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Ahead of the March 16 Rajya Sabha poll, a complex tug-of-war situation is now brewing in Odisha between BJD-Congress and BJP. Parties are now guarding against possible poaching scenario ahead of Rajya Sabha polls. Already, Congress has shifted nine of its 14 MLAs to Bengaluru and BJD’s Naveen Patnaik has lined up daily meetings with his legislators to guard against possible horse trading. There are five competing candidates spread between BJD-Congress and BJP who are now competing for four Rajya Sabha seats. What seems clear is the growing prospect of cross voting, absenteeism or intentional rejection of votes scenario. This essentially means smooth sailing for Manmohon Samal (BJP), Sujeet Kumar (BJP), the outgoing MP who is now opting for another term and Dr Santrupt Misra (BJD). However, Congress-BJD supported candidate Dr Datteswar Hota seems to be in a tricky situation. He could be facing possible cross-voting and absenteeism scenario. This scenario could make Dilip Ray(Independent) ex-Union Minister win the Rajya sabha seat backed by BJP’s 79 MLA’s including three independents. Most agree that BJP will have 23 surplus first preference votes for Dilip Ray ensuring he sails in smoothly amidst fluid political situation.
In a strategic move to turf out West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee in the upcoming Assembly poll, the BJP is focussing on her stronghold – women voters. Didi’s Lakshmir Bhandar scheme has proved to be very popular. As a counter to that the BJP has launched Labharthi Sampark Abhiyan scheme which promises to top Didi’s scheme which is currently paying Rs 1,500– Rs 1,700 per month to Rs 3,000 if voted to power. Complementing this, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced a separate Rs 5,700-crore special fund dedicated to women’s safety, education, skill development, and self-help groups. BJP manifesto committee members emphasize that this fund is an additional empowerment initiative distinct from the monthly cash transfers. To popularise its Labharthi Sampark Abhiyan, BJP has embarked on a massive door-to-door campaign targeting approximately 64 lakh families, or nearly 2 crore voters. Under this strategy, a dedicated committee and district-level teams have appointed a Labharthi Sampark Pramukh at 1,060 booths. Workers are instructed to show that while Lakshmir Bhandar provides roughly Rs 60,000 over five years, central schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Ujjwala LPG connections, and PM-Kisan provide benefits worth up to Rs 4 lakh per family over the same period. The BJP’s internal data highlights a significant reach, noting that 82 lakh families in Bengal have received central benefits, including 18 lakh minority and 64 lakh Hindu households. Within the Hindu demographic, 42 lakh families have accessed at least three schemes, while 35 lakh families have benefited from five. By focusing on direct individual benefits—such as housing, toilets, and piped water—and excluding general infrastructure like roads, the party aims to prove its efficacy. BJP leaders are betting that this “beneficiary-first” model will finally yield a breakthrough in West Bengal.
In Maharashtra, topnotch Mantralaya babus attached to high profile departments, put on notice by state legislature over absence during crucial discussions during the ongoing budget session of the state legislature have landed in trouble today. Errant IAS officials suddenly find the sword of Damocles hanging over their heads after failing to take heed of the legislative advisory. Speaker of the state legislative assembly Rahul Narvekar, irked by the continued lackadaisical attitude of these officers of the rank of additional chief secretary (ACS) has now sought an ATR (action taken report) first thing, Monday morning (Mar 16). The issue emerged during the discussions over the planned budget outlay of Rs 7,69,476 crore (including a Rs 40,552 crore revenue deficit) for Maharashtra presented by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on March 6. IAS officers managing the high-profile departments to include Urban Development, Social Justice & Special Assistance, Housing, Tourism and Cultural Affairs and Other Backward Public Welfare that attract huge budgetary allocations were found missing in action. Both houses of the state legislature had taken sharp note of the absence of the senior secretariat officials last week during the crucial discussions revolving around the allocations for these departments crucial to effective governance of the state. Last week’s advisory directed the senior Babudom to ensure they remained present (seated in the sidebar enclosures) of the state legislative assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and council (Vidhan Parishad). Today (Mar 13) witnessed both houses of the state legislature particularly the opposition benches (read UBT Shiv Sena MLC Sachibhau Ahir and Sharad Pawar NCP president Shashikant Shinde) citing the incorrigible behaviour of the officers and even concerned ministers being absent when their department wise issues were being discussed in the upper house (Parishad).
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman was replying to the debate in Lok Sabha on the ‘Supplementary Demands for Grants – Second Batch for 2025-26’. Being a Friday, with Private Members’ Business scheduled for the later part of the day, she was hard pressed for time. At the same time that did not stop her from addressing issues raised by MPs of small parties like RSP leader N K Premachandran (Kerala) or Chandrashekhar Azad “Ravan” (chief of Aazad Samaj Party,UP). Sitharaman took up the matter of Premachandran censuring the government for providing emergency situations like the current West Asia crisis. “It is ironic that even when I am talking about how the government is preparing to face any unexpected events, including supply chain disruptions and LPG, they (Opposition) are not willing to hear the reply. They want to have their own agenda. Sit on the stairs and have chai and talk about LPG. This is our Opposition,” FM said. With Azad, Sitharaman fact-checked his complaints about lack of amenities for his voters and reeled off data to counter him. However, the best part was when she informed the House how Vidur, the wise man of Mahabharat – paternal uncle to the warring brothers Pandavas and Kauravas had settled down in Azad’s constituency. “Azad ji, I do not know why you are using Ravan in your name. Guess, Vidur would be more appropriate,” she suggested. Meanwhile, on the LPG situation the government made it clear that there have been no reports of dry-out situations at any of the 25,000 LPG distributorship in the country. Though there has been surge in the number of LPG bookings on account of panic buying. Daily bookings have increased from average 55.7 lakh to 76 lakh.
On Friday the 13th, the residents of Poes Garden heard the deafening sound of bursting crackers, once again. Sasikala, no novice to the game of power in Tamil Nadu politics, waited patiently to get a call from any party to join their alliance. Ever since her return from the confines of Parapana Agrahara (Bengaluru jail), there was much anticipation, talk, and an almost palpable fear of this known unknown who could strategize and motivate the crowd. When no acknowledgement came, when each entity had secured their alliance seats, Sasikala did what she is best at…she has now thrown a gauntlet and challenge backed by her prep of two years. Clad in a teal green saree, she gathered the crowd and the media just a few hundred yards next to JJ’s home…a mansion just as imposing, radiating power. The name of her party Anaithu India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnettre Kazhagam…definitely a mouthful, but one can trust the media abbreviators to come up with an alphabet soup of short form. The flag had a Trishul like emblem of Anna, Puratchi Thalaivar and JJ. It was when Sasikala flashed the party election symbol, a grove of coconut trees that she opened up, let her guard down. “I don’t stand here alone …like these coconut trees, I am with a grove and hope to add many more”. Even as she spoke about her trials and tribulations, about her mentors, the tears shed freely. A careful dab with her tissue, Sasikala stood tall like Casablanca…“the boy stood on the burning deck”.
For too long India’s founding pillars of women’s cricket — Shubhangi Kulkarni and Diana Edulji- – have been given the short shrift for the Lifetime achievement award. This absolutely smacks of injustice to the country’s top flight cricketers of the 1970s when the women’s team made its Test debut against the West Indies at Bangalore in 1976. Shubhangi, who took seven wickets in the Test including a 5ver in the first innings and took 60 wickets overall bowling leg spin, is 66 and Diana who took 63 Test wickets between 1976 and 1991 is 70. Both have been part of women’s cricket ecosystem as an administrator with the BCCI and ICC and one is appalled by unenlightened attitude of those deciding on the Lifetime achievement award. It appears all calls are taken at the whims and fancies of certain people and this has happened when cricketers like Sourav Ganguly, Roger Binny were at the helm of the BCCI and now when Mithun Manhas is at the helm. This is bizarre. Shubhangi and Diana ought to have been bestowed the Lifetime awards a few years ago. Both have worked towards solving payment related matters to current and past cricketers who of course will not run a campaign for the lifetime for these two once their grievances are sorted out. Mithali Raj — speculated to be getting the award in March 15 at the BCCI annual awards in New Delhi — was born in 1982, six years after Shubhangi and Diana made their international debut. The BCCI must, sooner than later, rectify its erroneous decisions and fete the two stalwarts of Indian women’s cricket with the Lifetime Achievement honour. These two will never think of staging a protest. The BCCI must respect the two.
Vijay and Sangeetha’s divorce plea has broken the net along with their marriage vows.. What started off 17 years back as a wow marriage is now in the ruins of claims and counterclaims of vows, infidelity and all kinds of mud mutually thrown. Much talked about divorce was that of Vijay and Sangeetha. But not all divorce seekers are running after alimony. Take chubby and cherubic Hansika Motwani who held sway over the swarthy Tamilian heroes with her “white” complexion. In her very first movie, she took off in a flight with none other than the future deputy CM of TN …the cash registers of course jingled with the pairing. But Kollywood was not overly smitten by her fair and lovely looks. Acting wise, she could just about giggle and sway. Soon, her mother cast around for a suitable boy. In 2022 of December, she married industrialist Sohail Kathuriya. Soon, Hansika realised that they were in no way compatible. What a surprise! Her divorce petition specially mentioned she needs no alimony, even as a Bandra family court granted them the divorce. So much for twinning in red. Talk of twinning outfits…Ravi Mohan opted to walk out of 17 years of marriage to Aarti and their two sons, leaving her heart broken. Ravi Mohan walked into the Goan abode of Kenisha Francis, a singer. And guess what both were twinning in a peach outfit at an event, to serve further grist to the rumour mill. So far Kenisha has not said yes or no to Ravi Mohan, a typical stance when the intruder in a marriage has her own fears. What if? Ravi Mohan, a whiner about his personal life is now talking existential truth …in his Insta he says, “Guys say what you want, since the general perception is that it is always the woman who is wronged. Men too are victims“.
As the BJP revs up its engine with the high-decibel “Parivartan Yatra”, its ideological backbone, the RSS, is quietly weaving a different tapestry on the ground. Through a strategic public awareness campaign, RSS volunteers are navigating the state’s neighbourhoods in small, discreet groups. Their mission is a classic ground-game manoeuvre: speaking directly to residents about the perceived excesses of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s administration and the urgent need for Hindu voter mobilisation. This quiet storm aims to challenge the Didi’s long-standing dominance by ensuring a maximum turnout among the Hindu electorate. The narrative being pushed by right-wing leadership, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, centres on a dual grievance of economic stagnation and a controversial “appeasement” policy. Sangh members argue that this shift stems from a growing perception that the TMC has favoured a small circle of influential leaders over the broader Muslim community, leaving many to feel like a neglected vote bank. This discontent is reportedly spreading across the socio-economic spectrum, from tribal communities to the traditional Bhadralok class. To capitalise on this, right-wing organisations are eyeing the upcoming Ram Navami celebrations as a pivotal moment for further mobilization. However, a strategic shadow hangs over the saffron camp’s momentum: the lack of a projected Chief Ministerial face. While the BJP central leadership often favours a “faceless” campaign to avoid internal factionalism—a tactic seen in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh—many within the RSS believe this could be a tactical error in Bengal. They argue that entering the fray without a leader of sufficient public stature leaves the party at a disadvantage against a formidable opponent like Didi.
Ever since the DMK and the Congress firmed up their alliance for upcoming the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, the BJP leadership in Delhi is keen that superstar Vijay and his party – the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) — should be part of the NDA in Tamil Nadu. Reportedly, over the weekend, Andhra Pradesh deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, who is also an actor, did share his own experience of ploughing the lonely furrow. Kalyan had gone alone to the polls with Janasena Party in 2019. He impressed upon TVK chief Vijay…what the prospect of the TVK would be if he were to join the NDA alliance. What it could mean for TN politics in this round of assembly elections — Vijay’s dream of routing the DMK would now become achievable. He could become deputy CM like him or achieve the status of what the late DMDK chief Vijaykanth had achieved in 2011. “As of now the AIADMK led BJP already has an edge in the polls. However, if Vijay’s TVK joins the NDA, the alliance will sweep the polls. Maybe it will win 200 out of 234 seats”, said an analyst. Meanwhile, the DMK has got so desperate about a comeback that it has even begun to widely publicise the community — Dalit fisherman — of a Rajya Sabha MP candidate it is going to elect on March 16. While joining NDA may help Vijay to sort out Karur tangle straight away, it is being said there are elements in TVK like his close aide John Arokiyasami who may not like him to team up with the NDA. John is an ex-associate of Prashant Kishor from his I-PAC days.
An unprecedented political confrontation between the President Droupadi Murmu and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has become an election campaign issue with both BJP and TMC framing the debate around tribal identity ahead of the Assembly elections. The BJP has attacked the ruling TMC over what it calls an “insult” to President Murmu, India’s first tribal woman President while Mamata has accused the BJP of exploiting the President politically for electoral gains. The focus has shifted from the SIR issue to tribal representation. The BJP is targeting tribal-dominated constituencies, where it had made gains in the 2019 Lok Sabha poll in Jangalmahal but lost ground to TMC in the 2021 Assembly elections. In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, TMC recovered three seats in western West Bengal — Bankura, Jhargram, and Medinipur. While only 16 of West Bengal’s 294 Assembly constituencies are reserved for Scheduled Tribes, at least 52 constituencies across Birbhum, Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman and Paschim Bardhaman have significant tribal populations, making the issue electorally relevant beyond reserved seats. Some TMC leaders feel Didi’s strong reaction against President Murmu, might have been better measured, as it risks alienating some tribal voters at a time when BJP is actively capitalising on every opportunity. Political analysts predict the confrontation will continue. Other issues, including the SIR debate and rising cooking gas prices, may fade as the President-CM dispute will dominate West Bengal’s political narrative.
In a strategic move to turf out West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee in the upcoming Assembly poll, the BJP is focussing on her stronghold – women voters. Didi’s Lakshmir Bhandar scheme has proved to be very popular. As a counter to that the BJP has launched Labharthi Sampark Abhiyan scheme which promises to top Didi’s scheme which is currently paying Rs 1,500– Rs 1,700 per month to Rs 3,000 if voted to power. Complementing this, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced a separate Rs 5,700-crore special fund dedicated to women’s safety, education, skill development, and self-help groups. BJP manifesto committee members emphasize that this fund is an additional empowerment initiative distinct from the monthly cash transfers. To popularise its Labharthi Sampark Abhiyan, BJP has embarked on a massive door-to-door campaign targeting approximately 64 lakh families, or nearly 2 crore voters. Under this strategy, a dedicated committee and district-level teams have appointed a Labharthi Sampark Pramukh at 1,060 booths. Workers are instructed to show that while Lakshmir Bhandar provides roughly Rs 60,000 over five years, central schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Ujjwala LPG connections, and PM-Kisan provide benefits worth up to Rs 4 lakh per family over the same period. The BJP’s internal data highlights a significant reach, noting that 82 lakh families in Bengal have received central benefits, including 18 lakh minority and 64 lakh Hindu households. Within the Hindu demographic, 42 lakh families have accessed at least three schemes, while 35 lakh families have benefited from five. By focusing on direct individual benefits—such as housing, toilets, and piped water—and excluding general infrastructure like roads, the party aims to prove its efficacy. BJP leaders are betting that this “beneficiary-first” model will finally yield a breakthrough in West Bengal.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi may be a die-hard critic of PM Modi but also seems to be his closet admirer. At least, he has admired the way Modi along with Home Minister Amit Shah — the top BJP duo — have been running BJP affairs. It is in keeping with this Modi-Shah playbook that Rahul Gandhi has attempted to pick Congress nominees for six Rajya Sabha seats across states. Rahul’s choices have surprised partymen. Except in Telangana where Rahul has opted to go along with CM Revanth Reddy’ choice — nominating Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Vem Narender Reddy — and in Himachal too he has relied on CM Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu’s choice of district level party office bearer Anurag Sharma. What has surprised Congress leaders is the way Rahul has played Dalit card in both Haryana and Tamil Nadu. In Haryana he has fielded a former state Govt employee Karamvir Singh Boudh. It is being interpreted as a message to feuding Congress leaders. That is Boudh is probably the one person who may be able to bring together former CM Bhupinder Hooda and senior leader Kumari Selja. What happened in TN takes the cake. After P Chidambaram managed to improve the seat offer from 25 to 28 and get one Rajya Sabha seat, expectation was that the party would field a high-profile candidate like Rahul’s close aide Meenakshi Natrajan. However, choice of Christopher Tilak, AICC Secretary, handling North East, has come as shock. It is being said Tilak had made phenomenal rise in the party. Party circles are stunned that Tilak moved from being office assistant to a AICC functionary to Rahul’s core group. The moot point is why has Rahul chosen to play Dalit Christian card in TN? That too after playing footsie with TVK’s Vijay? Is Congress trying to checkmate TVK? ” At this rate 2029 is out of bound for us,” rued a Congress leader.
The untimely death of Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in an aeroplane crash last month has raised several serious questions but the reticence of his wife, new deputy CM Sunetra Pawar, has also become a matter of curiosity. On the one hand, her nephew and NCP(SP) MLA Rohit Pawar has been holding a press conference daily to share his doubts about the mishap or crashing into police stations in an unsuccessful bid to register a FIR about the tragedy. On the other hand, leaders like Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray have jumped into the raging controversy, demanding answers to their questions. The matter has attained another level of gravity since Rohit has called on chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to request a thorough probe. He said the CM will hopefully urge Union home minister Amit Shah to investigate the matter. Despite such momentous developments, no family members of Sunetra have said a word, either about the loss of the patriarch. The intensity with which Rohit has been issuing warnings to top leaders of the NCP(Ajit) about the respect they should show towards his aunt has also surprised many. It is felt that Rohit’s targets are topmost NCP(Ajit) leaders, Praful Patel and Sunit Tatkare, both confidants of the deceased leader. They are running the party presently. However, there is also speculation over the fact that neither the Congress nor the Sena (UBT) have pursued the stand taken by Rohit, who has threatened another sensational disclosure soon.
With the renaming of Kerala to Keralam, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has turned the issue into a significant political flashpoint ahead of the state election due in a couple of months. Didi termed the BJP “anti-Bengal” and accused the CPI(M) of maintaining a tacit understanding with the saffron party. She alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah remember West Bengal only during election season, while consistently blocking the state’s longstanding demand for a name change. The issue dates back to 1999 when the Left Front government led by chief minister Jyoti Basu first proposed renaming the state “Paschim Bangla”. After coming to power in 2011, Mamata revived the effort. In 2016, her government suggested “Bengal” in English, “Bangla” in Bengali, and “Bangal” in Hindi, but the Centre rejected the proposal, citing the use of three different names. A later suggestion to adopt “Bangla” as the sole name was also turned down, reportedly because it sounded similar to Bangladesh, potentially causing confusion in international forums. The controversy has put both the BJP and the CPI(M) on the defensive. The state CPI(M) leaders have reacted cautiously as prominent CPI(M) leader Pratik Ur Rahaman defected to the TMC. Local BJP leaders have dismissed Mamata’s claims as politically motivated, accusing her of sidelining the legacy of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and using the issue to polarise voters as campaigning gathers pace..
The BJP’s much-publicised Parivartan Yatra in West Bengal will be flagged off on March 1 by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah from Raidighi in South Bengal, a stronghold of the ruling TMC. The two-day mobilisation –March 1—2 — will span nine of the BJP’s 10 organisational divisions in the state. The Kolkata Metropolitan division has been excluded, as it is tasked with organising the party’s concluding Brigade rally. The decision to have Shah launch the yatra from Raidighi is politically significant. The area falls within South 24 Parganas, a district that has stood firmly behind TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee since 2008 — even before she came to power in 2011. In the 2008 panchayat polls, the TMC wrested the South 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad from the Left Front. In the last Assembly elections, the party won 30 of the district’s 31 seats; only Bhangar went to the ISF. Raidighi is under the Mathurapur Lok Sabha constituency, while TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee represents neighbouring Diamond Harbour in Parliament. Joining this yatra will be eight central leaders and nationally prominent BJP faces marking an unprecedented concentration of the party’s top leadership in West Bengal. The two-day event will be attended by Union ministers like Rajnath Singh, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Jagat Prakash Nadda, Dharmendra Pradhan, Annapurna Devi including Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. Newly elected BJP national president Nitin Nabin will be present on both days. Five years after its high-profile “joining fairs” ahead of the 2021 polls, the BJP is avoiding mass inductions. Instead, it is banking on a concentrated show of organisational strength to signal its intent to breach what the ruling party calls its most impregnable fortress.
The AIADMK-BJP alliance that is planning to expand ahead of the polls has managed to rope in the DMDK. Aware that even the smallest percentage of votes may prove significant in what is expected to be a close-run race, the BJP was keen on getting Vijayakanth’s party on board. The necessary arrangement to offer them six seats plus a promise to give a Rajya Sabha MP seat, which is expected to be concrete this time, has been made and the announcement of the tie-up is expected any time soon. The BJP, driven by Amit Shah taking a personal interest in the Tamil Nadu polls thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s determination to make an impact in the state, is extra keen to make every bit of alliance arithmetic to work. The other side is also planning to swing small vote percentages away from the AIADMK combine by encouraging Sasikala to form a new party and contest at least 40 crucial seats where her Mukkulathor (Thevars) connections can swing some votes of the community away from the AIADMK. The high stakes, no-holds barred campaign for power is so primed up now as to bring about this do-or-die fight. In fact, the AIADMK-BJP led alliance is also quietly watching the Vijay campaign as the odds are that the cinema star will take away more votes from the traditional DMK voter base. All parties have made Vijay and his TVK the villains in the poll drama, but some are enjoying his vote cutting presence.
If Ajit Pawar’s widow Sunetra Pawar is emerging as the favourite person to find a place in Maharashtra government as Deputy CM and leader of the Nationalist Congress Party it is not without reason. Political circles in Delhi believe it is one elevation which would be most acceptable to top BJP leadership particularly Union Home Minister Amit Shah. It is being said Shah is inclined to ensure that Ajit Pawar’s legacy survives in Maharashtra. Shah remembers the late Deputy CM as one person who had always gone out of the way to bail out the BJP in tricky situations in the state — whether it was in 2019 or in 2023. It is in this backdrop, Sunetra has emerged as a favourite for the top post. Shah who enjoyed a good equation with the late leader. Shah apparently valued the manner in which Ajit Pawar took the initiative to break ranks with his uncle Sharad Pawar and join hands with the BJP in 2023, a year ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls as well Maharashtra assembly polls. Which is perhaps why he made it a point to travel to Baramati for Ajit Pawar’s last rites. Besides, elevating Sunetra, a Rajya Sabha MP from Maharashtra, would be a simpler affair then say promoting NCP leader Sunil Tatkare, a Lok Sabha MP. It is also felt Parth Pawar could replace his mother in the Rajya Sabha. As for Sharad Pawar who would be retiring from the Rajya Sabha in April it is being said his nephew’s untimely death has totally shattered him and he may not seek another term. It is also being said that the BJP is not inclined to accommodate his daughter and pro-Congress NCP leader Supriya Sule, Baramati’s Lok Sabha MP, in Modi government.
Two days ahead of PM Modi’s public meeting at Madurantakam, Chengalpattu district on January 23, the BJP stepped up its campaign to expand the NDA ahead of the assembly elections. On January 21, AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran, rejoined the NDA alliance in the presence of Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in Chennai. He had moved out of the NDA in September 2025. This was six months after Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that AIADMK chief Eddapadi K Palaniswami would be the CM face and lead the AIADMK- BJP alliance in Tamil Nadu in April 2025. In a reversal of events early this year, Dhinakaran flew into Delhi, met Amit Shah to pave the way for his return into the NDA fold. It is being said the AMMK commands considerable influence among the Mukkulathor community or Thevars in southern TN. Dhinakaran rejoining the NDA could spell trouble for the ruling DMK. So too the joining of Anbumani Ramadoss-led PMK. It is being said Amit Shah was very keen that all anti-DMK votes in the South, particularly the Thevar community votes should not be fragmented. Dhinakaran described the past differences as merely a “family feud”. On his part, AIADMK chief Palaniswami also welcomed Dhinakaran. The only person acting pricey is DMDK leader Premalatha, widow of late actor Vijayakanth. She is bargaining for two Rajya Sabha seats, a ministerial berth for her son in Modi Govt and some 20 assembly seats. It is her demand to accommodate her son in the Central Govt that has spooked Delhi. Meanwhile, it is learnt that DMK has asked Congress to scale down its demand for seats to 28 and has offered instead to bankroll poll expenses of Assam assembly elections. This simply shows how desperately DMK needs Congress — that is why it is trying to keep it away from actor Vijay’s TVK.
Is the Censor delay for Vijay’s film all aimed to strengthen the TVK chief’s support base and ensure its a superhit? Is the BJP-led Centre actually helping the superstar? As Vijay is facing an uphill task to get his last film Jana Nayagan released on Jan 9 and the Tamil Nadu Congress leaders are already blaming the Home Minister Amit Shah for it. A perception is growing in TN that the BJP is not obstructing the screening of the film but perhaps doing it all to increase his popularity among youth and women. It is being said the whole idea is to ensure that sizable votes of youth and women could now consolidate behind Vijay — that is to move away from the DMK. A strong TVK is bound to weaken the DMK. It is believed a three-way fight in TN will benefit the challenger AIADMK-BJP. Jana Nayagan was postponed two days before release due to a censor certificate delay. While a Madras HC hearing is expected to pave way for its release next week, there is a growing view that Jana Nayagan’s Censor problems were clearly linked to Vijay’s political dalliances with the Congress — Rahul Gandhi had spoken to him post Karur incident. It is in this backdrop that top Congress leaders from AICC in charge Girish Chodankar to Tamil Nadu MPs — Manickam Tagore and Jothimani attacked the Centre for withholding Censor certificate for Vijay’s film. TN Congress sources however feel Vijay may not eventually take up Congress offer of an alliance. “Vijay may finally end up with the AIADMK-BJP. Everyone in TN is heading that way. The DMK will also not take us on board,” pointed out a TN Congress leader.
Union Home minister Amit Shah is quite disappointed with his two-day visit to Tamil Nadu as his efforts to convince AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) to take a leaf out of Bihar polls and follow chief minister Nitish Kumar’s lead of carrying everyone along to fight the assembly elections simply didn’t seem to work in Chennai. Shah held two rounds of meetings with AIADMK functionary SP Velumani, an emissary of EPS, and had conveyed to him that if AIADMK has to defeat the DMK it must learn to carry every one along — from TTV Dhinakaran-O Panneerselvam — to DMDK and the PMK. Just as Nitish Kumar had carried along Chirag Paswan and other NDA allies. Nitish Kumar was seen easily sharing seats with Paswan even though the latter’s LJP had in 2020 assembly polls fielded candidates against JD(U). Reluctant to play ball, EPS conveyed to Shah that at best he was willing to accommodate his former AIADMK colleagues by allotting about 10 seats. He firmly conveyed to Velumani that if EPS remained intransigent about accommodating ex AIADMK leaders such as OPS or TTV then he would only “be strengthening the DMK hands and help it to come back to power”. A prospect of defeat could lead to further erosion in its ranks which the AIADMK must avoid. Or it will see heavyweights leaving the party as it saw the exit of former minister Sengottaiyan. It may be recalled that Sengottaiyan had met with Amit Shah before joining Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagham (TVK) led by superstar Vijay. Shah, who joined pre-Pongal celebrations in Tiruchirappalli under the party’s ‘Namma Ooru Modi Pongal’ programme, did not meet EPS. Things could perhaps be sorted out by his next visit to the state.
The South’s famed and amazing temples, their lore and stunning period architecture, overflowing devotion saw yet another strong thrust when the Home Minister came on a two day visit to Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. It is well known that he combines temple visits whenever the campaign whistle stops permit. This time it was to participate in the Modi Pongal event at Tiruchi …even as Shah stirred the brim filled Pongal pot his admirers and party members wished for a vigorous stir of the political pot in the coming election, giving NDA combine the sweet taste of ‘Sakkarai Pongal’ ….redolent with rice in fresh milk, generous ghee, profusion of nuts , cardamom and the newly harvested jaggery stirred to perfection …a ritual not many miss in TN , to celebrate the plentiful harvest. After Shah‘s Srirangam Temple visit, he made a stop at the Thiruvanaikovil Jambukeswarar and Akilandeswari temple on the Northern banks of the Kaveri. This temple is unique as one of the Pancha Bhoota temples (five elements earth, water, fire, air and space…there is an underground perennial spring in which the Lingam is submerged). Shiva’s consort Parvati known as Akhilandeswari is said to have her Thadangams (outsize earrings) gifted by Aadi Sankara. But above all, devotees’ prayers here are granted. Shah just walked out of his security cordon to the lined-up crowd, greeted them, shook hands with some, adding to their happiness.
Ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, a sharp political divide is emerging. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is foregrounding Bengali language, asmita, and secularism, projecting her government as pro-people through social welfare schemes and friendly governance. Conversely, the BJP is centring its campaign on illegal infiltration, corruption, misgovernance and a “climate of fear,” as outlined by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. During a three-day Kolkata tour, Shah intensified attacks on the Trinamool Congress, alleging that 15 years of rule have been paralysed by “syndicate-driven practices” and corruption, hindering development and central scheme implementation. Shah accused Mamata of nepotism, claiming power concentrated around her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee. He further criticised the appointment of senior police officials, alleging deviations from norms via the use of retired officers as proxy heads. On national security, Shah labelled illegal immigration a critical concern. He alleged the state failed to provide land for border fencing, claiming while infiltration dropped in Assam and Tripura, it persists in Bengal due to “vote-bank considerations.” He cited the BJP’s growth from 17 % vote share and two Lok Sabha seats in 2014 to 39 % vote share and 12 seats in 2024 as evidence of momentum. Banerjee launched a counterattack by questioning why the Centre focuses on Bengal while ignoring security issues in regions like Jammu and Kashmir. Finally, she questioned the timing of BJP’s deportation promises, noting that Bengal and Punjab bore the historical brunt of 1947’s Partition displacement.
In Odisha, there is a public outrage over the recent three-fold salary hike — from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3.45 lakh — of the Odisha legislators. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have expressed their displeasure over this unprecedented hike. Now, it is learned that Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi is taking corrective steps. Sources say, after the salary hike was passed in the Odisha Assembly, CM Majhi was summoned to Delhi by BJP national General Secretary BL Santosh on December 14. Reportedly, it was conveyed to Majhi about PM’s displeasure over the hefty hike which could be sending a wrong signal to other BJP ruled states which are getting lesser pay and allowances. Santosh expressed his surprise how Majhi could take such a bold and swift decision without consulting the central leadership. Majhi has now been advised to roll back the pay hike decision and the first step is to pass a resolution by the legislature party. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling said that such an important decision taken without consulting the central leadership was not well received by the Centre. This massive embarrassment has been saved just in time as the Governor is yet to give his assent on the Bill. As a first step towards roll back, a resolution was adopted for reconsideration of the Bill regarding legislators pay hike passed on December 9 at BJP Legislature Party chaired by the CM.
In the Lok Sabha, Home Minister Amit Shah was at his assertive best as he went on to quietly demolish every argument of the Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi against Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls launched by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Worse part was he told the Congress leader that his pet peeve “vote chori” had been unleashed on India thrice — all the 3 times by members of the Gandhi family. “Post-Independence, Sardar Patel was backed by 28 persons, Nehru by two persons; yet Nehru became PM, this was the first vote of chori. Second “vote chori” was by Indira Gandhi, when she granted herself immunity after court set aside her election. Dispute of third “vote chori” has just reached the civil court (in Delhi) on how Sonia Gandhi became a voter before becoming a citizen of India.” Interestingly, while the Congress and the rest of Opposition didn’t protest too much Shah mentioning court issuing a notice to Sonia Gandhi on voting before citizenship, the Congress staged a walk-out as Shah spoke about not allowing infiltrators to vote. While accepting that the NDA had won 3 general elections and 41 state assembly elections, a total of 44, Shah pointed out that the Congress too had “won 30 elections across various state assemblies. BJP has lost more elections than it has won, but we never questioned the ECI or EVMs. Tradition of electoral loss began in 2014 and they (Congress) blamed EVMs, which were brought by Rajiv Gandhi in 1989. More significantly Shah defended RSS activists occupying high office. “There is no law in the country that disallows an RSS activist from holding key positions. Both Modiji and me belong to the RSS.”
Barely a week is left for campaigning for the first phase of election in Bihar to end on November 4 and the first phase of voting is slated for November 6. However, former Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has not visited Bihar even once in the last two months. Rahul was last seen in Bihar on September 1 while concluding his ‘Voters’ Adhikar Yatra’. With his Vote Chori campaign not making much impact with voters in the state, it appears Rahul has steered away from the state. Rahul’s absence from the political scene has also become a talking point for the ruling alliance. Mocking him for his claims to explode a hydrogen bomb (by giving further proof of vote theft), JDU spokesperson Neeraj Kumar wondered why Rahul was avoiding Bihar. “That too at a time when all the top leaders, be it PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, several Union Ministers and even RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav have been tirelessly campaigning for their respective nominees.” For once Rahul Gandhi’s critics may have a valid point. That is because in the election season even Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who is not keeping good health, has been addressing one rally after another to shore up the winning chances of the NDA nominees. “We too are perplexed over the long absence of Rahul”, said a NDA leader. Notably, the Congress is contesting on 61 seats while the RJD 143. Sources in the Congress say Rahul is reportedly miffed with the way seat-sharing was done in Bihar. It is being said Rahul Gandhi would be addressing a joint rally with Tejashwi Yadav on October 29 in Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur.
After successfully pushing through GST-2 reforms, PM Modi had been looking for innovative ideas for governance. It was this search for ideas to further fuel his Viksit Bharat that led to him to interact with about 85 secretary-level officers of the government on October 6. About two dozen secretary-level officers heading various ministries and departments actively participated in the discussions. It is learnt officers were thrilled with the personal interaction they had with the PM. Three days after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan was already acting on their suggestions. On October 9, he wrote to the secretaries and asked them to roll out their ideas. Among the key points of action was promoting “indigenous development” of digital and social media platforms. The directive on digital platforms is significant as the number of internet subscribers in India as on March 2025 stood at 969.1 million, with most using foreign platforms like Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and X. Significantly, PM Modi pushed for use of local platforms coinciding with the launch of Arattai, the messaging app developed by Tamil Nadu-based Zoho Corporation. Earlier, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted on X that he was switching to Zoho’s homegrown office suite software. Likewise, Home Minister Amit Shah too switched his official email service to Zoho Mail. In his letter, the Cabinet Secretary had also dissuaded ministries/departments from avoidable litigation and filing unnecessary court cases and wasting resources. Officials were also told to reorient PhD programmes to promote innovation and development of new ideas, and technologies, through topics that fit the emerging needs of the country – and conceptualise awards at the international level to recognise excellence in various fields. Overall, the ministries have been asked to promote “Atmanirbharta” and reduce imports.
Union home minister Amit Shah stated that though the top trio leadership of Maharashtra, namely chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and his two deputies — Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar — the trimurtis of Maharashtra were not banias; they displayed the trading community trait and knew exactly how to get their work done. At the invited event, all three cornered me together seeking drought relief from Centre, Shah chuckled. Though the Centre has assured aid to deal with the havoc of heavy crop damage due to heavy rains and floods, it has been held up due to incomplete damage assessments. A proposal for aid from Centre can be sent only once and cannot be revised, Fadnavis has been trying hard to explain to distraught farmers and a highly vocal Opposition. Incidentally, the Opposition had been cornering Fadnavis by demanding for wet drought, a non-existent term that was coined by Fadnavis when was an Opposition leader in 2020. Fadnavis also refused to declare a drought instead suggesting that all drought-like sops or exemptions would be granted without officially being declared a drought. While the Opposition has been demanding that the state waive off crop loans and declare a state of drought, the Fadnavis government refused to bite the bait and refused to waive off crop loan. Fadnavis’ logic. Mere loan waiver won’t help farmers as they won’t have money to invest for next cropping season. Though the floods lashed the state in the last week of September, the state has been promising aid only before Diwali assuring them that their Diwali won’t be dark this year.
Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai is once again in focus. The buzz in Chennai BJP is that he is probably working for the DMK. Or else it is inexplicable that after being cajoled into coordinating with his party colleagues by senior BJP leader BL Santosh — he had even dropped by Annamalai’s residence only last week — and had promised to work for the AIADMK-BJP alliance. Party sources say he was found liaising over the weekend with a breakaway AIADMK faction – TTV Dhinkaran’s AMMK — which he had insisted must be re-inducted into the NDA. This development so upset the state unit that TN BJP chief Nainar Nagenthran rushed to Delhi to meet BJP national president JP Nadda. It was felt Annamalai could be reaching out to Dhinakaran as part of Home Minister Amit Shah’s general advice to ensure BJP presence in southern districts of TN. But does that mean Shah would signal Annamalai to wreck the very foundation of BJP’s ties with the AIADMK and the understanding reached with party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS)? Possibly not. Party insiders feel Annamalai was most likely acting on his own as he expressed regret over Dhinakaran’s exclusion from the alliance. Sources say Annamalai is determined to weaken AIADMK chief EPS and split the BJP-AIADMK alliance. All this is being done with an eye to benefit the incumbent DMK, which is bound to benefit from a split in non-DMK votes. It is also possible he may be driving AIADMK, in desperation, towards the actor Vijay-led TVK. He wants to take revenge on EPS and prevent him from becoming CM in 2026.Within BJP, he is targeting his successor Nainar Nagenthran.
Actor-politician is getting more daring by the day even as crowds keep flocking to his Saturday meetings in district towns of Tamil Nadu. The latest salvo he fired at Stalin was to challenge him to cut the audio system or the power when the Prime Minister, the Home Minister or the RSS chief comes to Tamil Nadu. It is a fact that whatever caused these disruptions, they did take place at Vijay’s meeting in Trichy when the audio of his speech did not carry to the several lakh people who gathered at his rally and mysterious power cuts took place. Try imposing the conditions – about 25 are thrust upon his meetings before permission is granted by the police – when the PM and the HM come calling, says Vijay. For all the lofty liberal principles of respecting political opponents that the ruling DMK may profess, it is clear they are rattled by the momentum Vijay is gaining. The imposing of strict conditions – including that he speaks only for 30 minutes at any rally – is a clear sign that the ruling DMK will do its best to disrupt Vijay’s campaign as he poses the biggest threat to Stalin emulating his father in getting re-elected. That may still happen as the DMK is still ahead in the race, but their image will have taken a beating as they are doing exactly what ruling parties tend to do in trying to rein in rivals to power.
The BJP leadership is all geared up to putting its Tamil Nadu house in order. With AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) meeting Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Tuesday (Sep 16) evening to firm up alliance in the state, ground was laid in TN to ensure smooth working within various groups and leaders. For a start, a coordination meeting of various state-level leaders within the state BJP was held in Chennai. The meeting was held in the presence of senior BJP functionary BL Santosh. The effect of the meeting was such that former TN BJP chief K Annamalai who was so far playing truant appeared mellowed down. For the first time, Annamalai conceded that EPS was drawing crowds in the state. Party sources said he had praised EPS in the party’s internal meeting too. This means Annamalai has come a long way; from initially opposing BJP’s alliance with the AIADMK to now agreeing to campaign with EPS. This would not only consolidate Gounder community votes in favour of the alliance but also consolidate victory. With Santosh in the chair along with TN BJP chief Nainar Nagendran it was decided that Nainar, Annamalai and EPS would now jointly campaign from Oct 1. It is not clear if Annanmalai had toned down his anti- AIADMK position because of a personal compulsion He is now compelled to answer queries over purchase of around six acres agricultural land in Coimbatore worth several crores of rupees. Annamalai said he had purchased it using a loan, his personal savings and that of his wife Akila. He had paid Rs 40 lakh in stamp duty and registration charges. Of course, no one in the BJP believes it.
On the penultimate day of Monsoon Session of the Parliament, PM Narendra Modi once again reloaded his battle against corruption–a theme which had won him the historic mandate for the first time in 2014. It is a battle in which people have always stood with him. Coming on the eve of Bihar elections, it surely helps set the mood for the polls. Home Minister Amit Shah moved the 130th Constitutional Amendment in the Lok Sabha that brought the PM’s office into the ambit of law along with that of CMs, State Ministers and other Ministers. By this amendment Modi was essentially reversing the 39th Constitution Amendment which Indira Gandhi had brought during the Emergency in 1975 to exclude her office from prosecution. Of course, Rahul Gandhi explained it as going back to medieval times when the king could just remove anybody at will. An entire Opposition saw a BJP design to destabilise their government. The Centre had legitimate worries. Delhi saw 3 AAP leaders reluctant to quit during their jail term — Arvind Kejriwal, Satyender Jain and Manish Sisodia. Then there has been the classic case of Senthil Balaji in TN who the DMK inducted into the cabinet while on bail. Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal attacked Shah. He said, leaders of the BJP are saying that this bill is to bring morality into politics. “Can I ask the Home Minister a question? When he was the home minister of Gujarat, he was arrested. Did he uphold morality at that time?” Quickly rebutting Venugopal, Shah said when the Congress trapped him in a completely fabricated case, he had resigned even before being arrested. “I did not hold any constitutional position and even after being released on bail, until the court fully acquitted me.”
At a time when a section of the Opposition leaders such as Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Manoj Jha and Jairam Ramesh were all keen that former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar should take on the Modi government for forcing him out of office and were hoping that he would possibly be propped up as a candidate for the September 9 Veep election. On his part, Dhankhar has played wisely and remained out of reach for the Opposition leaders. A seemingly worried Kapil Sibal posted on X seeking the whereabouts of Dhankhar and made it clear that only Home Minister Amit Shah should know; Dhankhar himself did not fall for the Opposition bait. He has played by his ear and instincts. According to well-informed Jaipur journos, the political buzz is that PM Modi and Dhankhar have already reached a deal. They probably had a meeting. Though the contours of the Modi-Dhankhar agreement are not clear, the government has been making arrangements to please the Jat leader from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. The Rajya Sabha secretariat last week appointed Kaustubh Sudhakar Bhalekar, who had been Dhankhar’s senior PS, as the private secretary to the former VP. Sources said there are about 20 people who Dhankhar had brought in along with him in the secretariat. There are issues about regularising their services. With nominations closing for Vice-President next week, it remains to be who will be the Opposition candidate for V-P contest.
A much-relieved Delhi Police posted on X that “the case of snatching of a chain” of Congress MP from Mayiladuthurai Sudha Ramakrishnan (R Sudha) has been solved. “The accused has been arrested and the chain has been recovered.” The police had cracked the case within 48 hours. The chain snatching was posed as a political challenge to Union Home Minister Amit Shah who recently emerged as India’s longest serving home minister (2258 days) — outdoing LK Advani’s (2,256 days) record. Shah must have surely got the whip cracking on the Delhi Police to deliver as the embattled Congress MP dragged his office into her travails. It is being said the police scanned 1500 CCTVs and over 200 people quizzed to zero in on the alleged chain snatcher. It almost seems like a throwback to what happened in October last year when French Ambassador to India Thierry Mathou was robbed of his mobile phone in Chandni Chowk. Delhi Police had managed to recover it after making a few arrests. The gold chain was snatched on August 4 from Congress MP by a bike-borne snatcher in the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri. The MP was on a morning walk with fellow lawmaker, DMK’s Rajathi Salma, near the Polish Embassy. She also wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who oversees law and order in Delhi, and said her chain was snatched by “a man wearing a full helmet” on a scooter. The MP had raised questions of women security in a high-security zone like Chanakyapuri, which houses embassies and protected institutions.
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.
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.”
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.
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?
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.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s presence at the Yogi government event on June 15 is considered significant, say UP watchers. The presence of Shah at the Lucknow event to distribute appointment letters to the newly recruited 60,244 police constables is more than a symbolic value. When CM Yogi Adityanath met Shah in Delhi on June 9, the pictures of the meeting went viral, becoming a hot topic of discussion in political circles. Although it was officially termed a ‘courtesy visit’, sources said that Yogi called on Shah to extend an invitation to be the chief guest at the ceremony for the distribution of letters to police constables recruited recently. It must be pointed out that there were a lot of misgivings between the two leaders after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections had not gone exactly the way the BJP had planned. For a party that had won 71 seats out of 80 seats from UP in 2014 when PM Modi first entered the national scene and 62 in 2019, it was quite tough when it crashed to 33 in 2024. Apparently, it was differences in perception about choice of candidates between Shah and Yogi that had affected the outcome. Now, a year later, it looks like both the leaders were being directed by PM Modi to bury the hatchet. The result was there for all to see in Lucknow. Shah was seen showering praise on Yogi Govt for improving law and order in the state. He said after the BJP government was formed in the state in 2017 and Yogi Adityanath became the CM, Uttar Pradesh Police had moved towards achieving new heights. That is because the Yogi government had recruited 2.15 lakh police personnel in the last eight years.
Rain or shine, criticism of the government by certain Opposition leaders does not cease. The tragic air crash in Ahmedabad is no exception. This trait was seen after the suburban train accident in Mumbra (outskirts of Mumbai) a few days ago. Although it is known that aviation is a complex subject, these leaders do not hold back. They don’t stop even when it is the question of India’s defence, not caring that the military should be kept away from such wrangling. For instance, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has given sage advice that no politics should be made of the air tragedy. In the same breath, he has criticised the government by raising some questions. If this government can’t avert an air crash, train accidents or attacks like at Pahalgam, what can it prevent, he asked? In this connection, he has attacked Union home minister Amit Shah. NCP(SP) leader Jayant Patil, too, has made some comments. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray has posed several queries. Frankly admitting that he does not possess any technical knowledge, he has pointed out that many leading newspapers around the world have asked pointed questions. He has also expressed apprehensions about the continuous use of the Dreamliner Boeing aircraft. Shiv Sena (Shinde) MLA Dilip Lande has warned the government that countless lives can be lost if such a mishap takes place in Mumbai since the international airport is surrounded by slums on all sides.
Noted writer Javed Akhtar has invited sharp comments from both extremes due to his statement that If he had to choose between hell and Pakistan, “I will prefer to go to hell.” Similarly, his oblique praise of Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has evoked different reactions. Akhtar’s frank speech at the launch of Raut’s book “Hell in Heaven” in Mumbai on May 17 became a highlight. Always a target following his speeches, Akhtar said, “Both sides abuse me. But there are also many people who treat me kindly.” Akhtar observed in the speech that many memorable literary works had been written in prison. His reference was to Raut’s jail custody for a hundred days in connection with a controversial land deal in Mumbai. The book written by Raut describes his experience in that detention. The book is in focus owing to the various claims made by Raut regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray. But Akhtar’s finding some similarity between Raut and many giants who went to prison for ideological reasons has angered leaders like Neelam Gorhe, deputy chairperson of the Maharashtra legislative council. She said, “Those leaders were in prison for fighting for the nation’s freedom or such noble causes, not for economic offences.” Akhtar’s remarks have generated ripples across social media and political circles. Expectedly, while some have praised Akhtar for his fearless stand against hate speeches, his critics feel that he is needlessly stoking a controversy.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has lamented that although then Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray and veteran leader Sharad Pawar were instrumental in saving the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi from serious consequences, Modi paid back by splitting the Sena. He has warned that he possesses much more explosive information which will create havoc if disclosed. “But being a believer in Maryada Purushottam Bhagwan Ram, I will not divulge it,” Raut says in connection with the release of his latest book in Marathi Narkatla Swarg means Heaven in Hell. The autobiographical account deals with the one hundred days Raut spent in jail custody after the Enforcement Directorate arrested him, alleging that he was involved in some suspect redevelopment projects in Mumbai. Raut was later released on bail by court, rejecting ED’s demand to extend the detention. Raut has also said that the two leaders helped Modi’s deputy, Amit Shah as well. “When the entire nation was against Modi, it was Balasaheb, the Shiv Sena and its daily Saamana (of which Raut has been editor for almost 30 years) which stood by Modi firmly,” Raut has reminded the BJP. Raut has written extensively about the land deal for which he was arrested. He has mentioned the names of certain power brokers and challenged the government to initiate action against them. The book has many more sensational disclosures.
While the nation is just recovering from the shock following the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has launched a campaign by criticising the BJP government at the Centre day in and day out. It has gone to the extent of demanding Union home minister Amit Shah’s resignation, holding him responsible for the security lapse. Upon this, Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray has been taunted by former Union minister Milind Deora, who is now with the Sena led by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. Responding to the repeated criticism of the BJP government in the state and the Centre by Sena MP Sanjay Raut about the delay in teaching Pakistan a lesson, Deora has reminded Raut that his leader was in Europe or wherever enjoying a holiday when Shinde had rushed to Kashmir to reassure the tourists from Maharashtra. Shinde had organised their return journey and extended monetary help where it was required urgently. Deora has pointed out that Uddhav kept on posting X messages but did not send any representative for the all party meeting after the attack. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short his visit abroad and returned to India, Uddhav continued with the vacation, Deora has told the Sena. Incidentally, it has been routine for Uddhav and his family to travel to the cool environs of Europe every summer. So far, there is no response from the Sena (UBT) to Deora’s barb.
When the newly appointed Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagendran met with PM Modi he apparently gifted him a statue of jallikattu, the popular bull taming event in Tamil Nadu which the Modi Govt in 2016 had restored by first issuing an ordinance to overcome the Supreme Court ban. Nainar also presented him the famous Tirunelveli halwa and Srivilliputhur’s palgova (a traditional sweet dish). He was accompanied by his son Nainar Balaji. Modi advised Nagendran to focus on revitalising the state unit and prepare for next year’s elections. A number of Modi visits are likely through the year in the poll-bound state. Nagendran also held discussions with Home Minister Amit Shah and FM Nirmala Sitharaman. On X, Nagendran shared how PM Modi “in every word and gesture” conveyed ” his deep love for the people of Tamil Nadu, and his reverence for our ancient and glorious Tamil language”. Meanwhile, contrary to speculation the BJP nominated an old RSS leader and OBC face Pakka Venkata Satyanarayana for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Andhra Pradesh instead of K Annamalai, former TN BJP chief. Why did Annamalai lose out? It was believed that at this juncture no point would be served by bringing him into the Rajya Sabha with a limited tenure of three years. The party would use him fully in Tamil Nadu until the state elections.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
On the auspicious Ram Navami day on April 6, at around 12 noon, PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new Pamban Rail Bridge — India’s first vertical lift sea bridge and flag off a train and a ship from the road bridge and witness the operation of the bridge. Thereafter he will perform darshan and pooja at Ramanathaswamy temple at Rameswaram. At around 1:30 PM in Rameswaram, he will lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation various rail and road projects worth over Rs 8,300 crore in Tamil Nadu. AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) had wanted to meet with Modi in Rameswaram. In contrast, TN BJP chief K Annamalai has been called to Delhi early next week for another round of discussions with Home Minister Amit Shah to sort out BJP-AIADMK alliance issues and also matters relating to picking up the next state chief. The Pamban Rail Bridge with its reference to Ram Setu in Ramayana carries a deep cultural significance. According to the Ramayana, the construction of Ram Setu was initiated from Dhanushkodi near Rameswaram. The bridge, linking Rameswaram to the mainland, stands as a remarkable feat of Indian engineering on the global stage. It was built at a cost of over Rs 550 crore. It is 2.08 km in length, features 99 spans and a 72.5-metre vertical lift span that rises up to a height of 17 metres, facilitating smooth movement of ships while ensuring seamless train operations. Constructed with stainless steel reinforcement, high-grade protective paint, and fully welded joints, the bridge boasts increased durability and reduced maintenance needs. It is designed for dual rail tracks to accommodate future demands.
Contrary to expectations there weren’t fireworks in the Lok Sabha when the government took up Waqf Bill (Amendment) for passage. It even saw some lighter moments between Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the selection of the next BJP president. Speaking in the House, Akhilesh Yadav mocked the “biggest political party” for its inability to elect its own president.” To which Shah quipped that the process in the BJP was unlike other parties, where presidents were selected from few family members.” Akhileshji made his remark with a smile, so I will respond in the same manner. The parties sitting across from us in this House all have national presidents who are selected from just five family members. But in our party, we have to conduct a process involving 12-13 crore members, so naturally, it takes time,” said Shah. “In your case, it will not take much time. I am saying that you will remain president for 25 years,” Shah said in jest. The process to elect the next BJP president has been pending for 10 months after incumbent JP Nadda was inducted into the Narendra Modi Cabinet following the BJP’s win in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Yadav also took a veiled dig at PM Modi over his visit to the RSS headquarters on March 30, saying the “yatra” (pilgrimage) was to save his chair. While the banter showed that the Opposition had no real issue against the bill, Yadav claimed that the Waqf Bill would hurt India’s secular image in the world and that it was being brought as part of the BJP’s “divisive agenda”.
In his interactions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai had reportedly made it very clear that the BJP should enter into a pre-poll alliance with the AIADMK only if it did not agree to projecting to anyone from the regional party as CM candidate. Armed with facts and figures, he explained to Shah that the AIADMK under Edappadi K Palaniswami’s (EPS) leadership had been steadily declining including its vote share. Annamalai insisted that the BJP must work on stitching up a NDA alliance in TN that builds on gains that the BJP made in 2024 Lok Sabha elections by going alone. It may be recalled that it was the AIADMK that had walked out of the NDA alliance in Sep-Oct 2023 months ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Yet, the BJP managed to double its vote share from 3.66% to 11.1% though it did not win a single seat. It would be interesting to see how the AIADMK chief EPS responds to this precondition from BJP. EPS has been pushing for the NDA to project him as the CM face. BJP sources say EPS has been playing tricky. Soon after his meeting with Shah, EPS reached Chennai and repeated charges against Modi government that the DMK government has been making regarding the NEP and Centre not clearing state’s dues. His comments surprised some Congress leaders. So, will Annamalai who has been TN BJP chief since 2021 be eased out? Such posts are for three-year terms only. For the sake of caste dynamics — as there are one too many Gounder community leaders like Annamalai and Mahila Morcha chief Vanathi Srinivasan, it is felt the party may go for a Thevar leader Nainar Nagendran, a BJP MLA from Tirunellveli. A final call on Annamalai, who has opted to work as cadre, will of course be taken post PM Modi’s TN visit on April 6.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah came down heavily on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for his criticism of the Parliament’s functioning, saying at the allotted time to speak in the Lok Sabha, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi was in Vietnam. He also pointed out how the Congress had got 40% of the time to speak on the Budget. He said it was possible that the LoP in the Lok Sabha was perhaps not aware there are rules for speaking in the House, which cannot be run through whims and fancies. “His (Rahul’s criticism of the functioning of the Parliament) were completely misplaced. Parliament proceedings can’t be conducted like party office meetings,” pointed out Shah. Last week, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had made oral observations about improper conduct of the LoP. Rahul had walked into the House even as the proceedings were on. Instead of walking directly to his seat, Rahul had indulged in some PDA with his sister Priyanka, drawing sharp observations from the Speaker Om Birla. It was later pointed out that Rahul was not being respected as LoP as he was not allowed to speak as the House was adjourned immediately after the Speaker’s observations. Rahul had apparently wanted to speak soon after PM Modi’s statement on Mahakumbh on March 18 and wasn’t given the floor. Interestingly Shah made his remarks on Rahul at Times Now Summit. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey had also mentioned about Rahul’s preference for Vietnam in the Lok Sabha.
AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palanisami (EPS) set off a tsunami of surmises when he rushed to Delhi for a durbar audience with home minister Amit Shah. So, who or what spooked EPS despite Shah’s multiple visits to Tamil Nadu since 2023 and open invitations to EPS to join the NDA? Chinwaggers had a field day in surmising what transpired in that crucial meet of Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam chief Vijay, EPS and his son Mithun. Some earlier meets facilitated by the new entrant to TVK, Aadav Arjun had not gone unnoticed giving Arjun importance as a powerful catalyst influencer. But this time Arjun was sidelined, Mithun was the influencer for Vijay’s power play. Vijay set forth his expectations…more akin to the tail wagging the dog, a jaw dropping number of seats that EPS had to concede if Vijay was to walk into the alliance. Vijay also made it clear that even as soon as his last film, Jananayagan was wrapped up, he would start on his TN Yatra. In fact, he reiterated, it is better that ‘I announce my final decision then’. It seemed EPS was zapped even as Mithun decoded this strategy and its fallout where Vijay seemed to hold all the aces. EPS decided a bid in the hand is far worthy than a push in the bush and flew to meet Amit Shah.
AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) arrived in Delhi on March 25 morning in a surprise visit sparking off speculations that he has reached the national capital to formalise AIADMK-BJP alliance ahead of 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections. His sudden visit comes when he appears to be softening his stance with the BJP is a significant shift from his earlier opposition to it. The AIADMK had walked out of the NDA in October 2023, months ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Yet, the BJP in TN under K Annamalai’s stewardship had managed to double its vote share to 11%. Of course, neither the AIADMK nor the BJP could win any LS seat. With the entry of actor Vijay’s TVK party, it is possible that EPS once again feels the need to avoid a fragmented Opposition vote to take on the ruling DMK. Mired in liquor-marketing corruption of TASMAC that is being probed by the ED, the DMK is skating on thin ice and may meet the same fate as AAP in Delhi. It is in this backdrop that Palaniswami’s hurried visit to Delhi is of interest. Officially, he told the media that he was just “looking up” Rs 10 crore AIADMK office he had recently launched via video. However, the main agenda is to meet with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and other key BJP leaders to draw up electoral strategies. Palaniswami’s surprise visit to Delhi had so stunned TN chief minister MK Stalin even publicly hoped in the state assembly that his AIADMK rival would articulate DMK’s views on New Education Policy or how the state loves the 2-language formula. Surely, Stalin knows an AIADMK-BJP alliance can simply unseat him in the upcoming polls.
Did Home Minister Amit Shah and Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar have a secret understanding? That is when they met in Coimbatore at Isha Foundation for Mahashivratri? Karnataka BJP has made a provocative statement, drawing parallels between DKS and Maharashtra’s Shiv Sena breakaway leader Eknath Shinde. “There are many in Congress who could be like Eknath Shinde, DKS might be one of them,” claimed Leader of the Opposition R Ashok suggesting that the Congress strongman could be on the verge of engineering a split within the party. Ashok’s remarks assume significance as he, like DKS, also belongs to the Vokkaliga-Gowda community. BJP sources indicate that Shah had a 15-minute one-on-one meeting with Shivakumar. It is this factoid of information that had fuelled Karnataka BJP leadership to ratchet up murmurs of infighting within the ruling state Congress. Sensing an opportunity to deepen the cracks, BJP leader Ashok said he had long anticipated a leadership change within the Congress-led government, hinting that CM Siddaramaiah could soon make way for DKS in November this year. DKS, however, dismissed all speculation of a political switch as baseless. He also categorically denied any plans to defect to the BJP, dubbing the claims as “BJP propaganda.” “I am a born Congressman and committed to leading the party to victory in the 2028 assembly elections,” he asserted. As for his recent religious visits, Shivakumar downplayed its political significance. It is being said, he is very unhappy with the way Rahul Gandhi is treating him. DKS apparently had been promised that he will be made CM when Siddaramaiah completes two years in office in November. But the Congress high command is scared that Siddaramaiah will split the party if he is asked to step down for DKS.
The selection of the next state president of the West Bengal BJP has sparked intense debate within the party. Multiple candidates are under consideration, with survey agencies playing a crucial role in the decision-making process. Traditionally surveys were used for selecting candidates during elections. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have relied on survey agencies to gauge the political climate across the states. In Bengal, such surveys were used to select candidates for the 2021 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Shah personally monitors the Bengal BJP unit, aided by the Ahmedabad-based political strategy firm. A major recommendation is to consolidate the party’s leadership without violating internal policies. Currently, different factions exist around state president Sukanta Majumdar, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, and former president Dilip Ghosh. Additionally, the two leaders handling organizational matters have their own support bases. To resolve this, the survey agency suggests appointing a state president who won’t emerge as a rival power centre, possibly a MP from tribal or marginalized communities. Another suggestion is to establish a campaign committee, likely led by Suvendu, which would allow him to play a crucial role without violating the “one person, one post” rule. Former president Dilip Ghosh is expected to have an expanded role in reviving BJP’s presence in Rarh and Jangalmahal regions. Amit Shah’s upcoming visit to Bengal is expected to finalize the party’s electoral strategy. The selection process for the next president is critical, with names like Jyotirmoy Mahato, Samik Bhattacharya, and Subrata Chatterjee being considered. Chatterjee’s organizational expertise and RSS background make him a strong contender.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reportedly accepted an invitation of the Tamil Nadu BJP to inaugurate the newly constructed party office in southern most part of the state — Ramanathapuram on February 26. From there he will be travelling to Coimbatore. Around the same time PM Narendra Modi will also be in the state to relaunch the new railway bridge connecting mainland India to Pamban Island at the south western tip of Tamil Nadu; it is expected to open for train traffic on February 28. Built over nearly six years at a cost of Rs 531 crore, the 2.1-km structure has been hailed as an engineering marvel. It is India’s first vertical lift bridge, featuring a navigational span that can be raised up to 17 metres to allow floating pontoons. The decision to construct a new bridge was taken in 2019 after the old cantilever bridge — opened on February 24, 1914 — became structurally weak due to corrosion. Train movements on it stopped in December 2022. The old bridge was a historic engineering marvel until India’s longest sea bridge — Bandra-Worli Sea Link opened in Mumbai in 2010. Besides, it also had several limitations. Its Scherzer rolling lift span had to be operated manually by 16 people, and the process took 45 minutes. The old bridge had only a single, unelectrified track. In contrast the new bridge has been designed for a speed of 80 kmph due to the presence of a 2.65-degree curve. The old bridge had a speed limit of 10 km. As many as 130 trains can operate on the bridge per week. Currently, trains terminate at Mandapam, 17 km northwest of the temple town of Rameswaram.
In Odisha, the BJP never seems to lose an opportunity to take a pot-shot or criticise the former chief minister Naveen Patnaik style of governance. Patnaik’s party, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) constantly faces BJP’s onslaught ever since it came to power. The latest accusation relates to a 16-year old case — smuggling of iron ore as a result of which the ship Black Rose sank. Reportedly, the ship was illegally carrying 23,847 MT of iron ore and sank while unloading at Paradip port, it tilted and sank. Since it was an illegal ferrying of iron ore the documents too were fake. That was September 9, 2009. This old issue was raked up after Odisha’s BJP MLA Padmalochan Panda had briefed the Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Now the Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi is expected to initiate a formal inquiry into the whole incident vis a vis expose corruption in the then BJD-run government. Even though BJP is now pushing for an in-depth inquiry but what puts BJP in odd position is that it’s present MP Bhatruhari Mahtab who was earlier ex BJD MP had gone on record stating that Black Rose ship was carrying iron ore from Haldia and was re-loading at Paradeep port when the ship tilted and sank without attributing any kind of illegalities. Though everybody knows nothing concrete is going to emerge from this inquiry, it seems BJP’s strategy is to keep embarrassing and pushing the Opposition BJD party in the hope its image will take a knock.
It is being said if the BJP is being seen as having an edge in the Delhi Assembly elections and has consolidated Sikh votes in the state in its favour, it is all because of the manner in which the Modi government had handled the aftermath of demise of former PM Dr Manmohan Singh. Particularly, the swift manner in which PM Modi had promptly visited 3 Moti Lal Nehru Marg residence to commiserate with Dr Singh’s family. Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda also visited the family. In contrast, what came as a shock to Congress CMs — Telangana , Himachal and Karnataka — who had rushed to Delhi were specifically instructed not to visit Dr Singh’s family or interact with them. It was as if the Gandhis did not want the Singh family to develop any contact with the CMs. It is also being speculated that the Gandhis did not want the Centre or Singh’s family to take help of the CMs in building Dr Singh’s memorial. “We want Sikh votes in Dr Singh’s name. But instead of mobilising our support and showing it, we were sitting criticising PM Modi. It has not gone down well with Sikhs-not just in Delhi but all over India. Congress has cut a sorry picture for raking up an outright bogus issue like why only DD was allowed to cover the funeral. This is when PM Modi is being seen as doing so much for our leader. Our CMs should have been involved,” said a Cong leader. Party sources said Telangana CM Revanth Reddy was particularly disappointed with the shabby manner the Congress high command was treating him. Apparently all decisions of the state government are being whetted by KC Venugopal, who as Rahul Gandhi’s close aide and AICC Gen Secy (organisation) has made Reddy’s life quite miserable. Meanwhile, a prayer meeting is being held for Dr Singh at Gurudwara Rakabganj on Dec 3.
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Editor’s Note: Short Post Is Here To Stay…
Time, they say, flies—and how true that is. Here we are celebrating our 5th Anniversary. Five years ago, when Covid-19 was wreaking havoc across the globe, I took a leap of faith and launched Short Post, India’s first website for Authentic Gossip. That was on January 31, 2021. I was convinced there was a clear gap in the market for gossip that was credible, sharp, and impactful—especially if told in just 250 words.
In this, I was fortunate. Scores of senior editors across diverse verticals bought into the idea and, in the process, gave wings to my dream. Quite honestly, Short Post could not have crossed these milestones without the unflinching support of its contributing editors. Like all start-ups, we have seen our share of ups and downs, but these editors have stood by us like a rock. I take this opportunity to doff my hat to them.
Thanks to their commitment, we have published close to 5,000 stories spanning politics, business, entertainment, and sports. I say this with pride: we made our mark as people who matter read us. “Small packs, big impact” truly captures the essence of Short Post.
We all know that Covid-19 has reset businesses worldwide, and the media sector is no exception. In the post-Covid era, investors have become more cautious and selective—and advertisers too. To compound matters, the entry of AI has disrupted the media landscape in equal measure. So far, we have managed to hold our ground, hopeful that some angel investors will take a shine to us.
What gives me confidence is this: AI cannot smell news—especially the gossipy kind. In other words, AI cannot churn out Short Post-type stories, no matter the prompt. That puts us in a safe zone. As someone rightly said, “AI is a co-pilot, not a pilot.”