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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 defends unopposed wins as opposition cries

Mumbai: As the dust settles on the nomination process for the 2026 Maharashtra Municipal Corporation elections, a massive political firestorm has erupted over the "unprecedented" number of candidates elected unopposed. While the ruling Mahayuti alliance, led by the BJP, celebrates these victories as a mandate for their governance, the Opposition has branded the trend a "murder of democracy," alleging a systemic campaign of coercion, bribery, and administrative bias. While the MNS has moved court over the issue, revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that the BJP is not worried as there is no “wrongdoing”.


Of the 2,869 seats across 29 municipal corporations heading to polls on January 15, nearly 68 candidates—the vast majority from the ruling Mahayuti—have already secured their seats without a single vote being cast. The BJP is the primary beneficiary, with 44 unopposed wins, particularly in strongholds like Kalyan-Dombivli (KDMC), Pune, and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena secured 22 seats, while the Ajit Pawar-led NCP took 2 seats. Interestingly, Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation, the flash point of clashes between the BJP and the Shiv Sena under Eknath Shinde, recorded the highest concentration of uncontested wins, with 22 seats decided at the withdrawal stage.


BJP’s Defiance

State Revenue Minister and senior BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule came out strongly in defense of the party’s gains on Monday. When asked about the questions raised by the opposition, Bawankule dismissed the Opposition's outcry and stated that the BJP is "not worried" about legal challenges.


"There have been no violations of any kind. Candidates withdraw for many reasons—sometimes they recognize the overwhelming support for our work, and sometimes they realize they lack the organizational strength to compete. If the Opposition wants to move court, they are free to do so, but the process has been entirely transparent," Bawankule remarked.


BJP leaders have further argued that these wins are a "certificate of good governance" and reflect the popularity of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the strategic planning of State President Ravindra Chavan.


The Opposition has reacted with unprecedented vitriol, alleging that candidates were forced out through a mix of financial inducements and police pressure.


Cash Scandal

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), led by Raj Thackeray, has announced it will move the High Court. MNS leader Avinash Jadhav alleged that their candidates in Thane and Kalyan received dozens of threatening calls and were even visited by local police to "persuade" them to withdraw.


Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut alleged a massive cash scandal, claiming that bags containing Rs 5 crore were delivered to opposition candidates in Jalgaon and other districts to ensure they stepped down. He referred to the State Election Commission (SEC) as a "pet cat" of the government.


The controversy took a dark turn in Solapur, where Congress MP Praniti Shinde alleged that a local MNS leader, Balasaheb Sarvate, was killed during a dispute related to ensuring an unopposed win for a BJP candidate.


Sensing the gravity of the situation, the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) has taken the unusual step of withholding the formal declaration of these winners. The SEC has ordered an inquiry into all wards where unopposed wins occurred. Returning officers, municipal commissioners, and police chiefs have been directed to submit detailed reports to confirm that no "coercive means, pressure, or allurement" were used. In Mumbai, the SEC is even reviewing CCTV footage from the office of the Returning Officer in Ward A following allegations of interference.


NOTA Demand

Beyond the political parties, civic activists and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have raised a technical but crucial point: the status of the NOTA (None of the Above) button. They argue that even if there is only one candidate, the election should proceed to allow voters to choose NOTA. If NOTA receives more votes than the lone candidate, they propose that a re-election should be mandatory to ensure true democratic representation.

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