the 23 senior Congress leaders who had expressed dissatisfaction over the way the party was proceeding and had later mended his ways to stay over in the principal opposition party.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge is anguished over the way his own party members have reacted to a casteist incident concerning him that happened earlier this month. Kharge spoke about what he felt during the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting held on August 19. Kharge referred to the “purification” ritual organised in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani after his visit and expressed dissatisfaction with the party’s response. The incident happened on August 10 at Haldwani’s Ramlila Maidan, two days after Kharge had addressed a rally at the venue. A group called ‘Shri Ram Sena ’ performed a ‘shuddhikaran’ (purification) ritual at the rally venue, with many pointing out that it was a casteist gesture aimed at the Congress leader. Insiders said Kharge declared he was “hurt” that CWC members did not openly condemn the incident. Though he did not name anyone, he reportedly expressed pain that the “good-looking people” who get space in the media did not speak about the incident. Who was he referring to? Jairam Ramesh or Shashi Tharoor. However, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal, briefing the media, touched on the “purification” issue and stressed that the party had raised it and condemned it. Kharge who is also LoP in Rajya Sabha had raised the issue in the House on August 13. Kharge said “I do not want to turn this into a political issue. I have never told anyone that I am Dalit – protect me – nor have I begged in front of anyone. But in Haldwani, the purification of the stage made me feel the sting of untouchability and humiliated me. My demand is that a case should be registered under the Untouchability Act against those who purified the stage in Haldwani.”  Leader of the House J P Nadda had promised to look into it. On its part, the Ram Sena justified the ceremony.

What is the purpose and significance of the timing of Sonia Gandhi’s forthcoming memoir, titled Belonging: A Journey of Love? Is it to give a boost to Rahul Gandhi, who is now very confident that he will be the next PM and replace Narendra Modi? To be published by Alfred A Knopf on November 10, the book comes with an unusual burden of expectation. Sonia, who has kept her life story out of focus, now feels that she must break the silence and tell it all. That should give a boost to the Congress’ prospects in Uttar Pradesh and four other states that go to polls in early 2027. Sonia believes that the focus will return to how great the Gandhi family is and garner sympathy. Personal memoirs may help shape public legacy and connect with party loyalists, but their direct impact on Rahul Gandhi’s immediate political fortunes is questionable, say some Congress leaders. Voter behaviour is typically driven by economic issues, local governance, and electoral strategy rather than biographical retrospectives. The book highlights Sonia’s personal tragedies—the assassinations of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi—and private struggles. By revisiting key historical moments—like her decision to decline the prime ministership in 2004. Rahul Gandhi has supported his mother’s storytelling projects, which paint a picture of family resilience and unity, which plays well in traditional cultural contexts. Of course, Rahul’s political opponents will likely use elements of the memoir to revive historical debates rather than concede political ground, meaning the book will reinforce existing partisan views rather than swing undecided voters. At 544 pages, the memoir promises to travel from her childhood in post-war Italy and her meeting with Rajiv Gandhi in Cambridge to life inside India’s first political family.

When Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay announced plans to purchase premium cars for the newly minted MLAs of TN, the cheering drowned out the hushed shock of the protestors. His justification, to give his lawmakers more access to the constituents, serves them better. The debt-ridden state which already has a mind boggling debt of Rs 13 lakh crore may groan under the weight of this plan. The most vociferous reaction comes from Naam Thamizhar Party leader Seeman who ripped into Vijay’s plan. “190 MLA’s already have cars. At Rs 30 lakhs per car, Rs 70 crore would be needed, whose tax money to be squandered? As it is his wealthy party bigwigs, Adav Arjuna and Marie Wilson are prosperous. Vijay can spend from his own funds or party funds for such extravagant schemes.” Seeman predicts that such popularity and ‘captive’ schemes would silence even justified protests. Apart from the fiscal profligacy of such populist schemes, the buzz is that Vijay is buying insurance to cushion the perceived threat of a walkout by the Congress? Even as Vijay received Home Minister Amit Shah at the airport, a raucous Congress anti-BJP protest was played out at the Egmore Rajarathinam stadium. Whispers of “fake influencer Hindi videos projecting Vijay as a future PM “spread like forest fires. The HM is presiding over the Southern Zonal Council meet at Kovalam near Puducherry. Vijay as the chief convenor, turned into a happy coincidence that brought the TVK and BJP closer. Is Vijay looking for his GPS on a Lonely Planet? This film has had a 100 days run.   

Opposition parties are puzzled and disappointed that U.S. President Donald Trump is now praising India. First, he lauded the way the Indian Election Commission has issued identity cards to crores of voters. And now, the U.S. ambassador to India Sergio Gor, during his visit to Kashmir Valley said, “Jammu and Kashmir is an important part of India and an incredibly beautiful place.” Apart from the Congress party, Pakistan Foreign Office was livid. It summoned the U.S. Charge d’Affaires Natalie Baker and lodged a “strong demarche” over Gor’s remarks. Gor is also the Trump administration’s Special Envoy to South and Central Asia. PM Modi’s aides say they are not surprised, nor do they look to the U.S. for validation. In Srinagar, Sergio Gor took a ‘shikara’ ride at the famous Dal Lake before meeting Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Later, Gor, at a joint media briefing with Omar Abdullah, said, “New Delhi (Centre), the chief minister here, the government here, have taken some incredible steps to keep this area safer and make it safer. We will be looking at whether the travel warning that is imposed and recommended by the US should be downgraded because Kashmir is a beautiful area. I think a lot of Americans would enjoy coming here and seeing the beauty and the opportunities that exist here.” This is the first visit to the Valley by an American ambassador since ‘Operation Sindoor’. Gor also visited Ladakh, the first visit by any foreign diplomat since the Galwan Valley clash with the Chinese army. No doubt, the American ambassador’s visit and remarks send a clear message to China and Pakistan. Gor is one of Trump’s close confidantes. He worked as Director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office before he was appointed envoy to India.

Three months after coming to power in West Bengal, the BJP is facing a difficult organisational and political challenge: expanding its base without allowing its identity to be reshaped by the political practices it spent years opposing. State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya has warned party legislators and district presidents against extortion, intimidation and interference in local affairs, and to stop behaving like “chief ministers” of their Assembly seats. He said party representatives must ensure that people can clearly distinguish the BJP from the Trinamool Congress. He also warned that the party is maintaining dossiers on errant leaders and that no MLA or MP involved in corruption would be spared. The BJP has suspended 22 functionaries, including mandal-level leaders, after issuing show-cause notices to more than 250 workers over allegations including extortion, attempts to occupy TMC offices and anti-party activities. The crackdown is significant because the BJP’s rise in Bengal was built substantially on its promise to replace the TMC’s alleged cut-money, syndicate and extortion networks. The organisational crackdown comes amid resentment among sections of BJP workers over the accommodation of former TMC leaders. Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Dilip Ghosh has said BJP workers would not accept leaders who had allegedly harmed them politically. The induction of former TMC leaders Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik, followed by their quick elevation to the Rajya Sabha, has unsettled sections of the cadre, particularly as they had previously faced BJP allegations of corruption. Bhattacharya had earlier said the BJP no longer needed TMC leaders to win elections, while acknowledging that political arithmetic could remain flexible. He maintained that TMC leaders facing allegations of corruption, recruitment scams or links with syndicate networks would not be welcome.  

In a much anticipated move the BJP announced its new 65-member national team under the new president Nitin Nabin, signalling a mix of organisational experience, social representation and preparations for upcoming elections. Three appointments were particularly significant: return of former Union Minister Smriti Irani and Ram Madhav to key organisational roles, while Amit Malviya, a prominent face of the BJP’s digital campaign for years, did not feature in the new team. Irani’s return to the BJP team with party president comes more than two years after she lost the Amethi Lok Sabha seat in the 2024. She has now been given a place among the BJP’s national general secretaries, marking her return to the party’s top organisational structure. Another notable appointment is that of Ram Madhav, named a national vice-president. Madhav, a former national general secretary of the BJP, has played a key role in the party’s organisational and political outreach, particularly in the Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir. He was known for crafting an alliance with Kashmir’s PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti. Return of both Irani and Madhav to the BJP indicates that both PM Modi and HM Amit Shah have initiated corrective measures in view of recent upsets — Jantar Mantar protests.  Appointment of Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal as BJP national treasurer has raised eyebrows. It triggered chatter about whether he would continue in the Govt when PM Modi reshuffles his Cabinet. IT Cell head Amit Malviya was replaced with Deepak Mhaskey, a former chemistry professor from Chattisgarh. Under Mhaskey, the BJP has gone for a media overhaul. It is being said Nabin had opted for a mix of organisational veterans and younger faces. “Communities who never vote BJP have got lot of prominence,” a Dalit BJP leader pointed out saying effort was being made to  reach out  to Jatavs,who shun the BJP.

A press conference held a couple of days ago by a group of entrepreneurs in Chakan industrial estate near Pune has become a trigger for a clash between Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and veteran leader Sharad Pawar. The industrialists grieved that they would be forced to shift base to adjacent Satara district owing to the pitiable condition of the infrastructure like power supply and roads in Chakan. Pawar said that the companies employed more than 2000 workers and urged the state government to protect jobs and industries in Maharashtra. In a swift rejoinder, Fadnavis has pointed out that Maharashtra continued to top the list of industrialises states in the country. He assured Pawar that the state will continue to be a prime location for industrial activity. Pawar’s observation is based on the data cited in parliament, which said that over 36000 companies in the state had closed down. Fadanvis pointed out that the figures had been presented without the wider context and that around 76% of them were “defunct” entities that had never commenced operations. Fadanvis has also advised Pawar to peruse the official data concerning the subject. He has assured the NCP leader that urgent steps are being taken to resolve the woe of the Chakan industrial belt. Pawar is among the leaders who have a soft corner for industry. Hence, Fadnavis has ensured that his response to Pawar is seen in a correct perspective.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal’s wife Harsimrat has posted an emotion-filled ‘X’ message to salute Inspector Santosh Vaijnath Kendre of the Maharashtra Police’s Special Protection Unit for showing heroic courage in saving Badal’s life in Nanded on Thursday (Aug 13). She says, “Santosh, you stood like a human shield between Sukhbir ji and the attacker, putting your own life at risk to protect his. In doing so, you reminded us of what it truly means to wear the uniform — to put duty before self and courage before fear. The Badal family bows to you with deepest gratitude. Your bravery will never be forgotten. May Waheguru bless you with a speedy recovery. Also, a special mention for the doctors and the entire staff at the Yashosai Hospital for their relentless service in comforting us.” Reports from Nanded say that Badal was spared of a second attack, thanks to the bravery of Kendre, who sustained a serious injury in the process. According to eye witness accounts that have gone viral, the attacker, Jaspal Singh, had already attacked Badal once and was attempting to stab him again when Kendre leapt between the two. He caught hold of Jaspal’s hand and stood as a wall in a way that shielded Badal from the second swipe of the kirpan. Then Jaspal attacked Kendre in the gruesome incident at Nanded Gurudwara. Immediately after the attack, Badal was taken to Yashosai Hospital where he received a few stitches and was declared out of danger. Nanded SP Neelabh Rohan said there was no breach in Badal’s security. Police have found that the accused is a Pune resident and had practised as a lawyer there. Jaspal’s Pune house was raided by the police as part of investigation.

Kangana Ranaut once again allowed her rage to override restraint. Reacting to the CJP student protests, the BJP MP and actor branded young protesters the “gutter generation.” She called their reels “puke-inducing,” their language “crass and jarring,” and questioned “who is birthing and raising them.” Young women were singled out as “ugly and corrupt” for allegedly flaunting drugs, drinks and “endless body counts.” An FIR has now been registered against her in Agra for insulting an entire generation of students and their parents. The political and commercial cost is enormous. This same generation will decide the box office of every film she makes and the fate of every election she contests. They are the future audience of Indian cinema and the decisive voters of the next three decades. To dismiss them as “gutter” merely because some used raw language is not just arrogant—it is strategically suicidal. Kangana’s history is littered with such self-damaging outbursts. In cinema she declared war on the “nepotism mafia,” clashed publicly over ‘Manikarnika’, and watched ‘Emergency’ sink under controversy and poor returns. In politics she has compared Mumbai to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, labelled farmers’ protesters terrorists, and declared 1947 freedom “bheekh”—remarks that forced even her own party to distance itself. A boisterous, hyper personality can generate headlines, but it also burns bridges that never rebuild. Language alone does not define a generation’s worth. The very people she called “gutter” will remain a bitter pill she is forced to swallow every time her film releases or she seeks votes. In both politics and cinema, words spoken in fury have a long memory and this one may outlast her career.

A political controversy over Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose has intensified in West Bengal following remarks by BJP leaders, giving the Trinamool Congress an opportunity to counter the BJP after its rout in this year’s Assembly elections. The controversy began after Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya alleged that Forward Bloc activists, the party founded by Netaji,had attacked Syama Prasad Mukherjee, then a Hindu Mahasabha leader, with stones and injured him. He also claimed Netaji had declined Mukherjee’s request to condemn atrocities against Hindus in the late 1930s. Bhattacharya later refrained from further remarks. The controversy widened after BJP Rajya Sabha member Ananta Maharaj, questioned Netaji’s ability to raise the Azad Hind Fauj and claimed it was actually a unit of British soldiers. In subsequent remarks, Maharaj allegedly questioned Netaji’s contribution to the freedom struggle, called him a “war criminal” and questioned the INA’s role. TMC supremo and former chief minister Mamata Banerjee joined a Kolkata protest accusing the BJP of insulting Netaji, questioned its failure to act against Roy, and said Tagore, Netaji, Vivekananda and Khudiram were global icons. The All-India Forward Bloc demanded action against Maharaj and revocation of his Rajya Sabha membership. A separate row erupted in Rampurhat after a Netaji-named road was allegedly renamed after Syama Prasad Mukherjee. The dispute has revived debates over Netaji’s relationship with Mukherjee, the Hindu Mahasabha and INA, while intersecting with the BJP’s Bengali outreach and competing claims over Netaji’s legacy. Amid the row, chief minister Suvendu Adhikari directed BJP MLAs to establish “Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Seva Kendra” in constituencies for welfare work, eligible centres can receive Rs 30,000 monthly government assistance.

The Odisha government seems to be in a quandary over the appointment of a new Director General of Police as the incumbent DGP Y B Khurania retires on August 16,2026. A PIL has been filed by P Chidambaram in the Supreme Court challenging the Odisha government’s appointment process. However, the Apex court decided not to list the matter. What seems clear is that the Supreme Court bench led by Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana wanted to delay immediate judicial intervention. Given this scenario, the State government may appoint an in-charge/officiating DGP temporarily pending the Supreme Court final hearing. Amid growing speculation over the appointment of Odisha’s next DGP, senior IPS officers Sanjeeb Panda and Yeshwant Kumar Jethwa were promoted to the Director General (DG) of Police rank few days ago. According to former Mumbai top cop Arup Patnaik, who hails from Odisha the said empanelment of police candidate falls under the purview of Home Minister Amit Shah. Patnaik noted that when Narendra Modi was Gujarat CM, he did not appoint a permanent DG for 15 years. Adding further, he says, it is a political decision as DG is also responsible to control the election process in the state.

West Bengal’s political landscape is beginning to reveal a curious contradiction. The recent appearance of three MLAs associated with Opposition leader Ritabrata Banerjee’s faction at a protest organised by the Mamata Banerjee camp against the alleged attack on Didi recently is one such indication. The developments involving the three NCPI MPs point to a similar dilemma at the national level. Their reluctance to be seen as unequivocally aligned with the NDA, while simultaneously engaging with the government on constituency issues, reflects the pressures of electoral politics. Abdul Khaleque Molla, Mohammad Tausif-ur-Rahman and Bibhas Sardar of the Ritabrata Banerjee-aligned faction appeared alongside senior Trinamool leaders Sovandeb Chattopadhyay and Kunal Ghosh at the Assembly premises. Their presence has triggered speculation about whether some legislators are moving back to Didi’s fold. Tausif reaffirmed his loyalty to Mamata, while Sardar stressed that the MLAs had won on the Trinamool’s symbol. Molla, however, said he continued to align with the Ritabrata faction but had joined the protest over the alleged attack. Ritabrata sought to play down the speculation but maintained that his group still had 65 MLAs. Meanwhile, three Muslim MPs of the breakaway Nationalist Citizens Party of India—Abu Taher Khan, Khalilur Rahaman and former cricketer Yusuf Pathan—have again stayed away from NDA meetings, yet attended the breakfast organised by PM Narendra Modi. They also attended a meeting with West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari. Khan said the MPs would remain with NCPI and would not join or support the BJP, stressing that they had “voters to answer to”. Pathan said he raised the issue of voter-list deletions and constituency concerns at the meeting with Adhikari. This is perhaps the larger lesson from both episodes. Bengal’s emerging political realignment cannot be understood simply through the language of defections, camps and alliances. The more consequential...

Exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin’s six-day return to Kolkata, nearly two decades after she was forced out amid violence in autumn 2007, has become a political statement for the BJP government as much as a homecoming. Posters welcomed Nasrin, while chief minister Suvendu Adhikari shared the dais with her. Her return offered the BJP an opportunity to draw a line between its approach and that of the Left Front and Trinamool Congress governments, which Nasrin said had forced her out or prevented her return. Adhikari said the change in West Bengal was not limited to the government’s face but extended to the system, and assured Nasrin of security while inviting her to return whenever she wished. Nasrin, who arrived in late July, thanked the BJP leadership for facilitating her return. She said Kolkata was the closest place to her home in Bangladesh, which she fled in 1994. She contrasted the three political regimes, saying the first had forced her out, the second had prevented her return and the BJP government had facilitated it. She backed implementation of the Uniform Civil Code and a ban on madrasas, both pursued by the BJP government. The BJP presented her return as evidence that it will not allow Muslim fundamentalist groups to dictate terms. The Left and TMC face criticism for placing minority support and electoral calculations above free expression and dissent in the State. During her stay, Nasrin warned that governments yielding to religious fanatics may temporarily avert violence but cannot sustain peace. Her visit comes amid strained India-Bangladesh ties since Sheikh Hasina’s fall in August 2024, and highlights a contradiction: the Adhikari government has spoken of removing suspected Bangladeshi foreigners while welcoming an exiled Bangladeshi writer.

Leeds Connect in North England has announced the launch of “England Cha Raja,” a landmark seven-day Ganesh Festival that aims to bring together devotees, families and communities from across the United Kingdom in a celebration of faith, culture and social harmony. The festival will be held at the Ramgarhia Sports Centre, Leeds, and is inspired by the devotion and spiritual legacy of Mumbai’s world-famous Lalbaugcha Raja. Organisers say the initiative seeks to recreate a similar atmosphere of devotion and divine blessings for devotees living in the UK. Adding to the festival’s authenticity, the Lord Ganesha idol has been sculpted by renowned artisan Santosh Ratnakar Kambli, who has long been associated with creating the iconic Lalbaugcha Raja idol in Mumbai.  Through England Cha Raja, Leeds Connect hopes not only to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi but also to strengthen the values of faith, unity, service, and community participation.  Given the magnitude of the impact of the event in the UK and Europe, sources close to the organisers reveal that the Indian High Commission’s office in London and the government of Maharashtra have both expressed a strong desire to support the endeavour as it fits into the Indo-UK cultural ties in the light of the newly executed FTA,

Bankipur MLA and political strategist Prashant Kishor’s unannounced meeting with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar Thursday (Aug 6) night has once again highlighted the internecine unrest within the organisation. Ever since the demise of then deputy CM Ajit Pawar in an air crash in Baramati, the party is witnessing one jolt after another. Soon after the six-hour meeting with Kishor was over, reports began surfacing that Kishor had advised her to replace state NCP president Sunil Tatkare, a staunch loyalist of the late leader. Hurriedly, NCP spokesman Suraj Chavan clarified that there was no truth in the whispers about Tatkare. However, Sunetra’s son Parth, Rajya Sabha member, is said to be dead against Tatkare and another party heavyweight Praful Patel. Incidentally, Parth was present at the meeting with Kishor, who has advised Sunetra not to give importance to criticism against her, especially to remarks like ‘Goongi Gudiya’ and to concentrate on rebuilding the party organisation as well as focus on her governmental work. Kishor has been in touch with Sunetra after Ajit Pawar’s death. This is their second meeting in two months. There was a gap in meetings since Kishor was busy with electioneering at Bankipur, Bihar. At the Thursday meet, Kishor told Sunetra that he will undertake a survey across the state to assess the NCP’s potential and submit his recommendations, based on its findings. Their next meeting will take place soon, according to a party leader.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reassurance to the six MPs who have defected from the Shiv Sena (UBT) to the ruling NDA that “not to worry, I am with you” has boosted their morale to another level. After meeting NDA MPs today in New Delhi, Modi made it a point to meet the half dozen former Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha members separately. This came as a pleasant surprise for them as it is interpreted as a guarantee for their political course. Modi told them, “You are now part and parcel of the NDA.” Modi hosted over 40 new and first-time NDA Lok Sabha members, inviting those MPs, which included the members who have left the Trinamool Congress as well. The six Maharashtra MPs have joined the faction led by state deputy CM Eknath Shinde. Besides the promise to ‘to take care’ of them, Modi also asserted on good governance. The Prime Minister advised the ‘new’ members on public outreach, parliamentary conduct and effective implementation of government schemes in their constituencies. Of late, the political scene in Maharashtra is witnessing various permutations and combinations, giving rise to speculation that major changes in the government and the organisation of each constituent of the ruling triumvirate is likely very soon. Frequent and unscheduled trips by CM Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde have been adding fodder to the gristmill. Against this backdrop, Modi’s direct communication with the breakaway Sena (UBT) MPs is considered significant.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks in Mumbai on August 6 at an interaction with Gen Z is bound to make the top BJP leadership take note. The Sangh appears to be taking the lead over the Modi government in starting a dialogue with the youth, before PM Modi does. Bhagwat stated that Gen Z protests over issues like exam paper leaks are a legitimate form of dialogue. He has asserted that youth grievances are genuine and should not be labelled anti-national. Observers view his remarks as a nudge toward constructive engagement and systemic reform rather than confrontation.  He emphasised that the era of blind obedience is over, and today’s youth demand logic, discussion, and reasoning. Coming amid youth-led agitations and public debates, his comments are widely interpreted as advocating an empathetic, communicative approach rather than an adversarial response. Were the RSS Chief’s remarks a wake-up call for the BJP? The statement places the RSS directly inside the debate over how India’s political establishment engages with a generation often dismissed as unserious or confined to social media. The message is clear: disagreement is not disloyalty, and young people taking to the streets cannot automatically be portrayed as enemies of the nation. Bhagwat has pushed back against attempts by many government and BJP leaders to brand protesting youngsters as anti-national. He said Gen Z is more honest than earlier generations and has the right to question those in power. The “wake-up call” narrative is built on several key interventions by Bhagwat over the past few years.. Amid intense student protests over NEET paper leaks—which forced the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan—Bhagwat asserted that “if Gen Z is protesting, they are not anti-nationals” and that the government must address grievances using logic and dialogue rather than dismissal. This directly contrasted with aggressive rhetoric from several BJP leaders.

Well it is not only PM Modi and the BJP who have been troubled by the youth agitations. Even LoP Rahul Gandhi too, following which he reached out to students, on August 6, protesting in Jharkhand over alleged irregularities in government recruitment examinations. He assured them that their concerns would be raised with the JMM-Congress state government and expressed support for their demands. The conversation comes amid the continuing agitation by JPSC-JSSC aspirants in Ranchi demanding the cancellation of the disputed exam, a fair investigation into the irregularities and comprehensive reforms in the recruitment process. Rahul and Opposition leaders did not expect the Ranchi protests to become such a huge embarrassment like the Jantar Mantar protests did to PM Modi. At Ranchi’s Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, student leader Devendra Nath Mahto has been on an indefinite hunger strike and has drawn the same attention as activist Sonam Wangchuk’s in Jantar Mantar. On August 5, following a video call with Wangchuk, Mahto agreed to at least take water while continuing his fast. The demands of protesters were to cancel the disputed 14th Combined Civil Services Preliminary Examination, order a CBI probe and restore public faith in Jharkhand’s recruitment system. It started on July 2, when the JPSC announced the examination results, naming 2,204 successful candidates for recruitment to 103 civil service posts. More damagingly, the JPSC failed to publish category-wise cut-off marks, a basic requirement of transparency. On July 21, the Jharkhand CID arrested eight persons of TSR Data Processing Pvt Ltd (TDPL) which was entrusted with the examination process. Days later, JPSC chairman L Khiangte resigned. Nine competitive examinations, including the Civil Services Mains, have been postponed indefinitely. What began as a protest against one disputed examination has evolved into a movement demanding structural reform of Jharkhand’s recruitment machinery. CJP...