Page 4 - Bharat Bhushan

Where is the confrontation with the judiciary possibly headed?

The SC had declared NJAC Act unconstitutional, arguing that the primacy of the judiciary in judicial appointments was embedded in the 'basic structure' of the Constitution

The corporate push towards 'one nation, one media'

In a sense, then, corporates are entering the media business for the same reason that political parties and political families own media houses - to influence public opinion

What 'teaching a lesson' in Gujarat means

The national security paradigm is another device to herd voters behind the BJP, which is projected as the last line of defence between a secure India and its perceived enemies

To criticise Savarkar or not: A false dilemma

While Rahul Gandhi's critics only have utilitarian concerns, the Congress scion aspires to be the moral beacon for his party. His goal is beyond tactical electoral gains and losses

India's G20 presidency could shape voter mood for 2024

Given the number of events taking place simultaneously across the country, hardly any state will miss out on the G20 extravaganza

Growing unemployment: Battle of two parallel realities

The duality between the ground reality of tangible unemployment and the perception created by events like "rozgar melas" will likely continue till the next general election

The declining middle class leaves politics unruffled

The Congress and the united Opposition need to show economic leadership. They have described the symptoms of the economic crisis but failed to create a narrative that goes beyond it

Sorry, Mr Guterres, no one is listening

With the nation in perpetual election mode, perhaps the Opposition, too, is convinced that reacting to criticism like that of Guterres will not get them a single extra vote

Without ideology or loyalty: Arvind Kejriwal and his pursuit of power

Rajendra Pal Gautam, Tahir Hussain and Amanatullah Khan have joined a long list of colleagues who have been left high and dry by Kejriwal. They were, in the end, mere props in his pursuit of power

"No freebies": Govt, Supreme Court and Election Commission in concert

While challengers can promise the moon, the govt knows that the economic situation is tight and might even worsen before 2024. It would like to restrict the Opposition's ability to promise freebies

Congress president's election: Uncertain times ahead for the party

The election of Kharge as Congress president is almost certain. From here on, if the Congress does not improve its poor electoral performance, a challenge could emerge to the Gandhi family leadership

Mohan Bhagwat's overture to Muslims

Bhagwat's plea for social harmony tries to repackage the Hindutva project as accommodative and tolerant of minorities

Rahul Gandhi's political pilgrimage: Loaded with too many expectations

For the Congress to be credible as an Opposition party, it needs to rebuild a grassroots organisation, restore cadre's confidence in the leadership and convince people that it has a political future

Ghulam Nabi Azad timed his exit from the Congress for a 'bigger' role

Azad is not known to act impulsively. It would seem his hand was forced by the oncoming Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) elections. Its outcome will set the stage for his national political ambitions

Electoral roll revision will not gift Jammu and Kashmir to the BJP

Muslim voters will play a deciding role in 10 out of 43 seats in Jammu, and in the valley's 47 seats, BJP may not be able to open its account. The arithmetic doesn't favour a BJP majority on its own

Attacking freebies: BJP's strategy against regional parties

Successful regional parties are mostly run by charismatic leaders who rely significantly on populist welfare schemes and caste combinations

Politics heats up as Congress, and BJP go head-to-head

Public can't be blamed for being wary of the current Congress protests against price rise and unemployment. They have too closely tailed protests directed against ED summons to Sonia and Rahul Gandhi

Why the Enforcement Directorate is being seen as a political weapon

Unlike the CBI, the ED has policing powers without the accountability imposed on the regular police

Mamata Banerjee loses pole position in Opposition

Her conduct in the election of the president and the vice-president confirms her image as an unpredictable leader

The bizarre hounding of former vice-president Hamid Ansari

The Congress party kept strategically quiet on the arrest of Teesta Setalvad. After its initial reaction, it seems the party now does not want to get too involved in defending Ansari, either