Following PM’s Template: Fadnavis to Restrict Public Access to Mantralaya

Access to Mantralaya, Maharashtra’s state secretariat, is scheduled to get tighter in Devendra Fadnavis regime 2.0. Glass flap barrier gates are being installed at various entrances to control access of visitors along with introduction of RFID and facial recognition access in high-security zones at Mantralaya. State BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankhule has already written to his party cadres to coordinate with ministers through liaison officials, who will be sitting at the BJP office. The BJP ministers too have also been asked to hold weekly or fortnightly janata durbars at the party office. Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party too are expected to follow suit and facilitate a similar policy for their party workers from their party offices. The idea is to reduce footfalls at Mantralaya as also to rein in middle-men, who tend to approach ministers for favours like transfers of officials or to bag contracts. Ajit Pawar has already asked his cadres to not seek transfers of officials or contracts, particularly if they are going to sub-contract the work to others. Maharashtra’s earlier chief minister Eknath Shinde prided on being known as a common man’s CM and believed in open access attracting huge delegations of party workers flocking to him at Mantralaya regularly. The legislative assembly sessions under Shinde were known to be particularly crowded with ministers complaining of not even being able to walk properly in the crowded corridors of Vidhan Bhavan. Since Fadnavis’ taking over, he has first shifted the CM’s public relations officials on the lower fifth floor, already truncating access of journalists to the CM’s office. Looks like Fadnavis has taken a leaf out of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s playbook. (By Hepzi Anthony

Has Fear Of Rout In Bypolls Made Akhilesh Yadav Take About-Turn To Aastha?

In a surprise move, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav decided to take a dip at Triveni Sangam on Republic Day during the ongoing Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj. The SP leader, who was hitherto not willing to share his travel plans and insisted that many of his party leaders have been visiting the Kumbh and not publicising it, was found sharing video of his holy dip in the party’s X handle. It is not clear if Akhilesh had rushed to Kumbh ahead of the prestige battle of Milkipur byelection on Feb 5 after the wipe-out he faced in November byelections losing majority of the seats to the BJP. Sharing details of his Kumbh dip, he asserted that he had taken 11 dips. In the run-up, he had even lashed out at UP CM Yogi Adityanath for holding a Cabinet meeting in Prayagraj last week and later having a holy dip with his ministers at Sangman. What made Akhilesh take about turn to aastha? Was it the fear of drubbing in Milkipur? Giving back to the SP leader, Yogi had attacked Akhilesh for spreading false propaganda about the Maha Kumbh and playing with the faith of India. In turn Akhilesh accused the BJP of misusing the police in the Milkipur elections. Apart from this, there was also a heated exchange of words between Yogi and Kejriwal in Delhi, and not cleaning up Yamuna. Instead of praising UP’s scientific efforts in keeping Ganga clean for Maha Kumbh, Akhilesh even dared Yogi to do achaman(a purifying ritual by drinking water) in Yamuna at Mathura. All this to express solidarity with Kejriwal, who himself is seeking another term to clean up the river in Delhi. (By Lakshmi Iyer)

Fresh Dispute Erupts Between Tollywood Directors And Cine Federation

As the year begins, the Federation of Cine Technicians and Workers of Eastern India (FCTWEI) finds itself at the centre of a fresh controversy in Tollywood. Reports suggest that director Kaushik Ganguly’s upcoming film has encountered hurdles with the Federation, raising concerns about whether the shooting will commence as scheduled. Sources indicate that the shoot for Kaushik’s new project was set to begin on January 27 in North Bengal, however, complications over crew members have allegedly created friction between the director and the Federation. Rumours have also surfaced suggesting that the Federation has “blacklisted” Kaushik. This follows past disputes between Tollywood directors and the Federation, tracing back to July of last year, when director Rahul Mukhopadhyay faced a similar standoff, leading to the suspension of his Puja film’s shoot. Rahul’s case escalated tensions between the Federation and the Directors’ Guild, which was later mitigated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after her intervention. Meanwhile director Joydeep Mukhopadhyay is facing similar issues as he prepares to start filming later this month. However, director Arindam Sil has got the green signal from the Federation even though he was suspended by the director’s guild over sexual harassment issue. Talk about selective treatment. Another layer to this controversy involves Federation President Swaroop Biswas’ earlier comments on workplace harassment. Last year, he claimed that 60% of directors faced allegations of sexual misconduct, coinciding with the city’s outcry over the rape and murder of a young doctor. Now, it is learnt that TMC minister Aroop Biswas, brother of Swaroop Biswas, might intervene to resolve the matter. (By Tanya Bagchi)

Jammu & Kashmir Leaves Mumbai Beaten, Bruised And Embarrassed!

Jammu & Kashmir is not a minnows in India’s domestic first class cricket environment. Yet regarded as a poor cousin when juxtaposed against the giants of Indian cricket – Mumbai. The team from the northern most State of the country brought down the 42-time winner and the defending champion in a league match of the Ranji Trophy tournament with four full sessions of eight hours remaining in a four-day match. Jammu & Kashmir showed the drive and ambition to put it across a side that had India captain Rohit Sharma and India’s Test match opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Mumbai also boasted of Shreyas Iyer and a few more star players. More than a decade ago Jammu & Kashmir had scored a sensational win against Mumbai at the Wankhede stadium. The fortunes of the most recent clash swung here and there, but eventually Mumbai shot out for 120 in the first innings and were beaten, bruised and embarrassed. Both Rohit Sharma — woefully out of form — and Yashasvi Jaiswal were accommodated in the playing XI at the expense of an in-form batter and the new kid on the block17-year old Ayush Mathre who had scored over 400 runs in his debut first class season. Mumbai ought to have found a way to find a place in the XI for the teenager who was as they say in cricket in “good nick”, but the champion team did not, and paid a heavy price conceding all six points to its opponent and fret over qualifying for the knock-out. From Jammu & Kashmir’s point of view, it was a question of applying mind over matter and showing a terrific ambition in the opponent’s backyard! (By G Viswanath)

Mona Lisa Springs Up In The Maha Kumbh, Will She Enter Bollywood?

Vignettes from the greatest devotional gathering on earth are flowing in by the minute. Even social media enthusiasts are unable to keep up with the variety and speed with which scenes and stories are sprouting from the Maha Kumbh. Imagine the absolute stunning effect a 16-year old gorgeous girl had on all those who sighted her, selling bead necklaces in the surging crowd in Prayagraj. Meet Monalisa Bhosle from Indore, who had come with her family to pitch their tent and peddle bead necklaces and garlands, hoping to make a decent take from the huge crowd looking for bric a brac and mementos to carry home. Instead most stood transfixed by this girl’s dusky chocolate complexion and her unusual coloured eyes, her grace and absolute spontaneity in peddling her beads. She quickly turned into a sensation — crowds started milling around her, photos clicked by the hundreds, podcasts even more profuse. Monalisa Bhosle quickly retreated into her shell, overwhelmed by the attention and focus on her, she was not used to. Her father went a step further and packed her off to Indore fearing fame flooding his female offspring and the potential for trouble. Monalisa had only an unusual name for fame. It has started…the kite fliers who spread all kinds of news. Monalisa was whisked to a beauty parlour to transform her. There was talk about her playing second lead to Jahanvi Kapoor in a movie led by Ram Charan. If this were to happen, definitely a game changer for the Menaka of Mahakumbh. She came, she stood, and she transfixed all spotting her. (By Padma Ramnath)

Governor Vs Chief Minister: Bridges Burnt Again In Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has been on a multi-year mission of taking on the state government at every possible opportunity. Unusually, chief minister MK Stalin had made a placatory gesture by attending the Governor’s Republic Day ‘At Home’ reception at the Raj Bhavan in 2024. Much water has flowed down the Cauvery in a year and the ties could not have been in a worse state than in 2025 when Stalin, his cabinet, his party DMK and all their allies turned their back on the Governor. Using the Republic Day as an excuse to put out a message, the Governor slammed the state’s economy, its ability to draw investments and the room it gives anti-national elements. This wasn’t a great gubernatorial gesture as the head of state is not expected to run down his own state, which is what the former Police/intelligence official did. Just a day earlier, the CM had at least taken a humorous view of the confrontational Governor issue by pleading to Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah not to shift RN Ravi out of the Tamil Nadu Raj Bhavan. The CM said his presence and his utterances have helped the DMK grow in the state. In his constant tirade against the DMK, its Periyarist ideological roots that recognises no gods and his lambasting the law & order situation in the state, the Governor has only helped the DMK gain more popular support as it is seen as being targeted by a representative of the Centre. (By Tamil Raja)

Third Deputy CM In Maharashtra, Just A Rumour Or Posibility?

The ruling Mahayuti attempted push into a corner by the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi and the saffron alliance’s retaliation is now dominating Maharashtra politics. The Modi government at the Centre has caught the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray in a cleft stick by conferring the prestigious Padma Bhushan title on the late Manohar Joshi, who was a Lok Sabha speaker and the state chief minister. Although Joshi occupied such high posts, he was constantly humiliated by the supporters of Uddhav during his twilight years. The NDA government has thus created a quaint situation for Uddhav since he can’t either welcome the decision to decorate Joshi nor oppose it. Taking advantage of the situation, the Sena and the Congress have started a discussion of having a third deputy chief minister in Maharashtra. Although there is no basis for such a possibility since the state already has two deputy CMs, it is becoming embarrassing for the Mahayuti to discount the rumours since it could mean an indirect reflection on two of its leaders, Girish Mahajan of the BJP and Uday Samant of the Sena led by deputy CM Eknath Shinde. but it is generally felt that this is only an attempt to spread disinformation. The political game has gained significance as Sena MP Sanjay Raut has emphatically claimed that Samant has 20 party MLAs behind him. On the other hand, Samant has reiterated his total commitment to Shinde’s leadership. The Opposition has been planning to spread such confusing information to further deepen discontent in the Mahayuti quarters, it is felt. (By Dilip Chaware)

TN Governor Ravi Raises Several Critical Concerns In R-day Address, Upsets CM Stalin

Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi has never spared a moment to corner TN chief minister M K Stalin and his government on their shortcomings. He has been regularly sending reports to Home Minister Amit Shah on the state of affairs in TN, much to the irritation of the ruling DMK. With the assembly polls next year, his Republic Day eve address has upset Stalin. Without mincing words, Ravi raised several critical concerns regarding TN’s socio-economic and administrative challenges. He expressed concern over the declining autonomy of universities, alleging that the state secretariat exerts significant control over university operations, including academic councils and vice chancellors’ appointments. He also criticised the curriculum and syllabus management, stating they are now heavily influenced by the State Government Council for Higher Education. Ravi highlighted the rising menace of drug syndicates in the state, frequent reports of caste-based discrimination and violence against Dalits, including their denial of access to public spaces. The Governor stated that TN is no longer a leading destination for private investment, trailing behind states like Karnataka, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. He attributed this decline to dwindling foreign direct investment. Ravi further pointed to the state’s high suicide rate, at over 26 per lakh population — more than double the national average. He referred to Tamil Nadu as the “suicide capital of India”. He also raised concerns about national security, citing the National Investigation Agency’s discovery of terrorist modules and sleeper cells linked to international terror networks operating within the state. Notably, the Tamil Nadu government boycotted the tea party hosted by the Governor on Republic Day in response to these statements. (By Lakshmi Iyer)

Tamil Nadu Political Arena Is Gearing Up For 2026 Assembly Polls

The revolving doors of Tamil Nadu political parties have started moving furiously with faster entries and exits. Recently, the DMK welcomed 3,000 quitters from grandstanding Seeman’s Naam Thamizhar Katchi, a defection that left him speechless. A rare event for Seeman. Even as AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami held a grand meet to kick off his election prep, party managers were under pressure to bring huge crowds in all his pit stops as he undertook a whirlwind tour of 234 Assembly segments. Apart from his mega plans, he had a few tricks and turns to display even as his tour itinerary unfolded. The big story was former VCK Deputy Secretary and ThirumaValavan’s shotgun speaker, Aadav Arjuna joining the AIADMK. Just a few months back Aadav was in the news for taking on the DMK, its dynastic culture and the automatic elevation of Udhayanidhi Stalin as Deputy CM. “We need to end this born to entitlement of the top slot just because the party founder happened to be your grandfather,” said Arjuna. Arjuna’s arrows made Thiruma squirm, and he suspended his protégée for six months. Rumour mills were on overdrive asking, will it be Vijay or Edappadi whose outfit would welcome Aadav. He also earned brownie points to gently nudge poll strategist Prashant Kishor to “agree” to be the AIADMK’s Dronacharya, a deal said to have cost the party Rs 200 crore. (By Padma Ramnath)

Odisha BJP Rakes Up A 16-Year Old Ship Sinking Case To Embarrass Naveen Patnaik

In Odisha, the BJP never seems to lose an opportunity to take a pot-shot or criticise the former chief minister Naveen Patnaik style of governance. Patnaik’s party, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) constantly faces BJP’s onslaught ever since it came to power. The latest accusation relates to a 16-year old case — smuggling of iron ore as a result of which the ship Black Rose sank. Reportedly, the ship was illegally carrying 23,847 MT of iron ore and sank while unloading at Paradip port, it tilted and sank. Since it was an illegal ferrying of iron ore the documents too were fake. That was September 9, 2009. This old issue was raked up after Odisha’s BJP MLA Padmalochan Panda had briefed the Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Now the Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi is expected to initiate a formal inquiry into the whole incident vis a vis expose corruption in the then BJD-run government. Even though BJP is now pushing for an in-depth inquiry but what puts BJP in odd position is that it’s present MP Bhatruhari Mahtab who was earlier ex BJD MP had gone on record stating that Black Rose ship was carrying iron ore from Haldia and was re-loading at Paradeep port when the ship tilted and sank without attributing any kind of illegalities. Though everybody knows nothing concrete is going to emerge from this inquiry, it seems BJP’s strategy is to keep embarrassing and pushing the Opposition BJD party in the hope its image will take a knock. (By Sangram Mohanty)

Deputy CMIndian cricketMaha Kumbh 2025MaharashtraMantralayaMonalisaNational PoliticsRN RaviStalinTamil NaduTollywood Directors