Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, is rumored to have received an invitation from the White House for September 10. It is also being said that despite having several cases registered against him, the Government of India has granted him diplomatic immunity for his visit to the United States. Prior to this, D.K. has held meetings with Prime Minister Modi in Delhi multiple times, with some sources claiming that he has met the PM at least three times in the past few months. Observers see this as a warning sign for the Congress party.
Meanwhile, Karnataka’s Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, has found himself entangled in a land scam related to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). It is alleged that this illegal land allocation has caused a loss of around ₹45 crore to the state treasury. The Governor has even granted permission for a case to be filed against the CM. Despite this, the Congress high command seems reluctant to replace Siddaramaiah with D.K. This may be the reason D.K. is continually drawn to the saffron courtyard of Delhi.
Sources indicate that DK has allocated land to the ‘Shyamala Educational Foundation’ for constructing a world-class school for underprivileged girl students in Chikkamagaluru. It is worth noting that Dr. Shyamala Gopalan was the mother of U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. She passed away from cancer in 2009. Although the Foundation is named after Kamala Harris’s mother, it has no direct connection to Kamala or her sister Maya. The foundation is registered in Khammam, and its chairman is a local person named Suresh Reddy. This organization works in the field of education in India and is planning to start a world-class school on 150 acres in Sri City, Telangana. Dr. Shyamala Gopalan, who was originally from Tamil Nadu, moved to the U.S. at the age of 19 for her higher education at the University of California, Berkeley, where she later earned her Ph.D. Her dream was to find a cure for breast cancer, but tragically, cancer claimed her life.
Sangh’s Choice For Next BJP President
The search for a new president within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is in full swing. Last week, a significant and crucial meeting took place between the current BJP president, JP Nadda, and the RSS leadership. It is said that during this meeting, there was consensus that by the end of this month or the first week of September, the party should finalize the name of the party president. Sources suggest that during this meeting, it was agreed that a decision on the new party president should be finalized by the end of this month or in the first week of September. The new leader will be initially appointed as the party’s acting president and during the BJP’s National Executive meeting in December, this acting president will be formally elected as the full-time party president.
The RSS leadership reportedly inquired from Nadda about the preferences and thoughts of the BJP leadership regarding the new president. Nadda is said to have conveyed that the party leadership believes the next BJP president should be someone from the OBC, Extremely Backward Class (EBC), or Dalit community. The intention is to send a message that the party is concerned about every individual, especially those from the most marginalized sections of society. However, in response, the RSS expressed some discomfort and said, ‘Instead of entangling us in caste considerations, please tell us directly who is being considered for the position. Nadda reportedly remained silent on this suggestion.
Sources indicate that the BJP leadership is looking for a president who can work closely and harmoniously with Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, someone who can align with their vision and execute their directives without any personal ambition. Essentially, they seek a leader who can embody the qualities of the outgoing president, J.P. Nadda. Names like Bhupender Yadav and Devendra Fadnavis are being floated for the position.
While the RSS has a slightly different perspective, they believe that the new BJP president should have the autonomy to lead the party. Both the organization and the government have their separate roles, and the RSS has previously suggested names like Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, and Shivraj Singh Chouhan to the BJP leadership. For now, the ball is now in the BJP’s court to make the final decision.
Centre’s Influence on Non-BJP States
The art of refurbishing and presenting old schemes in a new avatar is something that can be learned from the Modi govt. In 2022, amidst the ongoing efforts to modernize government schools and upgrade education systems, a new scheme was introduced—(PM-SHRI scheme) or ‘Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India Scheme’. This scheme aimed to include around 14,500 schools across the country. It was designed for five years, with 60% of the funding to beborne by the central government and 40% by the states. As soon as the scheme was announced, BJP-ruled states quickly signed MOUs with the Ministry of Education.
However, five non-BJP states—West Bengal, Punjab, Delhi, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu—raised objections, arguing that similar schemes already existed under various names in their respective states. As a result, these states refused to sign the MoU.
In response, the central government halted funding tothese states under the school-related provisions. Kerala and Tamil Nadu soon conceded and signed the proposed MOU. However, the Aam Aadmi Party governments in Punjab and Delhi stood firm, arguing that they already had such schools and did not need the PM-SHRI scheme. When Punjab’s Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann refused to budge, the central government stopped the funds under the “Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan” for Punjab.
This move hit Punjab particularly hard, as the state treasury was already strained, and the government was struggling to pay salaries to its employees, and seeking grants and loans from international institutions like the World Bank. With even international organizations like the World Bank being approached for loans and aid, the stoppage of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan funds threatened to further delay payments to teachers and other staff. Eventually, Mann had to appeal to the Modi government, leading to Punjab agreeing to implement the PM-SHRI scheme as well.
When Akhilesh Met Rahul At Priyanka’s House
For quite some time, there have been murmurs of discord between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress in Uttar Pradesh. Recently, when Rahul Gandhi secured an unprecedented victory from the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat, the political landscape shifted. As Rahul prepared to lead a victory procession in Rae Bareli, a senior Congress leader enthusiastically invited Akhilesh Yadav to join the event. Akhilesh, however, responded with a sense of detachment, saying, “This is the victory celebration of an MP, what do I have to do with it? Am I asking Rahul ji to come to Kannauj?”
Just a day before the Monsoon Session of Parliament was adjourned indefinitely, Priyanka Gandhi called Akhilesh and invited him to her house for tea. Priyanka said, ‘You are in Pandara Park, I live a short distance from you in Sujan Singh Park, so bring Dimple Bhabhi with you.’ Akhilesh couldn’t refuse Priyanka’s invitation and attended the gathering with his wife, Dimple Yadav. Rahul Gandhi was also present. The meeting, though informal, saw some candid conversations. Akhilesh mentioned that his younger daughter had recently left for London for her studies, to which Priyanka responded that her children had also studied in London. Rahul, too, shared some memories of his college days in London. The atmosphere was light and relaxed, and the ice between them slowly began to melt.
Is Early General Election on the Horizon?
During his recent address from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Modi delivered his longest speech yet, The spotlight fell on the concept of “One Nation, One Election,” which has also gained traction with the Election Commission signaling its approval. This means that Lok Sabha and various state assembly elections could be held concurrently. Rumours are nowcirculating that the next general elections could take place ahead of schedule, possibly coinciding with the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.
Reliable sources within the BJP reveal that a large-scale electoral survey was recently conducted in Uttar Pradesh at the behest of senior party leadership in Delhi. The survey sought to gauge where the BJP stands in the state if assembly elections were held today. The results were reportedly surprising. According to the survey, the BJP would secure only 125-135 seats, while the Samajwadi Party (SP) is projected to surpass 200 seats. The BJP’s top leadership has shared this survey report with the RSS, questioning whether the party’s position in UP remains secure if Yogi Adityanath’s behaviour remains consistent.
It is said that the RSS continues to support Yogi strongly. When the findings of this survey were discussed with Yogi, he reportedly dismissed them, stating, “No such survey has been conducted on the ground; this survey was prepared at the table to show a particular outcome. The reality is that even today we have the power to win more than 250 seats in UP.”
Lesson to Yogi through Jayant
Delhi appears determined to corner Yogi Adityanath. If the rumours are to be believed, Jayant Chaudhary, a leader of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and ally of the NDA, was recently summoned to Delhi. Sources indicate that Jayant was asked to consider withdrawing his minister from the Uttar Pradesh government as a way to exert pressure on Yogi. It was pointed out to Jayant that although two ministries were promised, he received only one—a relatively insignificant portfolio. Now, Jayant finds himself in a dilemma: how to orchestrate his minister’s exit from the Yogi government while maintaining his position within the NDA. Additionally, he is well aware of Yogi’s stern nature and doesn’t want to invite any trouble by making a hasty move.
