Why Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav kept the Congress out of their alliance in Uttar Pradesh

And why Shiv Sena is threatening to do the same to the BJP in Maharashtra.

Ajaz Ashraf

· Jan 14, 2019 · 08:00 am

On Sabarimala, nationalism and the rule of law, the Congress is being more hypocritical than the BJP

By enabling the Congress to imitate Hindutva in states while preaching progressive values at the national level, the Gandhis are leading the party into a trap.

Ajaz Ashraf

· Jan 10, 2019 · 07:30 am

Modi’s 10% upper caste quota is a political gamble that may backfire (just like demonetisation)

It could consolidate Dalits and Other Backward Classes against the BJP and spark fresh demands for removing the 50% cap on reservation.

Ajaz Ashraf

· Jan 09, 2019 · 09:00 am

Modi’s speech to police chiefs shows he isn’t quite so bothered about rising religious conflict

The prime minister is worried more about the politics of caste, which weakens Hindutva as a political strategy. Hence, his silence on the lynching of Muslims.

Ajaz Ashraf

· Dec 28, 2018 · 09:00 am

Numbers game: For a shot at power in 2019, Congress must at least repeat its 2004 showing. Can it?

The party ousted the BJP from power in 2004 by winning 145 seats. Despite its victories in the recent Assembly polls, repeating the feat will be a struggle.

Ajaz Ashraf

· Dec 21, 2018 · 09:00 am

Modi is an electoral warrior – and these poll results have sounded the bugle for the battle of 2019

In 2014, BJP won 61 of the 65 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Ajaz Ashraf

· Dec 12, 2018 · 08:00 am

Left-liberals don’t really understand right-wing populism – and have no effective way to counter it

Populism succeeds because of a nation’s social psychology, which the left-liberal rarely takes into account.

Ajaz Ashraf

· Dec 10, 2018 · 08:00 am

Savitri Bai Phule interview: ‘The BJP MPs want to voice grievances but are frightened into silence’

The Lok Sabha member from Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh names names, blames Modi, Adityanath, Ananth Kumar.

Ajaz Ashraf

· Dec 09, 2018 · 07:30 am

Rahul Gandhi should take a lesson from AAP on battling Hindutva – and India would benefit

The Congress’ soft Hindutva might check the Hindu Right’s rise – but, in the process, it risks being transformed beyond recognition.

Ajaz Ashraf

· Dec 04, 2018 · 08:00 am

Linguistic politics: Poll promise of English-medium education in Telangana marks a significant shift

In its manifesto, the Bahujan Left Front has promised to introduce English-medium instruction along with Telugu in all government schools and classes.

Ajaz Ashraf

· Dec 01, 2018 · 08:00 am

Why Tejashwi Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav represent a new trend in how dynastic politics works in India

Their rise flouts the assumption that a patriarch’s eldest child, or the male next to him in age among his kin, is best suited to preside over a dynasty.

Ajaz Ashraf

· Nov 20, 2018 · 12:30 pm

Dynastic politics: In Haryana, the feuding Chautala family is rewriting the principle of succession

By expelling Ajay Chautala, Indian National Lok Dal patriarch OP Chautala has reversed the tradition of handing the crown to the firstborn son.

Ajaz Ashraf

· Nov 19, 2018 · 12:30 pm