Tridib Raman
The string of defeats in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Delhi has not only dampened the morale of the Congress top leadership but has also exposed their electoral strategies time and again. Their trust in regional satraps is now wavering, and there’s growing talk of collective leadership in the states. Hence, with the upcoming assembly elections in Punjab, Kerala, and Assam, the Congress high command wants to tread very cautiously. Recently, during a casual conversation, veteran Congress leader from Himachal, Raja Vijayendra Singh of Nalagarh, discussed with state CM Sukhwinder Sukhu, suggesting, “Since elections are due in Punjab and Captain Amarinder Singh still holds some influence there, why doesn’t Congress approach him? Anyway, his move to the BJP didn’t benefit him much. The saffron party had promised to make him a Governor, but that promise is yet to be fulfilled.” Raja Vijayendra, incidentally, is also related to Captain Amarinder’s family. So, CM Sukhu passed on this message to Delhi. According to sources, soon after that, Captain Amarinder Singh received an invitation for tea from Sonia Gandhi’s office at 10 Janpath. Captain, being one of Rajiv Gandhi’s Doon School friends, also shares close family ties with Sonia. It is said that around ten days ago, Captain Amarinder Singh visited Sonia Gandhi at her residence, where the two leaders had a warm and lengthy conversation. At the very beginning of the meeting, the Captain made it clear: “There’s no question of me returning to Congress, because the moment I take a step in that direction, central investigative agencies will pounce on me like hungry lions.” However, he assured Sonia that he would secretly support Congress in the upcoming Punjab elections, provided the party allows his daughter, Inder Kaur, to contest the assembly election from Patiala city, and his wife, Preneet Kaur, be given a Congress ticket for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. It is said that Sonia accepted the proposal without hesitation and said, “Tell your daughter to come and meet Rahul once.” So, new political equations in Punjab are already beginning to take shape.
PK IS LOSING HIS CHARM IN BIHAR
Tridib Raman
Prashant Kishor, the political strategist turned leader, had put everything on the line for his ‘Bihar Badlav Rally’—organizational skills, money, media power, everything. He claimed that this rally would set a new benchmark in terms of crowd size, asserting that 500,000 people would attend. Arrangements for food and drinks were made accordingly, with chickpeas and rice provided at ₹80 per person, reportedly costing ₹4 crore. Chairs were set up in Gandhi Maidan based on this estimate, but by 3 PM, only a few thousand people had gathered, prompting organizers to gradually remove chairs from the back. PK arrived an hour and a half later, stating that the administration had delayed his arrival. Videos of some women at the rally went viral, where they mentioned coming with their village head, receiving ₹2,000, and being promised gold chains during elections. However, these women were unaware of who Prashant Kishor was. PK’s plan seems to involve targeting the Muslim and backward vote banks through his Jan Suraj Party, potentially undermining the RJD-Congress alliance and benefiting the BJP. However, this strategy doesn’t seem to be working so far. Reports suggest that BJP conducted a ground survey to assess PK’s party’s electoral performance, which indicated less than 2% vote share. Consequently, BJP appears to have withdrawn its financial and resource support for PK. It seems PK has realized the situation, as he subtly admitted during a press conference at Patna Press Club after the rally, saying, “The 2025 election is not as important for me; honestly, I am preparing for the 2030 election.”
WHEN WILL BJP GET A NEW PRESIDENT?
Tridib Raman
Suspense still remains over who will be the new BJP president. However, sources say that in a recent discussion between Modi and the RSS, a general consensus has been reached on the name of Manohar Lal Khattar, who is a former RSS pracharak. It is possible that Khattar’s name will be announced by April 15. Sources reveal that BJP has identified 36 provinces across the country—including states and union territories—for state-level presidents. And before the national president is elected, at least 17 of these provinces must have their state presidents appointed. As of today, BJP has chosen new presidents for 15 provinces. So, after Tamil Nadu, announcements for some other states are also likely in the coming days. BJP’s national executive meeting is scheduled in Bengaluru on April 18, and speculation is that the final seal of approval on the name of the national president will be given during this meeting.
ONE STEP FORWARD IN 26/11 CASE, ANOTHER STILL PENDING
Tridib Raman
After a long extradition process, even though India has finally succeeded in bringing the 26/11 attack conspirator Tahawwur Rana to the country, the mastermind and key plotter of this terrorist attack, David Coleman Headley, has still not been handed over by the United States. Although India made multiple efforts to bring Headley, the U.S. did not agree—because Headley was a U.S. intelligence agent who turned double agent and started working for ISI as well. However, Headley has assured India that “he will help uncover the unresolved layers of the 26/11 attacks.” He had also given online testimony in 2016 in the Abu Jundal trial. But after Headley’s arrest in 2009, the U.S. refused his extradition to India, citing a plea bargain. India now wants to turn Rana’s extradition into a big opportunity and is trying to bring back 34 most-wanted gangsters hiding in 17 countries. This list includes the 1993 Mumbai blasts accused Dawood Ibrahim. According to information received by India, these 34 most-wanted criminals are hiding in countries like Pakistan, the U.S., Australia, Canada, Azerbaijan, Germany, Indonesia, the U.K., and the UAE. Sources say that the Delhi Police has prepared a ten-point list, under which special monitoring is being done on those jails where internet and mobile phones are being freely used and where foreign criminals are lodged.
HOW SHAH STOPPED ANNAMALAI FROM TASTING POWER
Tridib Raman
After much effort, BJP has finally removed Annamalai in Tamil Nadu and declared Nainar Nagendran, who came from AIADMK, as its new president. Along with this, it was also made clear that “the next election in Tamil Nadu will be fought by BJP in alliance with Palaniswami’s AIADMK, and that too as a junior partner.” Actually, a tape of Annamalai reached BJP’s Chanakya, Amit Shah, in which Annamalai is heard telling a senior Tamil Nadu journalist, “What’s in it for BJP here? I am thinking of launching my own new party. Whoever is aligned with Hindutva in Tamil Nadu, I will bring them with me. All the district presidents I’ve appointed for BJP here will also come with me.” Coincidentally, this conversation tape landed with Amit Shah. He immediately summoned Annamalai and told him bluntly, “We have so many cases against you that your entire life would go in handling them. But we are not taking any action right now only because you’ve served the party well. So kindly sit quietly and let us stay quiet too.” Annamalai was shaken—so much so that it’s been a month, and he still hasn’t dared to say a word. After that, despite objections from the RSS, BJP announced Nagendran’s name as the new party chief.
TEA, TALK & A TINGE OF TENSION
A few days ago at Jaipur Airport, BJP’s queen bee Vasundhara Raje Scindia and Congress leader Bhanwar Jitendra Singh had an unexpected face-to-face encounter. After a brief exchange of courtesies, both leaders proceeded to have tea together in the VIP lounge. After their tea session, as they stepped out of the airport, journalists surrounded them. Most of the questions were aimed at Jitendra Singh: “You were neither given a Rajya Sabha seat nor made the state party president. Are you now thinking of joining the BJP?” To this, Bhanwar sharply retorted to the reporters, “Sir, you could ask the same question to Vasundhara ji too, couldn’t you?” Following this witty exchange, both leaders smiled and walked away.
