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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.

How Is Life of Seers in Akhadas?

  • PTI
  • Jan 23, 2025
  • 3 min read

Updated: Jan 27, 2025

Akhadas

Their barely-clad bodies smeared in ash and long hair in deadlocks, seers at the Maha Kumbh begin each day at 4 am with a dip at the holy Sangam and a litany of rituals before proceeding to receive the pilgrims visiting them.


Life in the 'akhadas' for these seers involves a bevy of customs -- worship of their gurus, performing rituals such as 'yagya', meditation and evening prayers.


Depending on their following, most of their day is occupied by 'satsang', Bhagavad Gita 'path (recital)', singing 'kirtan (hymns)' and chanting mantras.

The rest of the time is spent attending to the pilgrims, who visit them either out of curiosity or faith.


"The idea behind our lives is not having greed. We lead simple lives. Here also, we wake up at 4 am and go for a 'snan (dip)' at the Sangam," Sawan Bharti, a seer from the Juna Akhada told PTI.


"Once we come back, we have our rituals, we worship our gurus and gods, there are the yagya… There is a sea of pilgrims who visit us to take 'dhuni (ash)'. In the evenings, we have prayers and then we sleep by midnight," he said.


He added their routine was more or less the same even in other places as well.


"We are in a sacred place and can take a bath at the Sangam. We also attend rituals when new seers are taking 'diksha'," Bharti said.

He explained that each seer had a job (assigned task) related to the akhadas -- from arranging meals, procuring items, cleaning the premises and preparing for the rituals.


Akhadas are monastic institutions or sects that unite seers (ascetics) under specific spiritual traditions and practices.


The Juna Akhada is one of the oldest and largest among the 13 that are a part of the Maha Kumbh.


The 13 akhadas are divided into three groups -- Sanyasi (Shaivite), Bairagi (Vaishnav) and Udaseen.


Each akhada is allocated specific time slots for certain rituals, creating a vibrant atmosphere filled with processions featuring decorated elephants, horses and bands.


Mahant Vashishth from the Panchayati Akhada said each of their prayers were performed in a ritualistic manner.


"There are people from across the globe who are still stuck in 'moh-maya'. We tell them about how spirituality can lead them to the path of peace," he said.


"There are sermons, too. Even when the seers are resting, the yagya never stops as that is where the faith lies. The pilgrims come to take portions of the ash from the yagya," he added.


Cheshna from the Sanyasini Shri Panh Dashnam Juna Akhada, a woman seer who took part in the diksha rituals of more than 200 women on Sunday, said the decision to renounce worldly life and embrace spirituality was driven by awakening or transformative life events.


"I have been a 'sanyasi' for 11 years and this is my first Maha Kumbh," she said.


The mega-religious event, organised every 12 years, is being held in Prayagraj from January 13 and will continue for 45 days. More than seven crore pilgrims have so far taken a holy dip at the Sangam -- the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers.


Vidyanand Swami, a seer from the Panch Atal Akhada, said he was responsible for the diksha rituals.


"Upon reaching the banks of the Ganga, the sanyasis are first given a ceremonial bath, following which they undergo 'mundan sanskar (tonsuring)' with the permission of their respective gurus. After that, they are adorned with the 'janeu (sacred thread)' and given another bath in the Ganga to complete the ritual," he said.


"Following this, dozens of priests collectively perform the purification ceremony for the sanyasis, accompanied by the chanting of Vedic mantras," he told PTI.


During the Amrit Snan, the akhadas hold the privilege of taking the first holy dip, and their bathing sequence is determined by the Akhada Parishad, which allocates time slots based on hierarchy.


Mounted on horses, with drums and cymbals, ash-smeared Naga sadhus carrying tridents and swords were the first to arrive at the Triveni Sangam and take a holy dip during the sacred 'Brahma Muhurta'.


As they plunged into the water, their cries reverberated across the area, marking the beginning of Amrit Snan, believed to cleanse a lifetime of sin.


Mahakumbh Nagar Additional District Magistrate Vivek Chaturvedi said, "Maha Kumbh is especially famous for its remarkable assembly of religious ascetics -- sadhus and 'mahants' -- drawn from secluded retreats in forests, mountains and caves. Once astrologers determine the auspicious bathing moment, known as 'Kumbhayog', the first to immerse themselves are the Naga sadhus."

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