Looks like the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Ahmedabad is making more news about leaders who are not attending than those who are. The focus is not so much about Gandhis — Rahul and Sonia — who attended the meet but Priyanka, General Secretary, who skipped the extended CWC session. It is being said she had taken permission to “skip the AICC session and the just concluded Parliament session to attend a pre-engagement abroad, and the party had accepted her request”. She was out of the country to attend to a relative who is in need of medical help, said senior leader K C Venugopal. Interestingly, Congress ally, Muslim League had expressed concerns over Priyanka’s absence during the Waqf Bill debate.  Jairam Ramesh also pointed out that 35 members were absent from the meeting. More than Priyanka’s absence, what is of significance is the absence of Karnataka Home Minister and prominent Dalit leader G Parameshwara. He skipped the CWC event more because it was made clear to him that he is not being considered for the CM post if the party removed incumbent Siddaramaiah by this year’s end. He has been sulking since his recent Delhi visit. First, he could not get an appointment with Rahul and even party chief Kharge discouraged him from pushing his Dalit CM campaign. Kharge apparently feels such a campaign could hurt prospects of his son Priyank — a minister in Siddaramaiah cabinet — from becoming CM. Meanwhile, to stonewall any regime change a pro Siddaramaiah MLA — Basavaraj Rama Reddy —   has already dubbed the state as “number one in corruption.”  It is feared if the Congress leadership makes DK Shivakumar as CM, it is possible Sidda could once again effect a split in the Congress.

With the AIADMK under Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) continuing to play truant, the BJP seems to be already working on its alternative options. Yes, with EPS continuing to be elusive about a tie-up with the BJP, post his meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah, the TN BJP seems to be working full time to explore tie-ups. Possibilities of a tie-up between the BJP and Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) opened up when NTK chief Seeman and BJP state president K Annamalai shared the stage at SRM University on April 7. What set off the buzz of a tie -up was that Seeman praised PM Modi. Who is Seeman? Senthamizhan Seeman is an actor and former filmmaker. NTK has always managed to win at least 8-9% votes in the last few polls. Even as he regards slain LTTE chief V Pirabhakaran as his mentor, Seeman has been making scathing attacks on Periyar, the icon of the Dravidian movement, questioning his love for Tamil people and culture. The DMK government has registered cases against him but has never dared to put him behind the bars. He has also severely criticised TN chief minister M K Stalin, his son and deputy CM Udayanidhi Stalin. Seeman is a strong advocate of Tamil nationalism. Speaking to the students, Seeman lauded Modi for his efforts to showcase Tamil’s antiquity globally. Echoing the PM, Seeman also emphasized the importance of the mother tongue. At Rameshwaram, Modi had chided the DMK ministers for not even signing in Tamil in their letters to the Centre.  Annamalai, during his speech, called Seeman a “commander on the battlefield,” recognizing his strong stand on Tamil identity. Annamalai observed: “I see Tamil in nationalism. Seeman sees nationalism in Tamil.” The buzz is that Seeman may meet Modi soon, possibly at a location outside TN.

The annual retainership announced for the national women’s team by the BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia in a way reflects the national governing body’s unhappiness with the team’s performance in multi-nation tournaments. The Indian team lost to New Zealand and Australia in the Twenty20 World Cup held in the UAE last year and these two outcomes eliminated the women in blue team from semi-finals. India had also lost to Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final in July 2024. In fact, the Indian team has not figured in the final of an ICC Twenty20 World Cup after it lost to Australia by 85 runs in the 2019-20 final played in Melbourne. India had reached the 50-over World Cup final in 2017 when it lost to England by nine runs. Clearly, the BCCI which has been governing women’s cricket for around two decades and has taken steps to bring parity in match fee, allowances and other facilities, wants the team that has experienced players like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Jemima Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Shafali Verma, Pooja Vastrakar; Renuka Singh Thakur, Radha Yadav to win a big ICC title. The retainership announced for October 2024-September 2025 has three players in Group A (Rs 50 lakh), four in Group B (Rs 30 lakh) and nine players in Group C (Rs 10 lakh). That the team doesn’t play a reasonable number of Tests in comparison with the men’s team is also a reason for a big gap in the annual retainership. Meanwhile the annual retainership for the senior men is keenly awaited. The team has already been given Rs 183 crore for winning the ICC World Twenty 20 and the Champions Trophy.

Looks like the RSS mouthpiece Organiser is now the most watched X handle for its posts, particularly by those looking for disagreements within the Modi government over the path-breaking Waqf Amendment Bill. That is why when Organiser reposted an old article — about Catholic Church’s expansive land holding in India published in Indian Catholic Matters in May 2024, both Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan latched on to it just to tell Kerala Christians, not to get swayed by the BJP as it may now come after the land held by the churches. That is because Christians in Kerala have decidedly moved towards the BJP after the Waqf Bill became law. Surprised by the interest shown in the year-old article that the Organiser had posted, editor Praful Ketkar found it odd that both Rahul and Kerala CM should link the article by “Indian Catholic Matters” to the RSS. “Even biased media have no shame in linking everything to the RSS. We have the guts to review the data as the reporter filed a story on secondary sources”, he posted on X. Meanwhile, in a separate post the mouthpiece quoted media reports to suggest that the Church of North India (CNI) has announced plans to take forward its project of cow conservation and protection in other states of the country. Quoting from a report of Nai Duniya, it announced how the CNI would set up ‘Gaushalas’ (cow shelter homes) on properties owned by the Church in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Recently, the diocese along with other Hindu groups had also organised a Janjagran (public awareness) meeting alongside carrying out a 50-kilometre Dandawat Yatra (prostration march) to stop cow slaughtering in Chhattisgarh last month.

When one talks about gold mining, the immediate name that comes to mind is Kolar gold fields in Karnataka. This region produces 94% of the country’s gold ore and 93% of primary gold. Now this monopoly is set to end soon as the Odisha government has discovered a significant treasure trove of gold reserves in the state’s Deogarh district. It is learnt that Odisha is all set to auction its first gold mining hub in Deogarh district sometime in 2026. This new development gives it a big fillip to the state’s economic development besides its traditional business of iron ore, chromite, coal mining and rare earth minerals.  What is interesting about gold exploration by GSI in Odisha reveals that the gold rush is not confined to Deogarh district only but also includes Keonjhar, Nabarangpur, Sundargarh and Mayurbhanj districts while other places like Malkangiri, Sambalpur and Boudh are also being explored. Apart from focus on gold, the Odisha government seems to be eyeing the big potential for reducing import dependence on titanium by strengthening Odisha’s domestic production capabilities. Already Odisha government’s High Level Clearance Authority has green signalled Odisha Metallurgical Industry (P) Ltd’s investment proposal of Rs 8,000 crore for setting up a titanium plant complex to produce titanium slag, titanium pigment and titanium sponge in Ganjam district. With all these developments, Odisha’s economic growth rate will be at a faster clip.

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis stands cited for his continued vacillation over ‘Hindutva’, overdependence upon bureaucracy, failure to move ahead on ‘Love Jihad’, Uniform Civil Code, mob lynching case of ‘sadhus’ in Palghar, Disha Salian death case according to sources. The high command is believed to have reiterated its ‘Perform or Perish’ diktat while expressing dissatisfaction based on the litany of complaints against Fadnavis. Delay in prosecuting government officials beyond mere suspensions (25,000 birth certificates issued to illegal Bangladeshis, Rohingyas exposed by former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya) and Fadnavis’ predilection leaving the sensitive Home department under control of bureaucracy has irked the party’s high command. BJP’s former Maharashtra deputy CM, late Gopinath Munde’s daughter, cabinet minister Pankaja Munde was similarly cited for leaving her ministerial portfolios (including women and child development department) to bureaucratic discretion during Fadnavis’ 1.0 tenure (2014 and 2019) costing her dearly and being kept out of government under Fadnavis’ 76 hour 2.0 tenure and, CM Eknath Shinde’s 2.5-year tenure in 2022. Pankaja Munde is back in government, however, CM Fadnavis’ constant comparison with Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Assam counterparts over apparent ‘Hindutva’ shortcomings bodes ill for him. Maharashtra will likely witness major overhauling in coming days, a bureaucratic reshuffle on the cards at the very least. Meanwhile, only days after MoS (fisheries) Nitesh Rane conducted ‘Bhoomipujan’ for crucial jetty infrastructure off the eastern coastline of south Mumbai, BJP’s speaker in state legislative assembly Rahul Narvekar, close confidante of Fadnavis, started courting opponents of the project (falling within his assembly constituency) opening up a new political battleground for Fadnavis.

Ajay Devgn’s recent trajectory at the box office has raised concerns about his ability to draw audiences to cinemas. While films like Shaitan achieved sleeper hit status, others, such as Auro Kahan Dham Tha were significant disappointments. The much-anticipated Maidan which faced numerous delays, also underperformed upon release, further complicating Devgn’s box office appeal. His filmography in recent years reveals a troubling pattern: while Singham was just average at the box office, it too fell short of expectations of the masses. As audiences increasingly gravitate towards larger-than-life spectacles like Pushpa, RRR or the Marvel franchise, there’s a growing sentiment that they prefer to experience such grand narratives on the big screen. In contrast, Raid 2, a sequel to a content-driven film, may struggle to capture the same level of excitement. The film, while part of a successful franchise, lacks the extravagant elements that draw crowds. Today’s viewers are more inclined to enjoy nuanced storytelling and character-driven narratives from the comfort of their homes on OTT platforms rather than making the effort to visit cinemas for films that don’t promise a spectacular experience. The current cinematic landscape is shifting, and Raid 2 may find it challenging to achieve the box office success that Ajay Devgn once enjoyed. The trailer, while satisfactory, does not evoke the mass appeal needed to draw large audiences. It seems that the class-driven appeal of such films may resonate more with multiplex audiences, but this demographic alone may not suffice to meet the financial expectations that filmmakers have for a big box office return.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contrary to expectations there weren’t fireworks in the Lok Sabha when the government took up Waqf Bill (Amendment) for passage. It even saw some lighter moments between Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the selection of the next BJP president. Speaking in the House, Akhilesh Yadav mocked the “biggest political party” for its inability to elect its own president.” To which Shah quipped that the process in the BJP was unlike other parties, where presidents were selected from few family members.” Akhileshji made his remark with a smile, so I will respond in the same manner. The parties sitting across from us in this House all have national presidents who are selected from just five family members. But in our party, we have to conduct a process involving 12-13 crore members, so naturally, it takes time,” said Shah. “In your case, it will not take much time. I am saying that you will remain president for 25 years,” Shah said in jest. The process to elect the next BJP president has been pending for 10 months after incumbent JP Nadda was inducted into the Narendra Modi Cabinet following the BJP’s win in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Yadav also took a veiled dig at PM Modi over his visit to the RSS headquarters on March 30, saying the “yatra” (pilgrimage) was to save his chair. While the banter showed that the Opposition had no real issue against the bill, Yadav claimed that the Waqf Bill would hurt India’s secular image in the world and that it was being brought as part of the BJP’s “divisive agenda”.

In his interactions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai had reportedly made it very clear that the BJP should enter into a pre-poll alliance with the AIADMK only if it did not agree to projecting to anyone from the regional party as CM candidate. Armed with facts and figures, he explained to Shah that the AIADMK under Edappadi K Palaniswami’s (EPS) leadership had been steadily declining including its vote share. Annamalai insisted that the BJP must work on stitching up a NDA alliance in TN that builds on gains that the BJP made in 2024 Lok Sabha elections by going alone. It may be recalled that it was the AIADMK that had walked out of the NDA alliance in Sep-Oct 2023 months ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Yet, the BJP managed to double its vote share from 3.66% to 11.1% though it did not win a single seat. It would be interesting to see how the AIADMK chief EPS responds to this precondition from BJP. EPS has been pushing for the NDA to project him as the CM face. BJP sources say EPS has been playing tricky. Soon after his meeting with Shah, EPS reached Chennai and repeated charges against Modi government that the DMK government has been making regarding the NEP and Centre not clearing state’s dues. His comments surprised some Congress leaders. So, will Annamalai who has been TN BJP chief since 2021 be eased out? Such posts are for three-year terms only. For the sake of caste dynamics — as there are one too many Gounder community leaders like Annamalai and Mahila Morcha chief Vanathi Srinivasan, it is felt the party may go for a Thevar leader Nainar Nagendran, a BJP MLA from Tirunellveli. A final call on Annamalai, who has opted to work as cadre, will of course be taken post PM Modi’s TN visit on April 6.

Indo-US political compatibility will witness preferential tariff rates worked out for India by the latter with clear bias against China. Well-placed sources explained, “China faces a 60% tariff rate imposed on exports by the U.S. President Donald Trump. Disparity will be evident when similar exports from India will face sub-40% tariff rates. Prime Minister Narendra Modi bargained hard, on pain of cutting off exports to the USA, taking Indian goods to the European Union instead.” This worked tremendously in favour of Indian exporters who won’t face sudden spikes in duty rates levied. President Trump is now eager instead, to up bilateral trade between our two nations to scale up to $500 bn by 2030. Sector specific negotiations are currently underway even as nations like Canada, China and the European Union experience trepidation over Trump’s tariff war against them. The U.S. conceded to India’s demand for technology transfer under long pending agreements for fifth and sixth generation fighter planes. Sharp negotiations progressing with Russia and France encompassing a wider arena of joint collaborations including marine drone technology, space missions helped tremendously. The proposed visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India will focus upon enhanced business in the wake of sanctions against Russian crude on the verge of being lifted. Strong winds are also blowing to foster cultural relations between India and Russia as a new coalition of global players is being disrupted to include the USA, France, Italy and Israel for a new world order. Ukraine and Hamas (in Gaza) stand relegated to minion status on the world stage in the meanwhile. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah came down heavily on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for his criticism of the Parliament’s functioning, saying at the allotted time to speak in the Lok Sabha, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi was in Vietnam. He also pointed out how the Congress had got 40% of the time to speak on the Budget. He said it was possible that the LoP in the Lok Sabha was perhaps not aware there are rules for speaking in the House, which cannot be run through whims and fancies. “His (Rahul’s criticism of the functioning of the Parliament) were completely misplaced. Parliament proceedings can’t be conducted like party office meetings,” pointed out Shah. Last week, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had made oral observations about improper conduct of the LoP. Rahul had walked into the House even as the proceedings were on. Instead of walking directly to his seat, Rahul had indulged in some PDA with his sister Priyanka, drawing sharp observations from the Speaker Om Birla. It was later pointed out that Rahul was not being respected as LoP as he was not allowed to speak as the House was adjourned immediately after the Speaker’s observations. Rahul had apparently wanted to speak soon after PM Modi’s statement on Mahakumbh on March 18 and wasn’t given the floor. Interestingly Shah made his remarks on Rahul at Times Now Summit. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey had also mentioned about Rahul’s preference for Vietnam in the Lok Sabha. 

Odisha’s Opposition leader Naveen Patnaik, former chief minister and head of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) seems to have got a jolt from his man Friday ex-IAS officer VK Pandian. The big news is Pandian has left Naveen Nivas vis a vis politics for good thereby putting his master in a spot. So, what made the influential Pandian leave Navin Nivas? Sources say, even though Pandian holds Naveen babu in a very high esteem but he sees no future for BJD nor for himself within the party. The power corridor in Odisha is buzzing with the news that Pandian is in talks with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for a senior level position to handle some part of their India ops. If he does join, it makes eminent sense, because as a seasoned IAS officer he has considerable clout both in Delhi and Odisha. Also, Bill Gates Foundation is known to hire top notch ex-IAS talents. It may be recalled that sometimes back Bill Gates while meeting both Naveen Patnaik and VK Pandian had praised Odisha’s health initiatives, sanitation intervention, effective management of Mission Shakti and Pandian’s administrative capacity to solve issues and getting proposals cleared by respective ministries. The latest news is Pandian’s wife Sujata Karthikeyan, an IAS officer who was working as special secretary – Finance Dept in Odisha has opted for VRS. The Centre has not only accepted her resignation but also waived her notice period. Is she entering politics?

What made the BJP-AIADMK alliance, now being talked about freely, come about was Vijay’s refusal to tag along with anyone on the Tamil Nadu political scene and to go it alone in the 2026 polls. And he made that decision based on Prashant Kishor’s advice. It was known that Vijay had virtually decided to go with the AIADMK in an alliance to try and gain power quickly in his political career for which he was ready to be Edappadi K Palaniswami’s (EPS) deputy CM if that scenario came good. It was Prashant who told him not to do that and to go on his own as he was guaranteed to pull in at least 20% of the vote, much of it expected from youth willing to give a new idea a try and women who determined to look for change from the tired Dravidian major party scene of the DMK and the AIADMK. Prashant was said to have postulated that either he could become the kingmaker in any split decision in a hung Assembly or even king if the tide turned all in his favour. Otherwise, he would have been only second fiddle if his alliance with AIADMK did well enough to get the majority. EPS made his move to go to Delhi and seek out Amit Shah only when he came to know that Vijay was unwilling to get into an alliance with his AIADMK. It does appear then that Prashant has made this 3-way scenario come about with DMK+, AIADMK-BJP and TVK in the fray with Seeman likely to join the mega alliance with AIADMK. Having lost his banker in Vijay as an ally, EPS will soon be firmly in BJP’s lap.

AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palanisami (EPS) set off a tsunami of surmises when he rushed to Delhi for a durbar audience with home minister Amit Shah. So, who or what spooked EPS despite Shah’s multiple visits to Tamil Nadu since 2023 and open invitations to EPS to join the NDA? Chinwaggers had a field day in surmising what transpired in that crucial meet of Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam chief Vijay, EPS and his son Mithun. Some earlier meets facilitated by the new entrant to TVK, Aadav Arjun had not gone unnoticed giving Arjun importance as a powerful catalyst influencer. But this time Arjun was sidelined, Mithun was the influencer for Vijay’s power play. Vijay set forth his expectations…more akin to the tail wagging the dog, a jaw dropping number of seats that EPS had to concede if Vijay was to walk into the alliance. Vijay also made it clear that even as soon as his last film, Jananayagan was wrapped up, he would start on his TN Yatra. In fact, he reiterated, it is better that ‘I announce my final decision then’. It seemed EPS was zapped even as Mithun decoded this strategy and its fallout where Vijay seemed to hold all the aces. EPS decided a bid in the hand is far worthy than a push in the bush and flew to meet Amit Shah.

A mystery surrounding a Rolls Royce car and its connection with arrested journalist Prashant Koratkar has deepened with a Pune-based builder, Tushar Kalate, claiming that the car belongs to him and not to the accused. The car, WB02 AB0123, originally belonged to Mahesh Motewar, a chit fund fraudster who is now out on bail. Koratkar’s pictures along with car and Tushar Kalate as well as a controversial person, Manohar Bhosale, have generated a lot of speculation since Koratkar was wanted by the police for threatening a historian over a caste angle. Based in Nagpur, he eluded arrest for about a month and was finally arrested in Telangana. Even the arrest became a major issue since he was escorted there by a political party worker. Kalate has declared through a press statement that he has no connection whatsoever with Koratkar. About the pictures, he has clarified that Koratkar met him and wished that a picture of himself be taken in front of the car. “As Koratkar said he was a journalist, I obliged him and the picture was taken,” Kalate says. He has claimed that the car was acquired by him in 2017 and the legal formalities about the transfer of ownership are underway. Kalate was in the news in the past since he had fought an assembly election as an independent. It is said that he had purchased a helicopter, too. The authorities are investigating the links within the links in the mystery. 

Ram Navami celebrations in West Bengal have markedly increased in recent years. While the BJP officially disclaims organized events for April 6, the festival is strategically positioned to shape their upcoming political campaigns, particularly with the 2026 Assembly elections in mind. The Bengal BJP is strategically delaying major street protests until after Ram Navami, planning a significant show of strength during the festival, although publicly, they avoid explicit admissions. Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari has alleged that TMC has selectively weeded out Hindu names from voter lists in Nadia and North 24 Parganas, and has vowed to protest post the Ram Navami celebrations. Likewise, BJP will also protest against the state government’s withholding of central funds, including NRLM funds for women’s self-help groups. Furthermore, the BJP plans to escalate its challenge against the state government’s OBC list reassessment which is already being challenged in the Calcutta High Court. Despite official disapproval, BJP spokesperson Shamik Bhattacharya acknowledged the festival’s emotional significance, attributing the party’s restraint to respecting devotee spontaneity. However, Adhikari’s hints of a grand display of power during Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti suggest a calculated political strategy. Insiders confirm that BJP cadre, alongside Sangh Parivar affiliates, are actively expanding Ram Navami rally scales. The party anticipates that a larger, more impactful celebration will galvanize its base for future political endeavours. 

Even before the storm over the tomb of oppressor emperor Aurangzeb has subsided in Maharashtra, the samadhi of a dog and a controversy over its supposed connection with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has become a contentious issue. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has castigated those indulging into the feud. “Is it needed to create a dispute over every matter,” he asked and observed that fuelling such passions is not right. The samadhi of dog ‘Vaghyaa’ is in front of the spot where Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was cremated at Raigad fort, his capital in Konkan in 1680. Legend has it that Vaghyaa leapt into the funeral pyre as it was overcome with grief. The monument has been standing there for nearly a century. While a section has demanded that it should be removed since there is no historical record about the existence of the dog, those asking for its protection have extended arguments in support of their stand. Remarks by some individuals have sent out signals that the controversy can become a major issue. Hence Fadnavis has suggested that a solution should be found through a dialogue. Maratha reservation demand’s proponent Manoj Jarange Patil, too, has asked if casteist quarrels are wanted over dogs and cats. His stand is expected to quell the tension palpitating in the state as some prominent leaders too have jumped into the arguments. 

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s visit to Oxford University to showcase her vision for Bengal’s development seems to have backfired as the event was disrupted by members of the Communist Party of India’s student wing, the SFI. Speculation had been rife prior to the event that the SFI-UK would target Banerjee with pointed questions on several contentious issues. Among the topics that were expected to dominate the discussion were the RG Kar rape incident, the development of industry in Bengal, major investments in the state, and the fallout from the Tata Nano factory relocation from Singur. Despite the heckling Didi did not relent. During her address, Banerjee emphasized the importance of inclusive development and denounced societal divisions, asserting that such divisions were always detrimental to progress. She reiterated that her governance model strives to avoid discrimination, always prioritizing the welfare of all sections of society. However, the atmosphere became increasingly heated as students began interrupting her speech with sharp questions. One question focused on the sensitive RG Kar Medical College rape case, followed by inquiries about the treatment of Hindus in Bengal. The situation reached a climax when chants of “Go Back” echoed from the audience, further escalating the tension. In her response, Banerjee defended her government’s handling of the RG Kar case, stating that it was under judicial review with the central government, and urged the audience to keep politics out of the forum. She appealed to the students to raise their voices in Bengal if they wished to pursue political causes.

In the past few days, Karnataka politics has been heating up over issues that may or may have not actually happened. Yes, heated political battles are being fought over alleged ‘honey trap’ attempts on ministers and legislators cutting across party lines. Karnataka cooperation minister KN Rajanna, a close associate of chief minister Siddaramaiah, put state assembly into a tizzy when he alleged that a honey trap attempt was made on him and that at least 48 leaders across parties had fallen victim to such schemes. His disclosure made everyone in the political circles a bit uncomfortable. That is why even as the Karnataka government has transferred the investigation of the alleged honey trap case to the CID, politics over it continues to simmer full throttle. Rajanna had described the honey trap attempt made on him as one made by strangers, adding that it needed to be probed whether they were acting independently or someone was behind them. While the reports of honey trapping seemed like a dark reminder to what happened with Prajwal Revanna, former JD(S) MP and grandson of former prime minister HD Devegowda, many politicians shuddered to think what could happen to them. But then Rajanna’s public talk of “honey trapping” was viewed more as an attempt by Siddaramaiah’s  camp only to send a message to deputy CM DK Shivakumar that he should not contemplate destabilizing the government. The BJP accused Siddaramaiah of deliberately escalating the controversy for political reasons. It was felt the issue had intensified internal conflicts within the Congress as PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi had recently met former PM Deve Gowda and his son, Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy in Delhi. Besides at any given time more Congress MLAs would be loyal to Siddaramaiah than to any other faction.

The Maharashtra legislature’s budget session has concluded amidst a cascade of political allegations and counter-charges, giving ample indications that the battle will not subside any time soon. The main criticism against both sides of the house is that the issues which are not relevant to the common man have taken up more time in the house than they deserve. Similarly, all the three incidents that rocked the legislature repeatedly are old, except for the Nagpur violence. Maharashtra legislature was once described as a model house but of late, incidents of overlooking protocol and foul language in front of television cameras have been occurring frequently. The session was marred by the ruckus over the demand for demolition of Aurangzeb’s tomb. The Opposition tried to corner chief minister Devendra Fadnavis over the thorny issue but could not dent his argument that the tomb was declared as a protected monument by the Congress government long ago. The Opposition also failed to bring the government to its knees over its inability to raise the monthly allowance of Ladki Bahin Yojana from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100. The other stormy issue was the tragic death of Disha Salian since the name of Aaditya Thackeray was time and again attempted to be linked with her end. However, Uddhav Thackeray dismissed a question regarding the matter in a few words but the ruling side seems to be determined to highlight the issue at every available opportunity.  

The BJP’s plans to distribute ‘Saugat-e-Modi’ kits to 32 lakh poor Muslims for celebrating the Eid festival in Bihar has been described by its arch enemy Uddhav Thackeray as ‘Saugat-e-Satta.’ Linking this gesture with the upcoming Bihar polls, the former Maharashtra chief minister has posed several questions for the saffron party. He has asked if the scheme will be for the election only or shall continue even later. Uddhav has been sore ever since his Maha Vikas Aghadi government was pulled down by his one-time right hand Eknath Shinde, who became the CM and is now the DCM in the state. Uddhav lambasted the BJP and demanded to know why it had retained green colour in its party flag if it was using slogans like ‘Batenge toh Katenge.’ He reminded the BJP that various of its pre-election assurances were not fulfilled. In a strong rebuttal, Shinde ridiculed Uddhav for not participating in the legislative council proceedings. “Some people only sign the member attendance register and then talk before the media but remain mute in the house,” Shinde said, taking a swipe at his erstwhile mentor. Minister Nitesh Rane, too, joined the firing squad. He said Uddhav had declared that he would resign membership of the council when he stepped down as CM in 2022 but has not kept even his own word. The war of words between the two sides will intensify, according to signals available now.

AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) arrived in Delhi on March 25 morning in a surprise visit sparking off speculations that he has reached the national capital to formalise AIADMK-BJP alliance ahead of 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections. His sudden visit comes when he appears to be softening his stance with the BJP is a significant shift from his earlier opposition to it. The AIADMK had walked out of the NDA in October 2023, months ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Yet, the BJP in TN under K Annamalai’s stewardship had managed to double its vote share to 11%.  Of course, neither the AIADMK nor the BJP could win any LS seat. With the entry of actor Vijay’s TVK party, it is possible that EPS once again feels the need to avoid a fragmented Opposition vote to take on the ruling DMK. Mired in liquor-marketing corruption of TASMAC that is being probed by the ED, the DMK is skating on thin ice and may meet the same fate as AAP in Delhi. It is in this backdrop that Palaniswami’s hurried visit to Delhi is of interest. Officially, he told the media that he was just “looking up” Rs 10 crore AIADMK office he had recently launched via video. However, the main agenda is to meet with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and other key BJP leaders to draw up electoral strategies. Palaniswami’s surprise visit to Delhi had so stunned TN chief minister MK Stalin even publicly hoped in the state assembly that his AIADMK rival would articulate DMK’s views on New Education Policy or how the state loves the 2-language formula. Surely, Stalin knows an AIADMK-BJP alliance can simply unseat him in the upcoming polls.

Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin learnt much at his father’s political nursery — watching, waiting and willing to learn. That seems to have paid off. Today, Stalin is a Southern leader who cannot be brushed off as irrelevant. In fact, after winning the 2021 assembly elections with a thumping majority he has projected himself as a leader of substance. Of course, his Dravidam, North South polarity and unfettered opposition to Hindi have irked and irritated his opponents. But which politician would willingly dilute his party’s ideology for temporary gains? Even as the anti-Tamil slogan is fanned by Stalin as the major foothold for the 2026 assembly elections, he has now taken on strongly the delimitation demand and has been successful in herding the to-be-affected states and their leaders into a common corral. Stalin has seamlessly moved in as leader of this group — Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, AP, Orissa and Punjab. On March 21, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan was given a warm welcome as the first of the group when he landed in Chennai for a crucial strategy meet at the ITC Grand Chola. Senior DMK leaders Dr P Thiaga Rajan and Thamizhachi Thangapandian received him. Stalin referred to March 5 as a “Historic Day for Indian federalism” even as he projected his Joint Action Committee for fair delimitation. Stalin clearly knows which buttons are to be pushed at the right time.

In a significant turn of events within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has signalled a shift in political succession, distancing her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, from the role of her heir apparent. Party insiders suggest the move is a strategic recalibration aimed at reinforcing her authority while reshaping the party’s leadership dynamics.  For years, Abhishek was considered the party’s ‘crown prince.’ However, tensions began to mount as Abhishek pushed for generational change, advocating for age limits in politics. Party veterans, many of whom have been with Didi since the party’s inception, viewed Abhishek’s assertiveness as a threat. Reports of his close aides reaching out to BJP leaders in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh further deepened suspicions. This prompted Didi to publicly rebuke him and strip him of any assumptions of succession. Adding to the discord, Abhishek’s response to the RG Kar rape-murder case in August 2024 saw him challenge the administration’s inaction, pushing for decisive action. His direct engagement with Kolkata police further irked Mamata, reinforcing her belief that he was overstepping his boundaries. Interestingly, as Didi embarks on her UK tour on Saturday morning, set to return to Kolkata on the night of March 29, she has formed a task force comprising the party’s state president and senior leader, Subrata Bakshi, along with Abhishek, to oversee government affairs while also delegating party responsibilities in her absence. Political observers note that this move sends a strong message within the party, reinforcing the concept of “joint leadership” that balances both senior and young leaders.

The Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar put the Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai in his place, dubbing him an unimportant person who had no knowledge of the threat that delimitation could pose to the southern states. The local BJP had arranged for black flags to be shown at all major cities in Tamil Nadu on the day that Stalin held his summit against delimitation at a deluxe hotel in Chennai. It was the local BJP’s point that Shivakumar, whose state refuses to give Tamil Nadu a just share of Cauvery water, and Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan who does not talk to Tamil Nadu on important issues like the Mullaperiyar dam, its maintenance and permissible height, should not be state guests in Chennai. Shivakumar made the point about Annamalai’s view of delimitation as an irrelevant subject being unimportant because what counts is what the Prime Minister and the Home Minister think of it. DKS said he could understand Annamalai being loyal to his party, but he seems not to understand what could happen to his own state of Tamil Nadu if the delimitation proposal goes through. If proportional representation according to population is done after the next census, UP could have as many as 137 seats in the Lok Sabha compared to 80 now whereas Tamil Nadu may end up getting four more seats than its current 39.

It is being said Congress President Sonia Gandhi had mulled easing out Dr Manmohan Singh as PM and making him the President during the 2012 presidential election to counter growing public mood against UPA II government because of corruption charges. She had seriously considered this idea, but due to reservations of many alliance parties it was abandoned. This was revealed by senior journalist Gautam Lahiri in his book on late President Pranab Mukherjee. Written in Bengali, the book released recently reveals an incident where Mukherjee himself advised Sonia not to forward then PM Manmohan Singh as a presidential candidate because he could lose the election. Lahiri has claimed that in the 2012 Presidential election, Sonia wanted Pranab to become the PM and Manmohan Singh to be made the President. It is not clear what purpose such anecdotes serve except perhaps to air-brush Sonia Gandhi’s image ahead of Bengal’s polls in 2026? Interestingly, in his book The Coalition Years, Pranab Mukherjee somewhat bears out Lahiri when he writes: “Soon after a meeting with Sonia Gandhi, I returned with a vague impression that she might consider Manmohan Singh as the UPA nominee. I thought if she selected Singh for the presidential office, she may choose me as the prime minister.”  Lahiri has said that many allied parties opposed Manmohan’s name because by that time the discussion of the 2G scam and coal scam had started. On the other hand, the leaders of opposition parties also agreed on the name of Pranab Mukherjee. LK Advani, Bal Thackeray and Nitish Kumar had agreed to support Pranab. Not only this, Pranab Mukherjee had explained to Sonia Gandhi that the TMC would eventually support his name though it had formally opposed him.

Right wing organizations, including RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal, have turned into Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ Achilles heel even in his 3.0 Avataar. Nagpur riots ensued after Hindu hardliners demanded razing of Moghul tyrant Aurangzeb’s tomb and yet, these organizations failed to step up after riots to assuage, provide financial aid, moral support to Hindu community that suffered collateral damage. Hindus living in Nagpur city, particularly in Muslim dominated (demographically) localities are on verge of exodus though Fadnavis promised to make rioters pay-up, recoup losses suffered during mayhem unleashed by minority community using his version of the bulldozer policy. BJP insiders reveal, “A near identical mayhem unleashed in 2012 by Raza Academy and Samajwadi Party at Mumbai’s iconic Azad Maidan grounds left several fresher women police constables molested in its wake. After a decade of incident (eight years under Fadnavis) trial had not begun. Will Nagpur, where a senior woman police officer was similarly targeted, go the same way?” The molested women police constables, numbering nine, from the Azad Maidan incident, mostly daughters of poor farmers in Maharashtra, resigned their jobs after their FIRs at Azad Maidan police station failed to elicit due justice or restore even a semblance of their dignity. In 2015 right-wingers similarly upped the ante (Fadnavis being CM) over 2008 Bombay High Court order, threatening to take to streets and exposing their own trepidation to act similarly when Congress governments ruled, worried over police lathis. The more that things change, the more they remain the same?

As of now there is no respite for the KIIT founder Dr Achutya Samanta and company with regard to Nepalese student eviction and suicide of a Nepalese girl student. The unsavoury incident proved a big embarrassment for India. The Nepalese government openly expressed its disappointment with the Indian government. To salvage the situation, the Odisha government appointed 3-Member Inquiry Committee headed Additional Chief Secretary Satyabrata Sahu to ascertain circumstances which led to Nepali female student committing suicide, high handed action by the institute to drive away Nepali students and reasons for closing KIIT door to Nepali students. Already Dr Samanta along with top seven officials has appeared before the committee. Meanwhile, even UGC has sought an ‘action taken’ report from KIIT. An NHRC team has also begun an inquiry. The KIIT issue has taken a political dimension. BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik did not comment on the KIIT controversy. However, another party member Sarada Jena raised the issue with Patnaik saying “future governance and accountability remain critical concerns”. Odisha Congress leader Ajay Kumar Lallu said his party will gherao the legislative assembly and even Parliament if the accused are not punished. Meanwhile, the Odisha Police registered a case against Dr Samanta and KIIT over land encroachment. 

Former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar is all set to take over as the next BJP Kerala chief as the party’s central leadership backed his nomination. Chandrasekhar, who attended the party’s core committee meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on March 23 filed his nomination for the president’s post at the BJP’s state headquarters. His election is most likely to be unanimous. Chandrasekhar narrowly lost the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Thiruvananthapuram to Congress’ Shashi Tharoor by just 16,000 votes. A Nair by caste, Chandrasekhar is expected to solidify upper-caste Hindu votes in the state in the upcoming local body elections and next year’s assembly election. Party sources said a big plus in Chandrashekhar’s favour was he would possibly be uniting the faction-ridden state unit. Until now Kerala BJP unit has been indistinguishable from the LDF and the UDF. Party sources said it did not seem to have any link with the central BJP. A Kerala leader pointed how the BJP labour wing almost functioned like any other trade union, opposing every economic activity. Chandrashekhar’s entry would help Kerala connect with PM Modi, where he is extremely popular. Kerala people are fed up with the binary of LDF-UDF.  They are looking for an alternative. “As per India Today survey our vote share has gone up to 22% and has the potential to go further up to 29%. With Chandrashekhar at the helm and the party uniting behind him, we are poised to do well in the assembly polls. We may get something like 40 seats,” said a hopeful RSS leader. One of the reasons for the rise in BJP vote share is the growing divide between the Christian and Muslim communities in the state. A segment of the Christian population, loyal to Congress, has reportedly grown disillusioned due to their neglect of Christian concerns.

PM Narendra Modi and RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat will meet close to an hour in Nagpur come March 30, 2025. The first official visit by PM Modi to the RSS HQ since 2014 will finalize the consensus candidate as next BJP National President with elections in Hindi heartland states on the anvil. Three contenders currently in the fray include Union Ministers Manohar Lal Khattar (Power, Housing, Urban Affairs), Bhupinder Yadav (Environment, Forest, Climate Change) and Manoj Sinha (LG of J&K). Reliable sources reveal Sinha’s candidature faced opposition from RSS over lack of organisational experience. Modi confidante Khattar held organisational posts as hardcore Hindutva Pracharak over 15 years. Khattar also held Haryana CM post despite being non-Jat. Former MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan was similarly elevated to Delhi, notwithstanding, his apparent reluctance being unaware of Modi’s masterplan for next two decades. Today Chouhan is anointed Chief Overseer of PMO projects under Modi’s sign and seal elevating him to second highest political perch in India. Union Home Minister Amit Shah enjoys good relations with both Khattar and Bhupinder Yadav with the new incumbent replacing Nadda needing to work closely with him. Shah himself was spotted by Modi for active work from college election days in ABVP and Yuva Morcha. As Gujarat CM Modi had anointed Shah as MoS (Home) while holding the Home ministry. Shah contested seven elections, won every time and Modi made him Union Home Minister and National BJP President, even rejecting JP Nadda’s candidature proposed by RSS in 2014, upon assuming India’s Prime Ministership. Nadda waited for two tenures before being installed as the next party Chief.

In an amazing twist, the Punjab farm agitation, going on for 400 days at Shambhu border, abruptly came to an end on March 19.  Police cleared the protesters, less than an hour after farm union leaders –representing 28 farmer unions — returned from Chandigarh to protest sites after a four-hour meeting with three Union ministers — Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Piyush Goyal and Pralhad Joshi. With protestors cleared out of iconic Shambhu, it means AAP has decided it will no longer patronise farm protests and has begun to focus on winning Ludhiana (West) assembly by-election. Why is clearing Shambhu border linked to winning an urban seat like Ludhiana? Sources say police action on farmers came after Ludhiana traders told AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal in a March 17 meeting that it would be difficult to back the AAP if the farmers’ protest continued. Industrialists also wanted the road opened as it was putting a strain on their business. After losing the popular vote in Delhi, Kejriwal didn’t want to risk it in Punjab. He is keen to enter the Rajya Sabha. To ensure this he has nominated Sanjeev Arora, a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, as the AAP candidate for the Ludhiana West bypoll. Arora, who will not vacate his RS seat till he wins, has been promised a ministerial berth in the Punjab government, if he wins. Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar slammed the AAP for using farmers for their personal and political interests. “It is the AAP that instigated the farm protests.” He recalled how Punjab had previously informed the Supreme Court that it could not remove farm leader Jagjit Dallewal from the site fearing the situation would become “uncontrollable”. The same government was able to clear the protest site in just 20 minutes, he wondered.

The West Bengal CPI(M) is poised for a significant generational shift as several senior leaders are expected to retire from the central committee due to age restrictions. Key figures like Politburo member Surjya Kanta Mishra, along with Rabin Deb and Rekha Goswami, are expected to step down. The positions of Anju Kar (Burdwan) and Amiya Patra (Bankura) are also under discussion. These vacancies have sparked debates about potential replacements reflecting internal power dynamics. Minakshi Mukherjee, a prominent youth leader, is a leading contender for elevation. Some are advocating for women leaders like Kaninika Ghosh or Jahanara Khan, citing Kerala’s precedent of including women’s organization leaders in the central committee. Anju Kar has reportedly expressed a desire to make way for younger leaders. If she retires, either Kaninika or Jahanara could be included. However, if Minakshi replaces Rekha Goswami, Jahanara’s chances might diminish due to both being from West Burdwan, favouring Kaninika. For Amiya Patra’s potential vacancy, Kolkata district secretary Kallol Majumdar and tea garden workers’ leader Ziaul Alam are being considered. Additionally, North 24 Parganas district secretary Palash Das and Hooghly district secretary Debabrata Ghosh are in contention. Palash Das benefited from party intervention in his district appointment, while Debabrata Ghosh gained recognition for successfully organizing the state conference in Hooghly. The most critical decision involves the Politburo. With Surjya Kanta Mishra’s retirement, Srideep Bhattacharya is the frontrunner. However, Abhas Raychaudhuri’s recent prominence has led to discussions about his potential elevation. A minor faction also supports Sujan Chakraborty. The final decision will be made at the CPI (M) 24th Party Congress in Madurai, Tamil Nadu scheduled from April 2–6.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to the RSS headquarters at Nagpur on March 30 will prove to be a gamechanger since the venue is situated in the Mahal area, where a horrific communal riot had rocked the nation three days ago. It is felt that the instigation for the unrest and Modi’s maiden visit to the saffron organisation’s birthplace could have some connection. However, there is no such link found so far. Nonetheless, the police have spread a vast net to nab the culprits, direct and indirect. As more and more details are being uncovered, the security agencies will have to be extra cautious for the PM’s visit. Since coming to power at the Centre in 2014, Modi has not visited the RSS headquarters, giving his detractors an opportunity to question his decision of staying away from the place considered sacred by RSS rank and file. Prior to becoming PM, Modi had frequently visited the place. During his visit, Modi will lay the foundation stone for an expansion project of Madhav Netralaya, the eye medical facility. The event will be attended by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union minister Nitin Gadkari. The proposed visit has generated considerable interest since Modi is expected to make some major announcement. Incidentally, Modi will not be the first sitting PM to visit the RSS headquarters at Reshimbagh, Nagpur. In the past, then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee had paid a visit to the venue.

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ return to power has been marred by regular hiccups with him struggling to duck one bouncer after another. Despite enjoying the support of over 82% or 238 MLAs of the total of 288 his second during the last four months has been anything but smooth. He is struggling to strike a balance between his inhouse support base and his ambitious coalition partners, NCP’s Ajit Pawar and Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde. If sources are to be believed, a huge wave of discontent has been simmering within the BJP against Fadnavis, upset with the fruits of power being doled out to new entrants from other parties over the committed party’s old guard. The communal riots in Nagpur over Aurangzeb legacy has also portrayed Fadnavis in a bad light as he holds the home ministry. Fadnavis has been responding to attacks on him by unleashing diversionary vocal volleys resulting in a political slugfest with the political discourse getting muddy and murky. Nitesh Rane, Suresh Dhas may have been the most prominent face, but many non-political players like Anjali Damania, Rahul Solapurkar, Prashant Koratkar too have been actively raking up issues to stoke the political flames. Old graves are literally being dug up to wean away attention from the disturbing ground reality of huge unemployment, of ballooning state debts to Rs 9.2 lakh crores and widening caste frictions. With the crucial Mumbai municipal elections round the corner, it remains to be seen how Fadnavis manages to take on the Opposition against him, both from his own party and outside.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates has shown an interest in partnering with Maharashtra to strengthen its initiatives in the fields of AI-driven advancements in health, agriculture and infrastructure, along with dengue and malaria control. This has been the outcome of a meeting Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had in Mumbai with him. Fadnavis has been vigorously campaigning for attracting more and more FDI in the state so as to supplement the PM’s dream by taking Maharashtra’s GDP share to $ 1 trillion. Hence, the visit of Gates is considered a major achievement for him. Gates also was briefed on the famous Ladki Bahin Scheme.  Microsoft and the Gates Foundation have reportedly expressed an interest in participating in these initiatives, besides supporting the digitalisation of women’s financial transactions. Fadnavis told him that his government’s vision will include digitalisation in every sector and the establishment of a Skill University with the help of Microsoft. A scheme to train 10,000 women in AI with a view to fostering inclusivity in the tech revolution was also discussed. The first-ever meeting between Fadnavis and Gates is described as a milestone by both sides. Gates later tweeted on ‘X’: “Thank you, Dev Fadnavis for sharing your vision for a Viksit Maharashtra. I’m excited about opportunities to collaborate on digital platforms for women’s livelihood and AI-driven solutions in sectors like health and agriculture. Looking forward to working together to improve lives across Maharashtra.”

Taking a cue possibly from PM Narendra Modi who is focused on reviving rivers in the country — be it Sabarmati in Ahmedabad, Yamuna in Delhi or cleaning up the Ganga water front in Varanasi, the Congress government in Karnataka has zeroed in on playing the river card to please the Hindus by planning to pay tribute to the River Cauvery.  Of course, it not clear if the river card is an attempt to monkey balance its attempt to effect 4% Muslim or minority quota in government tenders. Media reports indicate a grand religious ceremony at Bengaluru’s Sankey Tank along the lines of the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi has been planned on March 21 evening. Coming ahead of Telugu/Kannada/Marathi New Year (Yugadi/Gudi Padva) that falls in March end, the river puja is bound to please the Hindus. Instead of relying on priests from Udupi, the Congress Govt has decided to fly in pandits from Varanasi familiar with river puja. The special ceremony is called Cauvery Aarti and is to be held under the initiative of the Bengaluru Water Supply & Sewerage Board, River Cauvery is the primary water source for approximately 70% of Bengalureans, supplying 2,225 million litres of water to the city daily. Following a procession and puja — the inaugural aarti is likely to be attended by CM Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar. A temple dedicated to Shri Jala Gangamma Tayi stands near the lake. Sankey Tank was chosen because it is considered the birthplace of Vrishabhavathi, a tributary of the Cauvery. Sankey Tank is regarded as the cleanest lake in Bengaluru. Authorities had even conducted a special prayer when it was filled to the brim a few years ago.

For all of us who may have watched with much shock and awe the tense moments in the Parliament between Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and DMK MPs  battling over New Education Policy 2020 and Tamil Nadu government’s “flip-flop” over  Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) schools, it should come as some relief that an year-long effort to preserve and promote the Kamba Ramayanam, one of the most significant works in Tamil literature is kicking off on March 18 under the aegis of the South Zone Cultural Centre of the Ministry of Culture . Interestingly, the initiative aimed at reviving the oral tradition of Kamba Ramayanam recitals ceremony is being inaugurated by the Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in coordination with the TN government from the temple town Trichy. The ambitious programme is taking place at the historic Srirangam Temple with participation from Kamba Ramayanam Mandali (cultural troupes) from across the state. It may be recalled that PM Modi had listened to Kamba Ramayanam in the very same Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in January 2024. It is possible that Shekhawat was only doing a follow up act. Post the inaugural event, performances will be followed by events at several temples across the state. A week-long festival will be held at Kambar Medu (Mar 30-Apr 6), the birthplace of Kambar in Therazhundur, near Kumbakonam. Between (Jul-Oct) schools are being encouraged to engage with Kamba Ramayanam to culminate in a grand finale at Kambar Medu during the Dussehra celebrations. Plans are afoot to set up a museum at Kambar Medu dedicated to the life and works of Kambar, and his version of the Ramayana, composed in the 12th-13th century CE.

Did PM Modi recently visit Mauritius keeping the upcoming Bihar elections in November in mind? Possibly. It may not please the Opposition parties, but Modi’s visit to the African nation where he was greeted with traditional Bihari songs at the airport are bound to irk parties vying to take on the BJP in the polls. Often referred to as “mini Bihar” because of the large number of people of Bihar origin who had relocated there as indentured labourers, starting in 1834, Modi went all out to signal his intent to strengthen ties with the thriving Bihari diaspora in the island nation. First, he presented makhana (fox nuts) to his Mauritian counterpart Navin Ramgoolam and started his speech at an event in Bhojpuri to the delight of Mauritians. Nearly 70% of the population in Mauritius are of Indian origin. More than half of them are descendants of indentured labourers (girmitiya mazdoor) who were sent to plantations in Mauritius from Bihar and UP by the then British colonial rulers. Modi was conferred with the highest national honour of Mauritius, ‘Order of the Star and Key of Indian Ocean’ on its National Day in Port Louis. He also handed Overseas Citizens of India cards to Mauritius PM Ramgoolam and his wife Veena.  He gifted President Dharam Gokhool and First Lady Vrinda Ganga water collected from Prayagraj during the recently concluded Maha Kumbh. Throughout the visit, the PM’s social media handles put up posts in Bhojpuri and were shared by senior BJP leaders and members. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA lost some significant Bhojpuri-speaking constituencies such as Buxar, Ara, Sasaram, and Aurangabad. The Bhojpuri belt in Bihar is spread across 10 districts and comprises 73 Assembly seats.

The BJP and AIADMK have agreed informally to have an alliance for the Tamil Nadu polls of 2026. K. Annamalai, who heads the TN BJP and Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) of AIADMK have agreed to come together again after the AIADMK broke the alliance because it believed it lost more from the association with a party that propagates Hindutva. The two have also agreed to keep their alliance intentions under wraps for now lest the many influences around the TN political scene try to disrupt the coming together of parties that can dent the DMK’s chances of winning the polls. EPS is not interested at the moment in bringing back the former CM O Panneerselvam and his mentor Sasikala, but he may have to compromise if the national BJP insists on everyone coming together to take on the DMK. The BJP would like an even bigger alliance with Vijay’s debutante party TVK in it, but the actor has taken such a strong line against all other Tamil Nadu parties that he may have no option but to go it alone. The Opposition parties are aware that their best chance to take advantage of the building anti-incumbency and feelings running against the DMK’s family rule is to unite. Whether that would be possible with Vijay being the X factor in the coming elections is moot. With a little over a year to go, no development on the alliance front is to be ruled out but the AIADMK-BJP alliance is already sealed.

Even as the world awaits with bated breath, bourses plunge to new found depths over Trump’s tariff war prospect, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have preempted the probable negative repercussions upon our nation. While the U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged PM Modi as a better negotiator than even himself, India has smartly leveraged American keenness to sell its F35 fifth generation fighters while securing for itself what may at worst play out as a friendly tariff war. Highly placed sources reveal that the Indian PM’s visit to USA was strategically preceded by NSA Ajit Doval and external affairs minister S Jaishankar’s coordinated foreign tours to France, Russia where possible technology transfer deals were fine tuned in the wake of the two-year delay by USA to despatch two futuristic sixth gen fighter engines through GE. While Trump threatens reciprocal tariffs, Modi’s pre-emptive strike of shopping for the technology elsewhere may dampen American spirits enough to ensure a preferential trade agreement instead being hammered out before the end of the 2025 calendar year. Russia and France are only too ready to offer next gen aviation designs, marine drone technology, joint ventures into space and much more while the USA lobbies hard to register F35 sales to India. Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged Modi’s role leading to the de-escalation of the Ukraine war and also promised to forge better relations between India and China going ahead. This would also hang heavy over Trump were he to launch his tariff tirade against India more specifically. Meanwhile, Iran is on the watchlist for a collective military offensive in the coming days over its nuclearization plans.