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By:

Rajendra Pandharpure

15 April 2025 at 7:55:54 pm

Fadnavis’s Report-Card Warning Rattles Pune BJP

A poor turnout at a crucial campaign meeting has exposed concerns over organisational complacency, civic engagement and the widening gap between the BJP’s electoral dominance and its grassroots performance. Pune’s political circles are abuzz after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis delivered an unusually sharp reprimand to BJP corporators, warning them against seeking positions without demonstrating their commitment to the party. “If you come only to ask for positions, I will pull out the...

Fadnavis’s Report-Card Warning Rattles Pune BJP

A poor turnout at a crucial campaign meeting has exposed concerns over organisational complacency, civic engagement and the widening gap between the BJP’s electoral dominance and its grassroots performance. Pune’s political circles are abuzz after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis delivered an unusually sharp reprimand to BJP corporators, warning them against seeking positions without demonstrating their commitment to the party. “If you come only to ask for positions, I will pull out the ‘report card’ of each one of you,” he cautioned at a campaign meeting for the Legislative Council elections to the Teachers’ and Graduates’ constituencies. The remark has resonated within the BJP, exposing growing unease over the functioning of its local organisation despite its commanding majority in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). But it was the circumstances that preceded the outburst that have drawn attention: poor attendance by corporators from Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad at a meeting convened by the Chief Minister himself, amid complaints that several elected representatives were not actively participating in the election campaign. Low Turnout Fadnavis was reportedly already displeased with the lack of involvement. The thin attendance only aggravated his concerns, prompting him to question Pune’s low voter turnout in comparison with the 80 per cent recorded in the Konkan constituency. His message was unambiguous: the party’s shortcomings needed to be addressed, and its representatives had to get back to work. The episode has brought into focus a paradox confronting the BJP in Pune. Despite its numerical strength in the civic body, the party has struggled to establish the same visibility and political aggression displayed by opposition corporators, particularly those from the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar). Opposition representatives have continued to command media attention, raising questions about whether the BJP’s overwhelming numbers have translated into effective political engagement. The concern is not new. Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol had earlier convened a meeting with BJP corporators to impress upon them the need to become more active and responsive. Yet, according to party insiders, the desired improvement has remained elusive. Local leaders have also flagged poor attendance at municipal proceedings and a lack of enthusiasm for expanding the party’s membership base. For a party that places considerable emphasis on discipline and cadre mobilisation, the disconnect between electoral strength and day-to-day political activity presents an uncomfortable challenge. Complacency of Power The BJP’s success in securing a commanding position in the PMC may itself have contributed to a degree of complacency. With no major general election immediately on the horizon, some elected representatives appear to be concentrating more on individual ambitions than on strengthening the organisation, according to a BJP office-bearer. Pune is witnessing major infrastructure initiatives involving the Metro, a ring road, airport development and river rejuvenation. The BJP leadership is keen that these projects become part of a visible political narrative, demonstrating the benefits of the party’s presence in power at both the state and national levels. However, development projects do not automatically translate into political dividends. If party representatives fail to connect these initiatives with citizens, the political advantage of being in government can diminish. The leadership’s concern, therefore, is about whether the local organisation is adequately equipped to convert governance into public support. Fadnavis’s unusually stern tone has also invited interpretations about his broader approach to party management. Generally regarded as measured in his public interventions, the Chief Minister appeared unwilling to tolerate what he perceives as a weakening of organisational discipline. The BJP has, by and large, avoided the kind of debilitating factionalism that has weakened the Congress in Maharashtra. The leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Fadnavis remains firmly established within the party. But leadership cohesion at the top does not necessarily guarantee efficiency at the local level. The challenge is to ensure that discipline and political energy permeate the organisation beyond its senior ranks. The unease is compounded by complaints over the selection of candidates for the Teachers’ and Graduates’ constituencies. Some party members have questioned whether geographical representation was adequately balanced and whether the contributions of workers have received due recognition. Such grievances could complicate an election campaign in which the BJP is already anticipating a stiff contest in the Teachers’ constituency.

AI in Sperm Sorting: An Unbiased Decision for A Better Outcome

Writer: Dr. Ramnath Babu T J
Dr. Ramnath Babu T J
Nov 7, 2024
3 min read

Artificial Intelligence or AI is revolutionising fertility treatments of the future. The inclusion of AI enhances the accuracy, efficiency, and objectivity of sperm selection, hence potentially improving fertility outcomes by leaps and bounds. Traditionally, sperm sorting through manual methods is subjective to judgments. Processes like centrifugation and swim-up methods are used to separate sperm based on motility and morphology. Although they are effective, they have their limitations, leading to human errors that affect the success rates of fertility treatment. For instance, studies have shown that traditional sperm sorting techniques can have variability in success rates, with reported live birth rates ranging between 15 per cent to 25 per cent per cycle depending on the method and quality of sperm. Hence the introduction of AI helps in maintaining consistency in evaluations of sperm, using the same data set for every sample which leads to better judgments.


Automation and Standardisation- Automation of sperm selection and also introduction of AI in the process have improved the results in ART. AI-assisted sperm selection improves the accuracy in choosing high-quality sperm for fertilisation purposes, and also, pregnancy and live birth rates might be improved. Technologies like Intracytoplasmic Morphologically Selected Sperm Injection along with AI ensure the chances of pregnancies increase by about 10-20 per cent compared to the standard procedures. AI and Automation will decrease time taken to analyze sperm and increase opportunities to select better sperm with DNA integrity for better development and higher success rates in embryo selection. These processes ensure that the sperm selection process follows consistent criteria, reducing variability in outcomes caused by human error.


Analysing Complex Data for Better Outcomes- AI plays a crucial in improving IVF outcomes by analysing complex data and providing tailored recommendations. AI-driven tools and models such as those on SpOvum.ai point towards an opportunity to optimise ovarian stimulation decisions by assessing patient characteristics and follicle growth patterns. A study revealed that the use of AI in IVF improved egg yield and reduced medication costs. AI enables fertility specialists to make data-driven choices, improving overall IVF success rates and streamlining treatment processes.


Reducing Human Error- AI models can continuously learn and refine their performance by being trained on newer data. This adaptability ensures the technology remains unbiased and up-to-date with the latest scientific insights into sperm quality and fertility success rates. Studies have shown that AI-driven sperm sorting can decrease human-related errors by up to 25 per cent, improving sperm selection quality in terms of morphology and motility.


Reduction of Sperm Damage- The new AI-driven sperm sorting techniques also include microfluidic systems that are known to exhibit several advantages over the most commonly used conventional method, which is centrifugation. Traditional centrifugation methods, such as density gradient centrifugation, also cause severe oxidative stress and DNA fragmentation of the sperm because of the very high mechanical forces involved. The AI-infused microfluidic sorting minimises this damage significantly by involving gentler processes that mimic the natural pathway of sperm selection. The studies show that the process of microfluidic sorting decreases DNA fragmentation in sperm, which gives improved opportunities for success for IVF. For example, DNA fragmentation is 20 percent lower in sperm sorted using microfluidic processes than in traditional processing methods.


AI is bound to play an increasingly definitive role in fertility treatments, which will improve the outcomes for couples experiencing infertility.


(The author is a Co-Founder & CEO at SpOvum® Technologies. Views personal.)

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