Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ return to power has been marred by regular hiccups with him struggling to duck one bouncer after another. Despite enjoying the support of over 82% or 238 MLAs of the total of 288 his second during the last four months has been anything but smooth. He is struggling to strike a balance between his inhouse support base and his ambitious coalition partners, NCP’s Ajit Pawar and Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde. If sources are to be believed, a huge wave of discontent has been simmering within the BJP against Fadnavis, upset with the fruits of power being doled out to new entrants from other parties over the committed party’s old guard. The communal riots in Nagpur over Aurangzeb legacy has also portrayed Fadnavis in a bad light as he holds the home ministry. Fadnavis has been responding to attacks on him by unleashing diversionary vocal volleys resulting in a political slugfest with the political discourse getting muddy and murky. Nitesh Rane, Suresh Dhas may have been the most prominent face, but many non-political players like Anjali Damania, Rahul Solapurkar, Prashant Koratkar too have been actively raking up issues to stoke the political flames. Old graves are literally being dug up to wean away attention from the disturbing ground reality of huge unemployment, of ballooning state debts to Rs 9.2 lakh crores and widening caste frictions. With the crucial Mumbai municipal elections round the corner, it remains to be seen how Fadnavis manages to take on the Opposition against him, both from his own party and outside.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates has shown an interest in partnering with Maharashtra to strengthen its initiatives in the fields of AI-driven advancements in health, agriculture and infrastructure, along with dengue and malaria control. This has been the outcome of a meeting Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had in Mumbai with him. Fadnavis has been vigorously campaigning for attracting more and more FDI in the state so as to supplement the PM’s dream by taking Maharashtra’s GDP share to $ 1 trillion. Hence, the visit of Gates is considered a major achievement for him. Gates also was briefed on the famous Ladki Bahin Scheme.  Microsoft and the Gates Foundation have reportedly expressed an interest in participating in these initiatives, besides supporting the digitalisation of women’s financial transactions. Fadnavis told him that his government’s vision will include digitalisation in every sector and the establishment of a Skill University with the help of Microsoft. A scheme to train 10,000 women in AI with a view to fostering inclusivity in the tech revolution was also discussed. The first-ever meeting between Fadnavis and Gates is described as a milestone by both sides. Gates later tweeted on ‘X’: “Thank you, Dev Fadnavis for sharing your vision for a Viksit Maharashtra. I’m excited about opportunities to collaborate on digital platforms for women’s livelihood and AI-driven solutions in sectors like health and agriculture. Looking forward to working together to improve lives across Maharashtra.”

Hardik Pandya is back as captain; it has come one year after the last season’s Tata-IPL in which his team — the 5-time winner Mumbai Indians — finished at the bottom of the 10-team leader board. But he will not lead the Ambani owned team for its first match of Season-18 at the Chepauk on March 23. As captain of MI last year, he is paying a heavy price for not getting his team’s overs in time — not in one match, but three times. The third slow-over rate happened against Lucknow and he was docked a Rs 30 lakh fine, a one-match suspension; and the rest of the playing XI, a fine of Rs 12 lakh each.  And so MI will miss Pandya against CSK and also the recuperating Jasprit Bumrah. All this means the stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav will have to get the job done by two other bowlers to bowl eight overs.  Pandya appeared a cool cat at MI’s pre-season presser, being matter of fact, fielding questions along with Head Coach Mahela Jayawardene and bringing in a touch of humour. He made the 40-minute presser light, just like he probably wears the captaincy cap too. For some strange reason, Pandya has been eased out as Twenty20 format captain of the Indian team. He doesn’t seem perturbed about it. He led Gujarat Titans to two finals with a title on debut, a reason for getting the MI captaincy. His message to the MI paltan at the Wankhede; chillao (shout) when I am at the toss, chillao when I go to bat, chillao when I hit 6s, chillao when I take a wicket and chillao for Mumbai Indians.

Taking a cue possibly from PM Narendra Modi who is focused on reviving rivers in the country — be it Sabarmati in Ahmedabad, Yamuna in Delhi or cleaning up the Ganga water front in Varanasi, the Congress government in Karnataka has zeroed in on playing the river card to please the Hindus by planning to pay tribute to the River Cauvery.  Of course, it not clear if the river card is an attempt to monkey balance its attempt to effect 4% Muslim or minority quota in government tenders. Media reports indicate a grand religious ceremony at Bengaluru’s Sankey Tank along the lines of the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi has been planned on March 21 evening. Coming ahead of Telugu/Kannada/Marathi New Year (Yugadi/Gudi Padva) that falls in March end, the river puja is bound to please the Hindus. Instead of relying on priests from Udupi, the Congress Govt has decided to fly in pandits from Varanasi familiar with river puja. The special ceremony is called Cauvery Aarti and is to be held under the initiative of the Bengaluru Water Supply & Sewerage Board, River Cauvery is the primary water source for approximately 70% of Bengalureans, supplying 2,225 million litres of water to the city daily. Following a procession and puja — the inaugural aarti is likely to be attended by CM Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar. A temple dedicated to Shri Jala Gangamma Tayi stands near the lake. Sankey Tank was chosen because it is considered the birthplace of Vrishabhavathi, a tributary of the Cauvery. Sankey Tank is regarded as the cleanest lake in Bengaluru. Authorities had even conducted a special prayer when it was filled to the brim a few years ago.

For all of us who may have watched with much shock and awe the tense moments in the Parliament between Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and DMK MPs  battling over New Education Policy 2020 and Tamil Nadu government’s “flip-flop” over  Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) schools, it should come as some relief that an year-long effort to preserve and promote the Kamba Ramayanam, one of the most significant works in Tamil literature is kicking off on March 18 under the aegis of the South Zone Cultural Centre of the Ministry of Culture . Interestingly, the initiative aimed at reviving the oral tradition of Kamba Ramayanam recitals ceremony is being inaugurated by the Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in coordination with the TN government from the temple town Trichy. The ambitious programme is taking place at the historic Srirangam Temple with participation from Kamba Ramayanam Mandali (cultural troupes) from across the state. It may be recalled that PM Modi had listened to Kamba Ramayanam in the very same Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in January 2024. It is possible that Shekhawat was only doing a follow up act. Post the inaugural event, performances will be followed by events at several temples across the state. A week-long festival will be held at Kambar Medu (Mar 30-Apr 6), the birthplace of Kambar in Therazhundur, near Kumbakonam. Between (Jul-Oct) schools are being encouraged to engage with Kamba Ramayanam to culminate in a grand finale at Kambar Medu during the Dussehra celebrations. Plans are afoot to set up a museum at Kambar Medu dedicated to the life and works of Kambar, and his version of the Ramayana, composed in the 12th-13th century CE.

Did PM Modi recently visit Mauritius keeping the upcoming Bihar elections in November in mind? Possibly. It may not please the Opposition parties, but Modi’s visit to the African nation where he was greeted with traditional Bihari songs at the airport are bound to irk parties vying to take on the BJP in the polls. Often referred to as “mini Bihar” because of the large number of people of Bihar origin who had relocated there as indentured labourers, starting in 1834, Modi went all out to signal his intent to strengthen ties with the thriving Bihari diaspora in the island nation. First, he presented makhana (fox nuts) to his Mauritian counterpart Navin Ramgoolam and started his speech at an event in Bhojpuri to the delight of Mauritians. Nearly 70% of the population in Mauritius are of Indian origin. More than half of them are descendants of indentured labourers (girmitiya mazdoor) who were sent to plantations in Mauritius from Bihar and UP by the then British colonial rulers. Modi was conferred with the highest national honour of Mauritius, ‘Order of the Star and Key of Indian Ocean’ on its National Day in Port Louis. He also handed Overseas Citizens of India cards to Mauritius PM Ramgoolam and his wife Veena.  He gifted President Dharam Gokhool and First Lady Vrinda Ganga water collected from Prayagraj during the recently concluded Maha Kumbh. Throughout the visit, the PM’s social media handles put up posts in Bhojpuri and were shared by senior BJP leaders and members. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA lost some significant Bhojpuri-speaking constituencies such as Buxar, Ara, Sasaram, and Aurangabad. The Bhojpuri belt in Bihar is spread across 10 districts and comprises 73 Assembly seats.

The legendary trio of Bollywood—Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Salman Khan—continues to command the spotlight as they gracefully embrace their sixties this year. Recently, Aamir celebrated his 60th birthday (Mar 14), generating headlines not only for this milestone but also for announcing a new relationship, which underscores his enduring appeal and the public’s fascination with his personal life. This news resonated throughout Indian media, highlighting the unmatched influence these three superstars wield over the industry. Whenever Shah Rukh, Salman, or Aamir makes a statement or announcement, it instantly becomes a headline, reinforcing their formidable presence in the entertainment landscape. They are not merely actors; they are cultural icons whose words and actions resonate deeply with fans across generations. SRK, with his recent box office triumphs, has reaffirmed why he remains one of the most sought-after stars, effortlessly drawing audiences to theatres. Salman, the perennial Eid favourite, consistently reigns at the box office, with even his less successful films crossing the coveted Rs 100 crore mark—a testament to his box office magic. Though Aamir faced setbacks with his last two films, he remains undeterred, gearing up for exciting projects like Sitare Zameen Par and a collaboration with Lokesh Kanagaraj. Each Khan possesses a unique charm and business acumen that keeps them relevant in an ever-evolving industry. Their timeless appeal mirrors that of legends like Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth, who have crossed 60 long ago, yet remain socially and culturally relevant through their work. As they continue to redefine success, it’s clear that the magic of the Khans remains undiminished, proving that age is merely a number in the realm of Bollywood stardom.

Industrialist Gautam Adani’s 90-minute late night Saturday meeting (Mar 15) with Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has raised many an eyebrow. The meeting at ‘Sagar’ bungalow of the CM is considered meaningful since the Adani Group has only recently bagged a huge redevelopment contract in north Mumbai’s Goregaon suburb. The project to redevelop Motilal Nagar colony at a cost of Rs 36,000 crore is among the largest in the metropolis. The group has been under attack by the political opposition of the Fadnavis government in connection ever since it won the prestigious Dharavi redevelopment project. Allegations are made that the ruling saffron coalition is giving away Mumbai to Adani on a platter. Not deterred, Adani has maintained contacts with the Nationalist Congress party founder Sharad Pawar and Fadnavis. Both have had meetings on a couple of occasions during the past few months. The Saturday meeting began around 11 pm and ended after midnight. The 143-acre land parcel is in Goregaon, a stronghold of the BJP. Adani’s name was embroiled in the Hindenburg controversy last year. At the time, Pawar had defended the industrialist stoutly. The result was that the demand to appoint a joint parliamentary committee proved to be stillborn. Similarly, Pawar’s visit to Adani’s office and residence in Ahmedabad had attracted vast media attention. Earlier, Pawar and Adani had inaugurated a factory in Sanand in Gujarat. Except for a token protest, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi has remained aloof so far about Adani.

Residents of Manchester or the Indian diaspora in the UK are euphoric for two reasons. The first is the inauguration of a special Indian consulate in Manchester on March 8 by external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar. Second, is the announcement by IndiGo airlines of a direct flight to India from Manchester. Dr Jaishankar gave away the secret that both these decisions were an “ask by Angela Rayner” Deputy Prime Minister of the UK – a staunch labour leader from Manchester. Direct flight was a long-standing demand of Indian Mancunians (residents of Manchester). In return, Jaishankar has asked Rayner to open UK universities, tie-up with Indian educational institutions. Indigo’s decision to operate Manchester-India direct flight came as a shock and surprise to the aviation industry. Though the destination in India has not been announced, sources say that IndiGo could fly to the new airport in Navi Mumbai. This is because IndiGo is building a huge hub at the Navi Mumbai airport and it makes sense to fly their newly acquired wide-bodied aircraft from Norso to Navi Mumbai.  It may be recalled that last year the Tata-controlled Air India too had announced direct flight between Manchester and India but decided to put it in cold storage and focus on the U.S. sector. It is learnt that on this North America sector — San Francisco and New York – Air India is providing Premium economy seats and there is a good response. Industry experts are asking why British Airways did not think of the Manchester-India flight. IndiGo drew up special plans to operate from Navi Mumbai as Emirates does in Dubai. IndiGo may start the operations from July 2025 to coincide with the Navi Mumbai airport becoming operational. Rahul Laud, Manchester

The good old Brabourne Stadium at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) was abuzz and a Saturday day night fever like atmosphere prevailed at the South Mumbai venue during the third Tata-WPL final. Close to 15000 spectators showed up to cheer the blazing Sudarshan Chakra sporting Mumbai Indians (MI). It was a typical home crowd rooting for the Ambanis owned MI, but applauding the good work of the Delhi Capitals too. The women power was in full force with Harmanpreet Kaur, the India captain stealing the thunder with an admirable show of not exposing her nerves,  battling hard with a stunning rescue knock of 66 with England’s Natalie Sciver-Brunt showing that she is  a professional to the core — all in the presence of Nita Ambani, Chairperson of the Reliance Foundation and Madhumati Lele Shrivastava, President, CCI and WPL’s Executive Committee and few more from the Upper Crust. But after the closing ceremony show by Jasmine Sandlas, French Montana, and Mohamed Ramadan, the teams led by the legendary Meg Lanning and Harmanpreet took the centre stage and after a three-hour scrap in the middle, the MI captain had outwitted her rival with the bat and leadership. Delhi Capitals owned by the GMR Group and JSW Sports was disappointed with a runner-up finish for the third time in a row, and MI was cock-a-hoop after failing to get going when the DC’s South African Marizanne Kapp was flaunting her talent with the new ball. The BCCI ought to be pleased as punch that the WPL is truly bringing women power to the fore. 

In Tollywood, filmmakers are moving from one group to another in a quiet but calculated migration that began as a conflict over policy and ideals. The Directors’ Association of Eastern India (DAEI) and the East India Motion Pictures Association (EIMPA) are two important organizations at the centre of this change. Once linked to legends like Satyajit Ray and Mrinal Sen, EIMPA is a legacy organization that has mostly lain dormant in recent years. Conversely, DAEI was established as a more modern substitute and has been associated with the Federation of Cine Technicians and Workers of Eastern India. It is ironic that the directors who led demonstrations against Federation rules are now favouring EIMPA. Last year, a disagreement between filmmaker Rahul Mukhopadhyay and the Federation resulted in a standoff. The Chief Minister had to step in as the tension turned into a complete work halt. Leading directors, including Parambrata Chatterjee, Raj Chakraborty, Kaushik Ganguly, Srijit Mukherji, and Shiboprosad Mukherjee, had publicly challenged the Federation’s management of industrial matters. When Federation president Swaroop Biswas controversially claimed that 60% of Tollywood’s directors were accused of sexual harassment, things took an unpleasant turn and further divided the Federation and DAEI. As a result, the Federation’s workers declined to work for Kaushik Ganguly’s film bringing production to a standstill. In response, Ganguly distanced himself from DAEI and settled his conflict with the Federation. Now, EIMPA has re-emerged as a significant entity led by president Anup Sengupta and Swaroop Biswas has been appointed as an advisor.  The central issue that emerges is whether these changes stem from authentic ideological shifts or is it survival instinct. A director revealed that the coercive strategies of stopping production have led filmmakers to fall in line. 

From the word go the Puri Jagannath International airport seems to be an on-off project. For starters there were no bidders followed by land and environmental clearance issues and finally the big question raised was about its viability as it was close to Bhubaneswar airport. Now, highly placed sources say that the Odisha government is keen to get the airport operational on a priority basis. Towards this, the government has ensured that the project will not face any hurdles from the environment ministry. The state’s chief secretary Manoj Ahuja while addressing the third High Powered Committee has made it clear that Puri International Airport is a priority for the Odisha government as well as the Centre. The new airport can help bolster regional and international connectivity thereby giving fillip to tourism vis a vis economic growth. As regards project viability efforts are being made by ensuring viability gap funding. This greenfield airport project will be spread over 1,164 acres. Immediately the Odisha government is going ahead to acquire 221 acres of land which falls under Brahmagiri Tehsil. The villagers will be fairly compensated for land acquired. But there are doubting Thomases who feel that this public-private partnership project will not see the light of the day. Their argument is that the greenfield airport may not prove to be viable as the close-by Bhubaneswar airport already attracts 4.9 million passengers and it is expanding to make provision for 16 million passengers in the next five years. But it has the constraints of not being able to increase its runway.

Oppressor Emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb near Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar in Marathwada region of Maharashtra is threatened to be demolished with a Babri-like operation. The warning has been issued by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal leaders after a crescendo took place with the release of Hindi movie Chhaava that depicts the tragic end of Chhatrapati Sambhaji due to the torture by Aurangzeb. The demand was first voiced by Udayan Raje Bhosale, BJP MP from Satara and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s direct descendent. Aurangzeb spent the last 27 years in Maharashtra to end the Maratha rule but was unsuccessful. He breathed his last at Ahilya Nagar and was buried at Khultabad near Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, respecting his last wish. The tombs of Aurangzeb and Afzal Khan, who had come to eliminate Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, have been sore points for Hindutva proponents. Aurangzeb’s tomb is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. The saffron organisations have planned state wide protests to press their demand to do away with Aurangzeb tomb, failing which the next course of action will be declared. However, some of their leaders have reminded the government of the Kar Seva for the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the subsequent demolition of the Babri, which had come up at the location. Leaders of the Congress party and the NCP (SP) faction have condemned the announcement. Some of them have argued that the tomb should be preserved as a symbol of defeat of the Emperor and his end in frustration in Maharashtra.

The recent arrest of Soumya Sankar Chakra, an influential Biju Janata Dal Youth Wing leader, for his alleged involvement in a multi-crore Gandhamardan mine corruption case, particularly mineral transportation fraud racket in Keonjhar district, has won applause for the Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi.  It is learnt that BJD’s senior leader and former minister Badri Narayan Patra had alerted Naveen Patnaik’s office about Chakra’s involvement in the alleged scam in a confidential report just before 2024 elections. Strangely, the top leadership looked the other way. Patra alleged that Chakra ran an illegal operation in cahoot with a former Keonjhar district collector and senior police officers prior to the 2024 Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Amidst recent disruption in the Odisha assembly that saw Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahini suspended for seven days and now the arrest of BJD leader Chakra. The question everybody is asking is: “Why LoP Naveen Patnaik is missing from Odisha suddenly”. Rumour is, Naveen babu soon after meeting the DMK delegation led by DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran and TRB Rajaa suddenly left for Delhi. Sources say Patnaik was meeting unofficially top rung BJP leaders to douse the fire regarding the ongoing corruption investigation against BJD Youth leader Chakra. Sources say Naveen’s fear is if Chakra spills the beans then BJD could be in deep trouble. Everybody knows Naveen babu is very close to PM Modi, yet it is learnt that Patnaik’s Man Friday VK Pandian is possibly in Delhi helping him meet the right kind of people.

In Maharashtra, TV news channels are playing violent videos of men being bashed, either by the supporters of local Beed BJP legislator Suresh Dhas or from those opposing him. One of Dhas’s supporters was also seen showering stacks of currency notes from his car apart from stocking deer meat. Other videos showed men being bashed up with cricket bats. The videos started emerging after the resignation of Ajit Pawar aide minister Dhananjay Munde following videos of his supporters urinating over an almost-dead Santosh Deshmukh and even clicking selfies with his body. After the resignation of Munde, the law and order situation in Beed was expected to subside. Instead, a war of violent videos of party workers bashing individuals to prove which group is more cruel has started doing the rounds on social media and TV channels. Pankaja Munde has suggested a link between these allegations of violence since her rise as a minister. Pankaja has publicly claimed that she had complained to her party bosses about the way her home district was deliberately being kept on the boil, despite assurances. The Beed drama has now shifted from an inter-coalition campaign to a campaign against one from within the BJP with factionalism clearly out in the open. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis who is believed to have unleashed his party MLA Dhas initially against Munde seems to have clearly shifted his target within his own party too. Dhas has accused Pankaja of siding with an independent candidate in the recent elections. Pankaja, recently shared stage with Sharad Pawar and his family at a Pawar-hosted event at Baramati, where she publicly praised him.

IPL fever has already gripped the city of Chennai. And, the ever-popular CSK (Chennai Super Kings) is out to do everything to woo its fans. Always darling of fans, CSK is out to strengthen its bonds with its fans. For a second successive year, Chennai Super Kings joined hands with Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Limited (MTC) for TATA IPL 2025. Ostensibly, this tie-up is intended to improve fan convenience. Fans with tickets for Chennai Super Kings’ home matches can travel in MTC buses (non-AC) for free from three hours prior to the start of the match. The match tickets will double up as the travel tickets. “The partnership comes as a part of Chennai Super Kings’ commitment to creating a seamless and fan-friendly experience, ensuring that supporters can enjoy the match day excitement from the moment they leave their homes,” said KS Viswanathan, Managing Director, Chennai Super Kings. “We encourage fans to use public transport and enjoy Chennai Super Kings’ matches in Chepauk. With approximately 8,000 fans using the bus services from different parts of the city each game in 2024, we expect larger support from fans to use public transport.” Chennai Super Kings are set to play their first match in Chepauk on March 23 against Mumbai Indians. (By Special Arrangement With Industrial Economist)

Women’s cricket has changed for the better in the last two decades in India and around the world. Once it came under the ambit of the national governing body — in India’s case the BCCI — the country’s infrastructure was opened to the budding talent, opportunities/exposure increased at the international level. And in the last five years, the match fee and allowances were also brought on par with the men’s team. The national team was also given an annual contract and retired cricketers a fixed monthly gratis. Three years ago, the BCCI introduced the Women’s Premier League (WPL) with five franchise teams. The question one may ask now is whether all the development programmes put in place by the BCCI have caused a significant change in the overall standard? Observers say it’s been only three seasons of WPL and that there is a definite change in all three departments of the game batting, bowling and fielding. But they feel that the State and National teams have a lot more work to do to match the high standards set by the Australian team which recently won the women’s Ashes hands down in Australia. The Tata-WPL 3 has thrown some fresh talent into the deep, but they have come up short, except for medium pacer Kshavee Gautam, who has 11 wickets to be fourth in the bowling honours list after the Eliminator match. The batting group is led by England and Mumbai Indians’ Natalie Sciver-Brunt (493 runs) and the bowling by West Indian and MI’s Haley Matthews (17 wickets).  The WPL is what the women wanted and they have got it. It’s a massive springboard to showcase talent!

The possibility of the coming together of veteran leader Sharad Pawar and his estranged nephew, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, has continued to be a topic of great interest in Maharashtra ’s politics. Though neither has given any such indication, the media does not let go of even a slightest such signal. The speculation has been revived as Ajit’s second son Jay called on the patriarch to seek the blessings of the family elder. Pawar and his wife Pratibha as well as other clan members greeted Jay and the bride-to-be, Rutuja Patil at their home. Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule released a picture of the union, making it a breaking news. The betrothal will take place in Pune on 10 April. Rutuja is the daughter of Praveen Patil, who runs a social media firm. Jay was seen actively participating in the recent parliament and assembly elections for his father’s faction of the Nationalist Congress Party, which was founded by Sharad Pawar in 1999 and split by Ajit in 2022. Ajit’s wife Sunetra contested the Lok Sabha election, lost to Supriya and despite the defeat, was sent to the Rajya Sabha by Ajit’s party. While Ajit’s elder son Parth is active in politics, Jay is away from it and is seen only occasionally on public platforms. Ajit’s appearance at a couple of family functions where Sharad Pawar was present had led to predictions that both were coming closer but nothing has transpired thereafter. With Jay’s obeisance to grandfather, the media once again is having a field day.

On March 6, the Enforcement Directorate investigated Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji’s close circle of liquor vendors /suppliers and many in the TASMAC liquor chain network, including its head office in Egmore. For five days an ominous silence but on March 13, an avalanche hit the TN government –the 2-page report cited many clauses of the 1988 Anti-Corruption Act, some even citing TN ‘s own FIRs. Take your pick from the violations …Rs 10 to Rs 30 MRP hike per bottle, choice of amenable vendors who paid speed money, appointment and transfer of staff and the nexus between this spirited scam of top officials and the TASMAC network. In fact, a mound of corruption that enabled many a tippler to remain high but brought down the intoxication of ill-gotten wealth for TASMAC operators. The high point is the way “Bar Tenders” (pun intended) were selected and awarded, choosing amenable distilleries, choice of glass bottles that clinked even as TASMAC swept in the money. SNJ, KALS, Accord, SAIFL, Shiva Distillery are quoted in the big fraud. Devi Bottles, GLR Holdings and Crystal also came under the scanner. “We are investigating this well spun spider web of nexus of stakeholders involved in one of TN’s highest revenue earners — TASMAC. But surprisingly no mention of Senthil Balaji, the minister in charge of liquor business. There are strong rumours that Senthil Balaji may be arrested again? It may be recalled that Balaji was arrested on June 13, 2023 and released on bail on September 26, 2024.

Bengal BJP is grappling with a significant internal crisis as it faces a series of resignations, defections, and internal dissent. Once boasting 77 MLAs after the 2021 state assembly elections, the party’s strength has now dwindled to 65, with concerns looming over the loyalty of several MLAs. The BJP’s legislative strength began to shrink soon after the 2021 assembly elections. Initially reduced to 75 MLAs when two elected members, also serving as MPs, resigned as the party had failed to secure power. Since then, eight more MLAs have defected, one passed away, and another resigned after winning a parliamentary seat in 2024. Tamluk MLA Tapasi Mondal’s defection to ruling TMC was particularly alarming as she belonged to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s stronghold. In North Bengal, Kurseong MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma has openly criticized the BJP’s leadership for failing to deliver on promises of special status for the Darjeeling Hills. In Nadia and North 24 Parganas, BJP MLAs in these regions, particularly those with ties to the influential Matua community, have kept the party anxious. Before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, two MLAs were given parliamentary tickets to prevent them from defecting, yet both failed to win. The influence of regional leaders like Ananta Maharaj in North Bengal has complicated BJP’s internal dynamics. With the 2026 state assembly elections in sight, the BJP faces an urgent need to stabilize its ranks. The party’s ability to manage dissent, especially in politically sensitive zones like North Bengal and Matua-dominated regions, will be critical. While the TMC’s aggressive poaching strategy has played a role, the BJP’s own failure to manage internal grievances and regional dynamics has compounded its problems.

Just fresh from the resignation of a cabinet minister, and despite fissures within the ruling coalition, the Opposition in Maharashtra has failed to seize the opportunity that has presented itself before them. The resignation of Ajit Pawar aide Dhananjay Munde was not the result of any Opposition campaign but rather it was the result of inter-coalition disputes within the ruling alliance coming to the fore. Munde’s resignation was a result of a strong sustained campaign led by the BJP legislator Suresh Dhas meant to undermine the Ajit Pawar camp. The fodder for the accusation, that the irrigation department was being run on the whims of Fadnavis associate Mohit Kambhoj, was also said to be provided by intra-party elements within the BJP. That the Opposition could not even present a united picture during the traditional post-budgetary press conference was telling about the state of the Opposition in Maharashtra. Uddhav Thackeray addressed it all alone with the Congress missing in action and their senior leaders restricting themselves to issuing statements while Sharad Pawar’s NCP representative Jayant Patil stuck to the TV debates. Uddhav’s decision to go alone in the forthcoming BMC elections, seems to have particularly peeved his coalition partners. Uddhav seems to have lost patience with his alliance partners. In the case of NCP, it seems to be busy dealing with its own internal schism between Rohit Pawar and Jayant Patil that had led to the party yet to declare its leader of legislative party. While Congress seems lost in its internal factionalism with strong leaders refusing to work with the new appointee state party president Harshavardhan Sapkal. Unlike the lacklustre Opposition, the ruling allies, in contrast, are actively working against each other, unsettling the majority Devendra Fadnavis 2.0 government.  

Rohit Sharma’s bad luck with the toss continued in the ICC Champions Trophy. He lost the fifth continuous toss in the tournament — against Bangladesh, Pakistan, New Zealand, Australia and again in the final against New Zealand. It was also the 12th straight time the toss went against him and the 15th against India in a row. Though Sharma lost the toss, India won the matches while posting a total and chasing 264 against Australia in the semi-final. The toss makes a big difference to the fortunes of a team, in Test matches in particular. One may say Sharma has been quite unlucky at the toss, one of the most intriguing parts of a cricket match at any level. Sharma’s captaincy in one-day internationals started on November 19, 2023. In the toss-loss matches, he has won seven matches, four of them in the Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Stadium. Other India captains who have lost consecutive tosses – six — are Mohammed Azharuddin, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sourav Ganguly. In contrast Sharma has won 10 ODI matches in two months from October to November 2023, all during the ICC World Cup. Sharma has won only four tosses in a row; in February-July 2022. Azharuddin has won a maximum of nine tosses among India captains. Captains call at the toss and also wait for the outcome after the rival captain has called. In Sharma’s case his call went wrong on four occasions. In the final of the Champions Trophy, New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner called correctly at the toss and chose to bat. The final was Sharma’s 56th match as captain.

They may have gone their separate ways. That has not stopped them from finding themselves in news pages. A quiet consolidation is happening around different constituents of the erstwhile TVS Group. Latest action is coming from Gopal Srinivasan (brother of Venu Srinivasan)-led branch of the erstwhile TVS Group. TVS Investments Private Ltd and TVS Electronics are to amalgamate, signalling a consolidation.  The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has initiated the merger process by directing the company to seek the shareholders’ approval. TVS Investments is a holding company of TVS Electronics. In March last year, three listed companies of Venu Srinivasan group — TVS Motor Company, TVS Holdings Ltd and Sundaram Clayton Ltd — had filed identical communication with the stock exchanges on an arrangement between family members — Venu Srinivasan, his wife Mallika, their son Sudarshan and daughter Lakshmi. Though it was a non-compete pact between them, it signalled succession planning.  In the middle of last month, Sundaram–Clayton announced that its board has approved a proposal to sell its aluminium die-casting business at its Hosur plant in Tamil Nadu to third-party purchasers.  Post family separation, myriad branches within the larger erstwhile TVS are charting their own business strategies. Indeed, each one is unleashing a new energy. Lots more to look out for in the coming days, it appears.

A year ahead of Tamil Nadu elections, every statement or utterance by political leaders is being micro analysed to see the impact on alliances on the ground. Well that is what happened when Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK)’s special political advisor Prashant Kishor stated that the party will contest the Tamil Nadu 2026 Assembly elections independently and will not form an alliance with the AIADMK, Tamil Nadu’s principal opposition party. Kishor, who had shared the dais with actor Vijay at a TVK event, also claimed that Vijay’s on-screen popularity would ensure the party’s victory in the Assembly polls. Kishor’s remarks came amidst reports that AIADMK and TVK talks for a potential alliance to challenge the DMK in the crucial 2026 elections seemed headed in a deadlock. That was because AIADMK refused to give any edge to the new party and insisted on contesting a majority of the 234 assembly seats. TVK’s general secretary (election campaign management) Aadhav Arjuna clarified that Vijay didn’t launch the new party just to settle for 40 or 45 seats. Did actor Vijay enter politics — on behalf of the DMK only to divide anti-incumbency votes against it? Kishor has had a history of working with the DMK. On his part, Kishor has been trying to keep himself away from the anti-Hindi politics of TVK. Like a grounded Bihari leader he had refused to sign a petition against the New Education Policy of the Centre) at the TVK event. Elaborating on Vijay’s potential to go alone in TN, Kishor said that “…If he goes alone, he stands a very good chance.” Left without an ally, AIADMK is once again looking to fall back on holding hands with BJP which along with its allies had polled 18% votes in 2024 Lok Sabha polls going alone.

The recent release Mere Husband Ki Biwi has bombed at the box office, collecting less than Rs 5 crore in its opening three days against a hefty making cost of around Rs 60 crore. This underwhelming performance marks yet another flop for producer Vashu Bhagnani. Bhagnani, once celebrated for his successful films, has seen a string of failures such as Ganpat, Mission Raniganj and Bellbottom. He has faced financial setbacks with projects like Bade Miya Chhote Miya and is currently embroiled in a legal dispute with its director. The direction of Mere Husband Ki Biwi was helmed by Mudassar Aziz, known for his earlier works like Khel Khel Mein, Pati Patni Aur Woh and Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi. The film’s lead actor, Arjun Kapoor, has struggled to find success as a solo performer, with his recent projects—including The Lady Killer, Kuttey and Bhoot Police — failing to make a mark at the box office. Similarly, the leading actresses, including the likes of Bhumi Pednekar, have also faced a streak of underwhelming films like The Lady killer, Afwaah, Bheed, and Rakshabandhan and thus making it difficult for Mere Husband Ki Biwi to generate excitement among viewers. Rakul Preet Singh is known for other disappointments like Thank God, Doctor G, Runway 34, Attack and Marjaawan. With a cast and crew associated with a series of unsuccessful films, the expectations from Mere Husband Ki Biwi were understandably low. Despite attempts to engage audiences with remixed songs, the film has failed to captivate, illustrating that audiences are no longer willing to watch films that lack compelling narratives and star power.

The Union Health Minister JP Nadda seems gung-ho to eradicate TB from India by the end of this year, 2025. He made this statement recently at a health summit held in Puri, Odisha. To meet this objective, he said he will include aspirational districts and blocks under the TB campaign. What makes Health Minister Nadda confident to eliminate TB from India in 2025 — five years ahead of the global target 2030. This is because India has not diluted its TB eradication target so far. This is evident because India’s TB spread which tops 30 countries with high TB cases has now shown an impressive decline of 17.7% covering 2015-2023 compared to global average decline of 8.3%. Also during the same period the TB mortality has also decreased substantially. As per WHO Global Report, TB incidence in India has been reduced from 237 per 100,000 population in 2015 to 195 in 2023. Now this figure has shown a quantum jump in 2024, sources say. A head honcho from the Pharma industry says “It is wishful thinking at the moment”. Implying there are multiple challenges ahead wherein 64% symptomatic cases avoid seeking medical help or give up taking medicines. Giving way to drug resistant TB cases.  Industry sources say Nadda will succeed only if he ropes in industry bodies, incentivises the pharma players, conducts educational campaigns and conducts house-to-house surveys to identify TB cases. Pharma players government should rope in companies like Lupin which has done commendable work both in production of anti-drugs and educational campaigns for decades now.

Indians are compulsorily global now …travel, gourmet food, curated art, Boston Brahmin lifestyles, wine connoisseurs and of course elevating music crowned by symphonies and operas. This maestro is 82, has composed music for 1,000 films in nine languages and is considered as the Kohinoor of music. Ilaiyaraaja is our national treasure and his own pride and exhilaration was hard to hide as he spoke to the press on his way to London to record and launch his first symphony, Valient on 8th March. It is not an effort to denigrate pop and filmi music but composing a symphony puts him in that elite list of iconic names starting with Joseph Hayden (who created his first symphony in 1700), Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovasky and Mahler; legends who took this very structured and elevated creation to heights that few could emulate. Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin called on the genius composer at his home to congratulate him on this achievement. Indeed, it is a matter of pride that India can boast of such a genius. For those of us who want to know why a symphony is special, systemised and soothing. It has four large pieces or “movements”, the first is the Sonata, the highlight of this structured music creation. The second, Scherzo is a slow and gentle exposition that calms your mind. The third is a dance, light and lively, preparing the audience for the fourth …the Finale, an exuberant crescendo culminating with high notes. At the recording, the emcee and music interpreter called Valient “a texturally brilliant piece of music”. Play the video and participate in the creation of Ilaiyaraaja.

Oppressor emperor Aurangzeb continues to haunt Maharashtra politics. Even as a storm is raging about his bloody reign owing to the praise heaped upon him by Samajwadi party MLA Abu Azmi, a demand to demolish his tomb near Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar in the state has started making ripples. The demand has been made by BJP MP Udayan Raje Bhosale, a direct descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He was livid because of Azmi’s statements. Already, sentiments against Aurangzeb have been inflamed after the release of Chhaava, a blockbuster movie. Bhosale’s demand is another angry reaction but is important due to his lineage. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that though Bhosale has articulated everyone’s feelings, the government needs to proceed according to law. Moreover, the tomb has been declared as a protected monument by the ASI during the previous Congress rule, he has pointed out. Aurangzeb died on 3 March 1707 at Bhingar near Ahilya Nagar in north Maharashtra. Respecting his last wishes, he was cremated at Khuldabad in Marathwada near Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. While Rs.6.5 lakh has been expended for the tomb over the past 13 years, an insignificant amount has been spent for a memorial to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, according to Hindu Janajagruti Samiti’s Sunil Ghanwat. The Congress party has adopted a cautious stand. Its leader Vijay Wadettiwar has felt that the government should take a proper decision in this regard. However, it is wrong to create a rift in society over a religious matter, he has warned.

Despite the release of contemporary Bengali films, audiences in Kolkata are gravitating towards the re-released classics of Satyajit Ray. Mahanagar and Nayak, restored and re-released by RD Bansal Productions, have drawn huge crowds to theatres across Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Uttam Kumar and Sharmila Tagore starring Nayak originally released on May 6, 1966, was Ray’s second original screenplay after Kanchenjungha (1962). Mahanagar, first released in 1963, offers a powerful depiction of Kolkata’s transition into a capitalistic society. The restored versions, presented in 2K and 4K, have not only enhanced their visual appeal but also reaffirmed their timeless relevance, attracting both nostalgic viewers and first-time audiences. In contrast, the re-release of Chander Pahar (2013), directed by Kamaleswar Mukherjee and starring Dev, saw a lukewarm response despite commemorating the 130th birth anniversary of author Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay. Similarly, Shudhu Tomari Jonyo, a multi-starrer romantic drama produced by SVF, failed to garner significant attention. The success of Ray’s films has reignited interest in classic Bengali cinema, with discussions underway for re-releases of Joi Baba Felunath and other masterpieces. Meanwhile, Saat Pake Bandha (1963), starring Suchitra Sen and Soumitra Chatterjee and later adapted into Kora Kagaz (1974), is undergoing restoration. The resurgence of Mahanagar and Nayak in cinemas underscores the lasting impact of Ray’s storytelling, proving that masterful filmmaking continues to captivate audiences across generations.  

Looks like the BJP government in Odisha headed by Mohan Charan Majhi is hell bent on downplaying the legendary leader Biju Patnaik’s contributions to the state. It may be recalled that the BJP leaders were once rooting for a Bharat Ratna for Biju Patnaik as they enjoyed a good rapport with his son Naveen Patnaik, three-time chief minister of Odisha. But ever since the BJP government routed Naveen Patnaik in 2024 Assembly polls, they have changed their tune. The latest move by the Odisha government is not declaring a public holiday for Biju Jayanti on March 5. Instead, the Majhi government declared Panchayati Raj Divas celebration on April 24 as a national celebration. It may be recalled when BJD was ruling they had merged both Biju Jayanti and Panchayat Raj Divas celebration as one event declaring it as a public holiday since 1993. When BJP was in alliance with BJD they did not complain. Why, Majhi government choose to separate the two celebrations from this year? According to corridor whispers, CM Majhi wants to gradually phase out late Biju Patnaik from the public memory. Undoubtedly, he was one of the architects of modern Odisha and his son named the party – Biju Janata Dal — after him. A political source says that if the BJP wants to continue its reign in Odisha, then they must dilute the legacy and aura of Biju Patnaik. Meanwhile, BJD leader Naveen Patnaik has accused the BJP government of trying to change the name of Biju Patnaik International Airport. He has challenged the BJP by asking: Can you all erase Biju babu’s contributions like Paradip port, HAL, NTPC, OUAT, NIT-Rourkela and others?  

The Devendra Fadnavis 2.0 government got its way around in week one of its first budget session. Despite having to face the ignominy of resignation of a cabinet minister within three months of return to power, the Mahayuti government managed to get nothing on record on Dhananjay Munde’s resignation row. While the CM announced Munde’s resignation to media persons and not inside the assembly, Munde himself claimed in a tweet that he was quitting due to health reasons. This ensured that none of the gory details of the cruel murder of the Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, as captured in viral videos, that had triggered the resignation, entered the assembly records. The state also refused to put up a formal statement about it in the legislative assembly despite Opposition members moving a breach of privilege motion. Maha Vikas Aghadi  failed to get the Leader of the Opposition’s post when it chose to nominate an aggressive Bhaskar Jadhav over a fresher face like Aaditya Thackeray.  Similarly, to offset a slow growth rate of 7.3% as projected in the Economic Survey Report-2024-25, the Mahayuti government decided not to hike monthly stipend for women from Rs 1500 to Rs 2100 despite having promised in its election manifesto. Though it decided to continue with its populist schemes for now due to immense public pressure, the beneficiaries are being trimmed to ensure minimal burden on the state exchequer that is already reeling under a debt of over Rs 7.8 lakh crore. Strong laws against love jihad, religious conversions, social misinformation and even drunken unruly behaviour is also on the cards. The DF 2.0 government marks a term of strong aggressive, authoritarian governance with no room for Opposition sentiments. 

Another twist has been added to the present political suspense in Maharashtra by none other than chief minister Devendra Fadanvis. Reiterating that politics can take any turn, he told an interviewer that his relations with his bete noir Sharad Pawar or Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray were never sour. At the same time, he has discounted the possibility of teaming up with either of them “in view of the present political atmosphere.” Fadnavis said that had Uddhav accepted his telephone call then (in 2019), no rift between his Sena and the BJP would have occurred. Despite this, now both talk with each other, Fadnavis clarified. His assertion is considered meaningful as there are persistent media reports that the BJP is determined to rein in both deputy CMs, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. Cancellation of certain appointments made by Shinde and scrapping of some tenders finalised in the past have led to the discussion that Fadnavis is determined to root out corruption. Against this backdrop, Fadnavis said his mission was to bring about a transformation, not take revenge against anyone. The developments over the past five years have taught him that any type of political alliance is possible, he retorted, without blaming Sharad Pawar or Uddhav directly. In Maharashtra politics, political opponents were treated as enemies earlier but he had made it clear as soon as he took over as CM that his goal was development and not settling political scores.  

Samajwadi party’s suspended MLA Abu Azmi has refused to apologise for his controversial statement praising Moghul emperor Aurangzeb, who tortured Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj to death. While passions are extremely agitated against Azmi’s statement, he has told Marathi TV channel ABP Majha that he stands by his praise of Aurangzeb. In the interview, Azmi has levelled many charges against those who spoke against him while supporting a unanimous motion by the state legislative assembly to suspend him for the remaining duration of the current budget session. Some of the critics described Azmi as a ‘B Team’ of the BJP since the clamour for his suspension caused the issue of resignation of minister Dhananjay Munde to be pushed to the backburner. Azmi hit back by saying that only such matters which benefit the BJP are raised. “You will not know when those making such charges will go with the BJP,” he retorted. Azmi’s kudos of the oppressor Aurangzeb have had repercussions in Uttar Pradesh legislature, too. UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, while denouncing Azmi, roared, “Send him to UP, we will take care of him.” After his suspension from the assembly, the state government has decided to file a criminal case against him for his utterances. The all-party outpouring against Azmi has caused unprecedented unanimity between the ruling NDA government and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. Nonetheless, Azmi is adamant about his stand. “I have not apologized for my statement, I have merely said that I shall withdraw it in case it has hurt anyone’s sentiments,” he maintained.

A 30-year-old man from Bengaluru, Abhishek MR, has made headlines after winning Rs 65,000 in compensation from PVR Cinemas, INOX, and BookMyShow for what he described as a waste of time due to lengthy advertisements before a movie screening. The consumer court ruled in his favor, highlighting the principle that “time is money” and labelling the practice as “unfair trade.” This landmark decision has resonated with many moviegoers who often voice their frustrations over ticket prices, the cost of food and beverages, and the excessive time spent watching ads before their favourite films. In 2023, Abhishek booked three tickets to see the film Sam Bahadur, scheduled to start at 4:05 pm. However, the screening was delayed by nearly 30 minutes due to a barrage of advertisements and trailers, prompting him to take legal action. His case has sparked a conversation about the growing dissatisfaction among consumers regarding the overall cinema experience, which often feels marred by high costs and lengthy pre-show content. This ruling has instilled confidence in the average consumer who frequently complains about the escalating expenses associated with a trip to the multiplex. With cinema chains like PVR INOX already facing criticism for their pricing strategies, this decision may serve as a wake-up call for these establishments to reconsider their advertising practices. Many patrons feel that after paying a premium for tickets, they should not have to endure an extended advertising session before the film begins. As multiplexes continue to generate revenue from box office sales, food and beverages, the pressure to provide a more satisfying experience for customers is mounting. This ruling could potentially lead to restrictions on the length and frequency of advertisements, ultimately enhancing the movie-watching experience and restoring consumer trust in the industry.

When the Congress recently announced the formation of a new department for Assets and Properties, it acknowledged for the first time the need to oversee and manage numerous properties and assets the party holds across the country that were either lying in disuse or being managed by agents. Party sources said AICC joint treasurer Vijay Inder Singla was given charge of the new initiative mainly because he was pushing to be Punjab PCC chief. He would apparently ensure that all properties belonging to the Congress are “regularised and monetised.” This decision was partly prompted by a recent dispute between the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) in Hubballi, which had escalated into a legal battle over ownership of a property. Congress sources revealed that there are over 2,000 such properties held by the party for years, many of which have fallen into disrepair or been illegally occupied. A senior leader from Tamil Nadu Congress said there was a huge plot of land in the heart of Chennai which belonged to the party that had the potential to be developed commercially and could meet fund requirements for the party nationally. Many lucrative assets of the party were being exploited privately by rent seekers, it was pointed out. It was happening not just in TN. Similar instances were identified in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Bengal, Punjab, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Party sources denied the initiative to reclaim the Congress properties and assets may prove to be challenging as documents to prove many original allottees may not be readily available. The Congress denied its move on collating info on its properties had anything to do with its fears that the government would usurp its assets if its papers weren’t in order. Or that the new Waqf law would take a toll on its properties.

Spiralling upwards, setting the national record, the Maha 2025-2026 budget close to Rs 10 lakh crore may be announced for Maharashtra with an emphasis on capex expenditure (infrastructure building) come Monday. This translates into 50% incremental funding over last year keeping with incremental government spendings registered across BJP ruled states of India. Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath just kicked off his Rs 8.08 lakh crore budget without including supplementary demands added during the next fiscal year following up his Rs 7 lakh crore (base) 2024-2025 budget that grew close to Rs 8 lakh crore subsequently. Bihar has announced a Rs 3.70 lakh crore (base) budget. Earlier, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced a similar package for the state in her budget speech. Maharashtra’s deputy CM Ajit Pawar will present the Budget on March 10, which is expected to be in sync with PM Narendra Modi’s development template across India, and will bear the signature style of CM Devendra Fadnavis. Critics argue burgeoning debt and increasing fiscal deficit will turn unmanageable but, financial planners will confidently dive into infrastructure spending across Maharashtra, further enhancing creation of economically prosperous infrastructure corridors for high ROI for the state in coming years. For example: The Samruddhi expressway will mushroom economic hubs on either side of the roadway providing necessary impetus to achieve multi-fold target growth albeit, after a few years. Similarly, planned solar energy infrastructure for agriculture aims to convert foodgrain producers into energy providers while installed capacity of the state (currently 45000 MW) will rise to 85,000 MW in five years.

Staying lean is the new mantra. None could dispute it. Still, it has given rise to a sense of distrust. Well, the National Confederation of Bank of India Staff Unions (NCBISU) has not taken kindly to this one move by the public sector banks. It has expressed strong opposition to the recent decision of public sector banks to recruit apprentices instead of conducting regular permanent recruitment. In a circular issued on March 1, NCBISU has pointed out that several public sector banks have recently started hiring apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Following this trend, Bank of India has also announced the engagement of 400 apprentices across the country. It sees in this move a step towards contractual employment, which could weaken job security and affect the rights of regular employees. The union believes that this decision will have serious negative implications for employees and the banking sector as a whole. Significantly enough, the engagement of apprentices is limited to just one year. What happens after one year?  The union believes that this arrangement offers no real career prospects to the apprentices and could result in exploitation of young workers who seek long-term employment opportunities in the banking sector. Questions have also been raised about the suitability of apprenticeships in the banking sector. Who will be responsible for training these apprentices? Well, the issue of contract workers (disguised in different nomenclature) is turning out to be a hot subject.

What connection can there be between Mercedes/Rolls Royce cars and Maharashtra politics? Apparently, none, but the two car brands have been making headlines in Maharashtra. State legislative council deputy chairperson Neelam Gorhe created sensation when she alleged in Marathi Sahitya Sammelan held in New Delhi last month that a powerful post could be obtained in Shiv Sena (UBT) if its chief Uddhav Thackeray is presented with two Mercedes cars. There were denials, counter-allegations and defamation cases filed. Later, she clarified that her statement was based on ‘observation’ and not on ‘experience.’ Even before the dust had settled, the Chhaava movie’s fallout occurred in the form of an alleged phone call by former Nagpur journalist Prashant Koratkar to Kolhapur-based historian Indrajit Sawant for latter’s certain observations in regard to the demise of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj due to torture by Aurangzeb. Koratkar has denied that he ever made such a call. Supposedly close to the saffron camp, Koratkar is now being searched for possessing a Rolls Royce car (WB-02 AB0123). But more surprising is the information that the car was owned by chit fund criminal Mahesh Motewar. While Koratkar is still to be traced by the police, Motewar is cooling his heels in prison. The car was blocked by the CBI after his arrest. How Koratkar came to possess it, is another angle for the investigators. Once that mystery is unravelled, another chapter will be opened.

In a surprise move, the Left Front in West Bengal has decided to finalise the seat-sharing formula by April this year. The 2026 Assembly elections may be held between April and May. The one-year advance planning is to prevent any future complications. A senior leader from one of the Left’s allied parties revealed that all parties are expected to provide an update on their strength in each constituency by end March, detailing their ground-level presence and influence. At one time, the Forward Bloc dominated large areas of Cooch Behar, the CPI held sway over undivided Midnapore, and the RSP had strong organizations in South Dinajpur and areas like Joynagar and Kultali in South 24 Parganas. But the political landscape has drastically changed and the Left Front’s 34 years of uninterrupted rule was brought to an end by Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress some 14 years ago. According to Left Front sources, recently, in six by-elections to Assembly seats, the CPM contested only one seat on its own, in Taldangra, where it secured just over 10% of the vote. In other areas like Madarihat, the RSP, in Sitai, the Forward Bloc, and in Medinipur, the CPI garnered just 1-3% of the vote. This shift in support has prompted the Left Front to discard the seat-sharing formula that had been in place since the 1977 Assembly elections. However, as the Left Front navigates the altered political landscape, it has sought seat-sharing agreements with parties like Congress, the Indian Secular Front (ISF), and even smaller Left groups such as the CPM (Liberation), which had been outside the Front in recent times. Looks like the Left Front, particularly the CPI(M), is making serious attempts to adjust to new realities.

A well-known Tamil magazine had an intriguing sobriquet for two AIADMK ex- ministers, SP Velumani and P Thangamani, they were referred to as Bell Boys (Mani in Tamil means bell). These two gentlemen ran a power circuit as useful go-betweens for the party, exalting their worth. On March 3 this year, Velumani celebrated his son’s wedding with great pomp and show. But, the chief guest, AIADMK party head Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) was conspicuous by his absence, even as BJP heavyweights K Annamalai, Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, L Murugan and Khushboo Sundar came to greet the couple, Vikas and Dheekshana. Edappadi went off to address a party conclave in Theni, the home ground of his arch rival OPS to decimate his reputation. and perhaps this was one of the reasons why he gave the marriage a miss. There are some who aver that Edappadi did not want to start a talk about the BJP coalition with the obvious presence of the BJP movers and shakers attending the wedding. Did Velumani cause a discord by his closeness to Amit Shah by attending the Isha Foundation’s Mahashivratri celebration? Or was Edappadi cutting his nose to spite the face; his son Mithun is overtly building a bridge to actor Vijay, the Johnny-come-lately, Edappadi may want to nip this budding relationship. But the besieged ex-CM still proclaims that the party under his leadership is the only choice even as DMK is the enemy. This 2026 election circus promises many trapeze acts.

This 22-year old Pune girl Siddhiie Kapshikarr created history. The London-based Siddhiie entered the Guinness World Record early this year by playing Harmonium Organ non-stop for 10 hours, 23 minutes and 22 seconds. During that long hour she played 75 plus ragas. She also played 100 songs in 25 genres in one performance as improvisation and repetition was not allowed. Siddhiie is a regular performer in the UK. She has graced prestigious venues such as Darbar Festival, The Nehru Centre, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, and Maharashtra Mandal London, showcasing her mastery of Indian classical and contemporary fusion music. She did her undergraduate degree from the Vishwakarma University, Pune. Post that she moved to London to hone her music skills further. She did her Master’s in Audio Production at the University of Westminster, London, specializing in music production, sound design, and multimedia applications. She was fortunate to learn and get the blessings of musical exponents. To start with her mother Shetall introduced her to Maharashtrian folk music. While vocalist Madhuri Kolpe trained her in Hindustani classical which helped her achieve a Visharad degree by age 16. She was even more fortunate as both violin maestro Dr L Subramaniam and his wife, an accomplished singer Kavita Krishnamurthy played a pivotal role in shaping her musical journey. Siddhiie considers Yogeshwar Shrikrishna her celestial guru, having self-taught herself the harmonium and earning a Visharad in it by 18. During the 2020 lockdown, she also mastered Geoshred, a revolutionary digital instrument, demonstrating her passion for blending traditional and modern music. Siddhiie works at the HSBC headquarters in London.

First, India did not travel to Pakistan — the host country for the ICC Champions Trophy – and then on Tuesday (Mar 4) it marched to victory against Australia in the semi-finals and confirmed its entry in the final. Which meant that the last piece of the Champions Trophy action would happen in petro-$ Emirate Of  Dubai because that was the arrangement worked upon by the ICC with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) which was enthusiastic to parade the “Champions” talent at three of its most popular venues in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi. One can only be sympathetic towards the PCB and the country’s cricket diwane having waited for around three decades to host an ICC event, but circumstances beyond the control of the BCCI and the men in blue team has led to a peculiar situation wherein Pakistan will not be able to host the final. The only way the PCB and Pakistan could have hoped to stage the final was with its national team advancing to the knock-out stage and India getting eliminated at the group stage itself. But always a white-ball giant, the India juggernaut quelled four ‘Champion’ teams and took a big stride to position it for winning another title. While Pakistan will be utterly disappointed, the Indian expatriates are only happy to cheer their favourite team yet another time. India has not lost a single ODI match at the Dubai International Stadium There has been anomalies this ICC event has brought to the fore. Can this be rectified at all?

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. 

Disruption or disruptor are terms used in connection with the startup ecosystem. Take for example the way the cab business got disrupted by the ride hailing apps or the food delivery apps that disrupted the way you ordered food. These companies were well funded and they began their early part of the journey by burning loads of money and gaining relevance in the marketplace. Switching into time and the first time something different than a startup player becoming a disruptor happened was when Kumar Mangalam Birla through Grasim announced his entry into the decorative paints industry through Opus paints. With the start of its 4th factory in Karnataka, he is already the second largest in terms of capacity in the decorative paints industry. It is expected that this paints division would have a turnover of Rs 8000-10,000 crore in three years’ time. Asian Paints which reported a revenue of Rs 35,000 crore for the year ended March 2024 saw its market cap fall by more than 40% after Opus entered the fray and well before it has become a sizable player in terms of size and market share. Recently, Kumar Mangalam Birla did the same thing in the cement sector. One of his group companies, UltraTech Cement announced its plans to enter the cables industry with an investment of Rs 1,800 crore for setting up a cable plant. The two key raw materials for this are copper and aluminium, of which Hindalco Industries, a group company, is one of the top two producers. This mere announcement shook the incumbents and the top players cumulatively lost a market cap of over Rs 50,000 crore in a single day. 

Visitors to a conference on ‘Good Ideas’ in Abu Dhabi and an AI summit in the UAE were in for a major surprise as Artificial Rain is giving way to Artificial Intelligence. Cloud seeding is an old idea from the oil-rich UAE decades ago but today AI seems to have equipped the process with more power. The day the delegates landed in Abu Dhabi the weather, at 35 degrees Celsius peak, was hot. And the next day the day’s top temperature was 22 C and the contrast seemed to make it appear as if winter had set in suddenly once again in the land of the desert sands. Under a thick cloud cover all day, the wind was howling. The Met Office in Dubai tried to explain it saying cold winds were blowing in from Saudi Arabia and Iraq, but locals said with a wink and a smile that this weather change was artificial as the UAE rulers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai wanted the days to be cool at the beginning of the Ramadan month.  While speakers were referring mostly to the good that AI can do and does, those giving voice to the lurking fears around AI were also around. The handling of the weather for good by changing the weather a bit with creation of artificial rain is a pointer to the infinite possibilities of AI though it can go wrong as it did last year when Dubai saw unprecedented flooding causing chaos.

Thirty six year old Vicky Kaushal is rapidly emerging as the new superstar of the Indian film industry, particularly following the phenomenal success of Chhaava directed by Laxman Utekar. The film has made waves at the box office, grossing over Rs 400 crore plus in just 10 days, marking a significant relief for the exhibition industry, which has been in dire need of such a blockbuster. Chhaava’s success reinforces Kaushal’s status as a leading figure in contemporary cinema. Examining his filmography reveals a trajectory of impressive versatility. While his previous film, Bad News was met with average reviews, his performances in Sam Bahadur and Zara HatKe Zara Bachke showcased his ability to connect with audiences. Kaushal’s breakout role in Uri: The Surgical Strike catapulted him to commercial success, and he has since delivered commendable performances in supporting roles in films like Sanju, Dunki and Raman Raghav 2.0. Vicky’s filmography is a testament to his range, encompassing biopics like Sardar Udham Singh anthology films like Lust Stories and commercial ventures such as Govinda Mera Naam. His journey began as an assistant to Anurag Kashyap, and he has since evolved from art-house films to mainstream cinema. As the veteran superstars — Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan — become increasingly selective with their projects, and with contemporaries like Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh also taking fewer roles, Vicky Kaushal stands poised to fill that void. His versatility and consistent performances suggest that he is not just a rising star but a potential new pillar of the industry. 

It may be a genuine slip of the tongue or deliberate but opponents don’t miss the opportunity to make the most of it. Recall while addressing NRI audiences in the USA in 2014, PM Modi referred to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi as Mohanlal Karamchand Gandhi. Similarly, while talking about Ayushman Bharat health scheme, Modi said it allowed a resident of Jamnagar to avail treatment anywhere in the country — be it ‘Kolkata’ or ‘Karachi’. A few months back, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said “May Narendra Modi become CM again”. Recently, Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer, while addressing a joint session of both the houses, addressed the chief minister as ‘Narendra’ Chandrababu Naidu instead of ‘Nara’ Chandrababu Naidu. Was it a Freudian slip? Similarly, during the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, BJP leader Dr Sambit Patra while canvassing for votes in the holy city of Puri, told the gathering that “Lord Jagannath is my bhakt”. Two years back a Congress spokesperson misread PM Modi’s full name. Andhra Pradesh Governor’s unintended slip was trolled. And looks like the opposition leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy of YSR Congress party is leaving no stones unturned to capitalise on this golden opportunity to get some publicity for his party and party men.  Political analysts say this tit-for-tat is repeating in Andhra Pradesh once again. In June 2019, the then newly appointed deputy CM P Pushpa Srivani belonging to the YSR Congress faction while addressing a Press Conference inadvertently said her government aimed to deliver “corrupt rule” instead of saying “corrupt free rule”.. It’s not endemic to India, it happens world over. Recall how UK PM Keir Starmer accidentally asked for the release of Israeli ‘sausages’ instead of ‘hostages’. 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is on mission mode since assuming office and extended his micro-management skills (exhibited in run up to state assemblies) to laser focus the state administration. Rooting out inefficiencies, corruption (as shortpost.in reported on Feb 4) within bureaucracy under his 3.0 tenure, Fadnavis has targeted truant IAS officers (including former BEST GMs Anil Diggikar, Harshdeep Kamble) as also kept on hold recommendations from his own cabinet colleagues for appointing personal secretaries, officers on special duty (OSDs). The CM had cleared 109 out of 125 recommendations received by the CMO. Fadnavis silenced criticism emanating from some ministerial quarters over pending postings while emphatically stating it was his prerogative and decision that was final. Maharashtra’s state secretariat is abuzz about collective political grouping within the Mahayuti alliance upset with the CM putting his foot down against ministerial staff carrying legacy of inefficiency and corruption. Fadnavis is enraged over corruption charges levelled against MMRDA by a French consultant involved in his pet ‘Maha Mumbai Metro’ project, ordering a probe. A political war of words broke out, meanwhile, between alliance counterparts: deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar over one-upmanship for second spot in Maharashtra’s political leadership. Shinde’s averment, “Don’t take me lightly,” found resonance in Pawar’s jibe, “Keep check on public averments as alliance protocol.” Pawar also noted he could overturn the horse-cart. All eyes will be on Maharashtra’s budget that deputy CM Pawar will announce over the next fortnight and implications for Shinde’s party held departments, as the political feud escalates. 

There are movie stars, and there are movie stars who want to be a part of society and its serious concerns. R Madhavan (54) has consistently come through as a middle class mascot and muse for social issues. His film Rocketry: The Nambi Effect — a sensitive work to lay bare how politics impacts individual brilliance, focussed on the need to bring controversy to closure. His Railway Men, series on the 1984 Bhopal Gas tragedy was an effort to highlight the same puerile political interferences that leave a trail of human tragedy behind. His very first Tamil film AlaiPayuthey was directed by Mani Ratnam in which he played the romantic hero. After this movie, Madhavan became every girl’s chocolate hero. Try as he could, his middle class Jamshedpur upbringing and morally upright, wholesome image could never be dented by filmi pretentiousness. So, it did not come as a surprise that he recently launched his socially conscious app, Parent Geenee with an impassioned plea for parents to become more involved with their children’s way of life. Today’s kids are overly precocious, almost shedding their childhood and innocence, an integral part of growing up. And games like Blue Whale and Port Knight send shivers down the spine… every child is in his own world, his parents lost to any communication or bonding. This app is meant to be a responsible “seeing eye” to parents, giving them elbow room to know and be aware of what their offspring is up to. In an era where film folks make news for broken marriages and stormy lives, here is a hero who wants to be with his audience as a silent force in bringing up children. There are heroes but a socially conscious hero is special.

Irrespective of whether Aaditya Thackeray bags the post of leader of the opposition’s post in Maharashtra or not, Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena is pushing the envelope a bit far. Edged out by Eknath Shinde in the polls, Uddhav’s options are limited. Uddhav Sena with 20 seats, Congress 16 and Sharad Pawar’s NCP  10 seats, officially can’t claim the top slot. The Opposition does not even qualify for the LoP’s post, since none of the three parties have the requisite 28 seats or 10% of the 288 seats — the qualifying mark. Technically the ball is in the speaker’s court on whether to allow a Leader of the Opposition in the current situation but CM Devendra Fadnavis is said to be in favour of Aaditya. The other UBT Sena choice, six-time legislator Bhaskar Jadhav is too sharp and strong for the comfort of the ruling party. The soft-spoken Aaditya’s lack of experience — he is just on his 2nd term — could just help the ruling Mahayuti alliance tide over its own weak points. Despite having 237 seats, the Mahayuti has been on the backfoot over issues like reining in populist schemes, women’s safety, internal friction between ruling parties and even demand for resignation of two ministers over allegations of corruption and extortion attempt. Letting in Aaditya also helps snub Eknath Shinde, whom the BJP has been trying to clamp down for nursing ambition for the state’s top job. Shinde’s decisions are being overturned, cancelled or reviewed. A clearly upset Shinde has already started warming up to Sharad Pawar and even met up with Amit Shah to get his way around with Fadnavis. 

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.