LOK-SABHA-ELECTION
Lok Sabha Polls: RJD-led INDIA bloc in Bihar can dent NDA tally, Congress remains weak link
Both INDIA bloc (previously UPA) and NDA have undergone big changes since the last Lok Sabha elections. With Tejashwi Yadav taking the helm, INDIA bloc looks ready to make a dent to NDA tally
LOK-SABHA-ELECTION
Lok Sabha Polls: BJP-SAD not to join hands, AAP-INC go separate ways; Punjab promises to be a tricky contest
Punjab is looking at a four-cornered fight with the BJP, SAD, AAP, and INC refusing to form any alliances. These parties face different challenges which will make the Lok Sabha Polls a lip-smacking contest
BUSINESS
Lok Sabha Polls: BJP is on alliance building spree, sign of nervousness or stepping up for Mission 400?
BJP's alliance making spree is being seen as a sign of nervousness by some analysts, hinting that the Narendra Modi-led party is aware of the risk of a repeat of a 2004 like situation
LOK-SABHA-ELECTION
Lok Sabha Polls: Does a seven phase election schedule really benefit the BJP?
Opposition parties are carping that the seven phases schedule spanning from April to June will benefit BJP. But is that really the case? Aren’t they conflating various advantages that BJP already enjoys with the schedule?
LOK-SABHA-ELECTION
TMC’s Bengal list provides opening to BJP in the mother of all battles
BJP’s glee at Mamata Banerjee’s candidate choices isn’t misplaced. In 2021, she had left the BJP searching for answers with her “insider vs outsider” spin to the campaign. Meanwhile, spurning of the Congress paves the way for a split in the Muslim vote
POLITICS
BJP First Candidate List: Who is more battle ready for 2024 – NDA or INDIA bloc?
On an examination of six parameters including who is the PM face, alliances, announcement of candidates, rallies and other events, campaign themes, vision and key promises, it is the NDA that is far ahead of the INDIA bloc. The latter is clearly struggling to present a cogent national alliance
POLITICS
Rajya Sabha Elections: Congress shoots itself in Himachal Pradesh, BJP dents SP in UP
Poor strategies have led to the undoing of Congress in Himachal Pradesh and SP in UP. Congress’s failure to see the revolt from the Virbhadra family reflects poorly on the leadership. Now it is not just a Rajya Sabha seat, but its government in the hill state that is at risk. Similarly, Akhilesh’s clout has been dented by the SP cross-voting. He must mull over the consequences of the reverse consolidation against his P-D-A (Pichda, Dalit, Alpasankyak) approach
POLITICS
SP-INC weaker than 2019 SP-BSP-RLD alliance, but BJP’s 2024 target of 80/80 in UP gets tougher
The Congress-SP alliance is a reprieve for the INDIA bloc after a series of debilitating jolts. The narrow social base of the alliance, absence of a caste-neutral governance programme, and the low credibility of the Akhilesh-Rahul duo are challenges to be overcome
POLITICS
Ten implications of Nitish Kumar’s gharwapsi to NDA
It is unlikely that the INDIA bloc can now prevent another sweep by the BJP in 2024. But BJP will have a tough task keeping order within the NDA in Bihar
INDIA
Ram Mandir: Nine key messages from PM Modi’s speech
Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a rousing call of unity and peace; hinted at inclusion while reaching out to minorities for creation of a developed Bharat, and asserted the political domination of the majority
POLITICS
INDIA Bloc’s Dilemma: How many seats does Congress deserve in UP?
Congress’s days of glory are far behind it but the party can still prove to be a spoiler in a handful of seats as had happened to the SP-BSP alliance in 2019, if it is left out of a pre-poll alliance. Will that be the clinching factor ultimately deciding what the SP offers Congress?
BUSINESS
Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra: Where’s the bang for the buck for Congress?
The yatra is spending too much time in states that won’t deliver many seats to the Congress. This was the moment for ramping up political campaigning, prepping cadre and mobilising voters. Instead much of the Congress resources and energies will be focussed on magnifying the cult of Rahul Gandhi
POLITICS
Ram Mandir inauguration and the effect on voters
The public excitement and the conversations at street corners, shops and homes all point to BJP consolidating and invigorating its core Hindutva base, retaining its Hindi heartland tally of 2019, and the general mood of celebration and piety rubbing off even on neutral voters
BUSINESS
Indian equities touched all-time highs in 2023 – What’s in store for 2024?
Favourable factors like BJP’s strong standing going into Lok Sabha polls, the US Fed’s anticipated rate cuts, and strong buying by FIIs and domestic mutual funds suggest the party will continue into the first half of 2024. But as usual there are risk factors too
POLITICS
Congress needs a reset to emulate BJP traction with Hindi belt SC-STs
Congress can use its spell in the opposition to give greater representation to these two communities across its party hierarchy from the CWC down to the block level. Additionally, it needs to work with people belonging to these two communities for their socioeconomic akin to the Sangh Parivar
ASSEMBLY-ELECTIONS
Mohan Yadav as CM signals end of BJP’s Yadav versus non-Yadav politics in Hindi heartland
The elevation of Mohan Yadav as Madhya Pradesh chief minister is a psychological blow to the SP and RJD which took the Yadav vote for granted. Yadav’s appointment is also a fitting repartee to the flopped caste census pitch. The Yadav Vs Non-Yadav faultlines that BJP deftly exploited in UP and Bihar may be dropped for a dynasts versus the rest approach
BUSINESS
Mission 400+ In 2024: Five reasons why it isn’t ‘Mission Impossible’ for Modi
BJP’s victory is sending ripples across India. Voters in states and constituencies that haven’t voted for Modi will rethink their stances now. While BJP is flying high, Congress and opposition parties are looking demoralised. A 400 seat tally for BJP in Lok Sabha is no more in the realm of impossible
ASSEMBLY-ELECTIONS
Assembly Elections 2023: Who will win? Factors that shaped 2018, 2013 outcomes missing this time
The 2013 assembly polls were influenced greatly by the Modi wave sweeping the country then. Massive anti-incumbency against tilted the 2018 verdict against three BJP governments. In contrast, 2023 is seeing both anti-incumbency and pro-incumbency sentiment. The dominating theme this time is government’s delivery versus opposition’s promises
ASSEMBLY-ELECTIONS
Assembly Polls 2023: Exit polls a comedy of errors? Seven reasons why they can go wrong
Assembly Polls 2023: Exit polling is very difficult work. Two notable agencies are differing hugely on exit poll projections for some of the states. Only one of them can be right. From reasons like India’s sheer diversity to shortcomings in sampling and work ethic, exit polling can go wrong for a number of reasons
ASSEMBLY-ELECTIONS
Assembly Elections 2023: Enjoy exit polls with popcorn, but wait till Dec 3 for real picture
The strike rate of polling agencies in 2018 left was poor. Except for Rajasthan, where the revolving door tradition makes it easy for pollsters, more agencies were wide off the mark than correct in MP, Telangana and Chhattisgarh. The last two states witnessed landslides, which few agencies got right
ASSEMBLY-ELECTIONS
Telangana Elections 2023: Close elections mean GHMC could decide the winner
Telangana Elections 2023: If Congress were to do better in Lower Telangana and BRS in Upper Telangana, then the 28 seats in the Greater Hyderabad region could decide the winner. As luck would have it for Congress, BJP and AIMIM could spoil its chances there
ASSEMBLY-ELECTIONS
Rajasthan Elections 2023: Gehlot’s welfare works lacked a big clincher – not enough cash handouts
Gehlot’s welfare sops like his health scheme may have created enrollments but no one becomes a beneficiary from day one. In contrast, DBT schemes like Laadli Behna or PM Kisan Nidhi turn recipients into beneficiaries as soon as the first installment is released and this has a higher and immediate impact
ASSEMBLY-ELECTIONS
Telangana Elections 2023: BRS-Congress duel boils down to whose welfarism is better
The state’s economy is much like one of its favourite dishes: Potlakaya Pulusu, having its sweet and sour spots. So the fight is essentially for voters not benefitting from Telangana’s economic growth, as both BRS and Congress go overboard promising them welfare sops. One question remains: Can KCR extract mileage from Telangana formation for one more term?
ASSEMBLY-ELECTIONS
Rajasthan Elections 2023: Will the focus on getting caste arithmetic right pay off?
Rajasthan Elections 2023: Both BJP and Congress have gone to great lengths to pander to caste sensitivities in ticket distribution. Quotas on the other hand is a tightrope walk as a sop to one group can alienate another. In the end, the party that weaves the widest caste coalition could pull ahead
