Hindutva’s Impact on Politics in Maharashtra: Analysis – Southasia Weekly #41
As India gears up for state elections, voters in Maharashtra are facing a tough decision between two vastly different political alliances. The state’s political landscape has shifted significantly to the right, prompting even progressive voices to support the Maha Vikas Aghadi led by Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray.
In a recent development, Gautam Adani, the chairman of the Adani Group, found himself in hot water in the US. He was indicted for concealing payments totaling over USD 250 million to Indian government officials between 2020 and 2024, to secure solar energy contracts. This indictment resulted in Adani Green Energy canceling a USD 600 million bond issue that had been raised shortly before the charges were filed.
This is not the first time Adani Group has faced allegations of wrongdoing. Just last year, US-based short seller Hindenburg Research accused the conglomerate of stock market manipulation and fraud. The group’s projects in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar have also come under scrutiny for various reasons.
In other news from Southasia, air pollution levels in Delhi soared to dangerous levels, prompting the closure of schools to protect residents from toxic smog. Meanwhile, the United Nations is investigating the treatment of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, shedding light on the conditions faced by those detained in the country.
Sri Lanka saw President Anura Kumara Dissanayake appointing 21 cabinet members following his party’s landslide victory in the parliamentary election. This victory grants him the power to make constitutional amendments and implement significant reforms.
These are just a few of the many developments shaping Southasia’s political and economic landscape. Stay tuned for more updates on the region’s news and events.
