As cracks appear in BJP's Hindutva agenda, Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel "quits" second time in two months

By A Representative
In a move which has surprised few political observers in Gujarat, chief minister Anandiben Patel on Monday declares her decision to quit the powerful post, which she suggested has not been easy to handle as she succeeded a "towering" Narendra Modi.
She said, succeeding Modi to work as chief minister was “as difficult as counting stars”, though hastening to adds, she has not “fallen back in taking forward the quick pace of development” set by her predecessor.
All knew, Anandiben would quit in November, when she turns 75. The only surprising factor in the whole episode is, she declared her decision on a Facebook post, saying she had offered to quit to top BJP leadership two months earlier, too. Hence, she says, “through this letter (Facebook post), I again ask the party's senior leaders to relieve me.”
Amidst speculations who might succeed, she said in her open letter that she was just “following” the glorious precedence in the party of voluntarily quitting responsibility to allow younger leaders to take over, she said, she turns 75 in November, and believes enough time should be given to the new leader to organize the Vibrant Gujarat business summit in January 2017, and later the assembly elections in December 2017.
What may have expedited Anandiben's decision to quit, which in any case was coming, say observers, is the latest round of Dalit agitation, which for the first time broke a major Hindutva experiment – of driving a wedge between the Dalits and the Muslims, begun two decades ago, reaching a zenith in 2002 Gujarat riots.

Vijay Rupani: Front runner

Cow vigilantes, ideological cohorts of the BJP-Sangh Parivar, had attacked Dalits in Una, leading Dalits to “find friends” among Muslims, seen by the Hindutva brigade as the main antagonists of cow protection.
The latest round of Dalit agitation in Sabarmati on Sunday saw at least a thousand Muslims participate in an agitation, with Mufti Abdul Qayyum, acquitted by the Supreme Court from charges of terrorism in the Akshardham attack of September 2012, participating in the event. As he came to the stage, there were slogans of “Dalit-Muslim ekta zindabadad”.
Even more interesting was when Dalits belonging to the area next to the Naroda-Patiya, where one of the ghastliest massacre of Muslims took place in 2002, took out a silent rally on July 27, tying scarf on their head, said to be as a mark of protest against the “betrayal” they had suffered at the hands of the Vashwa Hindu Parishad. Many described it as an attempt of Dalits to “repent” for attacking Muslims.
The Hindutva talk of "Hindu unity" as the main support base for BJP received another setback: Already turned against BJP, Patel agitation leaders began declaring their intention to befriend those considered their main enemies till now in the quota game – the Dalits and the other backward class (OBC). The Gujarat CM failed to control or cajole Patels, agitating for a year now.
Hardik Patel, released from jail, first supported the Dalit agitation, and then said he also “supported” the OBC demand for better facilities to fight backwardness.
Meanwhile, among those who are considered as likely successors of Anandiben who could carry forward Modi's Hindutva agenda, wrapped in the developmental scarf, are India's BJP chief Amit Shah, the right-hand of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, followed by state BJP chief Vijay Rupani.
While Shah is ruled out because Modi “requires” him to manage all-India politics, many consider Rupani as the front-runner. An affable leader, he is known to be close to both Shah and Modi.
Other likely options being considered include Ganpat Vasava, speaker of the Gujarat state assembly, and state industries and finance minister Saurabh Patel.
An adivasi from South Gujarat and known for keeping BJP flock together, Vasava's choice, it is believed, might help BJP win tribal votes, an area where the BJP particularly weak. As for Saurabh Patel, a refined politician, known for openly pro-industry stance, but is weak on Hindutva agenda.

Comments

NYT: RSS 'infiltrates' institutions, 'drives' religious divide under Modi's leadership

By Jag Jivan A comprehensive New York Times investigation published on December 26, 2025, chronicles the rise of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) — characterized as a far-right Hindu nationalist organization — from a shadowy group founded in 1925 to the world's largest right-wing force, marking its centenary in 2025 with unprecedented influence and mainstream acceptance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi , who joined the RSS as a young boy and later became a full-time campaigner before being deputized to its political wing in the 1980s, delivered his strongest public tribute to the group in his August 2025 Independence Day address. Speaking from the Red Fort , he called the RSS a "giant river" with dozens of streams touching every aspect of Indian life, praising its "service, dedication, organization, and unmatched discipline." The report describes how the RSS has deeply infiltrated India's institutions — government, courts, police, media, and academia — ...

Why experts say replacing MGNREGA could undo two decades of rural empowerment

By A Representative A group of scientists, academics, civil society organisations and field practitioners from India and abroad has issued an open letter urging the Union government to reconsider the repeal of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and to withdraw the newly enacted Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025. The letter, dated December 27, 2025, comes days after the VB–G RAM G Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 16 and subsequently approved by both Houses of Parliament, formally replacing the two-decade-old employment guarantee law.

ArcelorMittal faces global scrutiny for retreat from green steel, job cuts, and environmental violations

By Jag Jivan ArcelorMittal is facing mounting criticism after cancelling or delaying nearly all of its major green steel projects across Europe, citing an “unsupportive policy environment” from the European Union . The company has shelved projects in Germany , Belgium , and France , while leaving the future of its Spanish decarbonisation plan uncertain. The decision comes as global unions warn that more than 5,500 jobs are at risk across its operations, including 4,000 in South Africa , 1,400 in Europe, and 160 in Canada .

Domestic vote-bank politics 'behind official solidarity' with Bangladeshi Hindus

By Sandeep Pandey, Faisal Khan The Indian government has registered a protest with Bangladesh over the mob lynching of two Hindus—Deepu Chandra Das in Mymensingh and Amrit Mandal in Rajbari. In its communication, the government cited a report by the Association of Hindus, Buddhists and Christian Unity Council, which claims that more than 2,900 incidents of killings, arson, and land encroachments targeting minorities have taken place since the interim government assumed power in Bangladesh.

Investment in rule of law a corporate imperative, not charity: Business, civil society leaders

By A Representative In a compelling town hall discussion hosted at L.J School of Law , prominent voices from industry and civil society underscored that corporate investment in strengthening the rule of law is not an act of charity but a critical business strategy for building a safer, stronger, and developed India by 2047. The dialogue, part of the Unmute podcast series, examined the intrinsic link between ethical business conduct , robust legal frameworks, and sustainable national development, against the sobering backdrop of India ranking 79th out of 142 countries on the global Rule of Law Index .

From colonial mercantilism to Hindutva: New book on the making of power in Gujarat

By Rajiv Shah Professor Ghanshyam Shah ’s latest book, “ Caste-Class Hegemony and State Power: A Study of Gujarat Politics ”, published by Routledge , is penned by one of Gujarat ’s most respected chroniclers, drawing on decades of fieldwork in the state. It seeks to dissect how caste and class factors overlap to perpetuate the hegemony of upper strata in an ostensibly democratic polity. The book probes the dominance of two main political parties in Gujarat—the Indian National Congress and the BJP—arguing that both have sustained capitalist growth while reinforcing Brahmanic hierarchies.

2025 was not just a bad year—it was a moral failure, it normalised crisis

By Atanu Roy* The clock has struck midnight. 2025 has passed, and 2026 has arrived. Firecrackers were already bursting in celebration. If this is merely a ritual, like Deepavali, there is little to comment on. Otherwise, I find 2025 to have been a dismal year, weighed down by relentless odds—perhaps the worst year I have personally witnessed.

Gig workers’ strike halts platforms, union submits demands to Labour Ministry

By A Representative India’s gig economy witnessed an partial disruption on December 31, 2025, as a large number of delivery workers, app-based service providers, and freelancers across the country participated in a nationwide strike called by the Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU). The strike, which followed days of coordinated protests, shut down major platforms including Zomato , Swiggy , Blinkit , Zepto , Flipkart , and BigBasket in several areas.

Can global labour demand absorb India’s growing workforce?

By N.S. Venkataraman* Over the past eleven years, India has claimed significant economic growth , emerging as the world’s fourth-largest economy. With the Government of India continuing to pursue economic and industrial development initiatives, this growth momentum is expected to continue in the medium term.

Search This Blog