Tridib Raman
America’s powerful presidents have long held a deep faith in Indian astrology. It is said that during Ronald Reagan’s presidency, he kept an Indian astrologer at the White House and relied on his advice for critical decisions. Barack Obama, too, was believed to be a devotee of Lord Hanuman, carrying a small statuette gifted by his father. This time, when Donald Trump was campaigning against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, suspense over his victory persisted until the very end. However, Acharya Salil, a renowned Indian astrologer associated with Trump’s campaign, consistently assured him, “The competition is tough, but ultimately, victory will be yours.” Sources reveal that Trump trusted this Indian astrologer so deeply that he even scheduled his election rallies based on Acharya’s advice. When Trump’s government was formed this time in the United States, attention turned to his astrologer, and people began exploring his background. It was discovered that Acharya Salil has been practicing Vedic astrology and Kriya Yoga for the past 35 years. He completed his B.Tech and M.Tech from IIT Kanpur, and his Kriya Yoga meditation has been acknowledged by institutions like ISRO and NASA. In 2012, he predicted that “Narendra Modi will become the Prime Minister of India.” Regarding the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, his prediction was that the BJP would secure a total of 240 seats. Now, he claims that since Saturn entered Pisces this April, significant changes in PM Modi’s politics are anticipated. Despite the tensions and tariff issues between India and the USA, Acharya Salil asserts that “In the coming days, India’s relations with America will improve, and trade between the two will also increase.”
How Jayant Chaudhary is Shaking Up BJP’s Plans for UP
Tridib Raman
When it comes to seizing unique opportunities from the shifting tides of politics, one could learn from Jayant Chaudhary. At a time when both Jats and farmers were up in arms against the BJP, Jayant Chaudhary made a bold decision to abandon Akhilesh Yadav and side with the BJP to “bloom the lotus” in western Uttar Pradesh. Today, he is a minister with independent charge in the Modi government. Yet, he has not hesitated to voice dissent against BJP on many issues including the Waqf bill. In recent days, he has posted at least three messages on his ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) handle that hint at his rebellious stance. Despite this, he continues to hold one-on-one meetings with RSS and BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh. He has even sought time to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah, though he hasn’t secured an appointment yet. When Jayant was allied with Akhilesh Yadav, his every demand was served on a silver platter. The situation here is slightly different. Even though Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are two years away, Jayant is already demanding 33 seats from the BJP for his party. The BJP, however, estimates his worth at just 10 seats. BJP strategists worry: “They lack eligible candidates, so why concede more seats?” The BJP has already allocated Jayant’s party two Lok Sabha seats and one Rajya Sabha seat. According to sources, a senior BJP leader recently told Jayant, “We set aside 15-16 seats for Anupriya Patel; we can offer you 12-13”. But this argument isn’t sitting well with Jayant, as his recent ‘X’ posts subtly mock such reasoning.
Bihar and Rahul
Tridib Raman
Rahul Gandhi is showing great seriousness regarding the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. Last week, Rahul convened a meeting of Bihar party leaders in Delhi and suggested, “Congress should organize programmes across Bihar on the death anniversary of the late Sharad Yadav.” Some Bihari leaders opposed this, stating, “Sharad Yadav was neither from Bihar nor did he have any significant public support in the state. Even when he formed his own party, he couldn’t win a single MLA seat.” Rahul, upset by this, changed the topic and said, “You all come up with a new idea.” One leader suggested, “We should focus on Brahmins; they are Congress’s old voters.” Rahul responded, “The upper-caste voters in Bihar constitute only 16-17%. We need to become a party for the backward classes and Dalits.” Meanwhile, the two-day 86th Congress General Assembly session is set to begin in Ahmedabad on April 8-9. Rahul is heading to Patna on April 7. This has forced all senior Bihar Congress leaders to stay in Patna that day. Those who can catch a flight to Ahmedabad for the session are fine, but what about those who were planning to travel by train? How will they reach Ahmedabad by the 8th? For this, Congress members are venting their frustration at their new president, Rajesh Ram, who is said to be a strong supporter of an alliance with Lalu’s party. It is also believed that Tejashwi Yadav will convince Congress to settle for 40-50 seats. Rahul’s visit to Patna might also clear the uncertainty surrounding the RJD-Congress alliance.
Rawat Turns Against His Own Government
Tridib Raman
BJP MP from Haridwar and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has launched such fierce attacks against his own party’s state government that even the BJP’s central leadership is puzzled by his shifting stance. Recently, Rawat raised the issue of illegal mining in Uttarakhand in Parliament, handing the Congress a new weapon to target the BJP. By persistently highlighting corruption and illegal mining, Rawat has created fresh headaches for the Dhami-led BJP government. Earlier, Rawat invited all Uttarakhand MLAs and select journalists to a dinner at his residence. His aides hoped 20-22 BJP MLAs would attend, but only 3-4 showed up. The BJP high command took note of this misstep. Party General Secretary (Organization) BL Santhosh reportedly summoned and reprimanded him. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand’s Mining Secretary dismissed allegations of illegal mining as “baseless.” When some tried to draw Rawat’s attention to this statement, he angrily retorted, “A lion doesn’t respond to barking dogs.” The IAS Association has now joined the fray, condemning Rawat’s remarks and opening a front against the ex-CM. Sources claim Rawat feels betrayed since being removed as CM. The BJP top brass had assured him, “We’ll take care of you,” but no such gesture followed, fueling his resentment.
RSS’s Advice to BJP
Tridib Raman
Recently, a senior BJP leader held a lengthy meeting with a prominent RSS figure. The BJP leader complained, “Why don’t you counsel Yogi Adityanath? Why is he given such free rein?” The RSS leader quipped, “You’re repeating the mistake made with Devendra Fadnavis. By pitting weak leaders against him, you only magnify Yogi’s stature—just like with Fadnavis. Now, you’re positioning BL Verma, Harish Dwivedi, or Keshav Prasad Maurya against Yogi. Do any of them have half his charisma? First, ask yourselves: “If not Yogi, then who?” The BJP leader had no rebuttal.
Delhi BJP’s Red-Carpet Welcome for Media After Kejriwal’s Ban
Since the BJP came to power in Delhi, journalists have entered a golden era. When AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal was Chief Minister, he barred journalists from entering the Assembly. Now, under the BJP-led government of Rekha Gupta, journalists are being lavished with attention. Entry to the Assembly has been opened for non-PIB-accredited journalists, and a dedicated vegetarian buffet has been arranged for them in the canteen—all meals free of charge. Additionally, all Delhi government ministers have hired personal photographers, while Kejriwal’s team continues to rely on the Punjab government to cover the costs for their photographers.
