Senthil Balaji, the TN ex minister out on bail continues to make headlines going by the caustic questions posed by the Madras HC: “We need a cricket stadium to accommodate 2000 accused and many more involved in the jobs for money scam in which Senthil Balaji, a confidante of the DMK was jailed. Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi of the Supreme Court went hammer and tongs at the government lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi. If every case has over1000 persons as criminally accused and over 500 witnesses, this case can never end during the lifetime of the main perpetrators. Is this a dilatory manoeuvre? The Cash-for-Jobs scam is of a scale not often heard …the special court has yet to serve summons to the accused from far flung areas of TN, a task that won’t get done by December 2025. The next mammoth protocol will be serving copies of all documents and charge-sheets filed by the Greater Chennai Corporation. Each accused will have to be served 3207 documents (covering one lakh pages). But what is even more challenging is the fact that these very accused are also the ones who have lost their money …a pathetic status, though bribing is illegal. According to Gopal Sankara Narayanan, the lawyer appearing for the accused, it is heart wrenching when “even grandmothers who pawned jewellery to get jobs for their grandchildren have been pulled into this scam ring”.  Those who collected the money should be brought to justice. But as the Bench remarked “this whole investigation is like a rudderless ship”. Justice Kant suggests that clubbing of cases against both accused and witnesses may, just may find light at the end of the tunnel.

A day after the U.S. President Donald Trump announced 25% tariffs on Indian goods, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal informed the Parliament that the government would closely examine the implication and assured that all necessary steps will be taken to protect India’s national interest. He further informed the Parliament that India and the U.S. started talks for a just, balanced and mutually beneficial Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) in March 2025 and “the goal of this was to finish the first stage of the agreement by October-November 2025.” In contrast the Congress led by LoP Rahul Gandhi latched on to Trump’s jibe about India being a “dead economy” shockingly with such glee that it is unexplainable. It was as if they were happy that some economic pain or cost was going to be inflicted on India. In a post on X,  Rahul  had  even gone on to  back up Trump’s claim about the state of India’s economy —  listing   reasons for  why the economy failed under PM Modi. Of course, it wasn’t Rahul alone who was happy about the Trump Tariff jab. Former FM P Chidambaram too seemed happy. He posted that “The 25% tariff on all Indian exports to the United States PLUS penalty for buying Russian oil is a big blow to India’s trade. The U.S. ‘Dosti’ is no substitute for diplomacy and painstaking negotiations”. He was obviously targeting external affairs minister S Jaishankar. Rahul’s close aide Jairam Ramesh who has been counting  how many times Trump claimed that he had  stopped Op Sindoor midway was quite clear  that the 25% tariff  was a huge setback to PM Modi and India. He went on to say  “Taareef hi tareef mein tariff lag gaya…There were no gains from Howdy Modi and Namaste Trump. So what did we get from this (India-U.S.) friendship?”

Before replying to the Op Sindoor debate in Rajya Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chose to deal with criticism coming from the secular political parties about nomenclatures of military operations. Making it clear that names were not chosen by the government  but by the defence personnel, Shah went on to corner former Maharashtra  CM Prithviraj Chavan who had slammed the government  for knowing “nothing except naming operations on the basis of religion”. Chavan had also questioned why gunning down of Pahalgam attackers was called Operation Mahadev. It is another matter that the operation was named apparently after Mahadev Ridge inside the Dachigam forest in Kashmir where the terrorists were hiding (according to media reports). Hitting back at Chavan, Shah pointed out that the Congress simply did not want to understand that ‘Har Har Mahadev’ was not just a religious slogan.  It was the slogan of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj too.” They see everything from the angle of Hindu-Muslim”, he said. Chavan had claimed that the BJP “wanted to mix Hindutva in whatever it does. They are trying to polarise the situation into a Hindu versus Muslim conflict.” He had also questioned the naming of “Operation Sindoor” — India’s retaliatory strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Meanwhile, the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha was quite upset that PM Modi had replied to their debate, even as they were told it would be Shah who would be replying to the Op Sindoor debate.

PM Narendra Modi ticked off Congress MP(Sholapur) Praniti Shinde who had dubbed Op Sindoor as “media tamasha” in her Lok Sabha speech. Without taking her name, Modi charged the Congress of mounting a savage attack on Pahalgam victims by setting up an ordinary member to attack the operations of armed forces. Such description of Op Sindoor was dubbed as severe and heinous akin to an acid (tezaab) attack on the Pahalgam survivors, “spreading acid” in the country.  Exposing Congress’s betrayal, Modi said, “Got the world’s support. But sadly, no support from the Congress”. Politically it is interesting that Praniti’s insensitive comment came up for mention in Modi’s intervention. Daughter of former Union Home Minister and Maharashtra CM Sushil Kumar Shinde, Praniti  was once wooed by Maharashtra BJP to join the party. However, considered close to Rahul Gandhi — she has been part of his Bharat Jodo Yatra — has firmly entrenched herself in the Congress’s charmed inner circle. On his part Modi tried answering all issues raised by the Opposition in the Lok Sabha regarding Operation Sindoor. He observed that while the country was moving ahead at a fast pace towards self-reliance, the Congress was becoming dependent on Pakistan for issues. “Unfortunately, Congress is importing issues from Pakistan.” He slammed the Opposition for doubting the timing of Operation Mahadev that involved gunning down terrorists involved in Pahalgam attack. With reference to a third country’s involvement, Modi made it clear “No country in the world has stopped India from any action in its defence against terror”. On May 9 night, “U.S. Vice President (JD Vance) tried to reach out to me 3-4 times, but I was busy with meetings with the armed forces”.

Home Minister Amit Shah hit out at Congress leader P Chidambaram for his statement that the terrorists behind the Pahalgam attack were “homegrown”, and his demand for proof that they were from Pakistan. Shah criticised the opposition leader for trying to ‘save Pakistan’ and declared, “When he says this, it means they (the Congress) are giving a clean chit (to Pak).” In a typically combative speech, Shah also said, “I thought the opposition would be happy to know the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack are dead… but it seems they are upset…” During the debate on Operation Sindoor, he elaborated on the operations in Kashmir, including the discovery of Pak-made chocolates and Pak government ID cards in the pockets of the terrorists gunned down. He also said ballistic tests on assault rifles — an American-made M9 and Russian AK-47s — recovered confirmed their use in Pahalgam. “Six forensic experts confirmed this to me on a video call… that these are the same bullets used in the Pahalgam attack,” he said. Trying to draw DMK MP Kanimozhi into a conversation, he sought to know from her why the Opposition was always giving a “clean chit” to Pakistan.  The DMK leader in a light-hearted way denied that she endorsed Chidambaram’s line. However, when her turn came to speak, Kani, who travelled on a government delegation to speak about Op Sindoor, spoke very negatively. It is quite possible that she wanted to show that she is not close to the BJP. In view of CM Stalin’s failing health, it is being said Kani fancies herself a chance to be the next CM. It is being said senior DMK leaders may not find deputy CM Udhyanidhi Stalin as acceptable to succeed his father.

It was quite refreshing to hear Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra take on the government for failing to protect the lives of tourists at Pahalgam.  She was sharp, witty and able to ask the government some pointed questions on security lapses that took the lives of 26 hapless tourists. She wanted to know why no heads had rolled the way then UPA government had forced men responsible for lapses — post 26/11 Mumbai terror strike in 2008.  Maharashtra’s then CM late Vilasrao Deshmukh had to quit so too Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil. In his initial remarks Home Minister Amit Shah did admit it was a security lapse and accepted responsibility for it. What worked for him was that the Pahalgam masterminds had been gunned down and he briefed the House with details. At the same time, Priyanka was seen faltering by refusing to accept that the terrorists were Pak-sponsored or that they had a definite communal agenda. She refused to accept that the Pahalgam victims were Hindus and opted to declare them as “Bharatiya” or Indians. It was odd that the Malappuram MP should deny the faith of victims considering the male victims were killed after asking them to recite an Islamic prayer — kalma. Possibly compulsion of her vote bank in Kerala. Zeroing in on Priyanka ambivalence about victims’ faith, BJPs’ Amit Malviya expressed shock over the Congress’s “shocking refusal to acknowledge that the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack were targeted for being Hindus” shows exactly ‘why the party remains disconnected from the sentiments of this nation and why it has no future in Indian politics.”

Was ex-Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar contemplating ‘Ghar Wapsi’ to the Congress fold after engineering a political coup at the expense of the BJP which was pre-empted by PM Narendra Modi in the nick of time? A well-placed source reveals, “Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla had accepted the notice of motion moved by 155 BJP MPs to impeach Delhi High Court Justice Yeshwant Verma as per the decided political strategy. Breaking from the plan, however, Dhankhar also accepted a similar motion moved in the Rajya Sabha by 66 Congress MPs as well as the Opposition’s near identical motion to impeach Allahabad High Court Justice Shekhar Yadav. Political alarm bells went off within BJP and PM Modi issued Dhankhar a 15-minute window to submit his resignation or pain of his own ejection from the V-P post through a vote of no-confidence.” Dhankhar began his political career with Devi Lal, founder of Lok Dal that had merged with the Jagjivan Ram Congress to form Janata Dal before moving to the Congress party under the late Sanjay Gandhi. Realizing the Congress’ political gambit to embarrass the BJP by exploiting the intended impeachment of Justice Yadav in the forthcoming Bihar state assemblies was nipped in the bud Dhankhar, a farmer, Jat leader and advocate known for wining and dining with Justice Verma of the burning cash stash infamy threw in the towel. PM Modi also came in for flak from within his own party for his political exuberance of trusting outsider politicians like Dhankhar and installing them in high statutory posts within the BJP ruled ecosystem that could have cost him dearly had Dhankhar gone through with his nefarious plans.

It is as a failed politician that the 69-year old Kamal Haasan took oath as member of the Rajya Sabha. In 2017, he floated a party Makkal Needhi Maiam amidst much fanfare that failed to take off. He suffered the same fate as Sivaji Ganesan who was seen as a talented actor but not a people’s saviour as MGR was perceived to be. Having come into politics with the same enthusiasm as many others of uprooting the system and making a new one work for the people, Kamal surrendered to the same Dravidian power monger politics by aligning with the DMK and then angling to get this Rajya Sabha nomination. He may have been nominated by a political party but Kamal’s place in the Upper House may be the same as that of many celebrities who failed as nominees of the nation like Sachin Tendulkar whose voice is rarely heard in Parliament. Once a firebrand in his early days of initiation into politics with his double barrel guns pointed equally at the Dravidian majors, Kamal will be just another celebrity unless he takes his appointment seriously and gets his voice heard often in the legislature on topics that will pertain to public issues that count and talking about which might help bring about change to some extent. Until then, Kamal will remain a nonentity as a political figure who may have realised that the public is not idolatrous to the extent that any film star can become an MGR or an N.T. Rama Rao. Meeting him to wish him before his Rajya Sabha entry was Rajinikanth, the Superstar who developed cold feet about entering politics, It remains to be seen now what will become of Vijay though he is one matinee idol who is giving up cinema at least temporarily to appear like a serious politician.

Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena party MLA Sanjay Gaikwad has created another first by challenging his critic and former AIMIM MP Imtiaz Jaleel for an unarmed combat in Mumbai’s Azad Maidan ‘any time, any day.’ After gaining notoriety for slapping a canteen boy in the MLA hostel for serving unsavoury food, Gaikwad has asked Jaleel to face him in the physical bout. This is not just a verbal challenge. Gaikwad has published a draft agreement on a stamp paper, to be signed by both, in case Jaleel accepts the invite. On July 11, Gaikwad had threatened to thrash Jaleel for criticising him over the canteen assault. “I thrashed that canteen worker by just punching him twice. But I will beat Imtiaz Jaleel so badly that he will not be in a position to run,” the legislator said. Jaleel immediately accepted the Sena MLA’s challenge, and asked him to fix the venue and time for the potential confrontation. Unabashed, Jaleel once again (July 22) ridiculed Gaikwad for the assault. Promptly, Gaikwad challenged him to meet in Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, a ‘neutral’ venue, in presence of the police, making it conditional that no one else will be coming between. Coincidentally, Eknath Shinde and another deputy CM Ajit Pawar are finding themselves in hot water for the questionable deeds and statements of a few of their ministers.  

On the death anniversary of “Mahanayak” or Great Hero of Bengali cinema Uttam Kumar, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee issued a strong statement against what she described as “language terror” targeting Bengali speakers in various parts of the country. Speaking at the annual Mahanayak Samman ceremony organised by the state government since 2012 to honour artists and technicians from the world of Bengali cinemas, Didi appealed to the industry stakeholders to defend Bengali language, warning that if necessary, a new language movement must begin to protect mother tongue. Bengali is the fifth most spoken language in the world and second in Asia, with nearly 300 mn speaking it worldwide. Mamata made it categorical asking not to insult the Bengali language. Didi’s remarks followed recent incidents where Bengali-speaking migrant workers were allegedly harassed, detained or even deported from other states after being branded “Bangladeshis.” She had earlier addressed the issue on July 21 at the Martyrs’ Day rally, accusing the BJP of targeting Bengalis. She said that this language which gave birth to Rabindranath Tagore, Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay, Kazi Nazrul Islam reminded everybody that the country’s national anthem was written in Bengali.

PM Narendra Modi who was on a two-day visit to Tamil Nadu was apparently under tremendous pressure from DMK leaders to extend “best wishes” for chief minister MK Stalin’s health and his recovery– in his public meetings–this was one thing he had skipped. It is another matter that Stalin was discharged from Apollo Hospital on July 27 evening a week after he was admitted to the hospital. It was probably around the same time that   Modi had left for Delhi. As per protocol DMK MP Kanimozhi was present at Dindigul function of PM Modi so were DMK ministers and state chief secretary present at functions near Trichy. Within the   State BJP, Modi had encouraging words for new chief Nainar Nagendran, in what is being interpreted as a snub to former president K Annamalai. AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) received PM Modi at the Tiruchirappalli airport. The meeting sealed doubts over AIADMK and BJP, particularly after the way the EPS has been asserting that his party is going to get a majority on its own. EPS and PM Modi were meeting for the first time since the AIADMK and BJP renewed their alliance. The meeting came amid the war of words between the allies ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Earlier, EPS ruled out a coalition government with the BJP and said, “Our alliance would achieve a grand success in 2026. AIADMK will be victorious and will form a government on its own.” This statement contradicts Amit Shah’s interview where he said that the NDA led by the AIADMK will form a coalition government in TN.

One can now piece the jigsaw events that led to Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation on July 21 as Vice-President. Yes, he was forced to put in his papers particularly after the kind of politics he had indulged in the last few days. Sources say the government became aware of Dhankhar’s move to accept the Opposition MPs’ notice seeking removal of Justice Yashwant Varma long before he announced it in the House post-lunch. That is because for the first time Dhankhar chose to go home for lunch that day. He had asked Congress leader Jairam Ramesh to carry the notice for impeachment signed by 68 Opposition MPs to be delivered to him at his residence. Later it was the visit of this high-profile Congress leader to Dhankhar’s residence that alerted the government about what the V-P was upto. Normally any actionable notice is submitted to the Rajya Sabha secretariat. So why did Dhankhar take such unusual interest in the Opposition petition when he was aware that in the Lok Sabha the government was already moving a resolution to impeach Justice Varma? BJP leaders said a powerful legal lobby led by Kapil Sibal — Rajya Sabha MP — was out to thwart impeachment proceedings in the Parliament. Sibal had apparently sought Dhankhar’s son in law, advocate Kartik Vajpayee’s help in ensuring that the Opposition’s petition was listed in the RS first. More than the breach of protocol what upset the government was the manner in which Dhankhar had been speaking ill about PM Modi. In private conversations with Opposition leaders, he had been running down the PM and even claiming he was more popular than Modi. An Opposition leader was so shocked when Dhankhar asked him to approach one of the NDA allies — to even withdraw support. Clearly, he felt he had arrived and needed to go up the power ladder.

PM Narendra Modi on his return from the UK and Maldives will be spending two days in Tamil Nadu; he will be directly reaching Tuticorin. On July 26 he will unveil a series of landmark projects worth over Rs4,800 crore across multiple sectors which will significantly enhance regional connectivity, boost logistics efficiency, strengthen clean energy infrastructure, and improve the quality of life for citizens across the state. The PM will inaugurate the New Terminal Building at Tuticorin Airport developed at a cost of around Rs 450 crore, designed to meet the growing aviation demands of the southern region. Spread across 17,340 square meters, the terminal will be equipped to handle 1,350 passengers during peak hours and 20 lakh passengers annually. On July 27, he will participate in the celebration of the birth anniversary of the great Chola Emperor Rajendra Chola I with the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival at around 12 noon at Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in Tiruchirappalli. He will release a commemorative coin honouring one of the greatest emperors of India, Rajendra Chola I. This special celebration also commemorates 1,000 years of the legendary maritime expedition of Rajendra Chola I to South East Asia and commencement of the construction of the iconic Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple, a magnificent example of Chola architecture. Further strengthening the state’s power infrastructure, Modi will lay the foundation stone for a major power transmission project — the Inter-State Transmission System for evacuation of electricity from Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4 (2×1000 MW). This project, developed at a cost of around Rs 550 crore, will include a 400 kV (quad) double-circuit transmission line from Kudankulam to the Tuticorin-II GIS substation and associated terminal equipment. It will play a pivotal role in strengthening the national grid..

The BJP one learns has set its Bengal house in order. Former state president in West Bengal Dilip Ghosh had remained absent from PM Modi’s rally in the state on July 18 claiming that the state leadership had not invited him.  A solid RSS leader, Ghosh’s absence had begun to bother the BJP leadership as he has been skipping important party events and rallies in the recent past, including events attended by Modi at Alipurduar and Amit Shah in Kolkata this year. His latest absence from the Modi rally at Durgapur was particularly worrying since he had contested from the Bardhaman-Durgapur Lok Sabha constituency in West Burdwan district in 2024 and lost. Speculations were rife that he may cross over to the TMC amid reports of a souring relationship between him and the State BJP leadership. It may be recalled that it was under Ghosh’s leadership that the BJP had done well in Bengal – winning 18 out of the State’s 42 Lok Sabha seats in 2019. In May this year, Ghosh drew criticism from the BJP when he met CM Mamata Banerjee at the inauguration of the Digha Jagannath Temple. He had also made some statements backing Mamata. In this backdrop, BJP chief JP Nadda reached out to Ghosh, met with him in  Delhi and had detailed discussions. Party sources say Ghosh is keen to contest as a party candidate in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls but from the same Assembly constituency from where he got elected for the first time in 2016 — Kharagpur (Sadar) in West Midnapore constituency. However, he had to resign as the MLA from Kharagpur (Sadar) in 2019 after winning from the Midnapore Lok Sabha constituency in the same year.

BJP’s senior Lok Sabha member Nishikant Dubey faced the ire of three female Maharashtra MPs in the Parliament premises on July 23 for his threat to MNS president Raj Thackeray that the latter will be thrashed if he came to Bihar or Uttar Pradesh. The Congress party MPs Varsha Gaikwad, Shobha Bachchav and Pratibha Khanorkar, accosted Dubey and demanded to explain his offending remark. Instead of responding, Dubey just slinked away, Gaikwad said. The incident has an unexpected fallout. The result is that the male MPs from the state are now asked to justify their inaction regarding Dubey during the current Parliament session which they are attending. Seizing the opportunity, MNS has congratulated the three ladies for their spirited defence of Marathi language about which Raj had spoken, issuing a counter-threat to Dubey. “Come to Mumbai and you will be drowned in the sea,” Raj said at a massive rally in Mira-Bhayandar. “How can the male Marathi MPs remain mute when the women MPs are so vocal,” MNS has asked. Already, Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan is at the receiving end for his public statement that no coercion should be employed about speaking any language. His warning that investments poised to come to the state could be adversely affected due to the atmosphere created by such acrimonies has also invited sharp reactions from MNS. A constitutional authority should not be expressing such sentiments, MNS has said, giving indications that it will go on with its agitation in support of Marathi.

After Bihar, the Election Commission of India (ECI) will begin an intensive revision of the voter list in West Bengal. Sources in the West Bengal State Election Commission’s office indicate that the groundwork has already begun. According to sources, the survey in Bengal is expected to begin in the first week of August. However, the final decision hinges on the proceedings of a case pending in the Supreme Court concerning the revision of the electoral roll in Bihar. The matter is scheduled for hearing on July 28. If the Apex Court does not intervene, the process of revision will be set in motion in Bengal. With Durga Puja festivities scheduled to begin in the last week of September, officials say it is imperative to wrap up the process beforehand. Otherwise, the exercise will have to be postponed until the end of November or early December. On condition of anonymity a senior official from the West Bengal State Election Commission said that all preparations are in place. The office is only awaiting the official notification from the Commission, which could be issued any day soon. The Commission’s move comes amid controversy in Bihar, where around 52 lakh names are expected to be deleted from the electoral roll. The issue has sparked uproar in national politics, with Opposition parties staging daily protests in Parliament. Amid this backdrop, Bengal has witnessed a surge in applications for inclusion and corrections in the voter list. In the past week alone, over 75,000 applications have been submitted. Sources say that the rate of voter registration and corrections has increased significantly in recent days, especially in districts along the state’s border.

India and the United Kingdom signed a historic free trade agreement (FTA) on July 24 during PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK, where he met his British counterpart Keir Starmer. This FTA which was under negotiation for around three years, will give a much-needed boost to bilateral trade between the two countries by around $ 34 bn annually. The deal was signed by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and his British counterpart Jonathan Reynold in presence of the PMs of both the countries. With this landmark deal, India is set to see tariff slashes on several products imported from the UK and the export businesses in India will also benefit immensely. Goyal said that the deal provides duty-free access for about 99% of Indian exports, which will unlock “nearly $ 23 bn in opportunities for labour-intensive sectors, marking a new era for inclusive and gender-equitable growth.” Here’s what gets cheaper for India in terms of imports. (1) Aerospace parts & medical devices. (2) Soft drinks, cars: India will also have better access to British products such as soft drinks, cosmetics and cars. India’s average tariff on UK products will drop from 15% to 3%. (3) Duty cut on scotch by 50% — from 150% to 75% and then to 40% over the next 10 years – giving the UK an edge over international competitors. (4)  More affordable for Indians to live in the UK. Indian firms and freelancers will have access to 36 service sectors in the UK with no ‘Economic Needs Test’.  And Indian professionals can work in 35 UK sectors for 24 months, even without an office in the country. With tariff elimination (as high as 18%) under the CETA, engineering exports to the UK could nearly double in the next five years to touch $ 7.5 bn by 2029-30.

In an unusual break from noisy disruptions and hurried adjournments that have marked the Monsoon Session in the past few days, the Rajya Sabha briefly paused to bid goodbye to 6 MPs who were retiring. Incidentally, all MPs were from Tamil Nadu — MDMK veteran Vaiko, PMK leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss and DMK leader MM Abdulla and three others. It was great to hear the way leaders of other political parties — particularly John Brittas of the CPI(M) or Manoj Jha of RJD — were paying tributes to octogenarian Vaiko for inspiring them to raise issues on the floor of the House. Recalling Vaiko’s commitment to Sri Lankan Tamils’ cause, Brittas mentioned how Vaiko would always be remembered for his daring and courageous journey to Sri Lanka some half-century ago to meet with the (now eliminated) LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran. “He had then dodged watchful eyes of the Indian Navy as well the Sri Lankan Navy. More than Prabhakaran, it was Vaiko whose daring journey to LTTE hide-out and back made him a hero.”  Brittas also shared how FM Nirmala Sitharaman had in a chat recalled Vaiko’s fiery oratory in his younger days. Barring lawyer P Wilson, DMK had not renominated any of its retiring MPs. Vaiko, who entered the RS with the help of DMK, could not have expected TN chief minister MK Stalin to back him as he had left the DMK protesting against late Karunanidhi promoting Stalin as his heir apparent. Ironically, Vaiko is now promoting his own son Durai Vaiko, who is Trichy Lok Sabha MP, at the cost of other MDMK leaders. AAP MP Sanjay Singh was amazed that DMK member MM Abdulla in his farewell speech raised an issue of connectivity for Hindu pilgrims on a busy route in Dindigul district– that too visiting a temple dedicated to a religious man who had passed away recently.

The much-discussed honey trap episode in Maharashtra has come back with a vengeance although its existence had been dismissed by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Moreover, the CM’s Man Friday, Girish Mahajan’s one of the photographs with alleged kingpin of the scandal Prafulla Lodha has been circulating on the social media. In retaliation, Lodha’s photos with bigwigs like Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule, her NCP colleague Jayant Patil, Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray and several others are surfacing. Fadnavis has said that such pictures have no significance since in public life, it is common to be photographed with different people. It is true but Lodha’s involvement in a rape case has now been reported from Pune, changing the complexion of the so-called honey trap matter. Lodha’s premises in north Maharashtra’s Jalgaon, Jamner and Pahoor have been raided by the authorities. That is the area to which Mahajan belongs. Mahajan’s sworn foe, Eknath Khadse, has threatened to expose more details though local people remember how Lodha was always seen with an influential leader and had later levelled grave allegations against the mentor. Last year, he had filed a nomination for the Lok Sabha election but later withdrew it. Subsequently, he joined the BJP. Looks like the honey trap case is not cooling down.  Lodha was arrested earlier in Mumbai on 5 July in connection with a POSCO case. The honey trap case is discussed with references to a prominent Nasik hotelier, a top revenue official and a controversial woman seen with a score of police and government officials. The Congress party has alleged that 72 civil servants and some political bigwigs are trapped in the delicate situation.

Maharashtra’s debt has now crossed the Rs 10 lakh crore mark, revealed former Opposition leader in Maharashtra’s Legislative Council Ambadas Danve. The state is raising Rs 57,509.7 crore through supplementary demands. Danve pointed out that the state spends one-third of its revenue in servicing its debt. The state already has a per capita debt of Rs 72,761 and has already earmarked Rs 1.54 lakh crore towards debt servicing including Rs 89,798 crore for principal amount repayment and Rs 64,659 crore towards interest servicing, in the 2025-26 budget. Danve estimated Maharashtra’s fiscal deficit to cross Rs 2 lakh crore by the end of this financial year; it currently stands at Rs 1.36 lakh crore. The state has been issuing tenders though it doesn’t have the funds to pay contractors and now hopes to rely on revenue of Rs 24,000 crore expected from excise duty on liquor to sail through, he said. The state has already diverted Rs 1081.7 lakh crore from various departments to fund its Ladki Bahin Yojana. According to financial analyst Rupesh Keer of Samarthan Advocacy, this is the first time that the state has taken debts to service its ballooning debt interest which reflects poor fiscal discipline. Already, Maharashtra has slipped down to the fifth position in terms of development in the country. The state is already under fire from the Comptroller and Auditors Report (CAG) for various off-budgetary borrowings that bypass legislative scrutiny and threaten to lead Maharashtra into a cycle of debt trap.  

PM Modi responded to Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation only after it had been accepted. In a brief message on X he said Dhankar has had “many opportunities to serve the country in various capacities” including as Vice-President of India. He wished him “good health”. What triggered 74-year old Dhankhar’s sudden resignation on the first day (July 21) of the Monsoon Session of the Parliament on July 21 evening? No one believes it has anything to do with his health. Some believe his exit is linked to the way he conducted Rajya Sabha proceedings on the first day. After years of being tough on the Opposition, he was suddenly found indulging them particularly on sensitive “national security issues”. This came as a shock to the government.  He was found allowing LoP Mallikarjun Kharge to hold forth on everything from — Operation Sindoor to Pahalgam Attack to President Trump’s role in securing India-Pak cease-fire. Leader of the House JP Nadda did lodge a protest. Kharge contradicted what PM Modi said on Op Sindoor as an incontrovertible victory over Pakistan — just outside Parliament House. BJP sources said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had conveyed the government’s disquiet — rather PM Modi’s disappointment. It is felt Rajnath’s message must have upset him.  Soon after Rajnath met Dhankhar, he was found playing the Opposition card as chairman. He mentioned that he had received a notice from the Opposition to constitute a statutory committee for the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma and that it has been signed by more than 50 members of the Upper House.  Of course, Dhankhar did ask Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal if a similar motion to impeach Justice Varma had been moved in the Lok Sabha. The buzz is Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is most likely to be next V-P– he is considered the best bet ahead of UP polls.

Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade is among the frontrunners for the vacant post of Vice-President of India. Hailing from Marathwada, he has devoted his life for the BJP. A former speaker of the Maharashtra legislative assembly, Haribhau had been a member of the house for multiple terms. Known for his accommodative nature, He was fondly called by his first name, which denoted both affection and respect. Those close to him would address him as Nana. So far, the Vice-President’s office has not been graced by anyone from Maharashtra though the state’s daughter, Pratibha Patil, became the first Lady President of the country. The highest political post was occupied by YB Chavan, who became deputy Prime Minister in the short-lived Charan Singh government. Haribhau was born on 17 August 1945 in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. He became an RSS activist at a young age in a region that was averse to the saffron ideology. Haribhau toiled for decades to spread the message of the Jan Sangh and then the BJP. Many prominent regional leaders owe their rise to the guidance and support provided by Haribhau to them. As the saffron influence increased in Maharashtra, Haribhau was invariably made a party candidate for the assembly. Coincidentally, Pratibha Patil was the Governor of Rajasthan when she was selected by the Congress party to become the President of the country. If Haribhau is handpicked to become V-P, it will be one more feather in Rajasthan’s and Maharashtra’s cap.

West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee has made it official that her party will take on BJP in the run-up to the State Assembly polls based on Bengali Asmita. Addressing a massive Martyrs Day rally in Kolkata she accused BJP of unleashing linguistic terrorism and Mamata made it categorical that another Bhasha Movement will be embarked upon to safeguard Bengali pride. She claimed that more than 1,000 Bengali-speaking individuals have been detained and jailed in BJP-ruled states such as Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. TMC supremo stated that terror has been unleashed on the Bengali language and described the BJP’s actions as a massive conspiracy against Bengali identity. She warned that if linguistic profiling of Bengalis does not stop, the resistance movement will be taken to the national capital. Mamata also announced a statewide protest campaign against what she described as the ongoing oppression of the Bengali language. Directly attacking Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Didi said he is unable to manage his own state but continues to interfere in West Bengal’s affairs. Interestingly, she went a step further in her political critique, claiming that the present Indian government is being remotely controlled by U.S. President Donald Trump. Significantly, during the rally, Mamata introduced the gathering to the father of Jhantu Ali Sheikh and a family member of Bitan Adhikari—both victims of the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year.

A skirmish between India and England, that’s been fascinating so far, is set to resume at Manchester from July 23. England will strive for a 3-1 lead and a series win before the teams travel to London for the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy at The Oval. While England — given an impetus to its attack by the return of fast bowler Jofra Archer — will take the field with its tail up, India will have to do the catching up with no leeway for mistakes in the three departments of the game. The first three Tests have delivered contests that the purists of the sport would have taken delight at; so remarkable have they been. And yet it is India, shepherded by the young captain in Shubman Gill, that appears to be on the precipice before the first ball is sent down at Manchester. Gill has to get his No 3 in Karun Nair to be more productive and tell Yashasvi Jaiswal not to throw away his wicket. Then he has to find a bowling group that has the wherewithal to take 20 wickets. Jasprit Bumrah appears to be a case of “fait accompli” and lead the attack, a perforce situation for India dictated by England’s 2-1 lead in the series and an 8-day gap between the Lord’s and Manchester Tests. Mohammed Siraj, who flared up in the third Test will be his Dukes-ball partner. Seamer Anshul Kamboj has been added as a cover for the injured Arshdeep Singh. Gill has to choose from Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna and Kamboj as first change. Gill has plenty in his plate — including Rishab Pant’s finger injury — to ponder at in order to keep the series alive.

With assembly elections early next year in Tamil Nadu, major political parties in the state including the DMK and AIADMK, have begun to enlist the services of consultancy firms to devise political strategies and campaign plans for their leaders. DMK, the ruling party, has roped in the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) and Showtime Consultancy, owned by Robbin Sharma, through its in-house firm, Populus Empowerment Network (PEN), which successfully handled its 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The DMK as a political party has faith in political strategist ever since the I-PAC, then led by ace political strategist Prashant Kishor, was credited with the party’s comeback in 2021.  This time round the DMK has roped in Robbin who worked for the TDP and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) in the 2024 Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra respectively. TN is likely to face a four-cornered contest among DMK, AIADMK, TVK, and NTK. AIADMK, the principal opposition party has signed on Sravanth D and Hari H of the Hyderabad-based Pramanya Strategy Consulting. The firm had worked for Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena in the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly elections. Actor-politician Vijay has been working with John Arokiasamy, a political strategist who had previously worked for Congress and PMK, for his Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK). His party colleague, Aadhav Arjuna, also owns a political consultancy firm, Voice of Commons. Current DMK President M K Stalin was the first political leader in TN to hire a political strategist, Sunil Kanugolu, in 2014. Though his strategy failed in the 2016 polls, leading to the AIADMK’s successive government, it succeeded in 2019. It is said both Dravidian parties kept political strategists away when they were led by the charismatic M Karunanidhi (DMK) and J Jayalalithaa (AIADMK), but things changed dramatically after their deaths in 2018 and 2016 respectively.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned from his five-nation visit and immediately held over 20 high level meetings to include India’s President Draupadi Murmu, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chiefs of Indian armed forces and more. The long pending delivery of two sophisticated fighter jet engines by General Electric was successfully accomplished end of last week besides a large trance of armaments from the USA that instantly put inimical rogue nations Pakistan and Bangladesh on high alert. PM Modi had similarly kept the former on tenterhooks and guessing even while launching ‘Operation Sindoor’ on the day India was merely scheduled to hold ‘mock drills’. This was Modi’s signature style just like he allowed the annual Amarnath Yatra to be held right until the day in August 2019 when Article 370 was revoked in Jammu and Kashmir. “The confusion over the number of aircraft on either side during Operation Sindoor was another successful gambit by the Indian side that deliberately launched dummy airplanes that were shot down by Pakistani air defence forces to expose their correct locations to then face an Indian aerial assault. Fact is, India has just ordered spares, replenishments and artillery armament fitting for 36 Rafael fighter jets from France that indicates the entire fleet is intact,” a well placed source reveals. Turkey based NGO – the Turkish Youth Federation – calling itself Saltanat-e-Bangla exploited Dhaka University to peddle leaflets supporting creation of so-called “Greater Bangladesh” that over ambitiously includes parts of India in its eastern and northeast regions. PM Modi cut off the water sharing treaty dehydrating Pakistan and now, floods it even as Afghan/Balochistan groups bring it to its knees. Is it Bangladesh’s turn now?

Ever since his name figured as a possible candidate to be considered for BJP President, Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav has been discreet and cautious in his conduct. It is being said he recently went on to conduct a low-profile wedding of his daughter in Himachal. In doing so, he apparently took a leaf out of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s playbook and followed her example of marrying off her only daughter in a simple ceremony in Bengaluru without drawing much attention in June 2023. He probably wanted to avoid the kind of record the incumbent BJP chief JP Nadda had set by hosting a wedding reception for his second son in a Delhi stadium two years ago. Of course in February 2022, Yadav had arranged an impressive wedding of one of his daughters in Delhi in midst of Covid-19 pandemic and top leaders including President Ram Nath Kovind and PM Narendra Modi had attended the event. With the prospect of an important responsibility looming in the horizon for him, Yadav probably didn’t want to risk his career at this juncture. Considered close to Home Minister Amit Shah, Yadav was hoping to be made Law Minister — a portfolio he lost to Arjun Meghwal who like him also hails from Rajasthan. At the same time BJP sources are still not sure if course corrections like what Yadav has done will help him clinch the top job. Much as they say will still depend on the small mercy shown by the Big 2 at the top.

Mudslinging by politicians at each other sometimes results in baring the naked truth before the public. While it could be deliberate, occasionally it can be inadvertent also. This happened owing to a heated argument in the Maharashtra legislative council. The focus of the attack was none other than the minister of state for home, Yogesh Kadam. The allegation was that a bar at Borivali was run by his family, which is incidentally headed by veteran politician Ramdas Kadam, father of the minister. The charge was levelled by Shiv Sena (UBT) member Anil Parab, who said that it was a dance bar. Clarifying, Ramdas said it was not a dance bar but just a bar and was in the name of Jyoti, his wife and mother of Yogesh. The bar was run by a hotelier called Shetty and only ladies’ service was available there. Ramdas is among the senior members of the original Shiv Sena and was handpicked by Balasaheb Thackeray to contest from Khed in Ratnagiri district. An aggressive leader, Ramdas was made a minister of home in the final days of the first Sena–BJP government, which ruled the state between 1995 and 1999. Ramdas was among the first lot who left Uddhav to join the Eknath Shinde camp, now deputy chief minister of Maharashtra. Ramdas has threatened to initiate legal action against Parab for the perceived defamation. Interestingly, when the Sena long ago was agitating against ‘outsiders,’ Kadam had entrusted his business to a south Indian. 

He was a dark horse who became the chief minister of Odisha. Mohan Charan Majhi who was handpicked by PM Narendra Modi recently celebrated the first anniversary of BJP rule in June 2025. But he seems to have a bout of bad luck. He is making front page news for all the wrong reasons. A few months back it was regarding 500 Nepali students forced to leave the campus of KIIT University in Bhubaneswar following a period of unrest related to the death of a Nepali girl student. This became a diplomatic issue. This was closely followed by a stampede during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri resulting in the deaths of three people and injuries to more than 50 others. More.  A BJP leader was seen thrashing a senior OAS civil servant at his office premise. The Opposition parties – BJD, Congress – seem to be baying for his blood. With so many arrows in their quiver the Opposition hit the streets portraying him as an incapable leader. Incidentally, even BJP’s own cadre ABVP has joined the chorus with Opposition leaders. The latest trigger point is the alleged molestation and rape of a college student of Fakir Mohon College, Balasore. She died by self-immolation as the Vice Chancellor did not act on her complaint of molestation by the college professor. Seasoned political observers say for BJP sorting out the current sexual harassment mess including institutional failures will take time and government may face challenges in implementing safeguard reforms quickly. As of now the dice seems to be loaded against Majhi and one has to see how he comes out unscathed from this mess.

A potential rumour bomb has been defused by the Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis with a simple statement. The rumour circulating in the state’s political and administrative circles had caused many bigwigs to spend sleepless nights. It was started by former state Congress president Nana Patole, who had raised the matter in the legislative assembly as well. The crux of the balloon was that 72 influential people across the state had been blackmailed due to their involvement in a honey trap operation. The matter assumed gravity since it was whispered that some ministers, too, were under the cloud but the implication that several top civil servants had been compelled to favour certain forces or face exposure. The allegations said the centre of the scandal was Nasik in north Maharashtra and the name of a prominent local hotelier was surfacing. Patole and others had feared that even the most secret government details could land into the wrong hands. As demands for a discussion in the house became more and more vocal, Fadnavis on Friday said, “There is neither honey nor a trap,” he said, adding that there was no police complaint. The Fadnavis government is already at the receiving end following a free for all in the legislature premises. Members of his government were feeling unease since each minister was viewed as if tainted by the honey trap racket. Senior officials, too, had started looking at each other warily. The allegation is considered a plot to defame the government and Fadnavis, who has tossed back the ball, making it imperative for Patole to substantiate his serious charge.

Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) is now a busy leader of the AIADMK, the prime opposition of Tamil Nadu. The challenges he faces in the run up to the  2026 TN Assembly Elections seem insurmountable; at last, the BJP alliance is a fait accompli….yet K Annamalai, the firebrand former TN BJP head has just bowled a googly …whether the alliance will acknowledge the AIADMK as the unilateral face of the government or if a coalition would steer it. EPS has coined his own slogan, “Makkalai kaappom, Thamizhagathai meetpom” (protect the people, reclaim TN).  In contrast the DMK under MK Stalin has already eased into the limelight with Stalin’s slogan “Oraniyil TN” (TN in one Formation) with his people outreach programmes already in motion. Recently, EPS set the cat among pigeons when he said “a huge party is about to join us”. Now, the guessing game is on which is the huge party in TN that will join the AIADMK-BJP alliance. “Our party will roll out the red carpet for any outfit wanting to join us” says EPS. The BJP and AIADMK are going hammer and tongs to dethrone the DMK, even as actor-politician Vijay and his TVK claim that they would not need any props to call the shots …TVK has even passed a resolution about having no truck with BJP and AIADMK. Congress leader Karthi Chidambaram has had the last laugh with his own witty and sarcastic take on the identity of this huge party waiting to tread the red carpet. “Is it Trump and his party waiting to join the alliance”?

There was a time when Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were derided by Maharashtra for their rampant lawlessness. On the other hand, the mature and rich political culture of the state was shown as an example to them with advice that they should emulate it. But the ruckus within the Maharashtra legislature precinct on July 17 has shamed those loving the state. There is no denying the fact that those taking law into their own hands are becoming more and more brazen. Even certain political leaders openly threaten those disagreeing with them and their supporter’s resort to mindless violence against innocent victims. The free for all fight between BJP and NCP-SP leaders has raised a serious question about the way Maharashtra is going to proceed. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis articulated this concern when he told the legislative assembly that the common public sees legislators as unrestrained. The aftermath of the violence has raised some pertinent questions. For instance, senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Bhaskar Jadhav demanded to know how so many visitors could enter Vidhan Bhavan. However, he did not explain why he or any other member had not raised and pursued the matter till now. The fact is that every minister, MLA and MLC arrives surrounded by their clique. They do not pay heed to the requests by the security personnel. A member narrated how a visitor entered the premises even after refusal by a minister to sign his entry pass. The member refused to reveal the method used by the visitor but it was not difficult to know what he meant. Assembly speaker Rahul Narvekar has now declared that only the personal assistant of a member will be allowed admission. This fiat is a slap in the face of Maharashtra as it is a telling comment on the situation and the sordid incident. 

Bihar politics has eschewed the ‘Y’ component from its traditional ‘MY’ (Muslim-Yadav) factor that allowed RJD’s Lalu Prasad Yadav to rule the roost for decades just like SP’s Mulayam Singh Yadav did in Uttar Pradesh. The brutal July 5 killing of Ajay Yadav and severe injuries to his brethren after a Muharram procession turned violent and, the severing of the arm of another Hindu youth similarly in Dhaka in east Champaran district alongside the killing of a Hindu family of three in June has failed to impress principal political parties, including the ruling JD(U)-BJP or even the Opposition RJD adequately to call upon families of the deceased even as state assemblies are looming. The July 6 attack on a Hindu temple during another Muharram procession in the Katihar (Naya Tola) district also instilled fear in Hindu minds and yet, political parties have done little more than target each other for the violent incidents finding no time to assuage the feelings of bereaved Hindu families. While political parties are known to dance to the tune of their preferred voter base (the minority vote bank here), neither the Hindutva votary in power — BJP — through its Bihar president Dilip Jaiswal nor RSS functionaries in the state found time for an outreach to Hindu families drawing flak from Hindus of Bihar. Ironically, at East Champaran where the father of the nation had launched his Satyagraha movement, RJD efforts to flaunt his grandson Tushar Gandhi backfired when the village ‘Muhiya’ Vinay Kumar Sah asked Gandhi to leave over his “Badlo Bihar, Nai Sarkar” campaign after another colleague made disparaging comments regarding PM Narendra Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has once again invoked the powerful sentiment of Bengali Asmita ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. In a move reminiscent of her successful 2021 campaign, Banerjee accused the Centre of systematically targeting Bengali-speaking individuals and migrants across BJP-ruled states, painting it as part of a larger political design to marginalise Bengalis. This protest comes just days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled rally in Durgapur on July 18 and the TMC’s annual Martyrs’ Day on July 21. The TMC supremo led a protest rally on July 16, alleging that the Union government had secretly issued a notification permitting detention of individuals — especially Bengali speakers — on mere suspicion of being illegal migrants from Bangladesh. Walking alongside her nephew and party’s National General Secretary, Abhishek Banerjee — amid speculations of a strained relationship — Mamata projected a message of unity and communal harmony by notably including a Buddhist monk and a Muslim cleric, underlining inclusivity in the face of alleged divisive policies. She raised concerns over Bengalis being labelled as Bangladeshis despite having Aadhaar and PAN cards. She pointed out that over 1.5 crore migrant workers from other Indian states are working in Bengal with dignity, unlike the treatment meted out to Bengalis elsewhere. Didi cautioned that if Bengalis are detained, Bengal will politically detain the BJP through the ballot box. Political observers believe that the choice of location for the PM’s rally on July 18 in Durgapur is strategic as it will encompass the two key Lok Sabha constituencies of West Bardhaman district — Bardhaman-Durgapur and Asansol. In both constituencies BJP was defeated in 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Modi’s address is expected to clarify BJP’s stance — whether it will continue with a Hindutva-driven approach or pivot toward inclusive development.

The Vidhan Bhavan is increasingly witnessing scenes of bad blood and sharp exchange between legislators. While sarcastic one-liners comments and humorous leg pulling have been traditionally acceptable and even encouraged, the current exchange of barbs between political rivals has taken on a downward spiral. So, when the BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar questioned Sharad Pawar’s family members following different faiths, not surprisingly, it was followed by NCP(SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad passing nasty remark to Padalkar when the latter was giving bites to news channels. The duo continued their duel right till the parking lot of the Vidhan Bhavan. The discourse turned further downwards when Opposition members turned up in banians and towels to poke fun at Eknath Shinde’s MLA Sanjay Gaikwad turning up in that gear at the MLA hostel in a viral video. In fact, Aaditya Thackeray and Nitesh Rane had a one-to-one duel on the floors of the assembly over the former terming the latter’s party as Chaddi-Banian party. Even the normally genial Aaditya Thackeray did not spare others and called out deputy chairperson of the legislative council Dr Neelam Gorhe for her comment that Mercedes had to be gifted for posts in the Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. The TV cameras caught Gorhe returning an angry stare. The same evening saw Aaditya’s cousin and fellow legislator Varun Sardesai accusing Gorhe’s bodyguards of pushing him around, again the spat flowing out before full media glare. While the TV cameras positioned outside the Vidhan Bhavan provide much needed oxygen in such reel-worthy and hits-hungry viral times, it’s not surprising to see the political friction play before the media gallery at this monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

There is a worry in top echelons of the government that a lobby of busy-bodies has emerged in the power echelon in Delhi that eagerly offers to fix appointments with government officials and secure policy solutions for some consideration. The rise of such a busy-body has begun to deter honest bureaucrats from entertaining any requests for interactions with any non-familiar persons. It is being said PM Modi felt it was necessary for the officials to come up with public feedback on government policy decisions for improving delivery. In the absence of any interaction with common citizens and NGOs, officials were also not coming up with fresh ideas. It is in this context that Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan’s letter to secretaries of the central government asking them to interact with people is interesting and makes sense. He flagged the “perceived reluctance” among several senior central government officials to give appointments to people, saying such interactions can give insights into ground realities, and clarify misunderstandings about “government policies or intentions”. In his letter, Somanathan made it clear that such meetings should be held in offices and not clubs or hotels. He said people from various sections of society have told him that there is a “perceived reluctance” among several secretaries of the central government and other senior officers to give appointments to people other than officials, who may wish to meet with them in connection with the work of their ministries. He said the work of the government is such that it affects or benefits many people and organisations. In some cases, “if you feel it is necessary as a precaution, you could ask another officer to be present.”

The Bombay High Court is not amused with the second ‘closure’ report filed over the sensational June 2020 Disha Salian unnatural death case that lived on like a political potboiler ever since. On July 2, 2025, the closure report in the case was submitted to court bearing the signatures of Malvani police station’s senior police inspector Shailendra Nagarkar (in SIT) and a state public prosecutor, neither of whom bothered to attend the day’s court proceedings. Strong observations followed over their absence particularly since no ‘closure’ report was sought by the court in the first place. The court also considered invocation of contempt proceedings against the officers concerned. A legal source reveals, “A disgraced IPS officer, allegedly responsible for the first closure report filed in the case under then MVA ruled Maharashtra is believed to have actively ensured the second closure report also by the SIT set up during the current litigation through the writ petition filed by Disha’s father seeking a CBI probe into his daughter’s death. The High Court justice questioned why the missing in action officers submitted the closure report in the first place and will take issue with them come July 16.” A well placed political source in Delhi notes, “Then Mumbai police commissioner, Parambir Singh, thoroughly disgraced the city’s police force by acts of omission and commission, was even cited for the so-called Thane model of corruption and yet, only five days back he was acquitted in the extortion and corruption case in Thane. He was also suspended following the ‘Antilla’ case (Ambani residence) when he was Mumbai CP and yet, continues to operate with impunity or tacit political backing.” Reportedly, his son is married to a Nagpur-based politician’s daughter.

Recognised by Cornell University in USA as “a promising Asian student,” Yashasri Gopinath Munde is all set to enter active public life. The youngest of Gopinath Munde, Yashashri has been a director of the Vaidyanath cooperative sugar, a power base of the Munde family. She kept away from politics. But, now, there seems to be a rethink. She has filed nomination for The Vaidyanath Urban Co-Op Bank Ltd election in Beed, signalling her intentions of moving forward in public life. The bank has remained a battleground in Beed’s politics. Hence Yashashri’s entry in the fray is considered an indication of her plans. The district’s politics, however, has remained a fiefdom of the Munde family and Yashashri’s appearance on the horizon will reshape it soon, it is felt. Her two elder sisters, Preetam and Pankaja, are already in politics. While Preetam has been elected to the Lok Sabha twice from their hometown Beed, Pankaja has been representing the assembly constituency and been a cabinet minister in Maharashtra over the years. Their father, Gopinath Munde, was a deputy chief minister in the state and a cabinet minister in the first team of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014. Munde married BJP leader Pramod Mahajan’s sister and the two ruled the state BJP firmly for a couple of decades. Munde’s abrupt death was a setback for the family but did not thwart the political career of his two daughters. This is going to be one more addition to the tradition of family rule in the state, critics say.

The political reunion of the Thackeray brothers — Raj and Uddhav Thackeray — has disturbed political calculations in the state forcing parties to reassess and redraw their political strategies as per the new ground realities. The direct impact of this reunion is obviously on Eknath Shinde, who officially holds the Shiv Sena party name and flag, and is eyeing the same pie of the Marathi manoos vote bank, that is now facing consolidation under the Thackeray brand. Shinde air-dashed to New Delhi in the middle of this assembly session to meet Union home minister Amit Shah. Shah is believed to have sought his opinion on how to deal with the Thackeray reunion in the forthcoming polls and if launching an attack on them could prove helpful or counterproductive. Shah is also said to have shared details of local surveys conducted by his party to assess the atmosphere post the Thackeray brothers reunion. Shinde, who is upset with the BJP local leadership, is also said to have shared his concerns about his minister receiving income tax notices, funds for his ministers being curtailed, and his party being kept away from power equations.. Analysts feel that the BJP could delay the elections in a bid to diffuse the strong buzz that the Thackeray brothers have successfully generated around the Marathi language issue. The BJP is keen to gain power at the BMC with vital projects like Dharavi redevelopment and other redevelopment projects unfolding in the city.

In the atmosphere of levelling unfounded allegations, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut is now tasting his own medicine following a serious charge made against him by a BJP spokesman. Raut is seen time and again, day in and day out, on TV channels, making some claims or allegations. His latest such utterance is about deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde’s unscheduled Delhi visit, incidentally on the Guru Pournima day. Raut said Shinde had gone to the national capital suddenly to touch the feet of his mentor, Union home minister Amit Shah and to seek the chief ministership again, which he had vacated after the Maharashtra assembly election late last year. Owing to persistent reports that Shinde is sore ever since he had to accept the deputy CM post, Raut’s allegation was widely reported. However, BJP spokesman Ram Kulkarni has caught Raut unawares with a counter-charge. Kulkarni said that Raut had called on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi a few days ago to urge him to forestall the handshake of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray. The statement by Kulkarni has the backdrop of the impending civic elections, including in Mumbai, soon after the monsoon. If the Thackeray cousins fight the elections jointly, it could have some impact on the outcome. Raj has maintained silence on the issue but Uddhav has repeatedly emphasized that their alliance is solid. Hence Kulkarni’s charge is seen as an attempt to checkmate Raut at his own game.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat  and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were born in the same year and same month. A couple of days ago, Bhagwat made a remark that has gone viral, many interpreting it as a signal to Modi to step down. At a book release function, Bhagwat quipped that 75 was the age to bid adieu and retire. Immediately, Modi baiters were overjoyed as if the PM had actually handed over his resignation. This has reference to a statement made by Modi many years ago that the retirement age in politics should be 75. As soon as he emerged as the sole leader, Modi gently but firmly sent away the old guard, led by LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, into the sidelines. The rule was implemented across the states, too, with rare exceptions. Hence, discussion has been rampant about Modi’s own decision. While there is silence on the BJP front about Bhagwat’s oblique advice, a few Modi followers have ventured to suggest that the suggestion could have been about the RSS chief himself. It is well-known that the RSS is disciplined to such an extent that even its head is not allowed to breach its ironclad culture. In the past, Balasaheb Deoras and Rajendra Singh (Rajju Bhaiya) themselves relinquished the position, among the most coveted in India, owing to their advancing age and failing health. On the other hand, Bhagwat is physically fit and enjoys attending cultural events. Many of his speeches have become a guiding light for the RSS rank and file. Hence, all eyes are now on the Dussehra rally, traditionally used by RSS chiefs to announce some pathbreaking decision.

Actor Kangana Ranaut, the BJP MP from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, is showing herself to be a misfit in politics. Naturally, the BJP high command is upset with her. But they do not know how to handle her moods. Mandi is reeling from the impact of cloudbursts, landslides and flash floods. Firstly, Kangana did not rush to Mandi from Mumbai, where she normally stays. After the natural disaster that killed 85 people, Kangana was asked by BJP leaders to reach Mandi. On reaching there, she said she had no power or post to do anything. “I have no cabinet, no funds’ during a visit to Mandi on July 6.  Since her comments drew a negative reaction, BJP chief J P Nadda decided to go to Mandi himself. Nadda belongs to Himachal Pradesh. Accompanied by Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur, and Himachal BJP chief Rajeev Bindal, Nadda met with people impacted by the heavy rainfall in Mandi. Kangana was not part of his entourage despite being the local MP. Later, Thakur oversaw the relief efforts. A BJP MLA, Vinod Kumar, and another party MLA, Deep Raj, were given the responsibility to help affected people. At this rate, Kangana is indicating that she is no longer interested in politics. She told a podcast recently that “It’s a very different kind of work, more like social service…I’ve never thought of serving people.” No politician speaks the truth. What more, Kangana feels that “I’ve fought for women’s rights, but that’s different… Somebody’s naali (drain) is broken, and I’m like, ‘But I am an MP and these people are coming to me with panchayat-level problems… they come to you with problems like MLAs, broken roads, and I tell them that’s a state government issue, and they say, “You have money, you use your own money.” With that kind of comments, can Kangana survive in the BJP as an MP for long?

Has ‘Sheesh Mahal’ jibe returned to haunt the BJP?  First it was Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami who went on to splurge on a swimming pool in his official bungalow. And then Delhi CM Rekha Gupta came up with doing up her quarters. The Opposition called it ‘Maya Mahal’. This has left the BJP high command very angry. Taking a dig at Dhami’s “Jal Mahal” — a play on Arvind Kejriwal’s “Sheesh Mahal”jibe coined by the BJP — the Congress has asked “how many crores” the CM spent on the “modern, all-weather” pool. Last year, the BJP had released a video of Kejriwal’s erstwhile Civil Lines residence, calling it “Sheesh Mahal”, a “museum of corruption”, and a “luxury palace” of Kejriwal, in an attack on the AAP chief’s ‘common man’ image. AAP had lost Delhi to the BJP in the elections that followed. Dhami had shifted to the CM’s official bungalow in 2021. Built over 10 acres, the residence was termed as jinxed by many, as the previous three CMs were not able to complete their tenures. Some say Dhami apparently added the swimming pool to improve the Vaastu of his residence. The now-cancelled renovation plan for Gupta’s residential bungalow allegedly included extensive electrical upgrades, the installation of 14 air conditioners, televisions worth Rs 9 lakh, and light fixtures worth Rs 6 lakh. Improvements for Delhi CM’s bungalow ran into controversy as tender orders for 14 ACs had to be cancelled as it became a throwback to Kejriwal’s days. Gupta had been allotted two bungalows on Raj Niwas Marg by the Public Works Department, with one to serve as her residence and the other one for a camp office, which she inaugurated last week.

Despite recent efforts at mending fences, internal rifts in the Bengal BJP have resurfaced after senior leader and former state president Dilip Ghosh reignited controversy with remarks seemingly soft on West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. This comes even after Ghosh’s meeting with newly appointed state BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya and a visit to Delhi where he met BJP national joint general secretary Shiv Prakash. Ghosh stated again that Mamata herself is not named in any corruption cases, blaming those around her instead — a comment that runs contrary to the BJP’s aggressive anti-Mamata narrative and has triggered discontent within state ranks. Without naming him, Ghosh also appeared to take aim at Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, saying that some recent entrants into the party are trying to stoke divisions — a likely reference to criticism he faced after attending the inauguration of Digha’s Jagannath Temple on Mamata’s invitation. Ghosh later insisted he was merely stating facts, not giving Mamata a “clean chit.” In an effort to contain the damage, state president Samik Bhattacharya met Ghosh at the party office and publicly reaffirmed his place in the BJP, declaring, “He was in BJP, is in BJP, and will remain in BJP.” Tensions date back to Ghosh’s April 30 Digha’s Jagannath temple visit, which drew flak from Adhikari and then-state chief Sukanta Majumdar. Ghosh was subsequently sidelined from key meetings, including on leadership selection, and complained of deliberate alienation—even being denied a chair during meetings. His latest remarks, though intended to reaffirm party ties, have once again unsettled the BJP ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

It seems to be a point of No Return in the PMK family feud. Now, 85-year old Dr S Ramadoss has denied his son Dr Anbumani even the right to use his name. Ramadoss senior is seriously contemplating bringing his daughter Srikanthi to lead the party he founded and continue his legacy. Combative and razor sharp Ramadoss is preparing his cadres for the ensuing elections and keeping the Vanniyars vote bank intact. He did hint that his daughter Srikanti could be his succession choice. In front of his party workers, the wily doctor even sang the opening of a popular Tamil film song, Poga Poga  Theriyum …….Inda poovin Vaasam theriyum. Meanwhile, Dr Anbumani with wife Sowmya and his daughters is taking a totally different political stance, quietly consolidating his status as political heir.  Since he has the Election Commission’s stamp that he is the party’s leader till the 26 June 2026, he is confident that these emotional edicts and anger filled statements by his father may not carry legal weight. Both have approached the Election Commission for settling the legacy dispute for party name, symbol and leader, as candidates must file their nominations. There are those who ask why does senior Ramadoss knock at the doors of courts and Election Commission when his age and experience should be mature enough to not air family feuds in public? But a very poignant meeting of Anbumani with his ailing mother Saraswati Ramadoss, at the Thailapuram family home garnered enough emotional weight. It is well known that she has more affection for the son. At least now Anbumani can claim “Mere paas Maa Hai”.

Manmohon Samal has been re-elected as Odisha BJP president for the fourth time. And this did not surprise anyone, neither the ruling BJP nor the Opposition BJD and Congress leaders. Samal’s win uncontested also means a setback for the Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan. His nominee Golak Mohapatra VP Odisha BJP wanted to enter the fray but it seems the high command was not keen.  His claim to fame is that the Odisha BJP under Samal’s leadership not only wiped out the Biju Janata Dal from the Lok Sabha map of Odisha but in the process brought to end the long reign of Naveen Patnaik’s government, an outcome few had imagined possible. Unfortunately, Samal lost the last election to BJD and this explains why BJP’s central high command has now reposed confidence on his leadership style once again, bringing him back to action mode after one-year gap. Samal’s job is well defined. He has to build BJP cadres at 30 district level, train them and make them acceptable to the people which is somewhat weak today, compared to BJD’s Naveen Patnaik whom an average Odites loves, supports and admires. Hailing from the OBC community, which constitutes a significant portion of Odisha’s population, Samal’s reappointment is now seen as a strategic move to further consolidate the party’s base in Odisha given Samal’s strong organizational skills and grassroots connect.

Three days after their joint rally at Worli, the Thackeray brothers bounced back on the streets, forcing the BJP and even Eknath Shinde on the backfoot. Their cadres turned up in large numbers to showcase Thackeray’s street strength at Mira Road, on the outskirts of Mumbai, which is emerging as the laboratory for polarisation of identity and communal politics. What Raj Thackeray lacks in political strength of numbers — he has zero legislators or corporators — he made up with his street-smart strategy, as he had vowed at the joint rally.  Both Thackeray’s stayed out and kept mum, letting cadres to defy midnight detainment by police, take train to outwit police and successfully put the BJP on the mat on the Marathi issue. Eknath Shinde’s minister Pratap Sarnaik, who tried to participate in the MNS showdown, was booed and forced to retreat within minutes. That chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had to step in, to distance itself from the critical remarks made by BJP Jharkhand MP Nishikant Dube as also to explain lack of police permission to protest, reflected the party’s failure to handle the Marathi language issue. That this street show is just the beginning can be gauged from the fact that Raj Thackeray has restrained his leaders from commenting on alliance issues. Interestingly, Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, known to enjoy close equations with Raj, too has restrained his people from criticising Raj Thackeray or his party. Shinde has been very selective in reserving his criticism only for Uddhav Thackeray and showering praise on Raj, post the Thackeray’s joint rally.

The Calcutta High Court directed the Union government to resume implementing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in West Bengal from August 1. The scheme, which provides 100 days of wage employment to rural households, had remained suspended in the State since March 2022. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Chaitali Chatterjee noted that the Ministry of Rural Development had invoked Clause 27 of the MGNREGA Act to withhold funds to the State, a provision that permits stoppage of fund flow for a reasonable period of time. Though the court pointed out that the Union government was within its rights to impose special conditions for implementation to avoid irregularities, Justice Sivagnanam stated that the Act “does not envisage a situation where the scheme would be put to cold storage for eternity.” The Bench also took note of irregularities in wage disbursement flagged by Central teams. Responding to the HC order the finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in an interview to The Business Line, pointed out that there should be some rationale with which money is to be distributed. “It’s also a question of how based on the BE (Budget Estimates), within the first half year itself, everything gets exhausted. If it is a demand-driven scheme, a certain BE is announced so that money can be apportioned. How does the BE get exhausted every year in every state much before the first half of the year? This is a scheme which has got to be in force when it is the non-agricultural season. So, come the rains, you shouldn’t have demand coming. But the demand is still in place even during the rain.”  Pointing out how there are states where senior citizens taking money out of MGNREGA–it is a C&AG’s observation–she wanted to know if they are productive enough to be employed and given payment? 

BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (BATL), which was losing importance following the setting up of a new unit at Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, is getting a fresh lease of life. The unit, which is owned by BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd (BAPL), a joint venture between India and Russia, is expected to be taken over by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). BAPL, headquartered in New Delhi has an integration complex in Hyderabad and production unit in Thiruvananthapuram. According to Rajeev Chandrasekhar, former IT Minister and BJP Kerala president, he has been assured that DRDO will take over BATL. This will bring BATL employees directly under the Central government structure and align the unit with the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission, which would not have been possible if it was functioning as a JV with a foreign entity. BATL was set up in 2007, with the Kerala government transferring Kerala Hi-Tech Industries (KELTEC), sitting on 15.8 acres of land near Thiruvananthapuram airport to the JV. The land had recently become a contentious issue following the expansion of the International airport. The Kerala government has now offered BATL 186 acres of land at Nettukalters near Neyyar Dam in Thiruvananthapuram, to relocate the unit.  The defence ministry is believed to be evaluating the proposal. BATL, is a jewel in Kerala’s industrialisation plan and the first defence unit in the state. BAPL took over KELTEC and converted it into a world class missile making unit in India. BAPL was set up in 1998 as a JV between DRDO (50.5%) and Mashinostroyenia (49.4%) Russia.

About 767 farmers committed suicide in Maharashtra between January and May 2025. These include about 229 farmer suicides in the month of April,2025. Of these, the families of only 373 farmers were found eligible to receive compensation of Rs 1 lakh from the state. Out of these, 327 families have received compensation, the balance 46 families’ paperwork are being processed. Claims for compensation of about 200 families were rejected as ineligible. These figures were provided by minister for relief and rehabilitation Makarand Jadhav Patil, in a written reply in the monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. The state has witnessed crop losses across 36 million hectares worth Rs 7000 crore in damages over the last five years. Maharashtra being highly vulnerable to climate change with the state witnessing 142 extreme weather events in 2024, only adds to the conundrum. The Opposition have been contending that the farmer suicides have been on the rise due to failure of the State to protect farmers from crops loss impacted by climate change, failure to provide fair support price, ensure crop insurance and failure to provide loan waivers to farmers. The state has recently scrapped crop insurance for farmers with a premium of Re 1. Maharashtra has the highest number of farmers suicides in the country with the parched regions of Vidarbha and Marathwada registering the highest numbers. Over 250 farmers committed suicide in March alone this year in these regions. The Opposition has been demanding that a higher compensation be awarded to farmer suicides on the lines of compensation provided to those who die due to wild animal attacks.

The Odisha government headed by Mohan Charan Majhi has chalked up big plans to transform Puri, which houses the famous Lord Jagannath Temple, into a world class tourism hub so that tourists spend more days at Puri. For starters, it is planning to upgrade Puri from municipality to a municipal corporation. A municipal corporation is a larger, more autonomous body than a municipality, typically governing big cities while municipality governs smaller towns. Puri’s envisaged municipal corporation status will now include around 10 adjacent Gram Panchayats, expanding the city’s size and providing enhanced facilities for residents and tourists. Other plans include: a world class museum and library complex showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Lord Jagannath and an auditorium for daily light and sound shows in multiple languages plus an open-air theatre. This decision by the Majhi government to enhance Puri’s appeal comes at the back of a large influx of devotees – both from India and overseas. With this upgrade proposal, Puri now joins Odisha government’s plan to establish a metropolitan development region of 7,000 sq km encompassing Bhubaneswar, Khurda, Jatni, Cuttack, Paradeep and Puri making an integrated economic corridor. For now, CM Majhi’s focus is clear, he wants to make Puri one of the liveable cities of the country.