Politicalplay

Will UP be a laboratory for an Opposition coalition? Prospective permutations don't paint image of national unity

In 2019, the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Rashtriya Lok Dal came together to combat a buoyant BJP and were routed

'Apologise, admit mistake,' Assange hits back after Mayawati’s asylum offer

Julian Assange, founder of web whistleblower, Wikileaks, has struck back at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, asking her to admit her mistake and apologise for her comments on him.

Ex-Congress MP Jitin Prasada is marginal player, but his switch to BJP raises questions for both parties

The BJP has always made a big production of its shtick about the Congress’ dynastic politics, but now it is welcoming a motley crew of dynasts into its ranks with no apparent sense of irony

Cong’s 2014 formula: Politics at the cost of economy

It is not clear the exact role Sonia and Rahul play in the Congress but it certainly works to the detriment of the UPA.

Bengal Assembly elections: Not just Muslims, Scheduled Castes too hold key to TMC's prospects

The SCs are the same vote bank that had migrated decisively from the CPM to the TMC in 2011 and to a large extent remained with it in 2016. The TMC’s ability to hold on to a sizeable chunk of this vote bank will decide the outcome of 2021 polls

Why can’t Team Anna wait until the Winter Session?

Anna Hazare’s movement was not supposed to be about politics, it was supposed to be about corruption. But his associates have got into politics in a big way. It could be counterproductive.

Does Arindam Chaudhuri help or hinder Anna’s cause?

A movement is known by the company it keeps. It needs to ask itself whether the endorsement of an Aamir Khan or Arindam Chaudhuri helps or hinders its cause.

The politicians’ licence to kill and the art of fomenting riots

In the din over the death figures what has gone undernoticed is the systemic manipulation to protect the high profile guilty in all the cases. Curiously, in none of the cases the big players -- the actual brains behind the riots -- have gone punished.

Rahul takes charge of party, but it’s status quo for now

The Gandhi scion’s real responsibility has just begun. His stint at the helm may be a temporary one but he will be under serious scrutiny from now.

Amar Singh is the symptom, let’s fix the disease first

The former Samajwadi Party leader personifies whatever is wrong with our politicians. But he is also the product of the unholy political circumstances created by our parties.