It is not easy to gauge the depths of Modi’s politics. In the Mumbai election campaign, he is talking endlessly about how he will respect his friendship with Bala Saheb and not say a word against Sena. But those close to him are not holding the punches while talking about Sena. Sources close to Modi talk about how in 2002, when Modi had been invited by the Gujarati community in Mumbai as well as the BJP’s arm in Maharashtra, and then the entire Mumbai was peppered with posters carrying blow-ups of Modi, saying ‘Hindu Hridaya Samrat’. This allegedly didn’t go down well with Bala Saheb Thackeray. He called then prominent BJP leader Pramod Mahajan and complained to him; the posters were taken down the same night. Obviously, Thackeray did not like anyone else being given the ‘Hindu Hridaya Samrat’ title of anyone else. Seeds of bitterness started emerging between Modi and Thackeray and the result was Thackeray going on record saying Sushma Swaraj was the better candidate for prime minister from the NDA. Something must have also been in Modi’s heart that he did not even go for Thackeray’s last rites after his death in 2012. Which means that the bond between the BJP and Sena had developed cracks long ago; His Master’s Voice Amit Shah has only beaten the last nail in the coffin.

It is a mere coincidence that the two pin-up heroes of the two prominent political parties of Free India – the Congress and the BJP – have the same political guru. Everyone knows that for the past several years, Rahul Gandhi goes to Singapore’s former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew for political advice and knowledge. Ready to write new political strategies in the modern times, Narendra Modi has also been impressed by Kuan in a significant way. But first, let’s talk about Modi’s number one agenda “Swachha Bharat Mission”. It is a mere coincidence that in 1968, then Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Kuan had also started the movement “Keep Singapore Clean”, whose primary mission was to make Singapore the cleanest country in the Indian subcontinent. The drive was on for a decade and the results are there for everyone to see. The purpose of the drive was to encourage tourism and attract foreign investment. To make it a success, Lee Kuan had talked about all spaces – from public places to homes and offices and had discussed cleanliness and sanitation. He had also encouraged the construction of toilets. He had further sharpened his campaign through posters, banners and media. If you compare India’s new poster boy Modi’s “Swachha Bharat Abhiyaan” with this, you will see where the inspiration has come from. Not just that, the way Modi has included cleaning up the rivers in the drive, especially “Ganga Clean”, has also been inspired by Kuan. In 1977-87, in Singapore, too, the drive for cleaning up Singapore River and the Kallang Basin was started. In 1984, a mass swimming competition took place in the river and it was organized to prove that the river is so clean that you can swim in it. If you see a similar swimming competition on the ghats of Varanasi in the coming years, be assured that the Ganga is back to its clean avatar.

Narendra Damodar Modi has emerged as a leader who made full use of the digital media and used it as a tool for his election campaign. And now he has plugged the gap in his initiative and has understood that the areas where internet and its tools such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Podcast and Email have not reached yet, the radio has already been marking its presence. Not just that, Modi’s guru Lee Kuan has been using radio for a long time as a part of his campaign tool. So, last Friday, Modi too expressed his feelings by his debut on radio via “Mann ki baat”. Modi has also made up his mind to make his “Swachha Bharat Abhiyan” connected with All India Radio. Sources revealed that Modi might decide on 11 am every Sunday to speak to the Indian public and also get an understanding of what it wants.

The lunch given in honor of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which was given by Vice-President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Department John Kerry, was delayed because US President Barack Obama kept aside all protocol and decided to take Modi for a drive himself. So much so that when they arrived for lunch, Obama advised him to speak less since he was fasting. In the car, Obama and Modi spoke to each other like old friends and Obama showed him significant places and those of historical importance like a good guide. Obama had just returned from Chicago and has especially got a book for the Indian prime minister from there – it was a 121-year-old book on the World Parliament of Religion, which also had a paper that was written by Swami Vivekananda.

Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, Anand Mahindra, Ajit Gulab Chandra and Prakash Hinduja played a big role in Modi’s US trip being successful. So much so that when journalist Rajdeep Sardesai was roughed up by the mob in the US for opposing Modi, Gautam Adani himself went to speak to Modi and told him that such incidents will shed a poor light on things. Modi also stressed on the point that he does not support such incidents, and that he didn’t have any negative feelings towards Sardesai. After that, Gautam Adani invited Sardesai to dinner at Bombay Palace Restaurant near the White House and made the prime minister’s feelings known to him. Also present during the dinner with Adani was NRI Anshuman Mishra, who is said to share a personal relationship with Rajdeep.

Choudhury Devi Lal’s fourth generation is ready to make a foray into politics and with changing times, this political family has also changed its thinking as well. To attract young voters to INLD, Dushyant Chautala has got Honey Singh to sing rap songs for the party. Karan Chautala, the son of Abhay Chautala has taken the responsibility to make the campaigning this modern. The fourth generation of the Chautala family believes that only Yo-Yo Honey Singh can put across Choudhury Devi Lal’s philosophy to the youth. The party also claims that these songs will soon become popular with the youth and also make waves on social networking sites. But one should not forget that two images are recurring in Honey Singh’s songs – alcohol and women. What does the Chautala family have to say to that?

The Congress’ feeling of distress at Modi’s emerging power is palpable. Modi seems to be moving from one milestone to another, while the Congress is fighting a tough battle for mere existence. For starters, Modi’s trips to Bhutan, Nepal, Japan and the US were successful, while the Chinese Premier’s visit to India saw the signing of several bilateral deals. Modi is also making it to the headlines with the media, what with campaigns such as “Swachha Bharat Abhiyan” and “Make in India”. At such a time, Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma is talking about how a long time ago, Advani had commented on Modi by calling him an event manager par excellence.

It seems as if an enemy’s evil eye took its toll and the BJP-Shiv Sena friendship that had lasted for 25 years has been broken. Sources reveal that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken a special interest in trying to make this relationship work. Sources also say that he has personally spoken to Uddhav Thackeray and assured him that the Shiv Sena will get prominent ministries in the next Cabinet expansion due to take place in November. An old associate of Modi’s, Indore’s Bhaiyyuji Maharaj even took a message from Uddhav and gave it to Modi in Delhi. This meeting had taken place before Modi went to the US and Bhaiyyuji had told Modi that he could foresee the two parties – BJP and Shiv Sena – running the next Maharashtra government together. But BJP President Amit Shah is in favour of going alone when it comes to a coalition with the Shiv Sena. He feels that when the BJP has an advantage when it comes to a contest in Maharashtra among the Congress, the NCP, Shiv Sena and the BJP. That is because under such circumstances, the BJP will get to contest in all the 288 seats, and it might be able to win a majority on its own. Shah is worried after the way the BJP faced trouble in the by-elections in UP, Gujarat and Rajasthan and wants to show his leadership capabilities in Maharashtra. On the other hand, there are some internal meetings taking place between the Shiv Sena and the NCP in the changed political scenario.

After his weight-loss surgery, when Arun Jaitley arrived in New Delhi’s Max Hospital in Saket for a routine check-up, the doctors hurriedly got him admitted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself and BJP President Amit Shah went to pay him a visit, and then there was a rumour that Jaitley will be taken to Singapore for further treatment. Then someone floated a rumour that Jaitley is to undergo a kidney transplant there; for a transplant, an application has to be submitted to the High commision of the republic of Singapore in Delhi. So, some of the investigative journalists went to the Singapore High commision to get their hands on such an application and came back. Then it came to be known that it was several prominent BJP leaders who floated the rumour because they didn’t want Jaitley to handle two crucial ministries such as Defence and Finance. They want that Jaitley should let go of at least Defence so that the country gets a new Defence Minister.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh will host an international conference in Karnataka’s Mysore in February next year. Sources reveal that those countries will take part in the conference that worship the sun and is their native God. The Sangh has been preparing for the event for a long time now, and Bhaiyaji Joshi, who is considered number two in the Sangh, has been to the US and several prominent European countries to prepare for the event. Sources close to the Sangh feel claim that those who will attend the conference include tribes and sub-tribes such as New Zealand’s Maori, and Mexico’s Mayan tribe. On Sangh’s agenda include spreading the word about Sanskrit, and maybe it is the result of this that two prominent universities such as Rome and Turin Universities are offering courses in Sanskrit. All in all, Modi’s rise to power has also meant his efforts to increase the Hindutva philosophy on a global scale.