Kerala may mark --- "Communists Mukt Bharat" ... But that does not Congress is on revivavl march

 

Demography and onground political dynamism do not favour BJP in Kerala.

Hence; due to anti incumbency; the Left may be ousted and after many months if not years, the Congress is set for a victory in a state poll. 

Last time the Congress tasted victory was in Himachal Pradesh in Dec 2022 and Karnataka in May 2023. 

The saffron party may still have to work harder to convince voters that they would rule in Kerala and only then the fringe Hindu voters will trust the Lotus party in assembly polls. BJP's success in corporation polls was exemplary but it will still need different games and different political situation to win the prize in Kerala polls. 

The Congress has started screening candidates for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections. The party is likely to announce the first list of the candidates before Holi festival. 

Elections for the 140 Assembly seats in Kerala are likely to be held in March-April along with West Bengal, Assam and Tamil Nadu. 

 The Congress plans to contest from around 100 seats in an alliance with the United Democratic Front (UDF). 

The UDF including Indian Union of Muslim League and Congress has been out of power for the last 10 years and hopes to dislodge the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) this time.

According to Congress insiders, the All India Congress Committee screening committee headed by veteran Madhusudan Mistry has started shortlisting the names recommended by the state unit. 

The insiders further said the central election committee is likely to meet soon.

Over the last few days, the Congress managers got several surveys done across the state and will factor the same in shortlisting the names of potential candidates. Rahul Gandhi's preferred choice would probably be K C Venugopal. 

In 2021, the CPI-M led LDF could retain surprising many and beating the usual trend; the state of Kerala was used to. 

             Blogger

The peculiarity of Kerala politics is unique. The Hindu voters may trust BJP for civic polls but when it comes to state assembly polls; they may prefer CPI-M to prevent IUML to come to power. This factor weighed a lot in 2021 too when the CPI-M could retain power.

Over the last few days, AICC general secretary organization KC Venugopal, AICC observers including CWC member Sachin pilot, Karnataka minister KJ George and Kanhaiya Kumar and the AICC in charges had been reviewing the UDF’s preparedness for the key contest with senior state leaders to ensure nothing was left to chance.

Additional info : 

The BJP is likely to field former DGP Jacob Thomas either in the Thrissur or Irinjalakuda assembly constituency in the upcoming assembly elections. 

Thomas’s candidacy is learnt to be more aligned with the interests of the RSS than with the BJP leadership in the state.

Galgotias University came under public scrutiny after a robotic dog named “Orion” was showcased at the India AI Impact Summit

 

Galgotias University is located in Greater Noida on a 52-acre campus equipped with laboratories, libraries and digital facilities. Established with the objective of expanding access to quality higher education in Uttar Pradesh, it offers programmes across disciplines including engineering, management, pharmacy and liberal arts. The university is part of the Galgotias Education Group, whose origins date back to 1933.

Assistant Professor Neha Singh of Galgotias University has come under public scrutiny after a robotic dog named “Orion” was showcased at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi.

Who founded Galgotias University?

Galgotias University announced a Rs 350+ crore AI push days before the AI Impact Summit 2026. At the summit, a Chinese robodog was presented as campus-developed, triggering backlash, late-night clarifications, and reports of eviction. In less than two weeks, a flagship AI showcase turned into a credibility crisis.

The university was founded by educationist Suneel Galgotia and is promoted by the Smt. Shakuntala Educational and Welfare Society. The society was established in 1999 under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 and is headquartered in Daryaganj, New Delhi. It has been active in the education sector for over three decades.

What does the leadership structure look like?

The Smt Shakuntala Educational and Welfare Society is led by Suneel Galgotia, Padmini Galgotia and Dhruv Galgotia. They oversee policy decisions, academic planning and operational management across the group's institutions. Dhruv Galgotia is involved in expansion strategies, industry collaborations and long-term planning.

What institutions operate under the group?

The society manages several institutions in Greater Noida, including Galgotias Institute of Management and Technology (GIMT), Galgotias College of Engineering and Technology (GCET), Galgotia College of Pharmacy (GCP) and Galgotias University. The group initially focused on professional courses and later expanded into a multidisciplinary university system.

Galgotias University is recognised by the University Grants Commission and functions as part of the broader Galgotias Education Group.

Galgotias University has come under intense scrutiny after allegations emerged that it showcased a China-made Unitree robotic dog as its own creation at the AI expo in Delhi.

The controversy escalated when authorities reportedly asked the university to vacate its stall, with staff and students later seen dismantling the pavilion and electricity to the display allegedly disconnected.

The episode sparked widespread criticism online and offline, and was further compounded by questions over the university's claim that a soccer drone displayed on campus was developed entirely in-house.

What is the controversy about?

The controversy began after allegations surfaced that Galgotias University had showcased a China-made Unitree robotic dog at the AI expo in Delhi while presenting it as its own innovation. The incident quickly drew criticism both online and offline, with social media users questioning the authenticity of the claim.

According to sources, authorities directed the university to vacate its stall at the expo following the dispute. Soon after, staff and students were seen clearing the pavilion, and power supply to the stall was reportedly shut.

On the same day, the university also faced scrutiny over its claim that a soccer drone displayed on campus had been built entirely in-house. The drone was described as a fully homegrown project developed end-to-end by staff and students, from engineering design to application.

However, online users alleged that the drone resembled the Striker V3 ARF, a commercially available model sold in India for around Rs 40,000. The device is reportedly the Helsel Striker V3, created by South Korea-based Helsel Group for drone sports.

Amid the backlash, Galgotias University Registrar Nitin Kumar Gaur issued a clarification, stating that the confusion stemmed from the use of the words "develop" and "development."

The technology showcase meant to celebrate artificial intelligence has unexpectedly turned the spotlight on an academic. After a robotic dog demonstration at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi went viral, many people began asking one question: Who is Neha Singh of Galgotias University?

Her academic background reflects strong technical expertise. She completed her PhD from BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus in 2020. Her doctoral research focused on Computational Geometry and Mesh Generation, particularly in areas like “Input Size Independent Quality Mesh Generation.” These topics play an important role in engineering simulations and scientific computing.

She also holds an MTech in Computer Science from ABV-IIITM Gwalior, one of India’s well-known technical institutes.

Nevertheless, Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw apologised for the opening day issues, saying, “If anybody has faced any problems yesterday, we apologise for that,” while describing the overall response as “phenomenal” and the energy as “palpable.”

In that atmosphere of scepticism, Galgotias’ stall was meant to be a showstopper.

ANI even ran a press release headlined ‘Galgotias University Pavilion Emerges as a Key Attraction at AI Impact Summit 2026 with Rs. 350+ Crore AI Showcase.’ Multiple outlets carried it.

ÀI Summit - An achievement ::::But..... There may be a risk that India becomes a Data Colony for big tech cos

Welfare for all....

Happiness of all 

The AI Summit might have made news for certain wrong reasons. Thanks to Rahul Gandhi's frustration and anti India pitch. There was also a fraduluent university.

The future of AI cannot be decided by a handful of countries or left to the whims of a few billionaires,” said Guterres.

Nevertheless, the Summit highlighted India's expertise in IT services and its potential for population-scale deployment of AI in key sectors - health, agriculture znd education. 

But it also highlighted India's limitations in the global AI race, including a lack of high-end computing infrastructure. 

India is the fastest-growing market for OpenAI’s Codex coding tool.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a pitch for India to play a leading role in the artificial intelligence boom.

Indian economy is growing but still welfare measures and infra development need huge funds. On the other hand; AI is big money spinner and needs huge dollars. Where this capital intensive contest go and can India manage adequate funding?

French president Emmanuel Macron has hit back at US criticism of Europe’s efforts to regulate AI, vowing to protect children from “digital abuse” during France’s presidency of the G7.

Speaking at the AI Impact summit in Delhi, the French president called for tougher safeguards after global outrage over Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot being used to generate tens of thousands of sexualised images of children, and amid mounting concern about the concentration of AI power in a handful of companies.

 PM Modi pushing for open AI .... Like inviting for innovation. But global south level; maybe we can do well. Again in India; there is a concern whether AI will impact job.

Indian IT industry has been service focused. This was wrong and it may hamper AI growth too. How do we come out of this stalemate ? Cognitive learning process might be affected too.

Modi positioned India as the tech leader of the Global South, with a model of AI development that sits between the corporate-led ecosystem of the US and state-backed China push.

Nvidia Corp.’s Jensen Huang dropped out after early promotion; Bill Gates withdrew later.

Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man, had so much trouble getting through security that his speech — announcing the biggest deal of the India AI Impact Summit — was delayed.

Even so, Modi gave a forceful demonstration of the country’s influence. He gathered many of the most prominent names in the tech industry, including the chief executives of Alphabet Inc., OpenAI and Anthropic PBC, as well as the India-born CEOs of global corporate icons like FedEx Corp. 

The prime day of the summit was so jam-packed that celebrity leaders like Sundar Pichai and Sam Altman were allocated a mere five to 12 minutes each.

“It’s one thing to say you’re the leader of the Global South and it’s another to come across as the leader of the Global South,” said Reema Bhattacharya, head of Asia risk insights at advisory firm Verisk Maplecroft. 

“They’ve achieved what they wanted to achieve.”

An attempt by PM  Modi to stage a show of unity among leading tech billionaires went awry when the rival heads of OpenAI and Anthropic awkwardly declined to hold hands on stage.

Modi stood at the centre of a line of 13 tech executives, including leaders from Google, Meta and Microsoft, who all raised clasped hands – apart from Sam Altman and Dario Amodei. Amodei split from OpenAI in 2021 over differences over how to manage safety risks.

Modi is able to elicit effusive praise and big promises from industry and government leaders, with Ambani pledging $110 billion for building out artificial intelligence projects across India over the next seven years. 

Speakers constantly praised the prime minister for his leadership.

But the country still lags in high-end computing infrastructure that’s necessary to build frontier large language models such as those produced by Silicon Valley companies or the coterie of Chinese upstarts, says an article by Bloomberg. 

The fight for artificial intelligence supremacy is between open versus closed systems rather than where those systems are built, according to Mistral AI’s chief executive officer, Arthur Mensch.

Modi used the summit to argue for a model of AI development that sits in the middle lane between the corporate-led ecosystem of the US and state-backed China push. At the summit’s busiest day, inclusion and human-centered design took center stage.

“We have talent, energy capacity and policy clarity,” the PM said in Hindi, translated via AI into various languages. 

“AI is like GPS. It can show the direction, but where we want to go must be decided by us.”

He positioned India as the tech leader of the Global South — emerging economies, often previously colonized — that are eager to deploy AI but wary of aligning with one tech bloc or another. 

UN Secretary-General António Guterres reinforced that message.

“The future of AI cannot be decided by a handful of countries or left to the whims of a few billionaires,” said Guterres.

The unifying message was that countries beyond the US and China want to be more than potential markets for AI companies. 

They want access to the best technologies, influence over regulation and the opportunity to share in the potential profits.

“India is trying to sort of set its terms,” said Bhattacharya. “The risk is India becoming this data colony for big tech where the proprietary, the value-added services are done elsewhere.”

One advantage the country has is the deep expertise of IT service firms like Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. and Infosys Ltd., leaders in helping the world’s corporations adopt new technologies like cloud computing and mobile services. They are now working with partners like Anthrophic and OpenAI to use their armies of consultants to help companies figure out how to use AI.

Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Group, said on stage he sees the integration of AI and AI agents as a big opportunity for IT providers because of their understanding of the needs and opportunities for large-scale customers.

US companies, for their part, are accelerating expansion in India before local rivals catch up. 

Anthropic this week opened an office in the southern tech hub of Bangalore, while OpenAI is expanding operations following last year’s New Delhi launch.

“I was last here a little over a year ago, and it’s striking how much progress has happened since then,” Altman said on Thursday. 

India is the fastest-growing market for OpenAI’s Codex coding tool, he added, after Anthropic’s Dario Amodei had earlier said his company’s Claude Code had doubled its local users over the past four months.

“It’s important to move quickly. On our current trajectory, we believe we may be only a couple of years away from early versions of true superintelligence,” Altman, 40, said. 

The Tata Group, maker of Jaguar Land Rover SUVs, said this week that it will partner with OpenAI to create as much as 1 gigawatt in data center capacity.

Indian startup called Sarvam used the spotlight of the summit to launch its own AI model, tailored from the ground up for use in the South Asian nation. 

The service is voice-based and accessible through nearly two dozen Indian languages, which the company believes will be a competitive advantage in a country of 1.45 billion where the vast majority can’t read, write or type in English.

“Sovereignty matters much more in AI than building the biggest models,” said co-founder Vivek Raghavan at an event in Delhi.

Ends 

Hijacked by Rahul Gandhi; Congress has lost it :::: India Deserves Better

 National Shame

At a time when India is hosting a prestigious global AI Summit, showcasing its innovation and leadership in technology, the Congress party chose disruption over dignity.

Under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, Congress workers went topless and created a ruckus at the venue, an act clearly designed to embarrass India on the world stage.

When the nation is striving to position itself as a global technology powerhouse, such conduct only serves the interests of those who wish to see India falter. Political opposition is a democratic right, but sabotaging India’s global image is not.

India deserves better.

Himanta Biswa Sarma
@himantabiswa

It is not the BJP that unsettles Rahul Gandhi. It is the rise of Bharat as a global force in new-age technologies.

The #IndiaAIImpactSummit2026 represents innovation, ambition, and India’s leadership in the AI century. When attempts to manufacture a controversy around it failed, the fallback was familiar- disruption, theatrics, and political noise deployed through loyal proxies.

This pattern is not new.

From questioning the Surgical Strikes, to casting doubts over the IAF’s emergency operations in the North East, to now politicising a global technology summit- every decisive step that strengthens Bharat’s global standing is met with reflexive cynicism.

The question before the nation is simple:

Why does every milestone of national progress trigger partisan hostility?

When Bharat rises, should politics not pause?

Blogger

At a time Bharat is taking strides positioning itself as a global technology powerhouse, Congress is going all out to embarrass the country. This is not political opposition, this is an attempt at sabotaging India's global image. Despicable.

Acclaimed Bengali novelist Sankar expires

 Mani Shankar Mukherjee, known in Bengali literature by his pen name Sankar, passed away on Friday at a private hospital in Kolkata.

Born in Howrah in December 7, 1933, Sankar, still in his teens, served as a clerk to the last British barrister Noel Frederick Barwell at the Calcutta High Court.

Jana Aranya -- his novel was made a highly acclaimed movie by Satyajit Ray

The theme of job crisis in West Bengal of 1970s is portrayed very well in both the novel and the film.

Sankar went on to pen many more novels, many of which made it to the silver screen. Two films from Satyajit Ray’s city trilogy – Seemabaddha and Jana Aranya - were based on Sankar’s novels.  

The 1968 hit Chowringhee, starring Uttam Kumar and Subhendu Chatterjee in the lead was also based on a novel by Sankar.

He also wrote several books on Ramakrishna Paramhamsa and Swami Vivekananda.

In 2021, he was conferred with a Sahitya Akademi award.  

In 1962, Sankar conceived Chowringhee on a rainy day at the waterlogged crossing of Central Avenue and Dalhousie - a busy business district in the heart of Kolkata. The novel, set in the opulent hotel he called Shahjahan, was made into a cult movie in 1968. It is wrongly said that Sankar marketed his literary work to Bengali households with the marketing slogan A bagful of Sankar (Ek Bag Sankar) and collections of his books were sold in blue packets through this marketing effort.

He has been rewarded with Sahitya Akademi Award on 18 March 2021 for his outstanding autobiographical work of Eka Eka Ekashi^[7][8] and also received Farha Blue Kazi International award in 2021 for his book Subarno Sujog.

Retd army officer ex-Lt Ge L. Nishikanta Singh appointed Advisor to Manipur CM

 In pursuance of the decision taken in Cabinet meeting held on 17th February,2026, the Governor of Manipur Ajay Bhalla has appointed Shri L. Nishikanta Singh, Lt. General (Retd.) as Advisor (Coordination) to the Chief Minister, Manipur for a period of one year.

The order comes into effect with immediate effect in public interest.

The terms and conditions of his service including honorarium, entitlements, etc. will be issued separately in consultation/concurrence with Finance Department (PIC), Government of Manipur, an official source said. 

Earlier this month Y Khemchand led ministry was installed in Manipur which was under President's Rule for less than a year since Feb 13, 2025. 

Ends 

Vumzagin Valte MLA Thanlon from Manipur is no more

Vungzagin Valte, BJP MLA for Thanlon A/C representing the Zomi Community, has passed away at Medanta MediCity Hospital in Gurgaram, community sources said. 

He fell victim to the #ManipurViolence perpetrated by the Biren Singh administration on May 4, 2023. Arambai Tenggols waylaid him and his driver, resulting in the tragic death of his driver at the scene. 

On May 4, 2023 ---- 

Vungzagin Valte was allegedly attacked by protesters, and taken to hospital. 

He (Vungzagin Valte) was airlifted out of the state on May 5. 

This was during peak of 2023 violence that rocked Manipur. 

       May 2023 snap 

He was allegedly beaten up, family claimed he was even given electric shocks on May 4 2023 while driving away from the CM house.

His body was paralysed, his driver died in hospital from injuries.

Rahul stands exposed ::: Has Gen Naravane set the ball rolling for Congress leader's expulsion ??

 

After March 9 when Parliament meets for second half of the Budget session; Rahul Gandhi may face action in Lok Sabha.

BJP lawmaker Nishikant Dubey has moved a Substantiative motion. After the debate on Rahul Gandhi's conduct both within Lok Sabha and outside including his foreign tours; if ruling side go for voting, chances are bright that he might face harsh action. 

The Delhi Police filed a case with the Special Cell regarding the purported leak of a pre-print copy of the book the day before Naravane's comments.

Of all the people, it seems Gen Manoj Naravane has taken upon himself the task of negating Rahul Gandhi's claims on former army chief's book.

Responding to questions about his previous remarks that not an inch of Indian land had been captured by China, General Naravane stood firm. When asked if he still holds that position, he said people should ask the reverse question to China. 

“I think you should ask a reverse question to the Chinese, that have they occupied any Indian land? And answer to that question, I think, will satisfy all those who have any doubts on this matter.”

His response directly counters Rahul Gandhi’s constant assertions in Parliament regarding Indian territory and Galwan. It has been suggested by Congress people that during Galwan conflict; Gen Naravane was left alone. This also has been countered.

On the allegation that he was given vague instructions during the Galwan crisis and was “left alone,” General Naravane dismissed the charge. When asked whether the Prime Minister’s stated instruction - “jo uchit samjhe wo karo,” meant he was given a free hand or was left alone, Naravane cautioned against relying on anonymous sources.

He said “See, once again, we cannot take cognisance of articles which are published, quoting unnamed sources, what is right, what is wrong.

 So let us let it be for the time being at that. And as and when things get clearer, we can discuss these issues more in depth.” Adding to this he said “Once again, anybody can say anything. I'm not obliged to comment on anything, which is not actually my concern.” 

This statement is also seen as a rebuke to the magazine Caravan.

When asked whether he was being misquoted as his unpublished book became the centerpiece in Parliament, Naravane said the country should not live in the past.

“I think we should not live in the past. We should look ahead, go in the future. I have written a new book, Murder Mystery. I'm writing the sequel to that. So let us move on. And as I said, not dwell in the past.”

Publisher Statement: 

Earlier, Penguin Random House India posted a statement clarifying that the book has not gone into publication. It stated that no copies, print or digital, had been released, sold, disseminated, or made accessible to the general public.

The publisher stated, “We wish to make it clear that the book has not gone into publication. No copies of the book - in print or digital form - have been published, distributed, sold, or otherwise made available to the public by Penguin Random House India.” 

It further added, “Any copies of the book currently in circulation, in whole or in part, whether in print, digital, PDF, or any other format, online or offline, on any platform, constitutes an infringement of PRHI's copyright and must immediately be ceased. Penguin Random House India shall be exercising remedies available in law against the illegal and unauthorised dissemination of the book.”

The Delhi Police filed a case with the Special Cell regarding the purported leak of a pre-print copy of the book the day before Naravane's comments. According to reports, police have discovered an online PDF version that seemed to have been created by the publisher. The book cover was also being displayed on several websites, giving the impression that the book was for sale

Naga woman IAS officer to "man" forest and environment in Yogi's Uttar Pradesh

 The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday (February 17, 2026) gave a new posting to senior IAS officer V Hekali Zhimomi (IAS:1996:UP). She had been waiting for an assignment since she returned from central deputation in November 2025. She has now been appointed Principal Secretary, Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department.

With her appointment, Anil Kumar  (IAS:1998:UP) has been relieved of the Forest portfolio. He was earlier holding charge of the Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department along with the Panchayati Raj Department.

V Hekali Zhimomi was sent back to her parent cadre, Uttar Pradesh, on November 8, 2025. At that time, she was serving as Additional Secretary in the Department of Health & Family Welfare at the Centre. She had gone on central deputation in September 2021 as Joint Secretary in the same department for a five-year term till September 2026. However, she was repatriated almost a year before completing her tenure.

Some of the reshuffle in Uttar Pradesh have special significances as elections are due in the state by Feb-March 2027.

Elections are also due in 2027 in  Manipur, Goa, Punjab and Uttarakhand.

In UP, the Yogi Govt will complete 10 years in office and hence the Lotus party faces considerable anti incumbency.

Moreover, BJP's show was not good in 2024 Lok Sabha polls even as Akhilesh Yadav-led Akhilesh Yadav has to do much more than it is required to make the most electorally.

For BJP again; the 2027 polls in Uttar Pradesh - that sends 80 MPs - is linked to BJP"s own power games.

While Presidential polls are due in July 2027; the internal power struggle in the BJP will be thrown open with Yogi Adityanath and Amit Shah may sweat it out for north bound graph movement in their career.

Ends 

AI Summit set the stage for unprecedented global collaboration

 India - at the centre of global AI conversation! 

Heads of State and Government, along with leaders of major International Organisations, have gathered for the India AI Impact Summit.

With the participation of over 20 Heads of State and Government and several other distinguished leaders, this is the largest congregation of world leaders at a technological event in India.

Over five days, innovators, tech professionals and entrepreneurs are participating -  engaging in discussions, showcasing cutting-edge solutions and shaping the next wave of AI-driven human-centric progress. 

The Summit is setting the stage for unprecedented global collaboration and transformative technological partnerships.

At the AI Impact Summit, the Indian Army’s panel on “Defence Perspective in AI” attracted a wide audience, bringing together military leadership, industry and academia for a focused dialogue on responsible AI in defence, duly moderated by Dr Subimal Bhattacharjee.

Lieutenant General Vipul Shinghal, DCOAS (IS&T), outlined leadership challenges in the AI era, while Lieutenant General Harsh Chhibber, DGIS, emphasised human agency in the application of force. Major General Pawan Anand (Retd) highlighted ethical considerations and international humanitarian law.

Industry and academic insights were shared by Dr Vikram Jayaram on technological sovereignty, Prof Ganesh Ramakrishnan on India’s sovereign AI stacks, and Ms Madhumita Mohapatra on AI-driven logistics optimisation.

The session highlighted a shared approach to operational transformation, grounded in responsible and ethical AI.

How Congress is set to steal Defeat from jaws of victory in Assam

The Congress had the advantage of being a party in waiting to bounce back to power. The anti incumbency of 10 years was strong against BJP.

 Moreover, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had certain drawbacks. But the saffron party slogged hard. Himanta played his cards well.

On the other hand the Congress though started with general goodwill and almost a wave in its support in Upper Assam, it lacked the killer instinct.

Vital point and symbolism : Silchar, Bengali dominated region

Now on the eve of elections; as per the perception battle goes --- table has been turned in more ways than one. The resignation of a local stalwart Bhupen Borah is only an evidence of how things have been mismanaged by the grand old party.

"It's a case of stealing defeat from the jaws of victory. Only Congress party is capable of doing so," says Guwahati-based social worker Ratnadeep Vatsya. 

He explains : "The BJP's style of campaigning may smack of arrogance to some ... but they have built up a strong narrative. There is an element of inevitability, as if the BJP is sure to return. And the electoral battle outcome is BJP's win and this is endorsed by national leadership of PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah". 

"The Congress may have sympathies in some quarters like Upper Assam and Muslim dominated hubs," says trader Salim Chowdhury in Silchar but added that Congress high command has neglected the campaign works.

 The visits by Modi and Shah dominate headlines, flood social media, energise saffron cadres.

In the process, says Salim the Congress workers are left with less enthusiaism and much lesser oxygen.

"In Silchar and Udarbond assembly segments; there is anti incumbency. The BJP may be forced to replace sitting MLAs but the Congress is not showing any effort to tap that. This is why there are 16 ticket aspirants for BJP but Congress office gives deserted look," said banker Poritosh Sen. 

In contrast; the BJP's campaign is well orchestrated. 

In December 2025,  Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress of ignoring Assam and the northeast for decades when the party was in power in states and in Centre.

"The developments of the past 11 years are an indicator that justice is being finally delivered to the people of Assam...Earlier during Congress rule people used to get government jobs only through recommendations or by paying bribes. But now the BJP government in the state is providing thousands of jobs based purely on merit,” Modi had said.

BJP IT cell member Babla Singh says - "We are working round the clock. In BJP, shram daan is a Mantra. Our campaign strategies is with big announcements and also assessing people's issues. In Silchar, people need fly overs and efficient traffic system; the message has reached BJP leadership". 

Educationist Indrani Gupto in Guwahati says: "In 2025 when the Congress had chance to strengthen its grip, it appeared rudderless. But BJP is ensuring that governance and campaigning move step by step. They have a festive mood, distributing bikes and cash and there is symbolism and the right rhetoric".

The Congress appeared over confident too and hence the initiative was lost apparently. 

Rahul Gandhi has not yet visited and Priyanka Vadra appears only a late entry. 

The Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister was the Congress in-charge for Assam and he went for , World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

 Such episodes when Assam is in the thick of an election battle, the optics are never praiseworthy.

If the leadership is not here, why should voters believe the party particularly when the sitting PM and Home Minister are star campaigners for BJP. 

Educationist Indrani Gupto says Development projects like the Kaziranga corridor are packaged not merely as infrastructure initiatives but as symbols of what the BJP claims only it can deliver --  seriousness matters.

Then comes the scale and speed of developments.

The Congress leadership had given free hand to pradesh chief Gaurav Gogoi -- but he too nominated Dhubri MP Raqibul Hussain to meet ticket aspirants.

This has backfired for the time being. 

Bhupen Borah, an Ahom leader like Gaurav Gogoi has quit Congress, and has spread the message that the Assam Congress has turned pro-Muslim under the influence of Raqibul Hussain

 This carefully-curated spectacle will harm Congress more because Hindu Assamese and Bengali voters have their grudge against pro-Muslim tilt of Congress. 

This political phenomenon and more so in perception matter is striking and politically devastating. 

Ends 

New Delhi's diplomatic skills and US pragmatism almost made Jamaat a possible "sacrificial goat"

 

Going by poll outcome and general estimates, the election in Bangladesh has certainly passed the test.

Looking at the results; one can presumably state that New Delhi's diplomatic skills and US pragmatism almost made Jamaat a possible "sacrificial goat".

The Jamaat actually came very close to power, yet its dreams of capturing power failed.

People rejected ultra radicalism and showed determination that 'Bengali nationalism' was key to the national ethos. A far fetched view would be the second Afghanistan not possible in the region at least as of now. 

The appointment of Khalilur Rahman as new foreign minister may be little puzzling. He getd the post for his expertise rather than as a party politician. He is not a member of parliament.

He served as national security adviser in the interim administration headed by Muhammad Yunus. The western lobby could have pitched for his berth and portfolio. He also studied in JNU, Delhi. 

Khalilur with Modi's NSA Ajit Doval 

*****

When Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced on February 12 that India would receive the same concessional duty access on garment exports to the US as Bangladesh, alarm bells rang across Dhaka’s garment districts. 

Are we mixing up things or the nature of geo-polity is such ? It's a well known fact that in geo strategy; there is no permanent friend or enemy.

At times; mutual interests matter a lot and often self interest reins supreme. 

The Donald Trump administration’s proposal to offer zero reciprocal tariffs on garments made from US cotton and man-made fibre, previously a distinctive advantage for Bangladesh, will now extend to India as well. 

Bangladesh exporters fear the development might erode Bangladesh’s competitive edge in apparel shipments to the US to some extent. Apparently there was hard bargaining between India and the US. In the process; diplomacy and commerce often mingled and also got overlapped.

Image : Daily Star

The Big picture story is Bangladesh begins a new journey. 

In more ways; so does South Asia. 

After over 18 months since the mass uprising, the long-awaited election has finally been held.

Since Aug 2024; things were being redefined. The just dissolved interim regime in Dhaka was not only anti-India; it spoke ill about chicken neck and north east India. Yunus led Bangladesh to stop commerce with India and opened new channels with Pakistan and even radicals from Turkey and Afghanistan wete given access to Bangladesh. 

In the elections; the western lobby and Pakistan favoured Jamaat. Yunus was movjng close to Turkey and Pakistan and New Delhi now thinks this sinister plan is checkmated.

But Jamaat has come a long way. The political reality now is the Jamaat can even force mid term polls hoping to capture power.

Bangladesh has faced deep polarisation, intolerance, and threats to its democratic foundations. Regressive and anti-democratic tendencies—whether institutional, ideological, or political—risked steering the country away from its foundational goals. 

BNP’s decisive victory can therefore be interpreted as a call to reverse this trajectory, and a public desire for accountable, forward-looking governance rooted in liberal democratic principles.

Once upon a time the Awami League exemplified most of these virtues if not all. 

At one point of time it appeared; the Jamaat would sail home as the neo ruling party.

But after India hinted to the US negotiators that South Asia should be left to South Asians; hurdles virtually were cleared in favour of BNP. 

PM Narendra Modi congratulated Tarique Rahman on the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s victory and his appointment as Prime Minister. 

“Your victory is a testimony to the trust and confidence reposed by the people of Bangladesh in your leadership and their mandate for your vision to take the country forward on the path of peace, stability and prosperity,” Modi said in his new letter to new PM of Bangladesh.

The Indian Prime Minister also underlined the “deep-rooted friendship” between India and Bangladesh, anchored in shared history, cultural ties and common aspirations for regional peace and development.

But a massive win alone cannot resolve deep-rooted structural problems. The BNP government will likely continue to face economic challenges and institutional constraints for the foreseeable future. This will test its capacity and sincerity not only to govern but also to transform the culture of governance in the country.

 Tarique has to keep fundamentalists at home and overseas will have to strike a right balance between its ties with the US and also other players such as China, Pakistan and even India.

Some of the diplomatic goof up by yhe puppet regime will nevertheless keep haunting Tarique Rahman.

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PM Modi invites Tarique Rahman and family to visit India

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Bangladeshi counterpart Tarique Rahman to visit India at a mutually convenient time.

"As two fast-growing economies and aspiring societies, India and Bangladesh can truly become catalysts for each other’s sustainable growth, work for each other’s security and enable mutual prosperity,” Modi added.

The invitation was conveyed in a letter dated February 16, which was handed over by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, when he called on Tarique Rahman following the swearing-in ceremony at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban today.

The BNP's win in Feb 12 polls is seen largely a moral and strategic victory for India.

Team Modi applied twin strategies but firm ones. It protected Sheikh Hasina
and opened back channel with BNP leader Tarique Rahman when he was still in Londom. 

"I take this opportunity to invite you, along with Dr Zubaida Rahman and your daughter Zaima, on a visit to India at a mutually convenient time. A warm welcome awaits you in India,” Modi wrote.

"I extend my warmest congratulations to you on the victory of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party at the just concluded parliamentary elections in Bangladesh and on your appointment as Prime Minister of Bangladesh,” he said.

“I wish you every success as you assume the high responsibilities of this office. Your victory is a testimony to the trust and confidence reposed by the people of Bangladesh in your leadership and their mandate for your vision to take the country forward on the path of peace, stability and prosperity.”

Modi noted India and Bangladesh, as close neighbours, share a deep-rooted friendship founded on common history, cultural ties and shared aspirations for peace and prosperity.

The strong convergence between our respective developmental priorities shall serve as a guiding principle for our future cooperation,” he wrote.

The Indian prime minister said he looked forward to working closely with Bangladesh’s new prime minister to strengthen multifaceted bilateral relations, enhance regional cooperation and advance shared goals across connectivity, trade, technology, education, skills development, energy, healthcare, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

The western lobby and Pakistan favoured Jamaat.

Yunus was moving close to Turkey and Pakistan and New Delhi thinks this sinister plan is checkmated.

But Jamaat is a political reality now and can even force mid term polls hoping to capture power.

Ends