Positive spin

• The crisis engulfing the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra has left the party in utter disarray. But the development is being taken in a different light in Assam where the rebel minister, Eknath Shinde, and his supporters are holed up. Many Opposition leaders have criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government for extending “royal hospitality” to the rebel MLAs from Maharastra in Guwahati when the state is battling its worst flood in years. The chief minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, said that the visit of the members of the legislative assembly was a ‘positive development’ and even asked more people to visit the state so that it could earn some much-needed revenue. The Opposition parties were not impressed — the Trinamul Congress and the Congress slammed the government’s decision to support the rebels at a time when people were complaining about inadequate relief. The positive outcome of this has been the widespread coverage that the ongoing flood has received in the national media. Mediapersons, who went to cover the Shiv Sena crisis, are now also reporting on the flood.

Sore spot

• The new lieutenant-governor of Delhi, VK Saxena, has finally hit the CM, Arvind Kejriwal, where it hurts. The Aam Aadmi Party government has been bickering with Saxena over the latter’s interventions in day-today governance. The AAP has now cried foul over Saxena sitting on a file regarding Kejriwal’s visit to Singapore. The AAP derives political mileage out of foreign trips and widely publicises the participation of its leaders at international summits. Reportedly, the BJP has opposed Kejriwal’s trip as he doesn’t hold a portfolio in the government. Although all the municipal bodies in Delhi are directly or indirectly controlled by the BJP, the AAP is leaving no stone unturned to project itself as the pre-eminent urban party.

Slip of tongue

• The issue of the splintering of Karnataka is back in focus after the state minister for food and civil supplies, Umesh Katti, said that Karnataka would be split into two once Narendra Modi is voted back to power in the 2024 general elections. A majority of political leaders, especially those from the southern districts, are allegedly opposed to such a division.

The leader of the Opposition, PC Siddaramaiah, critiqued Katti’s statement, terming a division as a betrayal of mother, motherland and mother tongue. The Karnataka CM, Basavaraj Bommai, too, denied that there were any such plans.

Timely diversion

• The BJP insists that it played no role in the political crisis in Maharashtra. Nevertheless, many BJP supporters are rejoicing for multiple reasons. The imploding of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government has brightened the prospects of the BJP in Maharashtra. But there are other reasons as well. The political drama has deflected attention from two controversial issues — the derogatory comments made by the former party spokesperson, Nupur Sharma, on Prophet Mohammed and the short-term defence recruitment scheme, Agnipath. As long as the Maharashtra tussle drags on, the focus will remain diverted.

Uneven ground

• Many MLAs in Bihar, cutting across party lines, have reportedly expressed happiness over the political developments in Maharashtra. They pointed out that it would help increase their importance in the eyes of their respective parties. Many have complained about the lack of respect being shown to them by block and district level government officers, and the absence of any redressal of their grievances by the CM, Nitish Kumar.

The Nitish-led National Democratic Alliance government in Bihar has 127 MLAs in the 243-member House while the Opposition camp has 115. The legislators think that bigger parties like the BJP or the Rashtriya Janata Dal, with 77 and 76 seats respectively, are not in much danger. But they unanimously agreed that such operations could impact the Janata Dal (United) and the Congress which have 45 and 19 seats respectively.

Friends in need

• The tweet by the CM of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, congratulating Droupadi Murmu as the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Alliance has sent ripples across political circles. Most see it as an indication of Patnaik’s closeness with Narendra Modi. The prime minister had discussed Murmu’s candidature with Patnaik and the latter allegedly pledged his support for the tribal leader.

It may be wise to remember that Modi and Patnaik share a cordial relationship and generally avoid attacking each other even during election campaigns. Patnaik had even extended his support to the BJP’s Rajya Sabha candidate from Odisha, Ashwini Vaishnaw, at the request of Modi and the home minister, Amit Shah.

Footnote

• The second term in office has not been easy for the Kerala CM, Pinarayi Vijayan, and the Left Democratic Front government. A resurgent Congress with its new state president, K Sudhakaran, has become a source of worry. The Congress trumped a crucial by-poll in its pocket borough and has also managed to keep a sensational gold smuggling case in the news. With the 2024 Lok Sabha polls around the corner, the reinvigoration of the Congress in Kerala will likely make things difficult for the Left.