By Tridib Raman
This is a matter from just a couple of days ago, when the enthusiastic spokesperson of Congress, Supriya Shrinet, made a symbolic post on X, hinting at a connection between BJP-Rajasthan-Delhi-Le Meridien-Russia, which caused an uproar in political circles. The final blow came from a post by the RJD handle, which revealed the entire matter. Let’s delve into it now. The enthusiastic minister of this state has filled social media with both his stated and unstated stories. Recently, under the guise of an ‘investment’ trip, the minister travelled to South Korea and Japan with some of his close officials. During this trip, there was more talk about his 75,000-rupee designer shoes and 35,000-rupee sunglasses than about any investments. It is not yet known how much foreign investment the minister managed to secure for his state from these two countries, but he worked hard. So much so that when he returned to his homeland, he was exhausted. In an effort to rejuvenate his body and mind, he booked a room in a famous five-star hotel in New Delhi and sought the services of a well-known Russian woman. Coincidentally, this Russian woman was already under the ‘surveillance’ of the Delhi Police for some reasons, so as they followed her, the Delhi Police also reached the minister’s room and, as sources say, caught them ‘red-handed.’ As a result, the minister was forced to reveal his identity. The matter reached the Police Commissioner, who immediately called a known officer in the CM’s office to ask, “Is this person really a minister of the state?” The answer was ‘yes.’ Once the matter became known, it spread far and wide. The state’s CM immediately called the Commissioner and pleaded, “Please do not reveal his identity; it would bring disrepute to the state.” This was recorded in the police file, but news has wings; somehow, it escaped through a window and took flight into the open sky. The matter has now reached the top ranks of the BJP, and following orders from the high command, the duty-bound Nadda has summoned the state’s Chief Minister, demanding a full account of the minister’s wrongdoing. It is likely that, in the coming days, the minister may be removed. However, the party does not want to risk alienating the vote bank of the poor and marginalised caste that the minister represents, so whatever actions are taken will be done cautiously. The party high command has also learned that the minister has long been a headache for the state’s CM. By forming a caucus of some of his favourite officials, the said minister is reaping huge benefits, and their frequent trips to Dubai are also being viewed in this context. When the CM learned about the minister’s racket, he transferred one of the minister’s favourite officials out of his department, but the minister’s influence was such that the official returned to his old department within a few days. In the latest developments, it seems unlikely that the minister’s elevated status will be restored, as this time the matter has reached Delhi, which is determined to maintain a sense of purity and morality within the world’s largest political party.
Pawan Kalyan: From Guevara to Golwalkar
By Tridib Raman
Actor Pawan Kalyan has emerged as the new proponent of Hindutva in Andhra Pradesh’s politics, who, incidentally, is also the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra and the President of the Janasena Party. Amidst the recent controversy over Tirupati Balaji’s laddoos on social media, a video of him is going viral, where he is seen cleaning the temple stairs, while chants of “Hindus are in danger” echo all around. Pawan has recently adopted the saffron ideology, whereas only four or five years ago, he used to be a staunch leftist. He even advocated for combining the red colour of leftism with the blue of Bahujan (Dalit politics), as Pawan himself belongs to the Kapu caste, considered a Shudra farmer community settled in the Godavari delta. It is not a coincidence, therefore, that a large number of Pawan’s fans used to be Dalits and Muslims. Back then, he spoke of revolution, and his ideology was inspired by Cuba’s revolutionary leader, Che Guevara, so much so that posters of Che Guevara could be seen on the vehicles and offices of his party. In his movies, too, he brought to life the character of a ‘young angry man,’ who raises his voice against the injustices prevalent in society and expresses his anger. Immersed in Marxist ideology, Pawan even mocked irrational Hindu rituals in some of his films. However, when he entered politics, he failed to build a dedicated cadre of his own. Initially, he relied on his elder brother’s political party and later aligned himself with established regional parties. Although the people of the Krishna-Godavari delta region are characterised by high-level Sanskrit-Telugu cultural values, predominantly belonging to the Konaseema Brahmin community, the Kapu community also holds significant influence here. The RSS has been active in this area for quite some time, yet it hasn’t managed to bring forth a major local saffron leader. Pawan seems eager to seize this opportunity. Considering the existing political dynamics, he has now shifted his allegiance from Guevara to Golwalkar.
Adani’s Favourite Khara could be new SEBI Chief
By Tridib Raman
Congress has continued its all-out attack on the current SEBI chief Madhabi Puri Buch, the heat of which is so intense that even the saffron top is sweating. In the winter session of Parliament, the opposition has made all preparations to corner the Modi government on this issue. The Centre wants Buch to complete her term ignoring all the attacks of the Congress. Whistleblower Hindenburg had raised questions on the Adani connection of Madhabi and her husband Dhaval Buch and claimed in the documents released by it that ‘the SEBI chairperson had a stake in the offshore company used by this top industrialist of India in the ‘money syphoning scandal’. So, in a way, Madhabi Buch’s timely or untimely departure is certain. It is said that the Adani Group has put forward the name of its confidant and former chairman of State Bank of India, Dinesh Kumar Khara, for the new SEBI chief. It should be noted that the country’s largest bank, State Bank of India, has given a loan of more than 27 thousand crore rupees to the Adani Group. When no financial institution was ready to give a loan to Adani in view of the opposition of environmentalists around the world to operating a coal mine in Australia, SBI came as a saviour for the Adani Group and agreed to give a loan of one billion dollars to Adani. Although Arundhati Bhattacharya was the head of SBI at that time, Khara had helped Adani a lot in getting the loan. Later, Adani also made every effort to get Khara to the top post of chairman. From 2020 to 2023, as long as Khara held the post of Chairman of SBI, Adani Group also had a great time. So, whether it is Adani’s SEZ projects, airport, green energy or wind energy projects, Khara did not disappoint the Adani Group. Khara also sanctioned a loan of 12 thousand 770 crores to Adani Group for Navi Mumbai International Airport while being the chairman. Now once again Dinesh Kumar Khara is going to hit the jackpot.
Bihar is grappling with a flood, But Political Scene is Thriving
By Tridib Raman
Half of Bihar is submerged in water, and people are crying for help. Rivers like Kosi, Ganga, Gandak, Mahananda, and Bagmati are wreaking havoc. Fields, barns, and even houses are all underwater, and people have taken to the roads. However, the leaders here are unable to give up their fascination with political tours. RJD’s firebrand leader Tejashwi Yadav is taking out the ‘Aabhar Yatra’, and Nitish Babu’s JDU is conducting the ‘Karyakarta Samagam’. Meanwhile, the saffron party, BJP, is actively pushing its ‘membership campaign’. In the midst of these political activities, the newly-minted leader Prashant Kishor has announced his new political party following his ‘Jan Suraj Yatra’. Even the Modi government’s confidants Upendra Kushwaha and Chirag Paswan are on their respective political yatras. The BJP is apprehensive about allies’ yatras, but Chirag’s spirits are high, and his eyes are firmly set on the Chief Minister’s chair. As for PK, his entire political strategy seems to be making things easier for the BJP at the moment. He is working to unite his fellow Brahmins while trying to split the Muslim votes. Nitish Kumar has been talking about ‘early elections’ in Bihar for a long time. So, now he wants that if it is not possible with Maharashtra and Jharkhand, then at least Bihar assembly elections should be held in February along with Delhi elections. Nitish was well aware that BJP’s current national president JP Nadda is coming to Patna, but without caring about him, he recently reached Delhi on his non-political trip. Because he knows that Nadda is not capable of taking any decision in this regard, he reached the capital to talk candidly with the BJP top brass. Amidst all the electoral activities in Bihar, the search for the missing Congress continues. When the houses of Harijans were burnt in Nawada recently, K. Raju reached Nawada as Rahul Gandhi’s emissary, where he promised the victims that ‘Congress will build their houses.’ In response, JDU spokesperson and minister Neeraj Kumar quipped, ‘When the Congress leaders of Bihar are selling the party’s land in the state, how will this party manage to build houses for Dalits?’
Signs of Rebellion in Punjab BJP
There are indications of a storm brewing within Punjab’s saffron politics. If the BJP leadership does not quickly regain control, a split may occur within the party. The restlessness of leaders who left Congress to join BJP with Captain Amarinder Singh suggests they could depart from BJP at any moment and return to their former party. However, the biggest challenge they face is that their old party is no longer welcoming them with open arms as it once did. Captain Amarinder has effectively distanced himself from active politics due to his poor health, and his wife, Preneet Kaur, suffered a significant defeat in this Lok Sabha election. The BJP does not appear eager to fulfil the promises made to Captain’s close associates. For instance, state BJP chief Sunil Jakhar claims that the party high command promised to make him a minister at the Centre by bringing him to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan. Instead, the opportunity to become a minister has gone to Ravneet Singh Bittu, who was once favoured by Rahul Gandhi during his time in Congress. Jakhar is particularly aggrieved by Bittu’s appointment as a minister at the Centre. Additionally, many Congress stalwarts are opposed to Jakhar re-entering the party as a ‘spent cartridge.’ His most significant opposition comes from Pratap Singh Bajwa, the Congress leader of the opposition in the Punjab Assembly. Congress leaders believe that the party will make a grand comeback in the next assembly elections in 2027. They view Aam Aadmi Partyas their only competition and predict that, in 2027, AAP will struggle with its anti-incumbency factor, making Congress’s return to power highly likely.
PM’s Elephant Memory
In the game of manipulating statistics, the PM is unmatched. Recently, on ‘World Elephant Day,’ the Prime Minister posted on X, stating, “For us in India, elephants are an integral part of our culture and history. It is a matter of great joy that their numbers have increased in recent years.” However, an English daily reported that the report on the elephant census, conducted every five years and prepared in February 2024, was printed but not released, citing the lack of data from the Northeast. Incidentally, one-third of India’s elephant population resides in the Northeast. Sources reveal that the report was withheld because the data indicated a 20% decline in the elephant population over the past few years. So, what will happen to the PM’s claims now?
