(Tridib Raman – News Trust of India)
Since Bihar CM Nitish Kumar agreed to move to Delhi, internal friction in his party has reached a boiling point. A fresh instance involves a clash between JDU veterans: Shravan Kumar, who is also a minister in the Nitish government, and National Executive President Sanjay Kumar Jha. Jha, a Rajya Sabha MP, acts as the “coordination bridge” between the BJP and JDU. Sources claim the two clashed heatedly over Nitish moving to the Rajya Sabha. Shravan Kumar accused Jha of “playing into the BJP’s hands,” adding sarcastically, “It would have been better if we had contested alone like last time, without the BJP’s support.” Jha reportedly lost his patience and shot back, “What great feat did we achieve by fighting alone? Advisors like you reduced JDU to 43 MLAs; this time, with BJP, we reached 85.” Sources suggest the plan to move Nitish to the Rajya Sabha might become a “noose” around his neck. The BJP’s dilemma is that it is still seen as an “Upper Caste” party in Bihar. Nitish is the “miracle man” who can transfer women’s votes and over 30% EBC (Extremely Backward Classes) votes to the BJP. He also holds the “Luv-Kush” (Kurmi-Koeri) base. If he leaves Bihar, this spell might break, and these voters could shift to the RJD (Lalu Prasad Yadav’s party). While the Deputy PM post for Nitish seems stalled for now, the BJP has reportedly offered him the role of NDA Convenor. However, those close to Nitish say, “He cannot be tethered for long; he is a master at showing his true colours when the time is right.”
BJP’s Strategy to Tackle Mamata
Tridb Raman
BJP is going all out to win the West Bengal election, and Mamata Banerjee is fighting back. The BJP has a major advantage with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). In the first phase, 6.2 million voters were removed from the rolls. Another 6.5 million are “under consideration” and likely to be deleted. Observers claim most of these 12.7 million voters (roughly 18% of the total) are Mamata supporters. This is a massive number that could seal her defeat. If Mamata reacts aggressively, the BJP has a “Plan B”: imposing President’s Rule citing a breakdown in law and order. The appointment of the new Governor, R.N. Ravi, is seen as a signal in this direction.
Why Iran Wants a Long War
Tridib Raman
Iran’s strategy against the US and Israel is based on “Attrition” (wearing the enemy down). Iran uses cheap drones to force the US to use incredibly expensive interceptor technology. Iran knows the US military lacks the “stamina” for a long war and isn’t ready to pay the high cost, both in terms of casualties and surging oil prices. With 20% of the world’s oil passing through the now-closed Strait of Hormuz, Iran is under economic pressure but feels it has “nothing left to lose.” By dragging out the conflict, Iran hopes international pressure will force Donald Trump to stop the war, even if he doesn’t want to.
Everyone’s Ram: Kanshiram
Tridib Raman
Today, Sunday, March 15, marks the birth anniversary of the towering Dalit leader Kanshiram. While the BSP was born directly from the womb of his ideology, an undeclared war to claim Kanshiram’s legacy has now broken out among all major political players in Uttar Pradesh. Parties like Congress, BSP, Samajwadi Party, and Azad Samaj Party are all staking their claim to his ideological heritage. Truth be told, this entire exercise is tied to the early drumbeats of the upcoming 2027 UP Assembly elections. These parties are in a direct race to reach Dalit voters. Before the rise of the BSP in the 1990s, Congress held a dominant grip on the Dalit vote bank in UP. Recently, Rahul Gandhi has attempted to rekindle Dalit consciousness, focusing heavily on social justice, the caste census, and proportional representation, echoing Kanshiram’s famous slogan: “Jiski jitni sankhya bhari, uski utni Bhagidari”. Kanshiram’s successor, Mayawati, continues to carry this message forward, but the Samajwadi Party (SP), the biggest contender for power next time is not lagging in this race either. Akhilesh Yadav is laser-focused on the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) alliance. The SP has organized numerous events across the state to mark Kanshiram’s birth anniversary. Meanwhile, Chandrashekhar Azad of the Azad Samaj Party is planning a massive rally in Agra today. The weight of Dalit voters in UP is evident from the fact that 84 out of 403 assembly seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes. On the other hand, Rahul Gandhi has also been making consistent rounds in UP since March 13.
Shankaracharya’s U-Turn and Furrowed Brows for BJP
Tridib Raman
The saffron top brass in Delhi is repeatedly pleading with UP’s energetic Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, to stop engaging with the issue of Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand. The BJP leadership fears this controversy could become a major headache in the upcoming elections. There is particular concern regarding the Varanasi parliamentary seat, where local sentiment shows a hint of resentment toward BJP over the Shankaracharya issue. In a significant political development, Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand recently met SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav. The Shankaracharya has already announced his 81-day “Kavishti Yatra” (a Vedic term for the struggle for cow protection) starting March 10-11. This statewide campaign for cow welfare will kick off on May 3 from Yogi’s stronghold, Gorakhpur. After covering hundreds of villages, the yatra will conclude in Lucknow on July 23, followed by a major event on July 24 to “expose the facts regarding cow slaughter.” His goal is to have the cow declared the “Mother of the Nation” and to implement a nationwide ban on cow slaughter. While the details of his conversation with Akhilesh remain private, it is certain that this “Kavishti Yatra” has caused significant tension within the RSS and BJP ahead of the elections.
Why is Mamata Miffed with the President?
Tridib Raman
Last week, the 9th International Santhal Conference was held in Gossaipur, Darjeeling. President Droupadi Murmu, the chief guest, expressed displeasure over the state government’s allotment of a “small venue” for the event. Mamata Banerjee hit back, stating, “This was not a government program; the state government wasn’t even informed.” The BJP has been attacking Mamata, alleging that her government failed to follow the protocol for the President. Neither the CM nor any of her ministers went to receive her. At the time, Mamata was addressing a protest in Esplanade, Kolkata. Mamata believes the BJP is eyeing the state’s Santhali voters and sent the President specifically to influence them. She remarked, “I am sorry, Madam, that you have fallen into the BJP’s trap, though I respect you immensely.” She didn’t stop there, adding sharply: “Do we have no work? Do we have to follow you around all the time? If you were so concerned about the tribal community, why haven’t you spoken about Manipur to this day?” It seems this verbal spat between the BJP and Mamata is only going to escalate.
Nitin Nabin Set for a Major Role in Rajya Sabha
Tridib Raman
Although the newly appointed BJP National President, Nitin Nabin, may be a relatively fresh face in the party’s mainstream national politics, he has already begun mastering the art of political checkmate. On March 16, he is set to be elected to the Upper House (Rajya Sabha). However, sources suggest that this is just the beginning of his ascent. Following his election, he is likely to climb another rung of the ladder: the BJP may appoint him as the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, replacing JP Nadda. This transition would represent a significant boost in both the stature and the responsibilities of the National President, consolidating his influence within the Parliament.
