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In the 2026 assembly elections CPI (M) in West Bengal is banking on the youth brigade to win a few seats and re-enter the Assembly. It is trying to woo the youth with a development plank, deviating from the TMC, BJP and Congress focus on freebies and doles. It has fielded young leaders across key constituencies, signalling a generational shift. Candidates include Minakshi Mukherjee from Uttarpara, Kalatan Dasgupta in Panihati, Dipsita Dhar in Dum Dum Uttar, Mayukh Biswas in Dum Dum, and Afreen Begum in Ballygunge. Many emerged from student and youth movements with strong organisational work. The party is shifting discourse from identity and welfare politics to issues like inflation, unemployment, education, healthcare and civic amenities. Leaders say the campaign engages youth through direct outreach. Postcard campaign urges voters to reject religion-based appeals and economic and civic issues. Candidates target BJP for polarisation and TMC for corruption and governance failures. The Left Front contests with the Indian Secular Front and CPI(ML) Liberation, with CPI(M) in 195 of 294 seats. Yet Bengal remains seen as a TMC-BJP bipolar contest. CPI(M) says its development focus is on real issues. It notes both rivals attack the Left, signalling relevance. However, it faces an uphill task. After 34 years in power, it lost in 2011, with seats falling from 40 in 2011 to 26 in 2016 and zero in 2021. Vote share dipped, despite minor local recoveries. The defection of Pratikur Rahman to TMC adds pressure. Senior leaders like Biman Bose join padayatras, backing grassroots mobilisation and youth strategy to regain ground. Whether this yields gains is uncertain, but the final push shows CPI(M)’s bid to reinsert itself in Bengal’s contest.
In Tamil Nadu, the voter’s turnout was massive…a roaring phenomenon never seen before, defying psephologists, political analysts and journalists of every hue, even defiant astrologists. Whichever party is stacked and predicted as the winner, one personality is evading categorisation and classification. The Johnny-come-lately superstar Vijay who managed to cover his Christian calling artfully. Even as vote counting day nears like the apocalypse for many candidates and parties, TVK’s Vijay is the subject of reams of analyses and paralysis of who he really is. One article in a well-known Tamil digital site by Rajan Kurai Krishnan (a PhD in anthropology from Columbia University, NY) is an eye-opener. Enigma or canny pretence to political sagacity? Will the huge crowd pulling translate into a messiah has arrived? Is he fooling the people all the time or is he fooling himself about his draw? Is our politics and governance so simple that any Tom, Dick or Ramaswamy can blow a conch and anoint himself as Lord Krishna. Vijay has cleverly managed to keep off the nosey press and artsy analysts from getting him to talk seriously about his agendas. Does he think he is the second coming of MGR? The DMK and AIADMK powered by the sagacity and wisdom of leaders like Annadurai and Karunanidhi, parties that have amassed staying power are not to be easily unseated by a greenhorn. But who knows…may be TN is that litmus test to prove all logic wrong, to usher in a showman ….let the show go on, the audience is impatient.
April 20 raised the summer heat some notches higher when the teaser of Ayushmann Khurrana’s Pati Patni Aur Woh Doh was unveiled. The expectation and salivation promised to stay charged with a teaser focused on a zany comic and clandestine cat escapade. Whatever changes in the world, men straying in marital bonds and coveting parayadhan is not going to change. Khurana not only juggles one temptation, but teaches how to juggle a third one too…reminding us of the Hollywood 1967 Tony Curtis, Claudia Cardinale comedy Don’t Make Waves …“one in the air, one landing and a third, pending”. Prajapathi Pandey is the lucky hero who gets to romance three ladies …Sara Ali Khan, Wamika Gabbi and the delightful Rakul Preet Singh who fight like cats on a hot tin roof over him, yet want to tear him to pieces for this talent. Vijay Raaz, playing the police officer, is bound to bring the roof down with his tongue in cheek interrogation of Pandey ..“You got caught with one, the other rushed in to extricate you..the third bird, is she a friend too?” Tigmanshu Dhulia and Vishal Vashishtha play interesting characters as foils. A Mudassar Aziz directed comedy of errors, T Series and PR Studios have collaborated to bring this Zany Zappy complicated three-cornered love triangle. You will have to wait till May 15 to get lessons on how to stray even as you remain married.
It is understood that Ashok Kumar Lahiri—the distinguished economist and BJP MLA from Balurghat, West Bengal—informed the party high command of his wish not to contest the 2026 Assembly polls. Instead, he expressed a desire to move to Delhi, where his core strengths, talent, and skills could be put to better use. Prime Minister Narendra Modi appears to agree. Lahiri has been appointed as the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, replacing Suman Bery. As the Prime Minister serves as the Chairperson of NITI Aayog, this move places the “right man in the right job.” PM Modi reportedly feels that a proven performer like Lahiri can contribute more effectively from Delhi than by nursing his Balurghat constituency. In a recent tweet the PM noted: “His rich experience in economics and public policy will further strengthen the path of reforms in India and the journey towards becoming a ‘Viksit Bharat’.” Seems like PM Modi has gone for a major overhaul of the think tank since 2015. Along with Lahiri, the government has already added four new members: M Srinivas, Abhay Karandkar, Gobardhan Das and KV Raju. Lahiri boasts an impressive track record, including tenures at the World Bank, the IMF, and the ADB, as well as serving as India’s Chief Economic Advisor. Despite these high-profile roles, colleagues describe him as remarkably grounded. Endorsing the selection, Rajat Nag, the former ADB Managing Director, stated: “Ashok Lahiri is a very competent economist with vast experience and international recognition.” Lahiri has shifted to Delhi, met with the Prime Minister, and immediately reported for duty. He has already indicated that his primary focus will be on meaningful policy changes in the healthcare and education sectors—areas he views as essential to achieving the vision of a Viksit Bharat.
AAP MP Raghav Chadha who split two-third members belonging to the AAP in Rajya Sabha and helped party MPs in merging themselves with the BJP, is most likely to get a berth in the Union government. It is being said Chadha’s switch to the BJP had been in the works for some time. With Punjab assembly elections slated to be held early next year, the BJP wanted Chadha to be on its side to prepare for the elections. At the same time the BJP wanted to ensure that the defectors did not lose much. Or at least they remained as MPs. With more than two-thirds — 7 out of 10 — of the AAP MPs defecting, a figure needed for the MPs to retain their membership in the upper house, Chadha ensured he and his colleagues were safe for the time being. Meanwhile, it is being said Chadha’s continuation in AAP had become difficult ever after Arvind Kejriwal began to take an active interest in Punjab. Particularly after he had lost power in Delhi in February 2025 assembly polls. Besides, Kejriwal also did not want Chadha to play any advisory role to Bhagwant Mann government as he himself had begun to take an active interest in Punjab. It is in this backdrop that reports of Chadha cozying up to the BJP began to do the rounds. Kejriwal removed Chadha as the deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha over allegations of not raising key issues against the Modi government and doing “soft PR” instead. Ironically, when Chadha walked out of the AAP – he had two more MPs as part of the merger — Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak, a former IIT professor. Interestingly, Mittal was the AAP replacement for Chadha’s Rajya Sabha deputy leader post.
Former Chief Justice of India B R Gavai’s recent visit to Bageshwar Dham in Madhya Pradesh has made the so-called rationalist and secular elements livid, generating several nasty comments against him. The religious centre and its head, Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, always criticised for his aggressive Hindutva remarks, are thus in the news for a very different reason. The son of the late Dalit icon Ramkrishna Gavai, the retired CJI always speaks in support of the constitution of India and its emphasis on promoting secular principles embedded in it. Therefore, the Gavai family’s visit has come as a surprise for many. Pictures show Gavai at the Bageshwar Dham in Chhatarpur district with his wife Tejaswini and son Jyotiradiya. The Gavai family had hit the headlines last year when Gavai’s mother, Kamalatai, was invited by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh for its Dussehra Rally. Though initial indications were that she would grace the important occasion, Kamalatai soon declined the invite when there was a barrage of criticism about the likely move. A noted social activist in her own right, Kamalatai has always remained away from public appearances. The late Ramkrishna Gavai led a sizable section of a faction of the Republican Party of India, set up by Dr B R Ambedkar. However, he himself had attended a RSS function and was known for his liberal attitude, enabling him to form friendships in all political parties. The CJI has not so far reacted to the feedback created by his visit.
In Odisha a newer kind of political battle is brewing between Naveen Patnaik’s BJD and former members of his party over Biju Patnaik’s death anniversary celebration. The sidelined turncoat ex-BJD leaders like Bijoy Mohapatra (known as super chief minister, founder BJD), Dilip Ray (former Union Minister and BJD founder), independent Rajya Sabha MP Prabhat Tripathy, former BJD MLA, Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, former BJD MP, Prasanna Patasani have come together and formed a new platform called ‘Odisha Nagarik Manch’(ONM). Their objective seems to be focussed on appropriating Biju Patnaik’s legacy taking their position as “original Biju followers” but they qualify it saying “ONM as of now is a non-political platform”. Political commentators say this political experiment coming from Bijoy Mohapatra, Dilip Ray and others could gather steam if this new group could prevail upon BJP high command to confer Bharat Ratna to the late Biju Patnaik. Otherwise, the general public say it’s an academic exercise at best because the Biju era politicians like Bijoy Mohapatra, Djlip Ray who are seen as the original mastermind face the challenge of proving their relevance to the new generation.
All eyes are now on Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on how he handles the situation created by transport minister Pratap Sarnaik’s fiat to compel auto rickshaw and taxi drivers to speak Marathi with passengers from 1st May in the state. A leader of Sarnaik’s own party, the Shiv Sena (Shinde), former MP Sanjay Nirupam, is in the forefront of raising a banner of dissent, urging the minister to reconsider the order. The situation is likely to become complicated as Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has supported the directive. Moreover, volatile statements are made by certain functionaries. An announcement by MNS to print and distribute stickers for use of taxi and rickshaw drivers declaring that they know and use Marathi has added to the tension as a section of the drivers have declared their resolve to observe a strike from 4th May against the order. Sarnaik says that it was decided by the state government way back in 2019 to make it compulsory for taxi and rickshaw drivers to interact with passengers in Marathi. However, many complaints were received that the decision was flouted. Therefore, it has been decided to implement the decision strictly, he maintains. Certain MNS leaders have declared that a lesson will be taught to those drivers who say that they don’t know Marathi and will not speak it. Thus, the CM is confronting a complication within the Mahayuti led by him.
Will I-PAC’s decision to pause operations in West Bengal impact the Trinamool Congress? The question looms large as chief minister Mamata Banerjee battles anti-incumbency while seeking a fourth consecutive term. With the first phase of polling scheduled for April 23, the TMC faces fresh turbulence after political consultancy firm I-PAC paused its official operations in Bengal citing legal complications. In an internal communication on April 20, I-PAC asked employees to pause field activities, limit external communication, and avoid official emails, with several teams shifting to remote work amid legal concerns and repeated summons. The situation stems from an ED probe that began as a money-laundering investigation into alleged financial irregularities linked to a 2020 coal smuggling case. Searches were conducted at I-PAC offices in Kolkata and Delhi. While the ED maintained that the investigation was routine and not election-related. The matter escalated after Didi physically intervened during a raid at co-founder Pratik Jain’s residence. The agency claimed that documents and electronic evidence were removed—an allegation denied by the TMC. Mamata accused central agencies of targeting her party and attempting to seize sensitive political data, directly attacking Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The probe has led to the arrest of I-PAC co-founder Vinesh Chandel and questioning of director Rishi Raj Singh. Amid disruptions, TMC supremo has termed the ED’s action a “conspiracy” to intimidate the TMC ahead of the April 23 and April 29 polls. Notably, despite past differences with I-PAC after strategist Prashant Kishor exited the organisation, the TMC leadership—particularly Abhishek Banerjee—had continued relying on I-PAC. In recent months, however, Abhishek’s office has developed an in-house structure mirroring the consultancy’s functions, potentially cushioning the impact of the current disruption.
Odisha which has strong presence in metals and mining is now entering the high the hi-tech semiconductor arena. In a major development, the Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnav laid the foundation stone for India’s first silicon-semiconductor plant in Odisha which will make India’s first 3D chip packaging unit at Infovalley-II in Bhubaneswar. It is indeed a historic day for Odisha. This import substitute project worth Rs 1,943 crore is being developed by 3D Glass Solutions Inc (3 DGS) with the Central government investing Rs 799 crore and Odisha government Rs 399.5 crore. This facility is targeting to produce 70,000 glass panels annually, 50 million assembled units and 13,000 advanced 3D heterogeneous integration modules. Sources say, commercial production is slated to begin by August 2028 with the plant going full stream by 2030. The challenges for 3DGS henceforth are cut out for meeting Odisha’s requirement. It needs to make the chip work faster to meet massive computational demand of AI, improving energy efficiency, saving energy, reducing signal losses and handling high temperature issues. Additional Chief Secretary of Odisha’s Energy Department Vishal Kumar Dev called the project “a watershed moment of the state”. He said 3DGS, the company behind this project, is a globally recognised player backed by giants like Intel and Lockheed Martin.
All eyes are now on Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on how he handles the situation created by transport minister Pratap Sarnaik’s fiat to compel auto rickshaw and taxi drivers to speak Marathi with passengers from 1st May in the state. A leader of Sarnaik’s own party, the Shiv Sena (Shinde), former MP Sanjay Nirupam, is in the forefront of raising a banner of dissent, urging the minister to reconsider the order. The situation is likely to become complicated as Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has supported the directive. Moreover, volatile statements are made by certain functionaries. An announcement by MNS to print and distribute stickers for use of taxi and rickshaw drivers declaring that they know and use Marathi has added to the tension as a section of the drivers have declared their resolve to observe a strike from 4th May against the order. Sarnaik says that it was decided by the state government way back in 2019 to make it compulsory for taxi and rickshaw drivers to interact with passengers in Marathi. However, many complaints were received that the decision was flouted. Therefore, it has been decided to implement the decision strictly, he maintains. Certain MNS leaders have declared that a lesson will be taught to those drivers who say that they don’t know Marathi and will not speak it. Thus, the CM is confronting a complication within the Mahayuti led by him.
Former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has once again kept the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi on the tenterhooks by not sending out any clear signal about his re-entry in the state legislative council. After his present term in the upper house expires, he will have to face a possible election to be held on 14 May to elect nine MLCs from the legislative assembly constituency. Given the existing statistics, the ruling Mahayuti can elect eight of its nominees easily while the MVA can be confident to bag just one seat. However, there are three claimants: the Congress, the NCP (Sharad Pawar) and the Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav. The Congress is sore with both partners because they unilaterally supported the candidature of deputy CM Sunetra Pawar for the Baramati assembly byelection, caused by the demise of her husband Ajit Pawar in a plane crash earlier this year. The Congress was thus compelled to follow suit against its wishes. Now that an opportunity to send one of its leaders to the council is available, it finds itself in a tight corner as the possibility of Uddhav wishing to enter the fray is hovering over its head. There is speculation that Uddhav may nominate some other Sena leader. However, his detractors point out that he had declared his resignation as CM and in the same breath said he would give up council membership as well. However, he did not and hence no decision can be taken till he comes out with a clear, unambiguous stand, they say.
Maharashtra’s Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Manisha Mhaiskar, cited an aberration from 2023—a Shiv Sena minister preferred a male colleague over her to head his department—reviving the debate over gender bias. While she termed it as an exception, discrimination across gender and caste was more entrenched under the Congress-led regime two decades ago. A stark example was Chitkala Zutshi, an upright officer who served as ACS Finance and Home but was overlooked for Chief Secretary’s post despite merit. The slight was compounded by an insensitive remark by a female colleague on her last day over her penchant for integrity over money, power during IAS service. And yet, Zutshi’s post-retirement career underscored her resilience: as member of the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority and later Electricity tribunal judge in Nagpur, she delivered dispassionate quasi-judicial orders. These safeguarded the Nag river from being snuffed out and directed Maharashtra to clear 2.5 lakh agricultural pumpset backlog on pain of penalty of Rs 25,000 for each non-compliance case. Her tenure followed that of A K D Jadhav, another overlooked candidate for Chief Secretary, known for initiating near-free medical insurance for Mumbai’s 50,000-strong police force. Similarly, Praveensingh Pardeshi continues to contribute post-retirement as MITRA CEO despite missing the top CS post. CM Fadnavis’s tenure notably reflects a shift in pairing IAS couples in complementary roles—including Abha Shukla:Lokesh Chandra, Sujata: Manoj Saunik, even Manisha and Milind Maiskar. More serious concerns persist today. “Two decades back, 10% of the babudom were efficiently functional. This has slid to a mere 2% today,” an IAS officer says. Should that be left for another day?
Political scene in Maharashtra is witnessing another turmoil following news channel reports that eight of the nine Lok Sabha members of the Shiv Sena (UBT) attended a secret meeting with the Shiv Sena led by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. Both sides have discounted the news promptly though the pall of suspicion refuses to disappear. The only Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha member not mentioned in the news is Uddhav Thackeray’s confidant Anil Desai. Shinde himself and his son Dr Shrikant, MP, also has described the reports as a figment of the imagination. However, such news items have been circulating ever since the BJP won the state assembly election with a landslide majority. There also have been murmurs that a large number of Sena (UBT) functionaries are eager to return to the Hindutva fold from which the party has distanced itself. Only a few days ago, a couple of Sena (UBT) MPs were roasted since they attended a celebration at the residence of former Union minister of state and Sena (Shinde) MP Pratap Jadhav in New Delhi. Soon afterwards, Uddhav held a meeting at Matoshree to sense the mood within the party. Even before the aftermath of this event has subsided, the latest reports have renewed speculation about the Sena (UBT) moving towards the ruling party. The Thane meeting was said to have occurred at the residence of Dr Shrikant Shinde. According to latest whispers, some major development can happen after results of the five state assembly elections are out in early May.
Shiv Sena (UBT) scion Aaditya Thackeray’s reported tiff with party MP Sanjay Raut over the earlier decision to yield the lone Rajya Sabha seat to veteran leader Sharad Pawar is the talk of the town, even after the spokesman has discounted any such development. As the term of party MP Priyanka Chaturvedi is over, the suspense over her renomination has ended but the internal differences over the issue are having an echo even now. Aaditya’s opposition to Pawar’s new Rajay Sabha term on the strength of the Sena (UBT) had surfaced when Priyanka’s future was being discussed. At the time, Raut had vehemently asserted that Pawar will be in the Rajya Sabha for another six years and Aaditya had expressed his unhappiness at the outcome. Over the past few days, news speculation about the recurrence of ‘Operation Tiger’ in Maharashtra began afresh, with whispers that certain Sena (UBT) MPs were likely to defect to the NDA. In the wake of their increasing frequency, Uddhav Thackeray summoned the MPs to Matoshri to understand their mind. Coincidentally, Raut was not present for the meeting as his book ‘Unlikely Paradise’ was being released in New Delhi the same day. Finding himself at the receiving end, Raut now has refuted the media coverage of the reported tiff. At the same time, he has declared that he will never leave the Shiv Sena (UBT). Uddhav is yet to comment on the matter.
Self-proclaimed Godman Ashok Kharat’s arrest for his alleged sex atrocities against many women has stirred a hornet’s nest as pictures of some top leaders with him have started surfacing. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-Ajit) and the Shiv Sena (Shinde), the two major partners in the Mahayuti regime in Maharashtra, are finding themselves on the defensive with every new such disclosure. NCP leader Rupali Chakankar has become the focus of the sex scandal since many serious allegations are being made against her hour by hour. The plot has thickened since a couple of NCP leaders have charged that certain suspicious things found outside the official residence of late deputy CM Ajit Pawar when he was alive were part of black magic reportedly perpetrated by Kharat. Investigations so far have revealed that Kharat had been practising his questionable occultism to lure hapless women and that he has amassed huge wealth through this route over the years. The sordid racket of Kharat was exposed when chief minister Devendra Fadnavis himself ordered the police bosses to act against him. It is whispered that besides some prominent politicians, certain police officials also will face the heat as the probe progresses since they tacitly permitted Kharat to operate. Ironically, Kharat was caught by the police when he himself had filed a complaint against a couple of his acquaintances, who had been blackmailing him. Retired from Merchant Navy, Kharat was flaunting the title of a Captain while running his racket in Nasik in north Maharashtra.
Veteran leader Sharad Pawar is facing an unprecedented embarrassing situation in his 57-year long political innings. Never having lost a single election, Pawar was tacitly acknowledged across Maharashtra’s political spectrum as the controlling pivot in deciding which candidate will win which election, till a decade ago. Unfortunately for him, the end of his Rajya Sabha term on 2 April is enveloped into suspense about his returning to Parliament. The present party statistics in Maharashtra assembly makes it clear that the combined Opposition, the so-called INDIA Bloc, can elect just one candidate to the Rajya Sabha, only if there is no cross-voting. Once upon a time, Pawar was the master of such manipulations. But now, he will have to depend upon the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray and the Congress party to secure the required 38 votes in the 288-member lower house. The wish has been questioned following Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Varun Sardesai’s unambiguous assertion that his party will not give up its claim for the seat, Pawar or no Pawar in the ring. Varun is extremely close to Uddhav and his son Aaditya Thackeray. Hence his rigid stand has sent warning signals in the INDIA camp as the Congress party, too, has been unable to declare its support of Pawar. Against this backdrop, Aaditya’s absence from two successive INDIA meetings to discuss the issue is considered vocal enough. All in all, Pawar is made an unwilling player in the power struggle.
Bhiwandi near Mumbai is a communally sensitive town. It has been in the news after the recent civic election in Bhiwandi had dispensed a mixed mandate and political permutations and combinations were cooking for the past few days. Ultimately, the BJP has turned out to be the loser in the mayoral election, which it lost miserably. Interestingly, there is no communal angle to this contest but the loss is due to the power play between the BJP and the Shiv Sena (Shinde), the two main partners of the ruling Mahayuti in the state. As neither party was ready to relent, BJP’s Narayan Choudhary deserted it and teamed up with Bhiwandi Secular Front, which is opposing the saffron forces. The cause of this decision was that he was refused mayoral candidate by the BJP, which fielded Sneha Patil. An angry Chaudhary was supported by six BJP rebels, 30 Congress members and 12 of the NCP(SP). His tally of 48 against Patil’s 16 has shown the BJP in poor light since it failed to woo former mayor Vilas Patil, whose Konark Front won 25 votes, a dozen from the Shiv Sena led by deputy CM Eknath Shinde. Thus, failure to forge a strategic alliance has cost Mahayuti an important municipal corporation in Maharashtra. Moreover, the Congress is in a celebratory mood for humbling the BJP, which has threatened to take stern action against the rebels. Congress corporator Tariq Momin has been elected deputy mayor with a comfortable majority.
The present party strength is such in the Maharashtra legislative assembly that the combined opposition can elect just one candidate to go to the Rajya Sabha. While NCP leader Sharad Pawar at 85 is still likely to be in the ring, the Congress and the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray have indicated that they are not too enthusiastic about the prospect. In the 288-member Maharashtra assembly, which is the electorate, the ruling BJP has 132 members. It is supported by the Shiv Sena led by deputy CM Eknath Shinde’s 57 and the NCP faction under deputy CM Sunetra Pawar’s 40. Thus, the ruling Mahyuti has about 220 MLAs on its side. On the other hand, the three major opposition parties have a joint strength of under 50. There are a handful of independents, too. Thus, the winning quota to enter the Rajya Sabha is of around 40 votes. Hence, it is barely sufficient for the Opposition to win one seat. The Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress are wary of standing by Sharad Pawar since they are afraid that he and his daughter Supriya Sule, MP, can switch over to the BJP or NDA at any moment. As of now, behind the door confabulations are gaining speed. Other notables who are retiring include RPI leader Ramdas Athawale, former Union minister Bhagwat Karad and Sena (UBT) Priyanka Chaturvedi. Their Rajya Sabha term ends on 2 April 2026.
A Shiv Sena (UBT) stronghold since the inception of the organisation way back in 1966, Parbhani will have a new mayor, Syed Iqbal Syed Khwaja, a staunch party worker. His election has kicked up a political storm since Syed is the first Muslim to be nominated for a high civic post by the Sena. Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, who broke away from the parent party in 2022, has lambasted Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray, reminding him of certain public statements of Balasaheb in this regard. On the other hand, Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has hit back, saying that a nationalist Muslim was preferable to a ‘Gaddaar’ (traitor), reminding Shinde about his decision to desert the undivided Sena. Sayed is a first-time corporator and is elected as mayor with the support of the Congress. He defeated his BJP rival Tirumala Khilare by securing 39 votes against her 26 in the 65-member Parbhani municipal corporation, a major town in Marathwada region of the state. Thus, Parbhani has become the sole civic corporation under Uddhav Sena. In the past, the united Sena had won assembly elections from Parbhani on communal campaigning. Taking a dig at Uddhav Sena, Shinde said its true face has been exposed while it had already sunk Balasaheb’s doctrine in 2022 while forming a government with Congress support. The Parbhani win is not surprising since the UBT has supported the BJP in installing its mayor in Chandrapur in Vidarbha region. Blurring party lines, local combinations have been taking place across Maharashtra where those forming such arrangements keep claiming that their decision is taken ‘in the interest of local development.’
Veteran leader Sharad Pawar’s Rajya Sabha term ends on 2 April 2026. The present arithmetic in the Maharashtra legislative assembly is such that just one Opposition candidate can go to the upper house of Parliament if all these parties field a combined nominee. The NCP led by Sharad Pawar himself, the Congress and the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray are the three major Opposition parties though their collective strength is just enough to win one seat. Provided that there is no cross-voting. Previous experience shows that Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis can upset the Opposition apple cart as and when he wishes. It is not clear if he will use the same strategy against Pawar who is respected across the political spectrum. Pawar has declared repeatedly that he will not contest any future election. But it is viewed as an announcement by a politician and hence not taken at face value. Most of the earlier Rajya Sabha elections have been unopposed except for a few occasions. As of now, Opposition parties have not indicated their inclination. Hence, the rumour mill is quite active. Incidentally, Pawar’s health is a matter of concern, given that he is 86. His decision not to be present in Parliament when the Union budget was being presented has added to the speculation about his future plans. His nephew Ajit Pawar’s accidental demise has resulted in upsetting all previous equations and Pawar’s next move will prove crucial in that scenario. It is eagerly awaited.
Several major cities in Maharashtra have donned the saffron by electing BJP-led Mahayuti candidates as their mayor. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Shiv Sena-led by deputy CM Eknath Shinde have arrived at an understanding to install their candidates as mayor and deputy mayors. On February 6, the prestigious Nagpur municipal corporation came under the BJP rule once again. In Nasik, the pilgrimage town, the BJP had nominated Himgauri Adke after a lot of heat was generated between it and Shinde Sena. Finally, senior minister Girish Mahajan succeeded in forging an alliance, which ensured that the mayoral crown will remain with the Mahayuti. Other major cities where BJP mayors are in place are Jalgaon and Dhule in north Maharashtra and at Sambhaji Nagar, the capital of Marathwada. Till yesterday, fireworks were taking place regularly among the Mahayuti constituents. The most watched election will take in place in Mumbai where the BJP is all set to elect its mayor. In exchange, it has left Thane and Kalyan-Dombivali municipal corporations for Shinde Sena, given the clout of Shinde and his son Shrikant, MP. The proliferation of BJP-ruled civic bodies is described as a triple-engine formula success. Buoyed up by the success, Mahayuti leaders are hopeful that their parties will fare similarly well in the election for the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti bodies, to take place after a few days.
Veteran leader Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena boss Uddhav Thackeray have been totally decimated in the election to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, raising a question mark about the next turn in their political journey. Just half a dozen of the civic bodies marked any presence of the parties led by the two prominent leaders, leaving the field open to the saffron outfit, led by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. The other casualty is Pawar’s nephew Ajit, who took on the BJP for no obvious reason and has been mauled badly in his own stronghold, Pune city and district. A few select bodies like Kolhapur, Vasai-Virar, Malegaon, Chandrapur, Parbhani and Amaravati have shown electoral wins of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates, though most have been elected on their own steam. The MVA is now rudderless in the state and the voters, too, have expressed their displeasure on its negative campaigning, which was replete with abuse and curses. On the other hand, Fadnavis and deputy CM Eknath Shinde continuously harped on the theme of development. The results have conclusively shown that Uddhav’s clout is now confined only to Mumbai, of course lesser than earlier. As far as Sharad Pawar is concerned, he neither campaigned nor addressed any rally. His inaction is blamed for the pitiable condition of his party. Thus, both leaders will have to explain to their cadres what plan of action is in their mind.
Ill-famed Shrikant Pangarkar will henceforth be seen in the civic hall of Jalna Municipal Corporation despite being named as an accused in the 2017 killing of journalist Gauri Lankesh. The Jalna results were declared on Friday and Pangarkar emerged as the winner in Ward 13. He defeated his opponents of the BJP and other parties in a multi-corner contest. The Shiv Sena led by deputy CM Eknath Shinde had chosen not to field any candidate in the ward, a decision that foretold the electoral outcome. Soon after the results, he began celebrating with his supporters. The images went viral, causing an outrage. The criminal case related to Lankesh’s murder is sub-judice, thus enabling Pangarkar to contest. Facing the media after this, Pangarkar asserted that he had not been convicted; hence, the legal process was still underway.” His defence nonplussed the reporters. The assassination of Gauri Lankesh took place in Bengaluru on 5 September 2017. The killing triggered a widespread debate across the country. In August 2018, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested Pangarkar as an accused though was granted bail by the Karnataka high court on 4 September 2024. Earlier, Pangarkar had served as a corporator in Jalna between 2001 and 2006 as a member of the undivided Shiv Sena. However, as he was not given a ticket in 2011, he moved to the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, a right-wing organisation. Only a year before, while the November 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections were to happen, Pangarkar joined the Shinde Sena. The move backfired and Shinde had to keep in abeyance Pangarkar’s entry. Despite that interlude, Pangarkar is back in the news.
If you are worried about the future of Mumbai, wait till 16 January since the brothers Thackeray have promised the moon to Mumbaikars if they come to power in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on that day. The only catch is that the two parties, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), are facing a formidable adversary, the BJP-led Mahayuti, which is ruling Maharashtra with a thumping majority. Moreover, most former BMC corporators and Mumbai MLAs are in the saffron fold, complemented by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. In addition, the Congress has decided to go it alone, making the Sena’s challenge more difficult. Given this ground reality, Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray and his cousin, MNS scion Amit Thackeray, have come out with a fantastic manifesto for Mumbai to lure the voters. The duo has made such tall promises that if ever they become a reality, Mumbai will compete with the best cities around the world. For instance, housing units with an area up to 700 sq ft will be exempted from property tax. Secondly, the female domestic servants in Mumbai will be paid a monthly dole of Rs 1500. Fisherwomen will be provided with meals at Rs 10; young entrepreneurs will be extended Rs 1 lakh as employment assistance fund; all BMC parking lots will be free of charge; zero bill for power consumers using 100 units or less per month and a mini sports complex in each civic ward. Interestingly, the manifesto has kept away from the touchy issue of the declaration that the next Mumbai mayor will be a Marathi Manoos.
The entry of Rashid Mamu, former mayor of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, in the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray has stirred a hornet’s nest because prominent Sena leaders from that city have publicly objected to this development. Local Sena leaders complain that this entry has been engineered by former legislative council opposition leader Ambadas Danve without consulting them. Former MP Chandrakant Khaire, a close loyalist of Balasaheb Thackeray, has reminded the Sena leadership that Rashid Mamu was among those who had pelted stones at a Sena procession taken out to demand a Uniform Civil Code some years ago. Khaire has declared that he will make efforts to ensure that Mamu is not selected by the party to contest the civic election from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. Mamu was admitted into the Sena at Matoshri in Mumbai in presence of Uddhav and Danve. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, too, has castigated Uddhav Sena for welcoming Mamu in its fold. In a stinging indictment, Fadnavis has said, “It is extremely painful to see that such an individual (Mamu) has been admitted by the Sena (UBT). This decision has been taken by the son of Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray for gaining votes. This type of appeasement of licking somebody’s shoes for political benefit makes me very sad.” The CM has warned his erstwhile ally that patriots and nationalists will not pardon the Sena (UBT) for such decisions.
Psephologists and political analysts have started gearing up in Maharashtra where various municipal corporation elections are scheduled on 15 January. Expectedly, the initial focus is on making predictions about the number of seats likely to be won by the ruling saffron Mahayuti, led by the BJP, in Mumbai. The fight for the BMC will be thus mainly confined between the BJP and the alliance of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (Sena), led by the cousins, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray. The first such prediction has been posted by Amitabh Tiwari of ‘Vote India Vibe.’ According to him, the Mahayuti can win up to 114 seats in the 227-member civic body, followed by the Sena alliance at around 80. The basis for this estimate is the voting pattern witnessed in the assembly election held a year earlier. The Mahayuti had won almost 240 seats in the 288-member house. The other factor in reaching this conclusion is the demographic profile of Mumbai. As of now, the Congress party has decided to go it alone in the election, underscoring the possibility of a split in the opposition vote. More such ‘surveys’ are expected to tumble out in the next two weeks, about Mumbai and other major cities like Pune, Nagpur and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has consciously made clear distinction (course correction) for BJP’s further growth in the state. With elections for over 29 municipal corporations, a higher number of municipal councils and even more local self-bodies due imminently, Maharashtra’s Chanakya has put his party first, over alliance considerations. During the 2024 Lok Sabha polls political alliance-Dharma exuberance saw BJP suffering sharp losses in Maharashtra, down to a single digit victory figure of nine MPs despite contesting 28 seats as against the tally of 23 enjoyed in 2019 after pitting 25 candidates back then. The Sena similarly won 18 of the 23 seats it contested in alliance with BJP in 2019. The bifurcated Shiv Sena faction under former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray (UBT) contested 21 seats in 2024, sending only nine MPs to parliament. Just before the subsequent state assembly elections Fadnavis was anointed ‘Maharashtra’s Sarvashri’ by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Fadnavis micromanaged the whole process, putting up BJP candidates to include Nilesh Rane, Shaina NC to contest even as alliance partner Shiv Sena candidates (deputy CM Eknath Shinde led party). The result was an overwhelming victory for the Mahayuti alliance, with BJP bagging 132 by itself, the NDA alliance securing 235 out of 288 assembly seats in all. And yet, post facto analysis of the Lok Sabha debacle clearly revealed to Fadnavis that alliance partner NCP’s vote share (led by deputy CM Ajit Pawar) did not transfer to BJP candidates. Now, Fadnavis has made it clear that no micromanagement, political exuberance will be shown in an each-party-for-itself political showdown though alliance understanding will decide seats to be contested in the civic polls. Poaching of Eknath Shinde’s men in Thane by the BJP and Ajit Pawar’s recent political embarrassments only point in this direction.
The bonding between both the ruling and opposition coalition partners in Maharashtra went for a toss for the forthcoming local self-government bodies elections scheduled in December. The local polls for 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats, the first local polls being held in state post-Covid lockdown, are crucial for all the parties as they are being held after a long gap. Surprisingly, the ruling Mahayuti government has poached a leader from their own coalition partners — Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. This upset Shinde’s ministerial team so much so that they protested by boycotting the November 18 cabinet meeting. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis remained unrepentant and is said to have not just justified the poaching. Keen to form a “triple-engine sarkar” in Maharashtra, Fadnavis is keen to replicate BJP’s success at the Centre and State level for the third time at the local governance level. Equations at the local self-government elections have always been known to be at variance with parties’ stated positions at the state or central government level. The split in outfits like the NCP and Shiv Sena has further muddied the political waters in the state and parties are finding it difficult to rein in the ambitions of their party workers. While Sharad Pawar, known to have his ear to the ground, has already clarified that his partymen were free to align with anyone at the local level, others fail to be that clear. The Congress is going solo and not aligning with the MVA in these local polls in response to the political alignment of the Thackeray brothers. While Congress is worried about allying with Raj Thackeray’s MNS lest it affect their North Indian voters, it is equally wary of allying with its own coalition partner, Uddhav Thackeray for successfully attracting their core Muslim vote bank in recent polls.
Top BJP leader Ashish Shelar has been entrusted with the responsibility of the coming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election by the BJP, underscoring the importance of the electoral fight considered the decisive battle for the existence of the Shiv Sena (UBT). Although Andheri MLA Amit Satam was appointed Mumbai BJP chief just a month ago, his predecessor Shelar has been reassigned this assignment given the enormity of the challenge. Of late, Shelar has been mounting one attack after another against Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray and the Congress party, main partners of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The BJP is determined to wrest the BMC’s control from the arch rival Shiv Sena, which is not joined by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray. The two organisations are trying their best to lure the Marathi-speaking population’s vote by constantly harping on the ‘outsider’ tag against several BJP bigwigs, who are from Gujarat or north India. This has put the Congress party in a quandary, given the Bihar assembly election voting, forcing its top leaders to stay away from a joint morcha taken out by the two cousins. By next week, the picture is expected to be clear on this count. Nonetheless, the BJP is going ahead as the main constituent of the Mahayuti under the stewardship of Ashish Shelar, who knows Mumbai like the back of his hand.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut will be out of action for at least two months, he himself has conveyed through a social media post. Raut had been spearheading the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) campaign against the ruling Mahayuti alliance government in Maharashtra ever since it was first formed in 2022. Derided as a Bhonga (loudspeaker) by his political critics, Raut made a daily appearance on TV news channels almost every morning. Counted among close aides of Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray, the ‘Saamana’ executive editor has announced that he will be away from public life for the next two months due to health issues. The announcement has come as a dampener for the Sena and MVA since no immediate replacement is in sight, especially as it comes on the eve of the crucial BMC election, which will determine the future of the Uddhav Sena and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. In his emotional message titled “A humble request to all friends, family and workers,” Raut has urged the Sena supporters to continue their faith in him during this difficult period. “As per medical advice, I have been advised against going out and mingling with crowds. There is no way around it. I am sure I will recover well and come to meet you in the new year. May your love and blessings remain with me,” he has said in his post.
Followers of Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy CM Eknath Shinde have started clashing openly over the proposed seat sharing for the coming local body elections in Thane despite assurances by both leaders that they will fight the polls jointly under the Mahayuti banner. A stronghold of the saffron forces for a long time, Thane has occasionally proved to be the bone of contention between the BJP and the Shiv Sena even when Balasaheb Thackeray and Pramod Mahajan were alive. However, the differences would vanish once a directive was received from above for both camps. That camaraderie has evaporated after the emergence of Shinde as a power centre. The BJP has asked its powerful leader Ganesh Naik to ‘look after’ Thane while Shinde’s Man Friday Naresh Mhaske, Thane MP, is in the vanguard of the Sena (Shinde) campaign. Thane city’s MLA Sanjay Kelkar of the BJP has repeatedly warned the Sena of a serious fallout if his demand for 70 seats in the civic house of over 130 is not honoured. On the other hand, Mhaske is firm on his stand that his party must get at least 80 seats. While Fadnavis has made it clear that winning the election for the Mahayuti is crucial, Shinde is yet to shed his reticence. Surprisingly, the INDIA Bloc is yet to spell out its plans for the third most important municipal corporation in Maharashtra, after Mumbai and Pune.
The absence of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena founder Raj Thackeray at the Dussehra rally organised by Shiv Sena (UBT) has once again created an atmosphere of suspense about two cousins coming together for the coming local body elections in the state. When Uddhav and Raj shared a stage a couple of months ago, those advocating their union were overjoyed, expressing confidence that the duo will sweep the civic election in Mumbai, Thane and in some other important cities. On his part, Uddhav has repeatedly reassured his followers and those wishing the alliance that MNS will stay with his Sena. “We were present on the same dais to tell you that we will be united in the future,” Uddhav said at his rally held at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai. Raj Thackeray’s mansion, Shiv Teerth, is just across the park grounds. Many fervently expected Raj to turn up for the public meeting, which was attended by Sainiks in large numbers despite the slush created by rains. As it became clear that the MNS leaders would not arrive, efforts were made to find solace in Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut’s statement that the other Shiv Teerth, too, should be regarded as ‘ours.’ The Shivaji Park precinct is traditionally described as Shiv Teerth (Pilgrimage to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj). A few years ago, Raj constructed his second abode opposite Shivaji Park grounds, naming it Shiv Teerth. Hence, the word play, which has failed to end the suspense.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena is testing its own concoction, that too, in Dadar, Mumbai where the Shiv Sena was born. The Shiv Sena and its breakaway faction, MNS, have invariably championed the cause of Marathi and Marathi Manoos. It always taunts the BJP on this count. But the wheel has turned a full circle now. The trigger is an eatery, ‘Indori Chaat and Much More’ started by staunch MNS spokesman, Sandeep Deshpande in the heart of Dadar. The chef and the menu are, of course, from Indore. The restaurant attracted attention when two famous food bloggers visited and then praised it. The BJP has seized the opportunity to troll Deshpande. The media, too, has reminded MNS of its original agenda of preserving Marathi, jobs for locals and justice for the sons of soil. A BJP social media activist has taunted Deshpande for an earlier MNS declaration that the next Mumbai mayor will be a Marathi Manoos. “You can’t even find a Marathi chef but boast of installing a Marathi mayor in Mumbai,” says one of the posts. Incidentally, Maharashtra and Indore have a historical connection. The Indore rulers, the Holkar clan, had their origins in Maharashtra. Indore’s most illustrious ruler, Devi Ahilyabai, was born in the state’s Ahmednagar district, which is now renamed as Ahilya Nagar after her. Deshpande’s restaurant has given his detractors a chance to hit back, literally in the belly.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray has planned a ‘Sindoor Raksha Abhiyan’ in Maharashtra on Sunday to protest against the India-Pakistan cricket match to be played that day. Sensing the anger still seething in the public mind against the Pahalgam terror attacks, the Sena has decided to push the Modi government in a tight corner by reviving those dark memories. Uddhav has tempered his appeal by alleging that the match is allowed since Union home minister Amit Shah’s son, Jay Shah is chairman of the International Cricket Council. According to an announcement by Sena MP Sanjay Raut, the party’s women’s wing will stage protests on 14 September throughout the state. A couplet, ‘Mera Sindoor, Mera Desh’ will be chanted on the occasion. Later, Sindoor will be sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from lakhs of homes to remind him about the Pahalgam attack and that India should not play cricket with Pakistan. “Why is the BCCI so excited to play a match against Pakistan?” Aaditya Thackeray has asked. He has recalled how Pakistan decided to boycott the 2025 Men’s Hockey Asia Cup as the tournament was being hosted by India. Why can’t we also boycott? The BJP has changed its ideology…It is very unfortunate that we are playing a match with Pakistan. BCCI is anti-national,” the former minister and Uddhav’s son has quipped. The BJP has hit back by reminding the Sena (UBT) about the visit of Javed Miandad to Matoshri with a couplet of its own, “My Javed, My Biryani.”
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has been given a delicate task for the Vice-President election by being asked to play the ‘Maharashtra Card’ since the NDA’s candidate, CP Radhakrishnan or CPR, will contest as a voter from the state. He became governor of Maharashtra in July 2024 and cast his vote in the subsequent Vidhan Sabha election, hence he has filed his nomination as a voter from the state. This is a fortunate situation for the NDA since the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray has used the Maharashtra card twice in the past, defying the NDA fiat. In 2007, the then unified Sena had supported Congress candidate for President, Pratibha Patil, arguing that she belonged to the state. In 2012, Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray had blessed Congress candidate Pranab Mukherjee, who had visited Matoshri to seek the former’s support. Using the analogy, Fadnavis will appeal to the voters, MPs, to elect ‘the candidate from Maharashtra.’ The Uddhav Sena has 9 Lok Sabha and 2 Rajya Sabha members while the NCP led by Sharad Pawar has 8 LS and 2 RS members. Together, both command 21 votes in the V-P election, which seems to become a keen tussle. Hence, the vote bloc from Maharashtra will prove to be crucial. While Fadnavis has been told by Pawar in no uncertain terms that his party will stand by the INDIA Bloc candidate Sudarshan Reddy, the decision of Uddhav is yet to be announced. This became clear after Fadnavis urged him to back the CRP. Looks like Fadnavis will try to wrest some INDIA Bloc votes by using his political skills.
Those with feeble memories or who do not believe in miracles or a windfall can approach a car driver in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar in Maharashtra. Reportedly, Javed Shaikh, driver of Shiv Sena MP Sandipan Bhumre has become owner of a land parcel whose market valuation is said to be around Rs 2,000 crore. Shaikh is the beneficiary of a ‘gift’ of three acres of land in the city. The donors are the family of the famous Nawab Salar Jung of Hyderabad. But the government valuation is different. When the news hit headlines, the local Economic Offences Wing asked the state revenue department to evaluate the land plot. Even as Shaikh is dealing with a notice issued by the Income-tax department, the revenue authorities have reportedly informed EOW that the value of the land as per government’s calculations is over Rs 241 crore. Had there been a purchase agreement, the state government could have earned around Rs 17 crore by way of stamp duty and registration. However, as the land has been transferred in the name of Shaikh through a legal document called ‘Hibaanama’ (Gift Deed), no payment to the government is involved. Shaikh has asked for more time to appear before I-T authorities, whispers in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar suggest. Meanwhile Bhumre, a staunch follower of deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, has pleaded unawareness about the whole affair.
Politics in Maharashtra, nowadays, is dominated by unexpected happenings. The latest to test this phenomenon is Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray and his spokesman Sanjay Raut. The incident concerned is an INDIA bloc meet in New Delhi on Thursday. Attended by about a hundred top opposition personalities, Uddhav, his son Aaditya and Raut were seen sitting in the last row at the venue, which was Rahul Gandhi’s residence. As soon as the clips of the meet were flashed by TV channels, detractors of Uddhav and his Sena were overjoyed. Seizing the opportunity to throw barbs at the adversary, they demeaned Uddhav for gulping such ‘an insult to Maharashtra’ by agreeing to sit in such an insignificant place. A silent protest was held in Mumbai to ‘apologise’ to Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray in front of his statue for his son’s meek acceptance of this humiliation. Significantly, just a few hours ago, Uddhav had declared in the national capital that no third party would be involved in his Sena’s alliance with cousin Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena for the coming local body elections. Uddhav’s announcement is interpreted as a signal to the Congress party that it should not depend on the Sena (UBT) for the show of strength. Given the way politics in Delhi is played, deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde’s Sena has lost no time in capitalising on the incident. A retaliation by Uddhav is on the cards.
Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena party MLA Sanjay Gaikwad has created another first by challenging his critic and former AIMIM MP Imtiaz Jaleel for an unarmed combat in Mumbai’s Azad Maidan ‘any time, any day.’ After gaining notoriety for slapping a canteen boy in the MLA hostel for serving unsavoury food, Gaikwad has asked Jaleel to face him in the physical bout. This is not just a verbal challenge. Gaikwad has published a draft agreement on a stamp paper, to be signed by both, in case Jaleel accepts the invite. On July 11, Gaikwad had threatened to thrash Jaleel for criticising him over the canteen assault. “I thrashed that canteen worker by just punching him twice. But I will beat Imtiaz Jaleel so badly that he will not be in a position to run,” the legislator said. Jaleel immediately accepted the Sena MLA’s challenge, and asked him to fix the venue and time for the potential confrontation. Unabashed, Jaleel once again (July 22) ridiculed Gaikwad for the assault. Promptly, Gaikwad challenged him to meet in Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, a ‘neutral’ venue, in presence of the police, making it conditional that no one else will be coming between. Coincidentally, Eknath Shinde and another deputy CM Ajit Pawar are finding themselves in hot water for the questionable deeds and statements of a few of their ministers.
With assembly elections early next year in Tamil Nadu, major political parties in the state including the DMK and AIADMK, have begun to enlist the services of consultancy firms to devise political strategies and campaign plans for their leaders. DMK, the ruling party, has roped in the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) and Showtime Consultancy, owned by Robbin Sharma, through its in-house firm, Populus Empowerment Network (PEN), which successfully handled its 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The DMK as a political party has faith in political strategist ever since the I-PAC, then led by ace political strategist Prashant Kishor, was credited with the party’s comeback in 2021. This time round the DMK has roped in Robbin who worked for the TDP and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) in the 2024 Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra respectively. TN is likely to face a four-cornered contest among DMK, AIADMK, TVK, and NTK. AIADMK, the principal opposition party has signed on Sravanth D and Hari H of the Hyderabad-based Pramanya Strategy Consulting. The firm had worked for Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena in the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly elections. Actor-politician Vijay has been working with John Arokiasamy, a political strategist who had previously worked for Congress and PMK, for his Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK). His party colleague, Aadhav Arjuna, also owns a political consultancy firm, Voice of Commons. Current DMK President M K Stalin was the first political leader in TN to hire a political strategist, Sunil Kanugolu, in 2014. Though his strategy failed in the 2016 polls, leading to the AIADMK’s successive government, it succeeded in 2019. It is said both Dravidian parties kept political strategists away when they were led by the charismatic M Karunanidhi (DMK) and J Jayalalithaa (AIADMK), but things changed dramatically after their deaths in 2018 and 2016 respectively.
Mudslinging by politicians at each other sometimes results in baring the naked truth before the public. While it could be deliberate, occasionally it can be inadvertent also. This happened owing to a heated argument in the Maharashtra legislative council. The focus of the attack was none other than the minister of state for home, Yogesh Kadam. The allegation was that a bar at Borivali was run by his family, which is incidentally headed by veteran politician Ramdas Kadam, father of the minister. The charge was levelled by Shiv Sena (UBT) member Anil Parab, who said that it was a dance bar. Clarifying, Ramdas said it was not a dance bar but just a bar and was in the name of Jyoti, his wife and mother of Yogesh. The bar was run by a hotelier called Shetty and only ladies’ service was available there. Ramdas is among the senior members of the original Shiv Sena and was handpicked by Balasaheb Thackeray to contest from Khed in Ratnagiri district. An aggressive leader, Ramdas was made a minister of home in the final days of the first Sena–BJP government, which ruled the state between 1995 and 1999. Ramdas was among the first lot who left Uddhav to join the Eknath Shinde camp, now deputy chief minister of Maharashtra. Ramdas has threatened to initiate legal action against Parab for the perceived defamation. Interestingly, when the Sena long ago was agitating against ‘outsiders,’ Kadam had entrusted his business to a south Indian.
In the atmosphere of levelling unfounded allegations, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut is now tasting his own medicine following a serious charge made against him by a BJP spokesman. Raut is seen time and again, day in and day out, on TV channels, making some claims or allegations. His latest such utterance is about deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde’s unscheduled Delhi visit, incidentally on the Guru Pournima day. Raut said Shinde had gone to the national capital suddenly to touch the feet of his mentor, Union home minister Amit Shah and to seek the chief ministership again, which he had vacated after the Maharashtra assembly election late last year. Owing to persistent reports that Shinde is sore ever since he had to accept the deputy CM post, Raut’s allegation was widely reported. However, BJP spokesman Ram Kulkarni has caught Raut unawares with a counter-charge. Kulkarni said that Raut had called on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi a few days ago to urge him to forestall the handshake of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray. The statement by Kulkarni has the backdrop of the impending civic elections, including in Mumbai, soon after the monsoon. If the Thackeray cousins fight the elections jointly, it could have some impact on the outcome. Raj has maintained silence on the issue but Uddhav has repeatedly emphasized that their alliance is solid. Hence Kulkarni’s charge is seen as an attempt to checkmate Raut at his own game.
Three days after their joint rally at Worli, the Thackeray brothers bounced back on the streets, forcing the BJP and even Eknath Shinde on the backfoot. Their cadres turned up in large numbers to showcase Thackeray’s street strength at Mira Road, on the outskirts of Mumbai, which is emerging as the laboratory for polarisation of identity and communal politics. What Raj Thackeray lacks in political strength of numbers — he has zero legislators or corporators — he made up with his street-smart strategy, as he had vowed at the joint rally. Both Thackeray’s stayed out and kept mum, letting cadres to defy midnight detainment by police, take train to outwit police and successfully put the BJP on the mat on the Marathi issue. Eknath Shinde’s minister Pratap Sarnaik, who tried to participate in the MNS showdown, was booed and forced to retreat within minutes. That chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had to step in, to distance itself from the critical remarks made by BJP Jharkhand MP Nishikant Dube as also to explain lack of police permission to protest, reflected the party’s failure to handle the Marathi language issue. That this street show is just the beginning can be gauged from the fact that Raj Thackeray has restrained his leaders from commenting on alliance issues. Interestingly, Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, known to enjoy close equations with Raj, too has restrained his people from criticising Raj Thackeray or his party. Shinde has been very selective in reserving his criticism only for Uddhav Thackeray and showering praise on Raj, post the Thackeray’s joint rally.
Despite much excitement and buoyancy among the cadres and the average Marathi manoos about the reunion of the Thackeray brothers — Raj and Uddhav — after two decades, the road ahead seems far from smooth. Though the Thackeray brothers are yet to announce anything concrete, talking more in cryptic clues and hints, how they manage their seats adjustments will determine the future of the political breakthrough. Even if a political reunion does get announced, as is expected at their joint victory rally on July 5, ironing out the creases may not be a smooth affair. For starters, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) could be uncomfortable with the entry of Raj Thackeray. While the Congress may have warmed up and collaborated with the sober Uddhav Thackeray wing of the Shiv Sena, joining hands with the strident Raj Thackeray of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena could prove a difficult pill to swallow for them. Particularly with Bihar elections on the anvil, enlisting Raj in the opposition coalition MVA could prove difficult. Prithviraj Chavan, the party’s senior leader has already stated that they would deal only with Uddhav vis-a-vis their alliance. Be it about his anti-migrants stance or about loudspeakers in mosques, Raj Thackeray has refused to break bread or make conciliatory notes towards North Indians or the Muslim community. Uddhav’s Sena, on the other hand, has successfully earned sizable political dividends in the last 2024 assembly elections thanks to his outreach towards the Muslim community. Of the 20 seats won by Uddhav, 10 of them were from Mumbai, particularly its Muslim dominated constituencies like Jogeshwari (E), Bandra (E), Versova and Mahim. While visuals of their cadres from Sena and MNS dining together may make for great photo op, the actual give and take of seats particularly in the Marathi-dominated belt, will determine how this plays out on the ground.
Marathi celebrities and film stars find themselves getting called out for their silence on the Marathi issue. The issue of the imposition of Hindi language for primary students has raised hackles in Maharashtra since it is being perceived as an anti-Marathi decision. While a strong groundswell of protest has got both the estranged Thackeray cousins to rally together on this issue, Raj Thackeray is particularly upset that the average Marathi celebrity, particularly those from the Marathi film fraternity, have failed to stand up and speak about the issue. The fact that the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti government is pushing the initiative, makes it doubly difficult for many to voice their support. Asha Bhosale not just refused to take a stand but also publicly feigned knowing the Thackerays. Raj Thackeray, a known art aficionado, is known to patronise artists, academics and even film stars in a big way. Through his party — MNS film wing — he is known to fight for more theatre screens for Marathi films. He threatened to watch out for those who failed to support the issue. The Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut specifically called out Nana Patekar, Madhuri Dixit and even Prashant Damle for their silence on this issue. Patekar is known to be a vocal voice on political issues and also known for his proximity with many political leaders.. Even the demigod of cricket Sachin Tendulkar was not spared for his silence. But, fortunately for him, the ex-ICC president chief Sharad Pawar rushed to defend him. Pawar stated that he should be allowed only to hold forth on subjects of his expertise. Now with both the Thackeray’s together, it remains to be seen how many celebrities from the Marathi film industry turn up on the streets for the Marathi language issue.
Finally, the die is cast. Uddhav and Raj Thackeray have reportedly agreed to take out a joint morcha on 5 July in Mumbai against any imposition of Hindi for the students from the first to the fourth standards. Though the Maharashtra government has already announced that a decision in this regard will be taken after consulting all the stakeholders, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have decided to march hand in hand to express people’s opposition to the proposal. Earlier, the two leaders had announced two different dates for their respective protests. Now, several bodies and opinion makers have supported the proposed morcha, which has injected a new life in the paralysed opposition. Especially, the decision of Thackeray cousins has enthused workers of both the militant organisations which are in the process of pairing for the coming local body elections. As the future of both depends heavily on BMC election, their joint fight can pose a formidable challenge for the ruling Mahayuti alliance. The proposal to make Hindi compulsory is facing increasing resistance. Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, too, has opined that Hindi should be taught from the fifth standard. His uncle Sharad Pawar, as is customary, has changed his earlier stance about the advisability of learning Hindi. Sensing the public mood, now he says that the position taken by the two Thackerays is right. In view of the sensitivity of the matter, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is weighing the pros and cons before he makes any announcement.
The Bharatiya Janata Party in Maharashtra is facing some sticky moments over the entry of two controversial politicians, both belonging to the Shiv Sena (UBT). BJP sympathisers and supporters are perturbed over the welcome accorded to Sudhakar Badgujar and Baban Gholap, both from Nashik in north Maharashtra. Badgujar was till a fortnight ago a close associate of Sena MP Sanjay Raut. He was expelled from that party since he presented a memorandum listing civic demands to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis who was visiting Nashik. Badgujar was in the news for the past year after his pictures dancing with Salim Kutta, an alleged operator of Dawood Ibrahim, went viral on social media. Several BJP members had castigated the Sena though he had remained untouched. Even after he joined the BJP, Raut was cautious to react. Normally in the habit of launching a tirade against Sena opponents, Raut merely said about Badgujar that he would not comment on those who were not in his party. Gholap, a former minister in the first Sena-BJP alliance regime, was imprisoned for fraud and was rather inactive politically for a long time. His BJP entry was somewhat surprising for many. The BJP is facing heat for admitting the duo. Fadnavis has said that none should be held guilty unless convicted by the court. All said and done, Badgujar’s entry into the BJP has weakened the Sena (UBT) which is already facing a deluge.
Various political parties in Maharashtra are unanimous in opposing the imposition of Hindi in primary schools. The issue of teaching Hindi has provided cannon fodder to the various political outfits, which have started flexing their muscles in view of the coming local body elections. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has repeatedly clarified that the opposition to Hindi teaching is misplaced but this has had no effect for those who have taken up cudgels against Hindi’s teaching. For the first time in many years, the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena led by his cousin Raj Thackeray have expressed similar sentiments on the touchy situation. Those leaders and insignificant political parties, which had been in hibernation after the Lok Sabha election, have suddenly reactivated themselves. In this atmosphere, senior leader Sharad Pawar has once again taken an ambivalent position. Pawar has indirectly supported the teaching of Hindi. In a chat with the media, while saying that Hindi should not be imposed, he has observed that hating Hindi will not be in the interest of the students. Pawar also pointed out that nearly 60% of India’s population conversed in Hindi. Pawar’s position is considered reasonable though with a rider, as usual. Other partners of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi are nixed since they can neither support him nor speak against him. The issue, however, has potential to impact the local body elections.
The meeting of Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis with Raj Thackeray was a clear indicator that the Thackeray brothers are not fighting the local body elections together. It practically nipped in the bud all speculations of the reunion of Thackeray brothers that would have led to the consolidation of the Marathi vote bank particularly in the urban belts of Maharashtra like Mumbai, Thane and Nashik where Raj Thackeray’s party holds some influence. Currently, the loyalties of the traditional Marathi vote bank are split into three between the Thackerays and Eknath Shinde, who has thrown in his weight behind the BJP. Shinde’s key aides like Uday Samant have played a crucial role in getting Raj Thackeray to go with the ruling Mahayuti alliance. While the speculation of the reunion of the Thackeray brothers was received with much warmth and support from the cadres on either side, clearly the consolidation of the Marathi vote bank would not have suited all parties. Definitely not the BJP which is looking to decimate the Shiv Sena particularly the Uddhav Thackeray wing in Mumbai and would not have wanted him strengthened. The Raj-Fadnavis meeting, coming as it did in the wake of heavy speculation and lobbying from Shiv Sena’s vocal spokesperson Sanjay Raut left no doubt about Fadnavis emerging as the boss in Maharashtra politics. The entry of Raj Thackeray in the BJP-alliance could also prove to be a counterweight against Shinde, whom the BJP is not keen to let him grow stronger in Mumbai post the BMC polls.
Rain or shine, criticism of the government by certain Opposition leaders does not cease. The tragic air crash in Ahmedabad is no exception. This trait was seen after the suburban train accident in Mumbra (outskirts of Mumbai) a few days ago. Although it is known that aviation is a complex subject, these leaders do not hold back. They don’t stop even when it is the question of India’s defence, not caring that the military should be kept away from such wrangling. For instance, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has given sage advice that no politics should be made of the air tragedy. In the same breath, he has criticised the government by raising some questions. If this government can’t avert an air crash, train accidents or attacks like at Pahalgam, what can it prevent, he asked? In this connection, he has attacked Union home minister Amit Shah. NCP(SP) leader Jayant Patil, too, has made some comments. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray has posed several queries. Frankly admitting that he does not possess any technical knowledge, he has pointed out that many leading newspapers around the world have asked pointed questions. He has also expressed apprehensions about the continuous use of the Dreamliner Boeing aircraft. Shiv Sena (Shinde) MLA Dilip Lande has warned the government that countless lives can be lost if such a mishap takes place in Mumbai since the international airport is surrounded by slums on all sides.
Brand “Thackeray”, currently flavours Maharashtra politics over possible rapprochement between cousins Uddhav and Raj appears headed nowhere even as internal party conflicts within BJP leaders on the wrong side of CM Devendra Fadnavis use pretext to settle scores with him. UBT Chief Uddhav Thackeray will announce what Maharashtra wants to hear (UBT Sena and MNS coming together or not) though no formal proposal has emanated thus far, apart from MP Sanjay Raut’s daily proclamations. Factions within BJP inimical to Fadnavis, termed as the ‘Raj Thackeray fan club’ by BJP insiders who insist MNS chief’s political flip-flops render the “Thackerays” coming together talks a non-starter. National BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde, former MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar, Ashish Shelar blame Fadnavis for their respective political downfalls in Maharashtra, are ratcheting up political foreplay to settle scores with Fadnavis as the climax. Tawde eschewed his Borivali MLA constituency to Sunil Mane (2019) who followed suit in favour of Upadhyay (2024) considered to be Tawde’s man. Tawde idolises Raj Thackeray, took MNS Chief to meet Home Minister Amit Shah a few months ago, even hosted Thackeray scion in Delhi hotel. Fadnavis backers in turn include Shiv Sena chief/DCM Eknath Shinde, his top lieutenant/industries minister Uday Samant who also held political parleys with Raj. BJP itself currently weighs options to appoint Mumbai Pradesh President as contenders in fray include MLAs Sanjay Upadhyay, Yogesh Sagar, Sunil Mane. Mane is frontrunner, sacrificed MLA constituency to favour Upadhyay, particularly, since he is the ‘Marathi Manoos’ imminently set to become Vice Chancellor of Atharva (deemed) University that he administers as an educationist whose institute of learning is renowned for having its own robot to boot.
The confusing signals coming constantly from leaders of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) over the merger of both organisations has stirred the state’s political scene once again, raising some serious questions too. The likely hand shake between Uddhav and Raj Thackeray has been a subject of speculation for a long time. After both suffered badly in the assembly election last year, several local-level leaders from both sides had started exerting pressure on their leaders to team up. The priority was the survival against the BJP onslaught, they had conveyed. As a result, feelers began tossing back and forth. Both sides ensured that they became public knowledge by leaking the contents to the media. The main obstacle in the merger is the leadership issue. Will Raj agree to work under Uddhav and vice versa? While Uddhav is more outgoing, Raj’s followers have demanded that the initiative must come from Matoshri. If and when the alloy happens, what will happen to the so-called INDIA bloc in the state? Uddhav is the leading figure of this formation while Raj has been critical and has intermittently supported the BJP and PM Narendra Modi at critical junctures. Will INDIA bloc leaders accommodate him? None has the clear idea how and when the next turns and twists in Maharashtra politics occur. Nonetheless, the suspense is deepening about the future of certain leaders, too.
Legendary freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar is back in focus since mixed responses are surfacing in relation to his historic contribution to the freedom struggle. The Congress party and its leader Rahul Gandhi had been the most vocal critics of Savarkar and his ardent Hindutva philosophy. Of late, there is silence on this front though stray adverse comments are heard. In a bid to rekindle its earlier policy, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has started singing the Hindutva tune. To pay homage to Savarkar, the Maharashtra government has decided to make efforts to restore his legal degree, Barrister, which the British had withdrawn after his arrest and conviction in 1910. The then Bombay University had withdrawn Savarkar’s graduation degree but it has now been restored. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced that a study and research centre in the name of Savarkar will be opened in Mumbai University’s Kalina campus. He said a provision of Rs 100 crore will be made for the purpose. Moreover, a statue of Savarkar will be erected in the premises as well. These decisions have been announced in the wake of the visit of Union home minister Amit Shah a couple of days ago. Owing to the BJP’s initiative, the other parties are compelled to fall in line. The Hindutva agenda had benefited the BJP-led Mahayuti in the assembly election held late last year by giving it an unprecedented mandate. The same formula is being used with Savarkar in focus.
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has started following in the footsteps of veteran leader Sharad Pawar, it seems, since it is becoming difficult to predict his next steps. His many statements are such that they can be interpreted in different ways. The latest instance is the fulsome praise he has heaped on Pawar while at the same time indirectly taunting his both deputies, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. In a media interaction, Fadnavis said that Pawar keeps on working even at this age, never bothering about victory or defeat. There won’t be any match to him, the CM said. Replying to a question about his both deputies, Fadnavis remarked that neither was good in communication. But he hurriedly said he was speaking in the lighter vein. The CM’s observation assumes significance against the backdrop of the all-out support of the Modi government by Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule, who is heading an all-party MP delegation abroad to propagate India’s stand on Operation Sindoor. At the same time, the more frequent dialogue between Ajit Pawar and his uncle is also sending another set of signals. To top it all, BJP leaders have been declaring at every opportunity that their party will fight the coming local body elections in tandem with Ajit’s NCP and Shinde’s Shiv Sena. One definite angle that is emerging is that the Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray is most uncomfortable. It has blamed Fadnavis for this situation.
Alliance partners Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena (SS) and the BJP seem to be flexing over seats in the run-up to the prestigious Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections in four months. The BMC is a high-stake election for both — while the BJP’s never had its own mayor thus far in Mumbai, for Shinde it’s a chance to chart out his own space. The BJP is aiming for 150 seats with Mission 150 proclaimed as its mission statement, Shinde is targeting 100 seats in the 227-strength of the BMC where 114 seats are needed to reach a majority. Shinde publicly claims the support of 65 corporators and is actively wooing ex-corporators beyond Uddhav Thackeray’s Sena. Shinde’s Sena has already started holding meetings with current and ex-corporators wooing them with promises of funds for works from his urban development and housing ministry and even from the District Planning and Development Committee (DPDC), where being guardian minister of Mumbai City he is its chairman. Beyond the trappings of power, Shinde also holds the advantage of being an accessible leader unlike Uddhav Thackeray, a fact which he keeps harping on. Uddhav, who held the highest tally of 84 corporators that later extended to 90, had the BJP closely following him with 82 corporators, is now fighting them back with conciliatory notes to his cousin Raj Thackeray, who had seven corporators.
Worried by the absence of any firm signal from other INDIA front constituents, the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray has decided to once again try the Marathi Card for the coming local body elections, due later this year in Maharashtra. The Congress and the NCP led by Sharad Pawar have time and again expressed dissent with Sena’s outbursts against the so-called ‘outsiders’ and not responded to its call for contesting the elections as a team. Sena MP Sanjay Raut has appealed to the followers to consider the consequences if his party loses the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other local body elections. Raut’s impassioned appeal has the backdrop of various recent developments within his organization and the confusing response by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray to the feelers sent by Uddhav Sena about coming together. The next course of Maharashtra politics will largely depend upon the outcome of the local elections since the clout of various top leaders will be tested through this mandate. The NDA led by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced that these elections will be faced by the BJP, the Sena led by Eknath Shinde and the NCP led by Ajit Pawar as a team. The inclusion of powerful OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal has added to the vigour of the NDA while the Sena (UBT) is plagued by frequent desertions by some of its ardent workers to the faction led by Shinde. Alarmed by such factors, the Sena (UBT) has decided to reignite the Marathi Card campaign.
A fresh political controversy has erupted in Maharashtra after around Rs 1.80 crore was seized by the police from a government guest house in Dhule. The stash is alleged to be linked to Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) MLA Arjun Khotkar, who has denied any connection with the cash. The seizure took place after former MLA and Sena (UBT) leader Anil Gote staged a sit-in protest outside the room in which the money was kept. Gote has said that the funds were collected from contractors to be passed on to members of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly’s Estimates Committee during its visit to Dhule-Nandurbar districts. The money was kept in a room booked in the name of Kishor Patil, personal assistant of Committee chairman, Arjun Khotkar, who was a minister during the first stint of Devendra Fadnavis as chief minister. While Fadanvis has announced the setting up of a special team to investigate the matter, Patil has been suspended from the legislature’s service. Gote has remained a controversial figure in north Maharashtra politics. Initially a dashing journalist, he later started working under farmers’ leader Sharad Joshi but parted ways after some time. Gote was close to then BJP boss Gopinath Munde and was elected to the assembly once as a candidate of that party from Dhule. However, the relationship was short-lived. The Estimates Committee visits various on-going government projects and formulates a report based on its observations. The report is vital for the contractors executing the projects since the disbursements towards the work done by them depends upon the Committee’s remarks. Thus, hundreds of crore rupees are involved in the entire chain.
Noted writer Javed Akhtar has invited sharp comments from both extremes due to his statement that If he had to choose between hell and Pakistan, “I will prefer to go to hell.” Similarly, his oblique praise of Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has evoked different reactions. Akhtar’s frank speech at the launch of Raut’s book “Hell in Heaven” in Mumbai on May 17 became a highlight. Always a target following his speeches, Akhtar said, “Both sides abuse me. But there are also many people who treat me kindly.” Akhtar observed in the speech that many memorable literary works had been written in prison. His reference was to Raut’s jail custody for a hundred days in connection with a controversial land deal in Mumbai. The book written by Raut describes his experience in that detention. The book is in focus owing to the various claims made by Raut regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray. But Akhtar’s finding some similarity between Raut and many giants who went to prison for ideological reasons has angered leaders like Neelam Gorhe, deputy chairperson of the Maharashtra legislative council. She said, “Those leaders were in prison for fighting for the nation’s freedom or such noble causes, not for economic offences.” Akhtar’s remarks have generated ripples across social media and political circles. Expectedly, while some have praised Akhtar for his fearless stand against hate speeches, his critics feel that he is needlessly stoking a controversy.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has lamented that although then Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray and veteran leader Sharad Pawar were instrumental in saving the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi from serious consequences, Modi paid back by splitting the Sena. He has warned that he possesses much more explosive information which will create havoc if disclosed. “But being a believer in Maryada Purushottam Bhagwan Ram, I will not divulge it,” Raut says in connection with the release of his latest book in Marathi Narkatla Swarg means Heaven in Hell. The autobiographical account deals with the one hundred days Raut spent in jail custody after the Enforcement Directorate arrested him, alleging that he was involved in some suspect redevelopment projects in Mumbai. Raut was later released on bail by court, rejecting ED’s demand to extend the detention. Raut has also said that the two leaders helped Modi’s deputy, Amit Shah as well. “When the entire nation was against Modi, it was Balasaheb, the Shiv Sena and its daily Saamana (of which Raut has been editor for almost 30 years) which stood by Modi firmly,” Raut has reminded the BJP. Raut has written extensively about the land deal for which he was arrested. He has mentioned the names of certain power brokers and challenged the government to initiate action against them. The book has many more sensational disclosures.
Rain or shine, the media in Maharashtra does not tire of reporting about the possible ‘reunion’ of the two powerful families – Pawar and Thackeray. Though there is a surcharged atmosphere across the country from the moment Operation Sindoor has been launched, the pen pushers in the state continue to indulge in speculation, partly fuelled by faceless sources in both factions of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray. Similarly, ever since deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar walked out of the Nationalist Congress party (NCP) set up by his uncle Sharad Pawar, there is no dearth of the news stories, predicting either their distancing or coming closer. Even the most frivolous clue like “Pawar looked at his nephew and smiled” generates a plethora of ‘exclusive’ reports, patting the channels or newspapers on the back, each claiming to be the first with the story. Thus, breaking news is becoming a matter of ridicule since stories like ‘Fadnavis reaches Mantralaya’ also come under this category. The latest revival of such stories has happened since Uddhav has returned from his vacation in Europe while Raj came back to Mumbai just a few days ago. On the other hand, elder Pawar has said that any decision regarding coming together will be taken by Ajit and daughter Supriya Sule, MP. This is a plain truth but touted as a major political revelation. Leaders like Prakash Ambedkar and Sanjay Raut are readily available day in and day out to add to the grist.
While the nation is just recovering from the shock following the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has launched a campaign by criticising the BJP government at the Centre day in and day out. It has gone to the extent of demanding Union home minister Amit Shah’s resignation, holding him responsible for the security lapse. Upon this, Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray has been taunted by former Union minister Milind Deora, who is now with the Sena led by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. Responding to the repeated criticism of the BJP government in the state and the Centre by Sena MP Sanjay Raut about the delay in teaching Pakistan a lesson, Deora has reminded Raut that his leader was in Europe or wherever enjoying a holiday when Shinde had rushed to Kashmir to reassure the tourists from Maharashtra. Shinde had organised their return journey and extended monetary help where it was required urgently. Deora has pointed out that Uddhav kept on posting X messages but did not send any representative for the all party meeting after the attack. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short his visit abroad and returned to India, Uddhav continued with the vacation, Deora has told the Sena. Incidentally, it has been routine for Uddhav and his family to travel to the cool environs of Europe every summer. So far, there is no response from the Sena (UBT) to Deora’s barb.
TRENDS & VIEWS
Editor’s Note: Short Post Is Here To Stay…
Time, they say, flies—and how true that is. Here we are celebrating our 5th Anniversary. Five years ago, when Covid-19 was wreaking havoc across the globe, I took a leap of faith and launched Short Post, India’s first website for Authentic Gossip. That was on January 31, 2021. I was convinced there was a clear gap in the market for gossip that was credible, sharp, and impactful—especially if told in just 250 words.
In this, I was fortunate. Scores of senior editors across diverse verticals bought into the idea and, in the process, gave wings to my dream. Quite honestly, Short Post could not have crossed these milestones without the unflinching support of its contributing editors. Like all start-ups, we have seen our share of ups and downs, but these editors have stood by us like a rock. I take this opportunity to doff my hat to them.
Thanks to their commitment, we have published close to 5,000 stories spanning politics, business, entertainment, and sports. I say this with pride: we made our mark as people who matter read us. “Small packs, big impact” truly captures the essence of Short Post.
We all know that Covid-19 has reset businesses worldwide, and the media sector is no exception. In the post-Covid era, investors have become more cautious and selective—and advertisers too. To compound matters, the entry of AI has disrupted the media landscape in equal measure. So far, we have managed to hold our ground, hopeful that some angel investors will take a shine to us.
What gives me confidence is this: AI cannot smell news—especially the gossipy kind. In other words, AI cannot churn out Short Post-type stories, no matter the prompt. That puts us in a safe zone. As someone rightly said, “AI is a co-pilot, not a pilot.”