What is happening within the Congress state unit in Tamil Nadu? While most of the unit is in favour of maintaining the alliance with the DMK, there is a move by certain individuals to woo the actor turned politician Vijay and his fledgling TVK. The moot question here is whether this is the Congress party’s official stand to explore a new alliance. Or is this merely posturing to show the DMK on the eve of crucial seat sharing talks, that the Congress has options? But this kind of messaging didn’t go down too well in Bihar, where the Congress used the crowds gathered by Rahul Gandhi’s rallies on SIR to bargain seats with the RJD, only to come up a damp squib in the elections that followed. Will the DMK be pressurized into giving Congress a larger share of seats or will it call its bluff? Given the fact that the outreach to the TVK from the Congress is being done mainly by one individual whose only political claim to fame is that he is close to Rahul Gandhi, the Tamil Nadu state unit is wondering whether this move is at Rahul’s behest. Or is it opportunistic adventurism that may end up destabilizing an old alliance?Â
CABINET RESHUFFLEÂ
The buzz is on once again about a cabinet reshuffle in Delhi. There are two reasons for this. One is that with the new BJP president in place, it is but logical that a reorganization at the party headquarters should follow suit. This will have a domino effect on the cabinet, with some ministers being deputed for party work. Also, this tenure of the Narendra Modi government is coming up for a halfway mark and it makes sense to undertake the reshuffle before the crucial Uttar Pradesh polls due in 2027. If you recall, the last major reshuffle of the Modi Council of Ministers was undertaken in July 2021, right before the crucial 2022 UP elections. And moreover, what better way to distract from the headlines generated by the never ending Truth Social posts? A reshuffle, or at least the buzz of one is exactly what the spin doctor would order.Â
RSS & BJP ON SAME PAGE IN UPÂ
If there was one takeaway of the recently held All India Executive Committee meeting of the RSS in Vrindavan on 5 January, is this—the Sangh is all geared up for the coming Uttar Pradesh polls. If you recall, the blame for BJP’s below par performance in Uttar Pradesh during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls was laid at the door of BJP-RSS infighting. The number of BJP MPs from the state came down from 62 to 33. There was speculation that the RSS did not come out in full strength to support the BJP due to differences with the leadership in New Delhi. But a lot of saffron water has flown under that bridge and there is no doubt that the RSS would be working full steam to ensure a third term for the Yogi Adityanath led government. A recent hour long meeting between the Prime Minister and the UP Chief Minister too did much to lay rest any speculation of a rift between the two. But the other side is not resting easy, for former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has been on ground, holding strategy sessions with district level party workers and also addressing daily press conferences where he raises local issues against the state government. This will be an interesting battle to watch and the build-up has already begun.Â
