Amit Shah’s Expanding Role Sparks Buzz
There’s
no official anointment yet, but within the BJP, one man seems to be
running the show — Amit Shah, Union Home Minister, is steadily
emerging as the de facto party chief, if not more. Shah has been
criss-crossing states, holding closed-door meetings with party
leaders and allies, firming up seat arrangements, troubleshooting
local flare-ups, and recalibrating electoral strategies. His recent
whirlwind tours — more intense than even JP Nadda’s — haven’t
gone unnoticed. Shah is seen presiding over high-level meetings not
just of the BJP, but also of NDA partners, stitching together the
2025-26 road map with clinical precision.
What has truly set the Delhi grapevine abuzz, though, is his Rajya Sabha appearance during the debate on Operation Sindoor. With the Prime Minister opting out, it was widely expected that Defense Minister and senior-most Cabinet member Rajnath Singh would step up and reply to the debate. Instead, it was Shah who rose to the occasion, delivering a forceful reply and signaling, perhaps, more than just parliamentary muscle.
While
Modi remains unquestionably at the centre of the BJP’s solar
system, Shah’s ever-expanding orbit has political observers
wondering: is this groundwork for a future beyond 2029? Is the party
quietly grooming Shah to inherit the mantle, bypassing the
traditional order of succession? Officially, the BJP maintains
business as usual. But in the corridors of power, the writing on the
wall is being scrutinized — and it’s Amit Shah’s name that
keeps coming up, in bold.
BJP vs BJP: Rudy's Fortress Breached — Balyan Mounts Insider Coup
After ruling the roost for over 25 years, BJP MP Rajeev Pratap Rudy finds his long-held post of Secretary (Administration) at the Constitution Club under threat — not from the Opposition, but his own party man, Sanjeev Balyan. The upcoming August 12 election has turned into a fierce BJP vs BJP turf war. What was once considered Rudy’s unchallenged domain has now become the battleground for a political shake-up. Balyan, the rustic former MP from Muzaffarnagar, surprised many by jumping into the fray — and stunned Rudy’s camp by securing open backing from BJP’s top leadership. Ministers and MPs are actively canvassing for him, a clear signal that the Establishment wants Rudy unseated.
Though Rudy is credited with transforming the Club into a 5-star hangout — complete with gym, spa, lounges, and a sprawling library — his grip appears to be slipping. Efforts by his supporters to make Balyan withdraw have failed. The Constitution Club, a prestigious institution with 1,200 odd eligible voters, includes members like Modi, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Kharge. Yet, it's this internal BJP feud that has caught everyone’s eye. Rudy, once seen as unshakable, now faces an uphill battle to retain relevance. The luxury spa may still buzz with political gossip and massages, but beneath the calm, a storm is brewing — and it's coming from within the BJP itself. His citadel is cracking. And this time, the enemy wears the same colours.
BJP-Akali Reunion Buzz In the Air
The Ludhiana bypoll may not have changed political equations overnight, but it has certainly revived talk of a possible reunion between the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) — two estranged allies still nursing old wounds but eyeing a common adversary: AAP. While the AAP retained the seat comfortably with 35,179 votes, what caught political watchers' attention was the combined vote share of the BJP (20,323) and the Akalis (8,203). Together, they polled 28,526 votes — not too far behind AAP, and significantly more than the Congress’s 24,542. Fueling the speculation further were Sukhbir Badal’s carefully worded remarks. Asked about a patch-up with the BJP, the SAD chief said: “We are not thinking along those lines. Any alliance must be based on principles — the rights of farmers, minorities, Bandi Singhs, our river waters, and our claim over Chandigarh.” He didn’t slam the door — just left it ajar.
The bitterness runs deep. The Akalis remain furious at what they see as the BJP’s moves to undermine Sikh institutions — notably, the party’s control over the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee. The rupture over the farm laws still lingers. But politics makes for strange reconciliations. With the Akalis declining and the BJP lacking a strong Punjabi face, a cold calculation may outweigh warm memories or past grievances. For both, the real prize is 2027 — and if defeating AAP requires swallowing pride, neither side may be unwilling. For now, the silence speaks volumes. The past may not be forgiven — but it may be negotiated. Interestingly, during the special discussion on Operation Sindoor in Parliament, SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal flayed the Opposition, saying there was an “urgent need” to end the escalating tension with Pakistan.
Odisha’s Raj Bhavan Gets Wheels and Warmth
With courts clipping the wings of activist governors in opposition-ruled states like Bengal and Kerala, their counterparts in BJP-ruled states seem to be stretching theirs—gently, and in perfect sync. Take Odisha’s Hari Babu Kambhampati, for instance. Not for him the Raj Bhavan recliner. The man’s on a mission—armed with spreadsheets, smiles, and a road map to visit all 30 districts in a year. Having tasted power under a BJP regime for the first time, Odisha is now seeing a ‘double-engine’ governance drive—with the Governor riding shotgun. Kambhampati is busy touring districts, checking on Central schemes like Jal Jeevan Mission, PM Awas Yojana, Mudra and Atal Pension Yojana, and even the newly minted Surya Ghar Muft Bijli scheme. He’s meeting babus, netas, NGOs, and beneficiaries to gauge who’s getting what and where the pipes (or promises) are leaking.
But the real curveball? The Governor’s unscheduled pit stops at Chief Minister Mohan Majhi and Deputy CM KV Singh Deo’s private homes. No Raj Bhavan summoning, no formal photo-ops—just casual drop-ins. Raj Bhavan insists these were mere “courtesy calls”, but in Lutyens-speak, that usually translates to: “Yes, we’re all on the same WhatsApp group.” As the guardians of federalism recalibrate post court rap, Odisha’s Raj Bhavan seems to be pioneering a softer, savvier avatar—part watchdog, part cheerleader. And if the optics are anything to go by, Governor Kambhampati might just be Odisha BJP’s most affable campaigner in disguise.
