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The feud in the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) between President PT Usha and some of her colleagues in the Executive Council over the appointment of Raghu Iyer as CEO — in particular on the matter of his salary — has made a big splash in the last few months. Those who were gunning for the ouster of the CEO did not escalate their position during the Paris Olympics, but the issue has snowballed now with Usha going bellicose directing her angst against the Executive Council for not ratifying Iyer’s appointment. The former sprinter and hurdler who achieved high accolades in Asia, finished fourth in the 400m hurdle at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics and has been training athletes in her home town in Kerala, has now called for a special general meeting of the IOA on October 25 to place all matters under dispute — including corruption and alleged National Sports Code violations — in front of close to 80 national federations. Usha became the first Olympian to head the IOA in December 2022 and that too getting elected unopposed. She may have had the blessings from the most powerful in the government. But so is senior Vice-President Ajay Patel who is said to have an excellent relationship with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Obviously the SGM will vote for an outcome that will either strengthen or weaken Usha’s primacy as the head of IOA. The champion athlete has gone to the extent of saying that the row between her and the Executive Council has disrupted India’s push for the 2036 Olympics dream. IOA watchers are wondering whether the SGM will actually bring warmth at all between Usha and others.
Former Maharashtra minister Harshvarrdhan Patil has decided to join the NCP under Sharad Pawar, his traditional family foe. Patil had joined the BJP in 2019 and had said, “Now I can sleep peacefully, no worry about the ED or the Income Tax department.” His candid admission had provided much cannon fodder to the opposition in general and to Sharad Pawar in particular. Patil’s family elder Shankarrao and the Pawar clan had never seen eye to eye because the Patil patriarch always complained that their empire in Indapur was deprived of development as funding was diverted to Baramati next door. In the last assembly election, Ajit Pawar had held a public rally in Indapur to declare that Harshvarrdhan Patil will be trounced. Ajit’s close follower Dattatray Bharne was elected there. Since then, an exasperated Patil had mounted scathing attacks against Sharad and Ajit Pawar. According to the present Mahayuti formation, the Indapur seat will go to the NCP(Ajit) and Harshvarrdhan will stand little chance of getting a BJP ticket. Maharashtra’s Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had been trying to persuade Patil to stay on but to no avail. Unwilling to wait any longer, Harshvarrdhan Patil has decided to enter Sharad Pawar’s party. Quizzed by the media about his past comment and asked if he will be able to get a sound sleep now, Harshvarrdhan quipped, “No comment.”
The Mahayuti government in Maharashtra has taken a record 71 decisions within a week, most of them with an eye on the coming assembly elections. The three-party government is already under fire due to opposition’s criticism that huge funds are being squandered on various sections of the population to gain their votes. The “Laadki Bahin” scheme, for instance, is mostly targeted by the critics since it has evoked unprecedented support from women, each eligible beneficiary getting Rs 1500 per month. Similar benefit schemes have been announced for the youth and farmers, among others. Although the opposition is screaming about the possible economic burden due to them, it has promised to enhance the provisions if it comes to power. According to another decision, an economic development corporation for the Jain community will be set up in the state. This will be the first such body for Jains in the country. As the community is viewed as affluent, by and large, many eyebrows are raised owing to the decision. Earlier, an economic development corporation for the Brahmin community was announced. Similarly, financial provision will be made for the cultural or academic institutions of the Buddhists. Each such body will be paid Rs 10 lakh by the government. A major decision has provided for abolishing the non-agricultural tax throughout the state. Several institutions are to be renamed, considering the social sensitivities of the individual areas they are operating in. No stones will be left unturned to win the election, the Mahayuti has indicated.
The sudden demise of CPI(M) National General Secretary Sitaram Yechury has left the Left party grappling to find a suitable replacement. In a recent politburo meeting Prakash Karat was appointed as the ‘coordinator’ instead of naming him as ‘Acting’ General Secretary, indicating the party’s hesitance to rush into appointing a successor. Sources say, the CPI(M) is considering West Bengal State Secretary Mohammad Salim as Yechury’s replacement. Salim is reportedly being given time to consider the role ahead of the party congress in April 2025. Salim, who took over as the state secretary in 2022, has been instrumental in revitalizing the party in Bengal despite its diminishing grassroots presence. He played a key role in forming an alliance with the Congress in Bengal. Yechury’s demise has created a leadership vacuum, but Salim’s experience makes him a strong contender for the national post. A two-time Rajya Sabha MP, two-time Lok Sabha MP, and former state minister, Salim’s parliamentary experience is invaluable. Additionally, his fluency in Bengali, English, Hindi, and Urdu positions him well for the national role. With CPI(M) adopting a new age policy of 75 years, Salim, now 67, could potentially serve three consecutive terms, making him an ideal candidate to steer the party through its current crisis. If Salim ultimately accepts the offer, Bengal is likely to choose Sridip Bhattacharya, who is also the choice of present patriarch of Bengal CPI(M), Biman Bose to head the Bengal unit.
Amid the political chaos stemming from the RG Kar rape-murder incident, the West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is now facing a fresh crisis from within her own party. It is learnt that TMC party leaders are shocked that Abhishek Banerjee, National General Secretary and second-in-command, has lodged a police complaint against the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Firhad Hakim, the Mayor of Kolkata and a senior cabinet minister, alleging misappropriation of funds. Party insiders believe the timing is significant, coming shortly after the TMC’s lacklustre performance in several Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) wards during the Lok Sabha elections. Some sections within the party view the move as Abhishek’s way of pushing for the “one person, one position” policy which he has long advocated. Others see it as an effort to cleanse the party of corruption and enhance its image in the wake of mounting public criticism. According to sources, the complaint from Abhishek’s office alleged that the OSD has been extorting money by misusing Abhishek’s name. The allegation has led to an unprecedented escalation of tensions between Abhishek and Hakim, where both have reportedly voiced their displeasure to the party leadership. Hakim, widely regarded as one of Didi’s closest confidants, has expressed his willingness to resign from Mayor’s post but Didi has rejected it. Reportedly she conveyed her displeasure to senior party leaders as to how the situation spiralled out of control. Hakim’s dual role as the Mayor of Kolkata and Minister for Municipal Affairs and Urban Development has long made him one of the most influential figures in the state’s political landscape.
Thirty-seven year old Samantha Ruth Prabhu was married to Nag Chaitanya, Telugu film’s enduring star Nagarajuna’s son for just 4 years before the couple filed for divorce in 2021. Already Nag Chaitanya’s closeness to fast rising Shobhita Dhulipalia is buzzing around. But it is Samantha who has been hit the hardest in the past few years, despite her rise to stardom in both Tamil and Telugu films. The OTT series Family Man brought her much acclaim. But her personal life was hit in a serious way when she was diagnosed with myositis, a medical condition that has punched her psyche hard, understandably. But Samantha was not prepared for the latest turbulence in her life…Telangana Minister for Environment and Forestry, Konda Surekha recently made downright derogatory remarks about the cause of Samantha’s divorce ….alleging that BRS leader KT Rama Rao is the cause for the rift and divorce. Surekha further insinuated that this BRS leader has a knack of intervening and interfering in the lives of celebrities. Telugu cineworld has erupted in anger at this kind of malicious loose talk, and superstars Chiranjeevi, Allu Arjun, Jr.NTR, Nagarajuna have condemned the Congress leader for this unsavoury talk. KTR of course has warned this minister to apologise immediately and retract her slanderous allegation or face a defamation case. The Minister has tended an instant apology on X, especially to Samantha that she had no intention of dragging her into the muck…she just wanted to vent her venom on politicians for their derogatory attitude to women. Samantha may be rueing her bad times…stars too have to cope with Star struck times.
Looks like Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s efforts to build himself up via media interviews have landed him in a political soup. Eager to build himself up in the national media, the Kerala leader got a PR agency to arrange for media interactions. Unlike the state run PR department, enthusiastic private PR, not only arranged for media interview but also seem to have got a reputed South publication to attribute a few lines to the CM about how “seizure of 150 kg of gold and Rs 123 crore of hawala money by the state police” in the last five years were made from Malappuram. Reference to Malappuram, with its overwhelming minority population, was enough to lead to sparring between the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF). UDF alleged that Vijayan was insulting the residents of Malappuram by referring to seizures. The CM’s Office denied making any reference to Malappuram. While CM may be technically correct, the newspaper denial gave away how PR agents were present during the interview. Vijayan now denies using even a PR. His political detractors are quick to point out that the CM was targeting PV Anvar, a MLA, who was recently expelled from the CPM Legislative Party after he unleashed sharp allegations against Vijayan and his Political Secretary P Sasi. CPI(M)considers the Opposition’s attacks as a fabricated move to diminish its growing popularity among minorities in the wake of the LDF government’s “uncompromising stand” on a number of pro-Muslim issues like the Citizenship Amendment Act and Wakf Amendment Bill 2024. Meanwhile, PA Mohammed Riyas, Kerala minister, and son-in-law of Pinarayi said that Jamaat-e-Islaami and SDPI are the ‘sleeping partners’ of UDF.
Andhra Pradesh deputy CM Pawan Kalyan reached Tirumala on foot as part of his 11-day penance over the alleged adulteration of laddus served at the Tirupati temple with animal fat. The actor-turned-politician undertook a three-hour foot march to reach the Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirumala to position himself as a protector of the Sanatana Dharma. Reacting to the Supreme Court’s observation on the prasadam contamination issue, Kalyan clarified that the Apex Court had never said that prasadam “was not adulterated”. “I think the SC judges didn’t say that it was unadulterated, they said there was confusion regarding the date on which it was cleared.” Earlier speaking in Tamil to a private channel, the Andhra leader made it clear that the prasadam issue was not being blown out of proportion just to settle scores with YSRCP leader Jagan Mohan Reddy because he was Christian. “My wife is also an orthodox Christian. I am undertaking this penance only to protect our Sanatan Dharma. I cannot tell you how Hindus across the world are hurt with the way TTD had reduced Tirumala to a money spinning vehicle during the tenure of Jagan Reddy. Until 1953, did you know darshan used to be free? Now for the special darshan, they began charging everyone Rs 10,000 but handed the devotees only a receipt of Rs 500. We have to undertake a lot of reforms and audits of how donations made to the temple are used. All kinds of violations happened in the last 5 years. It is not just about the prasadam issue.”
After a Rs 93 lakh deficit in 1993, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has seen better times, thanks to its ability to command a higher price from the market, especially from the global media rights. The big breakthrough was made in 1999 when under the stewardship of Jagmohan Dalmiya, the public broadcaster Prasar Bharati was given the media rights for Rs 230 crore for five years. And in 2002 the BCCI introduced the Central Contract and match fee for its senior team, match fee in the domestic tournaments and allocated something for the juniors. After three decades, the BCCI’s media rights income for five years is Rs 5,963 crore and the IPL media rights has shot up for the 2023-2027 cycle to close to Rs 50000 crore. But the good development was the BCCI showing its readiness to share money with the players, men and women, retired cricketers and their spouses. India’s women cricketers at the national level get the same match fee and allowances as the men and they also compete in the Women’s Premier League. The BCCI has now extended the match fee to the IPL with the franchises told to set aside Rs 12.5 crore with each player in the XI to get a sum of Rs 7.5 lakh per match. The BCCI and IPL are the big brands in India’s sports canvas, and the authorities have responded in many ways to look after its constituency, the players in particular. The Rs.7.5 lakh match fee is meant to assuage the feelings of the players who are not among the high-price-band cricketers and also the uncapped (not playing for India) players who generally get Rs 20 lakh, has been increased to Rs 30 lakh at the recent AGM in Bengaluru.
With the creator economy in India experiencing significant growth, driven by a multitude of platforms and an expanding community of tech-savvy individuals, influencer-marketing has proved to be the fulcrum for brands to succeed. The influencer-marketing industry is expected to grow by 25% annually. Influencer.in, a well-known influencer platform in the country in association with Social Beat, has just come out with Influencer Marketing Report 2024, its fourth edition. Significantly enough, the report finds the rise of mid-tier influencers. While Instagram has emerged the top choice for both creators and brands, LinkedIn appears to have a low adoption rate among creators at 4.4%. This is in sharp contrast to a 19.5% adoption rate by brands, which use LinkedIn for influencer marketing. Brands have now to go that extra bit to onboard creators to this platform, especially those capable of delivering professional content. The report has articulated the need for brands to recognize the underutilization of YouTube Shorts, with 75% of creators using short-form content for engagement. Today, over 40% of brands spend more on influencer-marketing. Yet, budgetary constraints limit the partnership between the creators and brands. “There is a need for brands to move beyond transactional relationships, recognize the power of creators and empower them with creative freedom,” the report said. If this has to happen, the creators have to align with brand objectives while showcasing their unique value proposition for more authentic and engaging campaigns. The key for a rewarding relationship between creators and brands lies in being adaptable, innovative and aligned with the values of an increasingly discerning audience, according to the report. Together, as Helen Keller said, they can do so much!
Former Maharashtra minister Harshvarrdhan Patil has decided to join the NCP under Sharad Pawar, his traditional family foe. Patil had joined the BJP in 2019 and had said, “Now I can sleep peacefully, no worry about the ED or the Income Tax department.” His candid admission had provided much cannon fodder to the opposition in general and to Sharad Pawar in particular. Patil’s family elder Shankarrao and the Pawar clan had never seen eye to eye because the Patil patriarch always complained that their empire in Indapur was deprived of development as funding was diverted to Baramati next door. In the last assembly election, Ajit Pawar had held a public rally in Indapur to declare that Harshvarrdhan Patil will be trounced. Ajit’s close follower Dattatray Bharne was elected there. Since then, an exasperated Patil had mounted scathing attacks against Sharad and Ajit Pawar. According to the present Mahayuti formation, the Indapur seat will go to the NCP(Ajit) and Harshvarrdhan will stand little chance of getting a BJP ticket. Maharashtra’s Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had been trying to persuade Patil to stay on but to no avail. Unwilling to wait any longer, Harshvarrdhan Patil has decided to enter Sharad Pawar’s party. Quizzed by the media about his past comment and asked if he will be able to get a sound sleep now, Harshvarrdhan quipped, “No comment.”
The Mahayuti government in Maharashtra has taken a record 71 decisions within a week, most of them with an eye on the coming assembly elections. The three-party government is already under fire due to opposition’s criticism that huge funds are being squandered on various sections of the population to gain their votes. The “Laadki Bahin” scheme, for instance, is mostly targeted by the critics since it has evoked unprecedented support from women, each eligible beneficiary getting Rs 1500 per month. Similar benefit schemes have been announced for the youth and farmers, among others. Although the opposition is screaming about the possible economic burden due to them, it has promised to enhance the provisions if it comes to power. According to another decision, an economic development corporation for the Jain community will be set up in the state. This will be the first such body for Jains in the country. As the community is viewed as affluent, by and large, many eyebrows are raised owing to the decision. Earlier, an economic development corporation for the Brahmin community was announced. Similarly, financial provision will be made for the cultural or academic institutions of the Buddhists. Each such body will be paid Rs 10 lakh by the government. A major decision has provided for abolishing the non-agricultural tax throughout the state. Several institutions are to be renamed, considering the social sensitivities of the individual areas they are operating in. No stones will be left unturned to win the election, the Mahayuti has indicated.
The sudden demise of CPI(M) National General Secretary Sitaram Yechury has left the Left party grappling to find a suitable replacement. In a recent politburo meeting Prakash Karat was appointed as the ‘coordinator’ instead of naming him as ‘Acting’ General Secretary, indicating the party’s hesitance to rush into appointing a successor. Sources say, the CPI(M) is considering West Bengal State Secretary Mohammad Salim as Yechury’s replacement. Salim is reportedly being given time to consider the role ahead of the party congress in April 2025. Salim, who took over as the state secretary in 2022, has been instrumental in revitalizing the party in Bengal despite its diminishing grassroots presence. He played a key role in forming an alliance with the Congress in Bengal. Yechury’s demise has created a leadership vacuum, but Salim’s experience makes him a strong contender for the national post. A two-time Rajya Sabha MP, two-time Lok Sabha MP, and former state minister, Salim’s parliamentary experience is invaluable. Additionally, his fluency in Bengali, English, Hindi, and Urdu positions him well for the national role. With CPI(M) adopting a new age policy of 75 years, Salim, now 67, could potentially serve three consecutive terms, making him an ideal candidate to steer the party through its current crisis. If Salim ultimately accepts the offer, Bengal is likely to choose Sridip Bhattacharya, who is also the choice of present patriarch of Bengal CPI(M), Biman Bose to head the Bengal unit.
Amid the political chaos stemming from the RG Kar rape-murder incident, the West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is now facing a fresh crisis from within her own party. It is learnt that TMC party leaders are shocked that Abhishek Banerjee, National General Secretary and second-in-command, has lodged a police complaint against the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Firhad Hakim, the Mayor of Kolkata and a senior cabinet minister, alleging misappropriation of funds. Party insiders believe the timing is significant, coming shortly after the TMC’s lacklustre performance in several Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) wards during the Lok Sabha elections. Some sections within the party view the move as Abhishek’s way of pushing for the “one person, one position” policy which he has long advocated. Others see it as an effort to cleanse the party of corruption and enhance its image in the wake of mounting public criticism. According to sources, the complaint from Abhishek’s office alleged that the OSD has been extorting money by misusing Abhishek’s name. The allegation has led to an unprecedented escalation of tensions between Abhishek and Hakim, where both have reportedly voiced their displeasure to the party leadership. Hakim, widely regarded as one of Didi’s closest confidants, has expressed his willingness to resign from Mayor’s post but Didi has rejected it. Reportedly she conveyed her displeasure to senior party leaders as to how the situation spiralled out of control. Hakim’s dual role as the Mayor of Kolkata and Minister for Municipal Affairs and Urban Development has long made him one of the most influential figures in the state’s political landscape.
Looks like Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s efforts to build himself up via media interviews have landed him in a political soup. Eager to build himself up in the national media, the Kerala leader got a PR agency to arrange for media interactions. Unlike the state run PR department, enthusiastic private PR, not only arranged for media interview but also seem to have got a reputed South publication to attribute a few lines to the CM about how “seizure of 150 kg of gold and Rs 123 crore of hawala money by the state police” in the last five years were made from Malappuram. Reference to Malappuram, with its overwhelming minority population, was enough to lead to sparring between the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF). UDF alleged that Vijayan was insulting the residents of Malappuram by referring to seizures. The CM’s Office denied making any reference to Malappuram. While CM may be technically correct, the newspaper denial gave away how PR agents were present during the interview. Vijayan now denies using even a PR. His political detractors are quick to point out that the CM was targeting PV Anvar, a MLA, who was recently expelled from the CPM Legislative Party after he unleashed sharp allegations against Vijayan and his Political Secretary P Sasi. CPI(M)considers the Opposition’s attacks as a fabricated move to diminish its growing popularity among minorities in the wake of the LDF government’s “uncompromising stand” on a number of pro-Muslim issues like the Citizenship Amendment Act and Wakf Amendment Bill 2024. Meanwhile, PA Mohammed Riyas, Kerala minister, and son-in-law of Pinarayi said that Jamaat-e-Islaami and SDPI are the ‘sleeping partners’ of UDF.
Andhra Pradesh deputy CM Pawan Kalyan reached Tirumala on foot as part of his 11-day penance over the alleged adulteration of laddus served at the Tirupati temple with animal fat. The actor-turned-politician undertook a three-hour foot march to reach the Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirumala to position himself as a protector of the Sanatana Dharma. Reacting to the Supreme Court’s observation on the prasadam contamination issue, Kalyan clarified that the Apex Court had never said that prasadam “was not adulterated”. “I think the SC judges didn’t say that it was unadulterated, they said there was confusion regarding the date on which it was cleared.” Earlier speaking in Tamil to a private channel, the Andhra leader made it clear that the prasadam issue was not being blown out of proportion just to settle scores with YSRCP leader Jagan Mohan Reddy because he was Christian. “My wife is also an orthodox Christian. I am undertaking this penance only to protect our Sanatan Dharma. I cannot tell you how Hindus across the world are hurt with the way TTD had reduced Tirumala to a money spinning vehicle during the tenure of Jagan Reddy. Until 1953, did you know darshan used to be free? Now for the special darshan, they began charging everyone Rs 10,000 but handed the devotees only a receipt of Rs 500. We have to undertake a lot of reforms and audits of how donations made to the temple are used. All kinds of violations happened in the last 5 years. It is not just about the prasadam issue.”
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) of the three main opposition parties in Maharashtra is in search of a formidable candidate who can take on chief minister Eknath Shinde in his home constituency of Kopari-Pachpakhadi in Thane city. Shinde has been representing this assembly seat since it was created in 2009. This being a traditional Shiv Sena stronghold, a keen fight will be seen for the first time in many years here. Under the unified Sena, Thane had been a virtual monopoly of the party. However, Shinde broke away from the parent party in 2022, taking along many legislators and corporators. This will be the first trial of strength between the two Sena’s with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena standing by Shinde, making his position stronger. At the same time, the Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray has proved again and again over the past two years that its popularity is not reduced much in the Mumbai-Thane belt, which controls nearly 75 seats in the 288-member assembly. Uddhav and his followers have vowed to make Shinde bite the dust, calling him a traitor. In retaliation, Shinde and his mentor late Anand Dighe are now projected as protectors of Hindutva. The ‘Laadki Bahin’ scheme launched by Shinde is proving extremely popular and is expected to reap bonus for himself and the Mahayuti alliance. Realising the possibility, the MVA has decided to mount a challenge for Shinde on his home turf.
Amidst Jharkhand poll buzz, speculation is now rife that Odisha governor Raghubar Das is now gearing up to contest the Jharkhand Assembly election. This speculation is gaining ground as Assam chief minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma who is election in-charge for Jharkhand, met Odisha Governor at Raj Bhavan along with Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi. Separately even former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu met Governor Das. This meeting of senior BJP leaders with Governor Das is what is giving credence to the rumours that Das is naturally keen to return to active politics. Though the Assam CM said his meeting with Governor Das has nothing to do with the Jharkhand election, it now seems imminent that Das will give up his governorship and return to politics. Governor Das who is considered a power centre in Jharkhand took up the Odisha Governor post as a stop gap arrangement. He represents Jamshedpur East constituency from where he won five consecutive times till 73-year old BJP rebel MLA Saryu Roy defeated him by a margin of 15,000 votes as an independent in 2019. Effectively, it means Odisha will get a new governor.
The Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray has been placed in a firmer position to demand most assembly seats in Mumbai following its youth wing’s spectacular victory in the Mumbai University senate election held a couple of days ago. The outcome has enhanced Aaditya’s clout and his party’s prospects for Mumbai. Over the years, the Sena has been a dominant political player in Mumbai, relegating the BJP to a secondary position when both were together. Since the Sena split in 2022, it was felt that the party will be weakened considerably. However, Uddhav has established that its popularity is hardly affected. The Sena won the legislative council election from the Mumbai Graduates’ constituency with a solid margin earlier this year. The win in the senate election has endorsed the fact that the Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde’s Sena faction has failed to make its mark in Mumbai in spite of the fact that several MLAs and corporators had followed Shinde out of the party. The three-party Maha Vikas Aghadi swept the Lok Sabha election in Mumbai and Maharashtra, sending alarm signals for the saffron Mahayuti alliance. The senate election was a fight between the Sena (UBT) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, under the Sangh Parivar. Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirmal Sena’s youth wing and other student organisations had kept away from the prestigious election.
The BJP, it seems, is not willing to take any chance in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls after its dismal performance in Lok Sabha polls. For one, Union home minister Amit Shah has entirely taken things in his own hand and is personally overseeing the ticket distribution process in Maharashtra. The BJP has also quietly given up its obsession with party surveys, which were being cited as criteria for allocating and denying tickets to party members, and were roundly blamed for leading to wrong candidate selections. Shah is also overriding strong party sentiments to drop off NCP’s Ajit Pawar despite the junior Pawar scion increasingly being viewed as a liability. Nor has Shah bothered to clip the wings of chief minister Eknath Shinde. Shah is also ignoring the clamour to let Nitin Gadkari play a stronger role in the assembly elections, a sentiment also shared by the RSS cadres. Gadkari was conspicuous by his absence in the rallies and has failed to share stage in rallies held by both the top leaders of his party – PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. Gadkari was stated to be campaigning in the Jammu and Kashmir election, the day Amit Shah was campaigning and overseeing election processes in his home pitch of Vidarbha. Gadkari was back in action in Nagpur whining in a public meeting, about how the state’s flagship scheme to provide monthly stipend to women, Ladki Bahin Yojana, was bleeding the state exchequer, when Shah had moved to Mumbai to oversee election operation there. Gadkari’s public disclosure that he was offered the prime minister’s post by the opposition, hasn’t helped things.
Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin finally managed to elevate his son Udhayanidhi as deputy CM. This much anticipated elevation which was planned twice before was executed without any hitch over the weekend. Father Stalin had worked on it by smoothening out ties with the Centre and PM Modi. Ever since the Centre brought out a commemorative coin to mark 100 years of DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi in July, it has been easy for the regional party to reach out to Delhi. Besides, there wasn’t much resistance to the idea of giving a leg up to Udhayanidhi after the Lok Sabha results from party seniors within. In fact most of the seniors could be seen congratulating Udhayanidhi, a first term MLA. He contested the 2021 assembly elections for the first time from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency and was made a state Minister. Congress sources said an early elevation of Udhayanidhi was an indication that Stalin was not in the best of health. That is perhaps why everyone in the DMK had fallen in line. It was evident in the DMK social media timeline as it was crammed with greetings from Tamil film star netas like Kamal Haasan as well as superstars like Rajnikant, Dhanush and producers from Bollywood like Boney Kappor. Only TN BJP chief K Annamalai managed to take potshots. Underscoring the nepotism behind son’s rise in a post, Annamalai said “the sun shines for the privileged few and eclipses for the rest of the state for the last 40 months. People have now understood what the term “Vidiyal” (awakening) actually meant: Vidiyal for self, family, and the chieftains.”
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi may never tire of showcasing his politics as “mohabbat ki dukaan” but from the way Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge responded after recovering from a dizzy spell at a public meeting in Kashmir it just seemed there is hardly anyone in the Congress subscribing to soft view of politics. A somewhat tired Kharge was firm as he vowed not to rest till PM Modi is “removed from power.” This even after PM Modi had phoned him to enquire about his health. Kharge’s spiteful remark sparked a strong response from the BJP. Calling it a “disgraceful” and a “bitter display of spite”, Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted: “Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Ji has outperformed himself, his leaders and his party in being absolutely distasteful and disgraceful in his speech. In a bitter display of spite, he unnecessarily dragged PM Modi into his personal health matters by saying that he would die only after removing PM Modi from power. It just shows how much hate and fear these Congress people have of PM Modi that they are thinking of him constantly. As for the health of Kharge Ji, Modi Ji prays, I pray and we all pray that he lives a long, healthy life. May he continue to live for many years and may he live to see the creation of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.” Sharing Shah’s tweet, FM Nirmala Sitharaman said how the Congress leadership “never loses any opportunity to display their hate towards Modi” Kharge ji’s speech is one such instance. The Congress has pinned much hope of making a comeback to power at the Centre if it wins in the polls of state assemblies beginning with Haryana.
The secrecy cloud over National Security Advisor Ajit Doval missing out the USA meeting between Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dissipated. Neither Doval’s preoccupation with J&K assemblies nor his apprehensions over Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s criminal lawsuit saw him missing in action. During his American absence India’s intelligence intellectual Doval devoted full-time efforts cementing the Indo-France defence deal for fabrication of nuclear attack submarines, transfer of technology for 110 kilo-Newton thrust aircraft engines and fully weaponized underwater drones. All in a few days work, accomplished by singular minded efforts by India’s top spymaster. Apart from consistent interference in Indian political affairs by U.S. administration both tacitly (George Soros’ broadside on the Adani group) and not-so-tacitly (Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s lawsuit), Indian talks also faltered with Americans over 16 General Electric F404 engines (promised by March 2024) being deliberately stymied for near two years by the latter notwithstanding stated objectives of INDUS-X (India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem). While Biden sought brownie points during his Modi meet-up, Doval set upon an accelerated emphasis on the Indo-French technology connection that now only awaits the official declaration, come September 30. Busy-as-a-bee Doval has not only tied up India’s defence deals for fifth generation fighter jets, nuclear attack subs and all-purpose drones but also, established a Russian channel to dissipate Indo-China tensions leading to new world order axis of nations including India, Russia, China, France, Australia and more set for an economic-defence common cause states enlarged grouping of the Global South.
In an indication of “sweetening” of ties between the DMK and the BJP, Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin flagged his meeting with PM Modi as “cordial” as he raised all outstanding issues of his state with the Centre such as requesting release of the Centre’s share for Phase 2 of the jointly implemented Chennai Metro, noting that several states which initiated their metro projects after TN have already received their funds. With traditional ally Congress exploring ties with AIADMK and other alternatives, it looks like the DMK also seems to be looking for a fall back option. Stalin’s reachout comes a fortnight after FM Nirmala Sitharaman’s tough talk that the Phase II of Chennai Metro Rail was a state project and ought to be funded by the state, with the Centre chipping in with only 10% of the total cost. Of the total cost of Rs 63,246 crore, TN is expected to invest Rs 22,228 crore while the Centre Rs 7,425 crore. An additional Rs 33,593 crore was obtained through various multilateral agencies. “However, only 27% of the loan, equaling to Rs 5,880 crore, has been utilised by the state. As per the FRBM rules, up to 3% GSDP can be borrowed (by the state), and since this project is categorised as a state sector project, the loan should fall within the FRBM limit,” she said.TN cannot blame Centre over funds. Phase 1 of the Metro Rail project, which started in 2015, covered 54 km and was initiated as a central sector scheme, with 60% of the cost being covered by external loans. Stalin also urged for immediate release of Samagra Shiksha funds, currently withheld due to the non-implementation of the NEP. Interestingly, Stalin also met with Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.
Former Lok Sabha member Priya Dutt is planning to contest the coming Maharashtra assembly election from her home constituency of Bandra West, her supporters are saying. Though she herself has kept mum on the possibility, Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad, MP, has hinted so by saying that Priya can be a strong Congress candidate. She called on Priya at the Dutt family residence. Later, Gaikwad said Priya had worked for her victory in the recently concluded Lok Sabha election and hence she had met Priya to thank her. The elite constituency has been represented by Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar since 2014. Till then, it was a fiefdom of Priya and earlier of her father, thespian Sunil Dutt. The Congress is relatively less strong in Mumbai. Therefore, candidates for each seat are being selected with utmost care. Knowing Shelar’s clout, not many are willing to take him on. Hence, the Congress is trying to persuade Priya, although she had lost the LS election in 2014 and 2019 against BJP’s Poonam Mahajan with huge margins. Since then, she was hardly visible politically. But the Congress prospects appear better now since in the recent LS election, the Bandra West segment gave only a slender margin to the BJP’s Ujjwal Nikam, although he lost against Gaikwad. The changing situation has renewed the chances of Priya staging a comeback.
CPI(M) is poised for a significant transition in its leadership during the 24th Party Congress, set to take place in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, April 2025. This transition is likely to drop several senior leaders from the Politburo in accordance with the party’s age rule. As per the party’s new legislation, no leader above 75 years of age can remain in the Central Committee, from which Politburo members are elected. Possibly seven veteran leaders — Prakash Karat, Vrinda Karat, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Tamil Nadu leader G Ramakrishnan, former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, West Bengal’s Suryakant Mishra, and Suhasini Ali may be removed from the Politburo. The decision to implement the age restriction marks a pivotal moment for the party, which has long been deliberating a generational shift in its leadership ranks. However, West Bengal state secretary and Politburo member Mohammed Salim confirmed that this move was planned over a decade ago and this time, it will be implemented. However, there remains the possibility of exemptions, where the party may grant special permission for some leaders to continue despite surpassing the age limit. The names of replacements are already doing the rounds. For instance, in place of Brinda Karat and Suhasini Ali, names that are going rounds include CITU All India President K Hemalata and Mahila Samiti All India General Secretary Maryam Dhawale as potential female replacements in the Politburo.
Former DMK minister V Senthil Balaji’s release on bail from a money laundering case after 471 days in jail opens the gates for a major shakeup in the Tamil Nadu Cabinet. DMK supremo and chief minister MK Stalin was waiting eagerly for the master operator Senthil Balaji’s release so that he could give shape to his Cabinet before the DMK goes on to face the 2026 assembly polls. The CM may use the opportunity not only to elevate his son Udhayanidhi to the post of deputy Chief Minister while anointing him clearly as his designated political heir but also cut out some seniors from ministership. It appears even the senior most minister Duraimurugan, considered No 2 in the cabinet for long, may not survive the reshuffle, as he showed his displeasure openly at the elevation of Udhay as deputy CM. Senthil Balaji will be put in charge of a major ministry. A few other seniors may also be shown the door for non-performance along with the DMK senior who was handling the key portfolio of Water Resources and was tasked with following up on the Cauvery River water issue. The Dravidian stalwart Senthil who was a key figure even in AIADMK ministries made the switch at the correct time after J Jayalalithaa’s demise on sensing which way the wind was blowing. Having waited so long for a more appropriate time to press for changes, CM Stalin may wield the broom very soon.
Even as the Congress has rallied behind Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah in the MUDA land scam in spite of the High Court verdict and the Lokayukta Police registering an FIR, it is most likely that pressure may mount on him to step aside post October 8 — once Haryana and J&K election results come in. It is believed that there could be a change of guard ahead of Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections. Congress sources say specific instructions were given by AICC functionary KC Venugopal to deputy chief minister DK Shivkumar, Siddaramaiah’s main challenger, to remain solidly behind Siddaramaiah at least for now. Of course, it is widely believed in Congress circles that Shivkumar may have helped BJP leaders access papers regarding the MUDA land scam and helped in highlighting the case. Interestingly, the MUDA scam verdict was also a talking point in PM Modi’s rallies in Haryana. He warned Haryana people not to even think of voting for the Congress. Citing the Karnataka HC order in MUDA scam, PM Modi pointed out how the Karnataka CM was accused in the land scam and had upheld the investigation ordered by the Governor. He also raised the issue of the state government diverting funds meant for Dalits. “There is no party more dishonest than Congress in the entire nation”. It was this attack by Modi on the Congress and Siddaramaiah on allegation of illegalities in allotment of 14 sites worth Rs 56 crore to the chief minister’s wife Parvathi by MUDA that may have saved Sidda his job for the moment. Only one can’t say for how long.
Amidst persistent speculation about Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar’s future moves, the appointment of his NCP’s lone Lok Sabha member Sunil Tatkare as chairman of the prestigious parliamentary committee on energy and natural gas is viewed as a BJP sop to keep Ajit in the NDA flock. Ajit was reportedly sore as none of his party MLAs was given any important post in the state whereas chief minister Eknath Shinde’s supporters are appointed to major corporations like CIDCO and MHADA. Moreover, veteran leader Sharad Pawar has added to the suspense by declaring that though Ajit is away from the original NCP, the Pawar family is intact. Of late, Ajit has repeatedly said that his ambition to become the CM has remained unfulfilled. “I am stuck at the DCM’s post,” he said while expressing his frustration. When asked about this, DCM Devendra Fadnavis cryptically said that even if a party had a single MLA, he or she could aspire to become the CM. Just a day ago, Fadnavis had claimed that the BJP lost a dozen LS seats with narrow margins since Ajit’s NCP’s votes were not transferred to the BJP candidates. On the other hand, Shinde Sena’s votes were received, he suggested. The Centre’s decision to accommodate Tatkare will prompt all concerned to rethink their future strategy, it is felt. The picture will start becoming clear in a week’s time.
On September 21, the BJP’s Tamil Nadu band of officiating coordinators committee members were suddenly invited for a breakfast meeting by KT Raghavan, former BJP leader, on behalf of the Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The venue was not Kamalalayam, TN‘s BJP centre but Indian Bank’s Guest House at MRC Nagar. It may be known that BJP Destiny’s Favourite K Annamalai, is out of action as he is away in London to attend a fellowship on leadership offered by the United Kingdom’s Foreign Office. Yet, Annamalai’s unseen presence loomed large over the meeting. The recent GST imbroglio that took place in Coimbatore when Annapoorna Srinivasan(president of the Hotelier’s Association) spoke candidly about the different GST rates on sweet, savoury and coffee and the need for rationalisation. Later retracted, asked for a meeting to apologise, and this entire incident went viral. Even as Srinivasan slipped into embarrassment, Annamalai called him to apologise for the unsavoury incident. The BJP’s vulnerability stood exposed. Was this parallel power centre deliberate? Sources close to BJP says that 2026 TN Assembly polls may see a major “manthan” in the BJP TN hierarchy.
Recently, DMK Chief and Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin was nettled by the strong announcement by its enduring ally Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi’s (VCK) supremo Thol Thirumavalavan hinting at sharing in power. Upbeat about the planned Women’s meet where 35,000 women voters would attend and endorse the need for prohibition in TN, Thirumavalavan could sense Stalin’s discomfort and the need for fire-fighting. Hardly had this threat perception cooled down, then Stalin faced sabre-rattling from VCK’s defiant deputy secretary Aadav Arjun plain speaking about dynasty power. Said Aaadav Arjun, “In just 4 years of transition from cinema to politics, a person is ready to don the deputy CM ‘s mantle, our leader who has 40 years of political experience is more than ready for even the CM post, let alone deputy CM”. This was clearly aimed at Udhayanidhi Stalin, all set to be deputy CM. A quick rebuttal was given by A Raja, DMK MP and family strongman who said that “Looks like some new entrants to VCK are unaware of the ideological ties between us and VCK. Alliances are not mere number games…they endure due to mutual respect and speaking the same language.” A veiled threat was issued. Arjun should retract, and apologise or we may have to rethink about our alliance”. Sources say that VCK is ready to slaughter the lamb in order to keep the status quo. Talk is rife that these fires could well be planned and ignited by a major party….break and make new alliances in the run up 2026.
In a setback to CM Siddaramaiah, the Karnataka High Court dismissed his petition challenging the legality of Governor Thawar Chand Gahlot’s nod to an investigation against him over alleged MUDA land scam. The scam pertains to allegations of allotment of compensatory sites allotted to Siddaramaiah’s wife BM Parvathi in an upmarket area in Mysuru that had higher property value as compared to the location of her land that had been “acquired” by Mysore Urban Development Authority. MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme. The land in question is a 3.16-acre parcel in Kesare village, which was originally owned by another party allegedly transferred to Siddaramaiah’s brother-in-law, Mallikarjuna Swamy Devaraj in 2005. It was recorded as having been purchased in 1998. Activists claim that Mallikarjuna Swamy acquired the land illegally in 2004 using forged documents with the aid of government officials. Politically, with all round backing of his cabinet, including rivals like DK Shivkumar, Siddaramaiah brazened out the HC order for a probe as it had not endorsed the Governor recommendation for a probe under Sec 218 — which deals with Prevention of Corruption Act. The single judge bench led by Justice M Nagaprasanna held that the Governor could take “independent decisions if exceptional circumstances arise”. The judge noted that Siddaramaiah was the Deputy CM from 1996 to 1999 and again in 2004 to 2005, and was the CM between 2013 and 2018. The court noted that Siddaramaiah was at the “helm of affairs” in the above mentioned time frame and added that it is “difficult to accept that the beneficiary of the entire transaction to which compensation is determined at Rs 3.56 lakhs to become Rs 56 crore is not the family of the petitioner (Siddaramaiah)”.
The shoe is on the other foot now, for the U.S. administration under President Joe Biden that brazenly interfered before, during and continues even after general elections held in India in April returned the BJP-led NDA to power. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, observing a less than a tit-for-tat policy, is emerging as the big social influencer for the forthcoming Presidential polls in the USA. While stopping short of responding in equal measure over U.S. meddling, Modi has leveraged his popularity among the Indian diaspora in the USA pitching for Donald Trump’s second innings at the helm of American political affairs. India’s exasperation with U.S. meddling and constant interference during the Lok Sabha polls was further aggravated even thereafter, when more coordinated efforts were launched from U.S. shores targeting Indian industry, political outreaches to regionally disruptive players from India. The proverbial last straw on the camel’s back came when Khalistan proponent Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, backed by U.S. administration, launched a criminal suit broadside against India and even warned against Indian flyers using the national air carrier, followed up by Leader of the Indian Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi loud speaking about Sikhs in India being unable to visit gurdwaras or even sport religious accessories like the Kada during his recent U.S. visit. The CIA toolkit of interference in Indian political affairs now faces Modi’s comeback albeit, only as a positive influence for the candidature of Trump as the next U.S. President. NSA Ajit Doval also gave the PM’s Biden meeting a miss right after his Russia and Ukraine engagements adding further grist to the ill.
The timing must be worrying. After all, chief minister MK Stalin is working hard to convince global companies to set up shops in Tamil Nadu. During his recent visit to the U.S., Stalin set the stage for the return of Ford to Chennai. The Ford plant near Chennai remains closed ever since the American company re-jigged its global operations a few years ago. Deep south in Thoothukudi (Tuticorin), the copper smelter plant of Sterlite moved into the pages of history after the Supreme Court ordered it shut. Read against these backdrops, Stalin has been going the extra mile to woo global investment into the State. Coming as it does at this juncture, the industrial strife at Samsung Electronics situated in the Sriperumbudur corridor along the Chennai-Bengaluru Highway is causing considerable anxiety in the power corridors at St George Fort. The workers of Samsung Electronic have been on strike since September 9, seeking recognition of their new union besides listing out several demands. In the post-liberalization era, the collective bargaining power of the unions is either conspicuous by its absence or compromised consistently. Not surprisingly, the power of the unions has considerably marginalised. So much so, Infosys’s founder Narayana Murthy could even articulate a 70-hour work week to boost India’s economy. The labour impasse at Samsung has two sides to it. Surely, it could have a negative repercussion on State’s effort to entice global investment. Yet, it also gives a clue or two to the increasing stress in industrial relationships due to rapid industrialisation sans human touch.
The ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra are facing the same challenge: increasing pressure from their supporters as finalization of the candidates for the 288-member state legislative assembly is taking its own time. The uneasiness is becoming vocal as the Election Commission has announced its visit to Mumbai early next week. This is the first time in the state’s history that there will be six major parties in the electoral arena in the state. The two Shiv Sena factions, the two NCP blocs, the BJP and the Congress are all trying to emerge as the single largest party in this crucial election, which will determine the political future of several prominent leaders. Given the Lok Sabha results, the MVA is confident of grabbing power while the Mahayuti has been showering one benefit after another on various sections of the population to stage a comeback. Political observers recall how MVA had taken a lead over the saffron alliance in the case of declaring LS candidates. According to present indications, the BJP is preparing to fight 160 seats, leaving about 130 for the two partners and the supporters from the smaller parties. On the other hand, chief minister Eknath Shinde’s various statements are interpreted to mean that the election will take place between 10 and 20 November.
Defiling Tirupati Laddus with adulterated ghee containing animal extracts under Jagan Mohan Reddy’s rule has now acquired dimensions of a rounded religious-political battle for Hindu Aastha. While it was Andhra chief minister N Chandrababu Nadu who first stumbled upon defilement of the ghee by a Tamil Nadu-based supplier — AR Dairy Food Pvt Ltd, in the wake of a vigilance probe, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan has gone a step further. He has announced an 11-day fast seeking personal atonement for the desecration. Saying he will seek atonement for not being able to detect animal fat in the Laddu Prasadam given at Tirumala, the Jana Sena Party leader said. “Tirumala Laddu Prasadam, which is considered to be sacred, has become impure as a result of the depraved tendencies of the past rulers. Not being able to detect this sin in the beginning is a stain on the Hindu race.” He further said that everyone who believes in Sanatana Dharma should atone for this “terrible injustice” done to the God of Kali Yuga. “As part of that, I decided to do a penance initiation. On 22nd September I will take initiation in Sri Dashavatara Venkateswara Swamy Temple, Nambur, Guntur district. After continuing the initiation for 11 days, I will visit Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Swamy on Oct 1 and 2,” he said in a Hindi post. Kalyan, who admires PM Modi, called for the formation of a ‘Sanatana Dharma Rakshana Board’ at a national level to look into all issues related to Hindu temples.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray has warned against the release of The Legend of Maula Jatt, a Pakistani blockbuster, in the state. If permitted, the film will be screened just around the beginning of the Navratri festival. Also, it will be the first Pakistani movie to be released in India after 13 years. The previous Pakistani movie Bol was shown in 2011. Pakistani artists can’t work in India since 2016 following the Uri terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir. Thackeray’s warning comes following reports that the film will be released only in Mumbai. Thackeray’s affection for art is well known. Himself a renowned cartoonist, Raj is frequently seen at silver screen events. He has observed, “Art does not have national frontiers. This may be all right in other cases, but for Pakistan, this will not do at all. What is this business of bringing here actors to dance from a country whose whole existence depends upon hatred of India? Let alone Maharashtra, the government should not allow this movie to be screened in any state of the country,” he quipped. Warning of action if theatre owners went ahead to screen the film, Raj Thackeray has reminded all concerned of what MNS has done in the past when such incidents occurred. The rank and file of MNS is recharged with Raj’s warning in view of the impending assembly election in the state.
In a significant move, Congress has appointed Subhankar Sarkar as the West Bengal State President, replacing veteran leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. The decision marks a critical tactical shift in Congress’ approach to Bengal politics, signalling a recalibration of its relationship with both the ruling Trinamool Congress and CPI(M). Sarkar is known for his softer stance toward TMC supremo and chief minister Mamata Banerjee in contrast to Adhir Ranjan who was a vocal critic of Didi. The appointment comes amid speculation that Congress is keen on easing tensions with the TMC. The timing of Sarkar’s appointment is significant, particularly for the CPI(M). The party is still reeling from the recent death of its National Secretary, Sitaram Yechury, who played a key role in navigating the delicate relationship between Congress and the Left in Bengal. Yechury had close ties with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and his absence leaves a void in the CPI(M)’s ability to engage directly with the Congress high command. A senior CPI(M) leader has remarked that it is a double blow for the party as they lost Yechury, who was instrumental in maintaining dialogue with Congress. Now, with Adhir replaced, it’s clear that the Congress is moving towards a more TMC-friendly stance. Despite the growing concerns within CPI(M) ranks, the party leadership at Alimuddin Street has remained largely silent on the issue. Many believe that the leadership is still assessing the long-term implications of Congress’ strategic shift.
Fishing in troubled waters of the Congress in the midst of Haryana assembly polls, former Haryana CM and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar invited Sirsa MP Kumari Selja, one of the senior-most Dalit faces of the Congress, to join the BJP. Khattar’s invitation to Kumari Selja went amidst reports that the veteran Dalit leader had been missing from the Congress’s campaign for the Haryana Assembly election. Referring to Selja’s absence from the Congress’s campaign, Khattar said, “One of our Dalit sisters has been insulted and abused by the Congress. She is sitting at home, but the Hoodas (Bhupinder Hooda and Deepender Hooda) and the Gandhis (Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi) family are not even ashamed.” The buzz about a rift in Haryana Congress came after Selja was not seen during the party’s manifesto launch event by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Congress sources said Selja had been pushed to the wall in terms of tickets for her nominees. She had wanted only 3 tickets for her nominees. Even these did not come easily. They were given seats far away from their choice.” Selja, a CWC member, but she had to push for the tickets with the likes of KC Venugopal. Such a senior leader was really humiliated. The Gandhis did nothing to back her. Hooda even refused to take calls from the Gandhis,” said a party source. It is this high-handedness and touching faith in power of his community support — of the Jats — that may eventually cost Bhupinder Hooda this election. “Hooda could be losing a winning election because of his own fault. He has thrown this election away by antagonizing loyalist party leaders like Selja,” pointed out a Haryana BJP leader.
The Maharashtra BJP’s insistence to contest at least 160 seats in the 288-member legislative assembly election has posed a challenge for the Shiv Sena led by chief minister Eknath Shinde and the NCP led by Deputy CM Aji Pawar since both will have to be content with just about 60 seats for each. The seat sharing talks within the ruling Mahayuti are at an advanced turn though the BJP’s position as the largest partner has been accepted by both. However, the tacit tussle to occupy the second position is now becoming apparent as Ajit Pawar has made it clear that his party will need to contest over 60 seats. Both parties have almost an equal strength in the outgoing house. The Mahayuti is more or less agreed on around a hundred seats but the substantial chunk is still under negotiations. While Shinde has established his own channel with New Delhi, Ajit’s public postures are becoming a matter of speculation. His latest displeasure with the purported anti-minority utterances by some Sena-BJP leaders and Shinde’s implied support of those leaders, though in a different context, has caused some discomfort in the Mahayuti camp. Ajit and Shinde are thus facing a daunting challenge since they will have to persuade their followers to accept the seat sharing formula. It is likely to be finalised during Union home minister Amit Shah’s scheduled visit to the state next week.
Top Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat has been admonished by the Shiv Sena (UBT) for his unambiguous declaration that the next Maharashtra chief minister will be from his party. Sena MP Sanjay Raut has reminded Thorat that the Congress could win so many Lok Sabha seats in the state because of the Sena. The three-party Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is presently passing through a critical stage of seat sharing. Expectedly, the main partners – the Congress, the Sena and the NCP led by Sharad Pawar – are vying for a larger share of the seats. Moreover, Pawar has already announced that his party is not in the race for the CM’s post. Thus, he has adroitly pushed the ball in the Sena’s court since Raut had been projecting his leader Uddhav Thackeray as the next CM. Till now, the Congress had maintained that a decision in this regard would be taken after the assembly election results are out. Hence, the announcement by Thorat, has jolted the Sena to indicate that it is also in the fray for the coveted post, earlier occupied by Uddhav. To reaffirm, Raut has remarked that though the MVA’s confidence has boosted, the Congress won’t think of fighting the election on its own strength. “If some elements are over-confident of their clout, the picture will be clear soon,” Raut said. The statements by Thorat and Raut are interpreted as a hidden power struggle in MVA though both have claimed that all will be well in the end.
In a shocking revelation, a central government lab’s test report indicated that the cow ghee procured by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) contained traces of fish oil, beef tallow, and lard(pig fat). The presence of animal fat in Tirumala prasadam devastated Hindus across India, perhaps the faithful globally. What made Jagan Mohan Reddy regime trifle with the sacred offerings made to Lord Balaji? TDP sources insist it was all because the YSRCP leader was a Christian with no faith in Tirumala that is why he dared to undermine it. “He would never come for any traditional darshan along with his wife. He had no faith. He just wanted to undermine Hindus,” said a TDP leader. Or else why would naivedyam offered to Lord Balaji at Tirupati for nearly half century, prepared in Nandini cow ghee supplied by Karnataka Milk Producers Federation (KMF) be discontinued by state-controlled TTD on price issues. TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy said “Since the quality ghee cost over Rs 1000 per kg, the TTD offered to buy ghee at the rate of Rs 320. They awarded contracts to four suppliers. Is there anyone who can provide quality ghee for Rs 320? They gave tenders for 15,000 kg of ghee for bribes.” Incidentally, KMF has resumed supplying its famous Nandini Ghee to prepare Srivari Laddus. TDP sources said contamination of prasadam was revealed as soon as newly-elected chief minister Chandrababu Naidu launched a vigilance probe to begin cleansing of “Andhra from Tirumala.”. “Even while we were in the Opposition, we used to get complaints about the food from the pilgrims and how the quality of laddus had fallen,” said a TDP leader. Apparently contaminated samples confirming the presence of animal fat in the ghee used by the TTD to make laddus were supplied by a Chennai-based trader.
It certainly seems to be raining sops in Haryana with both the incumbent BJP and the Congress trying to outwit each other this election season. The BJP announced two lakh government jobs in the state, Rs 2,100 pm allowance for women under the Lado Lakshmi Yojana, and cooking gas cylinders at Rs 500 under the Har Ghar Grihini Yojna. Seeking a third term, party chief JP Nadda asserted that the BJP has always fulfilled its promises. “What was the image of Haryana 10 years back? Jobs used to be given on paper. Actions were taken against people. Haryana used to be known for land scams,” he said. It is another matter that Priyanka Vadra’s husband Robert Vadra had got an administrative clean chit under BJP rule in the much talked land scam. Releasing BJP’s manifesto, Nadda promised every Agniveer hailing from Haryana will get a guaranteed government job. Haryana has changed under BJP’s leadership, he asserted. In 2014, the state’s per capita income was Rs 1.37 lakh, which has increased to Rs 3 lakh rupees. A day earlier, the Congress announced similar sounding guarantees like Rs 2,000 monthly allowance to women and gas cylinders at Rs 500. The add ons were of course the Rs 6000 social security monthly pension for the old, handicapped and widows and the promise of 300 units of free electricity per month to every household. It promised to hike the minimum income limit for the creamy layer among OBCs from Rs 6 to Rs 10 lakhs. The party also promised to provide 100 square yard plots with Rs 3.5 lakhs cash assistance to every poor homeless person for constructing a two-bedroom house.
Generally speaking in Tamil Nadu the alliance partners whether of the DMK or AIADMK get itchy and periodically restless then threaten to walk out. So it was not surprising to see Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi’s (VCK) supremo Thol Thirumavalavan make his stunning move when chief minister MK Stalin was away to the U.S. for a month. Thiruma announced plans to hold the mother of all public meetings on Gandhi Jayanti (Oct 2) to hammer home the need for prohibition in TN (where state sells liquor to the thirsty populace) and highlight the fast spreading drug menace. Holding a mega meet of over 35, 000 women against liquor, on 8 acres of his venue, bringing women voters from 134 wards to Kallakuruchi. Thiruma cannily invited the AIADMK to join the mammoth meet and share a common platform. But his other demand, more share in power and governance is what shook the ruling DMK, shocking Stalin and his stalwarts Duraimurugan, KN Nehru, AV Velu and Ponmudi. Sure enough Stalin was rattled sufficiently to call Thiruma for an immediate meeting at DMK Anna Arivalayam. Thirumavalavan poured out a litany of woes…his party did not get respect when the party flags had to be put up whereas PMK and even newbie Vijay’s TVK were getting better treatment from the Police. It is not clear which hit Stalin most…Jet lag or Thiruma’s tirade. Muscle flexing seems to be the best optic for alliance partners.
If it has been puzzling everyone in the Lutyens political circles how Atishi Marlena, daughter of Marxist parents, was chosen over the likes of Raghav Chadda, Sanjay Singh and Saurabh Bharadwaj to be Delhi CM, the reasons are apparently not far to seek. It seems she was chosen because she was fully endorsed by Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Sunita, a public activist who had a voice in this decision. The proof of it is the manner in which estranged Delhi AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal who was in Sunita’s crosshairs has come out openly against Atishi’s elevation. Through a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Swati has hit out that Atishi as Delhi CM could be a security risk as her own family has fought a long battle to save terrorist Afzal Guru, the man responsible for Parliament attack in 2001 from death penalty. “Her parents wrote mercy petitions to the President several times, that he is innocent, that he should not be hanged, that he is a victim of political conspiracy. How wrong is this? Today, Atishi will become the CM but we all know that she will be only a “dummy CM”. Still, this is a major issue because she will be the CM and this matter is directly linked to the security of the country as well as Delhi. God save the people of Delhi from such a CM”. Swati also posted signed copies of the mercy petition. Of course the Kejriwals may have preferred a rootless Atishi as she will step down whenever told. So far the BJP has not accused her of corruption and it will be difficult for it to do this now. And of course the LG will get little ground support if he blocks files.
In an interesting political twist, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal picked Atishi Marlena, a junior minister and someone considered close to Deputy CM Manish Sisodia as the new chief minister of Delhi, as he decided to step down and hand in his resignation to Lt Governor VK Saxena. Known as the main brain behind Delhi Government school reforms, Atishi played down her elevation as a stopgap arrangement. Making it clear that Delhi and its 2 crore people can only have one CM — that is Arvind Kejriwal. Atishi asked party cadres not to celebrate her elevation. There could be celebration only after Kejriwal gets re-elected in the March 2025 assembly elections. Initial announcement about Atishi was made by a party heavyweight and potential contender Gopal Rai. AAP also made it clear that there will be no deputy CM this time. By choosing to play the woman card and not opting for his wife Sunita as CM, Kejriwal may have tried to buy time with voters but will it blunt the edge on incumbency and non-delivery? Only time will tell. Yet with her rise as CM, Atishi will be the third woman CM of the UT after Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dikshit. Born in June 1981 Atishi hails from an academic family in Delhi, with her parents, Vijay Singh and Tripta Wahi, both professors at Delhi University. She will be the youngest CM of Delhi at 43.When Kejriwal became CM in December 2013 he was 45. With an undergraduate degree in History from the prestigious St Stephen’s College in 2001, she completed her Master’s from Oxford University as a Rhodes scholar.
AAP’s former CM Arvind Kejriwal has a new political guru in Congress MP and advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, instrumental in his enlargement on bail. Initial plans to reward Singhvi with Rajya Sabha seat failed, even blowing up in Kejriwal’s face over l’affaire Swati Maliwal, with Congress accommodating their estranged leader from Telangana instead. Senior BJP leader Mahendra Jain says, the non-resignation drama first, by Arvind Kejriwal, continuing during incarceration over five months and then, precipitating as two-day resignation drama played over worries about Delhi LG, VK Saxena’s imminent intention to seek his resignation following Supreme Court’s diktat against Kejriwal attending CMO, other official duties. While incarcerated, Kejriwal pretended to carry on as CM from jail although no government papers were signed by him over issues of confidentiality and directives of SC. Even his note to the LG seeking approval for AAP’s CM incumbent Atishi (Marlena Singh) hoisting the tricolour on August 15 was rejected by Saxena instead authorizing AAP minister Kailash Gehlot.” The LG took issue over Kejriwal’s access to official CMO letterhead over the communique with SC also curbing jail visitors thereafter. Plans to reach consensus over two days for better half Sunita Kejriwal as incumbent CM were shelved as LG would cite her unelected status with less than five months to state assembly elections in Delhi. With Atishi helming AAP, BJP lost no time raking up her parents’ leftist leaning as ideologues demanding release of parliament attack terrorist Afzal Guru. The saffron party insists moniker ‘Marlena’ was a combination appended to Atishi Singh’s name by parents assimilating leftist philosophers: Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin.
Political parties have their own whims and fancy notions about good luck charms of their parliamentary party offices. That’s why when it comes to the new Parliament complex, it seems — both the Congress and the BJP– are reportedly being reluctant to move their parliamentary party offices from the old Parliament House. Both the offices are on the ground floor and have plenty of history to it. Of course ministers and the LoP do have their offices in the new complex. The only party which has moved into the new building is the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) which stormed to power in Andhra Pradesh winning 164 of 175 assembly seats in an electoral alliance with Janasena Party and the BJP and has 16 seats in Lok Sabha. The Lok Sabha Secretariat allocated a new office, F09, to the TDP on the first floor of the new Parliament, a prime location that also houses the offices of the Prime Minister and Union Ministers. This change marks a transition from the party’s previous office, Room No 5, which was situated in the old Parliament building. Recalling how the YSRCP led by Jagan Mohan Reddy had occupied TDP’s office after party was routed in 2019 elections, a TDP source pointed out that in the 2019 LS polls, the YSRCP had swept the elections, winning 22 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state and TDP was reduced to just 3 seats. Official sources said regional parties like DMK are also reluctant to move into the new Parliament complex.
A new star has joined the Indian insurance galaxy! Galaxy Health Insurance Co Ltd is the new addition. The birth of Galaxy signals the re-entry of yet one more family of the erstwhile TVS group into the insurance space. Significantly enough, this happens a few years after the formal legal separation of four families of the erstwhile TVS group. Galaxy Health Insurance is promoted by Venu Srinivasan and his family. V Jagannathan, former CMD of United India Insurance Company and the founder of Star Health & Allied Insurance, is the co-promoter. Industry stalwart G Srinivasan, former head of United India Insurance, is the MD & CEO. The Galaxy board comprises Dr Sai Satish, a renowned cardiologist, and Sudarshan Venu, MD of TVS Motor Company. Galaxy Insurance is all set to commence its operations shortly. Insurance business is nothing new to the Chennai-based TVS Group. It was the owner of Madras Motor and General Insurance before the industry’s nationalization. After nationalization, Madras Motor merged into United India Insurance. Subsequently, in the post-liberalization era, Sundaram Finance, initially promoted by Madras Motor, launched Royal Sundaram Insurance, a general insurance company. Ironically enough, two former heads of United India Insurance will be guiding Galaxy Health Insurance to make a mark in the space. The size of the Indian health insurance sector was estimated at Rs 1.17 lakh crore in FY 2024, and is currently growing at a CAGR of 20%. Post the legal separation, assorted organisations who once formed part of the erstwhile TVS group are now freely exploring the freedom of opportunity, it appears.
Top BJP minister Nitin Gadkari’s sensational disclosure that he had been offered support for Prime Ministership by a prominent opposition leader before the Lok Sabha election is considered significant owing to its crucial timing. Gadkari generally avoids commenting on political developments and does not entertain any media questions in this regard. Hence, his candid revelation has surprised the BJP brass, which has refrained from reacting to it. The opposition, by and large, also has kept away from the potential bombshell. Gadkari has refused to name the opposition leader who made this offer to him. But the political grapevine is on overdrive to identify the opposition emissary. Various algorithms are applied to find out who it could be. Is he from Maharashtra? From Nagpur or Vidarbha? A former BJP member? Close to Rahul Gandhi or Mallikarjun Kharge? Or someone having tacit approach to the RSS decision makers? Of course, all these are supposition without any factual backing. Still, the suspense is mounting in view of the coming assembly elections. It is deepened since Gadkari has declared on multiple occasions that he is not interested in the topmost job and is happy with his ministry. In the past, his name was being discussed to become the Maharashtra CM but he had firmly rejected the idea. His only connection now with the state elections is that he is one of the star BJP campaigners.
The ongoing RG Kar Medical College protests have cast a shadow over the Bengali film industry, with many in the fraternity struggling to return to work amid constant backlash and online trolling. While several actors, directors, and singers actively participated in the protests, some have gone back to work sparking mixed reactions from the public. The situation intensified after West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s call to “return to festivities”. This statement was widely criticized. Amidst this political tension, prominent figures in the Bengali entertainment industry have found themselves facing undue criticism from netizens. Celebrities like singer Iman Chakraborty, actors Swastika Mukherjee, and Sohini Sarkar, all of whom supported the protests, became targets of online trolling. Swastika faced particular backlash after promoting her upcoming film Tekka, despite her regular attendance at protest rallies. Dev, who stars in Tekka and is also a Trinamool Congress MP, defended his stance, supporting the movement while stressing that livelihoods, especially during Durga Puja, should not be affected. He pointed out that marginalized groups, such as dhakis, decorators, and vendors, depend on the festive season. Singer Shilajit, another victim of online criticism, echoed similar sentiments. He defended the importance of continuing work, noting that events contribute significantly to artists’ earnings. Director Raj Chakraborty expressed concern over how easily celebrities become targets for trolls, leading many to avoid social media. Amid this growing tension, promotions for upcoming Puja releases, such as Bohurupi and Shastri, have been toned down to avoid further controversy. The Bengali film industry continues to navigate these challenging times with caution.
A free burqa distribution programme organised by a Eknath Shinde camp legislator highlighted the uneasiness between the ruling alliance partners particularly over the Muslim vote bank. While the BJP did express its displeasure about such acts as “appeasement politics”, they clearly had to leave it at that. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena neither publicly disowned nor criticised the drive, thus recognising the need to woo core voters. The MLA concerned, Yamini Jadhav recently lost from the prominent Mumbai South Parliamentary constituency by over 50,000 votes mainly due to the fact that the Muslim voters there chose to throw their weight behind Uddhav’s nominee, Arvind Sawant. The fact that 50% of voters in her Mazgaon constituency are Muslims, could not have been lost on her as she faces her electorate yet again to reclaim her MLA seat. All this, while the prominent alliance partner, the BJP continues to adopt an aggressive pro-Hindu pitch with Nitesh Rane’s diatribe against Muslims being the order of the day. The BJP has also been critical of Uddhav’s recent success in garnering the support of the Muslim vote bank terming it as a result of not being sincere to core Hindu ideology. The third partner, Ajit Pawar, has already clarified that he would continue to be secular, in spite of his alliance with the BJP. Pawar has gone ahead and almost-declared the candidatures in key Muslim-dominated seats like Bandra East (Zeeshan Siddiqi) and Anushakti Nagar (Nawab Malik’s daughter Sana Malik) ignoring the BJP.
Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin said he would be seeking an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and personally request him to release funds meant for the second phase of the Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) project as well as the funds due to the State under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) relating to school education. Both funds have been blocked by the Centre. His finance minister Thangam Thennarasu has already issued a statement hitting out at the Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman for saying that the ongoing CMRL second phase for Chennai was a State sector project. He had pointed out that the project envisaged in 2017 was a central sector project in which the Union government’s share had worked out to Rs 7,425 crore. He also refuted a statement by Ms Sitharaman that the state had spent only Rs 5,880 crore on the 119-km phase II whereas the state had already expended more than Rs 18,000 crore so far. The step motherly treatment being meted out to Tamil Nadu, considered the last bastion against the ruling BJP is borne out by the fact that funds allocated for Metro Rail schemes in cities like Bengaluru (Rs 30,399 crore), Kochi (Rs 1,957 crore), Nagpur (Rs 6,708 crore), Pune (Rs 910 crore) and Thane (Rs 12,200 crore), are all from the Centre’s kitty while not even what was promised for Chennai Metro expansion has been delivered.
It was Chandrababu Naidu’s dream to create a world class city — Amaravati — as the capital of Andhra Pradesh. But, he lost the 2019 assembly elections badly and the new government headed by Y Jagan Mohan Reddy put his plan on the backburner. A kind of political vendetta. With Naidu’s TDP sweeping power in Andhra Pradesh 2024 Assembly elections Naidu is going all out with his dream capital plan. The new city, to be built from the ground up, will start from December 1. The Modi government has already sanctioned Rs 15,000 crore for the project, besides Naidu is talking to multilateral agencies like World Bank seeking soft loan for this mammoth project. Sources say Naidu definitely wants a city which is resilient, creates value, drives new markets and responds to future demand. For now the 29,966 farmers who had pooled in 34,400 acres of land for this ambitious project eight years ago are in a celebratory mood. The land prices have zoomed from Rs12,000 to Rs35,000 per square yard. Naidu has roped in renowned London-based architectural firm Foster + Partners to design the government complex to house the legislative assembly, high court and secretarial buildings. Sources say Amaravati would require a budget of at least Rs 40,000 crore.
Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray has miffed his supporters by declaring that he has never hankered for the chief ministership. In the same breath, he has expressed determination to wrest power in the coming election. Conversing at a rally of an Old Pension Scheme organisation, Uddhav said, “You, the people of Maharashtra are my power, which none can take away.” Uddhav performed darshan of Sai Baba at Shirdi and later addressed the OPS meet at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. His observation is viewed in the context of the persistent efforts of his supporters to project him as the next CM of the state. The campaign had dampened some time ago as veteran NCP leader Sharad Pawar and state Congress president Nana Patole had publicly clarified that this issue will be discussed only after the assembly election results are out. Uddhav has refreshed the issue by giving an emotional touch to the meeting by saying that he had been invited to speak with its members though he had no power, no office now. “But you are my power. Nobody can retire me from this position. I don’t care for power, I am concerned for your future,” he said. Nonetheless, he assured the audience that he will wrest power and dispense justice to them and the people of Maharashtra. Uddhav has thus dwelt on both possibilities, although not in explicit terms. His statement, hence, can be interpreted in any way but will make his supporters think before taking any stand.
Haryana state assemblies, set for triangular fight between Congress, BJP and AAP, saw Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s timely enlargement on bail suiting BJP’s poll strategy although facing tough anti-incumbency itself. Congress authorized former CM Bhupinder Hooda to finalise poll prospects, refusing to cede 10 assembly constituencies to AAP for pre-poll alliance. Hooda’s son Deepinder, a Lok Sabha MP organized fanfare for Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat (a Jat) on her return following the Olympic debacle. She was part of the Jantar Mantar agitation over molestation charges against ex-president WFI and BJP MP Brijbhushan Singh. Julana constituency choice for Phogat, however, raises questions over winnability with Congress never winning the seat and potential loss of face for the party that garnered 10,000 votes at best from here. AAP fielded former WWF wrestler Kavita Dalal against Phogat to further dampen Congress prospects while Kejriwal who steps down as Delhi CM utilizes bail time to canvas against Hooda’s choice of candidates. Brijmohan Shrivastav, Chief National Spokesperson NCP (Ajit Pawar) feels Phogat will emerge victorious in husband Somvir’s home constituency as Jat and Rathee communities will combine in her favour since caste is dominant factor in Bihar, UP and Haryana. Phogat’s recent disqualification at Olympics and perception of BJP not backing her up upset the two communities. It may be recalled that Phogat and wrestler husband Rathee even challenged norms at their wedding ceremony, opting for eight rounds (vows) of holy havan kund including extra phera emphasizing the girl child (Beti Bachao, Beti Padao, Beti Kilao) over gender bias evident in population ratio of Haryana. Will Julana solemnize Vinesh’s Congress alliance too?
Maharashtra BJP is facing a quandary since the mass media is awash with reports about a purported internal survey conducted by the party in Vidarbha region. The reason – the prediction that neither the BJP nor the Mahayuti will fare well in the region. Although BJP leaders are yet to react to the news stories, the survey has reportedly said that the Mahayuti can win around 25 seats out of the total 62 in the BJP’s traditional stronghold. Vidarbha was once the Congress citadel and had stood by Indira Gandhi even after the post-emergency election in 1977. However, it has been a cakewalk for the BJP since 2014. The first jolt it received was the Lok Sabha election earlier this year as the Congress performed unexpectedly well, at the cost of the BJP. In 2019, the BJP-led saffron alliance had won 39 of the seats. However, after the splits in the Shiv Sena and the NCP, the configuration has undergone a sea change. In view of the Lok Sabha voting pattern and analysis, the Mahayuti will have no problem in remaining at the top but its dominance will be dented seriously, if one wishes to trust the so-called survey findings. According to the survey assessment, the BJP will be able to win 18 seats while the Sena (Shinde) will bag just five and the NCP under Ajit Pawar a token two. The overall tally of 25 for the Mahayuti will impact the alliance’s ambition of returning to power in the state in the election, most likely to occur in November this year.
Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar has finally rung down the curtains on the speculation surrounding the prestigious Baramati assembly constituency by giving out ample indications that he will contest the seat this time, too. Ajit took this decision after he was advised that his shaky stance could cost the NCP(A) heavily. Ajit has also scored over the two other Mahayuti partners – the BJP and the Shiv Sena (Shinde) — by finalising nearly two dozen assembly candidates. Both these parties are still to decide on their nominees. Internecine power struggle and past rivalry with each other are hindering the list finalisation. The picture on the Maha Vikas Aghadi is a little different. None of the MVA partners has so far declared any name of a prospective candidate. Against this backdrop, Ajit has overtaken all other parties in the state. Equally important is his willingness to enter the fray after dilly-dallying for a long time. The other names in Ajit’s list include former home minister Dilip Walse Patil, senior leader Chhagan Bhujbal and the legislative assembly’s deputy speaker Narahari Zirwal. Not to take a chance, Ajit’s team started combing the Baramati constituency much earlier. The contest will be a fierce one if Ajit’s nephew Yugendra Pawar decides to take on his uncle. Yugendra is groomed by NCP founder Sharad Pawar ever since Ajit broke away from the parent party. Whatever the outcome, the seat will remain with the Pawar family, which has been holding it for the past 55 years.
Even as Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin signed off his U.S. sojourn with a “goodbye USA” post, there is still a lot of speculation about the real purpose behind his nearly month-long tour across America. Though the official reason being given is that he had gone there to talk up foreign investment for the state, but both his critics and well-wishers are not convinced that the kind of business meetings that Stalin had lined up with CEOs reveal foreign investment had driven the DMK leader to camp in the U.S. Sources close to Stalin say the real purpose of the CM staying away from Chennai was that he was advised by astrologers, consulted by wife Durga, that the CM must stay away from his home, preferably travel across seven seas for the sake of his well-being and future of his politics. That is why in view of the inauspicious times, he also put off elevating son Udhayanidhi as Deputy CM as he was not sure of its impact on senior DMK leaders His critics have been panning his U.S. trip in social media as a waste of public money.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Bengal is grappling with a significant leadership void following the sudden demise of Sitaram Yechury, the party’s General Secretary since 2015. Known for his pivotal role in steering the CPI(M) through turbulent political waters, Yechury’s death has left a profound impact, particularly on the Bengal State Committee, with which he had close ties. His demise has now triggered discussions within the party regarding his successor, with sources close to Alimuddin Street indicating that the Bengal faction is seeking someone aligned with its interests. Among the names being floated for the interim general secretary position are Brinda Karat and Prakash Karat. However, sources close to the party’s leadership in Bengal suggest that Brinda Karat has the edge, primarily due to her past association with Bengal. She was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by CPI(M) Bengal secretary Anil Biswas, further solidifying her connection with the state’s leadership. As there are also whispers about Maryam Alexander Baby, a former Kerala minister, as a possible successor to Yechury, in the upcoming Central committee meeting, the state unit is likely to push hard for a leader with pro-Bengal sentiments to take up the national leadership role owing to Yechury’s Bengal connections. Mohammad Salim, the current Bengal State Secretary, is another figure whose name has been suggested for a possible elevation to the national level. If Salim were to step up, the Bengal unit would need to find a new state secretary..
Six months after he was first arrested in the liquor policy scam, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal got bail in the CBI case. The AAP chief will now walk out of Tihar jail having been granted interim bail in the ED’s money laundering case in June. Fifth leader to get bail after AAP leaders like Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh in the same case, Kejriwal’s release may help the AAP go full throttle in its campaign in Haryana — where it will be taking on both incumbent BJP as well as the Congress, which refused to ally with it. Haryana-born Kejriwal will also have the advantage of testing his acceptability in the state even as AAP rules adjoining Punjab. The bail conditions make it difficult for Kejriwal to return to Delhi CM’s office. It is likely that he may go for an interim CM, elevate wife Sunita. Legally, the bail verdict has cast the CBI in a poor light as one of the judges invoked “caged parrot” analogy of the coal scam era and dubbed CBI arrest as “unjustified” after Kejriwal had secured bail in the ED case. Lok Sabha MP Sheikh Abdul ‘Engineer’ Rashid, who had been incarcerated in a terror-funding case under PMLA for 5 years, was recently freed by a NIA court to take part in J&K polls. To his surprise, the man who had trounced former CM Omar Abdullah in Baramulla was shocked to find that only fewer people had turned up to listen to him as he addressed his first election rally in Baramulla. Will Kejriwal’s experience be different from Rashid’s?
TRENDS & VIEWS
Editor’s Note: Big Punch In Small Pack
It is the Third Anniversary of Short Post and as a news media startup launched during the Covid-19 pandemic it certainly feels better than good to find ourselves where we are today. Here, I must cite the unstinted support of our seasoned contributors, all senior editors in the country, who brought a great degree of maturity and sagacity to the Short Post newsroom. But for them, our tagline “Authentic Gossip”, an Oxymoron, would not have matured viably. Our user numbers may be small but our stories have created the desired impact among people who matter — decision makers and influencers. We offer a big punch in a small pack and Short Post with its 225-word stories has been punching above its weight category. Having posted close to 3,000 stories in the last 36 months, Short Post, I feel, is an idea whose time has come.
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If you look at the media landscape – print, TV and digital — it is a mixed bag. There are job losses as some outfits have closed down while a lucky few were bailed out by large corporate houses. Yes, there is a lot of action in the digital space. However, the entry of corporate houses has raised the question of independence of news media outfits. Sadly, there are just a handful of independent media outfits in the country that are highly respected for their neutrality. At Short Post, our credo is not to take sides, prejudge issues or be biased but, informing readers of behind-the-scenes happenings. In essence, Short Post strives to be a neutral editorial platform — neither anti-establishment nor pro-establishment.
As I said last year, disruptions in the media world are moving at a fast and furious pace. Technology is playing a very big role in how content is generated and consumed. But, we are neither alarmed nor perturbed as it is all a part of the evolution process. What gives us comfort is that AI is unable to create original gossipy content. And that is the news arena where we have achieved a distinction.