Dr P Thiaga Rajan (PTR), Tamil Nadu IT minister was seen as a wunderkind when came back from the U.S. to revive his political and family connections in Madurai. He joined the DMK and was quickly rewarded by chief minister MK Stalin with a cabinet post. But it didn’t take long for the awestruck scales to drop…his unique talent and standalone abilities created a rift with those who swore by “Dravidian” versus his hybrid talents, swung from Gesellschaft to Gemeinschaft. Not just unique, he was unequivocal too in expressing his views fearlessly, shocking entrenched party loyalists. His recent speech in the TN Assembly was the flashpoint for Stalin’s anger. The fuse was lit when someone from his party asked about his earlier projects and new ones. He apparently grumbled about the lack of adequate funding for the IT Ministry…“even as Rs 20, 000 crore allocation is sanctioned, the IT ministry got only 200 crore, now cut to Rs150 crore. Even then we used the funds prudently but faced several deficits in projects. Like other states, all IT parks don’t come under this ministry, excepting the small ELCOT …whereas TIDEL and other mega parks are under the Industries Ministry.” Was PTR holding a grudge against Rajaa? The fallout of this frankness was immediate. When PTR invited Stalin to release a book on his grandfather…after some hesitation Stalin agreed but only to pull the carpet from under PTR at the event. In his speech Stalin said: “PTR has excellent communication and strong debating talent. But these abilities often turn into weaknesses by excessive open talk” leaving PTR squirming.  Talk is rife that PTR may be sent to Delhi via the Rajya Sabha. When you are inconvenient, you become convenient…to be deputed.

When he was Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah, many decades ago called up senior leader Sharad Pawar and requested him to accommodate his son Omar in Mumbai as the situation in his own state was very bad. All the academic institutions were closed due to disturbances in Kashmir.  Farooq wanted Omar to continue his education, hence he had contacted Pawar with the request.  “Omar stayed in my house and completed his education,” Pawar told a Pune rally while speaking on the latest situation in the border state. Pawar said he was mentioning this little-known fact since the Abdullah family had close relations with his family. Pawar called up the chief minister of the state Omar Abdullah to obtain the latest updates post the Pahalgam massacre. “Omar has assured me that every person in Kashmir is of the opinion that no compromise should be made with Pakistan,” Pawar told a meeting in Pune. He appealed to the people to think as Indians and remain united by forgetting any other differences on the issue of the nation’s unity. Pawar complimented Union home minister Amit Shah for owing up any lapse on the part of the intelligence agencies in regard to the terrorist attack and reiterated that this is not the time to think about religion or caste. He lamented that attempts were made by certain elements to give a religious tint to the tragedy. 

The tour operator led mostly Hindu families to the Pahalgam terror site (aka mini-Switzerland) causing 26 male killings, well aware that visits to interior regions needed prior army sanction before tourists could be taken to the scenic meadow, nearby regions. Tour operators were intimated the area would be turned open to tourists from June 2025. The Hamas signature style terror strike upon India, preceded by public rally in Pakistan where Hamas operatives were in full view, vocally exhorting Pakistani state sponsored terrorists (including Hafiz Saeed) to carry out wanton attacks like they pulled off in Israel on October 7, 2023. In addition, terror attack fatalities included officers attached to the Indian Navy and Intelligence Bureau which has raised questions about whether local over ground workers (OGWs) were the resort of terrorists before the attack took place. The local pony operator’s death was confirmed as inadvertent since he was caught in crossfire. Scores of terrorist aiding suspects were rounded up in quick time after the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) took over investigations. “Even the 2008 26/11 attack upon Mumbai city was launched in similar pattern with local infrastructure support with then Mumbai police chief Hassan Gafoor admitting privately that 16 to 20 Indian locals were involved, before he was issued a gag order by the then state government that soon enough eased him out of his post,” sources reveal. A senior intelligence officer had then stated that the 10 Mumbai attackers only landed upon Mumbai soil with a cache of bullets and were provided weapons and hand grenades in Mumbai city itself, as revealed to this scribe back then.

PM Narendra Modi has planned something ‘big’ against Pakistan following the J&K terror attack upon innocent Hindu tourists. Pakistan’s army Chief Asim Munir, is on India’s crosshairs, like former Pakistan armed forces Chief Qamar Bajwa was after the 2019 Pulwama terror attack claimed lives of 40 Indian CRPF jawans. Then, NSA Ajit Doval employed his wherewithal to neutralize Bajwa following the Balakot strikes and soon Bajwa was eased out of service, like his predecessor General Asfaq Kayani who took refuge in Australia after being deposed. The Balakot bombings and aerial dogfight that cost Pakistan an advanced (American) F16 fighter plane brought down in aerial combat by Captain Abhinandan from the Indian Airforce operating his antiquated MIG (Russian) fighter plane even as the Balakot air strikes were concluded by his colleagues using other fighter jets. Bajwa’s exit as army chief was precipitated and he eschewed his homeland choosing France after suffering ignominy of a four-hour wait to meet Saudi Arabia’s political leader with his begging bowl seeking a $4 billion soft loan that was also declined. Asim Munir also finds himself in an unenviable position after internal strife engulfed the neighbouring country with terror attacks by Tahereek-e-Taliban against Pakistan police, army posts alongside eruptions of unrest in Balochistan. Munir’s desperation was evident when he resorted to a public forum while dwelling upon cultural differences between Islam and Hindus only days before the Hindu-religion-discriminated terror attack was launched. Bajwa got away lightly, being ousted from power but Munir’s fate will likely be worse with his very life at stake now. The political formations in Pakistan are also rallying up against Munir, whose days are surely numbered now.

All eyes are now on the Indian armed forces, as PM Modi vowed to avenge the killings of Hindu tourists in Pahalgam. Modi’s top ministers have discussed all options. But they have left it to Modi to decide on the action. They feel Modi will go for a sustained approach and not an immediate strike– because there is no pressure of any election like in February 2019. Modi had ordered the IAF to strike at the Balakot terrorist training camp in Pakistan after many CRPF men were killed in Pulwama. This time, Modi’s plan is: the end of the game for terrorists and their perpetrators. Meanwhile, the Pakistani army has begun troop movement near the borders in Rajasthan and Kashmir and tanks and heavy weapons are being shifted from Afghan border to the Indian border. Pakistani fighter jets were seen flying along with cargo planes to transport troops and weapons to the Indian border. India has defeated Pakistan in three wars. Pakistan officials are worried that many Pakistani fighter jets are in poor condition because of a lack of spare parts. Pakistani tanks do not have enough diesel for long-distance attacks. Pakistan wants to show the world that Kashmir is no longer under India’s control, but the world is watching that nothing is under control in Pakistan — neither PoK, Balochistan nor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. If Pakistan carries out any misadventure, it must fight on four fronts. A former Pakistani army major, Adil Raja, has claimed that the killings of Hindu terrorists in Pahalgam were carried out on the directions of Army Chief Gen Asim Munir. Indian security agencies are evaluating reports that the people of Pakistan are not happy with their Army Chief, and to curb the growing voices of dissent, Gen. Munir chose the old formula to carry out a big terror attack in Kashmir to save his chair.

In an interesting move, Vice-President JP Dhankar reached Ooty to preside over as chief guest at a high-level conference of Vice-Chancellors at the Raj Bhavan with representatives from 32 universities taking part in the event. Since Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi assumed office, he has been organizing annual conferences involving V-Cs of both government and private universities. This year marks the fourth consecutive edition of the conference. Dhankar’s presence at the conference assumes significance as it comes in the backdrop of the Supreme Court order that gave Tamil Nadu government powers to appoint V-Cs. Official sources say that Dhankar could have possibly agreed to preside over the event only after some kind of suggestion from the Centre to consent to his presence. It remains to be seen what message the V-P delivers at the event. Local media reports suggested that there was pressure on several V-Cs from the DMK government to stay away from the two-day event. The main agenda of the event was to foster dialogue and collaboration among academic leaders to enhance the quality and reach of higher education in the state and across the country. Invitations were extended to 21 V-Cs from state universities, 25 from private universities, and three from central universities. Only representatives from 32 institutions had confirmed their participation.  Dhankar, who is on a three-day visit to TN, will also be visiting the Muthanad Mund Toda Temple in Ooty. He will also be addressing the students and faculty members of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Coimbatore on April 27.

In a strategic move ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, chief minister Mamata Banerjee has revived the ‘Mentor’ position within Zilla Parishads, a role previously discontinued after the last panchayat elections. The State Panchayat Department’s initiative has already been implemented in districts including Howrah, Hooghly, East Midnapore, Bankura, Birbhum, and Bardhaman. While officially recognised, the ‘Mentor’ designation was initially introduced by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) following their rise to power, primarily to accommodate influential leaders who could not be placed in formal governance roles. However, the role was quietly laid dormant after the 2023 panchayat polls. The revival of these positions is widely interpreted as a strategic move by Didi to strengthen the party’s grassroots organization. Party insiders suggest it serves to provide senior leaders with influential roles, potentially mitigating factional rivalries. Notable appointments have included figures such as former state minister Rajib Banerjee (Howrah), former minister Akhil Giri (East Midnapore), and former MLA Arup Khan (Bankura). However, objections have reportedly surfaced in at least two districts, with concerns that these mentors, despite lacking formal administrative authority, could become alternative power centres. This raised fears of potential disruptions to both Panchayat operations and internal party dynamics, given the mentors’ individual support bases. Some party leaders also believe the revival is a pre-emptive measure to manage the growing number of MLA ticket aspirants for the Assembly poll. Adding to the political complexity, the TMC has yet to implement a long-pending organizational reshuffle. Discussions indicate that Didi may soon expedite this process, which is expected to include changes within several party wings.

Closeted with his lawyers after leaving the Assembly session early, Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji was wondering when to put in his resignation. Given a sharper deadline by the Supreme Court to either resign or risk losing the bail given to him after more than a year in jail, the minister for prohibition as well as electricity — major portfolios through which large amounts of money flow — may have boxed himself into a corner now. A Jaya loyalist who once made a name for efficiency as well as an ability to keep everyone in the cabinet happy, Senthil Balaji made himself an invaluable member of Stalin’s government. Having defied the edicts of the top court which gave him bail only on the grounds that Article 21 may have been breached in continuous imprisonment as an undertrial and thus denied his human rights, the minister might become the first victim as the tide turns in judicial circles for Tamil Nadu. The state is still celebrating verdicts in its battle against Governor RN Ravi. While time may have run out for Senthil Balaji who had tested the court’s patience after becoming a minister just a few days after getting bail in a money laundering case, other TN ministers are also in trouble with the judiciary. An old disproportionate assets case has come back to haunt senior minister Duraimurugan. Another minister, K Ponmudy earned the wrath of the Madras High Court after disparaging comments against the religious sects of Brahmins and women seemed to disappear from public memory. The judge has asked the court to take suo motu notice of his offence of hate speech and asked for a FIR to be filed.

PM Narendra Modi who chaired the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on the back of terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were killed, took a series of steps to corner Pakistan and express India’s anger over Islamabad’s mischief in killing the innocents. Delhi began with what could hit Pakistan the hardest; it declared holding the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 in abeyance with immediate effect, until the recalcitrant neighbour credibly and irrevocably abjured its support for cross-border terrorism. In another significant move, the Integrated Check Post Attari will also be closed with immediate effect. Those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before May 1 2025. It was also made clear Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES). Any SVES visa issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled. Any Pakistani national currently in India under SVES visa has 48 hours to leave India. Cracking down on the Pakistani High Commission, the CCS wanted the Defence/Military, Naval and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi to be declared Persona Non Grata. They have a week to leave India. India will be withdrawing its own Defence/Navy/Air Advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. These posts in the respective High Commissions are deemed annulled. Five support staff of the Service Advisors will also be withdrawn from both High Commissions. The overall strength of the High Commissions will be brought down to 30 from the present 55 through further reductions to be effective from May 1. It was noted that this attack came in the wake of the successful holding of elections in the Union Territory and its steady progress towards economic growth and development.

PM Narendra Modi who flew into New Delhi early April 23 morning after curtailing his Saudi Arabia visit by a day in view of the Pahalgam terrorist strikes in J&K decided to get cracking as soon as he reached the capital. Security officials who were preparing to brief Modi on his arrival at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg were surprised, when they were asked to reach the Palam Air Force base by 6 am for the meeting at the airport itself.  He took stock of the situation along with EAM Dr S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and other top brass of security agencies. Meanwhile as the world mourned the massacre of 28 innocent tourists, Pakistan and Turkey have drawn outrage by using the tragedy to rake up the Kashmir issue. Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara thanked Turkey for its “unwavering support” on Kashmir—just hours after the terror attack. The Resistance Front, a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy, has claimed responsibility for the massacre. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) will meet once HM Shah reaches Delhi and FM Nirmala Sitharaman returns from the U.S. In a post on X, Modi said the attackers would not be spared. “Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice…they will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger,” said Modi. While the CCS could possibly discuss a range of options and authorise retaliatory strikes; timing of such a step would of course be strategised by our security forces. After all, if we recall Pulwama attack that claimed lives of 40 CRPF jawans in February 2019 was retaliated with  Balakote airstrike  a good 10 days later.

In an unusual move, the Congress suspended its Buxar District Cong president Manoj Kumar Pandey indefinitely and stripped him of all organisational posts for “inaction” or low turnout at party president Mallikarjun Kharge’s Buxar rally. The party  apparently decided to suspend Pandey from all posts he was holding in the organisation, including that of Buxar District Congress president, with immediate effect due to lack of coordination and irregularities on his part in connection with “the Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan” rally held at Dalsagar Stadium in Buxar on  April 20, which was addressed by Kharge.  Pandey himself made it clear that it was not lack of coordination but the sweltering heat — about 42 degrees — that had made people stand in the shade. Efforts to get people to occupy empty chairs had failed. Bihar Congress leaders are stunned that Pandey was even being blamed for low-turnout.” Action should be taken against the PCC leadership and AICC in charge Krishna  Allavaru who chose this time of the year to organise these rallies.  How can you organise these Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan rallies when villages are getting busy with weddings? Besides, most of these areas are Brahmin dominant — Buxar, Madhubani and Darbhanga where rallies are being planned, ” pointed out a senior Cong leader. It was also felt that recent organisational changes have been quite ineffective. The new PCC chief Rajesh Kumar — who fulfils Rahul Gandhi’s goals of filling up Dalits in all party posts– has substantially weakened the Bihar unit.  At this rate, under the new set-up Cong men fear their tally which is at present in double digit with 19 MLAs is bound to fall in the upcoming Bihar assembly polls.

The general trend among politicians who move into spacious Lutyens bungalows in Delhi as ministers is to ensure that their children are married in style before their term ends. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal who was voted out of Delhi government on February 8 this year after a three-term stint may have planned well for that; he did not expect to lose power. He was voted out as he built a “Sheeshmahal” for himself and failed to deliver on promises that had disillusioned voters. Yet, he ensured that his daughter Harshita is married off in style. Never mind the propriety of it all. Or else how does one explain that within two months of losing power, Kejriwal was back in the news in connection with Harshita’s wedding with Sambhav Jain, her batch mate from IIT Delhi. What raised eyebrows was the manner in which the wedding and other ceremonies were held at the Kapurthala House, the official residence of Punjab CM in Delhi. Apparently four different events were held. The jaimala and reception were both solemnised at Kapurthala House. A day before the wedding, the engagement ceremony was held at Shangri-La hotel in Delhi on April 17. A video of Kejriwal and his wife Sunita dancing to Pushpa 2 songs has been doing the rounds on X. Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar, in his tweet, took a dig at CM Bhagwant Mann for the manner in which Kapurthala House had morphed into a ‘marriage palace of eminence’…before Kejriwal’s daughter’s marriage, AAP MP Raghav Chadha’s pre-wedding ceremonies with actor Parineeti Chopra had been held at the same venue in May 2023. It’s just a matter of time before CM Mann decides to monetise Kapurthala House” — a model of ‘kranti’ to earn revenue by bankrupt Punjab for solemnising marriages — in Khaas Aadmi style.

The electoral victory of former cricketer Yusuf Pathan from Baharampur rekindled the long-standing debate over whether celebrity status alone could shape an effective politician. Pathan, a political novice, was fielded by the Trinamool Congress (TMC)—reportedly at Abhishek Banerjee’s behest—and went on to defeat Congress heavyweight Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. However, his silence during unrest in Murshidabad led to criticism of his political detachment. A social media post of him sipping tea amid tensions drew backlash, highlighting concerns about celebrity MPs’ lack of engagement. This reflected a broader trend of celebrities being fielded for name recognition or to balance party equations, often without expectations of long-term political commitment. While some like Kirti Azad transitioned successfully, others faded from active roles. TMC’s Satabdi Roy, Dev, June Maliah, Sayoni Ghosh, and BJP’s Locket Chatterjee, Agnimitra Paul showed sustained dedication. Conversely, Moon Moon Sen and Sandhya Roy won seats but failed to leave a mark. BJP stars Hema Malini and Sunny Deol also faced absenteeism charges. Among Pathan’s cricketing peers, Lakshmi Ratan Shukla exited politics; Manoj Tiwary, despite a ministerial post, remained largely inactive. BJP’s Ashok Dinda, however, stayed visible. Though TMC defended Yusuf, arguing that the unrest occurred in a Congress MP’s area, even party insiders admitted only a few celebrities remained actively engaged. BJP’s Dilip Ghosh remarked that most celebrities joined politics for perks, not service. CPM’s Mohammed Salim emphasized that real leadership demanded grassroots work and personal sacrifice—values rarely found overnight.

The AIADMK supremo Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) could not have asked for more. Every wish of his was granted by the BJP that was seeking an alliance in Tamil Nadu with a major party at any cost. The first concession that EPS made in return was in withdrawing the case against Sasikala’s nephew TTV Dhinakaran that he had filed at the height of the battle for the party and its ‘Two Leaves’ legacy symbol. This is the first sign that some sort of rapprochement might come about between EPS and his bete noire O Panneerselvam, who has stood by Sasikala. It is, however, unlikely that any of the Sasikala clan and cronies will be allowed back into the party. At most, they may be accommodated in the seats that the BJP gets from AIADMK. Earlier, the BJP had empowered EPS after it became known that Vijay was bent upon going into his poll debut on his own with his fledgling TVK. EPS and his party have been named the leaders of the grand coalition that the BJP was desperate to cobble together to take on the DMK that has further entrenched its position by being a fierce voice of opposing the ruling national party. Former BJP TN chief Annamalai may have fought tooth and nail to improve the party’s vote share in the Lok Sabha polls but BJP had to ditch him to get EPS on its side. Today, EPS is bold enough to state that there will be no coalition government in TN even if the alliance wins a majority even though Amit Shah had hinted at a sharing of power in the state.

PM Narendra Modi’s ‘Look South’ policy may see former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai’s induction as Union cabinet minister (Rajya Sabha) or general secretary of southern states (TN, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala) like Hemanta Biswa Sarma took charge of North Eastern states. Three-time MLA, N Narendran, elected as AIAIDMK MLA twice under Amma’s tenure, turned BJP president of TN playing a crucial role for fostering improved coalition relationship with his former party. Similarly, four to five state BJP presidents are likely to be replaced before BJP announces its national president by the end of this month. Manoharlal Khattar, Bhupinder Yadav are still front-runners for post, even as Manoj Sinha, Dharmendra Pradhan candidatures were seriously considered. Consultations with RSS next week will finalise the name of the next incumbent. An open secret in BJP that Shah effectively was backseat driving BJP’s politics even while JP Nadda held the post, adding grist to rumour mills over his candidature for presidential responsibility. His holding crucial ministries (Home and Cooperation) is the only hitch. Next incumbent will lead BJP’s election juggernaut at the 2029 general elections so appointment will require persuasion of the Hindutva brigade. Pertinent to note here, Nadda was RSS prerogative in 2014 when PM Modi imposed Shah as national president. Shah’s heightened activity of addressing Parliament, visits to Maharashtra, Kashmir and West Bengal on a single day exposed the fact that he runs BJP’s national politics as de facto president. The May-June cabinet reshuffle may see BJP leaders from Bihar elevated with an eye on the forthcoming state assembly elections.

A dog biting a man (and not vice versa), hit the headlines in Maharashtra reflecting on the way things have changed these days. A stray dog bit Hindutva leader Sambhaji Bhide, who heads the Shivpratishthan Hindustan. As the octogenarian Bhide, hit the hospital for treatment, the Sangli local municipal corporation launched a massive drive against stray dogs on the streets of Sangli. News channels not just reported about the dog bite and the resultant campaign but they also zoomed in visual shots of that particular dog that had bitten Bhide and had led to the furore in town. Some reports even suggested that the local civic administration had been working zealously overnight for almost 36 hours to track the particular dog that had bit the Hindutva leader, even as they detained some 10-12 dogs in the process. All this ado was enough to spark much sardonic commentary from the political class in the state. While Congress legislator Vijay Waddetiwar demanded a SIT inquiry be instituted on why a loyal animal like dog knew not whom he bit. Jitendra Awhad hoped that dogs in his area had the sense to bite some VIP in order to get the authorities to act. An advocate from Ulhasnagar, Jai Gaikwad offered to adopt the canine for his deed. Incidentally, this incident comes on the heels of the controversy over the statue of the pet dog of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Waghya, installed near Raigad Fort. While a scion of Shivaji had been demanding its removal citing no historical evidence about the dog’s existence, Bhide has been vociferous to let the dog’s statue be retained. Clearly, the Sangli stray dog did not know Bhide’s love and support for his fellow dog.

No surprises here in this election but it did create a record. For the 9th consecutive time Naveen Patnaik was re-elected as the President of Biju Janata Dal. So, will he herald a change in governance style considering that the party got a severe drubbing both in the 2024 Assembly and Lok Sabha elections? It is public knowledge that there is a murmur of protests, growing factionalism especially at the district level. The challenge is how to ensure the party regains its pristine glory? Is it possible? Yes and no. The immediate task is to resolve the factionalism at the district level including certain select senior levels. This issue assumes importance because as of now there is no clarity who will serve as BJD’s District Presidents.  Sources within the party opine that the state executive committee of BJD will now pave the way to restructure the party’s from the grassroot level which will include women, students and youth. Patnaik will need to pick future leaders to lead the party in all districts. The need of the hour is to manage the internal dynamics of the party wherein communication cascading and party discipline will play an important role. All in all, what seems apparent is Patnaik’s man Friday VK Pandian who has been under the radar is back in the play. He continues to serve Naveen babu in a personal capacity and looks after his master’s health needs. Pandian continues to play albeit a significant role in advisory capacity to Patnaik but ensuring no direct intervention with the party bigwigs.

Maharashtra’s political scene is abuzz with renewed discussion on the possibility of the two Thackeray cousins coming together. After MNS leader Raj Thackeray gave such an indication, he received a positive response from Uddhav. Both have said that the interests of Maharashtra are paramount and not any personal grouses. Raj sent out this feeler in an informal TV chat with producer actor Mahesh Manjrekar two days ago. Within hours, Uddhav also responded by claiming that there was no quarrel as such. The discussion has been revised in view of the coming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation election since it will determine the fate of the Shiv Sena under Uddhav as well as MNS led by Raj. In the recent assembly election, both Senas had performed dismally, creating a question mark about their future. Several top leaders from the Sena (UBT) have joined either the BJP or the Shiv Sena led by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde after the assembly election. If and when the two Thackeray cousins come together, a formidable pro-Marathi political combination can emerge, in Mumbai-Thane belt at least. Over the past week, Raj has spearheaded a campaign to oppose teaching of Hindi in primary schools in the state. Afterwards, the Sena (UBT) also joined the chorus. Hence Sainiks from both the Senas are awaiting any specific signal. Senior leaders from both sides argue that there should not be any problem in uniting on the issue of Maharashtra’s interests. This has revived the shake hand talk.

Top Congress leader Sangram Thopate’s decision to join the BJP has dealt a severe blow to the party not just in Pune district but in the state as well. Elected on behalf of the Congress ticket thrice, Thopate lost the recent assembly election. Thopate’s father Anantrao was a staunch Congress worker who had always opposed the domination of his foe Sharad Pawar, who was in the Congress till 1999. Pawar’s efforts to pose a challenge to senior Thopate in Bhor assembly constituency in the district had not been successful. After Anantrao’s demise, Sangram donned the mantle and experienced similar difficulties. So much so that he was never made a minister in Maharashtra. His humiliation was unbearable when his claim to become state assembly speaker was ignored by the high command after then incumbent Nana Patole resigned the post suddenly. Owing to Pawar’s strategy, the Congress party has not been able to influence Pune district’s politics. Still, a handful leaders like Thopate have tried their best to stall Pawar’s monopoly but the Congress party has never acknowledged their single-handed battle. Only recently, former Congress MLA Ravindra Dhangekar in Pune had joined the Shiv Sena led by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. Even then, the Congress party had remained silent. Exasperated by such treatment, Thopate has announced his decision to join the BJP, rendering the Congress still weaker in the district which was once upon a time its stronghold.

Karma has its own way of catching up with transgressions and calculated hurt strategies. Nearly 10 days have passed since K Ponmudy, senior DMK leader made his kamasutra speech insulting not just women but a religious sect and devotional symbols of the so-called majority. Hindus, especially Brahmins have been silently suffering this outrage as they lack unity and as always expect the state law and order machinery to come to their rescue. They were lucky. A Madras High Court Judge was not going to watch this hate attitude passively. Even as Ponmudy’s disproportionate wealth case came up for hearing, this HC Judge took up this “lewd comment” issue which went viral. A weak apology was tendered…“it happened without thinking, it won’t happen again,” said Ponmudy. The HC Judge said, “it is like an arrow that has already left the bow…but no action taken so far…that is worrying.” Such talk by any other person would have erupted into a rash of cases, and he put the video on view for all to see. If action is not taken immediately, officers shall face contempt. Interestingly, the Tamil Nadu DGP did not appear but Advocate General PS Raman was in his place. Even as opposition and political leaders protested and thundered at this bias, Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin who stripped him of all his powers and suspended him, is said to have called Ponmudy to his room at the Assembly and warned him to lie low, and see this storm through. As you sow, you shall reap.

Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray has undertaken a sustained plan to rejuvenate the organisation buffeted by continuous desertions by loyal Sainiks over the past two years. Initially, the campaign will focus on Mumbai since the existence of the Sena under him will depend upon who controls the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the richest civic body in India. The Sena (UBT) has been heading the BMC since 1985. On the other hand, the ruling BJP is equally determined to wrest the control from Uddhav, who is its enemy number one at present. Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde has been supplementing the BJP’s planning to end the hold of Uddhav in a bid to avenge the treatment he received when he was with him till 2022. As larger planning, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray is periodically wooed to help the saffron alliance to decimate Uddhav. Assessing the situation, Uddhav has decided to activate his lieutenants to launch efforts to inject  new life into the organisation whose soul is the Sainik at the local level. According to the data compiled by Uddhav, there are over 50000 Sainiks and Shakha Pramukhs who are loyal to him and eager to reestablish the Sena’s hold in Mumbai. Over the past few weeks, he has been liaising with the rank and file so as to give shape to the strategy he will adopt for the BMC polls, likely to take place after the monsoon this year.

 “We are Hindus, not Hindi,” thunders Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) supremo Raj Thackeray. Reason: the government’s decision to make Hindi compulsory along with Marathi from the first standard in English medium schools. Though the move has started evoking protesting murmurs, major political parties have adopted a cautious stand till now. Just a few days after supporting chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Prime Minister Narendra Modi wholeheartedly, the MNS leader has surprised his followers once more by opposing teaching Hindi in primary schools. Only a few weeks earlier, Raj had asked his workers to deal with those bank employees unable to speak Marathi. The stir was withdrawn after incidents of MNS workers assaulting bank staff over the issue of Marathi started spiralling. Although Raj has now declared his opposition to introducing Hindi, his wavering policy will make those with him wary. Expressing his opposition, he has warned the ruling alliance that MNS will stand by Hindutva but not imposition of  Hindi. BJP leader and minister Ashish Shelar has advised Raj to first understand the government policy details in this regard. Raj will be sent a copy of the National Education Policy, which he should study before making any statements against it, Shelar has said. Interestingly, Raj and Shelar are old friends. Even when the ties between the BJP and MNS were strained, Shelar was the conduit to keep the dialogue open between the two sides. Hence, how Raj proceeds with his opposition will be watched by the BJP.

West Bengal may be in hot spot over violence in Murshidabad where Hindus were targeted by mobs protesting over the Waqf Act. However, the news of senior BJP leader and a veteran RSS hand Dilip Ghosh’s marriage has brought a lot of smiles. There has been a flood of wishes for him. Many BJP leaders went to his house in a group on April 18 to wish him well. Among them were state president Sukanta Majumdar and Mahila Morcha general secretary Locket Chatterjee. However, no one knows yet whether Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari will visit Dilip’s house or not. Dilip-Suvendu relationship is not very ‘smooth’. Incidentally, Saturday, April 19 is Dilip’s birthday. Although his birthday is officially shown as August 1. But Dilip’s close friends say that his ‘real’ birthday is April 19. Dilip himself is completely against ‘celebrating’ any occasion with pompousness. Dilip turned 60 last year. Ever since his decision to marry has been on the social media, Dilip himself has been indifferent to it. According to sources close to Dilip, when he was a little depressed after losing the last Lok Sabha elections, Rinku was the one who proposed to him to start a family.  A divorcee and housewife, with a son who works in the IT sector, Dilip initially did not agree to the marriage. She admits Dilip took three months, mainly after his mother’s insistence, to decide. A section in the Sangh wasn’t keen that Dilip should get married. Two members of the Sangh had even gone to Dilip’s house! However, Dilip was adamant on his decision. Finally, on April 18, Dilip became a ‘samsari’.

In a calculated political offensive ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, chief minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly opposed the Centre’s proposed Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025, positioning herself as a defender of minority rights. Speaking at a meeting with Muslim clerics and community leaders, she asserted that the bill threatens religious freedoms and undermines constitutional values. The move is widely seen as an attempt by the Trinamool Congress to solidify its traditional Muslim support base, which accounts for nearly 30% of the state’s electorate and holds sway in key districts like Murshidabad, Malda, and North Dinajpur. Banerjee framed the proposed law as part of the BJP-led government’s broader agenda to interfere in religious matters and weaken India’s pluralistic framework. However, internally, the TMC remains divided over the strategy. While some leaders view the issue as an opportunity to reinforce the party’s core vote bank amid the BJP’s intensifying Hindutva campaign, others express concern that an overt focus on religious identity could alienate moderate and secular voters. Meanwhile, Mamata’s remarks have drawn sharp criticism from the BJP, which accused the TMC of leveraging communal narratives for political mileage. On the other hand, Mamata’s ability to appeal to the Muslim vote comes at a cost for Congress and the Left, who have traditionally relied on Muslim support in Bengal. The Left, in particular, has faced criticism for failing to effectively challenge Mamata’s rising influence among the Muslim community.

When businessman Robert Vadra appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Delhi for the second day in a row on April 16 in connection with the Gurugram land case, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s public display of affection (PDA) was evident as she stepped out of her car and gave a warm hug to her husband. Later, as the probing agency began questioning Vadra, she sat in the waiting room at the ED headquarters. Robert Vadra, brother-in-law of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, appeared before the ED for questioning in a 2008 Haryana land deal, linked to a money laundering case. It was interesting to see Priyanka rush back from her foreign trip to be with her husband. Only last week she had skipped the extended Congress Working Committee meet held in Ahmedabad on April 8. Earlier, on April 4, she hadn’t participated in the Waqf Bill debate in the Lok Sabha. The party explained that Priyanka had to travel abroad, presumably the UK, to visit an ailing friend. Party leaders feel Priyanka should have at least attended the Ahmedabad CWC meet — something that was planned since January 2025. But then sources say Priyanka increasingly found both her mother Sonia and brother Rahul were not giving her much space in the organisation. They were not elevating her as working president or secretary- general. The Muslim League, the Congress ally in Kerala had protested against Priyanka’s absence during the Waqf Bill debate as she is Wayanad MP. Congress sources said if Priyanka is not given her due in the organisation by her family, the party could face consequences in the upcoming assembly elections in Kerala. Interestingly, Robert Vadra felt ED investigations against him had gathered pace only because he was speaking up for the minorities.  

Two months after President’s rule was imposed in Manipur, West Bengal’s Murshidabad riots converted Hindu families into refugees pouring in exodus to neighbouring Malda district. Possibilities of imposition of Central rule in West Bengal have turned probable now as mobs of masked (mostly juvenile delinquents) carried out coordinated attacks upon the majority community. Hindu homes were targeted with stones, sticks, sickles by rampaging mobs threatening mass rapes of women in the TMC administered state. They were apparently only venting anger over amendments to the Waqf Board law legislated by the Indian parliament last week. On Friday (Apr 12), right after Muslim congregations offered prayers, coordinated protests were witnessed across Mamata Didi’s West Bengal followed by the targeted Murshidabad terror attacks upon Hindu families that continued well into Saturday. Highly placed sources tell shortpost.in there is clear and present danger of West Bengal being engulfed in communal frenzy as part of the tool kit being perpetrated from across the borders (from Bangladesh and Pakistan). “The BJP led Central government bit the bullet in Manipur, sacking its own party CM Birendra Singh, imposition of President’s rule there. West Bengal is steadily deteriorating over Mamata Didi’s reluctance to act against Muslim hardliner elements (including illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingya immigrants) comprising her core voter base,” sources reveal adding, “For long the possibility of WB’s balkanization into north and south Bengal over communal fault-lines has loomed large. Central rule may become the only option to prevent disintegration of India’s Bhalo Bhashi state. “The Calcutta High Court also ordered immediate deployment of central forces in Murshidabad district. after the incidents of widespread violence, vandalism and arson in the region over the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025. 

Telangana Congress leaders wonder if the new AICC in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan will do them any good. Natarajan replaces Deepa Das Munshi, who is now in-charge of election-bound Kerala. Deepa who helped to bring Congress to power in 2023, faced the brunt of factionalism. The house for which Telangana PCC was paying rent for Deepa in Hyderabad had even become a subject of controversy. In contrast Telangana Congress workers admit that Natarajan is completely low-maintenance. “There hasn’t been much of a lifestyle change in her since she began her career in the Congress two decades ago — when she used to commute by three-wheelers for party work. She has opted to stay in MLA guest house whenever she visits Hyderabad,” said a Telangana Congress leader. She apparently insists on meeting all leaders including ministers in the party headquarters. And dissuades party people from receiving her at the airport. Yet no one is sure if her down-to-earth activism will be able to tame chief minister Revanth Reddy as he didn’t seem to be bothered about Meenakshi. Many Congress leaders wished the party had a high-ranking leader, say a former CMs like Digvijay Singh or Bhupesh Baghel as in-charge of Telangana. However, since Rahul Gandhi is comfortable only with those close or loyal to him, he has opted for Natarajan. Of course, for the past two months Natarajan has been maintaining an equi-distance from all factions and sent a strong message to the party heads that party cadres should get highest respect as it was on their sacrifices that the party came to power. 

Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin is a “stated atheist” though his wife Durga is an entrenched devotee of the Hindu pantheon. Even those who cluck at this family dichotomy admit that right now the stars, satellites, Gods and The Economist are all smiling at him. The UK-based news magazine, The Economist in its April 4 edition has posted a very objective piece on the “delimitation” plan of the Centre after the census. For those who are yet to catch up with this constitutional upheaval, if this delimitation is implemented, TN and the four peninsular states except AP along with Punjab may lose representation in Parliament due to the success of their family planning efforts. And the overpopulated Hindi heartland states with their bursting demography and low living standards may benefit by getting an increased number of MPs in the Lok Sabha. Stalin was the first off the block to form a Joint Action Committee to vociferously protest this plan…a move that has earned him the admiration of the Southern states. As it is he is battling the “imposition” of Hindi in TN. Even Home Minister Amit Shah’s reassurance “Southern states will get a fair share” has been dubbed by Stalin as vague and not substantial. The icing on the cake came with the Supreme Court’s verdict questioning the Governor’s role …stymying and stalling bills passed in the Assembly. TN is currently on top in many growth indices, a key contributor to the national economy, its share being 9.21% to the country’s GDP in 23-24. After being elected in 2021 with a significant majority, Stalin has often voiced his dream of making TN a $1 trillion economy by 2030… but has he laid a strong foundation? 

Union minister Amit Shah’s 2-day Mumbai visit has posed more problems for the ruling 3-party Mahayuti alliance than it has solved, it seems. Shah visited Raigad Fort to pay tributes to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Later he held discussions with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and both DCMs, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, together and separately. Within minutes of his departure, social media platforms were abuzz with posts that Shinde had complained to Shah that the departments allotted to his party were not obtaining financial provisions. While Shinde has kept mum about this, Ajit Pawar, who holds the finance portfolio, has explained that nothing of the sort has happened. Pawar said he had accompanied Shah throughout the latter’s visit and was not aware of Shinde complaining to the top leader. Significantly, Fadnavis, too, has not commented on the posts. After the Raigad Fort visit, Shah lunched at the residence of NCP (Ajit) leader Sunil Tatkare, who is among the main adversaries of the Shiv Sena led by Shinde in Raigad district. His daughter Aditi is a cabinet minister while Shinde’s ardent supporter Bharat Gogawale from the district is still awaiting a ministership. Shah’s visit was expected to unravel the complication. Instead, leaders from both sides have started coming out with their own versions, once again creating an impression that the Mahayuti is still struggling to iron out its internal wrinkles.

The next Chief Justice of India is tipped to be Justice Bhushan Gavai, who started his legal career from Amaravati in Maharashtra. He is the son of veteran parliamentarian late Ramkrishna Gavai. According to indications available here, Gavai will be administered the oath of office on 14 May when present CJI Sanjeev Khanna retires. He is due to retire on 23 November 2025. Born on 24 November 1960, Gavai started practising in Mumbai High Court. For some time, he was junior to senior lawyer Raja Bhosale, who later worked as a HC judge for some time. Gavai was first appointed as a judge at the Nagpur bench of the HC and later elevated to the Supreme Court on 24 May 2019. Gavai has been known for many of his landmark judgments, especially those upholding fundamental rights. He will head the judiciary soon after earlier Maharashtra jurist DY Chandrachud, retired. While his father, YV Chandrachud, was CJI, Gavai’s father RS Gavai was a member of the Maharashtra legislature as well as Parliament of India. He also functioned as governor of Bihar, Sikkim and Kerala. Justice Gavai initiated some new trends in the Apex Court. For instance, he fixed one day every week for hearing public interest litigations. Gavai’s criticism of the government on deploying bulldozers to raze properties of some of the accused in Uttar Pradesh had proved to be an eye opener.

Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde currently enjoys a special place at the ruling BJP’s table, thanks to the key role he is scheduled to play in the forthcoming crucial BMC polls for them. A straight victory has evaded the BJP in the Rs 59,000-crore budget civic body till date. Politically too, winning the BMC polls for BJP has become crucial since dislodging Uddhav Thackeray from here would truly deliver a big blow to the Uddhav Thackeray Sena and decimate them. Not surprisingly, Amit Shah held a one-on-one with Eknath Shinde at Mumbai for a good half an hour without his own chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in attendance. Shinde has already got down to the task at hand and has been poaching Uddhav’s key supporters quite regularly. Shinde is using the opportunity to get his way around too. Shinde’s men have started grumbling about budgetary cuts introduced by the finance minister Ajit Pawar that have impacted their ministries. Shinde, who had funded many welfare schemes while as a CM, finds many of his schemes being curtailed, folded up or ignored by the Fadnavis government. His pet scheme, the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana, still continues, albeit with many restrictions. Shinde also has Sanjay Raut breathing down his neck, comparing him to a goat with nowhere to go and awaiting his butchering. Unlike the Ajit Pawar’s of NCP, who have warmed up to each other, the Sena factions continue to a collision drive breathing fire and fury against each other. 

It was clearly a day of hard work and some tough negotiations. Success came at the end of hours of backroom negotiations. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has networked and negotiated several alliances on behalf of the BJP, may have never spent more than a day to finalise the agreement, has been working on the fine details of the pact with AIADMK for nearly two days.  Initially there was anxiety that Shah’s presser that was originally scheduled to be held by noon got delayed by a few hours. He held a wide range of consultations with Thuglak editor S Gurumurthy.  He was determined to secure an alliance with AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) before he left Chennai; his tenacity paid off. He wanted to make sure that the AIADMK and the BJP contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections as part of the NDA alliance. He also ensured that when he announced the AIADMK-BJP pact, both the Gounder leaders — EPS and Annamalai — were present with him. “This election will be led nationally by Narendra Modi and in Tamil Nadu by EPS and AIADMK,” Shah said. Shah also made it clear that EPS had not made any pre-conditions. He pointed out that the AIADMK has been part of the NDA since 1998, and that PM Modi and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had worked together in the past. Even though he didn’t specify, Shah made it clear that EPS would be the Chief Ministerial candidate for the alliance. Avoiding any question on Annamalai’s future role, Shah made it clear that he did not want any speculation about it now. “As of now he is by my side.” Whatever may be the details of the alliance, at the end of the day a happy EPS was hosting dinner for Amit Shah.

With Home Minister Amit Shah in Chennai sort of overseeing transition in Tamil Nadu BJP from K Annamalai to Nainar Nagendran ahead of state assembly polls next year and ensuring sealing of the AIADMK-BJP alliance, there were ripples in the DMK over sexist and anti-Hindu utterances of a senior party functionary and forest minister K Ponmudy. A video clip of his derogatory remarks made on April 6 had gone viral. While senior leader and Udhayanidhi loyalist, Duraimurugan refused to sign a letter sacking Ponmudy from party post, it was left to TN chief minister MK Stalin to sign the order stripping Ponmudy of party post. DMK Rajya Sabha MP Tiruchi Shiva replaced Ponmudy.  It is being said Stalin was advised to take action against Ponmudy by his religious minded wife Durga as his anti-Hindu remarks were found very offensive. Interestingly, the person who first flagged the protest against sexist remarks of Ponmudy in the family was Stalin’s sister and DMK MP Kanimozhi. In a X post, Kanimozhi hit out at Ponmudi and said his remarks were unacceptable. Meanwhile Duraimurugan issued an apology for calling “Divyangs” as handicapped and speaking irresponsibly. However, what these random changes in the DMK indicate is that discontent against Udhayanidhi and the other influential relative (Stalin’s son-In-law  is bound to grow in the run-up to assembly elections.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah are looking South now to replicate their winning ‘Look East’ political gambit from North East India.  BJP leader K Annamalai, their go to man for the job, may be appointed Chief of four southern states including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana just like Assam CM Hemanta Biswa was entrusted seven sisters (states) comprising the NE region of India. Annamalai, while securing 4 lakh votes lost Coimbatore’s Lok Sabha seat in 2024, tendered resignation as BJP Tamil Nadu president after Shah’s TN visit stitched up political alliance encompassing AIADMK factions, rival Shashikala grouping (including former CM J Jayalalitaa’s adopted, then disowned son VN Sudhakaran). Amma’s medically unfit companion Shashikala endorsed nephew Sudhakaran as her party’s face even as BJP broadens its voter base by emphasizing politically influential ‘Thevar’ community. BJP went with Annamalai’s political ‘going solo’ advisory to register 11% of TN’s voter preference while DMK secured 40% to storm the state assembly. BJP now seeks to leverage its voter base alongside the 20% voter preference for AIADMK factions and Shashikala’s ‘Thevar’ community that had elevated late GK Moopanar in TN’s Congress ruled dispensation of the 90s. Superstar Vijay’s new political party TVK will eat into DMK’s vote-bank helping BJP. Senior BJP leader Mahendra Jain says, “Annamalai’s political elevation, like Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s, is a given although he may personally be unaware of the dynamic political development within the party just like ‘Mamaji’ was, till appointment to head all development projects by PM Modi for India. Annamalai’s name also figures now in the list of potential National BJP Presidential candidates.”

The crucial role played by the illustrious Maharashtra police officer Sadanand Date, who belongs to the 1990 IPS batch, has been recalled by his colleagues and admirers in bringing back Pakistan-born terrorist Tahawwur Rana. Presently the National Investigation Agency (NIA) chief, Date had arranged and implemented the hanging of Ajmal Kasab in Pune’s Yerawada jail. The execution of the entire plan was so secret that then Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde was perhaps the only person outside the team that took Kasab to Pune from Mumbai’s Arthur Road prison for the final moment. Date has been known as an upright officer, famous for his physical fitness and clean image. He is due for retirement on 31 December 2026. Before taking over as NIA chief, Date headed the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Maharashtra. Date was among those who were injured on the night of 26 November 2008 during the Pakistani terror attack on Mumbai. When Ajmal Kasab and Abu Ismail, two of the attackers, were showering bullets at south Mumbai’s Cama hospital, Date rushed to the spot with a small contingent. Although others were injured, Date alone fought with the terrorists for over 40 minutes. He was gravely injured after a grenade was thrown at him. Thanks to Date’s courage, several people could escape and save their lives. Date is now heading the NIA, which is masterminding the prosecution of Tahawwur Rana. It is believed that his meticulous building up of the case against the 26/11 plotter will pass the judicial scrutiny and Rana will be sent to the gallows soon.

The late sixties Western movie, The Good, The Bad And The Ugly starring Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef made it into a cult classic. Can Tamil movie’s popular star Ajith repeat this style and panache? Already Tamil media is referring to his just released movie Good Bad Ugly as GBU. As always there was the usual Ajith fan mania, with music, drums and fan craze. Pre bookings were full and frenetic. Imagine a minister from the DMK government in Tuticorin cutting a cake and celebrating in the cinema hall with her throng of followers. Yes, that’s right…Geetha Jeevan, minister for Social Welfare and Women Empowerment, celebrated Ajith’s film in style. Aadik Ravichandran directed Good Bad Ugly has Trisha, Arjun Das and Prasanna in supporting roles with GV Prakash scoring the music. Ajith films for years had pure Tamil titles like Paramasivan, Kreedam, Valimai, Vidaamuyarchi, Nerkonda Paarvai, Thunivu. Red in 2002 was the only film not titled in Tamil. Now, after a gap of 23 years, Thala has a film titled stylishly in English. There is an interesting story behind this…director Aadik had started shooting, yet had not found a catchy title. Ajith casually asked him what’s movie’s title? The director told him, I am really fishing around for one but all that I can say is the film has three episodes. Pat came Ajith’s response…why not Good Bad and Ugly? It is still too early to judge the movie as Good, Bad or even Ugly but for Ajith’s fans he film’s logic or creative excellence does not matter. For them seeing Thala on the screen is enough especially as they feared that his second profession, car racing would put paid to his filmi career.

A significant internal conflict within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) escalated, marked by the abrupt cancellation of a key disciplinary meeting in the West Bengal Assembly. This cancellation, despite prior notices, signalled a deepening party crisis, attributed to the burgeoning tensions and power struggles among senior MPs. The disciplinary committee meeting was intended to address the issue of absenteeism among MLAs, with threats of stern action against over 30 absentee MLAs, including ministers like Manoj Tiwari, during the final two days of the Budget Session.  The meeting, intended to address MLA absenteeism, was postponed indefinitely by chairman Shovandeb Chattopadhyay. The catalyst was a public attack by MP Kalyan Banerjee against Saugata Roy, Kirti Azad and Mahua Moitra accusing them of unethical conduct. Banerjee’s personal accusations referenced past controversies involving Roy’s involvement in the Narada sting operation and Moitra’s suspension from Parliament. Prior to Banerjee’s outburst, Moitra reportedly sent a complaint to party chief Mamata Banerjee. Kalyan Banerjee alleged Moitra attempted to have him arrested. Moitra’s camp denied this, claiming she sought security assistance after verbal harassment. Saugata Roy publicly supported Moitra, criticizing Banerjee for overstepping his authority. Banerjee retaliated, labelling Roy “a man with no character.” The disciplinary meeting’s cancellation was seen as a strategic retreat amid this chaos. Party sources acknowledged that disciplining MLAs would be counterproductive while MPs publicly flouted discipline. An insider stated that any action now would only embolden others to question the central leadership. All eyes are on Mamata Banerjee’s response, whether it involves public statements, suspensions, or internal reshuffling.

After steel, iron ore, bauxite and aluminium leadership, the BJP-run Odisha government is now on a mission mode to make the state a world class petrochemical and chemical sector power house. Towards this mission, the state government has recently signed three important MoU’s at the investor meet in New Delhi. It signed a MoU with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to set up a world class Petrochemical Complex at Paradeep involving an outlay of Rs 61,077 crore. When completed, the Complex will feed key raw materials for sectors like pharmaceuticals, coatings, adhesives and others. The objective of this new initiative seems to be three-fold. One, doing away with import dependency; two, boosting downstream industries vis a vis MSMEs; and three, positioning Paradeep as a strategic petrochemical hub in eastern India. Besides, the state has signed a MoU with the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves for establishing 4 MMT crude oil storage capacity in Jajpur district which is 90 km away from Paradeep port. Similarly, the state has also signed a MoU with Petronet LNG for setting up a 50,000-MT land-based LNG Terminal at Gopalpur Port in Ganjam district making it the first such facility on India’s East coast. The industry bodies have hailed the state government’s vision to make Odisha a hub for petrochemicals, energy, logistics and manufacturing at a time when global players are looking at India favourably for long term investments. With Odisha’s BJP government going full throttle, Naveen Patnaik’s BJD seems to be taking a pot shot at the chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi saying that the BJP government is merely re-signing the contracts and MoUs that were put in place by Naveen babu.

Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar and her illustrious family has been lauded by Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar now that it is maligned by several political leaders over the tragic death of a woman who succumbed to the medical complications after delivering a twin. It is alleged that the hospital personnel demanded an advance payment of Rs 10 lakh from the patient’s kin and did not treat her so that her husband was compelled to take her to another hospital where she died. The Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune, where she was not admitted, has been blamed for her demise and has become the target of verbal attacks. The hospital with over 800 beds is considered among the most reputed. It was inaugurated by BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the sprawling plot of land for the hospital was given to the Mangeshkar family at a rupee’s lease rent by a Pune family after veteran leader Sharad Pawar put in a word. Then chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, too, was helpful in the project. Although members of the Mangeshkar family are not active in the day-to-day running of the hospital, certain politicians have been attacking them. So far, the Mangeshkar family has remained silent while chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has appointed three committees to investigate various angles connected with the administration of the hospital. Ajit Pawar has admonished the critics by reminding them about Mangeshkar family’s contribution. It is known to the whole world, so none should cast aspersions on it, he has said. Presently, heavy police bandobast has been deployed around the hospital.

The legacy of Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, one of the greatest Hindustani classical vocalists, is being kept alive by his son Shrinivas and grandson Viraj not only in India but also globally. Shrinivas-Viraj, the father-son duo is set to regale the audience in the UK in May. Here, they will be accompanied by Prof Vijay Singh Rajput, a disciple of Panditji, who teaches music at the New Castle University, England. The trio will perform in various cities in the UK including London, Manchester, and at Durham University. Organised by socio cultural organisation VOICE, the trio will be accompanied by Rajput’s son Jay on vocal and tanpura, tabla maestro Saleel Tambe and Siddhiee Kapshikar on harmonium who recently entered the Guinness Book of World Records. The 58-year-old Shrinivas who did his BTech from IIT Delhi also belongs to the Kirana gharana like his father. Shrinivas and Viraj regularly perform at the Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Festival. He has released an album called Swarakruti which is based on his father’s music and personality. Viraj, in his early 20s, has adapted his singing to the alap-jod-jhala style to synchronize with the traditional Indian classical instrumental approach. Viraj began his musical journey learning the table and later trained under his father.  He is the recipient of Bharat Ratna MS Subbulakshmi fellowship. The legacy tour will present the all-time favourite bhajans and abhangs of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. The legacy tour will certainly enthral Hindustani classical and light music aficionados.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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