Regional Journal: Amit Shah’s apology

It’s rare to see Home Minister Amit Shah, easily the second most powerful man in the country after PM Modi, apologise. But that’s exactly what he did this week in Thiruvananthapuram, when he went to inaugurate the BJP’s new state office and began his address by apologising for his inability to speak Malayalam. Earlier too, in Tamil Nadu, Shah had similarly apologised for being unable to speak Tamil. Shah has seen his PM do this at home and abroad — and understands the connect that speaking even a few words in the local tongue can generate. With Kerala going to the polls next year, Shah knows better than most what that means.

Missing in Mandi

BJP leaders appear to be competing amongst themselves to dispatch relief material, whether utensils or blankets or ration, to rain-ravaged Mandi district. Pictures of leaders from BJP president JP Nadda to state president Rajiv Bindal to Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur distributing relief have been liberally shared by the saffron party — but some BJP workers are embarrassed. Overheard in Mandi : Why are the pictures of those donating the relief, for example, both local organisations and large-hearted individuals, missing from the picture?

People’s SSP in Patiala

Patiala SSP Varun Sharma steps out of his air conditioned office every morning to meet all complainants — it could be anywhere between two-three hours every day. His staff, hovering close by, ensures that calls are made to every relevant police station with directions. The unusual IPS officer says he’s just doing his duty, but the message has gone down to all lower-rung officials, including SHOs, who have their task cut out. They know they need to make good at least as well as their boss — that’s because the public now know what to do with their grievances which means that at least half the battle is already won.

Guru di kirpa & Punjab Governor

Just as the nagar kirtan in Anandpur Sahib was about to begin last week, retracing Guru Tegh Bahadur’s historic journey to Agra, tension flared — Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria had been invited to flag off the event, but he was nowhere in sight. Impatient organisers said they were averse to delaying it, while local BJP leaders, who had arranged his visit, were red-faced with embarrassment. Just in the nick of time, the Governor arrived with folded hands, saving the day — and plenty of political egos. One relieved BJP leader sighed, “Guru di kirpa naal bach gaye!”

Coveted ranks in Himachal

The rank of Cabinet minister is among Himachal’s most coveted designations these days. Chairman of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation RS Bali and Chairman of HP Forest Corporation Kehar Singh both write “Cabinet Minister Rank” in bold and black letters, while the world “Chairman” is quite insignificant. Clearly, these men haven’t heard of Chairman Mao and the power he once wielded with that prefix.

Ludhiana after bypoll buzz

All eyes were fixed on Arvind Kejriwal during the Ludhiana West bypoll, even though Sanjeev Arora was contesting. Everyone speculated whether the seat, if won, would pave the top AAP leader’s entry into the Rajya Sabha, replacing Arora. The narrative turned the bypoll into more than a routine electoral exercise — it became a proxy for larger party dynamics. The atmosphere leading up to the election was electric. Loud slogans, strategic press conferences and whispered speculation. But Arora has been sworn in as AAP minister and Kejriwal announced he won’t be going to Parliament. And so the dust has quietly settled. Ludhiana, for now, is breathing easy again. No rallies. No rumours. Just the faint aftertaste of a political climax that never quite materialised.

Contributed by Aditi Tandon, Ambika Sharma, Aman Sood, Lalit Mohan, Pratibha Chauhan and Manav Mander

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