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pradhan vaishnaw
Who Is Calling The Shots In Odisha? Dharmendra Pradhan Or Ashwini Vaishnaw?
As the first BJP government in Odisha under chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi will soon complete a one-year anniversary, the corridors of power are abuzz with speculation about the declining influence of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in the state’s affairs. Pradhan and his coterie, which includes leaders such as Samir Mohanty, Golak Mohapatra and Thakur Ranjeet Das, appear to have lost their hold. Well known journalist Shekhar Gupta has been raising the question: Who is ruling Odisha these days? Dharmendra Pradhan or Ashwini Vaishnaw! Thus, by raising this question he has clearly indicated that there is a power shift. The new power centre seems to be multi-portfolio minister Vaishnaw. Vaishnaw, a former IAS officer from the Odisha cadre whose family has been associated with the RSS is known to have close ties with both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Besides, his control over three key cabinet portfolios has further bolstered his stature. According to both government and bureaucratic sources in Odisha, the decline of Dharmendra Pradhan’s clout has directly contributed to Vaishnaw’s ascendancy in the state’s political landscape. For instance, Vaishnaw is widely believed to be the driving force behind the Odisha government’s auction of mines. He is also close to Naveen Patnaik’s Man Friday VK Pandian and that made it possible for Vaishnaw to be re-elected to the Rajya Sabha in February this year with the support of BJD. While his efficiency and varied experience are beyond question, Vaishnaw in the past has been dogged by controversy, primarily because of his association with B Prabhakaran, who was named in the massive mining scam in Odisha in 2013. 
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Centre, RSS Green Light Caste Census, Catches Rahul Gandhi By Surprise
In a major decision, the Centre announced that caste enumeration would be part of the upcoming census and assured it would be carried out in a “transparent” manner. I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while some states have done caste enumeration in the name of surveys, conducting a census falls under the purview of the Centre. He added that the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) had resolved to include caste enumeration in the next census– the timeline for such Census was not given nor has any provision been made for it in the current year’s Budget. The census exercise was to commence in April 2020 but got delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Vaishnaw alleged that Congress governments “have always opposed caste census”. He recalled how in 2010, the then PM Manmohan Singh had assured the Lok Sabha that the matter of caste census would be considered in the cabinet. A group of ministers was formed to consider this subject. Most political parties recommended a caste census. Despite this, the Congress government decided to conduct only a caste survey instead of a census. “That survey is known as the SECC of 2011”. However, the results were never formally released due to questions surrounding data accuracy and consistency. With Rahul Gandhi’s promise of a nationwide caste census and higher reservation limits if the Congress comes to power, the Centre’s move is being seen as a perfect foil ploy to rob the main Opposition party of an election plank ahead of Bihar assembly polls. But Rahul sees it as an outcome of pressure from grassroot activists. Besides, Bihar under Nitish Kumar had already done a caste survey much before the Telangana government. Rahul was keen to know the model the caste census would adopt and the timeline.
bhuendra yadav
Maharashtra Landslide Win: BJP May Owe Much To Management Skills Of One Man, Bhupendra Yadav
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.
kandahar hijack
Are BJP Leaders Upset With Ashwini Vaishnaw Over Netflix IC814 Series?
Netflix India’s content head Monika Shergill met Union I&B Ministry officials answering summons over controversy surrounding Anubhav Sinha’s IC814 -– The Kandahar Hijack web series aired worldwide. The inadequate disclaimer tagged alongside the series was promptly rectified with additions reflecting, “During the hijacking of IC814 (Indian Airlines plane) terrorists used aliases, code names. The names of terrorists were: Ibrahim Athar (alias Chief), Shahid Akhtar Sayed (alias Doctor), Sunny Ahmed Qazi (alias Burger), Mistri Zahoor Ibrahim (alias Bhola), Shakir (alias Shankar).” While expected to bring closure to issue, BJP is livid at the selective advisory being aired limitedly on Netflix India while global feeds (aired through U.S.-based servers) continue depicting the old disclaimer. I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw faces flak from within BJP for the limited clarification. “The Indian Hindu diaspora is a global phenomenon in every corner of the world. Why is disclaimer restricted to resident Indian audiences? I&B Minister must take issue with Netflix,” senior BJP leader Mahendra Jain says. Another leader states, “Vaishnaw knows the old disclaimer was amended to include fresh advisory to be put out globally to set the record straight. This is now akin to hijacking the clarification itself to suit Netflix’s convenience. When newspapers issue rejoinders over inaccurate facts, it’s not limited to one segment alone but carried across editions so all readers are well informed.” He added BJP’s former I&B minister Ravi Shankar Prasad lost his ministry over a smaller faux pas after being tasked by PM Narendra Modi for tackling X over pejorative content regularly tweeted. “Back then, Prasad’s own twitter account was suspended which did not go down well with the BJP higher ups and he lost his job. Vaishnaw must pull up his socks or else face a similar fate.”
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Are Adanis Mulling To Exit The 5G Spectrum Space?
It is reliably learnt that Adani Data Network, which was the surprise entrant in the 5G spectrum auction conducted by the Telecom Department, has silently walked out of the space.  Adani had acquired the right to use 400 MHz of the spectrum in the 26 GHz milimetre waveband for 20 years. Adani it seems has not paid the requisite auction money by the stipulated period perhaps an indication it is having second thoughts about its entry into 5G space. Generally, in such cases, the bank guarantee, given at time of bidding, would be encashed and a penalty charged. Reportedly, the Department has decided to waive off both as the ecosystem is yet to be developed.  After the auction in September 2021, Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had said that the acquirers of spectrum would roll out their 5G services by October 2022. The government had received bids for Rs 150,173 crore from Jio, Bharti Airtel, Voda and Adani. The total amount mopped up by the government from 5G spectrum capable of offering ultra-high speed mobile internet connectivity was Rs 77,815 cr. At the time of bidding for the 400 MHz spectrum, Adani Group had indicated that it was the group’s first step in integrating its digital infrastructure portfolio including data centres, terrestrial fibre and submarine cables, industrial cloud, AI innovative labs, cyber security and super apps. The Telecom department was supposed to hold the next round of spectrum auction in February 2024 but with elections round the corner, the auction was not held, and may be held once the new government is sworn in.  This time round, however, the Government expects operators to go for lower bands beginning with 600MHz for many which are lapsing soon. Back in September 2021, the Government decided that spectrum auctions should be held annually.
MOdi Naveen
Why Does BJD Feel The Need To Walk Back Into The NDA? The Mystery Of BJP-BJD Pact
It may seem odd but it must be put on record that the initial reports of the BJP-BJD pact had first emanated from the BJD side and had completely caught BJP leaders from Odisha off guard. It was felt the BJD had read too much meaning into personal rapport that was on display between PM Narendra Modi and CM Naveen Patnaik during PM’s brief visit to Odisha on March 5. Of course, what preceded the PM’s visit was the Union Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s election to the Rajya Sabha with the support of BJD.  Post Modi’s visit, CM’s political aide VK Pandian had rushed to Delhi to hold talks with BJP central leaders. Odisha BJP leaders too were in Delhi to discuss the possibility of contesting the 2024 elections alongside with the BJD. Suddenly the talks were brought to an end by Odisha BJP chief Manmohan Samal by saying his party would go alone. “Neither Samal nor Pandian can decide on the fate of BJP-BJD ties. It will be clinched only by Naveen Babu and Amit Shah or JP Nadda”, says a BJD Lok Sabha MP. The BJD which parted ways with the BJP in 2009, citing communalism, is keen to come back to the NDA fold for a good reason. It is all because of the growing popularity of PM Modi and the Ram Mandir issue.  BJD worries a three-way contest could hurt its prospects, particularly in urban areas as Ram Mandir has a resonance. In power since 2000, Patnaik-led BJD had won 112 seats in the assembly elections in 2019 and 12 Lok Sabha seats while BJP had won 8 Lok Sabha and  23  assembly seats. Looks like in 2024, Odisha will vote differently — it will look for who is with Modi and Shri Ram.
Biju patnaik
Odisha Chief Minister Presses For Bharat Ratna For The Late Biju Patnaik
Ahead of Prime Minister Narndra Modi’s visit to Odisha on March 5, the Biju Janata Dal government headed by Naveen Patnaik is pressing BJP to confer the country’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna to daring aviator-businessman-politician the late Biju Patnaik coinciding with his birth anniversary. Biju Patnaik who passed away in 1997 was the two term chief minister of Odisha. Father of the current chief minister senior Patnaik also worked at the Centre as the Union minister for steel & mines, and Union minister for coal.  Political parties in Odisha like the Congress, and others are not comfortable with BJD-BJP’s continued bonhomie. They are now asking BJD-BJP to lower their mask, clarify their relationship as friends, foes or just having tactical understanding during polls. Sources say, buzz of formal or informal alliance is growing with BJD because, one, PM had recently addressed Naveen Patnaik as a friend at Sambalpur, two, Union defence minister Rajnath Singh in his recent trip to Odisha did not criticize Naveen directly, three, BJD’s extending support to Ashwini Vaishnaw for Rajya Sabha nomination and four, VK Pandian, man Friday of Patnaik, in a TV interview admitted that Patnaik and Modi are good friends.  Historically, there has been an informal understanding between BJD and BJP but this time there is a strong buzz in Odisha that the BJP-BJD will have a formal seat sharing arrangement for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Balasore train accident
Balasore Rail Accident: Political Tourism, Lip Service To The Fore
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has been patient and courteous to flurry of requests and inquiries from CMs of the neighbouring states about the fate of passengers from their states who could have lost their lives in the Balasore rail accident involving Coromandel Express.  However, what he must not have anticipated is the rush of some leaders to the accident site or the state for optics. At least two leaders seem to have rushed just to make a point — West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin. Didi made not one but two visits, just to remind she has been a Rail Minister once and even made it a point to rush to Balasore on the day of the accident and be spotted with the Union rail minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at the site. In fact, on live TV, the Rail Minister politely ticked her off as she suggested that the death count could be as high as 500. It is odd that the Bengal CM is back again visiting Odisha hospitals — in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. As for Udhayanidhi, it is being said he was quite stumped when CM Patnaik asked him if he had any back-up plan to take stranded patients back home.  Caught off-guard by probing queries, the young minister decided to play safe and chose to personally visit hospitals looking for those injured from Tamil Nadu. Only two persons hailing from TN were traced, out of a total of untraceable 8 from a list of 127 passengers with Tamil Nadu addresses.
Shashi_Tharoor_modi
Shashi Tharoor Is Taking No Chances, Keeps All Options Open
Looks like Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor is keeping his options open. Or may be building pressure on Congress leadership to induct him to the Congress Working Committee. Aware that Congress leadership did not quite appreciate him entering the fray for the office of party president and forcing a contest, Tharoor is aware that the party may not easily re-nominate him to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. That is probably why he is reaching out to everyone across the political spectrum including the BJP. He was there at the airport to receive PM Narendra Modi who had arrived in Thiruvananthapuram to launch Vande Bharat Express and the PMO had tweeted about it. Vande Bharat will run between the Kerala capital in the south and Kasargod in the north covering 11 districts in the state. Earlier, Tharoor had complimented Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for making speedy train travel possible in his state. “Progress must be beyond politics,” he had tweeted. At the Vande Bharat launch, it wasn’t Tharoor alone who was all agreeable. Ashwini Vaishnav also came out praising CM Pinarayi Vijayan for extending all help to facilitate in improving and expanding tracks. Vijayan, who was pushing for the controversial SilverLine semi-high speed rail corridor, thanked PM Modi for allocating a Vande Bharat to Kerala. Under Modi, rail budget allocation had gone up five times — from Rs 370 cr in 2014 to Rs 2333 cr in 2023.
Collage Maker-30-Dec-2022-04
Vande Bharat Flagoff: An Angry Didi Refuses To Sit On Dais At Howrah Station Over Jai Shri Ram Chants
High drama prevailed at Howrah Station as a visibly annoyed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee refused to come on stage from where the Vande Bharat express was being virtually flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, following “Jai Shri Ram” chants by the BJP supporters present at the spot. Incidentally, both Bengal governor C V Ananda Bose and railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw requested her to join them on the stage. In a way, the controversy helped Didi not to share the stage with Suvendu Adhikari, her one-time aide. While Bengal cabinet minister Firhad Hakim and Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh termed this as misbehaviour and a purposeful act of insult to the state’s chief minister. Besides, Vande Bharat, PM also flagged off the inter-city metro service connecting the southern fringes of Kolkata. However, Mamata made it clear to PM Modi that not only Joka-Esplanade Metro services, but four out of five inaugurated projects were also her brainchild during her stint as Railway minister. Didi categorically voiced that her dream project – the Taratala to Joka Metro, which she laid the foundation stone with erstwhile President Pratibha Patil got inaugurated also. She also reminded that several project proposals during her tenure as Railway minister are now seeing the light of day. Adding to this, Bengal chief minister said that she was the one who earmarked 50 world-class stations across the country.
4xOExtYX_400x400
Polite Telecom Minister Vaishnaw Gets His Point Across On How UPA Looted BSNL & Modi Is Fixing It Now
Rail &Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is not the usual polite technocrat that he seems; he could be even politically savvy given an opportunity. Much of his wit was on display during the Question Hour on December 14 when he was taking a query on network problems of BSNL from a Karnataka BJP MP. Vaishnaw explained that the BSNL went through a very bad phase, primarily because of “certain political parties, especially during the UPA Government” when a lot of its funds were diverted. With DMK benches being empty in the Lok Sabha, there was not much contest on this point though Congress leader Sonia Gandhi was present in the house. Disclosing that PM Modi has approved a package of Rs 164,000 crore for the revival of BSNL. “We should take pride in the country’s engineers. The PM gave this challenge to our engineers, in line with PM’s Make-in-India initiative, today, the 4G and 5G technologies stack are made in India, designed in India, and developed in India. Today, it is recognised all over the world. For certain people — from the other side of the House — BSNL was always a cash cow. Those days are gone.”  On questions raised by Congress members on data cost, he countered them saying that under the UPA consumers had to pay Rs 200 for 1 GB, today it is around Rs 20.
u2li0g8TauJLesmT
Union Minister Vaishnaw Puts Odisha's Fears On 5G At Rest
The Odisha government felt slighted recently when the Union Telecom Ministry did not include Odisha cities with regard to the pilot run of 5G services to be initiated in 2022. These cities, restricted to 13, were chosen on the basis of their economic returns for the telecom operators and on this criteria the entire state of Odisha was left out.  Miffed, several opposition political parties wrote to Union Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw over disparity in selection criteria. Vaishnaw, a seasoned bureaucrat turned BJP politician knows that he owes his present position to chief minister Naveen Patnaik who endorsed his candidature to Rajya Sabha on a BJP ticket three years ago. Given his earlier connection with Odisha as an IAS officer, he did not want to be seen as serving narrow political ends with regard to the 5G roll out plan nor create a proverbial storm in a tea cup of ministerial high handedness. This explains why Vaishnaw clarified that Odisha will be included in the 5G first phase launch. His decision to include Odisha in 5G expansion was greeted with jubilation not merely by the Odisha government and people as well.

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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.