Powergames

How Nitish Kumar's principled position could turn out

Politics is a numbers game. And if the BJP manages to get within striking distance of forming a government, the JD(U) could once again be back in the NDA fold.

Pointless political posturing behind BJP-JD(U) rift

That a politically astute politician like Nitish Kumar should risk near-certain political defeat in Bihar by walking out of an alliance with the BJP unless it rules out Modi as its candidate is astonishing. But posturing is a habit that's hard to break.

BJP must see Advani's dissent as a blessing in disguise

it's a good thing that Advani has revealed his now. If a showdown was inevitable within the party, it is better to get it over with, rather than have it drag on until the election season is near at hand.

In Goa today, BJP faces a moment of reckoning

Given the heavy-duty build-up by the pr-Modi faction in the party, leaving Goa without clarity on his nomination would be an anti-climax, and could end up signalling that the party is hostage to its past

How far will Advani go to scuttle Modi's bid for the top job?

For the BJP, which is in the throes of a divisive leadership tussle, the next week could prove an eternity.

From here on, Sonia-Manmohan dyarchy is a slow train wreck

The "two heads" power arrangement between Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is coming apart at the seams.

What Modi's 'guest appearance' in Karnataka says of him

In putting up a mere token appearance in Karnataka, Modi comes across as a play-safe politician who doesn't want to risk anything that might impede him in his 'Chalo Dilli' yatra.

Why the 'high table' of power remains out of India's reach

Rather than bang away on the doors of an ineffectual Power Club, Indian diplomatic and strategic interests would arguably be better served by investing resources on enhancing our economic and strategic clout

Justice Katju has no one to blame but himself for his fall

With his partisan, extra-judicial, facts-be-damned comments on Modi, which relate to a domain far removed from his current responsibility as Press Council chairman, Katju has crossed the line of propriety for men in public office.

LoC conflict: How to deal with a rogue state like Pakistan

With its unnuanced narrative on conducting relations with a troublesome neighbour, the Manmohan Singh government is rewarding bad behaviour on Pakistan's part - and opening up India to yet more vulnerabilities.