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The government’s strong reaction to the news of the death of two Russian Army-recruited Indian nationals in the Ukraine war asking the Russian authorities for an early release and return of all Indian nationals serving in the Russian Army does not seem to be quite justified. It may be even considered as uncalled for in view of the long standing defence relations between the two countries that had tremendously benefited India during a difficult period. There is nothing secret about those young Indians going to Russia to take up helpers’ jobs in the Russian Army. The government was fully aware of it. Jobs in security forces are never risk-free. All Indian recruits were believed to have been apprised of the risks related to the job before they signed the contract to join as “army security helpers.”

The swearing-in of Nara Chandrababu Naidu as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister was a significant event for Naidu personally, and to his party and for Indian politics, too. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top BJP leaders witnessed the 74-year-old politician taking the oath for the fourth time, marking a significant political comeback. Despite being marginalised in state and national politics for over two decades, Naidu is grateful. He has once again proven that one should never underestimate a politician until he is out of the game.

RSS leaders close to its chief Mohan Bhagwat are seeking to suppress news of a 'rift' between RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his "true sevak" remark. But events taking place inside the RSS do not validate the message that everything is ethical and politically correct.

Challenging long-standing narratives and sometimes setting them aside, 2024 Lok Sabha elections marked a pivotal moment in Indian politics. In sum, it is time for political pundits and pollsters to look at things they claim to know all about with an open mind. The common people need not bother themselves as they do not have "tunnel vision".

LUCKNOW: Shocked by the humiliating performance of the party in UP in the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP leadership has decided to assign 40 teams of two important leaders each to study the voting patterns. Each team will visit two constituencies and meet local leaders and find out why BJP candidates fared poorly in the Lok Sabha polls. The team will also assess the role of castes and the other issues responsible for the defeat of BJP candidates.

For a lawyer, when his chamber senior passes away, he naturally feels a loss. I am feeling a terrible loss on the passing away of senior advocate Murlidhar C. Bhandare, who lived a long and meaningful life into the mid-nineties.

Irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), an examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to medical courses, has raised many serious questions. A record number of 67 students obtained the perfect score of 720 out of 23,33,297 who appeared for the test. Never have more than three students got full marks in this test since 2020. Two, scores of candidates reported that they were not given question papers on time or were handed wrong question papers. Three, the Optical Marks Recognition (OMR) sheet of some students was torn and their results were delayed. Four, for no fault of several hundred candidates, their results were blocked.

The CPI(M) and its partners in the Left Front have been almost completely wiped out from the electoral map of West Bengal. Except for a single seat in the Rajya Sabha from this state, it has been a dry run for the Left since the 2021 Assembly elections. The CPI(M)-led Left Front has been yielding ground to Trinamool Congress since the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. The retreat turned into a rout after the BJP emerged as the principal opposition, replacing both the Congress and the Left on the opposition benches in the state Assembly.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has five years to create a capital city out of Amaravati. This is because elections play funny games and one of them is dashing the hopes of sitting governments dreaming of continuity. Who knows Jagan Mohan Reddy might be back with a vengeance after five years of Chandrababu and ‘Amaravati’ not yet Andhra Pradesh capital? Whoever thought Jagan Mohan Reddy would win in 2024 was feeding his bias, just like the supporters of Naveen Patnaik in Odisha and those of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the BJP headquarters.

Assessments by the RSS leaders attribute the BJP's setback in the Lok Sabha elections to the pervasive issue of arrogance among its leaders. This critique points to a critical introspection within the party, suggesting that overconfidence and hubris have significantly contributed to electoral losses. Arrogance, as highlighted, indicates disconnect between the party and the grassroots, potentially alienating voters who perceive such attitudes as elitist or dismissive. The organisation has further suggested the need for the BJP leadership to recalibrate its approach towards governance and public engagement. The emphasis on humility and responsiveness to people's concerns becomes paramount in rebuilding trust and support.