- 6 weeks ago
The big talking points of this episode of To The Point are the big battle for Bengal and the Mumbai civic polls. I
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Battle of Bengal intensifies
00:07Amit Shah sets the tone for Bengal polls
00:30The battle lines drawn in Bengal
00:54Hello everyone, you're watching To The Point with me, Maria Shaquille.
01:00The political temperature in West Bengal is rising fast.
01:03Huminist Amit Shah has fired the opening salvo,
01:07launching a blistering attack against Mahmouda Banerjee-led Bengal government,
01:12accusing the chief minister of corruption, peddling fear and shielding infiltrators.
01:18The TMC2 has hit back just as hard,
01:20with Mahmouda Banerjee questioning the BJP's national security claims
01:25and accusing the Saffron Party of hate politics and false promises.
01:30With Bengal shaping up as the BJP's final frontier in the East,
01:35and Mahmouda Banerjee determined, one would say,
01:39to defend her fortress, the battle for Bengal has clearly entered a high-voltage phase.
01:45Remember, the elections are scheduled for next year,
01:48but the pole bugle clearly has been sounded.
01:52First of the story, and then I bring in the guests.
01:59The battle lines are drawn.
02:04The war of words is getting sharper.
02:10Home Minister Amit Shah has blown the pole bugle in West Bengal.
02:14From the heart of the state,
02:18Shah launched a scathing attack on the Mahmouda Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress,
02:23accusing it of ruling through fear, corruption and unchecked infiltration.
02:28Shah elege that for 14 years, corruption and intimidation have defined Bengal's governance,
02:56stalling development and weakening the state.
02:59The home minister then issued a blunt promise.
03:20If the BJP comes to power, infiltrators will be identified and thrown out.
03:28The response from the Trinamool Congress was swift.
03:56Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit back,
03:58questioning the BJP's national security claims,
04:02asking if terrorism had banished elsewhere,
04:05who carried out the Pahalgaam and Delhi attacks.
04:07The TMC supremo also targeted Amit Shah's credibility and accused the BJP of hate politics and spreading lies.
04:37Despite the BJP extending its footprint in Bengal, the Trinamool Congress still holds an edge.
04:42Despite the BJP extending its footprint in Bengal, the Trinamool Congress still holds an edge.
05:04It has successfully turned vote share into seats and power in the past.
05:08As the next electoral battle nears, the stakes are sky high.
05:15For the BJP, Bengal is the eastern frontier. For Mamda Banerjee, it is home turf.
05:22With rhetoric hardening and the pitch escalating, one thing is clear.
05:27The battle for Bengal is heating up. Bureau Report, India Today.
05:31Joining me on the show tonight, Ashutosh is a political analyst.
05:40Rajat Sethi is a political analyst. Manujit Mandel is a political analyst, but also is pro-TMC.
05:46We have Rohan Gupta, national spokesperson of the BJP.
05:49Manujit Mandel, here is the BJP and Home Minister Amit Shah himself leading from the front,
05:57sending a clear message that this is a battle that they must win.
06:01Would you now say that it is increasingly appearing that the BJP is setting the agenda
06:06and the TMC is only responding in this battle for Bengal?
06:10I think, Ms. Mariusz Akhil, if you look at the narratives that Mr. Amit Shah tried to set today,
06:20in fact, it was very much there since the last, how many years, maybe since 2019,
06:26we are not hearing anything new from BJP because they don't have anything more to add.
06:32Ghospatia, Sunar Bangla, and then corruption, and then Hindu-Muslim, then Rohingya.
06:41These are the, I think, set narratives of BJP, which have already been tried and tested.
06:47And people of Bengal have clearly defeated BJP in consecutive elections since 2019.
06:552019 was some sort of a jolt for TMC because they had reduced number of seats.
07:01But since 2021, if you look at the last two major elections, 2021 and 2024,
07:07people can understand where the things are going and how, what is the trend of the people of Bengal
07:13and how are they thinking about.
07:16Especially in the last election, it is, I'm pretty clear.
07:20So, BJP will try their best to pass some strong amount of what had been.
07:25It's a familiar script.
07:27You are, you know, talking about similar issues that you raised in the past.
07:32Of course, this has ensured that your vote share doesn't slip.
07:36But it is also not, you know, ensuring conversion of seats.
07:43See, Madhya, I think the situation is different this time.
07:45The way the country is seeing, the way Mamta government is supporting Guzpatia as the infiltrators,
07:52it is split wide open.
07:53You cannot oppose SIR.
07:55When you oppose SIR, it means it's clear that you don't want this illegal migrants to go out of the country.
08:02This is a national issue now.
08:03This election is not about a state or a particular region.
08:06It is about the national issue.
08:08And that's what Amin Chaji clearly told, that he's prepared, he's bound to create a grid, national grid.
08:14West Bengal is very, very important.
08:15He gave example of Assam.
08:17He gave example of Jammu Kashmir.
08:18He gave example of Gujarat.
08:20He gave example of Rajasthan, where infiltration is completely stopped.
08:23Where any incident of terrorism happens inside the country,
08:25and the question is asked to the Home Minister,
08:27it is his responsibility to ensure to provide security to each and every state and every citizen of the country.
08:33And for that, West Bengal is very, very important,
08:35because here it's a government, for the petty political interest,
08:39they are ensuring that national security is put at stake.
08:41How many infiltrators were found in Bihar?
08:48Because it was a similar script in Bihar as well.
08:51Definitely.
08:51That there were Guzpatias who were part of the electoral rule.
08:55Maria, definitely the numbers will come.
08:57You know that how many number of lacks of voters have been deleted.
09:00So obviously the data will come.
09:01And the government ensures that they will work on the data.
09:04The important thing here is, from the time the SIR was declared,
09:07we can see huge queues on the border as far as West Bengal is concerned.
09:11Why?
09:11Because these people are pushed back.
09:13This is the first time they got jittery.
09:15They understood that this time their names will be cut,
09:17and they will be put behind the bus.
09:19So that's why there are long queues, and that's why TMC is opposing it.
09:22Otherwise, you give me one reason, Maria.
09:24Why anybody will oppose SIR?
09:26If there is no political interest, you give me one example why anybody will oppose SIR.
09:30Okay, you know, the fact is, Monajeet Mandel, that there was no illegal deletion in Bihar either.
09:39That even now, although it has been said by the opposition parties,
09:44but they have not spotted a single person who is a legitimate voter and was not allowed to vote in Bihar elections,
09:51then why is the TMC opposing SIR?
09:55The TMC is opposing the SIR because of the way it was conducted.
10:01How hurriedly.
10:02And look at the plight of the people now, Maria.
10:05If you come to Bengal, if you send your camera persons to the nooks and corners of Bengal,
10:09you know, parts of Bengal, where the hearings are taking place,
10:13you can understand that the 85-90 years old, they are being forced to come out of their house in such chilling cold
10:20and face what they are facing now.
10:23The people are falling sick.
10:25That's the simple reason.
10:26We had opposition to SIR because it was conducted hurriedly.
10:31And again, look at the draft list.
10:34Even in the draft list that they have published in the last, you know, last week or so,
10:39how many Rohingyas do you have?
10:41How many illegal Bangladeshis do you have?
10:44So these are all, I think, safe narratives of BJP.
10:47Okay, it's an attempt at narrative setting.
10:51Ashutosh, BJP secured 77 seats in 2021, assembly elections.
10:58But when it came to the looks of elections, which followed, if you look at, you know,
11:05if we were to compare it to 2019, the numbers slipped to 12.
11:09But it maintained a steady vote share of 39 to 40 percent.
11:15What does the BJP need?
11:17And do you think that this fear generation which is happening right now
11:23is a script which will yield BJP that significant 6 to 7 percent lead to the TMC for them to form the government?
11:33See, Maria, the numbers which are shown in assembly election, in the parliament election,
11:38in the two subsequent parliament elections,
11:39they show that the BJP has a very strong presence in West Bengal.
11:43And Mamata Banerjee has to be wary of the BJP's presence.
11:46And you know how the BJP fights election.
11:49BJP is basically an election machine.
11:52It doesn't give an ounce to anybody, especially to their competitors.
11:57So obviously it's a tough battle for the Mamata Banerjee.
12:00But the test of the BJP lies whether they can surpass or reach to 40 to 43 percent vote share.
12:08If they can, then I think they'll have good chance.
12:10If they can't, then they'll be in trouble.
12:13Here, the BJP is fighting not only with Mamata Banerjee,
12:19but an alert Mamata Banerjee, who has been a chief minister for almost 14 years,
12:23and she's preparing herself for another term.
12:27And unlike the Congress in other states, our opposition in other states, like in Bihar,
12:32Mamata Banerjee's organizational strength is very, very strong.
12:36And the BJP organizationally is weak in West Bengal.
12:40Secondly, Mamata Banerjee is very, very aggressive, very aggressive.
12:45And she doesn't leave anything for the speculation.
12:50Whatever she has to do, she will do.
12:51And she will fight the elections very aggressively.
12:54And she knows that if an ounce is given to the BJP, BJP might get an upset in West Bengal.
13:00So, BJP, the Mamata Banerjee is alert, and Mamata Banerjee is also extremely aggressive.
13:06The issue is, the thing which is going against BJP in West Bengal is that who is the leader who can challenge Mamata Banerjee?
13:15That's something which has to be seen.
13:17If there is an aggressive, of the same stature, I don't see anybody in West Bengal BJP.
13:24But, Ashutosh, there have been multiple examples where the BJP doesn't really need a local leadership to challenge the incumbent.
13:34I agree with you.
13:38But Mamata Banerjee is not the normal leader like Naveen Patnaik.
13:43Anybody can draw a comparison with Odisha and Naveen Patnaik because Naveen Patnaik was also a chief minister for more than two decades.
13:49But Naveen Patnaik was defeated.
13:51Let's not forget it.
13:52Naveen Patnaik is a very sober, a very low-profile politician, very low-profile chief minister.
13:59Here is the example.
14:00Extremely aggressive.
14:02Rohan, respond to this and then I bring in Rajat.
14:05You know, the fact here is that Ashutosh is saying that here is an aggressive Mamata who is the real Mamati Manush.
14:14She understands the state perhaps better than the BJP here.
14:18And she knows if you give an inch to the BJP, they'll acquire the full land.
14:23Maria, I remember Ashutoshji asking the same question at the time of Delhi.
14:28Same questions.
14:28I still remember one, two debates that, okay, he was opposing Irving Kejrival,
14:32but he was asking the same question, that you don't have that kind of aura.
14:35He has to understand this is not a presidential form of election.
14:38The people vote for the policies.
14:40The people vote for the growth.
14:41The people vote for the delivery.
14:43And that is what they compare.
14:44When you compare Mamata with BJP, BJP has delivered in the states.
14:47BJP is the only party which can kill the anti-incumbency and win again and again.
14:52That is because of the delivery.
14:53It doesn't come like that.
14:54It's not just election management.
14:57It's a delivery of your commitment to the voters, to the people of the country.
15:00And that is what makes BJP different from others.
15:03Apart from that, just give me 10 seconds, Maria.
15:06There are other issues.
15:07It's not only about illegal migrants, whether it is economic development,
15:11whether it is corruption, whether it is women's security,
15:13whether it is depriving Bengalis of the central scheme.
15:16I have lots of friends in Bengal.
15:17They are deprived of the central schemes.
15:19They feel that they are left out from the good story of India.
15:22They feel cut off.
15:23And that is what BJP will ensure this time,
15:25that West Bengal, which was leading the country for economic growth,
15:28before the Mamata and Commission.
15:29Before I bring in Ashutosh and Monajit Mandel,
15:33I have to give the opening comments to Rajat Seth,
15:35who has been extremely patient as well.
15:38While we may talk about the opponents of the BJP in Bengal as extremely aggressive,
15:44here is Home Minister Amit Shah, who has made this his personal battle as well.
15:48Rajat, the fact is that this Bengal has the potential of being a BJP territory,
15:55was identified by Mr. Shah when he was the BJP president.
16:00He started that aggressive campaigning then,
16:03and he is continuing because he arrived in Bengal yesterday,
16:07and he is going to be there in the state for three days,
16:10holding meetings, holding press conferences,
16:13trying to understand where are the gaps which have to be plugged in.
16:18So, you have to see this battle for Bengal as Prime Minister Modi
16:24and Home Minister Amit Shah on one side, and Mamata Banerjee on the other.
16:30Thank you, Maria.
16:32While I agree with your assertion that this is the battle royal,
16:36primarily because of the ideological, you know,
16:39sharp differences between the two folds,
16:41I still see that BJP goes with the same vigor,
16:45even in so-called quote-unquote easy states.
16:47It goes with the same energy, with the same organizational might,
16:51and they are going to repeat the same.
16:53Why I believe the BJP would be sensing an opportunity this time,
16:58it is because of that typical Hindu Bhadramanus,
17:02which was largely indifferent that while the TMC people were involved in syndicates
17:08and all kinds of nefarious things,
17:10they were still okay bearing with that because of the cultural pride that Bengal,
17:15you know, felt with its rooted leaders and all of that.
17:18But I feel this time, especially after R.G. Kerr and, you know,
17:23the father of the victim still running pillar to post,
17:26not even being able to get a lawyer who can fight the case,
17:29that just shows that something fundamentally has happened
17:32where the trust of the common people in and around, for example, Kolkata,
17:38which comprises of 30-40 seats, that in itself is shaking.
17:41There is a reason why Mamata Banerjee has forgotten her old turf
17:45where, you know, we used to, whenever we used to land,
17:48she used to have a huge holding with she doing a namaz.
17:52Right now, she is on a spree to build temples.
17:56So something fundamentally has shifted.
17:58And she is a smart leader.
18:00She realizes that something is shifting.
18:02And I need to go back and ensure that while I start my vote share not with zero,
18:07but with 35%, I need to add those extra 10% of the Hindu votes also.
18:13And I think she realizes that by this assumption,
18:16that for the past 10-15 years,
18:18she has survived on this very simple arithmetic
18:20while BJP and other Communist Party and other parties have to start with zero,
18:24she had to start with 35.
18:26Okay.
18:26But now that is flipping.
18:28And that is changing because her hold on the remaining 60-65 is on the shaky ground.
18:32Okay.
18:33Monajit Mandal,
18:34the BJP is looking at their strategy to counter what is visibly an outreach for the Hindu votes
18:42by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
18:44She has already inaugurated the Jagannath Temple in Diga
18:47and foundation stone laying ceremony for Durga Durgangan in another town, in New Town.
18:56Isn't this reach out for that very important constituency that Rajat is speaking about?
19:01Yeah, I think TMC is a classic political party that believes in the idea of secularism.
19:09In fact, they call it the party which believes in Temple, Mosque and Char.
19:14The TMC stands for that.
19:16Okay.
19:17In fact, if you look at Mamata Di's life for the last 50 years of public life,
19:23she has always been a devout Hindu.
19:26But that doesn't mean that she won't recognize other religious denominations in the state.
19:32That should happen always.
19:33I mean, what's wrong in building temple?
19:35What's wrong in building a Jagannath Temple in Diga?
19:38In fact, it's the BJP which opposed it.
19:41Even now, yesterday's particular temple that Mamata Di inaugurated,
19:45not just to commemorate Madhurga and give some kind of gift to the people of Bengal,
19:51just to also remind the people of Bengal or India that...
19:54So then why are you opposing, okay, perhaps, Rohan, you should respond to this.
20:00Why are you opposing it?
20:02If you have Mamata Banerjee, ensure that there are temples being built in Bengal.
20:06They want to the High Court to oppose Jagannath Temple.
20:09Why are you opposing it?
20:10See, there is no question of opposing.
20:13Here, the point here, Mamata Banerjee has realized now that after allowing the inauguration
20:18or maybe foundation link or whatever you call a Babari Masjid,
20:21this is really unfortunate, the name of Babar is glorified in West Bengal.
20:25That was allowed by Mamata Banerjee.
20:27Then she started realizing that ground reality is completely shifting from TMC.
20:31And then this Chunavi Hindu has come out at the fag end of the election.
20:35Why will people trust?
20:36They will see the track record of four and a half years.
20:38Whether it is Ram, Naomi, Julus, whether it is opposing,
20:41when people were opposing killing of Hindus in Bengal, hitting those people.
20:44So this is Chunavi Hindu.
20:46I have just enough time for Ashutosh and Rajat Sethi.
20:49Ashutosh, let's discuss the challenges going ahead for Mamata Banerjee in Bengal
20:55and challenges also for the BJP.
20:57I mean, perhaps you can explain challenges for Mamata Banerjee
21:00and I'll ask Rajat Sethi to explain challenges for the BJP.
21:03Go ahead.
21:03See, Mariah, just Rohit was comparing with, Rohan Gupta was comparing with Kejriwal.
21:10I think what he's missing, the point is that Kejriwal was chief minister of only one-fourth state.
21:15Second point, there was no policeman with Kejriwal.
21:19And third, Ahmadi Party's organization was in bad shape.
21:23But Mamata Banerjee is a chief minister of full state with a full force of police and administration.
21:30And her organizational strength is extremely, extremely very good.
21:35And she believes into the street politics.
21:39So these are the pluses with Mamata Banerjee.
21:42But let me tell you one thing.
21:43In 2019, a parliament election, Mamata Banerjee was caught on the wrong foot.
21:47And she didn't know what hit her.
21:50So BJP got 18 seats, not only 18 seats, but its vote share was 40.6%.
21:56Whereas when she realized that the BJP is coming very strongly, then the Mamata Banerjee improved her vote share by 2.47%,
22:05despite having vote share on a higher side, 43.69%.
22:09So to improve from 43.69% to 46.16% is something which is extremely important.
22:15So let's not forget it.
22:16Let's not underestimate Mamata Banerjee.
22:17I'm not underestimating BJP, because BJP works during election in extremely brilliant fashion.
22:24Don't underestimate Mamata Banerjee.
22:29She isn't like your regular opponent, Rajat Sethi.
22:33Here is someone who is truly the daughter of the soil, has taken on the BJP,
22:40and has ensured that she can make comebacks just as the BJP does in multiple states.
22:48So that is true.
22:50And I think Assam and Bengal, both these states are going into elections.
22:54And both these states, opposition, Congress Party in Assam and TMC in West Bengal, they don't start with zero.
23:01Their polling count starts with 30, 35%.
23:03That's a huge gain.
23:05This is a huge disadvantage for the BJP.
23:07But BJP has shown that it is still in the fight.
23:10And I think BJP should do just one thing.
23:12They should ignore Mamata Banerjee, and they should go after the regional leaders of the TMC party.
23:18There is acute anti-incumbency.
23:20But BJP makes strategic mistakes only going after Mamata Banerjee.
23:23You should leave her aside.
23:25Go ballistic over these leaders who are corrupt, whose syndicates run nefariously all across the state.
23:34You see what is happening in Darjeeling.
23:35You see what's happening with the sand mafias.
23:38You see what's happening.
23:39And by the way, while in Delhi, we might presume that migration is not an issue, deep down it remains an existential issue.
23:45People who are natives of the state, they feel that they will end up in museums if this unabated illegal migration carries on.
23:53These are sentiments which go on the ground.
23:56The kind of law and order atrocities that are there.
23:59I really appreciate your time.
24:00We have Dr. Shashi Panja, minister in Mamata Banerjee's cabinet, joining us now.
24:08Dr. Panja, I really appreciate your time.
24:10Why is Mamata Banerjee backing infiltrators?
24:13That's the charge coming in from the home minister.
24:17Unfortunately, this is a repetition of the BJP's narrative whenever it comes to polls in Bengal.
24:24Bengal, by now, has understood that the only, you know, I would say the weapon in their hand, in BJP's hands, is some false narratives, lies, manipulative videos, etc.
24:39It's so unfortunate.
24:41We thought he would say something, you know, something new.
24:44But he didn't speak.
24:45And when he speaks about Ghospatia, it's at a time when SIR is underway here in Bengal.
24:53You know, we were still looking at Bihar SIR 2035, in which the exclusions were never shown, that the deletions were due to Ghospatia, which he also said in Bihar.
25:06He's just flown in from Assam, where he, you know, Assam is also going to have its elections soon, but of course after us.
25:13And BJP is there at now, BJP is in power in Assam.
25:20So he still said in Assam that if you want to stop infiltration, bring BJP back to power.
25:28Well, you were in power in Assam, then you couldn't stop infiltration.
25:33So this kind of narrative shifts.
25:36They shift from state to state.
25:37And here again, it's Ghospatia.
25:40But when we question about Pehel Gown and how the, you know, the terrorists came in, they were also Ghospatias.
25:47They came, they shot, they killed, and they went back.
25:50They came and they did the Delhi blast and again went back.
25:53Dr. Panja, is the concern also of anti-incumbency?
25:58The chief minister faces three-term anti-incumbency, 15 years of anti-incumbency.
26:04Are there concerns that may not be against the chief minister herself?
26:09It could be against the local leaders.
26:12And that's a concern.
26:12Anti-incumbency is something which the people of Bengal will voice.
26:18It's not what BJP is trying to voice.
26:20So the people would be saying that, yes, we are dissatisfied, we are not satisfied with certain issues over time.
26:27But, you know, where Bengal stands, Bengal's janta understands that Bengal has been deprived economically.
26:36You see, we are yet to receive our 1.75 lakh crore dues, which are absolutely legal, just dues from the government of India.
26:46Sorry. Imagine if we got all that money, we could have done much more for Bengal's development.
26:53And here, Amit Shah is saying, Vikas nahi wita hai.
26:57You see, you are stopping Vikas ka money, which is due to Bengal.
27:00You have stopped important schemes.
27:03It took the Supreme Court to tell the government of India that you should not have done this to Bengal.
27:08You are supposed to release those funds.
27:10Meanwhile, even the Manrega changed to something else.
27:13On the other hand, since you are saying that the center is stopping schemes, they are saying that you do not allow the central run schemes to be implemented in the state.
27:22That you are depriving the people of Bengal of what is there, of benefiting from those schemes which are being run by the Modi government.
27:31No, no, it's not that.
27:33It all started way back when we, why only we, every state has a share of 40% in all those center development schemes.
27:46You know, there is a center-state sharing.
27:47So, all that we were saying, why should it be Pradhan Mantri, Grameen Yojana?
27:53We are not saying CM, Grameen Yojana, Gaonki Yojana or something.
27:58Pradhan Mantri, Avas Yojana, why?
28:00It should be Bengal Avas Yojana or call it Gujarat Avas Yojana.
28:04Call it Uttar Pradesh Avas Yojana.
28:06Why Pradhan Mantri, Avas?
28:08This is how the, you know, the disagreement began.
28:13But Pradhan Mantri doesn't really mean Mr. Modi here.
28:17Of course, he is the prime minister here.
28:19It is, of course, he is the prime minister here.
28:22It is not as specific as a Mahatma Gandhi, you know, Rozgar.
28:29Mahatma Gandhi is Bapuji or the father of the nation?
28:31Absolutely, ma'am.
28:32My limited point here is that the disagreement can be why deprive the people of Bengal of schemes which are ensuring success, you know, uplifting the lives of people and benefiting the poor in other states.
28:49Yes, that is a question you should be asking the BJP because, you know, when they stopped it, they stopped it after they lost in Bengal in 2021.
28:57They lost in May 2021.
28:59They stopped it in December 2021.
29:02And we continued, and all those teams, remember those 100, 150 teams visiting every district of Bengal.
29:09There were only a few errors in few blocks where you could have stopped the money if you really wanted.
29:21But you stopped the money for the entire Bengal because it was politically motivated.
29:25That's what we went to see.
29:27Okay.
29:28And, Dr. Panja, what about this opposition to SIR?
29:34You know, we have seen, I'm just going to give you an example of Bihar, my home state.
29:39The opposition there also took the BJP and the election commission to the court.
29:45The response came.
29:46And then in the elections which were held in Bihar, they could not find a single voter who was deprived the right to vote.
29:54So everyone who voted and was a resident of Bihar got the right to vote.
29:59So why oppose SIR if it is indeed about cleaning up of the electoral rolls?
30:05So, in a way, we understand regarding the Bihar SIR, it is still in the courts of law.
30:15So now what has remained is that it is just an academic exercise.
30:18The vote is over.
30:20The government is in power.
30:22The court is still going to hear the Bihar SIR case.
30:27See where it is.
30:28What we were saying was, what was the hurriedness?
30:34This could have been done in 2024 itself with that amount of time.
30:39In Bengal, if you really wanted to do it.
30:41But in Bengal, it is happening.
30:43The distribution of the form, the filling up of the form, and the hearing up of all these forms, all within two months.
30:51Why this hurriedness?
30:53What's the hurry for it?
30:54And the unpreparedness, you will just not believe, every day the Election Commission is changing its directions.
31:03Because it is unprepared.
31:05The software is not updated.
31:07The frontline workers have been pressurized.
31:10There have been suicides in Bengal and also in some of the other states where SIR is happening.
31:17But nobody takes cognizance of this human life factor.
31:22No accountability of the Election Commission.
31:25And why this hurriedness?
31:27I mean, if 2024 looks of a list, electoral list was fine for the general elections,
31:34then why is this list now full of fallacies and flaws for the forthcoming 2026?
31:40That was asked by the RJD and the Congress in Bihar, ma'am.
31:43Dr. Panja, I really appreciate your time.
31:45I wish you health, you know, because this is the bad weather which is causing all of us cough and cold.
31:51So thank you for joining us and participating in this discussion.
31:56It's the battle for Asia's richest civic body.
31:59And the fight for Mumbai's crown has turned into a political free-for-all.
32:04From the Thakure cousins coming together in the battle for political relevance to the Pawar family uniting.
32:11To form allies, turning rivals, the BMC election is rewriting Maharashtra's political map.
32:19With the Mahayuti sealing its seat-shedding deal,
32:22the MVA, which is the Mahavikasa Gadi,
32:25striking new alliances and smaller players raising the stakes,
32:29The big question now is,
32:32Korn Bane Ga Mumbai Ka King?
32:34First of the story and then I bring in the guests.
32:39It is the battle for Asia's richest municipal corporation.
32:43And all the heavyweights have rolled up their sleeves for a tough fight.
32:48The question is, Korn Bane Ga Mumbai Ka King?
32:52Mahayuti partners BGP and Shiv Sena have sealed their seat-sharing deal.
32:57The Saffron party will contest 137 seats while Shinde Sena fights on 90 seats.
33:04Both parties will allocate some seats from their respective quotas to alliance partners.
33:10Another Mahayuti constituent, the NCP, is contesting the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation pose on its own.
33:35Meanwhile, Union Minister Ramdas Athavale, who is part of the NDA,
33:40has expressed displeasure over the BJP, ignoring his party.
33:44India Mahayuti, Vikaasa Ghari, Shiv Sena, UBT and MNAS have formed an alliance.
33:49In the Maharashtra Vikas Aghari, Shiv Sena, UBT and MNS have formed an alliance,
34:14bringing the Thakre cousins together after 20 years.
34:19Sharat Pawar has formed an alliance with nephew Ajit in Pimpri, Chinchwad, a stronghold
34:28of the NCP.
34:29The Congress has formed an alliance with Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghari.
34:34Tuesday was the last day to file nominations.
34:49Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narvekar, whose three family members are contesting posts, defended
35:06the ticket allocation.
35:09This is the first BMC poll after the split of NCP and Shiv Sena.
35:15This is the first BMC poll after the split of NCP and Shiv Sena.
35:26With friends turning foes and foes coming together, the BMC election has all the makings of a thriller.
35:33With Vidya and Mustafa Sheikh, Biro Report, India Today.
35:37We have Senior Journalist and Political Analyst Jainth Mankar joining us.
35:43We also have Sanjay Jha, Political Analyst.
35:45Mr. Mankar, what really is happening in Mumbai, I would ask you, because interesting political
35:52alignments happening.
35:53I can't say it's very interesting, because 5th of July, when Devendra first tried to impose
36:03Hindi on Maharashtra, I would say that Hindi is not some anathema.
36:08But any I-Munbiker also, because Hollywood stars Mumbai, but when it was trusted, Raskat
36:16reached that particular point, and there was a call to which Uddha responded, and for all
36:25every Mumbaikan, it was felt that Thakris are going to come together.
36:30In coming together by Thakris' legacy, we used to divide it between three factions after
36:38Shinde Sena was formed.
36:40It come together, and in a way, the chances of Shinde Sena, as well as BGP also, do that
36:48alliance.
36:50But Congress, which was not even ready to take Uddha Thakris also in 2019, even in 2019,
37:00Congress had some doubts in supporting Uddha as the Chief Minister.
37:05This time, the Congress kept his put down and said no to MMS, and in a way, Uddha, who
37:14actually became Chief Minister due to Congress and NCP, this time he preferred his estranged
37:20brother, who virtually for 20 years took on him, abused or used all sorts of work and racism
37:28against him.
37:29But this time he preferred just to maintain his rishma or his control over 75,000 crore
37:37body.
37:38And that's the thing that the Thakris have come together.
37:42Yes, but would you not say that, Sanjay Jha, that in this unification of Raj and Uddhaf
37:52Thakris, the stakes have become far more high for them.
37:57Their individual performances were dismal in the last election.
38:01And if they come together and they fail to perform, and the BMC is lost, then what is
38:08their future?
38:09Maria, good evening to you and to my co-panelist on the program.
38:15In politics, there is something called as the horses for courses.
38:21You know, to compare the BMC to the Lok Sabha, the Assembly will be rather, I would say, absurd.
38:27The issues become different.
38:29They are more localized.
38:31There are corporators.
38:33Here, there is a more direct connection in terms of the actual material change in people's
38:38lives in the local level on issues that don't really come in the Lok Sabha, which is about
38:44national security, constitution, reservations, et cetera.
38:48So that's one big difference that we've got to keep in mind.
38:51Now, as far as Mumbai is concerned.
38:53Now, I've lived in Mumbai for over three decades now.
38:56And I can tell you that it is now a very complex demography because there is the local Maharashtrian
39:04population and there is a predominance of the immigrants who make Mumbai what it is.
39:09Now, in that environment, obviously, the key factor is who gets the core Marathi vote, which
39:17is probably more homogenous.
39:20And then, of course, there is the immigrant vote, which is split rather wide, although
39:24the BGP believes it has a head start.
39:26Now, I believe that the Thakere brothers coming together is a definite X factor of this election.
39:34Please remember that I know that Raj Thakere has not been a force in politics for a while,
39:40but the Thakere's were the all formidable masters of Mumbai.
39:45Remember the movie Sarkar, et cetera.
39:48They were deep to be a...
39:49No, but I would say that have the Shifsanics moved beyond Thakere's?
39:54I think there is a nostalgia with the Thakere family.
39:57Okay, there is nostalgia.
39:59Mr. Mankar, is there nostalgia or have the Thakere's, you know, failed to read the real
40:09sentiments and now the Shifsanics feel that it is Egnath Shinde who is the real, you know,
40:17legatee of Bala, Bala Saheb Thakere.
40:21First of all, your last sentence is not acceptable to any Amish Shifsanic, any Shifsanic, because
40:28he will say it's either, either of the Thakere's, because you can say that the libertism of something
40:35like Gandhis and Pava and all that, that also prevails here.
40:39There is no difference, only the Congress be at the central level and Shifsanic at Maharashtra
40:47or Mumbai level.
40:49So Shifsanic feels either of the Thakere's.
40:52There is a small group which is close to Raj and there is a big group which is close to
40:58Uddhau.
40:59Okay, I'll tell you about the demography, particularly language demography of Mumbai.
41:05Still, there are, according to election commission, 35 to 36 percent voters are Marathi-speaking
41:14voters.
41:15There was an issue of immigration and particularly from Tibet, Raj Stakere had taken Hindi language
41:22and all that, demography says 23 percent are Hindi-speaking people and after that, third
41:30biggest language is Gujarati, you know, Maharashtra and Gujarat, Mumbai and there was a Mumbai state
41:38before 1960 and Mumbai was the capital of that.
41:43So Gujaratis have some love, emotions, emotional love, you can say, for Mumbai that may be penetrating
41:50from Modi's and Shah's and so there are reports, as we all cover, that there are reports that
41:55some important offices are being sent to Ahmedabad and Baroda and all that or bullet trains or
42:01everything, whatever it may be.
42:03But the third biggest language or group is Gujaratis, after that, of course, Muslims and
42:09everything.
42:10So still, we must say that the real dominant group is Marathi-speaking.
42:14Marathi-speaking.
42:15Marathi-speaking.
42:16What?
42:17What?
42:18Yeah.
42:19Okay, so the linguistic identity will play an important role in these elections.
42:24How should this meeting, meeting Sanjay Jha, of the Pawar family be seen?
42:33Well, I can tell you that, you know, the BJP broke both the Thakere family as well as the
42:39Pawar family.
42:40But as I say, and it's an old saying, it is so true, blood is thicker than water.
42:45That's right.
42:46And here, also don't forget, it's about existential future of the Pawar family as an NCP.
42:52So, you know, you will see a lot of these micro arrangements happening now, which tell you that
42:58everything on the surface appears hunky dory.
43:01But let me assure you, Maria, the subterranean is extremely turbulent.
43:06One point that I do want to add.
43:08You know, Eknath Shinde's party may have won this symbol and all that kind of stuff.
43:13But the bottom line is this.
43:15If you ask any Shiv Senik in Mumbai, the Thakere family, they are the OG of the Shiv Sena.
43:23And in this election, which is why this election has been delayed for a long time, that distinction
43:28will come through very sharply.
43:30I don't think the Ajit Pawar or Eknath Shinde are going to have any real meaningful impact.
43:37They will be used to somehow cut the opposition wherever the BJP needs it or the other faction needs it.
43:43I see this is a battle between the BJP and Uddhav and Raj.
43:48The Congress, however, I think has done a good thing by going alone.
43:52It once was a fairly strong force.
43:55It is whittled down over the last 5-10 years for sure.
43:59But if the Congress can hold on to its 16%, that will be quite extraordinary.
44:04But I think it's going to see a migration of some of its traditional voters to Uddhav.
44:09I'm seeing a lot of liberal people saying we are going to go with Uddhav.
44:13I'm going to see a lot of Muslims will also go with Uddhav.
44:16So people who are underestimating what Uddhav will do are getting it wrong.
44:20Bombay has liked or rather Mumbai has liked Uddhav for a long time.
44:24And his performance as a Chief Minister during the Covid pandemic was extraordinary.
44:29So I believe Uddhav and Raj definitely have an opportunity.
44:32Okay. I have just enough time for Jayant Mankar.
44:35Please, sir, go ahead. 30 seconds.
44:37My co-panelist has committed a minor error.
44:42Congress has joined hands with Prakash Ambedkar, Vanchit Bahujan Ghadi, which is very significant.
44:50And actually the Congress's vote bank is Dalits and Muslims.
44:56What you said is correct.
44:57Actually, Shivasena votes are not... Congress is not getting...
45:03They are not being transferred to Congress.
45:05But Congress's votes, Muslim and Dalit, they are getting transferred to Shivasena.
45:11And Congress realized that we are helping actually Shivasena to get elected in Lok Sabha.
45:16But we are not getting benefits because Sena votes are getting divided between BJP, Shinde and MNS.
45:22So they decided to go alone and this time they are being assisted.
45:26In a way, political move, good political move.
45:31Because with Prakash Ambedkar there, they will get additional Dalit votes.
45:36And what my co-panelist said, I accept that Congress may do a bit well.
45:41Let's see. Will there be a surprise in these elections as well?
45:44We are prepared for surprises whenever it's BJP which is on the ticket
45:49and they are fighting it like there is no tomorrow for them.
45:54Thank you for joining us, Jayant Mankar and Sanjay Jha.
45:58And in more news, wedding bells are set to ring in the Gandhi-Wadra family.
46:03Priyanka Gandhi and Robert Wadra's son, Rayhan Wadra,
46:07is all set to get engaged to his longtime partner, Aviva Beg, in February of 2026.
46:13Hear that report.
46:18Wedding bells are about to ring for the Gandhi-Wadra family.
46:21Elder son of Priyanka Gandhi Wadra and Robert Wadra, Rayhan Wadra, is all set to get engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Aviva Beg.
46:30The 25-year-old reportedly proposed after seven years of dating in a cozy family gathering.
46:37The engagement is planned as an intimate two-to-three-day affair in Rajasthan which is scheduled for February 2026.
46:44The Gandhi-Wadra clan is currently ringing in the new year in Savai Madhupur.
46:51Like every year, they are staying at the luxurious Sherbagh Hotel in Ranthambur.
46:56But this time, Sonia Gandhi is skipping the trip.
47:00Aviva Beg is no stranger to the limelight.
47:05A professional interior designer and photographer, she fell in love with photography at just 10, thanks to her mother.
47:12Her work has been showcased in national and international exhibitions and she even finds time to play national-level football.
47:19Aviva and Rayhan connected over their shared passion for photography and creative arts and the sparks turned into love.
47:28After seven years of collaboration and shared dreams,
47:31Rayhan Wadra and Aviva Beg are ready to take the plunge.
47:35From a long-term romance to a storybook engagement, this is one celeb couple that's made fans fool.
47:42With Simran Sarova, Bureau Report, India Today.
47:49And New Year celebrations are getting a quiet makeover from loud DJ nights to bhajans and now to mindfulness and meditation.
48:00As 2025 comes to a close, a growing number of people are choosing peace over party, silence over sound.
48:07Here's one such story.
48:11New Year means celebration.
48:14But the way we celebrate is changing.
48:17There was a time loud clubbing was in trend.
48:20Then came bhajan clubbing.
48:22And now, in 2025, the New Year is being welcomed not with noise, but with peace.
48:31In Delhi's Ghitorny, New Year's Eve at Zorba, the Buddha, looks very different this time.
48:37On December 31st, instead of a DJ night, there's a meditation and spiritual festival.
48:43People dance, meditate and reconnect with themselves.
48:47This isn't traditional meditation. It's modern, expressive and energetic.
48:52Here, participants first release their inner energy through intense dancing and then move into complete silence.
49:00For many here, this is about leaving behind the weight of the year gone by, the stress, the fatigue, the emotional baggage.
49:08The reason is simple. After clubbing, the body feels heavy the next day. After meditation, the mind feels light.
49:15And that's why meditation festivals are fast becoming the new New Year trend.
49:20We'll do a lot of spiritual kind of awareness games and also heart dance.
49:28Heart dance is like a community dance, which is very good to connect to people.
49:34And also, I remember, yes, we'll also be doing Law of Magic.
49:40Law of Magic is actually based on Osho's vision. It is how we can be magical in our life, how we can attract love and spirituality and bliss in our life.
49:59So this new year, it's not just about resetting the clock at midnight. It's about resetting yourself.
50:08Less noise, more peace. That's how 2026 is being welcomed.
50:14With Manisha Ladda, Bureau Report, India Today.
50:19So meditation festivals are emerging as the newest New Year trend.
50:25That's all from me. Thanks so much for watching.
50:29We'll see you next time.
Comments