INDIA
OPINION | Tiger! Tiger! In fading sight
Two decades ago, tigers had been poached out of existence in Sariska Tiger Reserve. They were later re-introduced through a complicated translocation process. Now they face a renewed threat: mining
POLITICS
Rajasthan’s Green Crisis: Mass deforestation sparks fears of ecological disaster in desert state
Rajasthan's government plans to cut thousands of trees in Jaipur and Baran for commercial and industrial projects, despite public protests and ecological concerns, contradicting its environmental commitments and ongoing tree-planting campaigns
INDIA
Ranthambore’s faith versus forest is a false dichotomy. Political sagacity can restore balance
An increasing incidence of conflict between tigers and humans in Ranthambore is on account of the presence of over 350 shrines within its habitat zone. A surge of pilgrims, especially on auspicious occasions, makes it hard to avoid conflict. Politicians are wary of finding a balanced solution out of the fear of hurting religious sentiments. However, there is no other way but to sensibly regulate the flow of human traffic to ensure that the iconic tiger reserve remains a haven for wildlife without preventing pilgrimage
POLITICS
Post-Pahalgam trolling raises questions about our moral compass
Taken together, the Vikram Misri-Himanshi Narwal episodes reflect a grave moral decline. The cruelty of the trolling - laden with misogyny, moral judgment, and character assassination - reveals a frightening erosion of basic humanity. Civilized societies adhere to certain norms of behaviour, even in times of conflict
POLITICS
Giving Hindutva hardliners a free rein lands BJP in a fix in Rajasthan
A basic contradiction BJP faces is that while communal rhetoric is overlooked as it often gets political/electoral gains, casteist slurs and notions of ritual purity are frowned upon as they could alienate Dalit voters and lead to serious electoral consequences
POLITICS
Rajasthan vs. coaching industry: One step forward, half-a-step back
In a bid to protect students from the pressure cooker atmosphere of the coaching ecosystem, Rajasthan government tabled a bill in the Assembly. Criticised by both treasury benches and opposition for bending backwards to satisfy the coaching industry, the proposed law falls short of adequately safeguarding vulnerable students
INDIA
Maverick minister, phone tapping charges and rift in Rajasthan BJP: Why Kirodi Meena is a rebel without a pause
Popularly known as ‘Kirodi Baba’ in East Rajasthan, Meena claims the state's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is monitoring his communications.
POLITICS
Vasundhara Raje’s last gamble
She has been absent from the campaign for the seven Rajasthan assembly by-elections. Her reluctance to campaign across the state during the Lok Sabha polls undermined the BJP’s performance but highlighted her importance. At loggerheads with both state and national leaders, her best and possibly last chance for a comeback is if the BJP fares poorly in the by-elections.
ASSEMBLY-ELECTION
Rajasthan casts a long shadow on Congress's efforts to retrieve ground in Haryana
As Congress races to present a coherent front to the Haryana electorate, here’s a look at how the party’s factionalism in Rajasthan can undermine it. Ashok Gehlot and Ajay Maken, the two central observers sent to paper over cracks in Haryana, have for a while been rivals on the Rajasthan stage
BUSINESS
Jat anger which singed BJP in Rajasthan now widens faultlines in state unit
Party’s local leadership is perceived to be dominated by a narrow social bloc. A reshuffle in Rajasthan government is possible
LOK-SABHA-ELECTION
Congress candidate creates triangular mess in key Rajasthan clash
Rajasthan Lok Sabha polls: The contest officially features BJP’s Mahendra Jeet Malviya, BAP’s Rajkumar Roat and Congress candidate Arvind Damor who refused to withdraw his nomination despite orders from party leaders.
LOK-SABHA-ELECTION
Rajasthan's Kota turns grudge match, Raje loyalist Gunjal makes Speaker Birla’s hat-trick bid a tough battle
Rajasthan Lok Sabha polls: Gunjal and Birla were in the same party but they never shared a warm chemistry. Their differences were well-known in political circles and their bickering over multiple issues often caused acute embarrassment to the BJP.
POLITICS
Battle of the Yadavs in Alwar: Will ‘outsider’ Bhupendra make his Lok Sabha debut or will ‘local’ Lalit spring a big surprise?
The Alwar election is a fierce fight between an established BJP veteran and a promising newbie from the Congress.
POLITICS
Battle of wits & vitriol in Rajasthan's Jat Bastion: Mirdha-Beniwal rematch in Nagaur but players have switched sides
Rajasthan Lok Sabha elections 2024: What makes the battle in Nagaur fascinating is that it's a rematch of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections – except that the central protagonists have switched political allegiance!
TRENDS
Women and Salt Satyagraha: Recalling their impactful entry in India’s public space
International Women’s Day: The Salt Satyagraha was the first occasion when women’s participation in the freedom struggle became a mass movement. As women inspired by Gandhi came out in droves to protest against the British Raj, they also set off winds of change that culminated in the Constitution enshrining gender equality, universal female suffrage and a guarantee against discrimination in employment
ASSEMBLY-ELECTIONS
Rajasthan: Bhajanlal’s elevation, Raje’s eclipse and a triumph for RSS
For over 20 years, Vasundhara Raje foiled RSS attempts to place those rising from its ranks in the CM’s chair. The epic battle has finally concluded with Bhajanlal Sharma’s elevation. The appointment of others from the RSS stable like Prem Chand Bairwa as Deputy CM and Vasudev Devnani as Speaker spells the dawn of a new era in Rajasthan
ASSEMBLY-ELECTIONS
Rajasthan Election Results 2023: Five key factors that powered the BJP comeback
Rajasthan Election Results 2023: The BJP planned and executed its campaign much better than the Congress. The party’s central leadership identified strengths and weaknesses with clinical precision and then went hammer and tongs on all the issues where Congress was defensive like the communal divide, paper leaks, and the Gehlot-Pilot tensions. The BJP also put its own house in order to get behind PM Modi as he ably helmed the campaign
ASSEMBLY-ELECTIONS
Rajasthan Elections 2023: The nine state leaders who matter
Rajasthan Elections 2023: It was largely a PM-CM contest at the highest level, but a number of state leaders also played decisive roles in reaching out to voters. The state’s voters will not just be scripting the fortunes of these leaders but could even be deciding the future course of their parties
ASSEMBLY-ELECTIONS
Rajasthan Elections 2023: The super seven issues dominating voters' minds
Rajasthan Elections 2023: Amid a fascinating personality clash between PM Modi and CM Gehlot, there are also a host of issues that a large section of voters have strong opinions on. Here are seven that matter the most this time
ASSEMBLY-ELECTIONS
Rajasthan Elections 2023: Will Pilot’s patient, low-profile strategy get him the CM chair?
Rajasthan Elections 2023: After his failed coup in 2020, Sachin Pilot had been on an on-again, off-again streak of rebellion against Ashok Gehlot. But since June this year Pilot has changed tack. He has refrained from potshots at Gehlot, suggesting Pilot is waiting patiently for the political winds to turn in his favour and trusting the Congress high command to reward him for loyalty
ASSEMBLY-ELECTIONS
Rajasthan Elections 2023: Centrestage beckons Vasundhara Raje after spell at the sidelines as BJP top brass blinks
Rajasthan Elections 2023: After initially looking outmanoeuvred, Vasundhara Raje has made a strong comeback wresting a sizeable number of tickets for her supporters. The BJP high command was quick to spot the red flags like the localised rebellions against the first list that fielded a number of sitting MPs. One question lingers: Can she become CM if BJP wins?
ASSEMBLY-ELECTIONS
Rajasthan Elections 2023: Can Gehlot’s aggressive avatar that laid Congress high command low, win him voters?
Rajasthan Elections 2023: Ashok Gehlot’s combativeness grew with his well-received welfare schemes and the 2020 success in outfoxing the BJP attempt to unseat him. The biggest statement of his new avatar was the ruthless takedown of the Congress high command attempt to replace him in September 2022; but the last act in that play will be written in the next few days
ASSEMBLY-ELECTIONS
Rajasthan Elections 2023: Jat vote holds key to power but which way will the community swing?
Rajasthan Elections 2023: Both BJP and Congress have few cards to play to corner Jat support. CM Gehlot is the biggest hindrance to a closer Jat embrace of Congress. BJP's cause has been hurt by the sidelining of Vasundhara Raje and Satish Poonia, the unpopular farm laws, and the likes of Hanuman Beniwal and Dushyant Chautala contesting independently
ASSEMBLY-ELECTIONS
A brewing PM-CM showdown promises an electoral thriller in Rajasthan
Despite its track record of ousting incumbents, Rajasthan this election is giving no indications of which way it will swing. Apart from the Pilot rebellion, Ashok Gehlot has run a tight ship. BJP has ramped up its Hindutva pitch but is weakened by leadership squabbles
