Election

OPINION | EC has virtually taken over West Bengal administration which begs questions

Administrative transfers in the state exceed that of the all the other election-bound states and UT put together. The scale and sweeping nature of administrative takeover trigger questions on what the election watchdog is up to

OPINION | How the SDPI is using the Kerala election to emerge as a mainstream party

There are signs of an understanding with the Left Front as the party, once seen as politically radioactive, seeks to eventually create space for itself in mainstream alliances by dislodging IUML

OPINION | In the shifting sands of Assam’s politics, BJP retains its competitive edge

Campaigning in Assam ends today. The contest between the alliances led by the BJP and Congress is keener than it appeared a month ago, but the former remains in pole position

OPINION | Squatters Ahoy! Why Assam’s eviction drives are an attempt at reclaiming the `commons’

Assam’s aggressive eviction drives are a strategic reclamation of the "economic commons"—forests, grazing lands, and riverine islands—that the state believes have been usurped by alleged illegal settlers. The minoritisation of the Assamese-speaking natives is also emerging as a worrying marker. Elections aside, the lurking fear about losing the rights over indigenous economic, social, cultural commons is where the real anxieties lie

OPINION | Vijay’s impact in TN’s assembly election may result in a coalition government

Both DMK and AIADMK have been allergic to coalitions. Matinee idol Vijay may not experience victory, but his performance may force one of the Dravidian majors into sharing power for the first time

OPINION | Why Suvendu’s challenge to Mamata in Bhabanipur symbolic, not decisive

West Bengal’s political hotspot, Bhabanipur, highlights a key contest driven by TMC dominance, BJP strategy, and changing urban voters

OPINION | In Kerala, BJP plays the long game with 2026 polls seen as a semi-final

The party won an assembly seat once, in 2016. This time they are in contention for at least six seats. While it’s no more a marginal presence, the strategy hasn’t yet found a balance between pitches on development and culture

OPINION | Political stakes rise as five regions prepare for polls

Assembly elections in four states and Puducherry trigger intense political contests, with regional issues, opposition strategies and leadership battles shaping campaigns as parties vie for voter support

Aamir Khan reignites language debate, says 'Yeh Maharashtra hai bhai' after being asked to make a statement in Hindi during BMC elections

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan sparked a language debate at a BMC polling booth after declining to repeat his Marathi message in Hindi, remarking that Maharashtra’s identity should be respected.

Daisy Shah slams political party after fire breaks out near her Mumbai home during election campaign, says, "it’s caused by brainless people"

Actor Daisy Shah expressed shock and anger after a fire reportedly broke out near her Bandra East residence in Mumbai, blaming reckless election campaigning and calling it a clear lack of civic sense.

The Babri Masjid Gambit: Can a new party split Bengal's Muslim vote and hand victory to the BJP?

As West Bengal's 2026 assembly elections approach, expelled TMC leader Humayun Kabir's plans to form a new party could fracture Mamata Banerjee's minority vote base—potentially opening the door for BJP gains

OPINION | West Bengal Polls 2026: SIR politics and voter purges raise new risks for Mamata Banerjee

The SIR-driven voter purge has intensified political tensions in Bengal, giving the BJP a new narrative while allowing Mamata Banerjee to rally supporters. Yet the exercise risks alienating key communities and may not significantly erode TMC’s core base

OPINION | New Bihar government must prioritise NITI Aayog’s service sector job plan

NITI Aayog’s recommendations mirror the economic realities of the state and what is easily doable. The federal think tank’s suggestions focus on skill development, digital inclusion, and expanding job opportunities

OPINION | The social contract from Brooklyn to Bihar represents a tussle between imagination and fiscal gravity

Voters may desire stronger state intervention, but they judge credibility through the prism of institutional muscle. Moral intention matters, but capacity determines whether the promise feels real

OPINION | Nitish Kumar didn’t just demolish the opposition, he’s also changed intra-NDA dynamics

His ability to defy incumbency fatigue, a feature in Indian politics, is remarkable. But the potential scale of this victory, and the visible support from women, mean that within his coalition, Nitish has strengthened his position

OPINION | ‘Sushasan Babu’ has the last laugh as Bihar’s women voters show who calls the shots

It’s lazy analysis to say cash transfers clinched NDA victory helmed by Nitish Kumar. It was also his record in ensuring safety and women’s empowerment that helped. Critically for Bihar, caste moulds in electoral politics have been shattered this time

Raghunathpur Election Results Live: RJD’s Osama Shahab extends lead over JD(U) by 9,248 votes after round 26

Khesari Lal Yadav Election Result Highlights: BJP’s Chhoti Kumari defeats RJD's Khesari by a margin of 7600 votes

OPINION | BJP goes all out for Bihar election, with Modi leading from the front

Modi travelled to Bihar at least once every month since February to launch central projects. During some months, he visited Bihar more than once. Other BJP heavyweights too are pulling out all stops

OPINION | Cast(e) in stone in Bihar

Caste remains the decisive factor in influencing a voter’s choice. Given that, the opposition seems to have done a good job in stitching together an array, giving it an edge in a tight contest

Tanzania’s election shadowed by disappearances and fear of repression

Abductions, arrests and intimidation are raising fears that Tanzania’s upcoming vote will cement one-party rule under President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Rahul Gandhi’s election integrity campaign has grabbed attention, but can it deliver votes?

The real test lies not in television debates or press statements but on the ground—will Gandhi’s gambit strike a chord with voters, or will it fade into yet another episode of political shadowboxing remains to be seen

Mamata’s Rally Sets Narrative for 2026: Bengali pride, Hindu roots, no minority appeasement

TMC’s annual Shahid Diwas rally in Kolkata outlined the party’s overarching approach to 2026 assembly election. Rather than focus on segments of the population, the party will position itself as the defender of regional pride, particularly Bengali language. Implicit is the portrayal of BJP as the outside force, posing a threat to Bengali culture

EC’s special intensive review is a corrective to contaminated electoral rolls

The task may not be as difficult as it seems. That illegal immigrants have entered the voter rolls is evident from the recent deportation drives after Operation Sindoor

Kejriwal is fighting more than an election. His political future is at stake

Delhi’s assembly election finds AAP and its chief Arvind Kejriwal in an anomalous position. In Punjab, the party is successfully filling the space vacated by Akali Dal, thereby hitching its wagon to regional dynamics. In Delhi, however, AAP and Kejriwal are synonymous, which could make the coming election an inflection point in his political career