While travelling in a taxi in Mumbai, I broached the hot topic of discussion these days, ‘Modi as BJP’s prime ministerial face’. The taxi driver seemed a bit unsure about its overall outcome on BJP’s fortunes but was sure about his own vote going to Modi. Read more

At the very onset, I agree with the majority opinion that there is no reason to demonise or iconize politicians of today. But it goes on, sometimes in the name of state pride, sometimes in the name of caste or community. Read more

When Rahul Gandhi presented Sam Pitroda as a vishkarma (a backward caste) at a public rally in UP’s backward district Akbarpur during the recent assembly election, the country was amused if not shocked. Read more

It was about two years back in Rae Bareli when I had met a group of enthusiastic women. Barring one, all were ‘angoota chaap’. They had formed a self-help group (SHG) and their dream was to take a road building contract. Read more

Dramatics, antics come naturally to former Bihar chief minister Lalu Yadav. Discuss roads and his comment on ‘building Bihar roads as chikni (smooth) as Hema Malini’s cheeks’ becomes the metaphor. Read more

A few months back, a senior BJP leader had confided how a political party had approached former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to field a weak candidate on the adjoining Mohanlalganj Lok Sabha seat. In lieu, they had offered to nominate a dummy candidate against him in Lucknow. Read more

Why no one is bothered about migrants’ votes?
Though the candidates would want all communication and travel lines from Mumbai to Uttar Pradesh to remain open for the next few months to bring migrants home to cast their vote during the assembly elections, no effort is actually made by political parties or the Election Commission to engage them in the biggest democratic process in the country. Read more

Ms Renu Narula , senior economics teacher at Loreto Convent School had following observations about the political system at a discussion held on the forthcoming elections in our office. Read more

I was enraged by Rahul Gandhi’s comment that had described the hardworking people of Hindi heartland as ‘beggar’. But after a while I thought what was wrong in the statement? Not the intent at least. Read more

After listening to the two Yadavs of Hindi heartland in the Lok Sabha, the demand for a constitutional right to recall elected members is bound to get louder. Read more