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With Narendra Modi elected Prime Minister for the third time, this time at the head of a coalition government, the question at the uppermost on the people’s mind as he took the oath of office and secrecy at Rashtrapati Bhavan was: Could Modi be a coalition builder?

As the European Union (EU) navigates through a turbulent political landscape, Ursula von der Leyen, the incumbent President of the European Commission, is fervently working to secure a second term. This pursuit is particularly challenging given the recent EU parliamentary elections, where her party, the European People’s Party (EPP), emerged as the leading group but faces significant opposition from a surging far-right. Von der Leyen’s efforts highlight the intricate balance of power and the complexities of coalition-building in contemporary European politics.

Narendra Modi is the first Prime Minister of India who occupied that high office for a third term after making blatant communal speeches while campaigning and maligning Muslims with his hate-filled remarks.

In response to Israel’s genocidal siege of Gaza, a new progressive effort, the “Reject AIPAC” coalition, is calling on federal candidates to refuse endorsements and contributions from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), whose vast political operation has spent millions trying to crush left-leaning Democrats who criticize Israel. At the same time, the labour movement, including a burgeoning network of over two hundred unions and worker organizations, has raised calls for an immediate and permanent cease-fire in Gaza.

Growing cyber gaming frauds have prompted cyber wing of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to advise people to exercise caution when engaging in online gaming. The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (14C) of the MHA’s cautionary message says, “Play Smart, Play Safe, Stay Secure while gaming online”. The 14C wing has urged the people to download online apps only from authentic sources like Google Play Store, Apple Store and Official Websites. The 14C’s advice exhorts the people to “always check game app publishers to ensure website legitimacy. The warning calls upon the people to never fall in the trap of game in-app purchases and lucrative subscription offers.

Sikh separatist Amritpal Singh is the winner from Punjab’s Khadoor Sahib parliamentary constituency, putting the central government in a fix. The government appears undecided on what should be done with him. Speculation is rife over whether he would be released on interim bail from Dibrugarh Central jail in Assam, where he is being held, or other measures are under consideration.

The Centre has authorized the release of tax devolution of Rs 1,39,750 crore to states for June, and has tried to appear as if doing a great favour via a statement of the Union Ministry of Finance stating that this would "enable state governments to accelerate development and capital spending." The reality is that with this fresh release, the total amount devolved for the financial year 2024-25 to states, till June 10, 2024, stands at only Rs 2,79,500 crore, as against the provision of Rs 12,19,783 crore as per the interim budget 2024-25. The devolution is obviously much slower for fast development and for meeting critical expenditure.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that the NDA's return to power after a decade in office was a testimony to the good things that happened on its watch. This is beyond comprehension. How could he claim that the NDA governed the country? Nothing could be more bizarre. The people of India know that neither the BJP, nor the NDA, ruled the country. India was ruled by Narendra Modi as he would regularly boast that “this is the government of Modi; this is the word of Modi and this is the guarantee of Modi.”

One of the first tasks of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on assuming office for the third consecutive occasion was to sign a file awarding the 17th instalment of the Kisan Samman Nidhi. The act assumes significance as the BJP-led NDA government had been on an almost collision course with farmers who had laid a virtual siege to the National Capital with their tractors protesting against the three farm laws.

Narendra Damodardas Modi became the Prime Minister of India for the third term day before yesterday, and equalled Jawaharlal Nehru's tenure, statistically. However, did he earn the respect of the citizens of India that was equivalent to what Nehru had earned?