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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.

Rethinking Bureaucracy in an Impatient Era

Updated: Feb 10, 2025

In a world where the line between right and wrong seems to blur with every new blockbuster and tweet, the life of a bureaucrat has taken on a paradoxical dimension. I have spent decades observing my husband, a dedicated civil servant, navigate a labyrinth of rules, endless paperwork and a relentless scrutiny that can chill even the most determined soul. Yet, beneath the veneer of regulatory rigidity lies an undercurrent of insecurity, a need for validation and a quiet, unspoken hero worship of one’s own service. For those of us who live in the periphery of this system, the everyday drama of bureaucracy is both mystifying and, at times, deeply poignant.


Indian bureaucracy is forged in the crucible of the UPSC Civil Services examination, a fierce competition that transforms aspirants into civil servants. This slow and deliberate ascent is meant to instil discipline, adherence to procedure and a sense of duty. However, it also breeds a fragility; the slightest hint of criticism from a politician, a journalist or an anonymous voice on social media can shatter the delicate self-image carefully built over years of service. When faced with such challenges, many bureaucrats retreat behind the oft-repeated refrain of “hands being tied” - a defensive posture that both absolves and isolates them.


While bureaucratic battles rage in government offices, a broader cultural shift unfolds in cinema, reflecting societal change. Post-independence films introduced the ‘angry young man,’ embodying rebellion against corruption, later replaced by the romantic hero who subtly challenged patriarchy. These archetypes mirrored evolving aspirations.


Fast forward to 2025, and we find ourselves in the era of ‘Pushpa’ - a film that introduces a subaltern anti-hero who unapologetically defies the established order. His audacity, rather than virtue, captivates audiences, revealing a growing public discontent with slow, bureaucratic governance. Traditional institutions, once revered, appear compromised, while transgressors are celebrated for their boldness.


For bureaucrats like my husband, this shift is both unsettling and revealing. Governance rewards consistency, but modern society craves immediate, dramatic action. In today’s transactional political climate, even well-intended, methodical efforts risk irrelevance if they fail to deliver swift, visible results.


In India’s bureaucratic labyrinth, a transfer order was once a mark of disgrace. Today, it is worn with defiance, much like the anti-hero of ‘Pushpa’, who tears up his transfer order. This shift reflects a broader impatience with institutions clinging to the old mantra of rule-bound governance.


Public opinion, shaped by social media’s immediacy, demands swift action, leaving bureaucrats trained in slow, procedural merit, utterly adrift. Defending inertia with claims of systemic constraints no longer satisfies a public that equates boldness with effectiveness. The question now is whether public service can evolve to balance steadfast duty with the agility modern governance demands.


The answer lies in adaptation, not abandonment. Just as cinema redefines heroism, governance must embrace innovation without forsaking principles. Progress will not be judged by adherence to protocol alone, but by tangible impact where responsiveness, creativity and ethical disruption become the new markers of public service.


In my own life, as the wife of a bureaucrat, I have observed the tension between these two paradigms with a mix of admiration and concern. I have seen the quiet pride with which my husband speaks of his steady career, built on a foundation of unwavering duty and resilience. Yet I have also witnessed the moments of frustration, the sleepless nights spent pondering whether adherence to a rigid set of rules is enough in a world that rewards audacity and disruption. The challenge for today’s civil servants is not to abandon the principles that have long defined public service but to reinterpret them in a way that resonates with an evolving society.


(The author is a paediatrician and a public health specialist.)

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