Tridib Raman
Could the country be getting a new Foreign Minister in the form of Dr. Harsh Vardhan Shringla? Recently, former Foreign Secretary Dr. Shringla was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President Droupadi Murmu. Dr. Shringla is counted among PM Modi’s most trusted aides for several reasons. One possible reason is his “Gujarat connection,” as his wife is Gujarati. He is also believed to have strong personal ties in the U.S. During his tenure as India’s ambassador to the U.S., then-President Donald Trump hosted a farewell party for him at the White House. It is said that during his time in the U.S., Shringla was instrumental in conceptualizing and executing the 2019 “Howdy Modi” event—a period when Modi and Trump shared a close rapport. Even post-retirement, Shringla has been periodically briefing Modi on foreign policy matters. Modi even appointed him as the Chief Coordinator for India’s G-20 summit. Recently, Shringla was part of the delegation that advocated for “Operation Sindoor” abroad. Given the global decline in India’s foreign policy visibility post-Operation Sindoor, Modi is reportedly keen to place Shringla in Dr. S. Jaishankar’s position. As for Jaishankar, sources suggest he may be elevated to the role of National Security Advisor (NSA), as current NSA Ajit Doval has expressed his desire to retire in a recent meeting with the Prime Minister.
Opposition’s Aggressive Stance for Monsoon Session
The monsoon session of Parliament is scheduled to be held from July 21 to August 21. Indications have already begun to emerge that the opposition will adopt an aggressive stance toward the ruling party during this session. On one hand, the united opposition is making elaborate preparations to corner the government. On the other hand, the ruling party, led by Prime Minister Modi, seemingly unconcerned about these developments, is planning to introduce a flurry of bills during the session. Sources reveal that the ruling party intends to bring at least eight bills to the House starting Monday. These include the Manipur GST (Amendment) Bill 2025, the National Sports Administration Bill, and potentially the new Income Tax Bill as well. The report of the Lok Sabha Select Committee, chaired by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, on the Income Tax Bill issue may be presented as soon as the session begins. Meanwhile, the opposition is preparing to raise several contentious issues in the House, including the Pahalgam terrorist attack, Operation Sindoor, and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list being conducted by the Election Commission ahead of the Bihar elections.
The government may also be cornered over the claim made by former US President Donald Trump regarding Operation Sindoor, in which he asserted that he was the one who brought about a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. In addition, the opposition is expected to question the government over the Ahmedabad plane crash. Justice Yashwant Verma may once again appeal to the Supreme Court for justice in his own case, but it is believed that the House may recommend the formation of a committee to investigate the allegations against him. The committee will be required to submit its report within a stipulated period of three months.
The opposition is also preparing to initiate impeachment proceedings against Justice Shekhar Yadav, although the matter currently rests with Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who is unlikely to give much consideration to the opposition’s demands. There are also plans to extend President’s Rule in Manipur, a move likely to trigger considerable uproar from the opposition. Due to repeated pressure from the RSS, Prime Minister Modi may soon agree to undertake a visit to Manipur. The opposition had earlier written a letter to the Prime Minister demanding a special session of Parliament on the Pahalgam attack. However, ignoring this request, the government announced the regular monsoon session instead. The opposition is holding a series of strategy meetings to coordinate its efforts to corner the government. The first of these was held at Sonia Gandhi’s residence, followed by a string of online meetings involving various opposition parties and the Congress. Notably, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction also participated in one such meeting, defying earlier speculation that it had secretly aligned with the BJP.
Is a BJP Chief Minister About to Fall?
Not long ago, this relatively unknown saffron face rose to power amid much fanfare, toppling several heavyweight leaders along the way. But now, small mistakes are proving costly. First came the hushed whispers about a CD involving a female TV reporter. Then, some female legislators from the party raised concerns about his inappropriate behaviour. Sources within the BJP and RSS claim that a female BJP legislator from a prominent political family felt the CM behaved inappropriately. When she met him for official work, the CM reportedly joked: “You don’t come around these days.” To which she replied, “What do you mean? I’ve met you four times recently.” He then said, “But it’s always work-related. Come without work sometime.” The legislator found the remark offensive and reported it to a senior BJP leader in Delhi. Soon after, the CM was summoned to Delhi, scolded, and warned to be prepared for an exit due to his declining performance and popularity. However, overcoming the status quo mindset within the saffron establishment continues to be a major hurdle.
Sanjay Joshi’s Sweets and Rajnath’s Silence
Something is brewing behind the scenes. Former BJP General Secretary Sanjay Joshi’s residence on Bengali Road in Delhi has become lively again. Guests with garlands and sweets are pouring in, and Joshi is warmly accepting congratulations. The Sanjay Joshi Friends Club is back in action, and even RSS leaders have begun visiting him. Despite years in political exile, Joshi is offering tea to all, with his signature hospitality intact. Is Joshi’s 18-year-long exile coming to an end? Has Nagpur (a metonym for the RSS headquarters) decided to defy the BJP’s top brass this time? While it’s unclear whether he will be made BJP President, RSS sources confirm Joshi’s return is certain. He might become party president, take over the HRD Ministry from Dharmendra Pradhan, or be adjusted elsewhere within the party structure. Meanwhile, the top contender for BJP President, Rajnath Singh, has mysteriously withdrawn from public engagements. He’s even stopped attending most events—perhaps he’s silently charting his next political move.
Sita in the Race for Ramrajya
As the announcement of the new BJP president draws near, several new contenders are beginning to emerge in the field. Just a few days ago, BJP President J.P. Nadda made an unexpected visit to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s residence in New Delhi. Sources suggest that the two leaders engaged in a serious discussion for nearly an hour and a half before Nadda quietly departed. Interestingly, a major television news agency — known for its pro-government stance — briefly aired the story, only to take it down within a minute and a half. Now, speculation is rife that the BJP may consider appointing Nirmala Sitharaman as the next party president — a move that could serve multiple strategic purposes. For one, Prime Minister Modi could claim the credit for appointing the first woman president of the BJP. Nirmala, originally from Tamil Nadu, also has ties to Andhra Pradesh through her husband. This combination could help the party fortify its presence in southern India — a region where the BJP has long sought deeper inroads. However, in the new saffron order, “what happens is what Modi wants.”
From PK to Pandey Ji
In Bihar, Prashant Kishor, belonging to the Bhumihar caste, is rapidly emerging as a prominent leader among the forward castes. It is reported that PK recently conducted a statewide public opinion survey to gauge the prospects of his newly formed Jan Suraj Party—and the results appear to have given him a fresh political lifeline. According to the survey, the party’s current vote share has climbed to approximately 6%, a notable jump from the earlier estimate of 2%. PK understands the deeper significance of this figure: he is beginning to pose a serious challenge not only to the Lalu-Congress alliance but also to the BJP-JDU combine. Amid shifting political winds in the state, Nitish Kumar has taken a strong position vis-à-vis the BJP. He is demanding to be declared the Chief Ministerial candidate before any seat-sharing discussions commence. Nitish has rejected the traditional “sitting-getting” formula, which typically gives preference to incumbent legislators. Interestingly, PK had previously predicted that Nitish Kumar would be restricted to just 25 seats in the upcoming election—a forecast that is now being viewed with growing curiosity. Prashant is also reportedly pleased that people in Bihar have started addressing him as ‘Pandey Ji’ instead of the usual ‘PK’, a shift that reflects the increasing social recognition and acceptance of his caste identity.
