Tridib Raman
In the quiet “saffron” politics of Maharashtra, the restlessness of an alliance partner has introduced several new twists and complications. Just as the BJP had begun to find its rhythm with Ajit Dada’s party and as Devendra Fadnavis appeared to be successfully inducting Sunetra Tai into the grammar of power Eknath Shinde has once again creased brows at the top. Earlier, Shinde had reportedly been advised by the party high command, “Once the Maharashtra local body elections are successfully concluded, we will sit down and resolve all mutual misunderstandings.” Following the BJP alliance’s bumper victory in these civic polls, Shinde sought an appointment with the Prime Minister. It is understood he was told that the Prime Minister’s schedule was full and that he could instead meet the Home Minister. Sources suggest that Shinde has already held two rounds of discussions with the party’s top brass. Ultimately, he has been told that he must sit down with Devendra Fadnavis to sort matters out. Yet, it appears that Shinde still harbours hopes of reviving the old two-and-a-half-year chief ministerial rotation formula, an arrangement the BJP shows little appetite for. Instead, he has reportedly been offered a different accommodation: if he so wishes, his MP son could be inducted as a minister in the Modi government. (It is worth noting that Shinde’s son, Shrikant Eknath Shinde, is the MP from Kalyan). In the meantime, another incident occurred that has deeply unsettled Shinde. It is said that during this Budget Session, while the PM was meeting regional MPs in his Parliament House chamber, he met seven MPs from the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena with great warmth. He reportedly told them: “I consider you all as my own family; therefore, you have every right over me. “You have every right over me. Do not hesitate to meet me whenever you wish.” Unsurprisingly, Shrikant Shinde was among those present and one can assume the details of that exchange were relayed home in full. The message was subtle, yet unmistakable.
How Was Himanta Brought into Line?
Tridib Raman
In Assam, a different drama has been unfolding. A clutch of senior BJP leaders and a few party MPs, reportedly disgruntled with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s style of functioning, recently travelled to Delhi to seek an audience with the Home Minister. Their grievance, by most accounts, was consistent: the Chief Minister’s demeanour was “arrogant”, and he was running the government in a “dictatorial” manner. One former state party president went so far as to remark that “the BJP is not in Himanta’s DNA, he came from the Congress and still thinks like it.” The complaint grew sharper: the Chief Minister, they alleged, had placed even members of his own party under surveillance. That charge reportedly did not go down well. The Home Minister is said to have responded sternly: no CM in a BJP-ruled state could credibly claim that electoral victories were delivered on the strength of personal charisma alone. Votes, he reportedly reminded them, flowed because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the tireless work of the party cadre. In any case, he added, the BJP was poised to win Assam again and only after that victory would it be decided, collectively, who would helm the state. News of this meeting appears to have rattled Himanta Biswa Sarma. At a press conference convened the following day, he seemed a changed man. The combative edge was absent; in its place, a notably restrained tone. Describing himself as a dedicated worker of the BJP, he declared: “My entire life is devoted to the party. Every decision of the party is supreme for me. As long as I live, I shall serve the BJP and the people of Assam. This election is not about any individual; it is about the entire party.” Journalists present could scarcely conceal their surprise. Which Himanta, they wondered, had they encountered that day?
When Yogi Met Suzuki
Tridib Raman
During his visit to Japan, Yogi Adityanath met several leading industrialists. Yet among all these engagements, the meeting that mattered most to him was with Toshihiro Suzuki, head of Suzuki Motor Corporation. In his address, Yogi said it was his heartfelt wish that Suzuki’s largest plant in India should be established in Uttar Pradesh. Addressing Suzuki directly, he added that the state was prepared to offer land even larger than the company’s existing facility in Manesar, Gurugram. When it was Toshihiro Suzuki’s turn to speak, he grew visibly emotional. He recalled that the dream of bringing Suzuki to India had been envisioned by his late father, Osamu Suzuki, who had admired the foresight of the young Indian leader Sanjay Gandhi at the time. Sanjay Gandhi had wanted a car to be manufactured in India that an ordinary Indian could afford, truly a “people’s car”. His father had understood that sentiment, Suzuki said, and that is how the company turned towards India. Today, he noted, India is Suzuki’s most successful venture. The company earns substantial profits from this very plant. “We regard this place as sacred,” he said, “and we share an emotional connection with it.” Officials accompanying Yogi clarified that the Chief Minister was not suggesting the company abandon its Gurugram facility, but rather establish a new plant in Uttar Pradesh. Suzuki smiled and replied, “Your Chief Minister’s wish will certainly be fulfilled.”
Singapore Turns Yogi-Centric
Tridib Raman
One may recall the scenes when Narendra Modi would arrive on foreign soil and crowds would greet him with resounding chants of his name. This time, when Yogi Adityanath arrived in Singapore seeking investment for Uttar Pradesh, a crowd of 800 to 1,000 people surprised onlookers by chanting “Yogi, Yogi”. However, some sources claim that to demonstrate this show of strength, 700 to 800 individuals from Jaunpur and Gorakhpur had been sponsored and flown to Singapore in advance. The same sources suggest that forthcoming visits to the United States and several European countries are already being planned. Those close to Yogi reportedly believe that wherever people with faith in Hindutva reside across the world, they will extend him a warm welcome.
When Protest Turned into Amity
Tridib Raman
Soon after arriving in Singapore, Yogi was informed that a small group of Indian students studying at various universities there might stage a protest against him. Demonstrating political tact, he invited the group to meet him beforehand. He sought to understand the cause of their dissatisfaction. The students explained that they were protesting against the University Grants Commission (UGC). Some even carried placards opposing the UGC. Yogi responded by pointing out that the UGC was a matter under the jurisdiction of the central government and not directly connected to him. “I am here simply to seek investment for Uttar Pradesh,” he told them. The students appeared persuaded by his explanation and withdrew their planned protest.
Has PK Lost His Spark?
Tridib Raman
After receiving a “Supreme rebuke” from the Supreme Court regarding his petition on the Bihar elections, it is said that PK (Prashant Kishor) summoned a key meeting of his Jan Suraaj Party’s core group in Delhi. However, 18 out of the 25 core members expressed their inability to attend. It was then that PK realized deeply that his “Jan Suraaj concept” had failed. Following this, he began searching for ways to remain politically relevant. He went to Chennai to meet actor-turned-politician Vijay, but Vijay did not seem ready to take PK’s “full package.” Before the BMC elections, he met Uddhav Thackeray, and later K. Chandrashekar Rao in Hyderabad. When things didn’t work out at either place, he began calling SP chief Akhilesh Yadav to reconnect. After about 4–5 calls, Akhilesh came on the line and invited PK to Lucknow. The two met for about an hour and a half. PK was eager to offer his services on the lines of the “Bengal Model,” but Akhilesh knows that PK is the kind of “doctor” whose medicines made him sick in the past. Sources say Akhilesh told PK bluntly: “We cannot give you the entire election work, nor can we make you the election in-charge. Keep providing your ‘inputs’ on the UP elections, and then we will see how useful you prove to be for us.”
Kokilaben Leaves Anil’s Residence
Tridib Raman
India’s leading industrialist Mukesh Ambani is said to have learnt well in advance that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was preparing to attach the residence of his younger brother, Anil Ambani. What reportedly added to his concern was that their mother, Kokilaben Ambani, was staying at Anil’s home at the time. According to sources, Mukesh immediately telephoned his mother upon receiving the information and urged her to leave the premises without delay, warning that the ED could attach the property at any moment. He requested that she move to his own residence, Antilia, where an entire floor has long been reserved for her. It is said that Kokilaben then appealed to Mukesh to assist Anil. In response, Mukesh reportedly told her that had the matter involved a sum of one or two thousand crore rupees, he might have considered stepping in. However, with the case exceeding forty thousand crore rupees, he was in no position to help, even if he wished to do so.
A Press Conference That Backfired
Tridib Raman
The manner in which Union Minister Hardeep Puri convened his press conference, followed by his “carefree” conversations with certain dedicated BJP channels, has not gone down well with the party’s top brass. It is said that the BJP leadership conveyed to Puri that his “tone and tenor reeked of arrogance,” and instead of resolving the matter, he ended up complicating it further. The leadership reportedly questioned the necessity of his statement claiming he was meeting the notorious sex offender Epstein for the sake of “world peace.” He has since been cautioned against speaking further to the media. It remains to be seen how long he can dodge the inevitable consequences; as the saying goes, “How long can the goat’s mother pray for its life?”
