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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 Modi’s Visit Could Be A Game Changer for Trade?

Updated: Feb 18, 2025

Modi

The most awaited meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump that took place on February 13, 2025 primarily focused on Trade, Defense ties, AI and space exploration. The key highlights of the meeting were primarily- India-US launch mission 500 for a double bi-lateral trade in 2030, Defense ties, F35 Fighter Jet deal, Space Exploration and AI cooperation.


What is India-US mission 500?

It is an ambitious project chalked out by both the countries with an aim to double the bi-lateral trade between India and the United States to $ billion by 2030. Reports highlighted that Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasized Mission-500, which seeks to elevate bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030. Addressing a press conference, Misri said, “The two leaders have jointly launched the US-India Compact for the 21st Century to foster deeper collaboration in defense, trade, and technology. In the area of trade and investment, Mission-500 has been introduced to more than double total two-way trade to USD 500 billion by 2030.” He further said, “Additionally, the leaders unveiled plans to establish a new 10-year framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership, spanning from 2025 to 2035.”


The mission focuses on several key areas, including, identifying and eliminating trade barriers to facilitate smoother transactions, promoting investment opportunities, encouraging investments in key sectors such as technology, energy, and manufacturing. Establishing joint working groups to address trade challenges and opportunities, and fostering collaboration in emerging sectors like digital economy and clean energy are also of top focus.


The successful execution of Mission 500 is expected to yield significant benefits, including increased job creation and economic growth in both countries, enhanced technological exchange and innovation, and strengthened geopolitical ties and strategic partnership.


Both leaders acknowledged existing trade tensions and expressed a commitment to resolving them. While President Trump called for the need to reduce the U.S. trade deficit with India by increasing American energy exports, Prime Minister Modi pledged to double bilateral trade by 2030. Both agreed to work towards finalizing segments of a trade deal by fall 2025.


Another important announcement that came was from Trump regarding the extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, implicated in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, to India. Trump expressed willingness to support the extradition. Besides, Prime Minister Modi assured the return of Indian citizens residing illegally in the U.S.


What is the F-35 fighter jet deal?

The F-35 fighterjet deal refers to the procurement of the Lockhead Martin F-35 Lightning II by various countries. The deal involves the purchase of F-35 aircraft, munitions, and related equipment. During their recent meeting, Modi and Trump discussed enhancing defense cooperation between the two nations. Trump announced plans to increase military sales to India, including the potential provision of F-35 stealth fighter jets. These are among the most advanced fighter jets globally featuring stealth capabilities and cutting-edge avionics. If acquired, it would significantly bolster India’s air combat capabilities.


Space Exploration and AI cooperation

Several key announcements were made including the US-India TRUST initiative which is a road map for AI infrastructure, and the INDUS Innovation platform to foster partnerships in defence, space and energy. According to the official statement, the leaders hailed 2025 as a pioneering year for US-India civil space cooperation with plans for a NASA-ISRO effort through AXIOM, to bring the first Indian astronaut to the International space station. It also mentioned a likely early launch of the joint NISAR mission, which will be the first of its kind to systematically map changes to the earth’s surface using dual radars.


Echoing US President Donald Trump’s agenda at the White House, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced his vision of Make India Great Again, reiterating his tough stand that just like Trump, New Delhi is also firm on keeping the national interest on the top priority. The statement came when both the world leaders addressed a joint press conference on Thursday Feb 14, after their meeting got concluded in Washington DC.


Lastly, another key highlight was the reciprocal tariffs. Trump recently announced that he proposes to answer foreign import taxes on US goods with rates equal to what each country imposes. Trump has since long been expressing his disappointment over India for its high tariff rate on foreign goods. Reports highlight that on some occasions he even called PM Modi the “king of tariffs”. However, after the meeting, both Trump and Modi announced they would follow up on a strategy for enhancing cooperation on the issue.

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