Fly on the wall
Harish Gupta
Rahul’s New Weapon: The Letter Bomb
From
Modi to Fadnavis and Soren, the LoP is firing off letters — and
governments are beginning to take notice. Rahul Gandhi may
have found a new weapon in his armoury — the letter.
The Leader of Opposition is increasingly using his office to write directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief ministers, putting contentious issues on record and demanding action. Rahul Gandhi's latest missive to the Prime Minister seeking an an FIR under the SC/ST Act against those involved in the “shuddikaran” or purification of the Ramlila ground in Haldwani after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, a Dalit, addressed a public meeting there, is yet to see any result. But Rahul camp followers are hopeful of a win on the issue. Alternatively, he may sit on a dharna at a key place and force the government's hands as happened in the pellet gun case.
On August 25, Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge jointly wrote to Modi demanding that the government scrap the open-ended questionnaire proposed for the upcoming caste census. A day earlier, Rahul had written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the grievances of protesting tribal students. That letter appears to have packed some punch.
Rahul wanted the 30-year age cap for tribal hostel admissions for female students to be revoked. The Maharashtra government scrapped the 30-year age limit for tribal hostel admissions. Rahul’s latest letter-writing campaign began with his ally, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren over student protests.
For Rahul, the message seems clear: if Parliament is one battlefield, the letterhead is becoming another. Rahul may not be knocking on doors anymore. He is putting the doors on notice.
Governors
reshuffle on the anvil
The shake-up in the ruling BJP may be followed by another exercise—this time in the Lok Bhavans. Despite a round of gubernatorial appointments and transfers as recently as March, indications are that another reshuffle is already being worked out.
New
Governors and Lieutenant Governors are expected to be appointed in
about half a dozen states and Union Territories. At least seven
Governors and LGs have completed their five-year term and are due for
a change, making the Lok Bhavans the next likely destination for some
veterans.
Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka are emerging as the key theatres. UP Governor Anandiben Patel has been in office since July 2019, while Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat has also completed a long stint. The BJP is reportedly weighing a Brahmin face for the Uttar Pradesh Lok Bhavan—an appointment that could carry considerable political significance in the state.
Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd), a former Deputy Chief of Army Staff, has considerable familiarity and following in Punjab which is heading for Assembly elections next year.
Karnataka, too, could see a change of guard. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot is reportedly in line for replacement, with Assembly elections due in 2028 as the BJP may prefer a more politically active face.
Madhya
Pradesh Governor Mangubhai C. Patel has also completed five years. In
addition, four Union Territory LGs have crossed the five-year mark,
making a wider reshuffle possible. Tamil Nadu could also figure in
the exercise as Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has been
holding additional charge of Tamil Nadu.
Women
Welfare: BJP's Delhi Model
The
BJP swept to power in Delhi in February 2025 with a promise that
struck a powerful electoral chord — Rs 2,500 every month to women
under its Mahila Samman scheme.
Delhi had 71.73 lakh women registered voters in February 2025, and the BJP clearly reaped the political harvest of its promise. The number has risen to 74 lakh now. The scheme, billed as a measure of women’s honour, is turning into something of an eligibility obstacle course, imposing as many as 10 conditions. Now, the Delhi government’s own estimate brings the number of beneficiaries down to around 17 lakh. That is where the irony begins.
Applicants are required to submit as many as ten documents. Most contentious is the requirement for a recommendation letter from the local MLA or MP — effectively making an elected representative the gatekeeper to a government entitlement.
Then comes the 10-year Delhi residency rule. This could leave out women who moved to the capital after marriage or for employment, even if they possess Aadhaar cards and valid voter IDs. There is more. Women with more than three children are excluded, potentially cutting out 15% of them. Families earning above ₹2.5 lakh annually are out. So are families with four-wheelers or electricity consumption above 2,400 units a year. Government employees, pensioners and those already receiving certain government benefits are obviously excluded. And there is one more twist: only one woman per family — the eldest eligible female member — can receive the benefit. The latest rider is that eligible women will get Rs 1000 cash and remaining Rs 1500 will go as long-term Fix-Deposit.
So, after eighteen months of waiting, the Delhi model may well end up teaching a new lesson in welfare politics. A role model, perhaps, for other states.
Why a Cabinet Minister cried
The delayed Cabinet reshuffle's shocks are visible. Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram has accused fellow party leaders of plotting to tarnish his image and engineer his exit. The six-time Rourkela MP cried after his political associate Rakesh Paswan was arrested in Bihar for allegedly sheltering armed criminals at Rourkela’s government Circuit House. Oram alleges that rivals are running a campaign to defame him, hoping to grab his Cabinet berth. His remarks were aimed at newly elected Rajya Sabha member Dilip Ray, also from Rourkela who is lobbying for a berth. Oram is fighting to stay put.
