Tridib Raman
The changing demeanour of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has caused concern among Rahul Gandhi’s circle. In recent days, Tharoor has openly expressed a softer stance towards PM Modi and the BJP, which has made the Congress leadership somewhat more rigid in their attitude towards him. Sources close to Tharoor reveal that, now that he has turned 70, he can no longer afford to wait. With the Kerala Assembly elections scheduled for next year, Tharoor, the MP from Thiruvananthapuram, wanted the Congress to project him as its Chief Ministerial candidate this time. It’s not that Tharoor lacks supporters within the Kerala Congress, but key decisions in the party are typically made by Rahul Gandhi, who then conveys his preferences to party president Kharge, after which decisions are finalized as per Rahul’s wishes. It is said that for Kerala, Rahul has only two names in mind: one is his trusted aide K.C. Venugopal, and the other is Ramesh Chennithala. Sensing Rahul’s inclinations, Shashi Tharoor has gradually started warming up to the BJP. On several occasions, he has openly praised PM Modi, and in return, the PM has also complimented him, building a bridge of communication. Sources now indicate that Tharoor could soon join the Modi Cabinet. Before that, he might resign from his Lok Sabha membership and be brought to the Upper House via the Rajya Sabha. Sources claim he could be appointed as the next Human Resource Development Minister, a portfolio currently held by Dharmendra Pradhan. It is believed that Pradhan may be made the next national president of the BJP. Another point is that even if Tharoor becomes a Union Minister, the BJP could still project him as its Chief Ministerial face for the Kerala elections.
Will Dharmendra Pradhan become the BJP President?
Tridib Raman
As per protocol, the announcement of the new BJP national president was expected by the last week of May. However, due to the Pahalgam terrorist attack and India’s counter-strike through ‘Operation Sindoor,’ the matter was deferred. Sources within the BJP reveal that the announcement of the new president could happen anytime after June 15, as the names of state presidents for four key states, including Uttar Pradesh, are still pending. For now, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s name is considered finalized for the post of national president. However, Bhupendra Yadav’s name is also in the race. It is said that the RSS and Modi favour Dharmendra Pradhan. Both Pradhan and Yadav are OBC leaders, which could benefit the BJP in the upcoming elections in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The Bihar Assembly elections are expected in October-November.
Mayawati’s Vast Political Horizon
Amid the dust and turmoil of political maneuvering, Mayawati’s wandering elephant is still searching for its rightful place. The latest development concerns Mayawati’s nephew, Akash Anand. Initially, Mayawati, wielding the whip of discipline, showed Akash the door, expelling him from the BSP. Now, she has decided to give him another chance, elevating him directly to the position of ‘Chief National Coordinator,’ making him the number two in the party. Akash had previously served as a National Coordinator twice. The BSP is divided into three regions: North India, Northeast, and South India, each managed by a National Coordinator—Raja Ram, Ramji Gautam, and Randhir Singh Beniwal—who will now report to Akash. The issue stems from the fact that Mayawati’s other nephew, Akash’s brother, married a non-Jatav girl, something that Mayawati seemingly couldn’t digest. Meanwhile, Akash’s marriage was arranged by Mayawati within a Jatav family of her choice. At one point, when Mayawati felt that Akash was too influenced by his in-laws, she angrily expelled him from the BSP. Akash publicly apologized to his aunt via a tweet, stating, “I will never let my relationships, especially my in-laws, come in the way of the party’s interests.” Following this, Akash’s wife also sought Mayawati’s forgiveness, promising that she would “never visit her parental home without Mayawati’s permission.” Subsequently, Mayawati forgave both of them and reinstated Akash as the number two in the party hierarchy.
Will Supriya Also Be Crowned?
It is reported that as the BJP celebrates the completion of one year of Modi’s third term with various programs across the country, there is also speculation behind closed doors about a significant reshuffle in the Modi Cabinet. Among the names being discussed for new ministerial positions are Supriya Sule and Shashi Tharoor. For quite some time, Sharad Pawar has softened his stance toward the Modi-led central government. When Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction) leader Sanjay Raut raised questions about sending parliamentary delegations abroad, senior Pawar rebuked him, stating, “This is an old tradition of the Government of India; I myself have traveled abroad once with Vajpayee to present India’s perspective.” The Modi government has appointed Pawar’s daughter, Supriya Sule, as the head of one such parliamentary delegation. Sule’s delegation is currently on a tour to Egypt, Qatar, Ethiopia, and South Africa. Earlier, Supriya had sharply criticized Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge when he referred to the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict as a minor skirmish. According to sources, the script for the merger of uncle (Sharad) and nephew (Ajit) Pawar’s parties has already been written. If this script reaches its conclusion, the Modi-led central government will gain the additional support of eight MPs from Sharad Pawar’s faction, reducing the BJP’s reliance on Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu to some extent.
Akhilesh’s Rising Momentum
Following ‘Operation Sindoor,’ to gauge its widespread impact and public support, SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav commissioned two separate surveys in Uttar Pradesh by two major agencies. The results of these surveys have boosted Akhilesh’s confidence, as the SP’s graph in the state appears to be rising, just as before. Akhilesh’s Samajwadi Party seems to be giving Yogi Adityanath a tough fight. Encouraged by this, Akhilesh has once again declared that he will contest the 2027 UP Assembly elections in alliance with the INDIA bloc.
Modi’s Focus on Women Voters
On May 31, PM Modi will be in Bhopal to attend an event celebrating the 300th birth anniversary of Lokmata Devi Ahilyabai Holkar. This event is set to be unprecedented in many ways, as women will handle all responsibilities, from stage management to Modi’s security arrangements. This includes traffic management, complete security operations, hospitality, and stage coordination, all exclusively managed by women. It is estimated that over two lakh women will participate in the event. It is said that PM Modi has consistently received special support from women voters across the country. Thus, this initiative is likely to influence women voters in Bihar, where assembly elections are due in the coming months.
Wedding Bells Ring for Firebrand Leader
Sources claim that a firebrand woman leader from a regional party is set to marry. According to sources, she will tie the knot with an old lawyer friend, who is also a former MP, next month in Denmark. Their divorce was recently settled with a substantial amount (hundreds of crores of rupees). It is believed that the lawyer’s son and daughter have no significant objections to this new relationship.
