In our beautiful country, elections arrive like weddings, cricket finals, and mythological serials rolled into one giant circus. Loudspeakers scream. Helicopters rain petals. Anchors lose their voices. And politicians distribute promises like halwa-poori at a bhandara. For tourists, India offers the grand spectacle called ‘The Great Jumla Olympics’.

Those were the days! As the fierce North Indian sun finally slipped away, painting the sky in soft purple, something beautiful happened in every home. The day’s heat began to fade, and the real heart of the house moved upstairs, to the chhat, the terrace.

Let’s cut to the chase. The story just got stranger. The US Department of Justice released 3.5 million pages, thousands of photos, and hundreds of videos linked to Jeffrey Epstein. This happened because of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed by President Trump in 2025. Public pressure forced the hand. But here’s the catch: large chunks of the documents are blacked out. The message is clear: not every truth is meant for our eyes.

As red flags grow fewer and May Day rallies lose their once-vibrant fervour across India and the world, the appeal of International Workers’ Day appears to be waning. What was once a powerful symbol of solidarity now struggles amid economic pragmatism and rising nationalist currents. This decline coincides with a stark reality: despite three decades of Liberalisation, Privatisation, and Globalisation (LPG) reforms and claims of economic upsurge, income disparities and inequalities in India have sharpened. The top percentiles have captured disproportionate wealth while multidimensional poverty, regional divides, and informal sector precarity persist for millions.

Expecting courtesy or compassion from them is like striking an axe on one’s own foot. Blunt, unpredictable, and unapologetic, Trump fears neither divine judgment nor global opinion. He has often mocked international law and undermined global institutions. Engaging recklessly with such a leader offers little gain and immense risk.

The votes are cast. The noise has faded. But the silence is louder than ever. From Delhi’s power corridors to Kolkata’s narrow lanes, a single question hangs in the air: who will rule West Bengal?