POLITICS
UP Elections Phase 7 | High-stakes battle in Purvanchal as SP gives BJP a tough fight
The BJP faces a tough battle in Phase 7 as the Samajwadi Party has crafted deft alliances with smaller parties eyeing the non-Yadav OBC vote bank; the BSP and Congress could act as spoilers
POLITICS
Congress | Succession in politics needs to be timed properly. Ask Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi is currently fiercely attacked and trolled by opposition parties and political rivals. This would not have happened had he become Prime Minister in 2013
POLITICS
UP Elections 2022 Phase V | SP seeks to regain past glory, BJP to retain dominance
The 61 seats in phase five is in a traditional stronghold of the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party. That said, the BJP won 50 of these seats in 2017
POLITICS
Punjab Elections | A multi-cornered contest makes it a cliff-hanger
The complex nature and presence of many strong political parties makes the elections in Punjab interesting, even more than that of Uttar Pradesh
BUSINESS
UP Elections | It’s the economy, stupid. Really?
The economic performance of the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is undeniably a headwind for the BJP. However, UP voters could be forgiving
POLITICS
Elections 2022 | The winds are in favour of party hoppers
The infamous ‘aaya ram, gaya ram’ politics might have a negative connotation, but statistics show that 52 percent of defectors get re-elected
POLITICS
Yogi Adityanath’s choice of Gorakhpur is a safe yet smart strategy
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will contest from Gorakhpur, ending speculation about his candidature from Ayodhya. While the Opposition has labelled it as playing safe, it could douse dissatisfaction and propel the BJP’s chances in eastern UP
POLITICS
Can BJP survive this exodus of its MLAs in Uttar Pradesh?
The OBC ministers and MLAs have been ditching the BJP in UP citing the party's disrespect for Dalits and backwards. Close to the elections, it is bad optics for the BJP
POLITICS
Can law and order queer the pitch for Yogi Adityanath in Uttar Pradesh?
Yogi Adityanath is making law and order as one of the top election issues in Uttar Pradesh. The crime statistics has improved, but cases of atrocities against SC/ST mar his report card
BUSINESS
Financial Resolutions for the New Year
Divide expenses between essentials and discretionary spending
POLITICS
Captain-BJP alliance is high on optics, low on substance, likely to face challenges
Amarinder Singh and the BJP hope to cash in on diffused tension with farmers’ unions after the repeal of farm laws, and the backing of minority Hindu voters to play the role of kingmaker in the upcoming Punjab elections
INDIA
Farm Bills Repealed | Will this change political equations in Western Uttar Pradesh?
Farmers’ protests, and the repeal of the three farm laws are not the only factors that will influence the 2022 poll results in Western Uttar Pradesh. The scars of the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, and counter polarisation are important factors
BUSINESS
PM Narendra Modi gets timing right with a political solution to farmers’ protest
The Narendra Modi government repeals the three controversial farm laws, clearing the way for ending the year-long farmers' protest. The move is likely to improve the BJP’s prospects in the 2022 state elections
POLITICS
Uttar Pradesh Elections | Is Congress punching above its weight by contesting in 403 seats?
The Congress is organisationally weak in Uttar Pradesh and it will take time for the party to build and strengthen local units to make a sizeable difference in the 2022 assembly polls, or the 2024 general elections
POLITICS
In Bihar, Congress aims to revive its prospects
Congress breaks ties with the RJD in Bihar to rejuvenate its organisation ahead of 2024 general elections, and this could jeopardise the efforts to put up a united front against the BJP
POLITICS
Politics | Congress is attracting young turks, but they won’t have it easy
Kanhaiya Kumar and Jignesh Mevani’s entry into the Congress will strengthen the party’s fortunes in Bihar and Gujarat, but they could face resistance from the old guard.
POLITICS
Gujarat leadership change proof that BJP will fight 2022 polls in Narendra Modi’s name
The BJP picks Bhupendra Patel from the influential Patidar community as Chief Minister of Gujarat. With 15 months to go for polls, the BJP doesn’t want to take any chances on Narendra Modi’s home turf
POLITICS
Politics | AAP has a second chance to fulfil its national ambitions
With the fortunes of the Congress declining rapidly, there is a vacuum at the main opposition level. AAP can have a shot at filling this void if it does not repeat the mistakes of 2014
BUSINESS
National Monetisation Pipeline | Rahul Gandhi’s criticism has misfired
Rahul Gandhi accuses the Narendra Modi government of selling India's assets while forgetting that the National Monetisation Pipeline is a continuation of the UPA’s programmes
BUSINESS
BJP to up the ante in Bengal, post HC verdict
BJP will play the role of an effective/aggressive opposition in the state with no let-up in attacking Mamata, standing in solidarity with its supporters impacted by violence
POLITICS
In Karnataka, BJP prepares for the future as Yediyurappa exits
BS Yediyurappa has finally resigned, paving the way for the appointment of new leadership, as the BJP prepares for a tough state election in two years
POLITICS
Cabinet Reshuffle | Political reboot in Modi 2.0 delivered in corporate style
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s hallmark Cabinet expansion delivers a strong message of perform or perish, at the same time ensuring maximum representation to anchor voting segments
POLITICS
Mayawati’s existential crisis in Uttar Pradesh
Mayawati faces a do-or-die battle in Uttar Pradesh next year. The BSP risks losing relevance and ceding the main opposition status to the SP unless she improves the party’s visibility, communication and strategy
POLITICS
Bihar Politics | Nitish Kumar has hit two targets with one arrow
The JD(U) is believed to be behind the ‘coup’ in the LJP. By cutting Chirag Paswan to size, Nitish Kumar has also sent a message to the BJP
