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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.

Pilgrimage, Terror, and Tourism: The Crisis of Faith in Kashmir

Cradled in the lap of the Himalayas, Kashmir- often whispered as “Paradise on Earth” is a land of beauty which seems magical. Pahalgam and Sonamarg unfurl like painted scrolls, opening valleys with the call of adventure. Mirror like waters of Dal Lake, snowflakes of Gulmarg, and nestled in silent reverence- the Amarnath Cave and Vaishno Devi Temple beckon pilgrims with hearts full of faith. Kashmir offers not just a journey, but a poem written in mountains and spiritual light. Tourism in Kashmir has long symbolized the region’s beauty and spiritual depth, but repeated militant attacks often targeting Hindu pilgrims have severely impacted public confidence. On April 22, 2025, 28 people were killed in a brutal assault in Pahalgam. Just a year earlier, in June 2024, nine Hindu pilgrims died in a bus attack in Reasi. These echoed the 2017 Amarnath Yatra attack, where eight were killed.


Tourism in Kashmir: A Shifting Landscape

The violence against Kashmiri Hindus in the 1990s and beyond has had a lasting impact on tourism in the region. Between 1990 and 1991, around 217-228 Kashmiri Hindus were brutally killed in targeted attacks, as terrorism escalated in the region. These early massacres were followed by a series of other brutal incidents, especially during the late 1990s. In 1998 alone, multiple massacres occurred in which Hindu civilians were specifically targeted: the Wandhama Massacre (23 Hindus killed), the Prankote Massacre (29 Hindus killed), the Chapnari Massacre (25 Hindus killed), and the Chamba Massacre in Himachal Pradesh (35 Hindus killed). These acts of terror were designed to intimidate and force the Hindu population out of Kashmir.


A review of terrorism-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir from 2000 to 2025 highlights a significant decline in militant activities over the years. According to data from the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), incidents peaked in the early 2000s with over 2,800 cases in 2001 but steadily decreased in subsequent years. This downward trend initially fostered renewed hope for peace and boosted tourism. However, the recent spate of targeted attacks, has reignited deep public fears. In 2000, the Amarnath Pilgrimage Massacre claimed the lives of several pilgrims, further deepening the fear among visitors.


The violence continued with the 2002 Amarnath Massacre, including attacks on the Raghunath Temple. The Nadimarg Massacre of 2003 (24 Kashmiri Pandits killed), and the Doda Massacre of 2006, which saw nearly 60 Hindus murdered, continued the cycle of targeted violence and terrorism.


The Pahalgam Attack of 2025 is a recent reminder that the Hindu community in Kashmir has long been in the crosshairs of militant groups. These attacks, particularly on religious pilgrims and locals, led to the virtual collapse of tourism, as Hindus were not just victims but also the primary targets of terror for decades.


Threat not just on tourists/ pilgrims

The violence in Kashmir has not spared anyone, including the Indian Army. The military, tasked with maintaining order in the region, has become a frequent target of terror groups.


The Uri Attack (2016), where 19 Indian soldiers were killed is one of the deadliest strikes in recent history. Similarly, the Pathankot Attack (2016), and the Pulwama Attack (2019), which led to the deaths of 40 CRPF personnel, are stark reminders of the deep-rooted hostility in the region. These attacks have compounded the sense of fear and insecurity, not only for civilians but also for those in the military who are tasked with maintaining order. As a result, the valley’s already fragile tourism sector has been severely hampered, with both local and foreign visitors who now reconsider or abandon travel plans discouraged by the ongoing violence and instability. The tragic events of these decades have created a cycle of terror, where every attack not only deepens the valley's scars but also further isolates it from the outside world.


The challenges facing Kashmir’s tourism are a heavy weight the region still struggles to bear. Fear and uncertainty are constant companions. Each attack doesn’t just take lives, it takes away memories that could have been made and journeys that could have been healing. For a country rooted in Hindu heritage and identifying as a Hindu-majority nation, the repeated, religion-specific terrorist attacks are more than just acts of violence, they are targeted blows to the soul of the nation.


These attacks haven’t just spilled blood; they’ve fractured the very spirit of tourism in Kashmir, a state whose economy depends heavily on those seeking peace, pilgrimage, and beauty.


(Writer is an MA English Literature student. Views Personal)

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