POLITICS
West Bengal’s political pecking order remains unchanged after a successful mass agitation for justice
The civil society’s 41-day protest against the state government had one clear winner, the people. TMC had a close call but hasn’t ceded political ground. That’s because the BJP, yet again, showed that it hasn’t got its finger on the pulse of the state’s electorate
WORLD
India must address Bangladesh’s challenges directly amid diplomatic tensions
Relations between India and Bangladesh are tense and PM Modi is yet to confirm a meeting with Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus. This reluctance highlights ongoing bilateral issues, including extradition concerns and political engagement, as well as a need for diplomatic outreach to ensure a functional relationship
POLITICS
Beleaguered Mamata Banerjee gets a lifeline from BJP
Popular anger against Mamata Banerjee over mishandling of the RG Kar Hospital tragedy was dissipated by two days of mayhem unleashed by BJP bandh and protest march. But TMC is not yet out of the woods
WORLD
‘New Bangladesh’ in the grip of retributive justice as mobs send Hasina’s accomplices packing
The counterblast is felling one heavyweight after another. The biggest gun to have been thrown out so far is the Chief Justice of Bangladesh, Obaidul Hassan. The severity of reprisal attacks on security forces after Hasina fled forced the police to go on a strike
WORLD
Bangladesh’s chaos leaves India with security issues because there was no Plan B
Sheikh Hasina may have been a good ally. But opportunities to build bridges with Khaleda Zia and Mohammad Yunus were missed, leading to strategic challenges following a regime collapse
WORLD
India must play peacemaker in bloodied Bangladesh
The deadly turmoil in Bangladesh is far from over and India must intervene to quell the matter. Bangladesh is too important an ally for New Delhi to pursue a hands-off policy at this critical juncture
POLITICS
Looking for a chink in Mamata’s armour, BJP tilts towards a woman to lead West Bengal charge
In a bid to put a dent on TMC supremo's popularity among women, the BJP is now looking for a woman leader to take charge of the state unit. Who is best suited for the job? Will BJP finally manage to oust Mamata Banerjee?
WORLD
India frets over Sheikh Hasina’s China visit, a litmus test for New Delhi-Dhaka ties
Although India was Sheikh Hasina’s first port of call after her re-election in January, the Bangladeshi Prime Minister is now headed for China where she is expected to take a call on enlisting Beijing’s help to develop the Teesta basin languishing because of India’s failure to formalize the water-sharing treaty hanging fire since 2011. Bangladesh-China’s agreement on Rohingya repatriation, Belt and Road Initiative and import of arms also concern us
WORLD
Bangladesh-India Relations: Teesta treaty is a bridge too far and even a reset can’t redeem it
Talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart, Sheikh Hasina, over the sharing of the waters of trans-border rivers has revived the possibility of the signing of the Teesta River water-sharing treaty.
POLITICS
Communist resurgence in Nepal doesn’t mean end of the road for India in the Himalayan nation
China toppled an India-friendly regime in Kathmandu by uniting Nepal’s top communist parties and smaller Left parties into a formidable alliance. The new government is determined to needle India at Beijing's behest by framing the unresolved territorial dispute as a key bilateral issue. But New Delhi should not lose its cool and must exercise strategic patience to retrieve the lost ground in its neighbourhood.
BUSINESS
After Maldives, Bangladesh sees an ‘India Out’ campaign; why New Delhi must stop China from taking advantage
A movement against Indian products is gathering steam in Bangladesh for allegedly helping Sheikh Hasina become the Prime Minister for a fourth consecutive term against the wishes of the people. But if the boycott intensifies instead of dissipating, China will be laughing all the way to the bank. The way forward for India is to stop playing favourites and engage with the opposition parties
INDIA
Attacks on ED and NIA in Bengal seems to have TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee’s approval. But, why?
West Bengal is the only opposition-ruled state where the operation of central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate and National Investigation Agency is hobbled by physical resistance from locals. And behind the orchestrated obstruction is CM Mamata Banerjee’s philosophy of disruption and confrontation. Her current approach is influenced by her long history of taking on the men in uniform
LOK-SABHA-ELECTION
Lok Sabha Polls: Corruption allegations on TMC could shape election outcome
With many Trinamool Congress ministers, MLAs and leaders behind bars, corruption has emerged as a big issue during the parliamentary polls in West Bengal. There is a fair chance of graft and pay-offs turning the tide in BJP’s favour, although TMC insists that its jailed leaders are innocent and are being unfairly targeted by enforcement agencies to help BJP outsmart the ruling party
INDIA
India-Maldives Ties: New Delhi should heed pro-China Muizzu’s plea for financial aid but with riders
After compelling India to withdraw its troops within a time frame and entering into a strategic partnership with China, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has done a U-turn and declared that India remains the island-nation’s closest ally. There are strong grounds for India to respond favourably but we must lay down some conditions in our national interest
LOK-SABHA-ELECTION
Lok Sabha Polls: Selecting Raju Bista as the BJP candidate from Darjeeling sends out a clear message
The decision to deny Harsh Vardhan Shringla, chief coordinator of India’s G20 presidency, a BJP ticket to contest from the prestigious Darjeeling seat signals that winnability, and not status and connections, is the criterion for selecting candidates by the ruling party
WORLD
India and Taliban: The strategic sense in doing business with the government in Afghanistan
A team of technical experts that New Delhi recently flew into Herat to inspect the Salma dam that Indian painstakingly built is suggestive of India’s intent to constructively engage with Afghanistan to protect national interests
POLITICS
Bengal: Why Mamata Banerjee revived seat-sharing talks with Congress
AAP sealing a pre-poll alliance with Congress while foregrounding the great risk of impending arrest that it posed to Arvind Kejriwal has put Trinamool Congress in the uncomfortable position of answering whether similar worries are repelling it from the Congress. Moreover, Congress has the potential to split the Muslim vote, which could end up hugely benefiting BJP
WORLD
Bangladesh: New US and China plays pose fresh headache for India
India has more than enough clout in present-day Bangladesh to go it alone. So the US attempt to rebuild bridges with Sheikh Hasina could reduce her dependence on India. The US is evidently concerned about the strides that China is making in Bangladesh. Now is the time for India to play the aces up its sleeve and show both countries that is the resident power in the region
WORLD
Maldives could be China’s revenge against India outsmarting it in Bhutan and Nepal
One explanation for Muizzu’s ballistic streak since his return to Male after a five-day visit to Beijing could be a pro-India dispensation winning polls in Bhutan, which could frustrate Chinese designs on Doklam, and two Chinese-built international airports in Nepal slipping into the red following denial of flying rights over India
WORLD
New Bangladesh Cabinet: Sheikh Hasina sends key pro-India voices packing
She has dropped the likes of Abdul Momen and Abdur Razzaq who were identified as being too close to India. Though three Hindu cabinet ministers have been appointed, India faces the challenge of countering the growing influence of pro-China, pro-Pakistan, and Islamist leaders
BUSINESS
Teesta Water Sharing: An Indian failure allows China to play knight in shining armour
GoI’s failure to convince Mamata Banerjee to share Teesta waters equitably has allowed China to win Bangladeshi hearts by proposing to revive the river even without the due share of upper riparian water from West Bengal flowing in
POLITICS
Mahua Moitra’s expulsion buries some key rivalries in Bengal, at least temporarily
Despite Mamata’s lacerating taunts for the Hindi heartland defeat, Congress’s Gandhi family and its Bengal leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury backed Mahua. So did arch-rivals, CPM. Both Mamata and Abhishek Banerjee are also with her, ensuring the faction-ridden Trinamool closed ranks. Expect a repeat of the outsider-targeting-Bengal’s-daughter card that Mamata played so effectively against BJP in 2021
WORLD
Myanmar Crisis: China’s balanced approach a lesson for India in diplomacy
In order to remain in the game, New Delhi needs to shed its unwavering commitment to the generals or at least balance it by opening direct channels of communication with the pro-democracy forces
BUSINESS
Bengal: Trinamool Congress reels under widening schism between Mamata and Abhishek Banerjee loyalists
In what is looking like a repeat of the Samajwadi Party’s fissures when Akhilesh Yadav moved to take control of the party against the wishes of his father Mulayam Singh Yadav, loyalists of Abhishek Banerjee are growing impatient with the old guard led by Mamata Banerjee. But Mamata is no pushover unlike Mulayam in his last days
