Tridib Raman – News Trust of India
“Don’t weigh down my wings with needless burdens of stones; you cannot stop my flight. Lift the canopy of the sky above me, and you will see even the clouds bow to my will.”
This sentiment might seem startling, but after BJP’s unprecedented victory in Maharashtra, the party appears ready to take one surprising decision after another. In this series of decisions, the relatively junior, Murlidhar Rao’s name as the next BJP president could be a shocker. The recent electoral success in Haryana and Maharashtra has already signalled that “the party’s next president will be someone handpicked by PM Modi.” South India, a key priority on BJP’s agenda, is a likely focal point for the decision. Modi has hinted in multiple core committee meetings that “if the party’s leader hails from a southern state, it will significantly aid BJP in expanding its base in the region.” This has brought several names into the conversation, including BJP’s organizational head B.L. Santhosh and Ram Madhav. However, trusted sources within the RSS and BJP reveal that former BJP national general secretary Murlidhar Rao has recently emerged as Modi’s top choice. Rao, who began his political career with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad has been deeply associated with RSS for years. Though he has maintained a low profile in the last few years, he has been a key figure in Amit Shah’s team, working closely under Shah’s guidance. Interestingly, rumours circulated that Rao had distanced himself from the RSS in a bid to strengthen ties with Shah. However, his name resurfacing from the recent RSS meeting in Mathura suggests otherwise, indicating he remains a trusted figure within the Sangh.
Kerala Congress at Crossroads: A Battle Between Two Titans
Tridib Raman – News Trust of India
Internal strife between two senior Congress leaders from Kerala—Ramesh Chennithala and KC Venugopal, a close aide of Rahul Gandhi—has left party president Mallikarjun Kharge grappling with a growing crisis. Following Congress’s defeat in Maharashtra, Chennithala, who was the state election in-charge, promptly submitted his resignation, taking responsibility for the loss. His move has put moral pressure on leaders like Nana Patole and Vijay Wadettiwar to follow suit. However, during his discussions with Kharge, Chennithala reportedly blamed the loss on “factionalism within the party and failures in election management.” He pointed fingers at Rahul Gandhi’s “backroom boys,” represented by KC Venugopal, who reports directly to Gandhi. With the Kerala Assembly elections scheduled for 2026, Congress faces an uphill battle after consecutive defeats in the state. The ongoing feud between Chennithala and Venugopal threatens to exacerbate the party’s challenges. Chennithala, a seasoned leader with five terms as an MLA and four terms as an MP, feels sidelined. He lamented that despite his vast experience, he was made an election in-charge rather than a national general secretary, a role that Venugopal holds. This infighting echoes the historic rivalry between AK Antony and K Karunakaran, which once led to significant losses for Congress in Kerala. Unless resolved, the Chennithala-Venugopal rift could spell disaster for Congress’s prospects in the state.
PK Replicates BJP’s Blueprint for His New Party
Tridib Raman – News Trust of India
Prashant Kishor, the election strategist-turned-politician, is leaving no stone unturned for his fledgling party, Jan Suraj. In the recent Bihar by-elections, where he fielded candidates in four seats, three of them lost their deposits. Undeterred, Kishor has dusted off the 2014 election playbook he crafted for the BJP and then-PM candidate Narendra Modi. He is meticulously revisiting its strategies to identify ideas that can be revived and tailored for Bihar. One such strategy was targeting NRIs for fundraising, initially designed with BJP’s goals in mind. Kishor is now repurposing this to connect with the Bihari diaspora and garner support for Jan Suraj. Recently, he hosted a webinar for Bihari NRIs in the U.S., discussing Bihar’s dire state and his vision to transform it. This event marked the beginning of his “NRI Dialogues” series, aimed at engaging the global Bihari community with his new Bihar agenda.
Dutt’s Sudden Embrace of Hindu Ideals
Tridib Raman – News Trust of India
Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt has recently been spotted participating in the Hindu-centric Baba’s Hindu Jodo Yatra. Given his controversial past, connections to D-Company, time in jail, and family ties with Congress and Samajwadi Party, his sudden alignment with Hinduism has raised eyebrows.
Insiders reveal Dutt has been grappling with financial troubles, struggling to secure work in the film industry. Despite efforts to reach out to influential figures like Akshay Kumar, his attempts bore no fruit. Reportedly, a well-connected individual linked to the RSS suggested he align himself with the country’s prevailing Hindu narrative. This introduction to the Yatra provided Dutt and the movement a mutually beneficial association—visibility for the campaign and potential opportunities for Dutt.
Soren Negotiates with Congress Post-Victory
Tridib Raman – News Trust of India
After the INDIA alliance’s victory in Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren visited Delhi to invite Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge to his swearing-in ceremony. However, the meeting revealed a deadlock. The Congress, smarting from its Maharashtra defeat, demanded a Deputy Chief Minister position in Jharkhand. Soren resisted, offering four ministerial posts instead, arguing that a deputy often creates hurdles for the CM. Congress, meanwhile, faces the challenge of balancing caste dynamics among its 16 victorious MLAs. Names in contention for ministerial positions include Naman Viksal Kongari, Bhushan Bara, Deepika Pandey Singh, Irfan Ansari, Rameshwar Oraon, and Pradeep Yadav. The final decision now rests with Rahul Gandhi.
Shinde’s Dilemma in Maharashtra
Tridib Raman – News Trust of India
Despite NDA’s sweeping victory in Maharashtra, the coalition has yet to finalize the Chief Minister. Former CM Eknath Shinde remains a thorn in BJP’s side, rejecting offers of the Home portfolio or a Deputy CM post. Even a central ministerial position failed to entice him, as Shinde is determined to remain in Maharashtra politics. With Shinde’s faction holding significant sway—57 MLAs and seven Lok Sabha MPs—the BJP cannot afford to alienate him. Speculation is rife that the BJP may resort to its trump card, leveraging the Enforcement Directorate to bring Shinde to the table.
Kharge Cracks the Whip in Congress
Tridib Raman – News Trust of India
The Congress Working Committee meeting post-Maharashtra’s loss was marked by Mallikarjun Kharge’s sharp critique of party leaders. He called for underperforming veterans to step aside for fresh talent and proposed a Fact-Finding Committee led by a non-political professional for an unbiased review of the debacle. Kharge admitted the party’s lackluster preparation and vowed to initiate election groundwork a year in advance, signaling a proactive approach for future contests.
