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KOLKATA: Political observers, bureaucrats – retired and serving – and employees’ unions in Manipur are intrigued at the prolonged indecision on the part of the Union government on the issue of appointment of advisors to aid and assist the Governor who is in command of the administration since February 13 when President’s rule was imposed on the state. Thus, almost 10 weeks have passed but there is no word yet on posting advisors.

Filmic conclusions can be happy and unhappy. This one is filmic because it began with an interview involving filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar and needs a grand opening: Will cousins Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray end estrangement and join hands against the BJP and the Shinde Sena? To Manjrekar, Raj Thackeray is the sort who will employ "anything for Maharashtra", a sentiment that tugs at the heart of every ‘Marathi’.

The visit of the US vice president, J.D. Vance beginning Monday indicates a subtle turn in the relations between the two countries, India and US. There is a personal note in this four day visit amidst the turmoil in global trade over Trump’s tariff war.. Vance is known as a hawk and bit abrasive also. But there is another side, his family- his wife Usha a lawyer of Indian origin who has pride in her Telugu ancestry. Through Usha, Vance is conversant with much of Indian culture and history.

India is in urgent need to save its cities, people, and economy from multiple crises. Politics in classification of urban and rural areas may not save it, rather it creates mismatch between the stark reality on the ground and the proper planning and effective action plan. There is no escape from urban transformation now, or else the country would fall into unprecedented crisis.

RSS had worked out an inclusive strategy to arouse majoritarian communal passion in Bengal and turn the state in an ethnic violence turf, but even before the mission could be accomplished the plot got exposed. After initial incidents of violence that took place on April 11, which claimed two lives, the Hindus and Muslims of Murshidabad had come to realise that they have been made to walk through minefield and quietly retreated.

The Bihar polls at the end of the year are pretty unpredictable. As of now, there will be no cakewalk for the BJP, RJD, Congress or the JD(U). The churning is quietly taking place in Bihar politics. There could be a potential shift in power dynamics. The BJP, playing second fiddle to the Janata Dal (United) for the past two decades, is eyeing a lead role. The RJD wants to form the head the government.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey was in his 'no holds barred' role Saturday, targeting the Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna and the Supreme Court for "taking sides" in the alleged “religious wars”, Dubey claimed was raging in India. Dubey accused CJI Khanna of being the kingpin.

KOLKATA: Budgetary provision and mid-year revision for Manipur for fiscals 2024 and 2025 lost much of their relevance as the small state, currently under President’s rule since February 13, was witness to widespread ethnic violence that erupted on May 3, 2023 and higher spending on security had to be the administration’s immediate response. Fund allocation for the police establishment rose sharply, necessitating steep cuts in allocations, inter alia, for rural development, agriculture, irrigation and flood control. The Centre was less than generous in immediately stepping up assistance. [N Biren Singh quit as chief minister on February 9].

Mahua Moitra is absolutely correct in saying: “Remember - a Pitbull does nothing without its master’s command.” Under the regimented operation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, no leader, irrespective of his stature, can dare to make any observation, on sensitive issues, without their tacit support and approval.

While describing Article 142 of the Constitution of India as a “nuclear missile against democratic forces, available to the judiciary 24x7,” Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar voiced strong concerns over the judiciary’s drift into executive and legislative functions.