On December 3, as news of the Congress rout in the assembly elections in the three heartland states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh started drifting in, party president Mallikarjun Kharge called for a meeting of the partners of INDIA, or the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, on December 6. The coalition of 28 Opposition parties was formed in June this year for the grand project of fighting the BJP collectively in the summer of 2024. This meeting was supposed to resume the stalled process of brainstorming and perhaps initiate discussions on a key pending issue: seat-sharing. Instead, the call for the meeting exposed the growing fault lines within the bloc, as allies challenged the central role the Congress has been trying to assert.
That there was little coordination among the allies was evident soon enough: less than 24 hours before the meeting was to take place, it was deferred to the third week of December. Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her counterparts in Bihar and Jharkhand, Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Hemant Soren, respectively, excused themselves, citing previous engagements. DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) supremo and Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin was busy with a different sort of turbulence: the devastation wrought by Cyclone Michaung. Mamata even publicly claimed that she was not consulted before the meeting was scheduled.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
FINGER CLICKING GOOD
Finally there’s a Smartphone that’s fit to fire your DSLR
RAISING THE BAR
In the dynamic world of mixology, where every drink tells a story and every pour is a masterpiece, a new chapter is being concocted by some of the bars. Here are eight bars that stirred up a riot.
TRUE BLUE
BLUE MAY BE a colour traditionally associated with all things royal, but when it comes to haute horology, especially Breguet, the hue lends its own cues.
DELICIOUS DINING WITH A SIDE OF LUSCIOUS VIEWS
Bonita, a quietly charming restaurant in Goa’s Arossim brims with flavour and a stunning landscape to boot.
A YEAR OF WONDER
Globetrotting to some of the more interesting travel options that spiced the calendar year
THE TASTE TEST - Some of the more interesting restaurants launched in Asia in 2024
In the dynamic culinary landscape of Asia, Spice embarks on a gastronomic journey through a kaleidoscope of noteworthy dining spots that shone through in 2024. From cosy havens celebrating rich cultural heritage using quality local ingredients to chic spaces blending global influences with a playful vibe, each venue offers something special, whether by the beach or beneath starry skies.
TECH TALK
From a Mac that became mini to gizmoheavy watches, from smart air purifiers to intelligent TVs, these top picks defined 2024.
BOOKS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2025
Book review
PEACE ABOVE ALL
Devdutt Pattanaik offers an alternative view of the Harappan civilisation in his newest book, Ahimsa: 100 Reflections on the Harappan Civilization
A Wealth of SCHOLARSHIP
For art historian Aman Nath, 2024 was a great year for art books, demonstrating the range of India's cultural wealth
