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By:

Akhilesh Sinha

25 June 2025 at 2:53:54 pm

India's multi-align diplomacy triumphs

New Delhi: West Asia has transformed into a battlefield rained by fireballs. Seas or land, everywhere echoes the roar of cataclysmic explosions, flickering flames, and swirling smoke clouds. et amid such adversity, Indian ships boldly waving the Tricolour navigate the strait undeterred, entering the Arabian Sea. More remarkably, Iran has sealed its airspace to global flights but opened it for the safe evacuation of Indians.   This scene evokes Prime Minister Narendra Modi's memorable 2014...

India's multi-align diplomacy triumphs

New Delhi: West Asia has transformed into a battlefield rained by fireballs. Seas or land, everywhere echoes the roar of cataclysmic explosions, flickering flames, and swirling smoke clouds. et amid such adversity, Indian ships boldly waving the Tricolour navigate the strait undeterred, entering the Arabian Sea. More remarkably, Iran has sealed its airspace to global flights but opened it for the safe evacuation of Indians.   This scene evokes Prime Minister Narendra Modi's memorable 2014 interview. He stated that "there was a time when we counted waves from the shore; now the time has come to take the helm and plunge into the ocean ourselves."   In a world racing toward conflict, Modi has proven India's foreign policy ranks among the world's finest. Guided by 'Nation First' and prioritising Indian safety and interests, it steadfastly embodies  'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' , the world as one family.   Policy Shines Modi's foreign policy shines with such clarity and patience that even as war flames engulf West Asian nations, Indians studying and working there return home safe. In just 13 days, nearly 100,000 were evacuated from Gulf war zones, mostly by air, some via Armenia by road. PM Modi talked with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian to secure Iran's airspace for the safe evacuation of Indians, a privilege denied to any other nation. Additionally, clearance was granted for Indian ships carrying crude oil and LPG to pass safely through the Hormuz Strait. No other country's vessels are navigating these waters, except for those of Iran's ally, China. The same strategy worked in the Ukraine-Russia war: talks with both presidents ensured safe corridors, repatriating over 23,000 students and businessmen. Iran, Israel, or America, all know India deems terrorism or war unjustifiable at any cost. PM Modi amplified anti-terror campaigns from UN to global platforms, earning open support from many nations.   Global Powerhouse Bolstered by robust foreign policy and economic foresight, India emerges as a global powerhouse, undeterred by tariff hurdles. Modi's adept diplomacy yields notable successes. Contrast this with Nehru's era: wedded to Non-Aligned Movement, he watched NAM member China seize vast Ladakh territory in war. Today, Modi's government signals clearly, India honors friends, spares no foes. Abandoning non-alignment, it embraces multi-alignment: respecting sovereignties while prioritizing human welfare and progress. The world shifts from unipolar or bipolar to multipolar dynamics.   Modi's policy hallmark is that India seal defense deals like the S-400 and others with Russia yet sustains US friendship. America bestows Legion of Merit; Russia, its highest civilian honor, Order of St. Andrew the Apostle. India nurtures ties with Israel, Palestine, Iran via bilateral talks. Saudi Arabia stands shoulder-to-shoulder across fronts; UAE trade exceeds $80 billion. UN's top environment award, UNEP Champions of the Earth, graces India, unlike past when foreign nations campaigned against us on ecological pretexts.   This policy's triumph roots in economic empowerment. India now ranks the world's fourth-largest economy, poised for third in 1-2 years. The 2000s dubbed it 'fragile'; then-PM economist Dr. Manmohan Singh led. Yet  'Modinomics'  prevailed. As COVID crippled supply chains, recession loomed, inflation soared and growth plunged in developed countries,  Modinomics  made India the 'bright star.' Inflation stayed controlled, growth above 6.2 per cent. IMF Chief Economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas praised it, advising the world to learn from India.

BJP apprehensive of Marathi-Muslim vote bloc

Mumbai: The strategic reunion of the Thackeray cousins marks a pivotal shift in Mumbai’s political landscape, forcing the BJP-led Mahayuti to reconsider its path toward controlling the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). At the heart of the BJP’s concern is the emergence of a Marathi-Muslim voting bloc, a demographic alliance that mirrors the potent ‘Muslim-Yadav’ formula famously utilised by Lalu Prasad Yadav in Bihar. Internal assessments suggest that this cross-community alignment could influence as many as 43 seats in the city. While the BJP traditionally struggles to capture the Muslim vote, the real danger to their campaign lies in the possibility of the Muslim community voting tactically for the Shiv Sena (UBT) to prevent a BJP victory.


The formalisation of the alliance between Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray has fundamentally altered the math in 36 core ‘Marathi’ seats. Previously, the BJP had hoped that a split in the Marathi vote between various factions would allow their candidates to sail through. However, the unified ‘Brand Thackeray’ appeal now threatens to consolidate these votes under a single banner.


Sigh Of Relief

Interestingly, BJP surveys had previously indicated that if Raj Thackeray had joined Eknath Shinde’s faction, the impact would have been even more severe, potentially affecting 45 seats. While the current UBT-MNS pairing offers a slight ‘sigh of relief’ in that regard, it remains a formidable obstacle to the Mahayuti’s target of 178 seats.


Further complicating the situation is the stance of the City Congress unit, which recently severed ties with the Shiv Sena (UBT). This move was largely driven by the fear that their core Muslim support base would be alienated by an association with the MNS. The BJP’s strategy has involved highlighting this tension. City BJP Chief Ameet Satam famously warned that a UBT victory would result in the city having a ‘Khan’ as its Mayor. This was a clear attempt to polarize the electorate and pull Marathi voters away from the Thackeray camp.


Marathi Mayor

However, Raj Thackeray’s assurance at today’s press conference that the city will have a ‘Marathi Mayor’ from the UBT-MNS alliance has provided a counter-narrative. This statement serves two purposes. Firstly, it reassures the Marathi heartland of the alliance’s priorities, and secondly it gives the BJP a new rhetorical tool. The BJP now intends to use Raj Thackeray’s ‘Marathi-first’ rhetoric to suggest to Muslim voters that the alliance does not truly represent their interests, hoping this will cause them to reconsider their tactical support for the Shiv Sena (UBT).


As the January 15 elections approach, the success of the Mahayuti depends on whether they can break this budding Marathi-Muslim coalition or if the “Thackeray Factor” will successfully bridge the gap between these historically disparate voting blocs.


Seat Sharing

A senior BJP leader, while commenting on the UBT-MNS alliance asked as to why the seat-sharing formula was not declared by the two leaders, and went on to reveal the answer. According to him, the Shiv Sena (UBT) is worried as to how many seats the Shiv Sena under Eknath Shinde gets to contest and knows well that Shinde won’t settle for anything less than what the MNS gets. The BJP leader said that the MNS is asking for 80 seats and if that number is revealed, the BJP will have to leave as many seats to Shiv Sena. It’ll be better for the BJP.


Their track record is of corruption and self-interest. Their alliance is for their own political survival and it will not make any significant political difference. It is childish if anyone thinks otherwise. People will not get swayed. The television news channels were reporting as if it was the Russia-Ukaine alliance. Thackerays are not the lone representatives of Marathi people and Mumbai.

Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister

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