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Not A Drop of WaterWhile making his budget speech, the 14th in his political career, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has the distinction of not sipping a glass of water. This time, despite the fact that the CM was unwell and had a bad chest congestion, he refused to drink water to maintain his track record. Though he did lament to journalists that he may have to drink water due to ill health, yet determination took over and Siddaramaiah ensured that he did not drink water.

Cracks Widen?After the last CLP meeting, state Congress chief Nana Patole went to meet Sharad Pawar alone but this has not gone down well with many Congress leaders. They are of the opinion that Patole should have informed the senior leaders and taken a delegation to meet Pawar. This could have portrayed that the entire state Congress leadership is with Pawar and his NCP. Though the high command is not in favour of changing the guard, messages was conveyed to Patole in very strong words that it is not the time to play a solo game.

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New Governors Soon?There is widespread speculation that the Narendra Modi government is expected to effect major changes to its gubernatorial appointments. Among the names doing the rounds is senior leader Captain Amarinder Singh who might be moved to Jammu and Kashmir as the Lieutenant Governor. A few senior ministers and BJP leaders, who have crossed the 75 years threshold, are also expected to be adjusted in various Raj Bhawans across the country. 

TMC's Sushmita Deb PlanThere is a plan ahead of the Lok sabha elections in Trinamool Congress' choice of Rajya sabha nominations. Derek O'Brien is now the TMC candidate considering his closeness to Abhishek Bannerjee while activist Saket Gokhale has been chosen as he spent 150 days in prison. But the surprising omission was Sushmita Deb who, sources say, will contest for the Lok sabha polls . The entire party will campaign for her, including CM Mamata and Abhishek. A top source said in case she loses Deb will still be rewarded for her fight and be given the Rajya Sabha seat.  

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Visit of a 'Gentleman Secretary'

 In a gesture that has won some hearts for sure, a Pensioners Association has hailed the visit of Secretary V. Srinivas to their office a couple of days ago, terming him as a “gentleman secretary”. This was the first such event in the history of Pensioners Associations where a Secretary and his team of officers came out of their offices to visit the office of the Bharat Pensioners' Samaj in Jungpura to know all about the working of the Pensioners Federation and Association. The association termed this a “new beginning”. Srinivas used the occasion apprised the Association members of the various initiatives taken by the department including holding of a Nationwide Digital Life Certificate Campaign, compilation of CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021, development of an Integrated Pensioners' Portal for providing pension related information to pensioners from a single portal, Nationwide Pension Adalats for on the spot resolution of grievances and Anubhav Awards. The various policies made for the benefit of pensioners, such as pension for widowed, unmarried, divorced daughters were also discussed. The association hosted Srinivas and his team for a sumptuous lunch.

Transforming Lives

Department of Telecommunications in collaboration with MYGOV, is celebrating "Bharat Internet Utsav," in which citizens can share videos for up to two minutes about how internet has transformed lives on any of the social media handles with the hashtag #BharatInternetUtsav or upload in drive link. The same link can be submitted on MYGOV at https://innovateindia.mygov.in/bharat-internet-utsav/. Prizes of up to Rs 15,000 will be awarded to the finest tales. The event will be held on MYGOV till August 21.

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JDU Split?Within days of turmoil in the Nationalist Congress Party, power corridors are abuzz with speculation that a similar situation is brewing in Bihar. It is being said several JDU MPs and MLAs are in contact with the Bharatiya Janata Party and a Maharashtra-like situation may spring up. This latest rebellion is being fueled by some MPs' fear that they might lose their tickets in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The next few days may throw up another round of political maneuverings.

Cabinet Expansion ReduxWith BJP's organisational rejig out of the way, the Cabinet reshuffle at the Centre may finally take place over the next few days. Political circles are buzzing regarding an imminent rejig of the Narendra Modi cabinet. The speculation regarding a possible reshuffle in the council of ministers has been on for the past some months. With the 2024 Lok Sabha polls less than a year away, several senior ministers are also likely to be sent to the organisation to strengthen the party.

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Destination Delhi for PawarOver the past few weeks, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has been favouring the national capital for holding party meetings. An important party meeting to elevate his daughter Supriya Sule to the post of working president was held in Delhi. So was another meeting held days ahead of Ajit Pawar jumping ship. The buzz is that Pawar senior was afraid that he might be outmuscled if these meetings took place in Maharashtra. Hence, a safer locale of the national capital was chosen.

Another Haryana CrisisWoes of the BJP's Haryana seem to be unending. Senior leader and former Union minister Chaudhary Birender Singh has opened a front against the Manohar Lal Khattar government. The senior leader is understood to be threatening to form a new party. Singh has indicated that the announcement may be made at a rally to be held in Jind on October 2. The senior Jat leader has been lashing out at the state leadership of the BJP over the past few weeks.

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Varun Gandhi’s ReplacementHas the BJP found Pilibhit MP Varun Gandhi's replacement? Political circles are abuzz with talk that the saffron front leadership is miffed with the leader and have zeroed in on a possible replacement. A party MLA hailing from the district is being looked as a possible replacement of Varun in 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The MLA is also considered close to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.  

Cultural Treat for US AmbassadorUS Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti visited Banga Bhawan in New Delhi and shared a short note, saying “Kemon Acho” which means “How Are You” in the beginning. In the video, he can be seen standing in front of the pictures of Rabindranath Tagore and Satyajit Ray. Garcetti referred to both icons as “Bengali Greats”. He then can be seen exploring Bengali cuisine, including "mochar chop", which is a cutlet made with banana flower, the traditional Bengali dal and rice, 'luchi', which is made using maida, 'begun bhaja', which is fried eggplant, as well as steamed fish also known as 'fish paturi'. He not only praised the Bengali food, but also asked about the culture, filmmaker Ray, music, and football. At the end of the video, the ambassador said “Sighrai Dekha Hobe, Kolkata”, which means “See you soon, Kolkata”.  

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Will Nitish Kumar Join NDA Again?Soon after a split in NCP, political speculation in Bihar intensified. There are discussions in political circles on whether Nitish Kumar can once again join the NDA. This comes soon after Nitish Kumar's one on one meeting with MLAs to keep them united. Can a Maharashtra like situation be repeated in Bihar? It is being speculated that if Chief Minister Nitish Kumar listens to his antar aatma ki awaaz he might come back to the NDA fold.  

Yediyurappa's Growing ImportanceThe importance of former Karnataka Chief Minister Yediyurappa has continued to increase despite a recent loss to the BJP. The senior BJP leader was in the national capital to discuss the appointment of leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and state unit chief.  Yediyurappa, who is also a member of the party's parliamentary board, has continued to hold sway over the party's affairs in the southern state and the party seems keen to involve him in all major decisions related to the state.    

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Ajit Pawar’s Delhi VisitA day ahead of the Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) important meeting in New Delhi held last week, Maratha strongman Ajit Pawar was in the national capital. Interestingly, though Ajit Pawar did not take part in the meet, his timing of visiting the national capital had raised several eyebrows. With the senior NCP leader now joining the Ekanth Shinde cabinet in Maharashtra, there is a buzz in political circles that he might have touched base with important BJP leaders during his visit to New Delhi. This visit, though earlier termed as one to attend a private family event, has indeed turned out to be a political one.

Praful Patel at Centre?Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) working president Praful Patel, who was seen along with Ajit Pawar at the swearing-in ceremony at the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai, may soon find accommodation in the national capital. Speculation in the political corridors is that he may be given an important portfolio in the Narendra Modi cabinet. The rejig in the Union council of ministers is expected to take place soon and will accommodate NDA partners from the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and new entrant NCP.

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Selective Amnesia?Former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao has been the subject of controversy in Telangana. His family and followers have often accused the Gandhi family of ignoring him and not giving him his due. When Rahul Gandhi was in Hyderabad for Bharat Jodo Yatra, he had drawn flak from opposition parties for not offering tributes to Rao's statue. However, on his birth anniversary, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge mentioned his contributions to the nation. The party Twitter handle has also tweeted about it. With Telangana polls just months away, the party seems to have remembered Rao.

Cyber WoesKerala's Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) unit is currently facing an internal rebellion as certain members are using its social media platforms to expose alleged misconduct by high-ranking leaders. Instances include the use of fake degree certificates, inappropriate video calls, and incidents of domestic violence. In response to this situation, senior members of the CPI-M have decided to engage social media experts to educate party members on responsible digital behaviour and emphasise the importance of addressing issues through proper channels, such as reporting them to the politburo.

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Target GehlotThe big pink hoardings of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot across Jaipur and some cities of the state has not gone down well with the top leadership in Delhi. The hoardings display only the CM with neither the party symbol nor the Gandhis or party chief Kharge. While those close to Gehlot say it's a state government advertisement, it seems central leaders --- including Rahul Gandhi --- feel this conveys the impression that the state polls will be only about Gehlot. This creates a problem at a time when the party is trying to sort the Pilot versus Gehlot spat.

Missing MinisterA senior minister in the central government, who is known to be fond of being in the headlines, has been keeping a safe distance from the press for several months. This despite the fact that several of his senior colleagues have been holding regular press conferences over ongoing events in the government. What prompted the minister to switch to this mode could have to do with making statements on the sidelines of events, which seemingly haven't gone down well with the party leadership.

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Ajit Pawar Missing AgainAn important meeting of the Nationalist Congress Party took place in Delhi on Wednesday. The national capital was plastered with posters and banners of the party leadership. These carried photographs of party chief Sharad Pawar, working presidents of the NCP Praful Patel and Supriya Sule. Interestingly, photograph of senior leader and former Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar was missing from these hoardings.  The key NCP meeting is being held after new posts were allocated to Sule and Patel. 

Himachal ExpansionWith Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu meeting Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge recently, there is buzz again regarding possible cabinet expansion in the state. The Chief Minister's visit to Delhi has increased the speculation of potential ministers. Sukhu also discussed organisational issues with the party chief, which include political appointments to various boards and departments of the state government. The moves come in as the party is hoping to strengthen and reward its cadre and leaders in the state ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.  

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BSY Making a Comeback?Senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa has announced that the party will hold protests inside and outside of the House during the Karnataka Assembly session. After the recent defeat of the party at the hands of Congress, this is the first time that BSY has made such statements. Sparking a buzz that he may be indicating towards his return to active politics in the state. The former CM also called on party workers to prepare for the 2024 Lok Sabha and Bengaluru municipal polls. 

BJP Rejig Buzz The political circles are buzzing regarding an imminent rejig in the BJP' organisational rejig. With just about a year for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, this is being considered the optimal time to make any changes in the party organisation. The recent defeat in the Karnataka and the forthcoming crucial assembly polls in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana are expected to be factored in while allocating responsibilities to leaders. The rejig is expected to help the party focus on securing a win in the next general elections. 

Cadre FirstBJP has decided to prioritise its booth workers on June 27 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the cadre. Ahead of the next round of assembly polls, the saffron party has planned to infuse its cadre with enthusiasm through the PM's address. The names of 10 'karyakartas' will be selected from each Lok Sabha constituency for participation and these workers will be involved in BJP's electoral booth management in the forthcoming polls.

BJP's BluesOver the past few weeks, the BJP's Telangana unit has been facing an ongoing battle between senior leaders Eatala Rajender and Bandi Sanjay. Both camps want their respective leader to be projected as the chief ministerial face in the 2023 assembly elections. However, it is learnt that the two are just pawns in a larger war for dominance between the saffron unit's two powerful national general secretaries. The two are engaged in a battle of one-upmanship to ensure control over the party ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

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Sharmila to Merge With Congress?Will YSRTP chief YS Sharmila merge her party with the Congress? There are whispers in the political circles that Congress is trying to convince her to take on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Buzz is that former Congress president Sonia Gandhi is likely to speak to Sharmila and her mother Vijayamma this week on the impending merger. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are expected to travel to Idupulapaya to pay homage to Sharmila's father and former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy if the merger is approved.

Beginning of End for JDS?In the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls, it is being said that the Janta Dal Secular has decided to align with the BJP to try and defeat the Congress. But all is not well in the JDS as many leaders are not comfortable with the arrangement. A leader said on condition of anonymity that this will only relegate the JDS to the background and become another BSP and the Gowdas will become irrelevant like Mayawati.

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Actor Vijay’s New Role?Tamil superstar Thalapathy Vijay will celebrate his birthday on June 22 and his fans decided to surprise him by featuring him on a Times Square billboard. This also makes him the first Tamil actor to appear on the iconic billboard. Is this also a way to herald Vijay's entry into politics? The buzz doing the rounds is that he can take the political plunge ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls. One will have to wait and see how another actor fares in politics.

BJP’s Report CardBJP is set to field top ministers to present a report card of the Modi government's various departments on the completion of its nine years. Top Union ministers will showcase the achievements of the government likely to begin from June 23 and will conclude in the first week of July. The first such conclave is likely to be addressed by Union minister Nitin Gadkari. Other ministers which are likely to present the report cards are Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Smriti Irani, Narendra Singh Tomar, G Kishen Reddy, Anurag Thakur and Piyush Goyal. With assembly polls to crucial states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana approaching, the party wants to send a message regarding various welfare measures of the Modi government.

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Samajwadi Party’s Lok Sabha PrepSamajwadi Party has appointed in charges for the Lok Sabha seats for the first time for preparations for the 2024 elections. The party has identified 36 seats where it is working intensely. It is understood that the party will also field some sitting MLAs in the 2024 general elections. While members of the Yadav family can be candidates for Kannauj, Mainpuri, Firozabad, Azamgarh, Badaun and Jaunpur seats. Most of these seats are already held by the SP's first family.  

Andhra MLAs' Report CardPerformance of YSR Congress MLAs will be reviewed by Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy this week. This review will serve as a report for MLAs seeking party tickets for the upcoming polls. The CM has been conducting performance reviews of YSRC legislators every three months. MLAs that are identified as poor performers need to tighten up their act or may face denial of ticket in next polls. The YSR Congress is laying emphasis on good performance as the party hopes to secure more seats for its candidates in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as well.  

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Ajit Pawar's Power LossWithin days of installing Supriya Sule and Praful Patel as top leaders of the NCP, Sharad Pawar is now understood to have clipped the wings of Ajit Pawar further. The buzz in the party is that all future ticket distribution will be done as per the wishes of Supriya Sule and not of Ajit Pawar. Till now, Ajit Pawar had a major say in the ticket distribution process. This has apparently been done to ensure there are no rebellions against Sule from within the party.  

New Ally for BJPWith the opposition parties trying to form  a united front, BJP's search for new allies may be bearing fruits. Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief OP Rajbhar may soon be meeting top leaders of the BJP to work on the intricacies of the proposed alliance. Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP is trying to find new allies to join the NDA. Recently, there was a buzz that Rajbhar had held a meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Varanasi. However, Rajbhar has denied that any such meeting took place but political whispers have already begun.  

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Another Actor to Enter Politics?There is a strong buzz that actor Manoj Bajpayee is likely to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha election on a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) ticket. He is likely to be fielded by the RJD from the Valimiki Nagar seat in Bihar. The Bollywood actor had met party chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his son Tejashwi Yadav in September last year. Bajpayee hails from Bettiah in West Champaran district and the RJD hopes that his popularity amongst the young population of the state can be used for the party's advantage in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Congress’ Karnataka ModelWithin days of securing power in the Karnataka polls, the Congress has decided to scrap anti-conversion law and purge the textbooks of the saffron agenda. The fast-paced implementation of Congress' manifesto promises regarding these issues is being seen as deliberate as the Grand Old Party wants to showcase the "Karnataka model" ahead of the forthcoming assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana. If the Congress is able to successfully project the “Karnataka model”, the party feels that it will help a consolidation of minority votes in its favour.

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Learning From RivalsTaking a leaf out of BJP's Gujarat strategy, the Congress is preparing to reduce its anti-incumbency in Rajasthan by considering denying tickets to about one-third of its sitting legislators. Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, in-charge of Rajasthan Congress, is understood to have started a political discussion on this. Two groups of legislators are being targeted under the move by the Grand Old Party. Congress MLAs over the age of 70 have been asked to bow out of contesting forthcoming assembly polls, while loyalists of former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot are also likely to be denied tickets.

RLD's UP PlanWith an eye on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Rashtriya Lok Dal has decided to launch the second phase of Samarsata Abhiyan in July which will cover 27 Lok Sabha seats in West UP. The campaign, spearheaded by RLD chief Jayant Chowdhary, will focus on villages in the districts that were affected by the communal violence that erupted after the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots. The party hopes to regain its lost ground in the region through this move.

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Opposition Onslaught in Rajasthan With the Rajasthan Assembly polls a few months away, the Ashok Gehlot government will be under an all-out attack from the opposition. BJP, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have announced an agitation against the government, and will also confront it on several issues in the coming days. While the BJP will hold protests in Jaipur, AAP will organisse a meeting in Sriganganagar. RLP will start demonstrations and meetings at eight places in the state.

BJP’s UP Focus With the highest number of its Lok Sabha MPs hailing from Uttar Pradesh, the BJP has begun preparing for the 2024 polls. The state may get a new in charge soon. In place of senior leader Radha Mohan Singh, there is buzz that party's Gujarat chief CR Patil may be moved to the crucial state as in charge ahead of the general elections. Patil is credited with playing a stellar role in the BJP's victory in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly elections, and is considered to be an expert in election management at the grassroots level.

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Yogi’s ReachSetting new records of popularity on social media platforms, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's official Twitter handle @myogiadityanath crossed the 25 million followers mark on the microblogging site. He is also the first chief minister to cross this number on Twitter. Adityanath has achieved this figure in a span of eight years. He started his official handle on Twitter in September 2015 and assumed office as UP chief minister in 2017. With 25 million followers on Twitter, Adityanath has become a part of a club that also includes veteran leaders like PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Blessings Withdrawn?Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and senior BJP leader Uma Bharti has continued to raise questions about the working of the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government, despite the fact that Chouhan had sought the blessings of the former CM this week. Bharti expressed her displeasure over the plight of patients at government hospitals. She had earlier too attacked the state government over its liberalised liquor policy. With just months to go for assembly polls in the state, tackling Bharti may prove to be a tricky issue for the saffron party.

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Action Against Pankaja? Despite her outbursts and statements going against the clear BJP line, the party is unlikely to act against its Maharashtra leader and national secretary Pankaja Munde. It is understood that though the party leadership has taken note of her comments on various issues, including love jihad, the BJP would refrain from acting against her. It was felt that any action against her could work against the BJP and in her favour. This could give her an advantage in the current volatile political scene of Maharashtra.

Jharkhand Cabinet RejigSeveral Congress leaders from Jharkhand have met state in-charge Avinash Pandey in Delhi over the past few days. This has fuelled speculation in the political circles about an imminent Cabinet reshuffle. It is believed that more ministers can be accommodated in the Hemant Soren cabinet from the Congress quota. There is still about a year left for the Lok Sabha and about one and a half years for the assembly elections. In such a situation, many Congress leaders are of the opinion that this time is most suitable for cabinet reshuffle.  

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Old Vs New Parliament Prime Minister Narendra Modi is said to have a clear viewpoint -- that the two buildings of Parliament are together the 'Parliament of India' and they should not be seen separately. That is why the invitation cards on the inauguration of the new building said 'inauguration of the new building of Parliament' and not the 'New Parliament'. A proposal to shift the Gandhi statue was also rejected for the same reason. The old Parliament building will be used for offices while the government still has to decide what to do with the main halls of the old Parliament building. A Parliament museum will come up separately. The government plans that both this museum and the PM Sangrahalaya will have a common viewing experience for visitors through common tickets.  

Lessons from FoesTaking a lesson from its defeat in Karnataka, BJP has prepared a roadmap to return to power in Rajasthan. The Congress had made corruption the biggest issue against the BJP government by giving the slogan of 40% commission, which stuck to the saffron front regime. Learning a strategic lesson from the grand old party, now the BJP in Rajasthan has decided to appeal to public sentiments by making corruption the biggest issue against the Ashok Gehlot government.  

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Good News for Raja Singh?With the BJP losing its southern bastion of Karnataka, the saffron unit is desperate to make inroads into Telangana ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls. There is speculation that Bharatiya Janata Party is contemplating to revoke the suspension of its Goshamahal MLA T Raja Singh. The legislator was suspended from the party after his controversial comments last year. The proposed move comes as the saffron front is seeking a face to take on the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi government. Telangana is scheduled for crucial legislative assembly polls later this year.

Gwalior CallingAll roads lead to Gwalior this week. With the wedding of Nivedita, daughter of Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar taking place, many political leaders reached Gwalior to bless the newly-wed couple. Many top BJP leaders, including party chief JP Nadda, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Yogi Adityanath, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Swatantra Dev Singh blessed the bride and groom. The wedding took place with much pomp and thousands of local people were also invited to the occasion.

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Priyanka to Hang ‘UP’ Boots?Encouraged by its victory in Karnataka, the Congress is preparing for major changes in Uttar Pradesh. There is a buzz in the power corridors that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is likely to relinquish the responsibility of the party's national general secretary in-charge of UP soon. A new national general secretary to look after UP may be appointed and a decision on the issue is expected to be taken after former party chief Rahul Gandhi's return from abroad.

Poll PrepsUnion Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to be on a tour of Chhattisgarh later this month to oversee the preparations by the state BJP unit for the forthcoming assembly polls. With just a few months for the elections, the senior BJP leader is expected to hold a public meeting and discuss party strategy with saffron workers. One-on-one discussions with state leaders are also likely to take place. The BJP is trying desperately to regain the state from the Congress in the forthcoming assembly polls.

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BJP’s Minority OutreachAhead of the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP is attempting to expand its reach amongst the Muslim community. As part of this plan, the Minority Morcha of the party has planned to organise yoga sessions in madrasas and dargahs in Uttar Pradesh on June 21, which is also observed as the International Yoga Day. A campaign 'Modi Mitra' will also be launched by the Morcha to convince Muslims to connect with the party. The campaign is planned to be organised in 29 Lok Sabha seats of the crucial state, which has been electing its highest number of MPs in the lower house of Parliament. 

Congress' Waiting GameCongress is playing a waiting game move on the Sachin Pilot issue. The former Rajasthan deputy is expected to make an announcement on his next political move on June 11, which is also the death anniversary of his father Rajesh. The grand old party is waiting for the announcement by Sachin before taking any decision on his future. Over the past few months, the Rajasthan Congress has been constantly facing a feud between CM Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Pilot. The party has been unable to maintain control over Pilot, who has recently held an agitation against corruption, going against the order of top Congress leadership.  

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New Alliance in Rajasthan With months to go for the Rajasthan Assembly polls, a new OBC alliance is seemingly in the works. A caste combination of Gujjar, Yadav and Jat communities is taking shape and is expected to be unveiled soon. Political circles abuzz with speculation that former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot is in talks with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Jayant Chaudhary to field joint candidates for the forthcoming crucial polls.

Congress’ Soft Hindutva StrategyThe Madhya Pradesh Congress may have embarked on a strategy of soft Hindutva ahead of crucial Assembly polls later this year. Well-known 'katha vachaks' have been deputed by the party to recite Sunderkand in various assembly constituencies. For the first time, the Pradesh Congress Committee has also constituted the Dharma Utsav cell for organising such religious functions. State party chief Kamal Nath has reportedly been given a free hand on strategy and campaign issues ahead of the assembly polls later this year.   

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Monsoon Session in New Parliament? Within weeks of its inauguration, the new Parliament building may soon be hosting its first session. Political corridors are abuzz with talk that the forthcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament can be held in the new building. The session is likely to be called in July and preparations for the sittings of both houses are likely to be finished in time. This may also indicate a plan by the government to quickly overshadow any controversy being planned by the opposition parties.  

Uttar Pradesh BJP's Priority RalliesUttar Pradesh BJP is understood to have sought time from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda for holding rallies, which will be part of Mahasampark Abhiyan launched on the completion of nine years of the Modi government. The programmes of the big three are expected to be held with an eye on the 2024 general elections as Uttar Pradesh contributes the highest to the BJP's Lok Sabha tally. The Mahasampark Abhiyan, which started on May 30 will be continue till June 30.  

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Birthday LunchMinister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar celebrated his birthday this week with his colleagues. He shared a picture on Twitter stating "birthday lunch". The photo showed a plate was filled with biryani, raita, salad, dal and roti. The minister thanked his team for arranging such a delicious lunch on his birthday. After seeing the image, some social media users also took this opportunity to send their regards to Chandrasekhar in the comments section.

Road to 2024Samajwadi Party is likely to organise a two-day workers' training programme on June 9 and 10 in Naimisharanya in Sitapur district. The programme has been prepared with an eye on the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Senior Samajwadi leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav, Ram Gopal Yadav and Shivpal Yadav, are expected to address the workers during the meet. About 5,000 party leaders and workers are likely to participate in the crucial meeting.

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Pilot at Helm?Despite the Congress claiming that all is well between chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, the truce between the two may be on thin ice. While the Grand Old Party claimed that both leaders have agreed to fight the state assembly polls unitedly after meeting Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi, it is understood that Pilot has expressed that he should be made the state unit chief ahead of the crucial polls. This demand could end up creating more trouble for the Congress with just months to go for the elections.

Expansion BluesShiv Sena Shinde camp MLAs are furious regarding the much-awaited cabinet expansion. Earlier, it was said Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis were waiting for the Supreme Court to deliver its verdict on the disqualification of MLAs. However, after the ball was thrown in the court of the Assembly Speaker by the apex court, Shinde camp MLAs --- who left Uddhav Thackeray six months ago with the hope that they will get cabinet berth --- are now putting pressure for cabinet expansion. According to sources, Shinde expressed the concern with BJP's top leadership last week during his Delhi visit. Leading to that, late on Tuesday night, a meeting took place between Shinde and Fadnavis in Mumbai. Shinde camp MLAs are of the opinion that BJP leaders are not willing to expand the cabinet before BMC elections.