Tridib Raman – News Trust of India
RSS has played a significant role in the BJP’s victories in Haryana, Maharashtra, and most recently, Delhi. The RSS has never hesitated to accept this credit. When the proponents of RSS-nurtured ideology and their supporting media began openly attributing these victories to the RSS, there was no protest or opposition from the BJP. With elections scheduled in Bihar this year and assembly elections in at least 13 states next year, the BJP remains heavily reliant on the RSS, whether acknowledged or not. It is no coincidence that after many years, news has emerged that PM Modi will visit the RSS headquarters in Nagpur on March 30th, the day of Gudi Padwa. It is said that he will have an extensive ‘one-to-one’ conversation with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. When JP Nadda was appointed as the national president of the BJP, he had the full consent of the RSS. The Sangh wanted him to act as a coordination bridge and keep the PM informed about the sentiments of the Sangh. Initially, Nadda performed this role well, but later his effectiveness as a communication bridge between the Sangh and the PM diminished. When a senior RSS leader wanted to discuss this issue with Nadda, Nadda’s argument was that ‘when he dared to convey the RSS’s message to the PM, he received an unjust scolding.’ The RSS, in turn, said, ‘Even if you were scolded, at least you continued to convey our message to the PM.’ So, what can be inferred from this? Will the RSS’s consent be obtained for the new BJP president’s name on Gudi Padwa?
Kanugolu Reaches Bihar
Tridib Raman – News Trust of India
Bihar is set to witness a new political battle in the coming months. Rahul Gandhi surprised everyone by appointing his loyalist Krishna Allavaru as Bihar in-charge, despite the former Congress Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel, being considered a strong candidate for the role. Baghel, belonging to the Kurmi caste, has a deep understanding of Bihar politics. However, when Baghel expressed his inability to go to Bihar at the last moment, Rahul immediately appointed Allavaru. Allavaru had barely settled in Bihar when Rahul sent his election strategist Sunil Kanugolu and his team to the state. According to sources, Kanugolu and his team of 40 people have arrived in Bihar. It is said that Kanugolu will prepare a detailed report on all 243 seats in Bihar and submit it to Rahul. Kanugolu is also utilizing local agencies to conduct ground surveys. Sources indicate that Kanugolu has been asked to provide a list of candidates who can strongly contest each assembly seat. This means that the names of at least four contenders from each assembly will be sent to Delhi in order of preference. It should be noted that Rahul tried a similar formula in the Rajasthan assembly elections, where Kanugolu submitted a list of candidates seat by seat to the high command. However, the then CM of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, ignored Kanugolu’s list and fielded candidates of his choice, leading to significant defeats. Rahul does not want to repeat the same mistake in Bihar.
Why is Rahul opening a front against Lalu?
Tridib Raman – News Trust of India
The Congress party is preparing to contest the elections alone in Bihar, much like it did in Delhi. It is believed that Rahul Gandhi is displeased with the behaviour of both Lalu and Nitish. He is even said to be upset with Tejashwi. Rahul knows that ‘if Congress contests strongly on every seat in Bihar, the biggest loser will likely be Lalu-Tejashwi’s party, the RJD.’ He also knows that ‘the stronger Congress fights, the more it will benefit the BJP in the elections.’ But he does not seem ready to back down. He is aware that when Rahul’s name was proposed as the leader of the INDIA alliance, it was opposed the most by Lalu, Nitish (who was part of the INDIA alliance at the time), Mamata, and Kejriwal. Rahul has just dealt with Kejriwal, and now it’s the turn of the remaining leaders. After Bihar, he plans to bring his ‘go solo’ campaign to West Bengal as well. Congress wants to appoint a new state president for Bihar, and Tariq Anwar’s name has emerged as the most prominent candidate. If Tariq becomes the president, three working presidents could also be appointed under his leadership, representing Dalits, Brahmins, OBCs, or Rajputs. Both Rahul and Tariq agree that ‘for Congress, the 2030 assembly elections will be more important than the 2025 elections.’ Perhaps this is why Congress has made it clear to Tejashwi that ‘it wants to contest at least 100 seats under the alliance.’ Rahul knows that Tejashwi is unlikely to agree to this number, so Congress will have a perfect excuse to break away from the Mahagathbandhan.
AAP Toh Aaise Na The
Tridib Raman – News Trust of India
Annoyed by the unexpected defeat in Delhi, the AAP Supremo has found a way to engage in politics through the back door. Since the Aam Aadmi Party declared its Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjeev Arora, as the candidate for the Ludhiana West by-election, it has become clear that the ‘party is clearing the path for Kejriwal to enter the Rajya Sabha.’ Sanjeev Arora, a businessman by profession, is reportedly assured that ‘once he wins the election, he will be appointed as an important minister in the cabinet.’ It is worth noting that the seat in Ludhiana West became vacant due to the death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogoi, and his wife Dr. Sukh Chain Bassi Gogoi was seen as the strongest contender for the seat, but Arora’s name was announced instead. This has sparked speculation that Kejriwal is gearing up to move to the upper house, i.e., the Rajya Sabha, in order to regain the ground that AAP has been losing in Delhi. Meanwhile, Manish Sisodia, considered the number two in AAP, is now preparing to establish himself in Punjab. Sisodia played a crucial role in AAP’s success in Delhi, particularly in revamping Delhi’s government schools, which earned him global recognition. Since Punjab’s assembly elections are due in 2026, Kejriwal wants Manish to apply his Delhi reforms in Punjab and bring about qualitative changes in Punjab’s education system. Manish has already visited Punjab multiple times and has engaged certain volunteer organizations to work in the state. He is currently in Jaipur for Vipassana meditation and will return on March 8. After that, it is believed that Manish will spend most of his time in Punjab.
Krishna’s Mirage
Tridib Raman – News Trust of India
During the time when Ashok Chaudhary held significant influence in the Bihar Congress, he suddenly switched sides and joined Nitish Kumar’s camp, which led Congress to hand over the party’s presidential responsibility to Koukab Qadri in haste. The party appointed Qadri as its acting president. Qadri noticed a lot of unnecessary expenses in the party, such as when the party’s state in-charge from Delhi would stay at expensive hotels, with the party bearing the full bill. To save costs, Qadri decided to create a flat within the party’s office premises in Patna’s Sadakat Ashram, with arrangements like an AC, bed, sofa, etc. This way, Delhi’s in-charge could stay comfortably and meet with party leaders and workers there. When Shakti Singh Gohil was the Bihar in-charge, he preferred staying in this flat. However, since Krishna Allavaru became the new in-charge of Bihar, he has chosen to stay in the luxurious five-star Maurya Hotel in Patna, where he prefers meeting party leaders and workers. Sources suggest that the expenses for his stay are being covered by a businessman from Jharkhand and a former MLA from Sitamarhi, with the hope that Allavaru will recommend their name for the next state president.
Will the alliance between Badal and BJP rekindle?
Tridib Raman – News Trust of India
For a long time, after the Badal family parted ways with the BJP, they were politically isolated. Neither Sukhbir Badal nor his wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal had much political significance. However, recently, when the Badal couple hosted an extravagant wedding for their eldest daughter, Harkirat Kaur, with businessman Tejveer Singh from Abu Dhabi at the Trident Hotel in Gurgaon, the Badal family’s influence was clearly visible. The hotel was initially believed to be owned by the Badal family. The wedding was attended by a large number of politicians, including Nitin Gadkari, Om Birla, Jagdeep Dhankhar, Piyush Goyal, Omar Abdullah, and the Leader of Opposition in Punjab, Pratap Singh Bajwa. The three-day wedding was a grand affair. The Badal family is hopeful that ‘in the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections, BJP will once again offer them an alliance.’
JHARKHAND BJP STILL STRUGGLING TO SELECT LoP
Tridib Raman – News Trust of India
And finally, it’s been quite some time since Hemant Soren’s government was formed again in Jharkhand, but the BJP has still not been able to select its Leader of Opposition. There are three major factions of BJP leaders active in the state, and none of these factions are willing to accept a leader from another group. Even Hemant Soren has criticized the BJP over the issue of the Leader of Opposition. Only recently, all three factions have agreed on the idea that ‘a senior MLA, who is acceptable to all three factions, should be made the Leader of Opposition.’ However, as of now, the BJP has not found any senior MLA on whom all three factions can agree.
