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Trouble for BJP in UP?With both deputy chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, KP Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, missing at the photo op event for legislators at Vidhan Sabha, murmurs of a divided BJP have again started doing the rounds. While Maurya was reportedly unwell, Pathak claimed to be busy at another event. However, the Opposition was quick to pounce on the missing deputy CMs, with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav asking chief minister Yogi Adiyanath to put his house in order. Over the past few months, there have been murmurs that all is not well between BJP's top brass in the state.

Security Scare? With Assembly polls in Chhattisgarh scheduled to take place later this year, regional party Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (Jogi)'s president Amit Jogi has decided to up the ante. The leader has been having regular run-ins with the Congress government in the state and also been on a tour of tribal-dominated Bastar region. However, police have asked him to cancel his tour to Chintalnar in Bastar's Sukma district, citing security reasons. Police are on alert in the region after four local BJP leaders were killed by suspected Maoists recently.

Early Holi for BJPWith the BJP doing well in assembly polls in the Northeast, Holi has arrived early for the party. Several senior saffron party leaders are scheduled to host Holi celebrations in the national capital over the days leading up the festival. With the latest win in these states, the leadership is particularly elated and the celebrations are likely to be held with much fervour. Several leaders are also using this occasion to reach out to senior leaders ahead of assembly polls scheduled to take place later this year.

What’s Cooking?There are many innovative ways used by various political parties to fight against their opponents. The Congress has found a novel way in Chhattisgarh where the party has set up a kitchen in front of the Enforcement Directorate office in Raipur. The move came days after state-wide raids by the agency. Several Congress leaders are being summoned for questioning in connection with the ongoing PMLA probe into the 'illegal coal levy extortion' case at the office. The kitchen is a small way to thank party cadre which turn up in support of these leaders each day.

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Promises to KeepGenerally, the political class is averse to sharing any news of failure or less-than-desired results in any sector. However, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu seems to be an exception. The senior leader shared visuals of the deplorable condition of the Yangte Road from Joram-Koloriang Highway and assured it would be improved soon. "Was astonished to find deplorable road condition of the Yangte road from Joram-Koloriang highway. Such poor state of roads are distant memories in other parts of Arunachal. I have promised the people that this road will be turned into one of the finest in the area,” Khandu promised on social media.

Rolling Out the Red CarpetWith delegates from several countries already in the national capital to attend the G-20 summit, the government has put in special efforts to improve the look of roads in the city. Beautifully sculpted elephants have been placed at roads leading up to the international airport to welcome G-20 foreign ministers and other travellers. These newest additions to the makeover of the IGI Airport-Dhaula Kuan stretch comes after placement of sculptures of lions and water fountains on the road as part of the beautification process that began last year.

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Foodie MinisterThe BJP has deployed its ministers and MPs on Lok Sabha pravas across the nation to create awareness about Modi government's public welfare schemes. These leaders have been asked to tour and stay in various parts of the nation during the exercise. Some leaders like Union law minister Kiren Rijiju seem to be also enjoying the local cuisine apart from doing the party work. "This is real India..!  We all relished traditional Tiwa food in Morigaon, Assam. Immense satisfaction to have such delicious local cuisine with our Assam BJP Karyakartas after attending many hectic programs, " the minister stated on social media and posted shots of sumptuous dishes.   

Security ReductionThe Himachal Pradesh government has decided to curtail security attached with officials deployed across the state. Personal security officers attached with all SDMs and additional district magistrates have been reduced. It is also understood that the number of vehicles in chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's official fleet has also been reduced. These measures come as the Congress government aims to put austerity measures into place to avoid wasteful expenditure.   

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Turncoat TroublesWith just a few months left for the Telangana Assembly polls, several leaders are facing a peculiar problem. It is believed that some BRS leaders want to join the BJP before the Assembly elections. However, these leaders are not doing so because of lack of assurance on tickets by the saffron party. The BJP is reportedly not promising anything concrete to turncoats, and hence, there has been no movement. Though some movement is expected on the joining the front as the election dates approach.  

Startup Enthusiasm

Paytm CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma has expressed his enthusiasm in a short 36-second video for Startup20, describing it as a platform for entrepreneurs to gather, share experiences and ideas, as well as make an impact in the startup world. Sharma, who is also the founder of India's largest mobile payment service, has asked aspiring entrepreneurs to share their stories and paths to success and contribute to the larger conversation about innovation and entrepreneurship. The first formal engagement group of its kind, Startup20, was established under India's G20 2023 presidency. By uniting all stakeholders on a single platform, the engagement group would serve as the voice of the global startup ecosystem.

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Busy Minister Union education minister and senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan, who has recently been made in-charge of Karnataka for the upcoming assembly polls, has been doing frequent rounds of the poll-bound state. He has been working extra hours to handle both running the ministry, launching important projects and going back to Karnataka every other week to build the party's campaign. Given the way he led the social media campaign of the party in Uttar Pradesh last year, Pradhan was given the charge of Karnataka state elections, and he's not leaving a stone unturned in reaching out to voters while carrying forward with his ministerial role as well.  

Unending WoesThe woes of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami seem to be unending. He has apparently been put under scanner by the Bharatiya Janata Party after the violent action against protesting students and unemployed youth. The BJP leadership is not happy with the hasty way the Dhami government handled these protests. It feels that the issue could further flare up and hurt the saffron unit by erosion of its goodwill.

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Ending VIP CultureIn what is being seen as an attempt at ending VIP culure, Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw has asked his staff to remove the bell used to call attendants in offices. The Minister has directed that the bell should not be used to call office attendants, but rather they should be called personally. To ensure that the instruction is fully implemented, Vaishnaw removed the bell in his own office first. The move intends to ensure that each employee here is given equal respect.  

Delayed CMTennis superstar Bjorn Borg waits for no man. This was seen to be true when Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai arrived late at the Bengaluru Open ATP Challenger by 1.5 hours. Borg was to be felicitated by Bommai along with Indian tennis star Vijay Amritraj. The felicitation event had to begin at 9.30 am, but Bommai landed at around 11.10 am. Punctual about time, Borg had visited the felicitation premises at least twice hoping it would begin, but soon left the place to watch his son Leo Borg play his first round match. The Swedish tennis legend Borg and his wife Patricia have been accompanying his son who qualified to play in the Bengaluru Open. Bommai was forced to watch the game for 15 minutes and later left the venue.   

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It’s Raining ComplimentsUnion Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju praised the Kerala High Court for its attempts at making the court procedure more people-friendly. The Union minister posted on social media: “Kerala's High Court sets an inspiring example by publishing judgments in Malayalam. This empowers citizens, particularly at grassroots level, by making Judgments more accessible in their language. Let's celebrate this historic step towards language empowerment!” The move has come for praise as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, over the past several years, too has been batting for empowering citizens through use of regional languages in judiciary.

Political Overtures in BiharIs Bihar politics again going to witness political rumblings? The rumour mills gathered pace as RJD scion Tej Pratap Yadav posted a cryptic tweet. The message read that he had seen and been blessed by Samajwadi patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav in his dreams. He further went on to say that he wanted to emulate and walk on the path of the late Samajwadi leader throughout his life. He also posted his photograph riding a bicycle, the SP symbol. With differences amongst Tej Pratap and Tejashwi Yadav emerging time and again, political circles are viewing this message with much interest.

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Cabinet Rejig BuzzRumours about an imminent rejig of Narendra Modi cabinet are doing the rounds again. The talk of a Central cabinet reshuffle has been doing the rounds over the past several months. Apart from the council of ministers, this time around, there is also a strong buzz about a similar reorganisation in the BJP's organisational set-up. With the Lok Sabha polls just about an year away, it is being considered as the right time to make these changes so that the persons accorded with the new responsibilities can acquaint themselves with these.   

Political HiringWith elections not too far away and with some bad press and controversy over the reading of old budget, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot too has fallen for the need for an image makeover. He has hired a political strategist to make him appealing. The mission is to ensure that Gehlot is acceptable to voters once again in the second round and also, more importantly, is able to counter Sachin Pilot, and show to the Gandhis he is not faded and is geared for a fight. The strategist earlier was hired by Pilot before this latest hiring, however, things didn't work out.   

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On Air GreetingsIndiGo Airline's 6E-262 crew welcomed MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar onboard with a greeting card. The note on the card reads, “Welcome onboard Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar”. The minister later shared a picture of the greeting note and thanked the airline for the gesture on social media saying “This is becoming a tradition with IndiGo-being welcomed with a greeting”. In response to his tweet, IndiGo wrote “your appreciation means a lot to us”.    

Ghar Wapsi for Etala?Telangana Chief Minister KCR's indulgent responses to criticism of his schemes by BJP leader Etala Rajender has reignited the rumour that he might rejoin BRS. During the budget session, KCR welcomed the suggestions of his old friend and replied to them graciously. Soon after the session ended, Etala made a four-day trip to Delhi. Though he made it clear that it was a personal trip, people are wondering what's cooking.   

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Short-Lived HappinessLast week, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that New Delhi was no longer in the top 10 most polluted cities of the world. However, the happiness was short-lived as the national capital's air quality deteriorated soon enough, triggering a return to the dreaded list of cities with the most polluted air.

Millets in Mid-day MealStudents in Chhattisgarh will be served mid-day meals made of millets as part of the government's initiative to promote the same. This comes after chief minister Bhupesh Baghel wrote to the Centre, proposing the inclusion of millets in the diet of children. From now, kids in 12 districts of the state will be served mid-day meals made of millets four days a week.

BJP Strikes BackDelhi BJP was able to score a major coup by getting its candidate Kausar Jahan elected as Haj committee chief. This is being seen as another round won by BJP over Aam Aadmi Party. Ahead of MCD Mayoral polls, this is considered a bad outcome for AAP. The way BJP is going after every post, it doesn't seem that the saffron unit will give up easily in MCD.

Leopard Seeking Date?Ghaziabad Bar Association has called for a strike at the District Court after a leopard was sighted on the premises at least twice this week. A resolution was passed by the Executive Committee of lawyers stating that there is an 'atmosphere of panic' amongst the lawyers. And it has called for addressing this important security issue arising out of human-animal conflict.

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Rajasthan Battle The Congress house in Rajasthan may be seemingly silent with just months to go for the Assembly polls. However, not everything is seemingly fine in the state unit. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's camp has apparently conducted a surgical strike against his former and known rebel Sachin Pilot. Many of Pilot's supporters have been won over using the carrot and stick policy by the Gehlot camp. It is believed that Gehlot has also assured the central leadership of the party that he will complete his term without any further noises from the rebel camp.   

Rahul Back in J&KWeeks after ending Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was back in the Union Territory, this time for a short vacation. He was seen skiing in snow through the slopes of Gulmarg. "As a reward, Rahul Ji treating himself to a perfect vacation in Gulmarg after successful Bharat Jodo Yatra," said a video shared on social media.   

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Poll Season in KarnatakaThough the Assembly polls in Karnataka are yet to be announced, polling on social media sites has already begun. A Twitter poll that was conducted showed that people voted for Siddaramaiah to be the next CM. While incumbent CM Bommai came last on the list. The poll was put out by a user called PLE ktka and the handle has over 10k followers. Nearly 34% of people said Siddaramaiah should be the next CM while 8.6% people voted in favour of Bommai.   

Shivraj Singh Chouhan's Troubles Senior BJP leader and former chief minister Uma Bharati seems to be on a collision course with the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government. She has been openly attacking the Chouhan government over its liquor policy. It is learnt that the party's central leadership is trying hard to convince Bharati to stop her anti-liquor agitation against the state government as it could send a very bad message among voters. The state goes to Assembly polls later this year and Bharati could prove to be a biggest challenge, party leaders feel.    

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Baghel Raises Security Cover ConcernChhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has raised concern over excessive security cover for political leaders. Baghel pointed out that BJP leader and former CM Dr Raman Singh was still being provided Z+ level of security despite him not being in office for the past several years. BJP was quick to point out that security was provided to political leaders based on threat perception assessment provided by security agencies and the issue was not political in nature.   

Kamal Nath's Hindu OutreachCongress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath is trying to garner support from all corners with just months to go for state Assembly polls. The senior Congress leader called on Bageshwar Dham's Mahant Dheerendra Shastri. The Grand Old Party is seemingly interested in securing the support of the influential Hindu leader ahead of the state polls. At 28 years, Shastri is understood to be popular amongst the young population in the state. 

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Divine Intervention?Union minister Amit shah's roadshow in Mangaluru was cancelled due to security reasons is what was communicated by BJP Mangaluru district president Sudarshan Moodbidri. But one of the main reasons for the cancellation was because the locals of the region were observing the Koragajja Nema Utsav. Koragajja is a demi-god worshipped in the coastal region of Karnataka, especially in the Puttur, Mangaluru, and Bantwal districts. It is believed that the demi-god has power to give people what they may have lost in their lives --- wealth, health, social position, and relations. The demi-god also helps in resolving marriage disputes and bringing peace to homes, people believe. Shah's roadshow was cancelled due to this, but the party did not want to make this the reason and hence claimed that it was rescheduled for another date owing to “security reasons”.

Karnataka's Disappearing HighwayKarnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai's tweet showing a 10-lane highway between Bengaluru and Mysuru had netizens in splits when they found just six lanes and demanded to find the other four. Bommai was seen bragging about the 'world-class infrastructure' and posted a drone video of the Vande Bharat passing under the newly constructed expressway which is expected to reduce the travel time between Mysuru and Bengaluru from 3 hours to just 90 minutes. However, social media had a field day asking questions on the “disappearing lanes” of the expressway. One netizen posted that though it was supposed to be 10 lanes, “because of the 40 per cent commission that the contractors need to pay the BJP govt in Karnataka, it ended up as just 6 lanes”.

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Raj Bhavan’s TurnaroundThe hostility between the Raj Bhavan and Chief Minister's Office in West Bengal seems to have ceased. The new West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose kicked off the Budget Session of the assembly with a glowing speech of the Trinamool Congress government's achievements. This came even as Bharatiya Janata Party leaders sloganeered and walked out in protest. The change is in complete contrast to the rocky relationship between the then Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and chief minister Mamata Banerjee-led government.

Mission TripuraThe importance of winning the forthcoming Tripura assembly polls for the BJP can be gauged from the fact that almost the entire top leadership of the party was in the North-eastern state this week. The party is trying hard to retain the state and stop the Congress-Communist allies. Star campaigners of the party, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, party chief JP Nadda, Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, have already visited the state. The party's N-East strongman, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, is also maintaining a close eye on the campaign and strategy planning.

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On the Back FootHD Kumaraswamy may say that his comment on Pralhad Joshi and how the BJP is planning on making a 'Brahmin' the chief minister after polls in Karnataka is being misconstrued but the damage is done. The BJP has been going all guns blazing against their former ally for making the remark. Days later, Kumaraswamy claimed that he made a personal remark and that he had no intention of criticising a community. He had said Joshi belonged to a community that killed Mahatma Gandhi and Shivaji. He later said it was an emotional statement based on how the BJP handled the Belgavi border issue. The BJP on the other hand called it distasteful and one used to try and differentiate on caste lines.

Health WoesFormer Kerala chief minister Oomen Chandy is being airlifted to Bengaluru after his family alleged that the senior Congressman was denied proper treatment in Neyyatinkkara. Chandy's brother Alex wrote a letter to CM Pinarayi Vijayan, stating that the former CM was being given only Ayurveda medicines for his pneumonia instead of proper antibiotics. Chandy has been ailing since 2019 and has undergone treatment for this throat condition at Berlin's Charite Hospital as well as Healthcare Global Hospital in Bengaluru earlier.

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Minister’s DilemmaRailways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has been known to share quiz-like questions on social media for his followers. However, over the past few weeks, his timeline, instead of getting answers for these questions, has been flooded with public grievances. Most replies are related to problems being faced by railway passengers who want to highlight their plight. These are promptly answered by the Railway Sewa handle.

Notes for BossAhead of Rahul Gandhi's speech on President's address to Parliament, Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu was seen moving to the Treasury benches. Bittu was apparently preparing notes for the Wayanad MP by tallying his facts with what the BJP MP had stated in the address. The same notes were passed on to Rahul Gandhi later when he spoke during the debate.

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KCR’s Political LegacyHas Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao decided on his political heir? It seems that KCR's political legacy may soon be passed on to his son, K Taraka Rama Rao. The political circles are abuzz that the son may be anointed the next chief minister of Telangana. The speculation started after KTR replied to the debate on motion of thanks to the Governor's address in the state assembly this year. Traditionally, the chief minister replies to the debate. However, in KCR's absence KTR gave a two-hour reply which tore into the Opposition, fueling speculation over his imminent rise to the top job.

It's Over to Disaster ManagementWhile there is still no end to the crisis unfolding at Joshimath, the government officials as well as experts now seem to have taken a vow of silence until the final report comes in. During a recent press briefing when Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav was repeatedly asked about the issue and status of projects at the vulnerable Himalayan village, the minister kept referring to NDMA and said the matter is now being entirely dealt by the disaster management agency, steering clear of making any other statement on what factors might have led to the disaster. Just weeks before, NDMA too had issued a gag order, asking all government institutions to refrain from sharing any data on the natural disaster until the final report. Well, it seems the agency is certainly getting the final word.

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Seeking Son RiseThe Bharatiya Janata Party is facing peculiar trouble in Karnataka and Rajasthan as former chief ministers BS Yediyurappa and Vasundhara Raje have sought suitable positions for their respective sons. Yediyurappa is learnt to have demanded deputy chief ministerial post in Karnataka for his son Vijayendra, while Vasundhara Raje is learnt to have sought a “suitable” role in the central government for her son Dushyant Singh. The two leaders seemingly want to ensure a hand over their political legacy ahead of crucial assembly polls.

Wedding ChatterSunday saw the grandest political wedding celebration of the year in the national capital as BJP chief JP Nadda hosted a reception for his younger son's marriage. Among attendees were Prime Minister Narendra Modi, all his cabinet colleagues, chief ministers of BJP-ruled states and organisational functionaries. Several leaders, national and regional, vied with each other to get their photographs clicked at the important occasion. As not many of these were able to get to the stage due to the security concerns, Nadda was seen mingling with the guests and obliging with the mandatory photograph.

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NOTA Choice in Karnataka PollsKarnataka's speaker Vishweshwar Kageri has an interesting take. While speaking at an interaction on election reforms hosted by the Bengaluru urban district administration, he asked voters to choose NOTA in case they do not find a suitable candidate to vote in the upcoming elections. While Kageri may have made the statement in the background of asking voters to align with the campaign "My vote is not for sale", it is also interesting to note that his statement comes at a time when the Congress has filed a police complaint as well with the EC against the BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi who recently said he will give Rs 6,000 to his voters in this election. 

Missing Ally in Poster Just ahead of the Erode by-poll in Tamil Nadu, an AIADMK poster at a meeting of the Dravidian party caused quite the flutter amongst their ally BJP. The banner at the meeting did not have the photograph of a single BJP leader on it. Despite their alliance with the BJP, the absence of a single BJP leader's photo sparked a controversy. Some may even call it as a veiled message to the national party. While the EPS camp called it a printing mistake, another aspect added fuel to the fire.  The banner used the term National Democratic Progressive Alliance (NDPA) instead of NDA, in which BJP is the main national party --- raising questions on what the AIADMK especially E Palaniswamy camp had in mind.      

Missing Ally in Poster Just ahead of the Erode by-poll in Tamil Nadu, an AIADMK poster at a meeting of the Dravidian party caused quite the flutter amongst their ally BJP. The banner at the meeting did not have the photograph of a single BJP leader on it. Despite their alliance with the BJP, the absence of a single BJP leader's photo sparked a controversy. Some may even call it as a veiled message to the national party. While the EPS camp called it a printing mistake, another aspect added fuel to the fire.  The banner used the term National Democratic Progressive Alliance (NDPA) instead of NDA, in which BJP is the main national party --- raising questions on what the AIADMK especially E Palaniswamy camp had in mind.      

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False B’day AlarmBJP's National General Secretary Organisation BL Santhosh spent a major part of the day on February 1 clarifying to social media users that it was not his birthday. The senior BJP leader, who is also one of the most influential persons in the saffron party, was wished by several party leaders and even some Union ministers. While Santhosh politely thanked the people wishing him, he clarified to everyone offering wishes that it wasn't his birthday on Wednesday.

Sight to BeholdWith the new Parliament building's outside façade almost ready, many visitors were seen getting their photographs clicked during the ongoing Budget Session. As the building is expected to be completed within weeks, many parliamentarians were also talking about the imminent shift to the premises. The new building is part of the revamped Central Vista project. The foundation stone for the building was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2020.

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Millet Menu in ParliamentAs part of the government's plan to push millet consumption, Parliament's budget session will feature a new millet menu for Members of Parliament. On the millet menu are 'bajre ki raab' (soup), ragi dosa, 'ragi thatte idli', jowar vegetable upma as starters, and, for the main course, 'sarson ka saag' with 'makka/bajra/jowar ki roti', 'ragi poori with aloo ki sabzi', 'mix millet khichdi' and 'bajra khichdi' with garlic chutney. The desserts include kesari kheer, ragi walnut ladoo and bajre ka choorma. The Agriculture Ministry had recently hosted a millets-only lunch for all parliamentarians to usher in the International Year of Millets in 2023. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi had last year told MPs at the BJP parliamentary party meeting that consumption of millets should be made as popular as yoga.  

What's in the Name?At a recent event, the mispronunciation of some key personalities, including the Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar, caused some problems. With a nervous announcer at helm, odd pauses and mispronunciations were noticed. The minister was called “Rajeev Chandrasekharan” instead of Rajeev Chandrasekhar. After hearing this, people inside the room started looking at each other. Soon, thereafter, the announcer was relieved from the podium as the announcement operations were taken over by another official.  

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Bommai Calling Bommai?Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai celebrated his 63rd birthday on January 28 but his Twitter followers had a humorous moment when they found that the official handle of the CM too wished Bommai on his birthday. As one follower said, it was like the movie Karthik calling Karthik as Bommai wished himself on his birthday. Soon enough, the CMO realised the blunder and took down the post. But not before a few screenshots were taken.

Eatela's WoesThe rumour that Eatela Rajender is unhappy in BJP refuses to die down. The leader joined BJP from TRS because he wanted to defeat the pink party after a humiliating exit from it. However, it's said that he is not happy about how his followers are being treated. With party president Bandi Sanjay Kumar hogging all the limelight, Eatela might feel left out in the cold. As assembly polls are just months away, all his moves are being watched closely by friends and foes alike.

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Paper Leak Issues Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot took to social media for criticising the BJP-led Gujarat government over alleged paper leak for recruitment in the state. However, Gehlot immediately came under attack from the social media users for his inability to prevent similar paper leaks in Rajasthan. Several people also asked the Congress leader to stop such leaks in his state first rather than pointing fingers at others.   

Awaiting Lalu's Return? The political circles are abuzz with talk of an imminent major change in Bihar politics after the return of former chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. The RJD strongman, who has been under the watch of medical professionals after his kidney transplant, is expected to make changes to the top leadership of the ruling alliance soon. It is believed that the RJD wants a clear message for voters over leadership in Bihar as the country heads for general elections next year. 

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Sukhu's 'Desi' TouchNew Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has been winning hearts across the state due to his touch with the grassroots. This week, Sukhu was seen eating at a small roadside dhaba in Bilaspur. Sukhu, along with his entourage, had a hearty meal at the dhaba. This also provided him with an opportunity to connect with the local people and hear their problems.

Raje Returns?The wedding ceremony of BJP chief JP Nadda's son this week led to growing speculation of major changes in Rajasthan politics. The event in Jaipur saw former chief minister Vasundhara Raje meeting Nadda, fuelling talks that the central leadership may give her another shot at the top post in the state. BJP hopes to win the state back from Congress and is trying hard to end factionalism within saffron ranks. Rajasthan goes to assembly polls later this year.

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R-Day Flag Hoisting at BJP HQBJP National Vice-President and Former CM of Chhattisgarh Dr. Raman Singh hoisted the National Flag at party's Deendayal Upadhyay Marg headquarters in New Delhi. The vice-president of the party was roped in for the task generally reserved for the BJP chief as party president JP Nadda is out of national capital due to his son's wedding.   

MCD Mayoral PollsThe election for MCD Mayor seems to be an unending task. With the House being disrupted again, the poll was cancelled for the second time. While AAP and BJP traded charges over who was to be blamed for the delay in election, it seems that getting a mayor for Delhi will not be an easy task. With each passing day, the role of independents and smaller parties like Congress has also become important. The third date for mayoral polls is yet to be finalised.   

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Capt Amarinder’s New Innings?With Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari expressing his desire to step down from his post, speculation is rife over his replacement. It is learnt that the government may place former Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh as the next Maharashtra governor. Koshyari had courted controversy with his remarks on Chhatrapati Shivaji and the state has been witnessing a slew of protests by various groups over the same. Buzz in political circles is that the former Punjab chief minister, who had recently joined the BJP, might be sent to Maharashtra as his replacement.

Celebrating the Girl ChildFrom Union ministers to politicians from other parties as well as prominent personalities, people from all walks of life shared posts and pictures on the occasion of National Girl Child Day. The posts highlight a common idea on empowerment of girls and celebrating their achievements. Dharmendra Pradhan, Union education minister, shared a post stating that it is yet another day to prioritise education and health for girls, ensure equitable opportunities and empowerment and remove gender-based stereotypes. MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar posted a collage featuring photos of female athlete Deepa Karmakar, cricketer Mithali Raj, as well as Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu and mentioned in his tweet that 'Give her a pen today and she will design tomorrow's India'. Similarly, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge shared a picture and wrote that gender equality is the foundation of progress.

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Khattar's Troubles Weeks after BJP's defeat in Himachal Pradesh, the Manohar Lal Khattar government may be facing trouble as its ally Jannayak Janta Party is keen to push for Old Pension Scheme implementation in Haryana. Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala has publicly demanded clarity on the implementation of OPS. The JJP is insisting on an announcement of a rethink on the issue or its remodeling to help ensure that employees are not angered.