Political Turmoil in Punjab Intensifies Ahead of Assembly Elections
The political landscape in Punjab is heating up as the state gears up for Assembly polls next year. A recent video controversy has sparked daily revelations and counter-charges, putting Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann under scrutiny. Editor-in-Chief Jyoti Malhotra, in her column "The Great Game," questions whether Mann can weather the storm and prove his innocence. The coming days will define the election campaign, she notes.
The under-fire CM is fighting back, while the BJP seeks to make inroads. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) faces a critical challenge: whether Punjab has forgiven it for not taking strong action against those accused of "beadbi" (sacrilege). Malhotra also asks where Waris Punjab De (WPD) fits in the new narrative, emphasizing that saving Punjab requires an exhaustive action plan involving both the ruling party and the Opposition.
Congress Committee Aims to Tackle Factionalism and Voter Pulse
The Congress high command has appointed a three-member committee to assess the party's ground reality, eliminate factionalism, and gauge voter pulse. Former GNDU Professor Jagrup Singh Sekhon, in his Op-Ed "The Challenge for Congress in Punjab," questions whether the Congress leadership can win voter confidence on key issues and address indiscipline that led to its poor performance during its 2017-2022 tenure.
Punjab's Education Sector Shows Measurable Improvement
In good news for the AAP government, Punjab has emerged as a leading state in the National Achievement Survey (NAS) and the Performance Grading Index (PGI). Aarushi Jain and Nikhat Khalid from the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business, note in their Op-Ed "Punjab School Turnaround Has Lessons for India" that the state invested simultaneously in school infrastructure, digital access, governance reforms, teacher accountability, community participation, and student support systems. These reforms challenge the assumption that government schools cannot deliver quality education.
Selective Scrutiny of Opposition Raises Democracy Concerns
RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha, in his Op-Ed "The Politics of Selective Scrutiny," argues that political parties must answer difficult questions, but scrutiny often targets the Opposition more than the ruling establishment. He warns that demanding accountability only from the Opposition risks shifting democracy from checks and balances toward managed consent or coercion. The INDIA bloc's challenge is both organizational and philosophical: convincing citizens that democracy ensures accountable power, autonomous institutions, and freedom to disagree.
Election Funding: Congress Needs Rs 50,000 Crore for 2029
Senior Economic Analyst Aunindyo Chakravarty, in "How Much Does It Take to Win an Election," reveals that candidates from larger parties spend Rs 80-100 crore on an Assembly election and Rs 150-200 crore on a Lok Sabha seat. He estimates the Congress needs at least Rs 50,000 crore to win the 2029 General Election. Rahul Gandhi must address this funding hurdle by mending ties with India Inc or empowering business-friendly party leaders.
Passport Not Proof of Citizenship: MEA Clarifies
Former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi, in his Op-Ed "What Document Makes Me an Indian Citizen," notes that the Ministry of External Affairs clarified a passport is primarily a travel document, not conclusive proof of citizenship. He distinguishes identity, residence, and citizenship, citing Aadhaar as an identity instrument separate from citizenship. He warns that a nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC) for 145 crore people could cause widespread hardship, as seen in Assam's experience with 3.3 crore population. The burden should rest on the State to prove doubts about citizenship.
Redesigning Degrees: Beyond Generic MBAs
Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran observed that the old premium on software degrees and MBAs is vanishing. Economist Ajit Ranade, in "Job Guarantee Is Dead, Not the Degree," argues for redesigning degrees to produce district development analysts, municipal finance associates, procurement specialists, health systems managers, education data officers, and climate adaptation officers instead of generic MBAs.
Supreme Court Declares Right to Walk on Footpaths Fundamental
In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court declared the right to walk on demarcated footpaths a fundamental right. Science commentator Dinesh C Sharma, in "Let Walkers Have Their Way," calls for reviewing policies to ensure fair use of road space. He notes that infrastructure for motorized transport is seen as development, while pedestrian infrastructure is neglected. Creation and maintenance of pedestrian infrastructure should receive top priority.
BRICS NSA Meeting Highlights Global South Security Issues
The 16th BRICS National Security Advisers' Meeting, hosted by New Delhi, brought together 11 member nations as a preparatory event for the September BRICS summit. C Uday Bhaskar, Director of the Society for Policy Studies, writes in "India Holds Its Ground on BRICS Turf" that Delhi highlighted security issues relevant to the Global South. The forum is becoming India's preferred platform to address such issues without being seen as anti-West.
