Tridib Raman
“You cause the pain, and you also provide the cure.”
Who else but Gautam Adani could be that seasoned doctor who understands the political pulse of the country better than anyone? He gets every major task of the BJP-led central government done as if with a snap of his fingers. People have not forgotten how, just this Sunday at the inauguration of the Sharadchandra Pawar Centre of Excellence in AI in Baramati, he openly and emotionally declared Sharad Pawar his “mentor” before a packed audience. It was the same ‘mentor’ from under whose feet he had pulled the rug with a signal from the BJP, leading to the parting of ways between uncle and nephew (Ajit). When uncle and nephew went their separate ways, the nephew walked away with the clock (the election symbol), and the uncle was left blowing a trumpet (new election symbol). Now, with elections for 25 municipal corporations in Maharashtra announced for 15th January, the BJP felt that for the sake of saffron interests, the uncle and nephew should unite. So a few days ago, Gautam Adani sent an invitation to meet Ajit Pawar. Ajit Dada went to Gautam Bhai’s home for the meeting, where the two held a long discussion. Ajit was also told what Delhi ultimately wants. As a result, the nephew Pawar agreed to once again shake hands with his uncle Pawar. A few days after this, Gautam Adani went to meet Sharad Pawar at his residence, where he explained the outline of future politics to his so-called mentor and succeeded in convincing the senior Pawar that, in his absence, his daughter Supriya’s future would be more secure with the BJP. It is said that he also conveyed the big boss’s message to Pawar that if both Pawars unite and become part of the NDA and Mahayuti, then Supriya could be rewarded with a Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the central government, given a lucrative portfolio, and if her performance as a minister is good, she could be promoted to Cabinet Minister after a year and a half to two years. It is also said that after speaking to both uncle and nephew, a reconciliation formula was prepared. Under this, if both NCP factions merge, Sharad Pawar would guide the party in the role of “mentor,” Ajit Pawar would become the national president, and Supriya Sule would take charge as the party’s executive president as well as the Maharashtra state president. So, in Baramati, Gautam Adani, along with his wife Priti Adani, Sharad Pawar, and Ajit Pawar, shared a stage. Supriya Sule presided over the event. While giving a message of unity to the party cadre, it was also announced there that both parties will jointly contest the election for the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation in Pune. However, Supriya has just one objection to the entire reconciliation formula: how can anyone else become the national president of the NCP while her father is still alive? That is where the knot is stuck.
Why is the BJP leadership so interested in Sharad Pawar?
Tridib Raman
Well, everyone would be aware that Sharad Pawar’s personal relations with PM Modi are extremely strong. But in recent times, Pawar has also emerged as Rahul Gandhi’s most important advisor. For instance, when relations between Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee turned sour, Pawar stepped in. He explained matters to Rahul and then personally spoke to Mamata, conveying her views back to Rahul so that the ice between them could melt. In this way, Sharad Pawar has consistently acted as a bridge of communication among leaders of the INDIA alliance. He has also been doing ‘political mentoring’ of Rahul from time to time. The BJP top brass still has doubts about Rahul’s political maturity. They know that with Pawar’s departure, the Congress could also become somewhat isolated in mainstream politics. According to sources, the senior Pawar has also been assured that once he starts walking in step with the BJP, his family could get relief from all kinds of cases; investigative agencies won’t even look in their direction. Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar’s party has 8 Lok Sabha MPs. For the Modi government running on a wafer-thin majority, this numerical strength will work like a major life-saver. Sharad Pawar’s Rajya Sabha membership term is ending in the coming April month itself. Only 10 MLAs of Pawar’s own party have won and reached the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, while Uddhav has 20 and Congress has 16 MLAs. To ensure a Rajya Sabha win, the support of at least 35 MLAs will be needed. For now, Uddhav wants this seat for his own party. Ajit Pawar’s NCP has 41 MLAs, so they can easily send the senior Pawar to the Upper House. Under these circumstances, uncle Pawar also finds it more appropriate to support his nephew.
Akhilesh’s bicycle will ring again ‘tan-tan-tan’
After celebrating New Year holidays with his family in London, Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav has returned to India. On January 2, soon after landing in Delhi, he convened an important meeting of his 35–40 member core group at his New Delhi residence. The agenda was clear: the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Most leaders present felt that, compared to the BJP’s preparations, the Samajwadi Party is currently lagging behind. “We are living under the illusion that we won 37 Lok Sabha seats in UP in the 2024 elections,” one leader said, “but we must remember that the BJP did not perform exceptionally well in Haryana, Delhi, or Maharashtra either, yet when Assembly elections came, it completely turned the tables.” Akhilesh wanted to start his bicycle yatra again by the end of this year i.e., in September-October, but most leaders were of the opinion that it would be too late by then. After wrapping up the Bengal elections, the BJP will throw its full weight behind Uttar Pradesh. Therefore, they argued, Akhilesh should begin his statewide bicycle tour within the next few months. The real concern of these SP leaders was that new voters are not joining the SP, while the BJP has already started efforts to lure the backward and Dalit voters of the state. Sensing the delicacy of the situation, Akhilesh gave three quick suggestions from his side: first, district-wise survey work should start so that a separate strategy can be made for each district; number two, he will finalize the route of his bicycle yatra as soon as possible; and lastly, on the coming 17th or 18th January, we will meet again in Lucknow so that the work of implementing our strategies can begin.
Will Sushmita Dev Make a Homecoming?
Gaurav Gogoi, considered very close to Rahul Gandhi and the son of former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, recently met Sushmita Dev carrying a special message from Rahul. Sushmita Dev was once an important member of Rahul’s core team, but later, hurt by what she saw as neglect within the party, she joined the Trinamool Congress. She is also the daughter of veteran Assam leader Santosh Mohan Dev. The Trinamool Congress rewarded her with a six-year Rajya Sabha term in 2024. According to sources, when Gaurav met Sushmita, he said straightaway: “Rahul ji wants you to contest the upcoming Assam Assembly elections on a Congress ticket. When our government comes to power in the state, we will make you a minister.” Hearing this, Sushmita burst out laughing. She replied, “I don’t know about the future government, but I do know that my Rajya Sabha term lasts till 2030. If Sonia ji calls me and the discussion happens in Rahul ji’s presence, only then will I consider your proposal.” Gaurav was left with little to say. Now the question arises, why has Sushmita Dev suddenly become so important for Rahul and the Congress? The answer lies in Assam’s Barak Valley region, from where she hails. This region includes two Lok Sabha seats, Silchar and Karimganj, and 15 Assembly seats, dominated by nearly 95% Bengali-speaking population. This population includes both Hindu and Muslim voters. Hindu Bengali voters are decisive in about 12 seats, while Muslim Bengalis dominate three. For the past few elections, the Congress has not performed well in Barak Valley because it lacks a strong Hindu face there. That is precisely why the party is now trying to woo Sushmita Dev.
When the Lover Becomes the Policeman, then Why Fear Anyone?
Tridib Raman
If there is true harmony with those in power, what can even the goddess of justice do to anyone? The latest case is from Jammu and Kashmir, where a lawyer, Sheikh Shakeel Ahmad, has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, raising a major question: how is it that big VVIPs do not vacate their government residences despite having lost both their validity and eligibility? In this chain of events, the powers at the top have shown disregard for the Jammu and Kashmir High Court’s order, which required Ghulam Nabi Azad to immediately vacate his government residence in Jammu. However, by overriding the court’s final warning, the government has announced through an affidavit that an extension has been granted to Azad until April 2026, after which the competent committee will review the matter, and only then can a final decision be reached. More or less the same facility has been availed by the state’s former BJP president Ravinder Raina; despite the court’s instructions, he is still not vacating his government residence, even though he had formally submitted an affidavit in court promising to vacate this government house within two months. But Raina too is a promising star in the eyes of Delhi’s saffron horizon. So, exceptions have been crafted for them as well. The government has its own arguments and defenses, since the competent committee reviews such cases keeping security-related issues in mind. Thus, when the court reconvenes after the winter vacation, the government will enter the field with its plans and preparations. High-profile cases related to unauthorized occupation of government residences by former chief ministers, ministers, legislators, and legislative council members have been pending in court for years. And now, when the hour of decision has arrived, Delhi is needlessly showing boldness and magnanimity, which wounds not the court’s prestige, but the fundamental sentiments of democracy itself.
Why Congress’s Fortunes in Uttarakhand Refuse to Improve
A delegation of Congress leaders from Uttarakhand recently reached 10 Janpath to meet Priyanka and Sonia Gandhi. For some reason, Sonia could not meet the delegation, so Priyanka took charge. Priyanka expressed surprise that at a time when a wave of discontent is sweeping across Uttarakhand, the state’s youth and civil society are out on the streets, and the Ankita Bhandari murder case is gaining massive traction, with big BJP leaders coming under its scanner, where is the state’s main opposition party, Congress? Why is it not hitting the streets with full force? No one had any answer. After the meeting ended, one leader stayed back and requested two minutes alone with Priyanka. He then told her: “Madam, those three-four prominent faces you saw in the meeting, they never speak up because they are themselves in touch with the BJP and will contest the next elections on the lotus symbol.” Priyanka was stunned. Regaining composure, she said, “Bring new people into the party; we will give them opportunities.” “But Madam, even new people need to see a chance of victory with us! We need a leader who can instill that confidence.” Priyanka sent the leader off with a promise of another meeting. There must be some reason why Congress’s fortunes just don’t seem to improve.
