Page 14 - Indian Politics

Shielding the govt: The use and abuse of intellectual storm troopers

The Modi govt doesn't address critics directly and lets an outsourced army take them on. This keeps the govt at an arm's length from any debate about its policies

Defection: A Ricardian view

Views have tended to differ on this, which is why we get two broad types of parties: Left and Right

Elitism, populism, meritocracy…

Decoding the angst-ridden discourse of the day

Shekhar Gupta: Ideology vs psephology

The only way to defeat Modi-BJP in 2019 could be through local battles with strong leaders as it makes psephological sense despite ideological contradictions

In the quest for victory in 2019, the country is being set aflame

It is difficult to be optimistic about Indian politics in the run-up to 2019

Mind the gap between superior lifestyle & public service in Indian politics

The profession of politics in India is regarded as a means to accessing a superior lifestyle rather than a mode of public service

Obsession with status: Indians more meticulous than others about protocol

The deft footwork behind Wednesday's meeting between Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav confirmed that protocol is as powerful in India's democratic politics as it was in the film Anna and the King of Siam

Is the political mood in the country changing?

When enough people believe that is so, Modi should become wary

In praise of coalitions

Everyone agrees that British colonial rule left India with several sets of mindsets. An important one amongst these being the idea that the two-party system was the best way to arrange politics

Raisina on the Thames

Indian political lords have large and small clans to bequeath their powers and lucre to

The Godfather syndrome

'Goondas' flourish where Indian democracy fails, says Vir Sanghvi

India ranks 148th in number of women MPs; UN calls for quotas in Lok Sabha

However, women hold important positions like Sushma Swaraj is the External Affairs Minister