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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.
The long-simmering public feud between Kangana Ranaut and Taapsee Pannu flared up once again in August 2026, yet this time Taapsee offered a refreshingly mature way out. At the trailer preview of her Netflix film Gandhari in Mumbai, when reporters asked about Kangana’s latest jibes, Taapsee did not retaliate. Instead she turned the mirror on the media itself. “Aap khatam kyun nahi hone dete yeh baat?” she asked. “Koi question puchna hum dono se band karega jab yeh wala, toh yeh issue bhi khatam ho jayega. Aap sab logon ko maza aa raha hai yeh sab dekh ke, isiliye wahi sawaal puch rahe hain. Aise sawaal puchna agar aap band kar dete, toh yeh baat kab ki khatam ho jati.” In plain words: stop asking the two of us the same questions and the controversy will die a natural death. The roots of this “imaginary conflict,” as Taapsee has often described it, go back to 2019. After she praised the trailer of Kangana’s Judgementall Hai Kya without tagging her, Kangana’s sister Rangoli Chandel branded Taapsee a “sasti copy.” The label stuck and returned repeatedly. In 2020, amid the heated nepotism debate following Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, Kangana publicly labelled Taapsee and other outsiders “B-grade actresses” and “needy.” The two women have never even met, yet the narrative of rivalry has been kept alive for seven years. The latest round began when Taapsee, speaking at the India Today Women Summit, observed that their differing opinions simply reflected different upbringings and worldviews. Kangana took offence, accusing Taapsee of ridiculing her parents and background. In Instagram stories she revived the “sasti copy” dig, dismissed Gandhari as a “B-grade film.” In an industry that thrives on endless drama, Taapsee’s calm insistence that silence is the best answer stands out as genuine maturity.
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!
Days before its Netflix premiere, Taapsee Pannu’s Gandhari has exploded into one of the sharpest copyright storms in recent OTT history, and this does not feel like manufactured noise. It feels like a serious allegation that refuses to die. Writer Kalyan Bandi, an IIT Madras alumnus and government inspector, claims he wrote, registered, and pitched a story titled Gandhari as far back as 2019. His concept: a mother who transforms into a fierce, almost divine force while battling a child-trafficking racket. He says he shared the material with Monika Shergill who was then at Voot and now a senior Netflix executive. He registered the treatment with the Screenwriters Association. When Netflix announced Gandhari, written and produced by Kanika Dhillon, with an eerily similar core, Bandi sent a formal legal notice seeking credit and compensation. He has repeatedly said money is secondary; what he wants is acknowledgement that the idea was his. A second writer, Raghav Desai, has also claimed he pitched a near-identical Mahabharata-inspired mother-revenge narrative to the makers in 2024. Two independent claims. Same title. Same emotional spine. Same platform. Kathha Pictures and Kanika Dhillon have issued firm denials, calling the film an original work and the allegations “false and unverified.” Netflix has stated the earlier pitch was “very different.” Yet the optics remain damaging: a registered story, documented outreach to a future Netflix executive, and a high-profile film that lands with the exact same title and thematic DNA. In an industry where ideas routinely circulate without protection, this case cuts deeper. Copyright clarity is rarely black-and-white, but registration, written pitches, and legal notices raise legitimate questions that cannot be dismissed as mere publicity hunger. Whether the film ultimately clears the legal and ethical cloud remains to be seen, but the allegation itself is no longer easy to ignore.
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.
In the high-stakes world of pan-Indian mega films, visibility is oxygen. Yash’s Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is proving the point. Just days before its worldwide release on 26 August, a pre-release event in Hyderabad turned chaotic when a speaker stand collapsed after fans climbed it for a better view, injuring four people. The mishap made national headlines, yet instead of denting momentum, it amplified the film’s presence. Advance bookings were already strong in India and the US; the incident simply poured fuel on an existing fire. Discussions around competing titles such as Batwara 1947, Awarapan 2 and even Hollywood releases like Spiderman: Brand New Day’ quietened as conversations pivoted to Toxic. The trailer’s striking visuals, the dual-role promise, the multilingual scale, shot in English and Kannada, releasing in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam and the ambitious global rollout had already created curiosity. The unfortunate Hyderabad episode added an extra layer of real-time urgency and human drama that social media and news cycles thrive on. Suddenly everyone is talking about the film, the star’s on-stage concern for the injured. Positive trailer reactions, star power and booking numbers build the base; unexpected events; whether controversies, crowd chaos or viral clips, keep the title trending. History shows that films which dominate the cultural conversation in the last week often convert curiosity into footfalls. The phrase “any publicity is good publicity” is not cynicism here. Toxic entered the final countdown already armed with strong pre-sales. The Hyderabad incident, however regrettable for those hurt, ensured the title remained impossible to ignore. In the business of big-screen spectacles, that kind of sustained visibility is often the difference between a solid opening and a phenomenon.
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...
Yash Raj Films has long been synonymous with grand romances and socially rooted dramas. From the eternal love of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge to the emotional depth of Kabhi Kabhie, Silsila and Chandni, the banner built its legendary reputation on stories of the heart. Even when it explored other terrains, the core remained elevated emotion and large-scale human drama. Horror was the one major genre it had carefully avoided. That changes now. YRF has announced its first-ever theatrical horror film, with Varun Dhawan in the lead and Abhay Pannu of Rocket Boys fame, directing. The project, slated for a 2027 release, marks a clear policy shift. A production house of this stature does not enter a genre lightly. The decision signals that horror has finally earned mainstream respectability in Indian cinema. The numbers back the move. Recent Hindi successes; Maddock’s Stree franchise, Bhediya, Munjya, Priyadarshan’s Bhoot Bangla and Vikram Bhatt’s Haunted 3D, have proved that audiences, especially the younger generation, are hungry for the genre, whether pure chills or horror-comedy. International hits like Obsession and Backrooms have further elevated the form, moving it into something polished and culturally significant. For YRF, the timing is strategic. After decades of owning romance and emotional storytelling, the studio is adapting to a new audience that finds equal thrill in fear. Pairing a bankable star like Varun Dhawan with a director known for intelligent storytelling shows the banner is not merely chasing a trend but investing in quality within the genre. Horror has always had its loyalists. What is new is its acceptance as a legitimate, commercially viable space that even the most prestigious houses now want to claim. When Yash Raj Films steps into the dark, it is not just a film announcement. It is confirmation that the genre has arrived.
India needs numerical strength and quality in badminton to break the hegemony of the European and Asian countries. The results in the World Championship have to be put down as very disappointing, with the sole consolation being the refreshing display by the women’s doubles pair of Gayatri Gopichand and Teressa Jolly. The Thomas Cup win in 2022 ought to have triggered significant enthusiasm and interest, leading to exponential growth. India has never been a force in the Uber Cup, which China has won 16 times. Clearly, the current system has not been working well to produce champions consistently. Prakash Padukone, Pullela Gopichand, Saina Nehwal, and P V Sindhu beat all odds and covered themselves with glory, winning the All England Openn Badminton Championships, World, and Olympic medals. A vibrant ecosystem needs to be created to get the best out of singles players like Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty, the doubles pair Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, and budding women’s talents like Unnati Hooda, Tanvi Sharma, Ashmita Chaliha, and a handful more in the top-50. The Nagoya-Aichi Asian Games in September-October will be far from a cakewalk for the Indians; China, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Chinese Taipei and Malaysia will be in full force. Former India player and coach Uday Pawar would like to see three or four more National Centres of Excellence set up across the country. He believes the NCOE in Assam has shown glimpses of developing bright talent. The LA 28 is less than two years away, and those in the top 30 or thereabouts should get the best. Sen had a great chance to topple the top seed in Paris in 2024 and in the bronze medal playoff; he will be keen and eager to make amends at LA28.
The 1968 Tamil film Edhir Neechal (Swimming against the tide) starring Sowcar Janaki was talked about for long, after release. Director K Balachander had that magical creativity which could grip audience interest, even with the simplest of stories …middle class ethos and characters straight out of life. A simple theme was immortalised by Sowcar Janaki by her talent for emoting, comedy, drama and expressions …no director was needed for Janaki to live her roles. But the conversational song and drama, Aduthaathu Ambujam turned out to be an all-time hit, with Janaki comparing her budget driven life to her neighbour Ambujam’s lavish indulgence …Pattu Mami and Kittu Mama belting out the eternal middle-class conundrum…female aspirations and male practicality. Hero Srikant, a newbie (who worked at the U.S. Consulate) was not intimidated by Janaki’s talent, turned out to be an effective foil. Her very first film, L V Prasad’s Shavukaru got her the title ‘Sowcar’ …how appropriate Janaki had a commanding presence of the well-heeled. Till her end, Janaki who acted in over 400 films led an elegant life, dressed impeccably. It was K Balachander who cast her in all his classic entertainers …Neerkumizhi, Baama Vijayam, Iru Kodugal, Thillu Mullu, Kaviya Thalaivi. In Pudiya Paravai an all-time iconic thriller of 1964, Janaki stood out in that formidable casting –Sivaji Ganesan, Saroja Devi and M R Radha. They don’t make films like these any more…Shahukars of the Janaki mould … rare.
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...
Who got the Meta top officials, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, to tender an apology to the government of India? Was it IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s deft approach or BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s aggressive posture as head of the Parliamentary Committee, who issued a three-day ultimatum to apologise for the brief removal of PM Modi’s July 23 video, and take action against those responsible for it? Or did Meta think it risked losing business in India if the government got very tough? Not only did Zuckerberg apologise for the temporary removal of Modi’s Facebook post, but his top executives also admitted to significant “content moderation” failures, including issues with child sexual abuse material, deepfakes, and the paid boosting of certain content. Meta’s global affairs head, Joel Kaplan, flew in from the U.S. for meetings with Vaishnaw. The IT Minister apparently grilled Meta global policy officials during the August 5 meeting. Vaishnaw knew Meta India’s gross advertising revenue reached Rs 29,392 crore ($3.5 bn) in fiscal year 2025. Meta needs India. Meta is one of the world’s most powerful companies, but its CEO had to accept its mistakes and tender an apology. This reflects the might of Indian laws. During the recent Jantar Mantar students’ protest, thousands of deepfake videos were circulated, rumours were spread through AI-generated content, inciting posts were sent from handles based in Pakistan, objectionable messages through Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp became viral. Meta did not take corrective action. Those who support Dubey think that it was he who forced the IT Minister to act tough. Dubey warned in a letter that protection and immunity available to Meta could be withdrawn if no apology was forthcoming. That is, the protection it receives under the ‘safe harbour clause’ would be withdrawn. Had the protection been withdrawn, the way to file a FIR against Meta officials could have been cleared.
After facing intense heat from the student community, Opposition parties, and the media, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was left with little choice but to step down following the NEET paper leak controversy, despite retaining the support of PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. His resignation was the core demand of the student-led Cockroach Janta Party to end their 36-day agitation at Jantar Mantar. Following his exit, rumour mills went into overdrive. Would he be assigned a new ministry, or roped in as an election strategist for the upcoming Punjab and Uttar Pradesh polls? Against this backdrop, his recent visits to his home state of Odisha—where he received a rousing welcome from local BJP leaders—are raising eyebrows. Was it a routine visit, or is he planning to base himself back in the state? Immediate speculation suggests an organizational shake-up in Odisha, where Pradhan could be handed a larger regional mandate focused on bolstering the BJP’s grassroots presence. With state elections less than three years away, political analysts believe Pradhan could well emerge as the BJP’s Chief Ministerial candidate for Odisha.
Though DMK president M K Stalin has lashed out at the TVK government after his son and Leader of the Opposition, Udhayanidhi Stalin, was detained by the police over his allegedly misogynistic remarks, which were seen as targeting a Tamil film actor Trisha, reports from Chennai say Stalin was quite upset with the DMK cadres for taking an anti-woman stance. He reportedly had a strong word for party cadres that had taken part in Udhayanidhi’s Thanjavur meeting. He felt an anti-woman perception about the DMK could put off women voters in the state. Stalin is one DMK leader who is always known to be moderate in his language. It is being said he did not expect the DMK cadres to get involved in his son personal brawl with CM Vijay. Before the Parliament Session, Stalin had even advised DMK MPs also not to directly confront PM Modi. Oddly, Lok Sabha MP Kanimozhi took a position in Udhayanidhi’s support. She dubbed his arrest by the TVK Govt as “blatant cowardice” done with the purpose of preventing him from attending the Legislative Assembly, whose Budget Session begins on August 5. At the same time, Stalin said the TVK government, lacks the resolve to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s rights in the Cauvery water issue and showed no regard for Udhayanidhi’s position as LoP when it arrested him and took him to Thanjavur. He alleged that the government was attempting to intimidate Udhayanidhi by registering cases against him under multiple sections. He questioned the government’s actions, asking, “If the objective was merely to conduct an inquiry, why couldn’t it have been done in Chennai? Why was he taken to Thanjavur?
A day after cabinet expansion on August 3 when he inducted 19 ministers, Karnataka chief minister D K Shivakumar was heard talking tough as sulking MLAs who were left out of the gravy train threatened to quit the Congress party. He declared that he would have no hesitation in accepting their resignations. Interacting with the media, he said those who wish to continue in politics should remain with the party as “if there is a party, everything else follows.” What is the basis for DKS’s confidence in adopting a tough stand? Party sources insist that it is not just that Gandhis have decided to back DKS for now. It is also because the entire cabinet reshuffle exercise was fine tuned in Delhi with inputs of who should be included were filtered by two party functionaries or apparatchiks close to the Gandhis. It may seem odd but the buzz is that two people who helped DKS finalise the cabinet list are: Sunil Kanogulu and Sasikanth Senthil Kumar, a former Karnataka cadre IAS, who is now a Lok Sabha MP from Tamil Nadu. An election strategist, Kanogulu was appointed as advisor by CM Siddaramaiah. This courtesy was extended to him for bringing the Congress to power by strategising its campaign in 2022. Of course, it may be one thing to reward a poll strategist with a plum post but to let him call the shots in cabinet making! Many Congress leaders feel that perhaps the party bosses were perhaps going over the top. Or it is quite possible that Kanogulu may have only been a front; he was being used by a well-oiled machinery to make money for cabinet posts for a section within the party. Or else why would the Cabinet expansion have come exactly two months after DKS took oath as the CM?
Following his surprise win in Bihar’s Bankipur bypoll, Jan Suraaj Party founder and election strategist Prashant Kishor described his win as a “message to the BJP.” PK, who had arrived on the election management scene in 2014 by handling the election of PM Narendra Modi, has now managed to enter the state legislative assembly in his home state exposing the underbelly of the BJP. Responding to his win, Kishor asserted that he could succeed only because “people of Bihar want a good CM” someone who can improve education, create employment opportunities for the youth, and ensure that the children of Bihar do not have to migrate elsewhere for work. He even suggested that the BJP leadership should change the Bihar CM before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. PK’s Jan Suraaj Party which drew a blank in November 2025 assembly elections has suddenly seen an upswing in its fortunes? The NDA had won 202 of 243 seats. So what has happened in the intervening nine months that has altered the mood of people in Patna? According to PK the reason for the change in people’s mood is because BJP leadership opted for Samrat Choudhary, son of former RJD leader Shakuni Choudhry and habitual party hopper, as CM. Modi-Shah zeroed in on Samrat because of his backward Koeri caste. This has resulted in a huge resentment among upper castes who have traditionally backed the BJP. PK had cited Samrat’s alleged criminal antecedents as an election issue. Bankipur has a sizable student population and could have also been swayed by Jantar Mantar protests. Many may have been influenced by PK’s promises to create better educational facilities. Patna, being a Kayastha dominant seat will any day value creation of an equipped education hub. BJP sources, however, insist that Bankipur was lost mainly because the RJD actively transferred its votes to the JSP.
The holy Kaveri, considered the Ganga of the South, takes birth in Karnataka and wends her way to the Thanjavur Delta in Tamil Nadu considered the rice granary of India. But politicians of both these States are playing out a despicable game over water sharing. Now, a new threat is now emerging …the planned Megadatu dam that will definitely impact the TN farmers and their livelihood. But even before this looming threat, a new chapter in the bitter political flexing of muscles is making news. The new CM of Karnataka DK Shivakumar has already sounded the conch of battle saying water will not be released for TN. When J Jayalalithaa undertook a fast on the Marina Beach, Kalaignar opposed it severely …justifying that diplomacy was better as Tamils in Karnataka would be targets of violence. Despite so many political stunts no party has cobbled a lasting solution. On his way to Delhi to file TN plea for water, TVK Minister for Legal Affairs, Nirmal Kumar shared “insights” of the politics being brazenly played by M K Stalin and DKS. According to Nirmal Kumar, Stalin had met DKS in Karnataka. He alleged that their bonhomie went beyond party ideology. When in power DMK did nothing to resolve the Kaveri problem. Chennai South DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran targeted LoP Rahul Gandhi who was on a two-day visit to Mahabalipuram. Gandhi had ranted about the “Ettappans” (Judas) of TN. Maran flayed the Congress saying, “Trust is sold for power by these poisonous snakes”. He was obviously targeting the Congress which had kicked the DMK ladder for alliance with Vijay’s TVK. But as they say man proposes …and nature disposes. Suddenly the monsoon fury in Kerala flooded the Kabini river, a tributary of the Kaveri. The holy Kaveri swelled up with uncontrolled inflow …a big threat to Karnataka. And the hatches had to be opened…the waters gleefully rushed down to the delta, 3500 cusec per day …Mere politicians cannot overcome nature.
Hotel Ritz Carlton in Pune was witness to a high-profile political gathering on July 29. It once again endorsed Maharashtra’s culture in which personal and political factors are kept apart. The occasion was the betrothal of deputy CM Sunetra Pawar’s son Parth with Kainaat Dara. As announced earlier, the wedding will take place on 27 February next year. The prominent among those present were Nationalist Congress Party patriarch Sharad Pawar with wife Pratibha, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy CM Eknath Shinde, NCP bigwigs Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare as well as a score of VIPs. The occasion had heightened political suspense since contrasting reports have been emanating from both NCP factions about their possible merger. While Pawar himself has discounted any such development, certain leaders are said to be hopeful even now. The engagement ceremony was fraught with emotion with memories of Parth’s late father Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash in Baramati. The probe in the mishap is still on. The atmosphere was silent for a minute as Parth broke down while bowing to his father’s portrait. Care was taken to ensure that nothing was left to chance. For instance, a NCP leader had called on Karveer Peeth Shankaracharya a couple of months ago to seek clearance about holding the ceremony since certain quarters believe that a sacred event should be celebrated in a family which is in bereavement within one year or only after three years. All eyes now will be on the day of the wedding.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leader Abhijeet Dipke is the focus of anti-BJP parties in Maharashtra. Even former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has sought his time and invited him to Matoshree when the young agitator visits Mumbai. On his part, Abhijeet has started lobbing one political missile after another against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah. Besides threatening another mass agitation if the demands of the fledgling outfit are not honoured, Abhijeet has taken a cautious stand by declaring that CJP does not support violence. His modest apartment in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar in Marathwada is the new place of attraction. Senior minister Sanjay Shirsat from the Shiv Sena (Shinde) was among the first to call on Abhijeet. Both families have a long-time relationship, it was stated. Shirsat has demanded police protection for Abhijeet. Soon thereafter, Sena (UBT) leader Chandrakant Khaire reached the residence of the new youth icon and made a call to Uddhav. Both conversed for a little while and Uddhav invited Abhijeet to Matoshree. He is said to have replied in the affirmative. Unfazed by the spotlight on him, Abhijeet has reiterated all his charges against Modi and Shah. Meanwhile, the subject of curiosity about Abhijeet is the young girl who was seen with him after the Delhi agitation was called off.
The past month was rife with talk about Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay planning to settle in Poes Garden – Chennai’s epicentre of heated politics, high drama and intrigue. The hum about Vijay eyeing late CM J Jayalalithaa’s palatial bungalow to be his CM abode is gaining credence every day…the denizens of this tony neighbourhood are again shaken and stirred. Memories of an earlier CM’s dominance and security cordons are still fresh …add to this the domineering presence of her close confidant Sasikala is even more fresh. She has built her own palatial residence just across Veda Nilayam. Just around the bend is super star Rajini’s sprawling home, a place he coveted and contracted as his own nearly 50 years back. It is said that JJ’s convoy once had stopped Rajini entering Poes Garden. The latest is his estranged son-in-law actor Dhanush has built a Rs 150 crore lavish mansion in the same vicinity. The most unexpected win of Vijay’s TVK has changed many an equation. Imagine the shock of these same denizens when Dhanush posed for a huge fan club from his balcony. He is now harbouring accelerated political ambitions…if Vijay can, why not me? He is said to have even hit upon his party flag and social service plans. The huge crowd that gathered in Poes Garden on his 43rd birthday on July 28, augured yet another star entry into this crowded arena. Is TN uniquely distinct in this jump from cinema to politics? Only MGR had that genuine charisma, neither filmy nor posturing …he loved his state and even today has a phenomenal following. Many a star like Sivaji Ganesan, Kamal Haasan, Vijaykanth and a smattering of junior artists have thrown their hats in the ring, only Vijaykanth could make some dent.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s unwholesome attack on IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti dubbing him as “gaumutra expert” as part of her effort to target the Centre’s newest high-powered expert panel to reform India’s examination system was not only way off the mark but also raised serious questions about her speech writers. She was speaking over the introduction of the Public Examinations Amendment Bill 2026 in the Lok Sabha. How on the earth could she cheerily dumb down a scientist known for his work on microprocessors, not medicine? Questioning the composition of the newly constituted task force, she said its members included “a former IB chief (Tapan Deka), the owner of an IT company (Nandan Nilekani) and even an expert on gaumutra.” The flippancy of her remark, offered without elaboration, was unmistakably aimed at IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti. It revived a controversy that first surfaced in January 2025, when Kamakoti claimed cow urine had antibacterial and digestive properties, a comment that drew swift criticism from scientists and opposition leaders alike. Kamakoti Veezhinathan, who joined IIT Madras faculty in 2001 and took over as Director in January 2022, specialises in computer architecture, information security and VLSI design, which is the process of packing millions of tiny electronic switches called transistors onto a single silicon chip. He heads the institute’s Microprocessor Development Programme and its Information Security Education and Awareness Programme. He led the team behind SHAKTI, India’s first indigenous industrial grade microprocessor, a homegrown chip meant to reduce the country’s reliance on imported processors in areas such as defence and communications. His other roles include membership of the National Security Advisory Board and, earlier, chairmanship of the Artificial Intelligence Task Force set up by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
At the peak of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protests at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi last week, an embarrassing episode unfolded at Kerala House, the state guest house run by the Kerala Govt located close to the protest site. Congress leader from Bihar, Kanhaiya Kumar, who earned his spurs in Left-oriented politics as student leader of JNU, experienced some embarrassing moments. It may seem odd that Kumar faced trouble when he tried to avail facilities at Kerala House. That too when the Congress led UDF is heading Kerala. So how come Kumar, a member of the influential Congress Working Committee, faced trouble? Apparently, Kumar got detained by the Delhi Police on July 24 following an altercation at Kerala House. Kumar, who is in charge of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) at the AICC, and considered close to Rahul Gandhi, was taken into custody after the Resident Commissioner of Kerala filed a complaint against him. He said he was told that Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar was expected to visit Kerala House later in the day. It seems it is the Governor problem again. “Governor was coming, and Governor is King,” Kumar was quoted as saying. The Congress leader said he had only gone to meet a friend at Kerala House and alleged that his detention reflected the functioning of the Union Govt and blamed HM Amit Shah and the Delhi Police for it. Reportedly, Kumar had gone to Kerala House to stay in a room booked under his friend’s name. However, officials informed him that no rooms were available. He then approached Kerala Resident Commissioner Puneet Kumar to seek clarification. The conversation reportedly turned into an argument, after which the Resident Commissioner called the Delhi Police and requested that Kumar be removed from the premises.
When Dharmendra Pradhan declared himself as a “street fighter” during a brief but sharp exchange with Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on July 27 in the Parliament, it just seemed as if the former HRD minister was all geared up for a long haul. At every step, the BJP leadership had been trying to cushion the blow for him. Two days ago, when he had put in his papers over NEET paper leaks, who’s who of the Union Cabinet – from HM Amit Shah to Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh to FM Nirmala Sitharaman—had visited his residence to express solidarity with him. When he reached Parliament’s Makar Dwar, NDA MPs waited to receive him. As he entered the complex, party colleagues greeted and escorted him inside. Pradhan was apparently seen smiling as his colleagues welcomed him. What moved everyone was the fact that Pradhan had resigned without facing any personal allegation or any direct involvement in the NEET paper leak. After all, those who leaked the papers were three Pune-based Chemistry professor and teachers. Interrupting Pradhan’s interaction with NDA MPs, Jairam Ramesh reportedly approached Pradhan and expressed sympathy over his resignation. “It happens,” the Congress leader told him. “Nothing happened,” Pradhan shot back and snappily added: “I am a street fighter. Not an AC room activist.” The sharp exchange was seen by BJP leaders as a signal that Pradhan remained politically confident despite stepping down. One of the party’s tallest leaders in Odisha, Pradhan played an important role in BJP’s West Bengal campaign, where the party formed its first government; a successive Govt in Haryana. It is likely he could work in Punjab or head for UP. For some odd reason the Congress is trying to block passage of law in Parliament to enhance punishment for those leaking papers. It is more focussed on peripheral issues like use of excessive force against students.
Now all eyes are on former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as to what will be his next role? Pradhan was forced to resign following mass protest by the student-based satirical movement, the Cockroach Janta Party over NEET paper leak. He is too important person to be benched. He played a strategic role in West Bengal, Odisha and Haryana elections ensuring BJP win. Both PM Modi and Amit Shah immensely value his contribution and there are talks he may be asked to work on the forthcoming Punjab election. But in his home state where he engineered BJP’s win to defeat 24-year old well entrenched Biju Janata Dal, there are different kinds of buzz. He may be given a bigger role in the state is one version and chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s group fears that Pradhan entry may diminish their roles. This apprehension may seem correct because Pradhan never hid his aspiration as a contender to become the Odisha CM. But PM Modi had other plans for him at the Centre, and chose Majhi instead playing tribal card. The burning question is: Will CM Majhi face leadership challenge with Dharmendra’s likely entry into Odisha politics? Keep watching this space.
Amidst the rejoicing in Tamil Nadu after the capitulation of the Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and his resignation, the talk about his earlier insults to the Tamilian is flying around like a locust swarm. Quotes and recalls of his deeds and misdeeds are raining …some are not even aware of the why of his resignation. “Ashes flyback into the face of him who scatters them” is the famous Thirukkural quote; any person who does not rein in his speech, stands to regret that which tumbles out. Dharmendra Pradhan an accomplished BJP leader has many credits to his name. As a Petroleum Minister he was known as Modi’s Ujwala man, a reference to his scheme of free LPG cylinders to families below the poverty line. But his continued and vociferous push back of the Tamils when he tried to push through the New Education Policy (NEP) still rankles the state. When DMK MP Kanimozhi and others asked him why this new policy should be adopted, he shot back “Tamilians are uncivilized”, a slur he had to take back. But he hammered the state’s stance insisting that the Tamils are obsessed over language and use language as a political tool to oppose any new programme. Till Tamil Nadu accepts our NEP, we won’t release the education fund. Stalin and his party were enraged by this threat. The curse of the Tamils …is it too far-fetched or is it just an emotional outburst?
Anirudh Ravichander has seen a meteoric rise to the top of the music scale from his Kolaveri song debut in 2012. This young man has since drummed and strummed up many a maniacally magic tune, directed music for all top Tamil hero films. Kavya daughter of Kalanithi Maran and Kavery Maran, the sole heir to her father’s vast media, sports empire is in her own right just as notable a celebrity. Kalanithi Maran, is the Founder Chairman of the Sun Group which is valued at Rs 30,000 crore. This news was first reported by Tamil website Minnambalam, a digital platform that breaks happening news. Anirudh is particularly close to super star Rajinikanth as his wife Latha is his aunt. His mother Lakshmi Ravichander is a well known dancer and dad has acted in many TV soaps. One of the most eligible bachelors in Kollywood, Anirudh has been in the news for some time …right now is not an opportune time to dredge up old buzz about how smitten he was by Andrea Jeremiah. But this time Kavya and he have truly vowed to be together. Kavya is well known as a career business woman, owning the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise.She is also part of the Sun group‘s other media businesses. Former Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin, Maran’s cousin, is expected to attend the wedding in Barcelona, Spain. Only 100 people are being invited to Barcelona. But a grand reception is to follow in Chennai.
In a surprise move, Dharmendra Pradhan quit as Union Education Minister on July 25 saying the decision was driven by the need to protect the future of students and prevent “anti-national forces” from exploiting the massive youth protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Clearly, his exit must have been on the advice of PM Modi. The nearly month-long protests by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) had virtually affected traffic movements in central business districts of Delhi. Some Congress leaders pointed out that student protests weren’t just confined to India. “We were told Indian students abroad were also planning to protest in the U.S. campuses to seek Pradhan’s ouster. Guess, that’s why PM Modi must have stepped in and asked Pradhan to put in his papers,” says Telangana Congress leader Madhu Yaskhi. Pradhan is the first senior minister of the Modi government to step down bowing to street protests and political pressure. He quit ahead of the government’s second round of talks with CLP. Normally, no minister quits when the Parliament is in session. Guess, PM Modi must have found one week of the Monsoon Session lost in obstructionism too much of a waste of time. Besides Pradhan is such a good political manager for elections, Modi and Amit Shah may have better use for him in a poll-bound state such as Punjab then to subject him to political sledgehammering in the Parliament. As for the pumpkin of the anti-NEET campaign, the crown will certainly go to Rahul Gandhi—who on July 25 morning tweeted that the minister would be moved to another ministry. As for Abhijit Dipke who made cat calls to 7 Lok Kalyan Marg upon Pradhan’s exit, it is being said he must now worry about his return home. It’s not going to be easy.
Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have decided to hold a demonstration in Mumbai on Sunday (July 26) in support of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) on-going protest in Delhi and elsewhere. This comes on the heels of a ‘bandh’ organised by Republican leader Prakash Ambedkar. Of course, his effort to paralyse Mumbai went almost unnoticed but is viewed as a fresh injection of energising the Opposition, which had failed to nail the Fadnavis government in the just concluded legislature session. Ever since the CJP launched its stir, one Opposition party after another and a large number of their leaders are warning the Union government and PM Narendra Modi of serious consequences despite their meagre strength in the state and Mumbai. Seizing on the situation, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray have announced that their two parties will hold a joint protest in Mumbai on 26 July. This will be to condemn the police action against students protesting in various places. The march will begin from Shivaji Park and conclude at Siddhivinayak Temple, a short distance. On the other hand, Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sakpal, legislative party leader Vijay Wadettiwar and former speaker Nana Patole have kept on attacking the BJP and Modi. Strangely, the three have not addressed a joint press conference so far. Fringe parties like the Communists are seen towing the line of the Congress or the Sena (UBT) while the Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) appears totally confused on how to proceed, especially following Sharad Pawar’s call on Modi.
Officially speaking, PM Modi’s two emissaries, JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh convinced activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his 26-day hunger strike on Thursday night (July 23) by providing three specific written assurances regarding the NEET-UG paper leak controversy. This was after a four-hour high-level meeting chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah. Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh met Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram where Nadda read out and handed over the government’s official commitment. The Centre promised not to register cases or launch punitive action against students who participated in the “Chalo Sansad” march on July 20, or those protesting peacefully at Jantar Mantar. The government officially committed to holding discussion in Parliament regarding accountability in the failing examination system and implementing urgent educational reforms. Lastly, the government agreed to positively consider suitable financial compensation for the families of students who committed suicide following paper leaks. Was there any commitment to Wangchuk on sacking Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan? The answer is not a clear “Yes”. Wangchuk was told that trouble-makers were gathering in strength to unleash violence and he would be blamed for the aftermath. Therefore, Wangchuk agreed to pause his fast despite his initial core demand for the resignation of Pradhan remaining unmet. He stated that protecting the future of peaceful student protesters from legal jeopardy took higher priority. Wangchuk cited that the decision was heavily influenced by appeals from 65 MPs across political parties. Wangchuk was told that a decision on a new Education Minister was not ruled out. It might take some time. Prior to Wangchuk’s meeting, the Centre attempted to address student grievances by replacing Education Secretary Vivek Joshi and establishing a fast-track court. The ministers also conveyed that the government...
Why is PM Narendra Modi refusing to sack Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan despite intense pressure from Opposition parties and student groups? Is it because of a calculated political strategy focused on maintaining his authority? Or is it to prevent a domino effect of ministerial accountability? Modi’s aides say PM Modi probably thinks that the demand for Pradhan’s exit will not stop with him. There is a good chance the protesters will change the goal-post to next seek the exit of Home Minister Amit Shah citing the police action of some unruly elements near Jantar Mantar. Can Modi afford to allow that scenario? Already, Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal and all those opposed to Modi may be toying with such a possibility. But it is well known that PM does not crack under political pressure. Sacking Pradhan would invite a “chain reaction” of “accountability” prompting the opposition and public to aggressively target other senior leaders such as Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari or Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Also, many senior BJP leaders believe forcing a high-profile minister to step down under public duress will be viewed as an explicit admission of failure of the Modi government. The BJP also thinks that elected governments with a parliamentary majority should not be forced into submission by street marches or hunger strikes. Till date the Modi administration has not capitulated to agitations, preferring to choose its own timing for changes or reshuffles rather than reacting to public ultimatums. But this time, can Modi resist the brewing storm?
Another high-profile wedding in Maharashtra is the talk of the town since the bridegroom is none other than the son of deputy chief minister, Sunetra Pawar. The scion, Rajya Sabha member Parth Pawar, will be betrothed to Kainaat Dara (also referred to as Dhara) in Pune on 29 July. They are scheduled to wed in Baramati on 27 February 2027. The engagement ceremony will be the first happy occasion for the family after the plane crash demise of then deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Just as a meeting between veteran leader Sharad Pawar and PM Narendra Modi two days ago has generated new speculation about the fate of the two factions of the NCP, both camps are feeling uneasy since none can predict which way Pawar will tilt. Pawar’s detractors recall that his granddaughter (Supriya Sule’s daughter) Revati married Sarang Lakhani just a few weeks ago in Nagpur. His father Arun Lakhani became a BJP MLC within days. Since then, the Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) are feeling miffed about how to react to the marital alliance. To add to the suspense, Pawar visited the Cockroach Janta Party agitation in Delhi in the morning and called on Modi the same evening. The schedule for Parth’s nuptial has thus only added spice to the guess game.
Why did PM Modi choose a selfie-mode to convey his message to Gen-Z in the middle of a persistent protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in Delhi? After Modi’s video promising tough action over paper leaks went viral, everyone was talking about something other than the fast-track courts he promised. It was about how the thing was shot. Modi put the message up at 11.52 pm on Thursday (July 23). He started by calling viewers “Friends” and speaking straight into what looked like a phone’s front camera, held at arm’s length. No podium, no studio, no formal backdrop. For a leader whose addresses are usually announced days ahead and treated as events, the vertical selfie seemed unusual. Modi wanted to appear to be speaking to the youth. “Is it Gen Z style to impress the Gen Z audience?” asked the Twitterati. Of course, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka noted that the Prime Minister had to release a selfie video at midnight and that showed that the pressure was very high to act on the demand to sack Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. As expected, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge objected to Modi’s selfie approach on X saying, “When Parliament is in session, the Prime Minister has to give a statement on the floor of the House; he should not make a late-night video and do a one-sided ‘Mann Ki Baat’ outside Parliament!”. He demanded that Pradhan be axed before Modi walks into Parliament next. Rahul Gandhi thinks that Modi is trying to outsmart his style of reaching out to the youth. While he has been wearing polo T-shirts, is Modi trying his outreach by selfie posts. “The PM’s promise is, as usual, hollow and only a headline-grabbing exercise…The fast-track courts are an eye-wash, an attempt to show responsiveness when there is none,” said Jairam Ramesh.
BJP’s national general secretary Sunil Bansal who is considered as one of the principal architects of the BJP’s first ever electoral win in West Bengal, is no longer confined to managing poll campaigns. His role within the party is steadily expanding, with growing influence over organisational affairs and strategic decision-making. Party sources said after winning the 2026 assembly election, the BJP is concentrating on strengthening its organisational structure, reinforcing its booth-level network and bringing the state unit into closer alignment with the central leadership’s strategy. Bansal has been holding regular meetings with state BJP President Samik Bhattacharya, other leaders and reviewed the functioning of district units and assessed political situation across various districts. According to a senior BJP leader, Bansal is not just an election strategist his opinion carries weight on how the organisation should function, where changes are required and how the state unit should remain aligned with the vision of the central leadership. Party insiders also claimed that Bansal’s advice may play a role in shaping the state’s top bureaucratic structure in the future. Although the BJP has made no official statement on the matter, many within the party believe the central leadership is giving equal importance to long-term political and administrative planning alongside electoral preparations for the upcoming municipal polls. A veteran BJP leader at the central level said that the party is now placing greater emphasis on administrative preparedness, policy implementation and organisational coordination, for which Bansal’s responsibilities are gradually expanding. Several BJP leaders also point to the experience of government formation, noting that it took nearly a month to finalise the Council of Ministers, followed by another two weeks to allocate portfolios after the swearing-in.
There is tremendous pressure on the Modi government to replace Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan because of the NEET controversy which has eroded public confidence in BJP’s governance style. India’s major political parties and Odisha Opposition leader Naveen Patnaik of BJD are mounting pressure on PM Modi to sack Dharmendra Pradhan considered to be one most trusted election strategist. Congress leader and LoP Rahul Gandhi is already targeting PM Modi for the crises. Dharmendra Pradhan and his family are also facing the flak on social media. It’s learnt that Pradhan’s daughter has already shut off her Instagram account amidst online backlash. As of now the message that is coming out of BJP’s camp is that Pradhan may not be replaced. Instead, it will fix the failed educational system. Pradhan’s role far exceeds that of an education minister. He has proved his mettle in Odisha, Bihar, Haryana, UP and other states elections. It was largely because of Pradhan that BJP ended 24-year rule of BJD in Odisha. This apart, he is considered to be close to both PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Political observers say “Pradhan remains untouchable as he is the tallest OBC leader who could well become the next chief minister of Odisha.”
The nearly month-long protest that had intensified at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi with Sonam Wangchuk announcing indefinite fast to secure justice for NEET students has drawn to a close. Reportedly, two Union Ministers, JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh met fasting Sonam Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram on July 21. The ministers conveyed to the activist that the doors of communication were “open”, signalling the government’s willingness to hold a dialogue with the protesting students. Wangchuk who had amplified the agitation of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) led by Abhijit Dipke, by his indefinite fast on June 28 announced that he would end his hunger strike if the government assured him that no punitive or retaliatory action will be taken against students and protesters who took part in the July 20 “Chalo Sansad” march to the Parliament. Clearly, it was the entry of this Ladakhi leader that had amplified the protest and made political parties such as the AAP hitch its bandwagon to the agitation. With CJP leader Dipke being a former AAP volunteer, it was only natural that senior AAP leaders like Manish Sisodia were found mobilising support for CJP’s protest march. AAP leaders wanted to use the Delhi protest outcome to influence Punjab Assembly elections early next year where the Congress is seen to have an upper hand. The Congress which had initially kept away acquired a competitive interest in highlighting NEET issues only after Rahul Gandhi picked up the gauntlet. As the Lok Sabha LoP himself put across succinctly at a presser on July 22, that he did not mind any attack on him. He said, “The very cops who dragged me away whispered in my ear…‘Get rid’ of this government.” Sources say the Delhi police was forced to lift him and other Congressmen as they had tied “zip tags” to their wrists meant to deter cops from picking them up.
The July 21 Martyrs’ Day event across Kolkata exposed the deepening cracks within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) ever since the Suvendu Adhikari-led BJP government assumed office in West Bengal. While former chief minister Mamata Banerjee managed to draw a large crowd, rival TMC factions failed to match the turnout. The Congress emerged as the surprise performer with a massive mobilisation. Mamata’s rally near the Birla Planetarium drew thousands of supporters, with crowds spilling onto adjoining roads through the afternoon. In contrast, the rebel TMC camp led by LoP Ritabrata Banerjee attracted a comparatively smaller gathering. In New Delhi, another breakaway faction comprising 20 Lok Sabha MPs led by Sudip Banerjee and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, now merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), observed the day at Rajghat. The annual event commemorates the 13 Youth Congress workers killed in police firing during a march to the then Writers’ Building in 1993. For nearly two decades after the TMC came to power, the programme remained among Kolkata’s largest political mobilisations. This year, however, the observance was split across venues after prohibitory orders barred a gathering at Central Business district of Kolkata. The Calcutta High Court subsequently permitted the TMC to hold its programme near the Birla Planetarium, while the Ritabrata faction was allotted space near the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Maidan and the Congress assembled at Shahid Minar. Addressing supporters, Mamata reaffirmed her commitment to the Opposition INDIA bloc while attacking the BJP and rebel leaders. The rebel camp sharpened its attack on Mamata’s nephew, Abhishek Banerjee. Former ministers Madan Mitra and Firhad Hakim claimed Abhishek’s political stature was built by lakhs of Trinamool workers and urged Mamata to “hold the hands of grassroots workers” instead of her nephew. The Congress rally at Shahid Minar also drew thousands from across the state. Former MP Adhir Ranjan...
Union Minister of State in the PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh along with Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, went across PM Narendra Modi’s official residence at — 7, Lok Kalyan Marg — on July 21 afternoon to have a chat with Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and Rajya Sabha MP Mallikarjun Kharge, to end their sit-in protest. He was apparently instructed to reach out to senior Congress leaders by PM Modi. Inspite of being very vocal about a discussion on NEET-related issues in the Parliament, Dr Singh disclosed that “The Congress Party had not given any notice to date for a formal discussion on this serious matter as per rules.” The minister was sent by PM Modi ‘in view of the dignity of the senior delegation”. A request was apparently made to Rahul Gandhi to end his sit-in, as the site – in the high security zone – was not meant for protests. Rahul Gandhi put forward the demand that if the government agrees to discuss in Parliament all issues related to NEET, he would immediately end his sit-in. Within a few moments, after taking permission from the government’s top leadership, Rahul was assured that his demand has been accepted. When this information was conveyed to Rahul, he said that he would not agree to this alone but also sought assurance for the resignation of the Union HRD Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan. Clearly, government’s move to reach out to the Congress on NEET irked the AAP which had lent a lot of support to Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) dharna at Jantar Mantar. AAP MP Sanjay Singh alleged that PM Modi had got Rahul Gandhi to sit in front of his house only to weaken the thrust of the youth movement of that got a boost with recent protests.
Will the wave of street protests unleashed in the central business district on a working day in Delhi by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) achieve its goal? The disruptors may not have managed a regime change in the country but it now seems they will have the satisfaction of having some of their goals being partially met. It is now likely that the student community could perhaps have a new HRD minister. In fact, emergence of Union Health Minister and former BJP president JP Nadda as points man is being seen as a sincere move by Modi government to open the dialogue with student community. Nadda met with CJP representatives a day ahead of the protest at his official residence. The buzz is that while Nadda could take charge of the HRD Ministry, the much-reviled Dharmendra Pradhan could be shifted to some significant portfolio or they could be possibly swapping departments. It is being said that the emergence of Nadda as a trouble shooter is not accidental. Nadda brings a combination of political stature, organisational experience and a reputation as a consensus-builder in the party. Within the BJP, Nadda has cultivated the image of a low-key organiser rather than an aggressive leader. A Himachal-born leader who has worked in Bihar, Nadda is often deployed when the party wants to lower the political temperature. Colleagues describe him as accessible, patient and willing to hear out opposing viewpoints before responding. His appeal to the CJP delegation reflected that approach. Instead of rejecting the demands outright, he assured them that the government leadership would deliberate on the issues raised by them. Significantly as Health Minister, he reached out to the injured in hospitals. Rahul Gandhi, LoP in Lok Sabha, and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi also met the injured at Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.
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Editor’s Note: Short Post Is Here To Stay…
Time, they say, flies—and how true that is. Here we are celebrating our 5th Anniversary. Five years ago, when Covid-19 was wreaking havoc across the globe, I took a leap of faith and launched Short Post, India’s first website for Authentic Gossip. That was on January 31, 2021. I was convinced there was a clear gap in the market for gossip that was credible, sharp, and impactful—especially if told in just 250 words.
In this, I was fortunate. Scores of senior editors across diverse verticals bought into the idea and, in the process, gave wings to my dream. Quite honestly, Short Post could not have crossed these milestones without the unflinching support of its contributing editors. Like all start-ups, we have seen our share of ups and downs, but these editors have stood by us like a rock. I take this opportunity to doff my hat to them.
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