Fly on the wall Harish Gupta Two Leaders, One Template At first glance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar appear poles apart — one a national figure commanding global attention, the other a regional satrap balancing fragile alliances. Yet, scratch beneath the surface, and striking similarities emerge between the two longest-serving leaders in Indian politics. Both Modi and Nitish have built their careers on the foundation of personal integrity. In an era where corruption charges have felled many politicians, neither has faced a personal allegation of graft. Their reputations for honesty have become political capital — a key reason their respective constituencies continue to trust them despite shifting alliances and turbulent political landscapes. Ambition defines them both. Modi’s journey from Gujarat Chief Minister to Prime Minister reflects a relentless climb powered by political conviction and sharp strategic sense. Nitish, too, has shown unyielding ambition — whether breaking with the BJP or returning to it — always with an eye on maintaining Bihar’s political centre of gravity around himself. Another shared trait is their reliance on bureaucratic machinery and carefully chosen teams. Both men prefer working with trusted officials who understand their style of governance and execute policies with precision. Modi’s PMO is famously tight-knit and loyal, while Nitish’s administration in Bihar functions through a cadre of long-serving bureaucrats who know his mind. Their longevity in power — over 25 years each — is a testament to political survival skills rarely matched in India’s fast-changing democracy. Honest, ambitious, disciplined, and deeply strategic — Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi may stand on different political pedestals, but they are, in many ways, two faces of the same political coin. Another striking similarity is their personal restraint. Neither leader has promoted the family. Nitish's son Nishant made a brief appearance before the polls. But he soon vanished from the scene. Everyone Wants SIR in Maharashtra! When the rest of India says no, Maharashtra says yes. Now here’s a political paradox for the ages. Across the country, political parties are crying foul over the Election Commission’s plan for a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. But in Maharashtra, every party worth its poll symbol is clamouring for it. The EC announced SIR in 12 states & UTs as part of a nationwide clean-up of electoral rolls, Maharashtra excluded. Ironically, the loudest protests against SIR came from the three big opposition-ruled states: West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. But the EC ignored their demands. Cut to Maharashtra, where the mood is refreshingly different. Rivals Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray—usually at each other’s throats—are singing the same tune: no elections without cleaning the voters’ list. Even Devendra Fadnavis, the BJP’s strongman and his deputy chief minister, agrees. For once, the Shiv Sena factions, BJP, and Congress seem to share a rare moment of consensus — everyone wants the rolls scrubbed clean. The Supreme Court wants local elections held soon, but without SIR, that’s easier said than done. Rahul Gandhi too had accused the Commission of “creative counting” in Maharashtra’s last polls, so even Congress wants a clean slate this time. And here’s the delicious irony: in states where the ruling parties oppose SIR, the Election Commission insists on it; and where everyone’s begging for it — like Maharashtra — the Commission prefers to wait. In Indian politics, even cleaning a list isn’t clean business. Sonia’s New Shadow There’s a new “companion” in Sonia Gandhi itinerary — and it’s not a veteran loyalist but Ranjeet Ranjan, the spirited MP from Bihar and wife of maverick leader Pappu Yadav. Ever since Sonia moved to the Upper House, Ranjeet has been spotted walking her in and out of Parliament, prompting Congress watchers to label her the Congress matriarch’s new shadow. Ranjeet, a known tennis buff and articulate speaker, was picked to lead the party’s charge on the National Sports Governance Bill — a move that reportedly ruffled former minister Ajay Maken, who had drafted the original version before it was junked by his own government. But what’s puzzling insiders is Ranjeet’s sudden silence. For someone known for her fiery interventions, she’s been missing in the Opposition’s vote chori campaign and other political flash points. Meanwhile, her husband Pappu Yadav, is not a persona non grata now and even shares warm exchanges with Rahul. So, is Ranjeet keeping a safe parliamentary distance from her headline-making husband? No one’s saying. But in Delhi’s gossip corridors, everyone’s whispering: Sonia’s got a new shadow — and she plays doubles better than anyone expected. When Sonia Gandhi went to attend the funeral of the husband of senior party leader and her erstwhile shadow Ambika Soni, She was flanked by Ranjeeta. Tailpiece: Blame the Lokpal Act not the Judges The Lokpal of India is making news for all the wrong reasons. The anti-graft Ombudsman has been hauled over for floating a tender to procure seven luxury BMWs worth ₹70 lakh each. But a deeper look at the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act would reveal that it provided the same salary, allowances and service conditions as that of the Chief Justice of India and other judges. The CJI is allotted a Mercedes and other judges are currently given BMWs. But Lokpal is above all in perception and it failed to convict any corrupt high & mighty in five years. Even here many say the Act is so crafty that the Lokpal has become a toothless tiger.