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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

NDA power matrix reshaped after success

AI generated image Mumbai: A quiet coup in the state has triggered a loud shift in the power dynamics of the nation’s capital. By engineering the defection of six additional MPs, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has nearly doubled his parliamentary muscle, transforming his Shiv Sena faction from a junior regional partner into an indispensable pillar of the NDA. Now sitting on a commanding 13 seats, Shinde has dramatically increased his political leverage—leaving a cautious BJP to weigh the...

NDA power matrix reshaped after success

AI generated image Mumbai: A quiet coup in the state has triggered a loud shift in the power dynamics of the nation’s capital. By engineering the defection of six additional MPs, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has nearly doubled his parliamentary muscle, transforming his Shiv Sena faction from a junior regional partner into an indispensable pillar of the NDA. Now sitting on a commanding 13 seats, Shinde has dramatically increased his political leverage—leaving a cautious BJP to weigh the cost of an emboldened ally demanding a bigger slice of the pie in both the Union and state cabinets. In a masterstroke of political engineering that has profoundly jolted political landscape, Shinde has once again demonstrated his formidable capacity for disruption. The rebellion of six out of nine Lok Sabha Members of Parliament from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), ostensibly joining Shinde’s ranks under the banner of “Operation Tiger,” is not merely a regional skirmish. It is a calculated power play that reverberates through the highest corridors of power in New Delhi. By nearly doubling his party’s strength in the lower house from seven to thirteen MPs, Shinde has dramatically altered his own political trajectory, elevating his faction from a helpful regional ally to an indispensable pillar of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Shinde’s Stature The immediate consequence of this crossover is a massive surge in Shinde’s stature within the NDA hierarchy. With thirteen parliamentarians, his Shiv Sena is now poised to become the fourth-largest bloc in the ruling national coalition, sitting just behind the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Telugu Desam Party, and the newly formed Nationalist Citizens Party of India. This numerical leap is of immense strategic value to the BJP-led central government. In a parliamentary environment where the ruling coalition possesses only a modest majority, every single seat counts. The central leadership is acutely aware of upcoming legislative hurdles, particularly ambitious constitutional amendments like the proposed delimitation bill, which will require a formidable two-thirds majority. By acting as the architect of this crucial numerical boost, Shinde has cemented his reputation as a reliable and highly effective operator for the NDA, significantly increasing his bargaining power and political leverage. National Relief For the BJP, this development evokes a complex mixture of profound national relief and acute regional anxiety. From the vantage point of PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Shinde’s successful poaching operation is a clear windfall. It simultaneously fortifies the NDA’s numerical strength in New Delhi while severely crippling a vocal opposition force in Maharashtra. The central BJP leadership views Shinde as a vital asset capable of bridging the gap between their current numbers and the overwhelming mandates of the past. However, the perspective from the Maharashtra BJP headquarters is noticeably more apprehensive. State BJP leaders openly acknowledge Shinde’s soaring political equity, but they are increasingly wary of his expanding ambitions. They recognize that an emboldened Shinde, eager to fill the political vacuum left by Uddhav Thackeray and a fragmented Nationalist Congress Party, will aggressively attempt to expand his footprint across the state, potentially encroaching upon the BJP’s own traditional support bases. Power Sharing This dramatically enhanced political heft immediately raises pressing questions regarding power-sharing arrangements, both at the Centre and in the state. Armed with thirteen MPs, Shinde’s camp is undoubtedly preparing to seek greater political rewards. In the Union Cabinet, his demand for an additional, high-profile ministerial berth is now backed by solid arithmetic. Given his heightened utility to the national coalition, the BJP high command is highly likely to accommodate this request during the next cabinet reshuffle. However, the power struggle within the Maharashtra state cabinet promises to be far more contentious. Shinde, who had to settle for the Deputy Chief Ministership behind Devendra Fadnavis following the last assembly elections, may now feel emboldened to petition the BJP leadership for the top job. The BJP’s state unit is actively preparing to fiercely resist any such demand. Senior BJP leaders are quick to emphasize that despite his parliamentary gains, Shinde’s legislative strength in the state assembly hovers around 57 MLAs, dwarfed by the BJP’s commanding 132 legislators. Consequently, conceding the Chief Minister’s chair remains highly improbable. Instead, the BJP will be forced into a delicate balancing act, likely appeasing Shinde by granting his faction a larger share of influential, heavyweight portfolios within the state government to keep the alliance stable. Ultimately, through sheer political audacity, Eknath Shinde has ensured that neither New Delhi nor Mumbai can afford to govern without catering to his increasingly formidable political weight.

‘Early posture checks and mobility can make hospitals half-empty’

When Dr. Ashwini Shelke walks into a room, she isn’t just looking at your smile - she’s reading your posture like a lifelong manuscript. As a senior physiotherapist who accompanied the Indian sailing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics, Dr. Ashwini has spent her career at the intersection of elite performance and everyday longevity.


Currently the Lead Physiotherapist at Invictus Performance Lab, Bengaluru, Dr. Ashwini is on a mission to dismantle the myth that physiotherapy is reserved for the sporting elite. Whether she is treating an athlete chasing gold or a senior citizen reclaiming their balance, her philosophy remains the same: the body’s story can always be rewritten through movement.


With a master’s specialisation in Manual Therapy and a tireless work ethic, Dr. Ashwini brings a blend of clinical precision and humour to the science of motion. Read on to discover why she believes movement isn’t just a physical act - it’s the ultimate key to human longevity. In an interaction with CS Krishnamurthy she breaks various myths about physiotherapy. Excerpts…


Physiotherapy is often seen only as post-injury care. How can we shift this perception toward preventive healthcare?

In India, especially in rural areas, physiotherapy is often misunderstood as mere massage or basic exercise rather than evidence-based medical practice. To change this, education is vital. It is not a temporary fix for symptoms; it is an active patient partnership.


Just as we prioritise regular blood tests, people should consult a physiotherapist to optimise posture, strength, and balance before pain starts. This proactive approach maintains healthy movement for life. People mostly see us only when they limp in.

If more people did posture checks and mobility drills early, hospitals would be half-empty.


Many people rush for scans (MRIs/X-rays) at the first sign of pain. How important is body awareness compared to a formal diagnosis?

We need to listen to ‘quiet’ signals like stiffness or restricted movement before they become ‘loud’; injuries. While scans are useful, they aren’t always the necessary first step. Many aches improve with early, targeted exercises. Building body awareness allows for minor corrections that prevent major tears.


How does treating an Olympic athlete differ from treating a sedentary professional?

The core principles - assessing movement, strength, and recovery - remain the same. What changes is the context. For an athlete, performance means elite competition; for a professional, it might mean working eight hours without pain. Performance is personal. Whether the goal is running an ultra-marathon or walking a kilometer pain-free, the gap between the athlete and the professional is smaller than we think. Both need balance - too much motion without rest, or too much rest without motion, are equally harmful. My work is to remind both that mindful movement is medicine.


Are youngsters ‘aging’; their spines prematurely due to screen usage and ‘hustle culture’?

Technology isn’t the villain, but our sedentary habits are. The ‘text-neck generation’ suffers because of prolonged static postures. Also, when long hours and poor nutrition persist, the body pushes back with chronic fatigue. The solution isn’t perfection but balance: small habits like neutral sitting positions, staying hydrated, and taking standing breaks quietly protect the body from a high-pressure lifestyle.


How have changing Indian habits, like moving from floor-sitting to sofas, affected our mobility?

It is a use it or lose it; scenario. Traditional habits like squatting and walking barefoot kept our joints flexible and feet strong. By gently reintroducing floor movements and foot-strengthening exercises into modern life, we can regain that lost mobility.


Women often endure pelvic or back pain in silence. Why is this, and how do you support them through transitions like menopause?

Societal conditioning often frames this pain as ‘normal’; after childbirth. Awareness is particularly low in rural areas due to lack of private spaces or stigma. However, hormonal shifts throughout a woman’s life – from pregnancy to menopause - drastically affect bone density and joint stability. Physiotherapy goes far beyond postnatal care; it provides tailored guidance to help women stay stable and strong through every hormonal milestone. When women start viewing physiotherapy as strength-training for life, not just recovery, remember, the entire household benefits.


For senior citizens, what are the most common mistakes made regarding joint health and the fear of falling?

Many believe they must be ‘fit enough’; before starting physiotherapy. In reality, strength training is the tool used to reach that fitness. Also, many assume a one-hour workout compensates for 23 hours of inactivity. Regarding falls, fear of movement can be as debilitating as the injury itself.


We start with gentle, controlled movements to manage pain. Confidence grows through measurable success - tracking progress in balance and strength allows patients to trust their bodies again, and independence returns.


Can physiotherapy truly transform independence for differently-abled individuals?

Absolutely. Physiotherapy is about empowerment. I recall a patient paralysed from the waist down who suffered severe shoulder pain from wheelchair use. While we could not restore leg movement, we focused on upper-body conditioning. Within six months, she could perform 30 full push-ups. Her pain vanished, and her increased stamina transformed her daily life.

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