Tridib Raman
Recently, an important meeting of the C-PAC (Conservative Political Action Conference), representing federal agencies, was held in the United States. When it was time for US President Donald Trump’s most trusted advisor, Elon Musk, to speak, he waved a notorious sharp weapon—a chainsaw—towards the bureaucracy, and hinted that the “Trump administration would now rein in the unchecked behaviour of bureaucrats.” Little did Musk know that a similar initiative was being quietly pursued in distant India.The central government is deeply concerned about the increasing corruption in the Indian bureaucracy and is actively seeking solutions. It is believed that, at the Centre’s behest, the Home Ministry has prepared a detailed report on bureaucracy. The revelations in this report are indeed shocking. Until now, the northeastern states were primarily blamed for corrupt bureaucracy, followed by southern states. Sources reveal that this latest Home Ministry report alleges Uttar Pradesh’s bureaucracy to be 10 times more corrupt compared to other states in India. The report includes details of 30 UP officers and outlines how they are openly amassing wealth under Yogi’s administration. Political observers are calling this report the culmination of the ongoing power struggle between Yogi and Shah, suggesting that, knowingly or unknowingly, this report is being used as a pretext to evaluate Yogi’s governance.
Musk, the Trump Card Holder
Tridib Raman
A few days ago, an English business newspaper hosted an award ceremony. When a prominent steel baron took the stage, he casually made some sharp jibes at Elon Musk. The humour was so biting that even India’s top telecom tycoon, sharing the stage, couldn’t hold back his laughter. Before the event concluded, the telecom tycoon received a call from a senior PMO official, who reprimanded him sternly, “If you are truly a lion, then come forward and attack. You seek the government’s support in policy decisions and claim that if Starlink enters India, you will take to the streets. Now that India is working to strengthen its relations with America, why would you risk provoking President Trump’s closest ally?” Ironically, just days after this incident, the Indian telecom tycoon’s company signed an agreement with Musk’s Starlink, paving the way for Starlink to establish itself in India through this partnership. The very next day, Mukesh Ambani’s Jio also joined hands with Musk’s SpaceX to launch broadband internet services in India. Thus, Starlink now has a clear path to establish itself in the country.
BMC Polls in Limbo Again?
Tridib Raman
It appears that the elections for Mumbai’s local governing body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), have been delayed once again. Initially, there were talks of conducting them in April this year, but now they seem to have been pushed to the end of the year. Notably, the BMC is India’s wealthiest municipal corporation, with an annual budget of around ₹75,000 crore. However, its elections have been repeatedly postponed for the past three years. The latest delay stems from the controversy over 27% reservation—a policy introduced by the state government but struck down by the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena still holds considerable sway in the BMC. The BJP leadership is making concerted efforts to bring Uddhav Thackeray into its fold, reportedly mediated by a top industrialist. If the BJP contests the BMC elections alongside its current allies, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, it may face a fierce challenge from Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance of Uddhav Thackeray, Congress, and Sharad Pawar. However, if both Uddhav and Sharad join forces with the BJP, who could stop the lotus (BJP’s symbol) from blooming anew in the BMC?
Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Photo Finish’ Initiative
Tridib Raman
Rahul Gandhi is better known for his public-centric theatrics than his political aggression. Last week, as the second phase of Parliament’s budget session began, Rahul arrived at the Parliament building amid heavy security, where a large crowd of photojournalists had already gathered. The moment he arrived, photographers scrambled to capture his images. Rahul noticed Sipra Das, a senior woman photojournalist, struggling amid the chaos. Breaking through his security cordon, he walked up to her, held her hand, and escorted her to his car. Praising her dedication, he said, “For now, this is all I can give you,” as he pulled out a packet of Pulse lozenges, handed some to her, and philosophized, “Remember, life is like these lozenges—sometimes sour, sometimes sweet, but savour both flavours.” The woman photographer was left stunned by Rahul’s newfound philosophical flair.
The Poet’s Deep Faith in Saffron
Tridib Raman
This poet, known for singing songs of love to the new generation, has set many new standards of success. When love transcended its boundaries and became part of the new proclamation of freedom, the poet roared from the stage of Ramlila Maidan in support of the Anna movement. He was also among the founding members of the Aam Aadmi Party. However, as cracks began to appear in his friendship with Kejriwal and Sisodia, he turned his focus to nurturing a new lotus, one that bloomed in pure saffron. He became so enamoured with the Ram Party that, in later days, he began reciting the ‘Ram Katha’—and that too, for a hefty fee. Recently, the wedding ceremony of the poet’s daughter was held, and what an event it was! Dignitaries ranging from the Prime Minister to the Vice President were in attendance. All the Chief Ministers were also invited to the ceremony.The Chief Minister of a saffron state adjacent to Delhi received an invitation as well. Following protocol, he thought it prudent to consult the PMO directly about whether he should attend the wedding. The CM received an interesting reply: “Go, go with great pleasure. Anyway, we are guilty in this matter. When the poet first asked us for a Rajya Sabha seat, we refused. Then he asked for an MLC position, which he didn’t get either. He requested Z Plus security, but we couldn’t provide that. Until a few months ago, he was seeking a Padma award for himself, and we couldn’t grant that either. It’s not right to say ‘no’ so many times to one of our own.”
Why Did Musk Clash with Marco?
It has not been long since Trump assumed office, but his popularity is declining rapidly. One of the reasons for this is believed to be his closest advisor, Elon Musk. On one hand, Musk is advocating for significant reductions in government employees and expenditures, while on the other hand, government investment in his own companies has quadrupled. Recently, in Trump’s presence, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Elon Musk had a heated clash. The situation escalated to the point where Trump himself had to intervene. Musk was pushing for substantial cuts in the expenses of Rubio’s foreign ministry, while Rubio argued that these expenses were essential. For perhaps the first time, Trump rebuked Musk, siding with Rubio. Trump also established a new system, stating that Musk’s department could no longer make arbitrary decisions. Instead, it could only provide suggestions to the President, with the final decision-making authority resting solely with Trump. Trump has also faced significant criticism in European countries over the Zelensky episode. Until now, European nations, along with other countries like Panama and Canada, had tolerated Trump’s unilateral actions. However, they have now raised their voices in protest. Zelensky has emerged as a new hero in global geopolitics, gaining stature by opposing Trump. For the first time, 15 influential European countries, including Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, have openly supported Zelensky and opposed The United States. The European Union is also taking steps to back Zelensky. Adding to the intrigue, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s meeting with Zelensky has raised eyebrows. Overall, these developments signal the emergence of a new world order, with Trump as its unintended target.
BJP’s ‘Big Three’ Vision: Will Regional Parties Fade into Oblivion?
Tridib Raman
In the recent 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP failed to come close to its ambitious “Mission 400” target due to the resurgence of regional parties in states like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Kerala. Now, the saffron party is scrambling to counter this trend. Could these circumstances push it to amend the ‘Representation of the People Act’? Reliable sources claim that after the delimitation commission’s report is finalized, India might transition to a tri-party system. Under this framework, only three national parties—BJP, Congress, and possibly the Left—would dominate mainstream politics, sidelining smaller players. This system could force regional and smaller parties to align with one of the three major blocs to contest elections. Ironically, Congress, which has seen its traditional vote bank eroded by regional parties, might emerge as a beneficiary of this restructuring. If implemented, regional parties would face a dilemma: merge with a national party or risk political irrelevance. The move could reshape India’s electoral landscape, centralizing power among the “big three” and marginalizing the diversity of regional voices.
