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Soon after returning from his 5-nation foreign tour PM Modi on May 21 chaired a marathon meeting of the Union Council of Ministers at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The high-level meeting, which began around 5 pm, lasted nearly four and a half hours and focused on governance reforms, administrative efficiency and the government’s long-term “Viksit Bharat 2047″ vision. Ministers whose departments disposed of files at the fastest pace were specially highlighted during the review exercise. Of course, while wrapping up the discussions PM Modi didn’t want the ministers to rest on their laurels. He told ministers that the time had come to focus on the future instead of revisiting past achievements. Emphasising on “Viksit Bharat 2047″ as national commitment, he directed ministers to ensure quicker decision-making and reduce bureaucratic delays. A key highlight of the meeting was that for the first time the high-level ministerial meeting organised by the PMO struck an austerity note. Endless cups of chai and bottled mineral water were of course served. What was missing were the usual round of snacks — biscuits and cashew nuts Imagine having endless cups of chai through the four hours. Ministers who were hoping that the meeting would end up with a dinner with PM Modi were clearly in for a shock. They didn’t expect PM Modi to administer a dose of austerity on his own Council of Ministers. Perhaps, PM Modi must have been aware that the ministerial meeting was being held amid the conflict in West Asia, rising fuel prices and the government’s efforts at mitigating these challenges. On May 11, PM Modi had appealed to the people to save the country’s foreign exchange reserves by cutting down on the use of fuel, postponing foreign travel and purchases of gold. He must have thought it is best to begin at home.
Maharashtra is rapidly emerging as India’s foremost energy powerhouse, backed by massive investments, strong industrial demand and an ambitious clean-energy transition. According to the Central Electricity Authority, Maharashtra’s total installed power capacity crossed 60,900 MW by February 2026, making it one of the country’s largest energy-producing states. Renewable energy alone accounts for over 31,600 MW, including nearly 19,364 MW of solar capacity, 5873 MW of wind power and significant hydro and biomass generation. The state has also unveiled an aggressive roadmap to meet 65% of its electricity demand through renewable energy by 2035-36. Thus, Maharashtra aims to create nearly 100 GW of renewable capacity along with large-scale battery and pumped-storage infrastructure. Its biggest landmark step is the recent Rs 6.5 lakh crore nuclear energy agreements signed with major companies such as Reliance Industries, Adani Power and NTPC Ltd. These projects alone are expected to add 25,400 MW of new power generation capacity and create more than 1.23 lakh jobs. With expanding thermal, solar, wind, hydro and nuclear sectors, Maharashtra is uniquely positioned to become India’s leading state in reliable, diversified and future-ready energy generation, strengthening its march towards a trillion-dollar economy. While Gujarat and Rajasthan currently lead in overall and renewable installed capacity, Maharashtra’s recent infrastructure push aims to fundamentally reshape its energy dominance. The state has rolled out an overarching plan to scale its total generation capacity 81,000 MW by 2030, drastically increasing the share of green energy.
The coming Rajya Sabha election to be held on 18 June will impact political equations in Maharashtra as all three ruling Mahayuti partners – the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde) and NCP (Ajit Pawar) – are eager to augment their presence in the Upper House of Parliament. As election for the 17 seats on the Maharashtra Vidhan Parishad is also scheduled to be held on the same day, tussle among the three parties has generated intense speculation. It appears that the BJP, the largest member of the tripartite coalition will grab the biggest number. Accordingly, for the Vidhan Parishad, the BJP will contest 12 seats while the Shiv Sena’s share will be of three seats and the NCP will get two slots. Given the numerical position in the state assembly, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi will not be able to win a single seat provided that there is no cross voting. But that possibility is very remote. While confabulations are underway day and night, all eyes are on firebrand leader Chhagan Bhujbal, a confidant of the late Ajit Pawar. Presently a minister in the government of Devedra Fadanvis, the OBC leader is said to be desirous of entering the Rajya Sabha. However, deputy CM Sunetra Pawar, widow of Ajitdada, is learnt to be not in favour of the idea. Instead, former Union minister of state Subodh Mohite is under consideration though his equation with senior NCP leader Praful Patel is a major factor in the choice as both hail from Vidarbha. Whatever happens, Fadnavis is determined to avert any infighting in the Mahayuti team.
Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay expanded his cabinet on May 21 — coinciding with the death anniversary of former PM Rajiv Gandhi – by including his post-poll ally the Congress. Two of the five Congress MLAs, K Rajesh Kumar (Nadar Christian) and P Vishwanathan (Dalit MLA) became part of Vijay’s government. Ahead of the reshuffle, the Congress party said, “This is a historic occasion for us, as the Congress joins the Tamil Nadu cabinet after a long gap of 59 years.”. Congress leader Praveen Chakravarty wrote on X “Share in governance, Share in power”. It is not clear if the Congress is happy with their portfolios – Rajesh got Tourism and P Vishwanathan given Higher Education. What came in for a surprise is the way veteran leader K A Sengottaiyan was stripped of the Finance portfolio just five days after entrusting him with it. The Finance portfolio has now been given to first-time MLA N Marie Wilson. It is not clear if Sengottaiyan has been downsized as a signal that TVK has lost interest in breaking the AIADMK. It is also being presumed that his close aide Adhav Arjuna may have raised a red flag. Taking a cue from Keralam, Vijay has also carved out a separate AI-focused department to be headed by Velachery MLA R Kumar. Kumar is among the few qualified professionals who have got elected on TVK ticket. What has earned Vijay the kudos from the Hindus is the way he has allotted the Ministry for Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HRCE) to his Brahmin MLA Ramesh from Srirangam — a temple town. This is perhaps happening for the first time in Tamil Nadu history.
In an extraordinary and historic moment for British politics and the global Indian community, Cllr Parveen Rani has officially been elected as the First Asian Mayor of Hertsmere Borough Council, while her son Cllr Tushar Kumar, aged just 23, has become the Youngest Mayor of the Elstree and Borehamwood Council Indian Origin in the United Kingdom. Together, they are believed to be the first mother-son duo in UK history — and possibly the world — to serve simultaneously as Mayors from different councils. This remarkable achievement has become a proud symbol of diversity, representation, youth leadership, and public service within modern Britain. Adding to the emotional and historic occasion, Mayor Parveen Rani appointed her younger son, Priyanshu Kumar, as her official Mayor’s Escort, making it a truly unforgettable family milestone in British civic history. The prestigious Mayor Making Ceremony was attended by a huge number of distinguished guests. Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council, Cllr Jeremy Newmark, praised Mayor Parveen Rani’s exceptional rise in public life, stating: “What Parveen Rani has achieved in such a short period of time is truly remarkable. Many people spend decades trying to reach this position, but her dedication to public service, hard work, and commitment to the community have brought her to this level.” Mayor Parveen Rani is widely recognised for her work in education, culture, interfaith harmony, women’s empowerment, and strengthening community relations across Hertfordshire and beyond. From founding community initiatives to representing diverse voices in public life, she has become a respected and inspiring figure across the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, Mayor Tushar Kumar’s historic appointment at the age of 23 is already inspiring a new generation of young British Asians to engage in leadership, politics, and civic responsibility.
Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay is expanding his cabinet on May 21 which will see his post-poll allies the Congress, VCK and IUML joining his government. Two of the Congress MLAs, K Rajesh Kumar and P Vishwanathan will be part of Vijay’s government. In its official statement, the party said, “This is a historic occasion for us, as the Congress joins the Tamil Nadu cabinet after a long gap of 59 years.” The last Congress government was in 1967. Congress leader Praveen Chakravarty wrote on X “Share in governance, Share in power”. Chief minister Vijay had publicly greeted Praveen as his “friend” in Rahul Gandhi’s presence. It was Praveen who had been pushing for an alliance with the TVK. Will entry of Congress ministers solve Vijay’s problem of managing temples in the state? Difficult to say. Congress sources said the majority of its five MLAs are Christians including Rajesh. Meanwhile, Sivaganaga MP Karti Chidambaram seemed relieved that Vijay had steered clear of rebel AIADMK MLAs. In an article in The Week, he admits that “those who had suggested an alliance with the TVK before the election were proven right…And, the Congress adds great value to the TVK by giving it a national endorsement and a secular sheen. So, in my estimation, it is a win-win situation.” At the same time, he feels that the Congress could have managed DMK exit better. By joining the TVK government will it motivate young people to join the Congress? “The Congress is not going to be their first choice; the TVK is a more logical choice”, feels Chidambaram. He feels, Rahul Gandhi with his rapport among the young will prove positive when it comes to a national election. It will probably work in the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.
The new vice chairman of NITI Aayog Ashok Lahiri is expected to play a key role to reposition West Bengal as an industrial and manufacturing hub. Lahiri, who won the 2021 Assembly election from Balurghat as a BJP candidate, knows Bengal inside out. The Modi government is expected to rely on his expertise to prepare a long-term industrial revival plan for Bengal. Officials associated with NITI Aayog said preliminary discussions on the roadmap have begun under Lahiri’s leadership. The proposed framework focuses on manufacturing, logistics, infrastructure, river-based trade and employment generation, with Kolkata positioned as a gateway to India’s “Act East” strategy for stronger engagement with Southeast and East Asia. Once India’s second-richest state by GDP after Independence, West Bengal now ranks sixth nationally. Economists have attributed the decline to excessive trade unionism, administrative failures leading to weak industrial investment. Major factory closures during the Left Front era and limited industrial expansion during TMC’s regime also contributed to the downturn. Industry experts also cite the long-term impact of the Singur and Nandigram agitations on investor confidence. Many skilled workers migrated to cities such as Bengaluru and Hyderabad for better opportunities. NITI Aayog’s proposed strategy will focus on logistics, connectivity, manufacturing, ports, freight corridors, skill development and job creation. Policymakers are examining revival measures for engineering, chemicals, textiles and electronics industries, while also exploring a semiconductor corridor linked to eastern India’s mineral belt. Economists, however, caution that land acquisition challenges, weak infrastructure, financially stressed urban bodies and bureaucratic inertia could slow implementation. Analysts said investor confidence may have improved after the political change, but the success of the industrial push will depend on administrative execution and policy delivery.
The home international season (2026-2027) is set to start with a one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh (Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA Stadium at Mullanpur) from June 6 to 10. Strangely though, it will be the only Test Shubman Gill’s team will play this year, and it will not be part of the new ICC World Test Championship cycle. India’s next Test programme is in Sri Lanka in August and in New Zealand in October-November, both included in the WTC programme. It will be Mullanpur’s debut Test and what’s of interest is the kind of surface India will prefer against an attack that will be led by leg-spin googly bowler Rashid Khan who took 11 wickets against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo in January 2025. Khan has 5 x5 wicket hauls including 2 x 7s and 1x 6 and has win four Tests for his side. Eight years ago, India won the only Test played against Afghanistan hands down, and Rashid was not a real force then in multi-day Tests, but the canny leg-spinner is experienced now, though not by much — 6 Tests and 45 wickets. India came a cropper to the spinners in the last two home series against New Zealand and South Africa and lost all five Tests, preparing turning tracks. India were all at sea against the Kiwi left-arm spinners Mitchell Santner and Ajaz Patel and the South African offy Simon Harmer. Rohit Sharma was the captain who lost 0-3 and Gill was the captain against South Africa. It’s not known whether off spinner Allah Ghazanfar will be part of the Afghanistan team, but on a turning surface, Rashid Khan could prove to be a handful to deal with support from Ghazanfar.
It seems the DMK has still not come to terms with losing elections. Or else why would the former chief minister M K Stalin take a jibe at TVK leader Joseph Vijay. Speaking at a wedding reception in Thanjavur, Stalin said, “TVK leader Vijay became CM by influencing children through Instagram, without even appointing booth agents properly.” Why is the DMK behaving like a sour loser? Is it because CM Vijay has already drawn up a plan to act against corrupt DMK ministers? It is being said that the DMK is very upset not so much with the TVK winning 107 seats but TN voters that had chosen to decisively move away to a different kind of politics after accepting electoral gifts from it. The DMK would have accepted the verdict if the people had voted for the familiar alternative — the AIADMK. What has unsettled the DMK is that the people voted for an untested TVK. Vijay was offering to start afresh with a clean slate and had refused to offer voters any incentive for voting him in, except the freebies such as a whopping unemployment allowance and improving allowance for women. Voters had gladly accepted their electoral gifts from the Dravidian parties and yet voted for TVK. In fact, in an angry outburst, DMK Tiruchendur MLA Anitha Radhakrishnan said the TVK administration would not last six months. He insisted that his DMK boss would return soon. Upset about Stalin’s defeat to a TVK candidate from Kolathur, Radhakrishnan blamed voters for defeating Stalin. “Our boss had changed Kolathur to Singapore,” and called the voters “worthless”. Meanwhile actor Rajinikanth’s clarification that he is not jealous about Vijay having made the cut as CM is a bit odd. Old timers recall his influence on Tamil politics — how his one call vote for DMK-Tamil Maanila Congress alliance in 1996 had brought down J Jayalalithaa government!
Efforts of the Congress leadership to include Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay in the swearing in ceremony of United Democratic Front CM V D Satheesan in Keralam on May 18 has apparently not succeeded. Taking a cue from PM Modi who makes it a point to showcase NDA strength whenever BJP forms government in a state, the Congress too thought it would showcase the long-standing bond between TVK supremo Vijay and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Though Vijay has accepted post-poll support of five Congress MLAs in TN and even visited Satya Murthy Bhawan in Chennai, he is yet to formally expand his cabinet to include those MLAs who backed his government during trust vote. Congress sources said CM Vijay would not be attending the Keralam swearing in. He is clearly too focussed on governance issues. If at all he travels, his first trip will be only to Delhi to meet with PM Modi and other leaders in Delhi. That leaves only three Congress CMs — Siddaramaiah (Karnataka), Revanth Reddy (Telangana) and Sukhvinder Singh Sukku (Himachal Pradesh) — who will be present at the function at Thiruvananthapuram. Both Rahul and his sister Priyanka who is Wayanad Lok Sabha MP will attend, so too Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Karnataka’s deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar will also be present.
With eye on Assembly polls, the West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s interim Budget focuses on women and youth voters. In the interim budget amounting to Rs 4.06 lakh crore, Mamata’s government announced a Rs 500 increase in the monthly Lakshmi Bhandar scheme from the current Rs 1000/1200. The scheme is now being viewed as a response to the NDA’s Ladki Bahin Yojana scheme, which contributed to positive outcomes for the NDA in states such as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. According to the electoral roll published in January 2025, West Bengal has approximately 3,76,00,611 female voters and 3,87,93,743 male voters. The Lakshmi Bhandar scheme currently reaches around 2.2 crore women beneficiaries. In another welfare measure, Didi’s government announced that gig workers will be brought under existing social security programmes, including Swasthyasathi. Additionally, the state declared that wages of Anganwadi workers and Anganwadi Sahayaks will be raised by Rs 1,000 starting April 2026. The government has also proposed a new Rs 5,000 crore initiative called “Banglar Yuba-Sathi” for educated unemployed youth to be launched from 15 August 2026. Under this scheme, unemployed individuals aged 21 to 40 who have passed Madhyamik (Class10), are not covered by other government social security schemes (except educational benefits or scholarships), will receive Rs 1,500 per month. This support will continue until they secure employment or for a maximum period of five years, whichever comes first. Earlier, during the day, following an order from a division bench of the Supreme Court directing the Mamata Banerjee government to promptly pay 25% of the pending DA to state employees and to release the first instalment of the remaining dues by March 31, the CM has declared a 4% hike in DA for state government staff.
The meeting between West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi ended midway after sharp exchanges, with Didi walking out in a huff. She accused CEC Kumar of arrogant behaviour, misconduct and acting at the behest of the BJP. She described the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as unplanned and arbitrary. The nearly hour-long meeting was convened to discuss the SIR process in West Bengal. She led a delegation comprising her nephew and second in command of the party Abhishek Banerjee and TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, along with 12 individuals affected by the exercise, including families alleging deaths due to SIR-related stress and voters reportedly marked as dead despite being alive. According to TMC sources, tensions escalated soon after Mamata questioned the conduct of the SIR, raising issues such as reported deaths and hospitalisations, the absence of SIR in Assam, publication of anomalous voter lists in Bengal and the appointment of micro-observers. Abhishek raised detailed objections, while Kalyan Banerjee pointed to legal concerns and Supreme Court directions. The TMC alleged that Kumar repeatedly interrupted the delegation and used dismissive language, leading to walk out of the meeting. The TMC highlighted that among the 12 affected individuals, two were from minority communities and 10 were Hindus, countering BJP claims linking objections to illegal immigrants. Didi warned of intensified protests if the EC did not change its approach and said she would continue the political fight on the streets. The EC rejected the allegations, stating that all questions were answered and warning that the rule of law would be enforced strictly. It accused some TMC legislators of threatening election officials and alleged obstruction of SIR work and non-payment of honorariums to booth-level officers by the Bengal government.
Notwithstanding public posturing by the DMK about firming up an alliance with the Congress, it is being said that senior DMK MP Kanimozhi didn’t have a nice experience trying to forge a seat sharing agreement with the Congress in the two rounds of meetings that she held with Rahul Gandhi this week. What particularly left a bad after taste in the mouth for her was the manner in which Rahul did not permit Kanimozhi to interact with Sonia Gandhi at 10 Janpath. In fact, after the first round of meeting that was initially held in the Lok Sabha LoP’s office on January 28, it was Rahul who had suggested that Kanimozhi could come over to 10 Janpath. Kanimozhi saw it as an opportunity to interact with Congress matriarch. But Rahul made it clear that his mother was not available for sorting out dicey political alliance matters and that the DMK leaders have to deal with him. While the DMK raised the impropriety of Congress in charge Girish Chodankar thrusting a list of 41 assembly seats that his party wished to fight in his first meeting with CM Stalin, Rahul wanted to know why the DMK was not working “to strengthen the Congress at the grassroots and in local bodies” in TN. Rahul’s approach somewhat surprised Kanimozhi and asked Rahul if he could speak to her half-brother Stalin. Stalin didn’t yield to Congress’ demand for more seats right away and said a panel would go into the demands. The DMK found it difficult to accept Congress terms of coalition power sharing. Rahul pointed out to Kanimozhi what the Congress was sharing with JMM in Jharkhand. Kanimozhi made it clear to Rahul that her party could offer 27/28 — 2 or 3 seats more than 25 that the Congress contested in 2021.
It seems to be the playbook of all the ruling state governments announcing social welfare schemes when the election is around the corner. So Tamil Nadu is no different. With the Assembly elections fast approaching the TN government headed by chief minister MK Stalin is announcing back-to-back policies, schemes, freebies and other initiatives that are essentially voter-friendly. Call it a curated mix of welfare, AI and technology and education, everything is coming together. In the previous month alone the state government announced various schemes such as free laptops for students to increase digital literacy, a sovereign AI data centre for secure AI infrastructure that will create 1000 plus jobs, newly polished pension scheme to support the elderly, Rs 3000 for pongal assistance to name a few. There are many more in the pipeline depending on which way the election wind blows. But at the end of the day by announcing various schemes and giving away freebies, the ruling DMK government is telling the people…we are on your side.
The battle lines have all but been drawn for the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls 2026. It is advantage DMK as the polls head for a 3- or 4-cornered contest with actor Vijay the significant new player in the fray. The DMK-Congress alliance is yet to be formalised after seat-sharing talks hit speed bumps, but given the long-term relationship between chief minister MK Stalin and Rahul Gandhi, the Congress is only likely to keep its ties with the DMK going. Poll arithmetic in a contest in which the opposition to the regime is divided among the AIADMK-led NDA alliance, Vijay’s TVK which will be on a solo run and Seeman’s NTK, a fringe player who can however play spoilsport by taking away a proportion of the votes, will favour the ruling DMK despite the anti-incumbency factor. With a lack of data and history, no one can gauge Vijay’s advent into politics. But the way the BJP has played the cards against him is certain to bring him such sympathy for the treatment meted out to him and his last movie Jana Nayagan. Repeated questioning by the CBI with regard to the Karur stampede is another good reason why more people will gravitate towards the TVK. Also, people are yearning for change from the tired Dravidian politics. Even so, it will be DMK, with its committed cadre vote, that will come away with less of its vote share diminished even as AIADMK, which got a near equal vote share in 2021, suffers from its association with the northern upper class party BJP. Stalin seems set to emulate Jayalalithaa’s 2016 performance when her AIADMK was re-elected. The alliances are all but set now no matter what conspiracy theories may be floated from here and what pulls and pressures may come up in the last mile to the polls.
The grapevine has it that Bollywood is set to flesh out yet another police story, this time around infamous policeman Pradeep Sharma, who liquidated 112 criminals in alleged encounters, mostly in Mumbai city. Ab Tak 112 (112 encounters till now) is tentative title of film being bandied about, in apparent one-upmanship to earlier film based on rival policeman, Daya Nayak, titled Ab Tak 56. Both Mumbai police officers had suffered ignominy of suspensions and even dismissal during their chequered careers with a Mumbai Crime Branch probe revealing 214 of the 300 police encounters between 1998 and 2000 were fake. The two are also dwarfed in comparison to DCP Mallaiah G Yadav, who has encountered and liquidated 672 criminals and Naxals in a distinguished career marked by genuine police encounters. Unlike the cinematic bravado that often romanticizes extra-judicial action, DCP Mallaiah G Yadav’s record was forged in India’s most unforgiving internal security theatres, where Naxal insurgency, organized crime and armed extremism merged into daily warfare against the State. His encounters were not urban spectacles staged for headlines but outcomes of prolonged intelligence gathering, cordon-and-search operations and armed retaliation by extremists who chose bullets over surrender. Serving across sensitive districts, Mallaiah systematically dismantled Naxal formations, eliminated dreaded area commanders and neutralised criminal syndicates that had paralysed governance, extorted civilians and assassinated public servants. Unlike his Bollywood counterparts whose careers collapsed under allegations and departmental action, Mallaiah’s service record reflects institutional trust, repeated high-risk postings and operational continuity over decades. As cinema mines old encounter legends for box-office revival, DCP Mallaiah G Yadav’s story remains largely untold—perhaps because it is too stark, too real and too uncomfortable.
With Assembly elections around the corner, the idea of a minority-led alliance has introduced a fresh layer of uncertainty for the West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her party the Trinamool Congress (TMC). While there is little concrete evidence to suggest an imminent erosion of the TMC’s minority vote base, emerging formations and alliance talks could complicate electoral arithmetic in select pockets of the State. The most visible symbol of this mobilisation has emerged along National Highway 12 in Beldanga, Murshidabad district, where suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir has begun constructing a replica of the Babri Masjid. Kabir, who has floated the Janata Unnayan Party (JUP), has accused the TMC of pursuing policies harmful to minorities and is seeking to politically consolidate Muslim voters. Early January, Indian Secular Front (ISF) MLA Naushad Siddiqui called for a minority party alliance against TMC and BJP. The ISF, linked to the Furfura Sharif shrine in Hooghly, has held discussions with the JUP, alongside talks involving the SDPI, the political wing of the banned Popular Front of India. Muslims constitute about 27% of West Bengal’s population. Minority and women voters have been central to the TMC’s dominance since 2011. Minority leaders cite discontent over OBC list exclusions, Waqf law amendments, and the return of TMC MP Mausam Benazir Noor to the Congress in Malda. Yet, many Muslims continue to see Mamata as the most credible bulwark against the BJP, which is banking on minority vote fragmentation and Hindu consolidation. Kabir met CPI(M) State secretary Mohammed Salim in Kolkata to explore the possibility of contesting the elections together with the ISF. The meeting has sparked unease within sections of the CPI(M), particularly in refugee-dominated and urban areas of south Bengal. Some leaders fear that association with Babri Masjid symbolism could be electorally damaging.
Gujarat governor Acharya Devvrat is likely to serve another term. It is reported that he is looking to take over as governor of Maharashtra, which is his additional charge at present. Devvrat was appointed governor of Gujarat in July 2019 while he took the additional charge of Maharashtra on 15 September 2025. Devvrat’s gubernatorial career began in Himachal Pradesh, where he served from 2015 till 2019. Currently, this is his second term in Gujarat. Thus, Devvrat has already served for over 10 years, making him one of the longest-serving governors under the Modi administration. Although Maharashtra is his additional charge, it is noticed that Devvrat is quite active in the state, generating murmurs that he may be a top contender for a full-time appointment here. The issue assumes significance since previous Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari is at the receiving end after the Padma Bhushan honour was bestowed upon him by the Centre. Under Article 156 of the Constitution, a state governor normally enjoys a tenure of five years. However, there is no bar on her or his continuation till the successor is named. Due to certain actions and statements of Koshyari, a lot of bad blood was created between him and then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. Given the prime position of Maharashtra in the country, the Centre will choose its next governor by taking all precautions to ensure that no friction occurs, it is certain.
The general impression is that Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is skating on thin ice these days. This impression is gaining currency because Majhi’s overall performance has not been stellar. Failing law and order situation, atrocities on women, rampant corruption and flight of industries to other states continues to grab headlines. Critics say Majhi’s leadership has been lacklustre with slow implementation of election promises and major reforms not taking shape, causing his popularity to drop. Political analysts say Majhi’s style of working as figurehead has to change giving way to being a decisive leader focussing on performance. This explains why political leaders and analysts are now urging the Odisha CM to assert his authority and provide results on the ground, so that his leadership remains intact. Otherwise, he could be overshadowed by competitors like the Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan who has never hidden his ambition to rule Odisha one day. In fact political analysts say Pradhan is the de-facto master strategist holding the sceptre, while CM Majhi holds the temporary crown.
Maharashtra’s tableau, “Ganeshotsav : A Symbol of Aatmanirbharta” (self-reliance) has been adjudged the best among the floats submitted by the States and Union Territories at the 2026 Republic Day parade. The honour has been won by the state after a decade’s gap. The float this time has highlighted cultural, economic and environmental significance with traditional Dhol-Tasha and Lezim performers, securing the top prize for showcasing Maharashtra’s rich cultural heritage. Incidentally, in 1993 also, the same theme, “Ganesh Utsav” was termed the best in the parade. It was selected to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the now largest public festival in the world, conceived by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. The top position was again secured in 1994 to remember Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation and beginning of the Shivaji Era. The hat trick was achieved since in 1995, the spiritual pilgrimage of the Warkari sect was the theme. However, after this winning spree, Maharashtra did not reach the top position till 2015, when its tableau themed on the “Wari” tradition once more grabbed the coveted place. The Maharashtra tableau 2026 combined traditional imagery with modern themes, including the Ashtavinayak shrine, highlighting the economic and social impact of the festival. In 2023, Maharashtra’s tableau on “Saade Teen Shakti Peeth” (three and a half Shakti Peethas) had won the popular choice award though the main award had gone to Uttarakhand. In 2022, Maharashtra had secured the first prize in the popular choice category for its tableau on the “Biodiversity of Maharashtra.” While Jammu & Kashmir won the second prize, it was followed by Kerala in the third place.
If Ajit Pawar’s widow Sunetra Pawar is emerging as the favourite person to find a place in Maharashtra government as Deputy CM and leader of the Nationalist Congress Party it is not without reason. Political circles in Delhi believe it is one elevation which would be most acceptable to top BJP leadership particularly Union Home Minister Amit Shah. It is being said Shah is inclined to ensure that Ajit Pawar’s legacy survives in Maharashtra. Shah remembers the late Deputy CM as one person who had always gone out of the way to bail out the BJP in tricky situations in the state — whether it was in 2019 or in 2023. It is in this backdrop, Sunetra has emerged as a favourite for the top post. Shah who enjoyed a good equation with the late leader. Shah apparently valued the manner in which Ajit Pawar took the initiative to break ranks with his uncle Sharad Pawar and join hands with the BJP in 2023, a year ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls as well Maharashtra assembly polls. Which is perhaps why he made it a point to travel to Baramati for Ajit Pawar’s last rites. Besides, elevating Sunetra, a Rajya Sabha MP from Maharashtra, would be a simpler affair then say promoting NCP leader Sunil Tatkare, a Lok Sabha MP. It is also felt Parth Pawar could replace his mother in the Rajya Sabha. As for Sharad Pawar who would be retiring from the Rajya Sabha in April it is being said his nephew’s untimely death has totally shattered him and he may not seek another term. It is also being said that the BJP is not inclined to accommodate his daughter and pro-Congress NCP leader Supriya Sule, Baramati’s Lok Sabha MP, in Modi government.
Maharashtra’s deceased deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar fought tooth and nail to claim the election symbol of the Nationalist Congress Party – the wall clock showing the time at ten past ten or 10:10. This symbol was selected by NCP founder Sharad Pawar, who also shaped Ajit’s political career. Owing to political quirks, Ajit took on the elder Pawar and finally split the NCP in 2022, taking a substantial chunk of the elected representatives with him. In this battle of attrition, the timer played a crucial role since it was a political identity for the party. Ajit succeeded in humbling the family boss, at least temporarily. He seized the NCP name and symbol through a court battle. In a baffling coincidence, it has transpired that the identification of Ajit’s body was reportedly done on the basis of his wristwatch. After any fatal accident, personal belongings scattered at the site are helpful in identifying the deceased. According to some media reports, Ajit’s expensive wristwatch was an important tool for identification. The watch on Ajit’s wrist was of a classic design, with a metal strap and a large dial. It had a shiny silver finish, a sturdy metal bracelet and a dial with clear numerals and blue base. The photographs on social media show the watch on Ajit’s wrist as a classic and premium piece. Ajit’s various qualities have been described in detail by the people close to him. Incidentally, one of them was his emphasis on punctuality. Sadly, the chronometer in his life has served him even after his demise.
Sharad Pawar’s response to the tragic plane crash that claimed the life of his nephew, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, and four others is a telling example of political maturity. By unequivocally stating that the crash was an accident and that no politics should be dragged into the incident, Sharad Pawar has demonstrated a rare blend of personal composure, political wisdom and statesmanship—qualities that are increasingly scarce in a climate of instant outrage and relentless politicisation of tragedy. Hopefully, Sharad Pawar’s dignified stance sends a powerful message to leaders like Mamata Banerjee, Mallikarjun Kharge and Akhilesh Yadav who rushed to the television cameras to demand a probe into the plane crash, more so under Supreme Court supervision. Given their long tenures in politics and in government, they should have known that every air accident is thoroughly investigated, irrespective of public demand. This band of leadership with a destructive negative streak in its thinking will prove harmful to the nation one day if not checked in time. In contrast, no political leader in Maharashtra has made any irresponsible statement nor condemned the government. Sharad Pawar has thus initiated the process of promoting healthy politics and articulated maturity of Maharashtra, where political and personal differences are kept isolated. Let Sharad Pawar’s political tribe grow at every level.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has intensified her cultural outreach to the state’s traditional bhadralok — the educated, intellectually inclined middle class — by foregrounding her persona as an author and artist. This strategy was prominently displayed at the ongoing Kolkata International Book Fair, where she released several new works and announced plans for “Boi Tirtha”, a permanent Book Pilgrimage Centre. These efforts underscore how her prolific literary and artistic output runs parallel to her political career. This year, nine of Banerjee’s books are being sold at the fair, bringing her lifetime total to 162 published works. Over the years, she has consistently expressed herself through songs, poems, paintings, and literature, cultivating a distinct artistic identity. During Saraswati Puja, she shared a song on X, with lyrics and music composed by her. She is also a fixture of Durga Puja, often composing theme songs and devotional numbers like ‘Maa Go Tumi Sarbojanin’. Her creative work frequently blends cultural pride with political messaging. Recently, she penned 26 poems opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Her past works have addressed the Singur and Nandigram movements, as well as critiques of central policies like demonetisation, GST, CAA, and NRC. Unlike her predecessor, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who embodied a refined, elite intellectualism, Banerjee is often seen as outside the traditional bhadralok mould. She turns this perceived lack of polish into an advantage, presenting simplicity and emotional honesty as strengths. Boi Tirtha project for which she has assigned Rs 10 crore is envisioned as a museum-cum-mall for rare books, Banerjee has already sketched its design, aiming to provide Kolkata with a permanent literary landmark before the book fair’s 50th edition.
It is not hard to decode the confident stance of Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin in the run up to state assembly elections. Surprisingly, he carefully moved away from the powerful shadow of his father M Karunanidhi to find his own space, emerging as a much talked about CM who could stand his ground. It was not surprising that he used his first Assembly address of 2026 to not just pat himself and his government on the back, but also list its achievements in the face of “daunting challenges”. Stalin was candid enough to admit “when he took over in 2021, there was much trepidation, self-doubt and a sense of fear …could I make TN happy, fulfil poll promises.” The self-congratulatory tone set in fast…“I am a happy man, very satisfied and can claim that we will form government 2.0 and even overtake our success.” This motivated chest thumping had its share of diatribes too…he blamed the previous 10 years of AIADMK rule for bringing down the state in every matrix of development. Stalin’s undiluted harangue and the way he took on the Governor RN Ravi and his running feud with him, added spice. For political watchers, it was an entertaining yet disturbing, unsettling phase when the Centre and State were at loggerheads. Federalism and democratic ecosystems bore the brunt of this clash. Stalin is no doubt a driven man, sure of his ability to pluck the low hanging fruit.
The police have issued a notice to newly elected All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) corporator from Mumbra, Sahar Shaikh, under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) following a controversial remark in which she said the entire town would be “painted green”. The action comes after a video of Shaikh’s victory speech went viral on social media. In the clip, she is seen ridiculing NCP-SP MLA Jitendra Awhad, who had been her political mentor until recently. “In the next five years, every candidate in Mumbra will be from AIMIM. Mumbra must be completely painted green,” she said. Soon after the video surfaced, a BJP delegation led by former MP Kirit Somaiya submitted a written complaint to the police, alleging that the remarks were provocative and could incite communal tension in the sensitive township. Objecting to the statement, Somaiya said, “Mumbra belongs to Maharashtra, and the state bows before the saffron of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.” Though his letter did not name Shaikh, the complaint prompted the police to initiate preventive action. A police official said the notice was issued as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order. Shaikh has been advised to exercise restraint in public speeches and avoid statements that could hurt sentiments or disturb communal harmony. Responding to the controversy, Shaikh claimed that her words were being deliberately misinterpreted for political purposes. She maintained that her remark only reflected her ambition to expand AIMIM’s political presence in the area and was not intended to provoke or divide.
Maharashtra’s politics has long been a maze of caste equations, regional ambitions, cooperative networks and dominant local satraps. But in recent years — and more sharply after the latest civic and local body elections — a striking new trend is seen emerging. All political parties are discarding ideological commitments and old rivalries to cobble together expedient alliances at the grassroots. Across wards and municipalities, the political battle is no longer anchored in principles or programmes. Instead, it revolves around arithmetic, individual clout and the urgency for political survival. Once sworn adversaries, many are sharing rallies, ideological oppositions are sunk and erstwhile bitter enmities are quietly buried in the scramble for seizing power. Crass pragmatism has triumphed over sanctity of philosophy. In short, convenience has replaced conviction. In this arena of local politics, “no holds barred” has become the key word. It is a ruthless realism where power matters more than what one once stood for. While the BJP has established its numerical prime position in the state polity by winning over half of the seats in the 29 municipal corporations that went to the polls, the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray and the NCP established by Sharad Pawar were the main losers. However, in the post-poll scenario that is throwing one surprise after another, both these parties are engaged in forming alliances with some of their former opponents. The clear picture will become visible in a few days once the mayoral elections are held. Till then, the once unthinkable permutations and combinations will be watched by the hapless electors.
Maharashtra political potboiler is over, and yet the real corporate battle has only just begun. Suave Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched into Davos, Switzerland, knowing fully well Maharashtra’s top-notch status cannot be taken for granted has inked 85 MoUs. A state meeting recently witnessed his outburst, “If Hemanta Biswas can, Maharashtra will do better.” The comment was in context of the medical infrastructure blueprint that his Assam counterpart is credited with making progress. Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, a Davos veteran, tom-toms his Hydrogen valley, Data Centre, Bio-Centre Capital of India, Google IT collaboration projects speaking quantum language. Biswas claims Rs 1 lakh crore in FDI to include a Data Centre project making Assam the gateway of South Asia, somewhere in the future. Fadnavis is single-mindedly prioritizing innovation, smart city securing Rs 1 lakh crore from five EU nations. The intense political battle he just won across 29 civic corporations, without involving PM Narendra Modi once, has bolstered his image. His business acumen, infrastructure push in the energy sector is crucial to bringing in business, no mean feat considering three decades old transmission and distribution lines running across the state compared to a fully rejuvenated Gujarat with fully modernized power transmission lines. Maharashtra is setting up 16000 MW of solar power to be distributed free to agriculturists in the state. If only focus on modernizing the three-decade old power infrastructure lines follows, the “theft and dacoity” of electricity as PM Atal Behari Vajpayee put it that hovers around 18-20% would be curbed bringing down electricity cost for industry on parity with other states of India.
Two days ahead of PM Modi’s public meeting at Madurantakam, Chengalpattu district on January 23, the BJP stepped up its campaign to expand the NDA ahead of the assembly elections. On January 21, AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran, rejoined the NDA alliance in the presence of Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in Chennai. He had moved out of the NDA in September 2025. This was six months after Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that AIADMK chief Eddapadi K Palaniswami would be the CM face and lead the AIADMK- BJP alliance in Tamil Nadu in April 2025. In a reversal of events early this year, Dhinakaran flew into Delhi, met Amit Shah to pave the way for his return into the NDA fold. It is being said the AMMK commands considerable influence among the Mukkulathor community or Thevars in southern TN. Dhinakaran rejoining the NDA could spell trouble for the ruling DMK. So too the joining of Anbumani Ramadoss-led PMK. It is being said Amit Shah was very keen that all anti-DMK votes in the South, particularly the Thevar community votes should not be fragmented. Dhinakaran described the past differences as merely a “family feud”. On his part, AIADMK chief Palaniswami also welcomed Dhinakaran. The only person acting pricey is DMDK leader Premalatha, widow of late actor Vijayakanth. She is bargaining for two Rajya Sabha seats, a ministerial berth for her son in Modi Govt and some 20 assembly seats. It is her demand to accommodate her son in the Central Govt that has spooked Delhi. Meanwhile, it is learnt that DMK has asked Congress to scale down its demand for seats to 28 and has offered instead to bankroll poll expenses of Assam assembly elections. This simply shows how desperately DMK needs Congress — that is why it is trying to keep it away from actor Vijay’s TVK.
Ahead of the Assembly elections this year, the West Bengal BJP leadership is facing an uncomfortable situation after Kharagpur Sadar MLA Hiran Chatterjee posted pictures on social media announcing his second marriage, revealing that the ceremony had taken place in Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency. What initially remained a low-key development within the party escalated after Hiran’s first wife, Anindita Chatterjee, publicly claimed that there had been no legal divorce between them. The claim has caused disquiet within the BJP, with party sources confirming that internal discussions are under way on whether Hiran, a popular Bengali star, should be re-nominated from Kharagpur Sadar. The issue has since acquired a legal dimension, with Anindita and the couple’s daughter, Niyasha, filing a complaint against the MLA and his alleged second wife. A section within BJP is viewing the issue with concern, particularly given the party’s ideological emphasis on Hindu traditions and Hindutva. Senior leaders, speaking off the record, acknowledge that while marriage is a personal decision, contracting a second marriage without a legal divorce can amount to a criminal offence and raises questions of propriety and ethics. The party’s current position, sources said, is that there is no documentary proof available so far to establish the second marriage. The filing of a formal complaint by Hiran’s first wife and daughter has, however, sharpened scrutiny of the MLA and fuelled speculation within party circles. The continued silence of the leadership, leaders admit privately, is being interpreted both as an attempt to limit political damage and as a possible indication of a growing distance between the party and the sitting MLA — a distance that could ultimately influence ticket decisions.
Nitin Nabin was formally declared as the BJP national president, succeeding JP Nadda, in a brief ceremony at party headquarters in Delhi on January 20. All party stalwarts including PM Modi were present. Even as he received a certificate of election from K Laxman, returning officer for BJP organisational polls, Nabin at 45, became the youngest ever to occupy the top party post. The BJP was founded in Mumbai — then Bombay — in 1980 — the year Nabin was born. Emphasising his youthful background, PM Modi went all out emphasising his “millennial background” and “Gen Z connect”. “Nitin Nabin is a millennial. He is from a generation who has witnessed the country’s economic transformation”, the PM said introducing the new party chief. Outlining Nabin’s task, Modi felt his “youthful energy and long experience of working in organisation,” would help in expanding the party’s footprint across the country. Emphasising that he would always be a worker of the BJP, Modi said “And when it comes to party matters, I am a worker, and Nitin Nabin ji is my boss.” He also added that Nabin would have responsibility to coordinate with NDA allies. Meanwhile, Nabin’s sensitive millennial side was revealed in a video that was shared of Modi’s meeting with Nabin’s family at party headquarters…it showed Nabin as a caring father even as he was with PM Modi. Interestingly, PM Modi also shared why BJP is not into celebrating its wins whether in Mumbai’s BMC or even in Gujarat 2022 assembly polls when everyone had expected him to lose. “We are always into analysing our results/ mistakes. Or preparing for the next polls.”
Nearly two decades after the Singur agitation reshaped West Bengal politics, the fertile stretch in Hooghly district has re-emerged as a key electoral flashpoint. With the 2026 Assembly elections nearing, the BJP has revived the Singur narrative, promising the return of Tata Motors and large-scale industrialisation if voted to power. The Trinamool Congress (TMC), however, continues to project Singur as a landmark victory for farmers against forcible land acquisition. BJP leaders argue that Tata Motors’ exit in 2008 marked the onset of de-industrialisation and that only a change in government can restore investor confidence. The BJP has also contrasted West Bengal’s industrial trajectory with Gujarat’s rapid expansion, presenting the latter as a development model. The party sees Singur as a way to reach Left-leaning voters by emphasising employment and economic growth rather than identity politics alone. The TMC has countered by reiterating that the Singur movement centred on protecting cultivable land and farmers’ rights. It cites the Supreme Court verdict declaring the 2006 land acquisition illegal and ordering land to be returned to unwilling farmers, calling it both legal and moral vindication. The conflict began in 2006 when the Left Front government acquired nearly 1,000 acres for Tata’s Nano project. The decision sparked sustained protests led by Mamata Banerjee, including police action and a 21-day hunger strike. Amid escalating unrest, Tata Motors withdrew in 2008 and shifted the project to Sanand, Gujarat. The Singur and Nandigram agitations later became central to the TMC’s rise, ending 34 years of Left rule in 2011. At present, about 300 acres have been restored to cultivation. Farmers’ groups have demanded that another 300 acres be made arable, suggesting the rest could be considered for industry. As elections approach, Singur’s abandoned fields have again become a battleground of competing visions of development and memory.
Veteran leader Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena boss Uddhav Thackeray have been totally decimated in the election to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, raising a question mark about the next turn in their political journey. Just half a dozen of the civic bodies marked any presence of the parties led by the two prominent leaders, leaving the field open to the saffron outfit, led by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. The other casualty is Pawar’s nephew Ajit, who took on the BJP for no obvious reason and has been mauled badly in his own stronghold, Pune city and district. A few select bodies like Kolhapur, Vasai-Virar, Malegaon, Chandrapur, Parbhani and Amaravati have shown electoral wins of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates, though most have been elected on their own steam. The MVA is now rudderless in the state and the voters, too, have expressed their displeasure on its negative campaigning, which was replete with abuse and curses. On the other hand, Fadnavis and deputy CM Eknath Shinde continuously harped on the theme of development. The results have conclusively shown that Uddhav’s clout is now confined only to Mumbai, of course lesser than earlier. As far as Sharad Pawar is concerned, he neither campaigned nor addressed any rally. His inaction is blamed for the pitiable condition of his party. Thus, both leaders will have to explain to their cadres what plan of action is in their mind.
Ill-famed Shrikant Pangarkar will henceforth be seen in the civic hall of Jalna Municipal Corporation despite being named as an accused in the 2017 killing of journalist Gauri Lankesh. The Jalna results were declared on Friday and Pangarkar emerged as the winner in Ward 13. He defeated his opponents of the BJP and other parties in a multi-corner contest. The Shiv Sena led by deputy CM Eknath Shinde had chosen not to field any candidate in the ward, a decision that foretold the electoral outcome. Soon after the results, he began celebrating with his supporters. The images went viral, causing an outrage. The criminal case related to Lankesh’s murder is sub-judice, thus enabling Pangarkar to contest. Facing the media after this, Pangarkar asserted that he had not been convicted; hence, the legal process was still underway.” His defence nonplussed the reporters. The assassination of Gauri Lankesh took place in Bengaluru on 5 September 2017. The killing triggered a widespread debate across the country. In August 2018, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested Pangarkar as an accused though was granted bail by the Karnataka high court on 4 September 2024. Earlier, Pangarkar had served as a corporator in Jalna between 2001 and 2006 as a member of the undivided Shiv Sena. However, as he was not given a ticket in 2011, he moved to the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, a right-wing organisation. Only a year before, while the November 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections were to happen, Pangarkar joined the Shinde Sena. The move backfired and Shinde had to keep in abeyance Pangarkar’s entry. Despite that interlude, Pangarkar is back in the news.
A section of the Tamil Nadu BJP leadership is completely disappointed with the line-up of people arranged by Union Minister L Murugan for Pongal festivities organised at his residence and presided over by PM Modi. While it might all be very well for Murugan, who is Minister of State for I&B, to flaunt the presence of makers and cast and crew of the DMK-backed film Parasakthi, some BJP leaders were not comfortable with the presence of producer Akash Baskaran. He is related to late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi and his late first son MK Muthu. His wife Dharini is MK Muthu’s granddaughter. Her dad is CK Ranganthan who owns Cavinkare. Her mother is Thenmozhi, Kalignar Karunanidhi’s granddaughter. The issue with Akash Bhaskaran’s presence at PM Modi’s event was that he had briefly figured in the TASMAC scam probe. Of course, the ED had to apologise to Bhaskaran as directed by the Madras High Court. Some TN BJP leaders feel a section of party leaders are always hell bent on bringing “not very desirable characters” into the party and thereby putting off genuine voters. Incidentally, neither PM Modi nor Murugan shared any pics of their interaction with Parasakthi actors on their timeline. It was done by the National Award-winning composer GV Prakash to share a photograph of his interaction with PM Modi as well as reveal the presence of Sivakarthikeyan and Ravi Mohan. Prakash also performed a track from his Tamil pride album Thiruvasagam for the first time at the event. Meanwhile, it is being said the real problem with TVK leader Vijay’s film Jana Nayagan, one hears, is that the protagonist is seen making a direct pitch against “political leadership” that it is communalising politics. Two, he is also seen speaking against “atma nirbhar bharat”. If the Congress has issues with Parasakthi because it is critical of Indira Gandhi, Jana Nayagan has clearly irked powers that be in Delhi.
Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai may be bristling at MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s “rasmalai” jibe at him and may have even dared the MNS leader to break his legs when he visits Mumbai next. While it may be all very well for the cop-turned-politician not to be afraid of Thackeray’s empty boasts, not many in Maharashtra BJP leadership are happy with Annamalai’s foot-in-the-mouth utterances. In fact questions are being asked about the need to even call Annamalai for canvassing for BMC polls. That too at a time when the civic polls seemed nicely tied in ruling Mahayuti’s favour. “What was the need to ask Annamalai to campaign? This is a needless controversy. Annamalai has turned the media attention on himself. In any case we have very small pockets of influence of Tamil voters, whom we have been regularly reaching out to. Annamalai’s utterances on Mumbai have only been twisted to give an issue to the Opposition,” says a senior BJP leader. The only saving grace is that ahead of the civic polls the local media did not play up Annamalai’s comment. Mumbai as Maharashtra’s capital is an emotive issue and anyone familiar with its socio-politics will not even not go anywhere near this topic. He had said Mumbai, apart from being Maharashtra capital, is also an international city. In an interview to a Marathi TV channel, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified that there was no need to take the Tamil leader seriously. He suggested that Annamalai was making an effort to communicate in his limited knowledge of Hindi. “It wasn’t as if the PM had spoken. Mumbai is an international city.” As for Raj Thackeray calling Annamalai a “rasmalai”, Fadnavis was dismissive of the MNS leader and felt he couldn’t be taken seriously.
West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee once again placed confrontation at the centre of her politics on January 8, when she entered the residence of political strategist Pratik Jain just as the Enforcement Directorate began a search. Jain is the director of I-PAC, the political consultancy that has advised the TMC since 2021 and is widely credited with playing a key role in the party’s landslide Assembly victory that year. According to Mamata, the agency’s objective was not law enforcement but the seizure of confidential TMC poll material, including candidate lists, campaign strategy documents, SIR-related papers and electronic data. The episode reinforced an image Banerjee has cultivated over decades as a political “street fighter”. Supporters point to her early days as a Youth Congress worker protesting against Jayaprakash Narayan, her emergence as a “giant-killer” after defeating Left heavyweight Somnath Chatterjee in the 1984 Lok Sabha elections, and decades of street battles against the Left that culminated in the Singur and Nandigram movements and the fall of the 34-year Left Front government in 2011. Senior TMC insiders cite precedents where confrontation brought political dividends: her February 3, 2019 dharna after a CBI raid on then police commissioner Rajeev Kumar in the Saradha scam case; her February 23, 2021 confrontation with a CBI team probing a coal smuggling case involving Abhishek Banerjee and his wife; and her May 17, 2021 six-hour stay at the CBI office as several TMC leaders were arrested in the Narada sting operation case. Leaders argue such confrontations help counter anti-incumbency, mask internal factional rifts and deflect attention from economic management and alleged scams. As elections approach, Didi has returned to the mode that has long defined her career: fighting her battles on the street.
A cursory glance at the profile of various candidates trying their luck in the upcoming municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra presents an interesting insight into their education, assets and property, their past and the party they belong to. The data reflects not just static wealth, but growth over election cycles. Under election law, candidates declare their movable and immovable assets, liabilities, education and if there are any criminal cases against them at the time of nomination. These details are made public. Hopefully, the voters will make their own assessment at the time of voting on 15 January 2026 across 29 municipal corporations throughout the state. A quick scan shows that in Nagpur, candidate asset declarations range from Rs 7.78 lakh to nearly Rs 95 crore. In Mumbai, former mayor Kishori Pednekar has declared a fantastic rise in her assets since the last civic election in 2017. It was Rs 1.61 crore in 2017, now touching Rs 5.26 crore. Deputy CM Eknath Shinde’s trusted soldier Sada Sarvankar’s son Samadhan has declared assets worth Rs 46.59 crore, one of the highest among BMC candidates. He is matched by former mayor Shraddha Jadhav of Shiv Sena (UBT), whose assets exceed Rs 46 crore, as well. The most common denominator about the candidates is that all of them are keen to serve the public.
Nominations in the ongoing municipal corporation polls in Maharashtra reveal interesting details and expectedly, those vying to enter the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the richest civic body, attract maximum attention. They are found across all parties and election wards. For instance, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde’s trusted soldier Sada Sarvankar’s son Samadhan has declared assets worth Rs 46.59 crore, one of the highest among BMC candidates. He is matched by former mayor Shraddha Jadhav of Shiv Sena (UBT), whose assets exceed Rs 46 crore as well. The astounding increase is over the 8 years, when the last BMC election was held in 2017. In Mumbai, most candidates possess multiple of crores, which include real estate, posh vehicles and gold or jewellery. They are spread across all major parties. Another facet is that female candidates are as wealthy as their male counterparts, in some cases even more. A few notables include former mayor Vishakha Sharad Raut (Ward No 191 Sena UBT). Her total assets stood at Rs 21.83 crore. The Increase over 2017 is Rs.7 crore. Former MLA Yamini Jadhav (Ward No. 209 Sena Shinde) shows total assets of Rs.14.57 crore. The increase is Rs 4 crore in just one year. Former MP Kirit Somaiya’s son Neel (Ward No. 107 BJP) has total assets of Rs 9 crore. In his case, the increase is of Rs 7 crore over 8 years. A recent entrant into the BJP, Tejaswi Abhishek Ghosalkar (Ward No. 2) has total assets worth Rs 5 crore, showing an increase of Rs 4.75 crore over the past 8 years. Veteran corporator Shailesh Phanse has declared assets worth Rs 25 crore (Ward 59 Sena UBT), showing a spectacular increase of Rs 16 crore over 8 years. In short, more candidates are well provided for than those lacking resources.
Is the Censor delay for Vijay’s film all aimed to strengthen the TVK chief’s support base and ensure its a superhit? Is the BJP-led Centre actually helping the superstar? As Vijay is facing an uphill task to get his last film Jana Nayagan released on Jan 9 and the Tamil Nadu Congress leaders are already blaming the Home Minister Amit Shah for it. A perception is growing in TN that the BJP is not obstructing the screening of the film but perhaps doing it all to increase his popularity among youth and women. It is being said the whole idea is to ensure that sizable votes of youth and women could now consolidate behind Vijay — that is to move away from the DMK. A strong TVK is bound to weaken the DMK. It is believed a three-way fight in TN will benefit the challenger AIADMK-BJP. Jana Nayagan was postponed two days before release due to a censor certificate delay. While a Madras HC hearing is expected to pave way for its release next week, there is a growing view that Jana Nayagan’s Censor problems were clearly linked to Vijay’s political dalliances with the Congress — Rahul Gandhi had spoken to him post Karur incident. It is in this backdrop that top Congress leaders from AICC in charge Girish Chodankar to Tamil Nadu MPs — Manickam Tagore and Jothimani attacked the Centre for withholding Censor certificate for Vijay’s film. TN Congress sources however feel Vijay may not eventually take up Congress offer of an alliance. “Vijay may finally end up with the AIADMK-BJP. Everyone in TN is heading that way. The DMK will also not take us on board,” pointed out a TN Congress leader.
Union Home minister Amit Shah is quite disappointed with his two-day visit to Tamil Nadu as his efforts to convince AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) to take a leaf out of Bihar polls and follow chief minister Nitish Kumar’s lead of carrying everyone along to fight the assembly elections simply didn’t seem to work in Chennai. Shah held two rounds of meetings with AIADMK functionary SP Velumani, an emissary of EPS, and had conveyed to him that if AIADMK has to defeat the DMK it must learn to carry every one along — from TTV Dhinakaran-O Panneerselvam — to DMDK and the PMK. Just as Nitish Kumar had carried along Chirag Paswan and other NDA allies. Nitish Kumar was seen easily sharing seats with Paswan even though the latter’s LJP had in 2020 assembly polls fielded candidates against JD(U). Reluctant to play ball, EPS conveyed to Shah that at best he was willing to accommodate his former AIADMK colleagues by allotting about 10 seats. He firmly conveyed to Velumani that if EPS remained intransigent about accommodating ex AIADMK leaders such as OPS or TTV then he would only “be strengthening the DMK hands and help it to come back to power”. A prospect of defeat could lead to further erosion in its ranks which the AIADMK must avoid. Or it will see heavyweights leaving the party as it saw the exit of former minister Sengottaiyan. It may be recalled that Sengottaiyan had met with Amit Shah before joining Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagham (TVK) led by superstar Vijay. Shah, who joined pre-Pongal celebrations in Tiruchirappalli under the party’s ‘Namma Ooru Modi Pongal’ programme, did not meet EPS. Things could perhaps be sorted out by his next visit to the state.
The South’s famed and amazing temples, their lore and stunning period architecture, overflowing devotion saw yet another strong thrust when the Home Minister came on a two day visit to Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. It is well known that he combines temple visits whenever the campaign whistle stops permit. This time it was to participate in the Modi Pongal event at Tiruchi …even as Shah stirred the brim filled Pongal pot his admirers and party members wished for a vigorous stir of the political pot in the coming election, giving NDA combine the sweet taste of ‘Sakkarai Pongal’ ….redolent with rice in fresh milk, generous ghee, profusion of nuts , cardamom and the newly harvested jaggery stirred to perfection …a ritual not many miss in TN , to celebrate the plentiful harvest. After Shah‘s Srirangam Temple visit, he made a stop at the Thiruvanaikovil Jambukeswarar and Akilandeswari temple on the Northern banks of the Kaveri. This temple is unique as one of the Pancha Bhoota temples (five elements earth, water, fire, air and space…there is an underground perennial spring in which the Lingam is submerged). Shiva’s consort Parvati known as Akhilandeswari is said to have her Thadangams (outsize earrings) gifted by Aadi Sankara. But above all, devotees’ prayers here are granted. Shah just walked out of his security cordon to the lined-up crowd, greeted them, shook hands with some, adding to their happiness.
DMK MP Kanimozhi had an interesting start to her 58th birthday. TVK chief and superstar Vijay wished her. So did Union Home Minister Amit Shah. This has set off a lot of political buzz. Since Vijay personally called Kanimozhi, it gained significant political attention given their roles in different parties ahead of the Tamil Nadu assembly elections this year. Shah, who was in TN for election campaigning, also called Kanimozhi to extend his birthday greetings. Shah has been regularly greeting her on birthdays. As for the birthday girl, Kanimozhi began her day by paying tribute at the memorials of former chief ministers CN Annadurai and her father M Karunanidhi at Marina Beach. What is the reason that TVK chief Vijay, who is vowing to oust the DMK, has begun to court Kanizmozhi? Apparently, it is not without reason. A Lok Sabha MP and DMK’s Deputy General Secretary, Kanimozhi has been increasingly finding herself isolated and limited in party affairs. Her half-brother chief minister MK Stalin along with son and Deputy CM Udhayanidhi recently held a meeting of the DMK Women’s Wing in Tirupur. While the CM talked about launching Bihar style sops to women ahead of the polls, Kanimozhi’s posters were apparently missing at the event. This considering she is in charge of the DMK Women’s Wing. Her pictures were apparently added to the Stalin family posters as an afterthought. It is being said that supporters of Kanimozhi in the DMK do not wish for return of the party to power as it would mean working under Udhayanidhi’s leadership, who is being clearly projected as the heir apparent. For them, the choice would any day be to rally behind Kanimozhi and help TVK chief superstar Vijay.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s decision to be on the screening committee to pick candidates for Assam assembly elections is being viewed in party circles as a stepping stone to her larger role in Congress affairs eventually. It may seem odd that a Gandhi family member has deemed it fit to chair a state’s candidate screening committee. That too when another family confidante and a close Rahul Gandhi aide Jitendra Singh, is in charge of the state. Well, if Priyanka thinks she has stepped into Assam to pose a challenge to incumbent CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and oust the decade old BJP regime, it is surely not going to be an easy task. Himanta has already declared that the ruling BJP and its allies in the NDA are likely to win 103 of the 126 assembly seats. He attributed the higher winning rate of the NDA to delimitation. In these circumstances, what would be Priyanka’s role? Is she coming to mobilise votes of Muslims in Assam? Last month CM Sarma had flagged the rise of phenomenal growth of Muslim population and had blamed the Congress for it. The Muslims are largely loyal to the All India United Democratic Front led by Badruddin Ajmal. In the last elections, AIUDF won 16 seats. It is possible Priyanka has come to strengthen the hands of youthful Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi who is not a much-liked figure. Maybe Priyanka thinks Assam is a low-hanging fruit since in the last elections the difference in the votes in Assam between the NDA and the Opposition alliance was only 1.6% — though the NDA won 75 seats and the Opposition 50. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi one hears has taken off to Vietnam. Of course, BJP’s Amit Malviya insists Rahul has set up Priyanka for “failure”.
Maharashtra has registered the record number of candidates – never witnessed ever before – unable to file their official party nominations for the forthcoming civic elections scheduled for January 15. A second record set was the number of candidates (belonging to the ruling Mahayuti) being elected unopposed already and yet questions of political impropriety, unethical behavior, and unscrupulous use of power remains to be answered. Consider Mumbai, where candidates belonging to the Congress, RPI and AAP parties allegedly were physically prevented from filing respective nominations from the south Mumbai citadel controlled by Speaker of the Maharashtra state legislature Rahul Narvekar whose sister, brother and sister-in-law are BJP candidates for civic corporator seats located within his assembly constituency. Narvekar has denied any wrongdoing or even being heavy handed with a far more senior politician from the Congress party Haribhau Rathod. And yet, viral videos appear to belie his averments. The State Election department was compelled to direct BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani to submit his report regarding alleged incidents in the prestigious south Mumbai constituency. Allegations also abound about Returning Officer Krishna Jadhav having served as Officer on Special Duty to erstwhile CM Eknath Shinde, further queering the political pitch against the expected level playing field. RPI candidate from seat number 227 (held by Narvekar’s own brother) Vaishali Gawde says she was physically prevented by sub-inspector of police, S Shinde attached to the JJ Police station from submitting her candidature form tantamount to a case under POSH. Is democracy in Maharashtra’s posh Mumbai on the ebb?
While the Maha Vikas Aghadi which is in shambles is finding it difficult to find sufficient candidates to field for the coming municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra, the ruling Mahayuti has already opened its account in some cities. The most striking score, so far, is in Panvel, a satellite town of Mumbai. At least eight BJP candidates have been considered elected since there are no opposition nominees. Similarly, major corporations like Kalyan-Dombivali, Thane, Bhiwandi, Ahilya Nagar, Jalgaon and Pune are following suit. Incidentally, most victorious candidates are proved lucky since in several places, their opponents were eliminated as their nomination documents were found lacking in scrutiny. While chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed confidence that the Mahayuti will sweep all the 29 municipal corporations on 16 January, deputy CM Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, too, has half a dozen winners to its credit. Although there was large scale defection and rebellion till the other day, leaders of all major parties have become successful in quelling the revolts. Munira Shaikh Fakir Mohamed of Islam Party has been elected unopposed from a ward in Malegaon, considered a sensitive town communally. The Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party led by veteran Sharad Pawar appear to be the most vulnerable in the power play. The final picture will be clear by Saturday (Jan3) when the names of those who have withdrawn from the contest will become known. Nonetheless, the saffron outfit is already on cloud nine.
If you are worried about the future of Mumbai, wait till 16 January since the brothers Thackeray have promised the moon to Mumbaikars if they come to power in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on that day. The only catch is that the two parties, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), are facing a formidable adversary, the BJP-led Mahayuti, which is ruling Maharashtra with a thumping majority. Moreover, most former BMC corporators and Mumbai MLAs are in the saffron fold, complemented by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. In addition, the Congress has decided to go it alone, making the Sena’s challenge more difficult. Given this ground reality, Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray and his cousin, MNS scion Amit Thackeray, have come out with a fantastic manifesto for Mumbai to lure the voters. The duo has made such tall promises that if ever they become a reality, Mumbai will compete with the best cities around the world. For instance, housing units with an area up to 700 sq ft will be exempted from property tax. Secondly, the female domestic servants in Mumbai will be paid a monthly dole of Rs 1500. Fisherwomen will be provided with meals at Rs 10; young entrepreneurs will be extended Rs 1 lakh as employment assistance fund; all BMC parking lots will be free of charge; zero bill for power consumers using 100 units or less per month and a mini sports complex in each civic ward. Interestingly, the manifesto has kept away from the touchy issue of the declaration that the next Mumbai mayor will be a Marathi Manoos.
India’s cleanest city, Indore, which has bagged this title eight times in a row, has now seen 15 deaths due to contaminated water. This week has been horrific for Indore as families lost their loved ones, their kids and parents, to the water crisis in the city. The issue began on Dec 29 night after several locals began vomiting and developed a high fever suddenly. District Collector Shivam Verma added that initial laboratory reports confirmed contamination of water supply from a toilet that was reportedly built on the drinking water line without any safety tank underneath. According to officials, samples tested positive for fecal coliform, E.coli and Klebsiella bacteria, all of which can cause severe vomiting and diarrhoea. The tragic water contamination scare had left many families devastated. A private school teacher lost her five-month-old son after she mixed contaminated water with his milk. The son was born after 10 years of waiting, the woman said. Meanwhile, politics peaked over the Indore deaths with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launching a sharp attack on the Madhya Pradesh Govt over Indore water contamination issue. “Those whose hearths have gone cold needed consolation; the government served them arrogance instead,” Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X. His remarks were aimed at MP Minister for Urban Development Kailash Vijayvargiya whose rough and ready ways in dealing with the civic crisis has shocked everyone. He snapped at a reporter for posing a query about safe drinking water still not reaching people. Though he took to X to explain his rude conduct, it explained nothing. Close to Home Minister Amit Shah, Vijayvargiya may survive in office — Shah had deputed him for 2021 Bengal polls, but will he survive public wrath or pass PM Modi’s muster? Everyone is talking about how he has been sitting on a file for the new Narmada water supply line in the area. One hears the tender was opened only after people started dying!
After inaugurating the Jagannath Dham in Digha earlier this year, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee laid the foundation stone of the Durga Angan project in Kolkata and reiterated that the Mahakal Temple in Siliguri will be inaugurated in the second week of January. Envisioned as a permanent, year-round space for the worship of Goddess Durga, Durga Angan project spread over 17 acres will cost Rs 262-crore. It is being developed by the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation in partnership with the state government. According to the project blueprint, the complex will span over two lakh square feet and include a temple courtyard capable of accommodating 1,000 devotees at a time, a 20-foot-wide circumambulatory path, 1,008 pillars and a main sanctum rising to a height of 54 metres. Along with the principal mandap, the complex will feature a Singhadwar and several auxiliary mandaps. The government has projected infrastructure to handle up to one lakh visitors daily, with additional facilities for art, heritage studies and cultural activities, positioning it as a major cultural and tourism hub. Linking the project to UNESCO’s 2021 recognition of Durga Puja in Bengal as an ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’, Didi believes that the state had a responsibility to preserve and pass on the honour to future generations. However, the initiative has triggered sharp political reactions. BJP MP Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato alleged that projects like Durga Angan are driven by Mamata’s personal political agenda, claiming religious symbolism would not yield electoral gains.. BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya alleged financial irregularities, claimed protests over the land earmarked for the project and accused the CM of undermining religious sanctity for political gains.
Ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, a sharp political divide is emerging. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is foregrounding Bengali language, asmita, and secularism, projecting her government as pro-people through social welfare schemes and friendly governance. Conversely, the BJP is centring its campaign on illegal infiltration, corruption, misgovernance and a “climate of fear,” as outlined by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. During a three-day Kolkata tour, Shah intensified attacks on the Trinamool Congress, alleging that 15 years of rule have been paralysed by “syndicate-driven practices” and corruption, hindering development and central scheme implementation. Shah accused Mamata of nepotism, claiming power concentrated around her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee. He further criticised the appointment of senior police officials, alleging deviations from norms via the use of retired officers as proxy heads. On national security, Shah labelled illegal immigration a critical concern. He alleged the state failed to provide land for border fencing, claiming while infiltration dropped in Assam and Tripura, it persists in Bengal due to “vote-bank considerations.” He cited the BJP’s growth from 17 % vote share and two Lok Sabha seats in 2014 to 39 % vote share and 12 seats in 2024 as evidence of momentum. Banerjee launched a counterattack by questioning why the Centre focuses on Bengal while ignoring security issues in regions like Jammu and Kashmir. Finally, she questioned the timing of BJP’s deportation promises, noting that Bengal and Punjab bore the historical brunt of 1947’s Partition displacement.
Apparently, there isn’t the usual rush of visitors at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi these days. No, it has nothing to do with the winter blues. It has got more to do with the appointment of new BJP working president Nitin Nabin. It is being said the usual throng is missing. Perhaps, people are waiting for Nabin to be formally installed as party president which will happen very soon. Along with him, a new set of office-bearers will also take charge. It is being said that only people who are now being spotted at headquarters are people from Nabin’s hometurf — that is Bihar — probably taking a lot of pride in the big office he will soon occupy. Of course, Nabin himself has been busy traveling to Puducherry in the South and Patna. An interesting fallout of Nabin’s elevation is that the other serious BJP president hopeful — Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav — has finally begun attending to his ministerial responsibility. Yadav could be heard speaking about Delhi’s toxic AQI only after Nabin’s elevation. Meanwhile, there are also misgivings about Nabin’s rise within the BJP. It is felt he would always be remote controlled. He would remain the best bet for whoever picked him for the top job. Perhaps that was why he was chosen!
With the emergence of Tamil Vetri Katchi (TVK) and actor Vijay drawing phenomenal crowds for his meetings, the Congress is no longer sure if it would benefit from sustaining its alliance with the DMK. Aware that it may not be easy to just walk out of the DMK alliance that is nearly two decades old, a section of the Congress is exploring ways to break off and stitch up a pact with Vijay’s TVK. Officially, while AICC managers, dealing with TN are fretting about finalising seat agreement with the DMK before an imaginary deadline. And somewhere out of the blue, Praveen Chakravarty, a close Rahul Gandhi aide and head of All India Professionals’ Congress (AIPC), began attacking the DMK government for TN’s rising debt. Praveen’s post on X drew sharp reactions from the DMK. While the BJP enjoyed Praveen’s post, TN Cong MPs were simply not comfortable with Praveen’s attack on the DMK and TN’s debt comparisons with Uttar Pradesh. Sharpest assessment came from former IAS officer turned MP Sasikanth Senthil posted on X “Judging states by absolute debt is like judging fitness by body weight — no height, no muscle, just vibes.” TNCC chief Selvaperunthagai, in a post on X, dubbed Praveen as acting against Congress interest. As for Praveen interacting and negotiating with actor Vijay, AICC managers made it clear that it was neither “official” or authorised. The only AICC leader who is very keen about a tie-up with actor Vijay and TVK it seems is AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal who is fancying himself as the next Kerala CM. Venugopal wants a Congress-TVK tie-up to help sweep Kerala polls. He is not bothered about performance in TN. Looks like Praveen is negotiating with Vijay on behalf of Venugopal. As for TN polls, one hears DMK leader Kanimozhi is also not keen for Stalin’s return to power.
The entry of Rashid Mamu, former mayor of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, in the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray has stirred a hornet’s nest because prominent Sena leaders from that city have publicly objected to this development. Local Sena leaders complain that this entry has been engineered by former legislative council opposition leader Ambadas Danve without consulting them. Former MP Chandrakant Khaire, a close loyalist of Balasaheb Thackeray, has reminded the Sena leadership that Rashid Mamu was among those who had pelted stones at a Sena procession taken out to demand a Uniform Civil Code some years ago. Khaire has declared that he will make efforts to ensure that Mamu is not selected by the party to contest the civic election from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. Mamu was admitted into the Sena at Matoshri in Mumbai in presence of Uddhav and Danve. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, too, has castigated Uddhav Sena for welcoming Mamu in its fold. In a stinging indictment, Fadnavis has said, “It is extremely painful to see that such an individual (Mamu) has been admitted by the Sena (UBT). This decision has been taken by the son of Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray for gaining votes. This type of appeasement of licking somebody’s shoes for political benefit makes me very sad.” The CM has warned his erstwhile ally that patriots and nationalists will not pardon the Sena (UBT) for such decisions.
More than a decade after the Tata Group exited Singur following protests led by then Opposition leader Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo, now West Bengal chief minister, has cleared a Rs 500-crore investment proposal for the same area, signalling a renewed push for industrial development. Political observers see this as an effort to reinforce her government’s pro-industry image and revive Singur ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The Mamata Banerjee-led Cabinet approved a large warehouse and logistics project at Singur, marking a symbolic turnaround for a site central to her political rise. Minister of State for Finance Chandrima Bhattacharya said Nahar Industrial Enterprises Ltd will invest Rs 500 crore, with 11.35 acres allotted on a 99-year lease. The facility is expected to bolster logistics and delivery operations for major e-commerce players such as Amazon and Flipkart, generate employment, and strengthen supply-chain infrastructure. Singur gained national prominence in 2006–08 after protests against land acquisition for the Tata Motors Nano factory under the CPI(M)-led Left Front government. The agitation, led by Didi, ended with Tata Motors pulling out in October 2008, and the Left branding her “anti-industry.” More than 14 years after assuming power in 2011, Mamata has now facilitated major private investment at the same site. This follows a 2016 Supreme Court verdict directing the TMC government to take possession of about 1,000 acres and return it to farmers, declaring the earlier acquisition illegal.
Psephologists and political analysts have started gearing up in Maharashtra where various municipal corporation elections are scheduled on 15 January. Expectedly, the initial focus is on making predictions about the number of seats likely to be won by the ruling saffron Mahayuti, led by the BJP, in Mumbai. The fight for the BMC will be thus mainly confined between the BJP and the alliance of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (Sena), led by the cousins, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray. The first such prediction has been posted by Amitabh Tiwari of ‘Vote India Vibe.’ According to him, the Mahayuti can win up to 114 seats in the 227-member civic body, followed by the Sena alliance at around 80. The basis for this estimate is the voting pattern witnessed in the assembly election held a year earlier. The Mahayuti had won almost 240 seats in the 288-member house. The other factor in reaching this conclusion is the demographic profile of Mumbai. As of now, the Congress party has decided to go it alone in the election, underscoring the possibility of a split in the opposition vote. More such ‘surveys’ are expected to tumble out in the next two weeks, about Mumbai and other major cities like Pune, Nagpur and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.
Elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) – the most prestigious and cash richest civic body housed within the financial capital of India — will be held on January 15. Seat number 227 (identical to the total tally of seats in BMC) sees the Congress party faced with a Hobson’s choice, where two Christian women are vying for the party candidature. One resourceful hospitality sector entrepreneur – Laura D’Souza and the other – Vaishali Gawde – grass-roots worker of the party who will need the party’s financial investment into her candidature if selected as the party candidate. The seat is housed in the most prestigious Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha parliamentary and assembly constituencies of Mumbai that used to be the HQ of the Jan Sangh now BJP. Back then the undivided Shiv Sena under Uddhav Thackeray had wrested the seat despite protestations from the BJP. After all, former Union Power Minister Jaywantiben Mehta held the seat for over a decade. Shiv Sena candidate Arvind Sawant still won convincingly with 50K votes more than his nearest opponent and has enjoyed voter confidence ever since. BJP’s state assembly winner and Speaker in Maharashtra’s state legislature Rahul Narvekar is credited with being the real political powerhouse in the belt alongside the developmental skill sets of neighboring Malabar Hill MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha. Narvekar’s younger brother has been the corporator elected from the seat and is likely to field his wife this time round. Coming back to the Congress candidate chosen for seat 227 – she will have to be a real giant killer. UBT Sena has tied up with MNS while Congress, Sharad Pawar’s NCP are seeking Prakash Ambedkar’s Dalit vote bank separately.
With the West Bengal Assembly elections just months away, veteran politician Humayun Kabir’s decision to launch his own outfit, Janata Unnayan Party and openly challenge chief minister Mamata Banerjee has added an unexpected twist to an already heated political season. Kabir announced that his party will contest 135 of Bengal’s 294 Assembly seats. There is speculation that he could split the Muslim votes in the state. If that happens, it could seriously hurt Didi’s Trinamool Congress party, which draws significant support from Bengal’s 27% Muslim population. The TMC has downplayed the move as a sideshow. The development has invited comparisons with Banerjee’s own break from the Congress in 1998, when she formed the Trinamool Congress, eventually ending the Left Front’s long rule. According to a section of political observers, Kabir’s situation is different as he does not command a mass following, nor have a statewide organisational structure or a clear ideological pitch that can cut across regions and communities. However, his move cannot be dismissed entirely since his criticism of the Trinamool’s leadership style — particularly its highly centralised decision-making — have quietly circulated within party ranks. By stepping out, Kabir has brought these murmurs into the open. From an electoral perspective, the immediate impact on the ruling party is likely to be limited as Trinamool remains firmly deep-rooted across most of the state. A section of party sources, however, feel that in tightly contested constituencies, even a marginal split in votes — especially among minorities — could tilt the balance. For the opposition, including the BJP, Kabir’s entry not only highlights cracks within the ruling camp but may also split the anti-Trinamool vote further.
For a change, the customary tea party hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at the end of Winter Session for party leaders struck a pleasant note. Unlike in the past, when there would be no conversation, except exchange of courtesies, the brief meeting between PM Modi and senior minister Rajnath Singh with Opposition leaders like Priyanka Gandhi and senior leaders from Kerala like RSP MP NK Premachandran went off very well. Did it have anything to do with the absence of Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi who is known to be stiff when it comes to dealing with PM Modi or anyone in the government? Has Priyanka Gandhi’s presence made all the difference? Did she persuade the Opposition to join the Speaker’s tea party? Senior MPs from Kerala deny it wasn’t Priyanka’s idea to attend the Speaker’s tea. “Normally, at the end of every Parliament Session both the ruling and Opposition leaders meet the Speaker to thank him. Since the Monsoon Session was a washout, we had decided to give Speaker’s tea a miss. It had nothing to do with Rahulji’s presence or absence,” says a Kerala MP. At the same time the Kerala leader concedes that the Speaker’s tea meeting without Rahul Gandhi was a pleasant affair. It perhaps had a lot to do with the informal exchanges PM Modi had with Priyanka and Premachandran. Like Priyanka asking PM Modi about his latest foreign visit and the small talk about Wayanad herbal drink for her throat. BJP sources say ever since she became a MP Priyanka has been reaching out to the government. She had sought out a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah and during the session met with Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. Unlike her brother, she is open to the idea of having a dialogue with the government.
In Odisha, there is a public outrage over the recent three-fold salary hike — from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3.45 lakh — of the Odisha legislators. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have expressed their displeasure over this unprecedented hike. Now, it is learned that Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi is taking corrective steps. Sources say, after the salary hike was passed in the Odisha Assembly, CM Majhi was summoned to Delhi by BJP national General Secretary BL Santosh on December 14. Reportedly, it was conveyed to Majhi about PM’s displeasure over the hefty hike which could be sending a wrong signal to other BJP ruled states which are getting lesser pay and allowances. Santosh expressed his surprise how Majhi could take such a bold and swift decision without consulting the central leadership. Majhi has now been advised to roll back the pay hike decision and the first step is to pass a resolution by the legislature party. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling said that such an important decision taken without consulting the central leadership was not well received by the Centre. This massive embarrassment has been saved just in time as the Governor is yet to give his assent on the Bill. As a first step towards roll back, a resolution was adopted for reconsideration of the Bill regarding legislators pay hike passed on December 9 at BJP Legislature Party chaired by the CM.
Indians are known to flout any and every rule if they are not watched or stopped. When abroad, they praise and follow all rules and regulations but once back home, their original instinct takes over. It is so widespread that nowadays, even traffic police personnel ignore the violators or at the most, capture them in mobile cameras. Hence, walking even on footpaths is no longer safe since ubiquitous two-wheelers can bump into you, from behind mostly. Traffic anywhere in India is a testimony to this national malady. Therefore, those criticising the British for enslaving India will find it quite unnerving that in Pimpri-Chinchwad in Pune, some foreign nationals were seen stopping two-wheeler riders who were using the footpath and urging them to follow traffic rules. The incident has been recorded by Pune Mirror at Rakshak Chowk in the Pimple Nilakh area. Following its ‘X’ post, there is a barrage of angry retorts. One respondent says, “When outsiders have to teach us how to use our own roads, it’s a serious question mark on our civic sense. Rules aren’t optional, they reflect basic respect for others.” Politician Satyajit Tambe is equally critical. He has lamented in his post, “If foreigners feel the need to point out basic traffic rules, it highlights how urgently we need better civic sense on our roads.” Dr Neeraj Sharma is more direct when he writes, “It’s a shame that we need foreigners to come and teach us civility. I have repeatedly said that we need to change our primary education syllabus and add Civics and civility to it rather than reading about the Battle of Plassey.” The post hopefully serves some useful purpose.
Congress MLC Pradnya Satav’s decision to resign her post and join the BJP has wider ramifications than was initially understood. It is now clear that the most affected individual by her abrupt change of loyalty is none other than Rahul Gandhi. Although the state Congress failed to persuade her to stay over in the party, Pradnya decided to join the ruling party since she felt that no developmental work will be possible in her Hingoli area unless there is a strong political support. Unfortunately for the Congress party, its last leader from Marathwada, former CM Ashok Chavan, is now a BJP MP while his daughter is elected to the legislative assembly on that party’s ticket. Pradnya’s husband Rajiv Satav was a close confidant of Rahul Gandhi, who had entrusted him to handle the last assembly election in Gujarat. In that election, the Congress had won 77 seats, a record in recent times, against the BJP’s 99. After Rajiv’s untimely demise in 2021 in the Covid pandemic, the Congress party sent Pradnya to the state legislative council, a gesture to pay homage to her husband. However, over the past three years, Pradnya realised the importance of political backing and has decided to join the saffron outfit. With her decision, Rahul Gandhi’s leadership limitations have once again been exposed. Nonetheless, on her part, Pradnya has praised Rahul and Sonia Gandhi. But that will be her swan song for the Congress, it is now clear.
TRENDS & VIEWS
Editor’s Note: Short Post Is Here To Stay…
Time, they say, flies—and how true that is. Here we are celebrating our 5th Anniversary. Five years ago, when Covid-19 was wreaking havoc across the globe, I took a leap of faith and launched Short Post, India’s first website for Authentic Gossip. That was on January 31, 2021. I was convinced there was a clear gap in the market for gossip that was credible, sharp, and impactful—especially if told in just 250 words.
In this, I was fortunate. Scores of senior editors across diverse verticals bought into the idea and, in the process, gave wings to my dream. Quite honestly, Short Post could not have crossed these milestones without the unflinching support of its contributing editors. Like all start-ups, we have seen our share of ups and downs, but these editors have stood by us like a rock. I take this opportunity to doff my hat to them.
Thanks to their commitment, we have published close to 5,000 stories spanning politics, business, entertainment, and sports. I say this with pride: we made our mark as people who matter read us. “Small packs, big impact” truly captures the essence of Short Post.
We all know that Covid-19 has reset businesses worldwide, and the media sector is no exception. In the post-Covid era, investors have become more cautious and selective—and advertisers too. To compound matters, the entry of AI has disrupted the media landscape in equal measure. So far, we have managed to hold our ground, hopeful that some angel investors will take a shine to us.
What gives me confidence is this: AI cannot smell news—especially the gossipy kind. In other words, AI cannot churn out Short Post-type stories, no matter the prompt. That puts us in a safe zone. As someone rightly said, “AI is a co-pilot, not a pilot.”