Friday, Apr 19, 2024 | Last Update : 12:10 PM IST
Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay
After Ayodhya: Will Modi’s ‘new era’ end old conflicts?
The inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22 turns into an audio-visual spectacle
01 Feb 2024 12:00 AM
Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay | Will Opp. lose battle for 2024 before it’s begun?
The Opposition parties got together, found in “INDIA” an acronym that creased brows of top BJP leaders
04 Jan 2024 12:00 AM
Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay | 2024 Game On; But Cong, Opp. Need to Act Smarter
The reasons behind the BJP’s victory in this round -- Modi factor, Hindutva, welfarism and party machinery -- may not work across states
06 Dec 2023 12:00 AM
Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay | Many worries for BJP as ‘semi-final’ vote looms
The ultra-nationalistic narrative emerged as the overarching narrative, clearly missing at this stage.
05 Nov 2023 11:38 PM
Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay | Check governors trying to exceed their powers
In the past nine years, it has become commonplace for governors to block legislation passed by state Assemblies.
03 Jul 2023 12:05 AM
Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay | As 2024 looms, Kejriwal is looking ahead to 2029
The Congress cannot bask in the glory of the Karnataka sweep and the AAP can’t focus only on its long-term pursuits.
16 May 2023 12:30 AM
Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay | WFI mess: All that’s wrong as India sport, politics mix
The manner in which this episode has played out raises doubts over the BJP leadership having such an iron grip over the party as is believed
05 May 2023 12:00 AM
Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay | It’s not just about Rahul: The stakes are far bigger
So far, Rahul Gandhi and the Congress have called a spade a spade, and this trait must be retained
28 Mar 2023 12:00 AM
Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay | Will boost for Shinde Sena be a boon or curse for BJP?
Part of the BJP’s troubles in Maharashtra is the result of its domineering stance towards allies.
27 Feb 2023 12:50 AM
Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay | Amid BJP triumph, can AAP be a force in 2024?
The future direction of politics also depends on the performance of Cong govt in HP and coordination between the MCD and the Delhi govt
15 Dec 2022 12:05 AM
Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay | Does RSS chief’s Muslim dialogue have a future?
The RSS will become a centenarian in 2025 and no one can ignore the philosophy of cultural nationalism as being integral to its formation
27 Sep 2022 12:00 AM
Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay | ‘Freebie’ politics: Can Opp. use PM tactics against BJP?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched an all-out blitzkrieg against the politics of promising freebies or giveaways in return for votes
29 Jul 2022 12:55 AM
Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay | Politics of ‘us’ and ‘them’: The myths and the reality
Hindutva is spoken beneath the breath by the leadership but in high decibels by supporters
03 Jun 2022 12:21 AM
Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay | To stop all political misuse, speedy police reforms vital
As recent events demonstrate, every party prefers having the law enforcers acting as a private militia
18 May 2022 12:40 AM
Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay | Nehru, Ambedkar and the BJP: Revisiting of history?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has personally led this new-found public embrace and appropriation of Dr Ambedkar’s legacy
11 Apr 2022 12:28 AM
Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay | Congress like an old LP, playing the same tunes
People still hope the Congress leadership shall arise from its self-induced comatose state
16 Mar 2022 2:43 AM
Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay | Will BJP’s ‘before’ & ‘after’ 2017 line deliver UP 2022?
The central prong has been always to poke at pre-existing religios prejudice of Hindus against Muslims
14 Feb 2022 1:50 AM
Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay | After Bengal, Opposition must devise national strategy
Opposition parties have to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each party and leader and allocate responsibility accordingly
05 May 2021 12:00 AM
Nilanjan: Abandonment whiff to Centre’s lockdown exit
India’s ruling establishment has so far come across as a bewildered lot, unsure of any path but polarising politics and dream selling
14 May 2020 5:49 PM
Aarogya Setu not a magic tool; it breaches privacy
It is universally recognised that crises like pandemics enable governments to increase surveillance.
21 Apr 2020 12:10 PM
India pays the price for acting late on Covid19
Preparations to meet the Covid-19 challenge were tardy throughout February and the first half of March
03 Apr 2020 10:34 AM
As we battle corona, let’s not forget the vulnerable
Invisible Indians cannot be forsaken like they were during the catastrophe of demonetisation
21 Mar 2020 1:02 AM
Delhi: History repeated, as handsets spread hate
Instead of causing revulsion, the explosion of gory images has made communal violence the new normal.
07 Mar 2020 7:28 AM
Can Kovind live up to his true role as Prez?
President Kovind, in his conduct, possibly needs reminding that he took an oath to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law”.
30 Nov 2019 12:14 AM
After verdict, Hindutva agenda likely to expand
The Supreme Court set aside the high court judgment making a three-way split of the disputed land on the following basis.
12 Nov 2019 3:12 AM
Uncertainty ahead as J&K enters a new era
It is simply not just due to the fear of militants targeting people venturing out to begin leading “normal” lives.
01 Nov 2019 12:05 AM
Savarkar a national icon? BJP’s new poll trick
After Chhatrapati Shivaji, Savarkar occupies the highest position on the list of Maharashtra’s icons.
19 Oct 2019 4:37 AM
A minister recounts his game of thrones
It is in times like these that one sees political veterans penning memoirs, fulfilling a vital need for the hitherto unknown.
06 Oct 2019 4:56 AM
Satyagraha is Gandhi’s lasting contribution
In April, the government took lead in marking the centenary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
04 Oct 2019 12:07 AM
Sangh needs to look beyond its Hindi belt outlook
His needless assertion predictably evoked anger and consternation in the non-Hindi speaking states.
20 Sep 2019 1:44 AM
100 days of Modi 2.0: A clear sign of path ahead
In Narendra Modi’s case, the excitement has been greater because he has few peers matching his communication skills.
06 Sep 2019 2:33 AM
India to miss Sushma’s restraint, moderation
Sushma Swaraj was never really allowed to settle in a single role within the party and asked to accomplish impossible tasks.
09 Aug 2019 12:08 AM
Who is politically more honest: Pragya, or top BJP leadership?
The BJP leadership, especially Prime Minister Modi, is Janus-faced when it comes to socio-political and economic discourse.
26 Jul 2019 12:19 AM
Pivot of Cong renewal: Inner-party democracy
Sonia Gandhi, back then, did not accept responsibility for the defeat despite the universal law of accountability beginning at the top.
12 Jul 2019 12:23 AM
Sermons on faith pose challenge for Modi 2.0
Modi 2.0 has, however, taken a tough line against any critical references to India on the issue of religious rights and freedom.
29 Jun 2019 12:04 AM
Modi 2.0: PM tries out new talent to run govt
The collective leadership that the BJP was known for became a matter of the past and in its place there emerged a political duopoly.
01 Jun 2019 12:35 AM
Will Modi live up to his ‘sabka vishwas’ vision?
The first test of how true he will be to his words in his second tenure will be when he draws up his council of ministers.
27 May 2019 12:38 AM
Shadow of Bengal polls to linger over republic
The BJP, in contrast, has not done the hard work and failed to build a party grid of significance.
18 May 2019 12:00 AM
Reclaiming the ‘soul of India’ a tall task for next government
Sahay makes a pertinent and extremely worrying point virtually on the eve of the electoral season’s D-Day.
17 May 2019 1:19 AM
EC must stop acting in a partisan way, else its credibility will erode
The alacrity with which the notice was served showed the EC’s partisanship.
03 May 2019 7:06 AM
Cong, Opposition disunity will make life easier for BJP
Campaigning is still underway for 5 of the 7 phases of polling and 354 seats remain up for grabs, while the verdict keeps being anyone’s guess.
19 Apr 2019 2:00 AM
Cong charter shows a newfound confidence
The Congress manifesto contains promises in three domains and is an emphatic statement of its pro-people and democratic political intent.
05 Apr 2019 12:00 AM
BJP back to Sangh’s old line on Kashmir
The intent to shape discussion in this direction became evident when the CBI began reopening virtually defunct cases of terrorism filed against Malik.
27 Mar 2019 1:39 AM
By failing to unite, Oppn seems to forget history
The test before the Oppn parties is to at least get the narrative right even though they appear to have failed in getting their arithmetic right.
09 Mar 2019 6:47 AM
With pre-poll alliances, BJP stoops to conquer
The BJP's decision in both Bihar and Maharashtra, however, would have caused immense heartburn within the local units.
22 Feb 2019 12:50 AM
Party with a difference shifts away from roots
Another way of phrasing the declaration is that for Ms Irani, the leader is paramount over the party and what it stands for.
09 Feb 2019 2:15 AM
Priyanka’s entry shakes politics, in UP & beyond
After Priyanka Gandhi’s entry into politics, however, it is difficult to envisage an Opposition alliance minus the Congress.
25 Jan 2019 12:00 AM
Hopes, fears dominate the new 2019 narrative
The Narendra Modi-led BJP is depicting a nightmare that would be India’s fate if an “unstable, non-ideological coalition” is placed at its helm.
11 Jan 2019 12:10 AM
After a year of big shifts, decision time lies ahead
The defeat of the BJP in the Lok Sabha byelection in Kairana convinced the Opposition parties that alliance formation was the way ahead.
28 Dec 2018 12:00 AM
2019: Cong needs new ‘vision’ to take on BJP
To understand the test ahead there is first a need for a deep dive into the verdict from the states where the Congress wrested power.
14 Dec 2018 12:05 AM
BJP, RSS & Ayodhya: The future is unclear
The BJP also secured a majority in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly and formed a government in the state.
30 Nov 2018 12:34 AM
Amid changing politics, new dawn on horizon?
There are many reasons for Congress leaders being more daring in displaying religiosity in the course this round of polls.
16 Nov 2018 12:00 AM
Why the Sangh needs to bank on Sardar’s legacy
The issue of Patel not being conferred the Bharat Ratna is cited as proof of his undermining.
02 Nov 2018 12:05 AM
The politics of renaming
Although the politics of renaming has acquired greater public attention since 2014, the plan is part of the saffron fold’s agenda for long.
20 Oct 2018 1:21 AM
Maya jolt to Opposition unity: Is BJP glee premature?
Among the three states, the Congress has the least of problems in Rajasthan because the party unit is working more cohesively than in MP.
05 Oct 2018 12:59 AM
Why RSS is reaching out to Middle India
There are two prisms through which one can view the RSS’ most concerted bid at public relations.
21 Sep 2018 12:20 AM
Rahul must speak more on aam aadmi issues
The mass quotient and canniness of Gandhi’s electoral campaign has to increase.
07 Sep 2018 7:07 AM
Opposition yet to offer an alternative vision
Significantly, the polls mention “economic anxieties” as the principal cause for people’s sentiments turning against the government and the BJP.
24 Aug 2018 5:46 AM
DMK’s key test to live up to Karuna’s legacy
There are two prisms through which we must look at the passing of Muthuvel Karunanidhi, the DMK patriarch, which was imminent for quite some time.
10 Aug 2018 12:47 AM
Rahul, Maya, Mamata: Pre-2019 dance begins
Rahul Gandhi said that the Congress was willing to back anyone as Prime Minister provided the person was not supported by the RSS.
28 Jul 2018 2:39 AM
BJP plots mischief in J&K, India to be hurt
The plan to install a BJP chief minister will accomplish the party’s Mission 44-Plus but through the backdoor.
13 Jul 2018 2:08 AM
Modi & Indira: Such a lot of common traits
The choices confirmed what many believed — that Mr Modi’s persona bore a striking resemblance to Indira Gandhi’s.
29 Jun 2018 6:39 AM
RSS is still searching for greater legitimacy
Mohan Bhagwat’s condemnation has been ambivalent due to compulsions of realpolitik.
15 Jun 2018 3:43 AM
Will Pranab tell RSS a few home truths?
No former President has accepted an invitation to address such a batch of ideologically-committed activists.
01 Jun 2018 12:44 AM
In Karnataka, see the birth of a shamocracy
The BJP and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, is little but a breeding ground of autocrats masquerading as democrats.
18 May 2018 12:22 AM
Clear choices in K’taka: Will Modi magic work?
The likelihood of the trend continuing is possibly the first challenge for the Congress as it has to prevent the emergence of Mr Modi as “the issue”.
04 May 2018 4:41 AM
After 2014 Modi wave, 2019 headed for drift
Mr Modi’s incapacity to check this despite proclaimed intention is his principal failure.
20 Apr 2018 12:37 AM
Dalit fury rattles BJP, as Sangh fuzzy over caste
The Modi government is conspicuous in its inability to comprehend dalit sense and sensibility.
06 Apr 2018 6:59 AM
Didi sets the ball rolling, but road ahead is tough
The PM will do no good to his chances of securing another term by imagining the developments to be just an one-act skit of the overambitious.
30 Mar 2018 1:25 AM
BJP vulnerable if Opposition can unite, state by state
These results underscore a major flaw in the way that the BJP conducts itself following credible victories in new territories.
16 Mar 2018 2:22 AM
TDP exit, statue attacks: BJP to rethink strategy?
The TDP’s pullout from the Union government has the possibility of reworking the equation prior to 2019.
09 Mar 2018 5:11 AM
Govt ‘failure’ over PNB threat to its credibility
Modi govt’s biggest failure is in making the bureaucracy — in governments and in quasi-government bodies — stakeholders in a popular administration.
23 Feb 2018 1:58 AM
Democracy recession? New low in Parliament
Though greeted by the treasury benches with loud thumps on desks, Mr Modi displayed poor knowledge of history.
09 Feb 2018 2:30 AM
Padmaavat, mob rule & 68 years of the republic
Padmaavat is not just a film, an indulgence of an overenthusiastic picture-book maker.
26 Jan 2018 1:42 AM
Heal ’84 wounds: Give justice, end the politics
Sikhs were not too impressed with the NDA’s decision to constitute the SIT.
12 Jan 2018 12:14 AM
Short-term-vision netas India’s growing danger
The threat to the BJP in the beginning of the year and the challenge it faced in the last weeks of the year were similar.
30 Dec 2017 12:15 AM
Touching new low: Guj race leaves bitter taste
It is a sad moment for Indian democracy that the Prime Minister will henceforth be pulled down by the weight of old questions.
15 Dec 2017 2:37 AM
Gujarat: A huge test for BJP as 2019 on horizon
This election, that was expected to be a cakewalk for the BJP, has turned on its head and become an extraordinary poll.
02 Dec 2017 4:31 AM
Indira’s rise & fall: A lesson for our times
The truth is somewhere in between, and despite her fallibilities, Indira made some lasting contributions to nation-building.
17 Nov 2017 12:27 AM
BJP jittery in Guj: Will Rahul play cards right?
The Congress vice-president struck a chord as he attacked demonetisation and unemployment in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state.
04 Nov 2017 12:57 AM
Will Gujarat polls be a real challenge for BJP?
The EC said the schedule was withheld to prevent the state from enduring a long period under the model code of conduct.
21 Oct 2017 12:41 AM
After the Sinha ripple effects, wait & watch
The latest in the line of the government’s critics is Arun Shourie, who repeated earlier assertions.
06 Oct 2017 1:17 AM
Gujarat stakes high: A challenge for BJP
Gujarat’s political importance is greater this time because both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah are from the state.
22 Sep 2017 12:36 AM
Rein in forces of hate, before they eat us up
As police investigations are underway, it is premature to rush to conclusions and blame specific political forces.
08 Sep 2017 6:21 AM
Polls 2019 a done deal? Don’t be too sure yet
The other development that intensified the “surround sound” regarding the BJP’s supremacy was Nitish Kumar’s switchback.
25 Aug 2017 12:22 AM
Congress should learn from Gujarat RS win
Ahmed Patel may have been elected but he did not “win” because he could not keep his flock together.
11 Aug 2017 12:22 AM
Aaya Kumar, Gaya Kumar
Mr Kumar will not be unaware of the scant independence that the Prime Minister has allowed ministers from his coalition partners.
28 Jul 2017 12:42 AM
Opposition loses a chance to sow confusion in NDA
Every political party selected candidates on the basis of caste and community but this was not acknowledged.
14 Jul 2017 12:23 AM
PM must act or bigotry will derail ‘new India’
More chillingly, 97 per cent of 63 incidents were reported after May 2014, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office.
30 Jun 2017 12:41 AM
Tough choices for Modi as fires rage in the fields
For more than three years, Mr Modi has been in promissory mode, making one pledge after another, giving one assurance after another.
16 Jun 2017 2:17 AM
It’s not the Army’s job to shape govt policy
The Army must remain ready for a command performance but should never be the one to order a policy.
02 Jun 2017 4:38 AM
How Modi is beginning to change face of India
Three years into Modi’s tenure, the picture on the ground is turning out exactly as foreseen.
19 May 2017 12:20 AM
Oppn should focus on issues, not target Modi
The first challenge is to identify the basic issues that worry people.
05 May 2017 12:12 AM
Ayodhya issue is back as 2019 polls beckon
Let there be no doubt, the Supreme Court order revives interest in the flagging issue.
21 Apr 2017 1:59 AM
Devise new strategy in J&K, time running out
Jammu and Kashmir needs much more than Vajpayee’s poetry and Modi’s oratory.
07 Apr 2017 2:25 AM
What’s next for the Muslims in UP?
The Muslim response to the BJP victory is muted so far but the party’s supporters must not gloat over their dismay.
24 Mar 2017 2:01 AM
Will Modi’s magic work again, or will UP say no?
A defeat for the BJP in UP and other states will be crushing for Mr Modi.
10 Mar 2017 2:28 AM
BJP or SP-Congress? UP verdict wide open
An indication that Modi too is not certain is evident in his ploy to proclaim himself the “adopted son” of Varanasi.
24 Feb 2017 12:48 AM
To restore glory, Congress must do well in UP
There is also a broad consensus among those who are not loyalists that the Congress has not done enough to win back people.
10 Feb 2017 12:43 AM
India-US ties: Trump, Modi will decide
Trump also enlisted support of the proverbial ABCDs by courting the Hindu right in America.
27 Jan 2017 4:38 AM
Akhilesh: A centrist Modi in the making?
If Akhilesh manages to pull it off, he could well acquire the moniker of a centrist Modi.
13 Jan 2017 6:01 AM
Modi’s half-way mark: To rise further, or fall?
Developments through this year will impact the future of all parties, ruling as well as Opposition.
30 Dec 2016 12:19 AM
Note ban: Opp. too is letting down people
The call for nationwide protests on November 28 was undermined by confusion whether it was a shutdown call or not.
16 Dec 2016 12:18 AM
Modi’s plan unfolds...
PM Modi has indisputably polarised India between the corrupt and honest.
02 Dec 2016 12:19 AM
Will Modi’s high-risk gambit pay dividends?
The verdict in UP will reveal if Mr Modi has read the mind of the electorate correctly or not.
18 Nov 2016 12:29 AM
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