All
Politics
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Celebrities
Developers in Mumbai owe pending rental dues worth over Rs 646 crore to slum dwellers whose houses have been taken up for redevelopment under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme. The pending rental dues had swelled upto Rs 1382.48 crore since 2022 of which the state helped recover Rs 735.67 crores till May, 2025. Defaulting on rents for slum dwellers of SRA projects has assumed such proportions that the government now insists developers deposit two years of rent in advance. The SRA also managed to get Rs 552 crore as advance rents from developers. In a bid to expedite stalled projects, the SRA has also served notices to 86 errant developers to facilitate their replacement and help these projects take off. About 1700 projects of SRA are currently ongoing in the city of Mumbai, out of which about 517 are stalled due to various reasons. In order to take such stalled projects off the ground, the Maharashtra government has also got government statutory bodies like the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) and even the City Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) to intervene and get into the slum rehabilitation space. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is also undertaking SRA in 64 of its own plots. Though the SRA was adjudged as the best performing department in the 100 days administrative reforms review by the Devendra Fadnavis government, activists are convinced that it continues to remain a developers’ domain.
There wasn’t much reaction in Telangana Congress when former cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin’s son, Asaduddin, also a cricketer, recently parachuted in and landed as a General Secretary of the Telangana Congress. A senior leader and a former MP dismissed the appointment as a non-event and routine. After a stint in cricket, Asaduddin expressed his desire to serve the public through politics, drawing inspiration from his father and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Describing his new role as a “big responsibility”, Asaduddin said he was committed to working for the party in line with its ideology. He praised Rahul Gandhi for fighting for the Congress’s values despite facing numerous challenges He also credited his father, who has been active in politics for over 15 years, as a major influence. Azharuddin, a former Lok Sabha MP from Moradabad, UP, contested and lost the 2023 Telangana Assembly elections from Jubilee Hills constituency. Asked why he quit cricket, Asaduddin remarked that a sports person’s career is short and timing plays a crucial role in success. Married to tennis star Sania Mirza’s sister, Anam Mirza, Asaduddin felt his time in cricket was over. In a post on X, Azharuddin wished his son and said he had seen his (Asaduddin) commitment to people, his passion for service, and his sincerity up close and hoped he would stay “grounded”. With his son’s debut in state politics, Azharuddin is now confident that he will once again be fielded for Jubilee Hills by-elections. He had lost the seat in 2023.
Having once been condemned by Sunil Gavaskar from the commentary box with a serial “Stupid. Stupid. Stupid” description, Rishabh Pant made the legend say “Superb,” three times in tribute to a century at Leeds. That was soon as he became the Indian wicket-keeper with most Test centuries (7) – not Dhoni (6), not Saha (3) nor any of the older greats. And he has kept this “all-rounder” status in his own unique way, rolling on his back not to collect stray wide balls from bowlers but to punt the ball over the ‘keeper’s head. And who else can conceptualise a virtual one-handed lofted shot to mid-wicket sailing beyond the ropes for a six to get to a century. After all, he is a batsman who opened his Test account with a six. Even Gavaskar, who has watched more cricket than many of the legends, may never have predicted such a fulfilling future for a plump youngster. And if he thanked God it may have been not only for the record-breaking century but also saving his life the night that he was involved in a car crash from which few gave him a good chance of survival. Maybe that is why Pant is determined not only to live every minute of a second chance at life but also enjoy it. Maybe, Pant has shown Sunil that despite all that madness that seizes him now and then while batting that he is perfectly capable of stringing together long Test innings. If there is one thing that has not left him may be a bit of spirited batting that in the eyes of critics may seem “Stupid.” Maybe, none will call him “stupid” again regardless of how adventurously he bats when the whim captures his mind.
Titagarh Rail Systems, one of India’s foremost manufacturers of rail wagons and coaches, is taking a strategic step to bolster its production capabilities through a new joint venture with Ramakrishna Forgings Ltd. The joint venture, named Ramkrishna Titagarh Rail Wheels Ltd, is setting up an advanced manufacturing facility in Gummidipoondi, located near Chennai. This state-of-the-art plant is designed to produce high-performance forged wheelsets, catering to the requirements of metros, freight wagons, and passenger railcars. The facility will have an annual production capacity of 220,000 wheels. As part of the venture, 80,000 of these wheels will be supplied to Indian Railways under a guaranteed offtake agreement, offering long-term business visibility. Each forged wheel is estimated to cost around Rs 1 lakh. The plant is expected to commence full-scale operations by Feb-Mar 2026.This initiative is crucial, especially after Titagarh faced a slowdown in wagon sales last fiscal due to a shortage of wheelsets from the Rail Wheel Factory. By building its own supply capability, the company aims to eliminate such supply chain disruptions in the future. With about 25% market share, Titagarh remains India’s largest freight wagon manufacturer, leveraging a vertically integrated model for operational resilience.
The name Prashant Tipirineni Nani may not stir recognition until you notice Nani. Oh yes, HIT: The Third Case or Hit 3 starring Nani in an electric turbo action role will immediately stir memories of that action thriller. Much talked about but given mixed reviews by critics. But redemption too…it is the third highest grosser Telugu film, collecting Rs 56 crore in 6 days of cinema run. The team of Nani, Srinidhi Shetty and Director Sailesh Kolanu were happy that HIT 3, third instalment in the series, had surpassed Nani’s earlier Hi Nanna, Saripodhaa Sanivaram and HIT 1 collection. But happiness and celebrations in this mercurial make-believe world of cinema is often short lived…ghosts from the past or ghosts who walk in due to bad Karma often wreck the party and the high of commercial success soon, nosedives. Allegations of story/plot plagiarism are hurled and more often than not, end up in court. Hit 3 has just been hit by allegations from Soniya Vimal (Vimalavalan) who has accused Nani of lifting most of her story, making a few changes here and there in the making of HIT 3. The writer is now demanding copyright compensation of 20% of the take. Vimal claims she had registered her story with the South Indian Film Writers Association in 2021, met with Nani and gave him an outline but got no response from the makers. After watching the first show, she could identify and record every spin of the story, her original. The only recourse was to go to the court. The Madras High Court has now posted the hearing for July 7.
For AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal winning MLAs in Gujarat by itself may not be a big deal; about half a dozen or so have won before. But none of the MLAs have stuck around. However, with AAP candidate Gopal Italia winning from Visavadar for the second time in a by-election, Kerjiwal has something to cheer about. In the backdrop of losing power in Delhi, AAP felt it had to make a song and dance about securing assembly seat in Gujarat by-election– where the BJP has been in power for 30 years –that too from a seat– Visavadar which the BJP has never won. In a post on X, Kejriwal bragged that his party won with nearly double the margin compared to the previous elections and claimed that “people of Punjab are very happy with the work of our government and have voted even more in favour of us than in 2022. The people of Gujarat are now fed up with the BJP and see hope in the AAP”. Italia shot to fame during the 2015 Patidar agitation in the state. The seat has been vacant since 2023 after the then AAP legislator Bhupendra Bhayani resigned and joined the BJP. BJP sources said Italia winning the seat wasn’t a surprise. Visavadar has been a traditional Congress seat. “BJP has never won from there. In 2012, Keshubhai Patel won from there as Parivartan Party candidate. Kesubhai later rejoined the BJP. Sources say more than Visavadar what is of significance for Gujarat politics is that BJP managed to win Kadi assembly seat, a reserved seat in Mehsana. BJP’s Rajendra Chavda won by a margin of over 39,000 votes in a triangular contest taking on both the Congress and the AAP.
Aamir Khan, hailed as one of Bollywood’s most bankable stars, has consistently pushed the boundaries of Indian cinema with his choice of diverse and thought-provoking roles. However, his latest film, Sitare Zameen Par, which garnered approximately Rs 10.70 crore on its opening day, raises critical questions about the viability of niche cinema in a commercial landscape dominated by mass appeal. While the film showcases Aamir’s commitment to storytelling that resonates with a more elite audience, its limited screen release and lack of mainstream entertainment elements have significantly hampered its box office potential. Unlike his contemporaries, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, who frequently deliver mass-centric blockbusters, Aamir’s foray into niche narratives may alienate the average moviegoer. The film’s intellectual depth and artistic merit, although commendable, do not cater to the broader audience base that thrives on high-octane entertainment and relatable themes. The expectation for Aamir Khan films to cross the Rs 100-crore mark within the first three days has become a benchmark of success in Bollywood. However, Sitare Zameen Par weekend collections appear to be around Rs35-40 crore, a figure that many industry insiders deem disappointing for a film featuring such a prominent star. This trend raises concerns about the sustainability of niche cinema in a market that increasingly favours commercial viability over artistic expression. As the film fraternity navigates this evolving landscape, it is imperative for stars like Aamir Khan to strike a balance between artistic integrity and audience engagement. While niche films have their place in cinema, the current climate suggests that a more mass-oriented approach may be necessary to foster the growth of Indian cinema as a whole.
Shubman Gill has settled the No 4 position for himself in the New India batting order in Test cricket. The moment he was named the captain of the Test team for the five Test series in England, the grapevine was rife with pros and cons of his batting at No 4 with the MRF sticker bat. Just like his predecessors Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli who batted at No 4 and the lithe right-hander from Punjab confirmed it after the fall of debutant Sai Sudharsan at the stroke of lunch on the first day of the Headingley Test. Gill batted with a lot of assurance and compiled an elegant 227-ball 147 with 19 hits to the pickets and one six on the onside. For 12 minutes short of six hours, Gill looked the master playing behind and beside the line against the England fast bowlers. It was Gill’s first time undertaking at No 4 and he and those who helped him take that call would be more than satisfied with his effort. Gill may have thrown away a chance to convert his knock into a double and much more had he not taken the chance against the off break bowler Shoaib Bashir and offered a high catch to Joshua Tongue in the deep. When the going was good, Gill could have really cashed it on, but his departure (430/4) triggered an India collapse to 471. The pitch aided the home team seamers who were also able to swing the ball, and Gill stood up to the task after Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a lovely hundred opening the innings after being put into bat. A great knock from Gill, but a rush of blood heave spelt his doom.
Maharashtra’s Mahayuti alliance achieved a thumping majority in the assembly election late last year. One important factor that ensured such a handsome mandate was the Mahayuti’s ‘Laadki Bahin’(Beloved Sister) scheme. Under this, each applicant woman was paid a monthly dole of Rs 1500. Though there were certain conditions for a beneficiary to be eligible, there was no scrutiny. As a result, even female government officials and those paying income tax also took advantage of the scheme. Some others came in their own cars to receive the cheques. Now, a thorough scrutiny is underway and thousands of names have been dropped, some of them voluntarily by the beneficiaries concerned themselves. Considering the local body elections due in the state after the monsoon, deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde has declared that a scheme called, “Laadki Soon” (Beloved Daughter in Law) will be launched by the government. There is a reason for the necessity of such a measure despite tall claims that Maharashtra is a progressive state. Time and again, harrowing stories of torture for dowry of newly wed girls surface in the media. In certain cases, the unfortunate girls are either killed or commit suicide. A few such instances that shook the state’s conscience over the past two months are believed to have caused Shinde’s announcement, which will be implemented soon. Incidentally, it was Shinde as the state CM who had introduced the Laadki Bahin Yojana last year.
In terms of absolute growth, the country’s mutual fund industry has grown at a scorching pace. Its AUM has grown from Rs 21 lakh crore in 2017 to Rs 72 lakh crore in 2025, monthly SIP from Rs 4,000 crore to Rs 26,600 crore and investor’s count has grown five times — from 1 crore to 5 crore. Yet, the investor’s numbers is poor given the size of the population. This poor investor number indicates low awareness and thereby poor penetration level. Though the industry’s Sahi Hai campaign has transformed the space from a high-net-worth niche to a retail-driven engine, more needs to be done. At the 17th ICC Mutual Fund Summit, regulator SEBI has urged the industry to use digital tools for wider access. To help the MF industry, SEBI has undertaken a comprehensive review of the sector’s regulations to ease business operations and introduce flexible scheme design, and recategorize schemes. SEBI feels that innovation and strong governance must go hand in hand, and any missteps would invite regulatory action. Interestingly, AMFI has positioned financial well-being — not just access—as the next frontier. However, AMFI lamented the fact that even though 33% of household disposable income is saved, 66% goes into gold and real estate and only 34% into financial assets. And mutual funds form a small portion of this, though their share of bank deposit equivalents has risen from 10% to 32%. India’s AUM-to-GDP ratio stands at 20%, compared to 65% globally and over 100% in developed markets. To deepen penetration, AMFI is expanding financial literacy drives in various states. Despite 80% general literacy, financial literacy remains at only 27%. This is the gap AMFI aims to close.
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.
Last week, as Congress leaders protested against Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s so-called “anti-Ambedkar” remark in Rajya Sabha, Rahul Gandhi joined his party MPs in a blue T-shirt, giving up his trademark white polo T-shirt. His sister Priyanka also twinned with him wearing a blue sari. Clearly the Gandhi siblings opted to go for a very visual protest against Shah’s remarks. The choice of the colour of clothes of the Leader of Opposition (LoP) — usually spotted donning plain white T-shirts raised eyebrows. The colour blue has been associated with Dalit politics since 1942, when Dr BR Ambedkar established the Scheduled Castes Federation to campaign for the rights of the Dalit community. The body adopted a blue flag featuring Ashok Chakra. The flag was later retained by the Republican Party of India (RPI), founded by Ambedkar in 1956. Over time, blue became very closely associated with Dalit identity and activism. Even political parties like the Bahujan Samaj Party and the ASP, which champions Dalit welfare, embraced blue colour in their branding. As the Gandhi siblings lead the protest, it was the choice of colour of their clothes that caught everyone’s attention!
Home Minister Amit Shah whose intervention in discussions on the 75th anniversary of the Constitution sparked off a row and seemed to have majorly united the Opposition. Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge charged him of insulting Dr BR Ambedkar.. He accused his rivals of being “anti-Ambedkar” and “anti-Constitution”, and “spreading lies”. In his concluding remarks in the Rajya Sabha, Shah sarcastically said, “It has become the fashion to say ‘Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar…’ If they (the opposition) took God’s name so many times, they will get a place in heaven.” At a Press Conference, he charged the Congress of distorting his comments in the Rajya Sabha saying the Congress had put out an edited version of his speech. “I come from a party which follows the ideals of Ambedkar,” asserted Shah.” Rebuffing calls for his resignation by Kharge, Shah made it clear that he had no intention of stepping down. “Kharge is asking for my resignation. If that will make him feel happy, then I’ll give it. But the Congress has to sit in the opposition for at least 15 more years. “In an unusual move — perhaps underlining the impact of the Opposition’s attack on this issue — PM Modi and senior ministers rallied behind Shah. “If the Congress and its rotten ecosystem think malicious lies can hide their misdeeds of several years, especially their insult towards Dr Ambedkar, they are gravely mistaken!” said PM Modi. Amidst this, PM Modi and Shah met Rahul Gandhi and Kharge to appoint the next NHRC chief. TMC leader Derek O’Brien has moved a privilege notice against Shah in the Rajya Sabha for his remarks on Dr Ambedkar.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah was in great form participating in the discussion on 75th Anniversary of the Constitution in the Rajya Sabha. With his sense of humour intact, Shah took potshots at Rahul Gandhi and his campaign against the BJP using a pocket edition of the Constitution. He said the Congress need not even appoint a panel to find out why it lost Maharashtra polls as a journalist also discovered he had been handed a copy of the Constitution that was blank. Rahul Gandhi carried a blank Constitution copy. He waved a ‘blank’ Samvidhan copy in Maharashtra to get votes. “ A 54-year old ‘yuva’, roaming around with the Constitution claiming that we (the BJP) would change the Constitution. The provision to amend the Constitution is within the Constitution. The Congress ruled for 55 years and made 77 changes…” pointed out Shah. He went on to say that the Muslim Personal Law was the beginning of appeasement after the Constitution came into this country. “You (Opposition) want Sharia only for marriage under Muslim Personal Law Board. What about ‘chopping hands’ for stealing and hanging traitors publicly? Should we have that part of Sharia Law too…?” Appeasement politics came to an end after the abrogation of Article 370 he asserted. He said it took a lot of guts to abrogate Article 370 in August 2019. “Not even a single drop of blood was shed nor stone pelted in the valley. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi and other party leaders have been meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla to expunge from records the allegations of the Soros connection made against his mother, Sonia Gandhi, and himself by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.
This video of Varun Dhawan’s interaction with the Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the Aaj Tak Agenda 2024 event has gone viral wherein he respectfully said people call Amit Shah “Chanakaya in politics but I would like to call Amit Shah, the Hanuman of country as he serves the nation selflessly.” Loud clap and applause followed and this is what the 37-year old actor is hoping that his Christmas release movie Baby John too will get at the theatres. According to Girish Wankhede, Trade Analyst, “For Varun the movie holds immense significance, marking a pivotal moment in his career.” The Christmas season release is a prestigious window for Bollywood which historically has been graced by all Khans — Aamir (Dangal, PK, Dhoom 3), Salman (Dabangg 2, Dabangg 3) and Shah Rukh Khan (Don 2, Dilwale). Varun who entered Bollywood in 2012 with Karan Johar’s Student Of The Year was lucky to have 11 consecutive box-office successes between 2012 and 2018. Post that he has faced numerous challenges. Despite his commendable cameos in films like Stree 2 and Munjya, his recent projects — such as Bhediya, Bawal and Jugjugg Jeeyo have struggled to make a significant impact at the box office. With a few flops like October and Sui Dhaaga in his filmography, it’s clear that he has not experienced a major hit since the successes of Badrinath Ki Dulhania and Judwaa 2. This makes the Christmas release of Baby John not just another film for Varun, but potentially a game-changing opportunity that could redefine his standing in the industry feels Wankhede.
The Bengal unit of BJP is under fire for its repeated failures to meet membership targets. The latest membership drive, aimed at enrolling 1 crore new members in the state, has fallen drastically short, leading to severe reprimands from party heavyweights, including Amit Shah. It may be recalled that in the 2021 Assembly elections, the party had set an ambitious goal of winning 200 seats but won only 77. Subsequently, seven MPs crossed over to Trinamool Congress thereby reducing their numbers to 70. Recently, the party suffered a loss in the Madarihat bypoll, further dampening its prospects in the state. The current membership drive, which had a November 30 deadline, was a critical initiative to strengthen the party’s grassroots. However, Bengal BJP MPs and MLAs have failed to make significant progress, prompting the leadership to extend the deadline to December 31. At an emergency meeting in Delhi, Sunil Bansal, BJP’s central general secretary and in-charge of West Bengal, pulled up several Bengal MPs, including Shantanu Thakur, Jayant Roy, and Soumitra Khan. Reports suggest that none of them could enrol more than 50,000 new members, far below the 1-1.5 lakh target set for each MP. Bansal, a close ally of Amit Shah and a frontrunner for the position of BJP’s national president, has been tasked with rejuvenating the Bengal unit after the debacle in the 2021 elections. Internal assessments by the BJP indicate that the party’s organisational structure in Bengal is in disarray, with North Bengal—a former stronghold—facing significant challenges.
After having successfully decimated the opposition and weakened its allies, the BJP now seems strongly focussed on its target to achieve Shat Pratishat Bhajapa or cent per cent BJP rule in Maharashtra by 2029. Not content at this, there is buzz of Operation Lotus at work to poach Opposition MP’s to strengthen BJP’s government at the Centre. After successfully splitting and routing the opposition enough to be ineligible to get their own leader in the state assembly, the BJP’s own allies are now feeling the pressure to chart their own course in state. For starters, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has already taken things into his own hands, including that of determining ministerial allocations of his alliance partners. Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde have been asked to share the names of their nominees with Shah to get his clearances for the same. Shah has rejected ministerial berths of two of Shinde’s nominees. The delay in distribution of ministries and portfolios in Maharashtra has been attributed to Shah personally overseeing all such decisions of the new government. Though Shinde has been putting up a tough fight to get good portfolios for himself and his party members, his body language continues to be that of a dejected soldier. The image of a sulking Shinde right next to a beaming Shah and Devendra Fadnavis is a symbolic picture of him not getting his way around and under duress in the BJP term. The second alliance partner, Ajit Pawar though seems happy enough for now, content at having trounced his uncle in his own backyard, to bag his party and legacy. It’s anybody’s guess if these alliance partners will be retained or tamed or simply engulfed in toto en route to the next state elections in 2029.
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis (3.0) faces a problem of plenty, and may likely go the whole hog constituting a full strength cabinet of ministers touching the 43-member mark. Clamouring ensued within BJP itself, with ministerial aspirants seeking plum portfolios even as earlier phased plan ‘A’ of limited 30 to 32 strong cabinet ministers may now be enlarged under intense lobbying from alliance partners. Fadnavis retains the contentious home department, Shinde’s claim remains on urban development while Pawar’s sway over finance likely continues, even including the irrigation portfolio. BJP MLAs tussle for the revenue portfolio even as Ashish Shelar and NCP’s Aditi Tatkare flash credentials seeking the Housing department. Education will see new learning programs even as revenue assumes huge significance to launch BJP high command’s programs alongside emphasis on the Dharavi recast. Mangal Prabhat Lodha, who raised illegal migrants’ issue on collector’s land in suburban Mumbai’s Malwani and Yogesh Sagar, briefly MoS of UDD department in 2019, are contenders in fray for Revenue portfolio taking BJP’s plan to ferret out Rohingyas and Bangladeshis ahead. Pilot project was launched in J&K where the LG cut off power and water to illegal migrants’ conclave only to be nixed by the Omar Abdullah government recently. BJP’s plan ‘B’ of 20 ministries with itself, around 12 for Shiv Sena, 8 to 10 for NCP tallies with Union Home Minister Amit Shah fresh target set for Shinde and Pawar of inducing remaining MPs, MLAs from Uddhav’s Sena and Sharad Pawar’s motley crew to elect themselves into the NDA fold.
The auspicious day December 5, 2024, was scheduled by BJP for the swearing in function of Maharashtra’s next chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, without awaiting erstwhile Shiv Sena CM Eknath Shinde’s decision to enjoin with the government. Meanwhile, consternation is brewing in New Delhi over Shinde’s recalcitrance to formally announce his party’s stand like Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Ajit Pawar has done. Friday (Nov 29) night’s meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah was marked by Shinde making a solo appearance even as Pawar was flanked by Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare and three four other party colleagues. Shinde’s apparent reluctance to enjoin formally has not gone down well with the BJP leadership despite his family doctor announcing that Shinde was under the weather set to improve over two days of medical treatment. The first discord before the new government is formed relates to Shinde’s insistence upon being accorded the same status as erstwhile DCM Fadnavis who enjoyed full control over the Home department. This fell foul of the BJP template of always holding crucial portfolios to include Home, Rural Development, Revenue and even Finance as a thumb rule. This equation was altered only to accommodate Ajit Pawar who was handed over the Finance department. Highly placed sources indicate that Shinde may be contemplating offering outside support to the BJP led government.
NCP leader and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who arrived in Delhi, a day ahead of outgoing CM and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, to meet with PM Modi and HM Amit Shah to discuss issues of Maharashtra government formation was a picture of cool player. The national media, which always treated his uncle Sharad Pawar with deference for his capacity to take on leaders in Delhi, now viewed Ajitdada in awe. How did he establish his supremacy in the Baramati assembly seat, vanquish his cousin Yugendra Pawar backed by his veteran uncle? Ajitdada patiently tackled every query, every doubt in a free-wheeling chat. With Praful Patel , who played host, adding very interesting inputs. However, the secret of NCP’s phenomenal showing in Baramati and in rest of Western Maharashtra seems to lie in the kind of effort put in by Ajitdada’s own family — his gracious wife Sunetra, now a Rajya Sabha MP, and son Parth. Sunetra, who has always managed her husband’s elections, says she had gone “house to house” seeking votes. And it is her quiet voter outreach that seems to have finally paid off. Parth is every chip of the old block; in the sense he is more like family patriarch Sharad Pawar. He is more ambitious for the NCP and vows to travel across India as he wants the party to expand beyond Maharashtra. He is in no hurry to become a MP or MLA. He asserts at least 2 to 3 Cong MLAs are already in touch with him to join the NCP. Naresh Arora of Design Box, who advised the NCP in Maha polls, is likely to have a say in the party’s expansion too.
As the BJP savours its unprecedented election victory in Maharashtra, if there is one person who has to be credited for crafting this fabulous performance then it is Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav who along with I&B minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was put in charge of the state. Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis who is being much toasted for the record performance of the BJP– a win of 132 seats out of 149 seats it contested, marking a 85 % strike rate, acknowledged Yadav’s role and felicitated him. Yadav is a trusted aide of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, is reputed for his election management skills. He took charge of Maharashtra soon after the disastrous performance of the party in the Lok Sabha elections securing only 9 of the 48 seats in the state. As soon as he entered the scene, Yadav advised state leaders to drop their personal animosity and work cohesively as one unit. He also advised them from going to the media. Party leaders working in the election team said Yadav injected a sense of cohesiveness and purpose. What also worked was the dedicated campaign of RSS workers who undertook more than 60,000 meetings across the state mobilising Hindu voters. Party sources recalled how 20,000 such meetings by the RSS in Haryana had helped swing the north Indian state. After delivering Maharashtra, it is most likely Yadav will be rewarded with something bigger. He was once hoping to become the Law Minister. Now it is likely he may be the next party chief.
An upset PM Narendra Modi has discussed with Home Minister Amit Shah and other top security officials why terrorist attacks have increased in Jammu and Kashmir. With a surge in encounters in the Kashmir region, intelligence agencies have told the PMO that some of the highly trained terrorists operating in the Jammu region might have shifted to the Valley ahead of the winter season when the high mountain passes will shut due to heavy snow. Intelligence agencies believe that the terrorists operating in parts of J&K are battle-hardened and are trained on the Afghan front. Most of these ultras also carry U.S.-made M-4 carbines, which suggests that the arms of NATO, which were left in Afghanistan, have fallen into the hands of terror groups based in Pakistan. In the recent past, the Kashmir region has witnessed attacks on non-locals, gunfights with security forces and even an ambush on an Army vehicle on October 24, which left two soldiers and two porters dead. The ambush was similar to the ones that took place in different parts of the Jammu region during the past year. The new trend in which highly trained ultras are conducting attacks has left the security and intelligence apparatus in a tizzy. Major terror attacks in the Jammu region started on the first day of 2023 when seven villagers were killed by armed ultras in Dhangri village of Rajouri. After that, multiple attacks and ambushes were reported from different corners of the Jammu region.
The BJP is scheduled to undertake an ambitious membership drive in West Bengal, aiming to strengthen its base ahead of the crucial 2026 State Assembly elections. This initiative, part of the party’s nationwide membership campaign, holds particular significance for the Bengal unit as it seeks to regain momentum after a disappointing performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It faced a similar setback in the 2021 State Assembly election. Insiders within the Bengal BJP unit reveal that the State BJP President Sukanta Majumder, along with the party’s 12 other MPs, has been tasked with enrolling at least 10,000 new members each. Meanwhile, all MLAs, including Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, have been asked to gather a minimum of 5,000 members each. This aggressive membership push is scheduled to be completed by November 15. Though the membership drive officially began on September 2, following an inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, progress in Bengal had stalled due to the civil society protests over the tragic RG Kar Medical College incident. Now, the party is set to resume its efforts with renewed vigor. The drive will take place in three phases — October 26-30, November 1-7 and November 9-15. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit West Bengal on October 27 to inaugurate this membership campaign. His visit will be crucial, as it marks his first public appearance in the state since the BJP’s disappointing results in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. His address to the party cadre is expected to reinvigorate the base and chart out a strategic path for the 2026 State Assembly election.
PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah launched their national political plan while proactively handling Haryana’s assembly poll affair to elect 90 MLAs. Focussed on the anti-incumbency factor and unsure BJP’s sitting CM Manoharlal Khattar resigned in March 2024, donated worldly possessions worth Rs 1 crore to PM Relief Fund and was replaced by party’s Haryana OBC face Nayab Singh Saini. ‘Jat’ political predominance was sidestepped with emphasis on Dalit, backward communities instead, never before seen in Haryana. Saini’s eight-month tenure as CM backed several pro backward community measures culminating with his decision to encompass all crops grown in Haryana under the state sponsored MSP regime. The BJP distracted from its held election SOP and announced Saini as its CM face. Senior BJP leader Anand Vij, holding high respectability for probity in public service announced mid-poll campaign he would take leadership as Haryana CM, post elections causing Saini’s swearing in ceremony as CM postponed from October 13, 2024 to October 15 and then finally, held on October 17. BJP’s southern Haryana royalty factor: Rao Birendra Singh also needed assuaging, then said he follows party line after meeting Shah. Amit Shah, appointed by PM Modi, then busy with international challenges, ensured smooth government formation. An insider says, “Saini’s importance envisaged by PM Modi (Shah) factored the impact his community holds in Haryana and also Punjab, Delhi and Rajasthan. Shah smoothened ruffled feathers, accommodating Vij’s political growth just like another day in office. The opposition said rebel infighting within BJP delayed swearing-in but only Congress suffered, then lost elections due to infighting.”
Now that BJP has won the Haryana election, all eyes are on Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Speculations are rife that Odisha-born Pradhan may succeed JP Nadda and take over as BJP president. This succession speculation comes at the back of Nadda who is already overburdened with two portfolios one as BJP’s caretaker President and also being Union Minister Health & Family Welfare. Besides, the BJP manifesto also clearly specifies “one man one post policy” which needs to be adhered to. Why Pradhan given that there are other veterans within the party. And for now Amit Shah is shouldering a major burden of the party. Pradhan’s name surfaced for his exemplary performance of ensuring BJP win in Haryana when it was a foregone conclusion –Exit Polls, Ground Reports — that it would be a landslide victory for Congress. But, Pradhan’s social engineering saw BJP snatching the victory from the jaws of defeat. Winning for the third time is indeed considered a rarity these days. Besides, Pradhan’s contribution to UP, Uttarakhand, Nandigram in West Bengal, Karnataka, Jharkhand,Chhattisgarh and the recent Odisha assembly election success are well known. Pradhan has a winning combination; he is considered trustworthy, has a proven track record, known to be a good negotiator and has the backing of Amit Shah. Certainly he seems like a front runner for now. But as always the casting vote lies with PM Modi.
The BJP has finalized its polls strategy for the Maharashtra state assemblies for which Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and UP CM Yogi Adityanath will be the star campaigners. The troika will address 18, 26 and 26 public rallies respectively across Maharashtra in a blitzkrieg of public rallies. This carpet-bombing political strategy seeks to exploit the party’s recent success in the Haryana assembly elections where the BJP returned to power for a record third time and improved performance in the Jammu region of J&K where this troika delivered the goods so-to-speak in good measure. International political developments particularly, in neighbouring Bangladesh played a crucial role in consolidating the Indian voter base of the BJP. Additionally, the RSS had organized 16,000 public meetings in Haryana over the last four months encompassing 6,000 villages in the state through a targeted door-to-door campaign by deploying its Karyakartas in the run up to the state assembly elections with a message of Hindu unity that worked like a charm for the BJP. The RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat publicly announced that his cadre of Pracharaks has laser focussed its attention to the forthcoming state assembly elections in Maharashtra, Jharkhand just like it did for Haryana and the general elections of India prior to that through a micro-outreach program. “Our culture, country and (Hindu) religion must not only survive but thrive,” Bhagwat has stated in obvious reference to consistent international (deep state) efforts to undermine India’s growing economy and its cultural identity that has been re-established over the last decade.
Return of the BJP to power in Haryana, after a below par performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, is great news for the Modi government. Firstly, it sets the tone for the next round of assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. It also strengthens the Modi government and its coalition agenda. The Haryana results certainly came as a shock to the Congress which was hoping to ride on the 10-year anti-incumbency of the BJP government. But then both PM Narendra Modi and HM Amit Shah are people who never underestimate their rivals. They had recalled CM Manohar Khattar to Delhi and put a new CM Nayab Singh Saini on the eve of the polls. More than the OBC CM face, what seemed to have worked for the party was the ground work on caste groups. While the Congress relied on mainly mobilising Jat votes via its former CM Bhupinder Hooda, non-Jats rallied behind the BJP fearing a Jat backlash if Hoodas were to return to power. Sidelining of senior Congress leader Kumari Selja by the Hoodas also gave a handle to the BJP to mobilise Dalit votes. Congress had to readmit Ashok Tanwar at eleventh hour to retrieve Dalit seats as Selja sulked.Two campaign pitches seem to have played a role in the state. One is a speech by UP CM Yogi Adityanath who made a strong pitch for Hindu unity, referring to the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh he reminded, “Batenge to Katenge, Ek Rahenge to Nek Rahenge.” This was endorsed by PM Modi and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. As for the Congress loss, party sources say Rahul Gandhi’s reference to Sikhs and their religious freedom in India while he was in the U.S.had put off Sikh voters.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his recent visit to Maharashtra, cemented seat sharing talks within the Mahayuti and announced BJP’s CM face. During introductory remarks at a closed-door intra-party BJP meeting Shah recognized Devendra Fadnavis as “Humare Party Ke (Maharashtra) Sarvosarvah” while introducing other state level party leaders by respective designations. Shah’s predominance over 50% of organizational work, the domain of National BJP president JP Nadda, sets to rest speculation over Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s candidature as next BJP president. Chauhan’s exemplary work in agriculture and current emphasis on Maharashtra saw the former Madhya Pradesh CM, son-in-law of Gondia in Maharashtra cosying up to deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. Shah finalized seat sharing numbers for assemblies; BJP will contest between 150-160 seats, Shiv Sena 70-80 and NCP 40-50. Second round discussions will focus on sitting MLAs within the alliance after which, second placed Lok Sabha losers from NDA will also be factored in. Shah also injected confidence in the party cadre asking, “Why are you depressed? We returned to power for a record three times not-just-withstanding INDIA Bloc but also forces from abroad who proactively used AI and funding to defeat PM Modi.” The BJP’s political strategist emphasised the need to grow the NDA vote share by a couple of percentage points in the forthcoming assembly elections bearing in mind the marginal percentage point reduction during Maha Lok Sabha polls in 48 constituencies. Shah’s gameplan also seeks MVA alliance’s vote share effectively curbed may see disgruntled MVA aspirants independently playing spoilsport come elections. Now if only, Nitin Gadkari would also toe the party line?
The BJP, it seems, is not willing to take any chance in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls after its dismal performance in Lok Sabha polls. For one, Union home minister Amit Shah has entirely taken things in his own hand and is personally overseeing the ticket distribution process in Maharashtra. The BJP has also quietly given up its obsession with party surveys, which were being cited as criteria for allocating and denying tickets to party members, and were roundly blamed for leading to wrong candidate selections. Shah is also overriding strong party sentiments to drop off NCP’s Ajit Pawar despite the junior Pawar scion increasingly being viewed as a liability. Nor has Shah bothered to clip the wings of chief minister Eknath Shinde. Shah is also ignoring the clamour to let Nitin Gadkari play a stronger role in the assembly elections, a sentiment also shared by the RSS cadres. Gadkari was conspicuous by his absence in the rallies and has failed to share stage in rallies held by both the top leaders of his party – PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. Gadkari was stated to be campaigning in the Jammu and Kashmir election, the day Amit Shah was campaigning and overseeing election processes in his home pitch of Vidarbha. Gadkari was back in action in Nagpur whining in a public meeting, about how the state’s flagship scheme to provide monthly stipend to women, Ladki Bahin Yojana, was bleeding the state exchequer, when Shah had moved to Mumbai to oversee election operation there. Gadkari’s public disclosure that he was offered the prime minister’s post by the opposition, hasn’t helped things.
Who will be the next Secretary of the BCCI? That’s the million dollar question. The incumbent, Jay Shah, has been elected as the independent chairman of the International Cricket Council and the 36-year-old will take charge from December 1. The BCCI’s annual general meeting has been convened in Bengaluru on September 29. The 37-member unit may get hints there of a potential candidate who will fill the big boots of Shah who has been running the BCCI for five years. Shah took definitive calls like shifting the IPL during the pandemic years to the UAE and sustained the money supply to the BCCI’s coffers. Being the son of the Union Minister, Amit Shah, turned out to be an advantage. And hence, his successor will not be seen as Shah-like; the young Secretary even made predictions that India will win the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies, and similar ones for the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup, the World Test Championship and the ICC Champions Trophy. Shah is more likely to handpick his successor and may keep the cards close to his chest till the AGM at Bengaluru. The names of a handful of individuals have been floating around, but is there an experienced candidate who can fit the bill for a job that has been held by seasoned administrators like MV Chandgadkar, Judge Anant Kanmadikar, Ghulam Ahmed, Jagmohan Dalmiya, Ranbir Singh, N Srinivasan, Niranjan Shah, SK Nair, Jaywant Lele, Sanjay Jagdale and Sanjay Patel. All of them came through the ranks in their States and in the BCCI. Perhaps it’s time to review the cooling off period — after six years — for administrators.
It was billed to be intervention on the Union Budget but Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi’s speech was clearly non-serious and limited to flagging his own pet issues such as caste census, legal status for MSP.. His favourite punching bag was how the Budget was going to help PM Modi’s friends create more wealth at the cost of India’s youth and the middle class. Flashing a picture of customary halwa making ahead of Budget in the House in violation of rules, Rahul wondered why there was no one from OBC, SC or ST among the secretaries involved in Budget making. A bit disappointed that PM Modi had not turned in to listen to his speech — there was no need for PM Modi’s presence, since both defence minister Rajnath Singh and FM Nirmala Sitharaman were in attendance. Rahul felt the PM did not have the “nerve” to listen into his speech. Charging the government of trapping Indians in a modern-day ‘chakravyuh’ and unleashing an atmosphere of fear in the country, Rahul alleged it was being run by six people led by PM Modi, HM Amit Shah, NSA Ajit Doval, two industrialists close to PM and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. He said because of the ‘chakravyuh’ there has been “concentration of financial power… We are going to break down this ‘chakravyuh’. The biggest way of doing this is the caste census,” he said and added that INDIA Bloc would pass guaranteed legal MSP and caste census in the LS. Disappointed with losing out the NEET battle in the Supreme Court, Rahul wondered why the FM had not spoken about paper leaks. But then why should she….that is not her domain?
Governor RN Ravi may not be everyone’s favourite former intelligence officer, but he has made a name for himself with the BJP top brass for holding the best nuisance value in an Opposition-ruled state. Now Ravi is desperately seeking an extension as his 5-year term is running out. His contention is that he served two years in Nagaland and came to Tamil Nadu capital Chennai only three years ago and so expects to stay on for two more years. He has been shuttling to New Delhi often to meet Home Minister Amit Shah who alone can recommend the extension he seeks, besides calling on PM Modi. The former CBI and IB officer’s stay in the Raj Bhavan in Guindy has been sensational, to say the least. He has picked every possible hole in all that the DMK government does and has put a spoke in the wheel of every piece of legislation passed in the Assembly. Only under the prompting of the Supreme Court has he changed a bit to be accommodative in the sense he has been recently clearing routine bills that are non-controversial. The moment he sees a red flag, as in the appointment of Vice-Chancellors that comes under the Governor’s jurisdiction, he would immediately take on the government. He has been the DMK government’s most acerbic critic and two more years of him may not be to chief minister MK Stalin’s liking. But being in the INDIA bloc, he knows the ruling BJP might like to keep their voice in the state for longer.
Even as Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani on July 4 met former Congress president Sonia Gandhi at her 10 Janpath residence and presented an invitation card of his son Anant Ambani’s wedding to Radhika Merchant, daughter of businessman Viren Merchant, it is being reliably learnt that the Gandhis — both Sonia and her son Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhis may not be attending the wedding. The wedding will take place at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai on July 12. The three-day celebration will feature several rituals and celebrations including ‘Shubh Vivaah’ on July 12, followed by ‘Shubh Aashirwad’ on July 13 and concluding with ‘Mangal Utsav,’ (wedding reception) on July 14. The Gandhis have reportedly conveyed their inability to attend the wedding to Mukesh Ambani who had spent nearly an hour at 10 Janpath. The Gandhis seem to be staying away from the wedding because of Rahul Gandhi’s politics. He had attacked Ambanis and Adanis as recently as last week during his visit to Gujarat while addressing a Congress function. Rahul Gandhi is reportedly very particular that he does not wish to cramp his political style by attending an Ambani wedding. During the Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi had wondered why Rahul Gandhi had stopped attacking Ambanis and Adanis as soon as the elections were declared; he had sought to know if the Congress had gone silent after receiving funds from these corporate groups. Several senior ministers, including PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, are expected to attend the high-profile Ambani wedding. While Anant-Radhika’s first pre-wedding celebration was held in Gujarat’s Jamnagar, the second took place on a cruise in Europe in June.
In an interesting move that came around the same time as the inaugural Parliament Session concluded, PM Narendra Modi constituted 8 Cabinet Committees in which the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was included in as many as seven of the eight cabinet Committees. While, PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah constituted the Appointments Committee, the FM was included in as many as seven. These include: Cabinet Committee(CC) on Accommodation, CC on Economic Affairs (CCEA), CC on Parliamentary Affairs, CC on Security and CC on Skill Development, Employment and Livelihood. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar figured in CC on Economic Affairs and CC on Security. Significantly several NDA leaders such as JD (U) leader HD Kumaraswamy figured in CCEA. So did BJP’s ally from Bihar Lallan Singh. TDP leader & Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Naidu was in CC on Parliamentary Affairs. CC on Political Affairs again had Naidu from TDP and Jitan Ram Manjhi from Bihar. Chirag Paswan was accommodated in the panel on investment and growth. In the CC on skill development INLD leader Jayant Chaudhry was included.
After the much talked about high voltage dressing down in public of BJP leader Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan by home minister Amit Shah during Chandrababu Naidu’s swearing-in ceremony, the whole clip going viral saw BJP doing damage control. Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai went to her residence to pay his respects and the media was peppered with the optics of this Akka-Thambi (sister-brother) closeness. Memes about the Tamil hit Shivaji Ganesan- Savitri film Pasa Malar flew thick and fast. Dr Soundararajan is from a staunch Congress family…father Kumari Ananthan and her late cousin Vijay Vasanth expressed their shock when she joined the BJP. But a patch up took place when she married Dr Soundararajan in the presence of the two tallest Dravidian leaders –MGR and Kalaignar, underscoring her debut as a young leader. Her unique hairstyle and bright sarees have been mocked sometimes cruelly after her defeat by suave and sophisticated Tamizhacchi Thangapandian. Many opposition leaders used to tease her Tamilisai “Parattai” (unkempt sloppy hairdo) they called her. Unfazed she would shoot back… I may be, but at least my hair is original, not a wig master, Ouch! Stalin. With over 25 years of public life, walking out of two Governorships, this 62-year old former TN BJP chief post is relevant in her own right. An election loss and the public exposure, however anti-party, all stemmed from stress. Will Congress welcome her after Amit Shah publicly ticked her off? Tamilisai’s predicament is aptly described by the 17th century poet John Milton in Paradise Lost where he says “Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.”
The results of the Lok Sabha elections have disappointed the rank and file in the BJP but, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already commenced his third term work to flesh out his 100-day plan for India, including flagship policy amendment for handing over administration of temples across India to the Hindu community. This strategy, even while Modi continues in election mode targeting forthcoming state assembly elections in five states of the Indian union. A closed-door meeting between expected incumbent PM Modi and erstwhile Union Home Minister Amit Shah decided to prioritise the first council of Union Ministers comprising public representatives from states facing imminent assembly polls. Maharashtra’s citizens will elect 288 Members to its state legislative assembly by November 2024 just like Haryana, Jharkhand and Jammu & Kashmir. Delhi and Bihar follow suit in 2025 while Tamil Nadu, Assam, Puducherry, Kerala, West Bengal state assemblies are scheduled in 2026. PM Modi’s 3.0 political regime will likely include Shivraj Singh Chauhan who relinquished Union Ministership to deliver Madhya Pradesh state assembly to BJP. Maharashtra’s Lok Sabha outcome has dampened and shocked everybody in the BJP coming in the wake of the double sympathy wave attracted by Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar. Pawar has silenced critics who foretold the end of his political career. There is going to be serious introspection and there may be reshuffle in Maharashtra according to sources. So, parliament ushers in the amendment allowing Hindus to administer their own temples (take it away from respective state governments) bringing the community on par with Muslim and Christian religious trusts.
PM Narendra Modi’s 3.0 avatar will prioritize judicial, electoral reforms, bolstered in large measure by Amit Shah’s twin criminal laws kicking in come July 1, 2024. Recent judicial trends, including a temporary bail gift to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for indulgence in unfettered propaganda, criminal indulgence against his party’s youngest woman MP, has irked Modi. The proverbial last straw was the Supreme Court mandating 48-hours for full disclosure of voting percentiles pan India. “The ECI will submit to court the minimum 96 hours requirement for professional, fool proofed disclosure of pan India voting percentages considering manual processes involved for collation,” BJP’s senior leader told shortpost.in. Teachers, civic staffers drafted by ECI, for the election process are trained in the run up to polls. These personnel, up by 3 am, reach Lok Sabha polling booths (1500 to 1800 booths per constituency) by 5 am to precede the 7 am public voting. EOD time of last vote (between 8 pm and 10 pm) depending on voters at booths before timely deadline follows voter count data manually maintained by personnel collated like a police panchnama, even as EVMs get transferred to strong rooms. EVM machines at rural centres take longer (3-4 hours). Missing names in voter rosters, recurring concern every general elections, to be resolved through AADHAR synchronization in 3.0, long standing BJP requisition put off by judiciary in India backed by ‘privacy concerns’ prevalent in Western nations. The Collegium system is also set to go, according to those in the know.
BJP leaders are quite perplexed by Congress efforts to drag PM Narendra Modi into outright sexual misconduct of JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, just because he campaigned for the Hassan candidate. Clearly upset with the BJP-JD(S) alliance that is having an edge in the LS polls, it is being said deputy chief minister DK Shiv Kumar(DKS) had reportedly zeroed in on Prajwal’s shortcomings just to undermine the alliance and had unleashed a digital campaign to dent the JD(S) image days before the April 26 voting. DKS, worried about the fate of his own brother DK Suresh losing to former PM HD Devegowda’s son-in-law Dr Manjunath that he resurrected an old video and circulated it in the constituency. BJP sources are surprised that the Congress which was too scared to speak up for women of Sandeshkhali, was now speaking for “exploited” women of Hassan. Home Minister Amit Shah shut-up the Congress by saying it was now up to Karnataka to probe the matter. As for Prajwal, he has been suspended from the JD(S).The video clips, allegedly involving Prajwal surfaced on social media a day after his constituency went to polls. On reports of Prajwal leaving the country pending a probe, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has asserted that Prajwal will be asked to return to India by the SIT. BJP Leader Devaraje Gowda said he had written to then BJP state president BY Vijayendra in December 2023, flagging “grave allegations” against the HD Deve Gowda family, including Prajwal Revanna. He claimed that he had received a pen drive containing 2,976 explicit videos of women which were then being used to blackmail them into continuing to engage in sexual activities. Meanwhile, the buzz is JD(S) Chief HD Kumaraswamy feels when his son Nikhil lost Ramanagara Assembly it had a lot to do with elder brother HD Revanna sabotaging it.
Union home minister Amit Shah who is on a whistle-stop tour across the country was in Odisha recently where both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections to boost the morale of his voters and win the confidence of the voters. He told the cadres and leaders, BJP will form the Odisha government in 2024. As for the electorate he told them that BJP will make Odisha No1 state in the country if given an opportunity. He dropped the succession plan bombshell of Biju Janata Dal. He publicly said that chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s confidant VK Pandian may be a possible successor. This statement seems to have unnerved seasoned BJD leaders. But, there is no denying the fact that just like Modi who is admired across the country, so too is Patnaik across the state. He is the undisputed king; nobody can ease him out of the throne in this lifetime. The general feeling is that Patnaik will be sworn in as the CM for the sixth consecutive time in 2024. Yes, what goes against Patnaik is his age (77-year) and health but not lack of development of the state per se. Pandian emerging as eventual successor seems to have sown seeds of discord among senior BJD leaders. After Patnaik, they feel the party will disintegrate as nobody would want to be led by an outsider like Pandian. Against this backdrop, BJP seems to have the field wide open for it.
The Election Commission’s directive to the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray not to use ‘Hindu’ and ‘Jai Bhawani’ in its campaign song has provided an unexpected boost to the party’s morale. Uddhav has already challenged the order, saying he is prepared to fight a legal battle over the intended ban. Burdened by the role as the largest partner in the Maha Vikas Aghadi, Uddhav Sena has been finding itself cornered due to various sensational disclosures against Uddhav and his two-year rule. Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar have been in the forefront in this regard. In this atmosphere, the EC’s fiat has come as a shot in the arm as the words – Hindu and Jai Bhawani – possess magical effect on the Marathi psyche, irrespective of any party ideology. Sensing this, Uddhav has declared his resolve to oppose the order. But deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and some other leaders have attacked Uddhav by reminding him that he had left the Hindutva long back when he decided to go with the Congress and other such forces. Uddhav has argued that PM Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah continue to invoke Lord Ram and Bajrang Bali in their speeches. Take action against them first, he has challenged the EC, which is yet to respond to the Sena’s communication opposing the ban.
TRENDS & VIEWS
Editor’s Note: Short Post Noticed By People Who Matter
Four years have zipped by and we are crossing another milestone on 31st January 2025 – it’s our 4th Anniversary. It feels good.
Looking back at the 1460 days, I must say Short Post has made its mark with people who matter via 4000 stories published in the areas of politics, business, entertainment and sports. All made possible by the unflinching commitment and dedication of our senior editors, most of whom have been part of this journey from Day One.
Small pack, big impact is in essence the story of Short Post which was launched at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021. It shows our conviction. In all humility, I can say, we have created a new niche in the news segment space like Hindustan Unilever which created a new segment, when it launched CloseUp Gel.
Yes, we have created a brand (in a limited sense), created demand (readers) and created supply (senior journalists). But we are facing teething problems like all start-ups. What makes us happy and confident is the recognition of our efforts. For instance, we have an arrangement with the OPEN Magazine, part of the $4.5 billion Kolkata-based Sanjiv Goenka-RPG Group. This arrangement sees around 10 Short Post stories posted on OPEN Magazine website every week. This arrangement is testimony that our content has been well received! Also, I may add that the Maharashtra government has recognised Short Post and has allowed our senior editor to cover the Assembly sessions. Ditto: Odisha.
Our goal is to ensure that Short Post becomes a habit. I would like people to keep checking their smartphones to know the latest Authentic Gossip. As regards AI and the fear of it disrupting all businesses including media. On that, personally, I have no such fear as I am confident AI cannot smell news particularly Authentic Gossip. That’s the place we are well entrenched.