The term "Triumvirate" is used for any association of three. In Indian politics, we had Sharad Pawar, Tariq Anwar and P A Sangma.
Media dubbed them as 'Amar, Akbar, Anthony'.
Now again there is a Triumvirate emerging. But the three leaders are emerging from three different political stocks and of course sharing difference in upbringing.
They are Shashi Tharoor, M K Stalin and D K Shivakumar.
All three are from different political backgrounds and each of them have played up their cards in circa 2025.
This is the 'redefining era' of Indian politics.
Everyone seems to have realised the limitations of Congress party and especially its leader Rahul Gandhi.
Everyone is said to have understood that the 'bad patch' for Narendra Modi was over by June 2024 and he has struck back in three crucial assembly elections - Haryana, Maharashtra and Delhi.
In Haryana and Maharashtra, the BJP could emerge winner defeating all kinds of analyses. Retaining power in Haryana was crucial and similarly, the battle was fierce in Maharashtra.
The outcome in Maharashtra showed limitations of Adani-bashing politics of Rahul and also exposed the over estimated importance of so-called Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar.
Here comes the relevance of these three leaders of south India - Stalin, Tharoor and D K Shivakumar.
If the BJP has weakness in its organisational works and electoral success, it is the south of India though the saffron party first tasted major electoral success in Karnataka in 2008.
For its part, if the Congress draws its strength from somewhere, it is from the South.
The Congress is in power in Karnataka and in partnership with the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu.
In Kerala, the Congress is at a striking distance from power. It is also in power in another crucial state of Telangana -- where now onetime powerful BRS has been marginalised.
D K Shivakumar's importance comes from the context of politics in Karnataka and also the intra-Congress party rumblings. Shivakumar accepted to become Chief Minister of Karnataka in 2023 but Rahul Gandhi had his own calculation.
Now the BJP is eyeing Shivakumar as a potential 'Eknath Shinde' and probably 'Operation Lotus' is already on. After capturing and retaining power in key states such as Delhi, Haryana and Maharashtra; the BJP will be too pleased to see favourable developments in Karnataka.
The state is rightly called the BJP's 'gateway' to the South.
If this happens prior to 2026, it will be a great booster.
Early 2026, the saffron party like Congress and others are keen for fierce battles in Tamil Nadu and Kerala - along with West Bengal and Assam in the east.
Narendra Modi's 'chanakya' Amit Shah is already on move.
Shah landed in Coimbatore on the day of Maha Shivaratri and ensured that he is able to share stage with Karnataka deputy CM Shivakumar and also a veteran spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vausdev at the Isha Yoga Centre.
That the Home Minister decided to be in Coimbatore on such an important day talks volumes.
Shivakumar has played down his deliberate sharing of stage with Amit Shah and described himself as a 'Congressman by birth'. But that is no bar to doing any politics in future.
Karnataka Cooperative Minister K N Rajanna questioned the justification behind Shivakumar sharing the stage with those who have been critical of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
“Sadhguru had himself said he does not know Rahul Gandhi. Isn’t it? He (Shivakumar) knows better than me what people speak about our leader Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha. Let him answer how justified it is to share stage with such people,” Rajanna told media.
Shivakumar, who is also the Congress state president, defended his attending the function. The Deputy CM had emphasised his deep faith, saying, "I was born Hindu and will die Hindu".
Normally Congress leaders would say - I was born and I am apologetic about it !!
The BJP has eyed the South for quite some time but the efforts are yet to yield expected results. BJP first came to power in 2008 and in 2024, its key ally Telugu Desam Party (TDP) of Chandrababu Nadu could regain the state and also did well in Lok Sabha polls.
Shashi Tharoor first created a ripple when he said: “If the party wants to use .... I will be there for the party. If not, I have my own things to do. You should not think that I have no other option. I have my books, speeches, invitations from across the world to give a talk".
"This, naturally, had the fat in the fire, analysed Neeraja Chowdhury in her article for 'The Indian Express'.
Tharoor is personally talented and was ambitious even to become AICC president. Rahul sabotaged that by backing Malikarjun Kharge. Tharoor is a four-time MP from Thiruvananthapuram and is a wonderful orator.
Hence he also understands that he may not get his due share in 'talent killing' party the Congress. In the grand old only dynasty can have talent and the rest should be sycophants.
The Congress also understands the importance of Tharoor and Rahul Gandhi personally met without much delay.
The politics of M K Stalin has been linked to the politics around Hindi language vis-a-vis regionalism. But his main intent is to put up the spirited fight for the relevance of DMK.
The linguistic has helped Stalin's father Late Karunanidhi in the past. So the game has given some verbs in the limbs of DMK cadres.
The DMK rejects Hindi and insists that India must remain linguistically divided.
India is a civilization, not just a country. The national unity is rooted in shared history, traditions, and values. However, language has often been used as a political tool to divide common Indians.
But in the new post AI-era, some old tricks may not work. India is showing unity and nationalism as strong themes and at the same the younger generation want their respective regional languages and cultures to thrive.
But in the ultimate three leaders Stalin, Shivakumar and Shashi Tharoor will be the leaders to keep watch in circa 2025. The impact will be felt in 2026 and later will be again important factors in 2029 parliamentary polls.
Neerja Chowdhury says:
"Shivakumar who is more than a backroom boy or a fund collector for the party, and has a hold amongst the Vokkaligas, the community to which he belongs, is clearly trying to “Hinduise” his political persona with the future in mind".
The 'future in mind' is a very crucial aspect.
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