Assembly Elections

MNF’s blow-hot, blow-cold approach to NDA over Manipur faces Mizoram poll test

Despite the difficulties facing their Kuki kinsfolk in Manipur, the MNF which rules Mizoram hasn't pulled out of NDA. MNF is projecting itself as taking a tough line against the Centre and as the protector of Mizo interests to voters of the state, but is also wary of losing BJP support

Every RBI governor has a pet interest rate theory

Typically, banks tend to be prompt in raising rates during a tightening phase but fail to display the same alacrity when interest rates are moving south  

Thermax: Growth in earnings well priced in the stock

While the outlook is improving, one should be cautious in the near term, given that the stock has moved up swiftly.

Rajasthan: Gandhian simplicity failing twice, Ashok Gehlot embraces mega PR overdrive for elusive win

Despite encomiums for his welfare schemes, the 2003 and 2013 losses have convinced Ashok Gehlot to pitch himself and his work to voters on an as large, lavish and eye-catching scale as possible and engage professional political strategists. Consequently, Rajasthan voters are seeing a “modern”, social media-friendly Gehlot avatar on poll eve

Madhya Pradesh: Poll-eve freebie wars raise spectre of unsustainable debt

BJP and Congress are locked into a spiralling fight to outdo the other in offering sops to voters. The cash bonanzas amid a close electoral battle raises questions why parties don’t venture into such expensive schemes that strain the exchequer when there are no elections

'Red diary' latest project of Congress' 'jhooth ki dukan', will defeat party in elections: PM Modi in Sikar

Addressing a public rally in Sikar, Modi took a dig at the opposition, particularly the Congress, saying the slogan 'Indira is India and India is Indira' during the era of former prime minister Indira Gandhi has now changed to 'UPA is India and India is UPA'.

Will these focus areas in state budgets do the trick for four incumbent governments?

State budgets in an election year are a good place to spot quite early the focus areas and electoral strategy of incumbent governments. The Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh and Telangana budgets are revealing in how the chief ministers of the respective states have positioned their pet welfare projects with an eye on polls

Rajasthan: BJP zeroes in on law and order as Gehlot’s Achilles’ Heel

BJP has discovered that law and order is the weak spot in Ashok Gehlot’s defence of his government in the upcoming elections. Gehlot is trying to blunt this line of attack from the BJP by dubbing it an attack on Rajasthan’s pride

The Congress's game plan for opposition unity

The Grand Old Party is likely to talk seat sharing only after the Assembly elections 

Congress sets up Pradesh Election Committee for poll-bound Chhattisgarh

Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Deputy CM T S Singhdeo, besides ministers in the state government Tamradhwaj Sahu and Mohan Markam, as well as Speaker of Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Charan Das Mahant are among its members.

NDA’s narrative and ‘alliances’ are ready. Opposition’s challenge is to catch up

The Brand Modi narrative towers over BJP and NDA, so no alternative “coalition narrative” is possible. NDA parties are happy to ride on PM Modi’s coattails while BJP needs them to reach out to caste blocs. An agenda having national appeal while dodging both the “opportunistic alliance” taint and the leadership question is the Opposition camp’s holy grail

Telangana: With five aspirants for the CM’s post, Congress battles a familiar old problem

The Telangana Congress is in quite a farcical situation. It is up against the formidable K Chandrashekar Rao and has just 5 MLAs in the 119 member assembly but its leaders are already dreaming of the party winning the upcoming elections and fancying their chances to become the Chief Minister

MC Interview | Opposition front must be an alliance of equals in order to succeed: Pradeep Gupta of Axis My India

While the opposition is trying to build the perception of a grand alliance, the important thing is to see who is better placed on the ground to convert perception into votes.

BJP appoints Narendra Singh Tomar as MP election management committee convenor

A seasoned organisation leader, Tomar has held various positions in the party, including that of its Madhya Pradesh president, and is considered a low-key profile leader who enjoys cordial relations with various regional satraps.

Congress high command’s Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan moves suggest the mojo is back

Mallikarjun Kharge has managed to strike back for the Congress high command against the party’s satraps in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Bhupesh Baghel has been forced to accept a Deputy CM, TS Singh Deo has yielded on his claim to CMship, Sachin Pilot is smoking the peace pipe, and Ashok Gehlot was told clearly that collective leadership is the way forward 

Silicon Valley start-ups explore sales as funding runs dry

Wave of consolidation expected across tech as cash-strapped companies seek buyers or risk going out of business

Telangana: Will caste make a comeback after a decade of statehood sentiment?

Congress is stitching a Karnataka-like Ahinda coalition to its traditional Reddy bedrock. For nine years, KCR has triumphed over caste divides by tapping statehood sentiments. BJP’s difficult attempt to unite the scattered OBC vote and play up Hindutva is the third pole in the fight for a winning social coalition

Madhya Pradesh: A despicable act upsets BJP’s tribal outreach plan for assembly polls

The Sidhi incident has greatly angered MP’s tribal communities. In 2018, BJP had done poorly in ST reserved constituencies forcing the party to launch a string of tribal outreach activities since 2021. Interestingly, BJP swept the same areas in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls suggesting that tribal anger is reserved for the state BJP government