Page 3 - Aditi Phadnis

Kamal Haasan's dual role: DMK views one RS seat as small price to pay

Haasan is a self-proclaimed atheist but on most other political issues, he has been flexible

Liquor ban in Bihar turns election flashpoint amid rising criticism

Ban on alcohol consumption in Bihar becomes a key election issue as JD(U) defends it, other parties demand a review, and deaths due to spurious liquor as well as revenue loss fuel criticism

Code, not clout: Congress brings QR-based ticket process to Bihar

Congress has introduced QR-based candidate applications in Bihar for transparency in ticket distribution. Aditi Phadnis looks at the rationale and challenges

With a strong LS showing, Chirag Paswan readies a bold play in Bihar

While BJP backs Nitish Kumar as chief minister, Chirag Paswan-son of Dalit icon Ramvilas Paswan-isn't hiding his readiness for the role

Sanjeev Chopra's book details Shastri's many contributions to nation, party

The 1965 war, Pakistan's second attempt to seize Kashmir, ended in Tashkent with Lal Bahadur Shastri returning the Haji Pir Pass - a gesture that disappointed even his family

Peace at time of conflict: Op Sindoor sees Oppn shed discord for solidarity

Instead, the Opposition is rallying behind the government to a man and pledging full support to Operation Sindoor

The SITA factor: Yechury's essays defend socialism as real choice

This posthumous volume distils Sitaram Yechury's lifelong case for socialism as a path to dignity and justice

Alliance or not: The Tamil Nadu factor in Puducherry Assembly polls

Political leaders feel alliances in Tamil Nadu are binding in Puducherry as well, and that is both a blessing and a bane

Shifting political equations: The new normal in Maharashtra's power play

Recent bonhomie among the Thackeray cousins, Pawar clan engagements, amid purported friction between Fadnavis and Shinde, could shape the contours of local body polls, writes ADITI PHADNIS

Unquiet flows the Indus: Will treaty pressure shift Pakistan's stance?

The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty will certainly put pressure on the Pakistani government - but whether it will be enough to change its behaviour remains to be seen

What A S Dulat said about Kashmir, threats a day before Pahalgam attack

Dulat feels that Bangladesh needs to be watched, and recalls a Kashmiri leader telling him that in creating Bangladesh, India helped create another Muslim nation, and that one day, they would unite

Centre set to amend the Atomic Energy and Nuclear Liability laws

On changes in the CLNDA too, many felt that the current law, which exposes suppliers to unlimited liability in case of accidents, is a deterrent for investors

Poonam Agarwal's book 'India Inked' decodes India's electoral practices

Poonam Agarwal offers an excellent account of the supposedly politics-agnostic electoral bonds for anyone wanting to understand how a part of India's election system works - and how it is undermined

The past and the present of new CPI(M) General Secretary M A Baby

Ensuring that the CPI(M) remains the largest Hindu party in Kerala - leaving little space for the BJP - is Mr Baby's central priority

As Bihar polls near, Patna Metro lifts hopes amid costly metro trend

As Bihar polls near, upcoming Patna Metro fuels excitement - but across India, expensive metro dream projects often outweigh ridership and financial reality, writes Aditi Phadnis

'Nehru's First Recruits' traces how India's early diplomats shaped policy

Kallol Bhattacherjee attempts to do that by exploring how Indian diplomats were recruited in the 10 or so years after Independence in 1947

Miss World heads to Hyderabad as Telangana seeks global spotlight

To promote Telangana, the city will hold the Miss World contest in May. Some states organise like-for-like events to get global focus

BJP's boatman in Kerala: Can Chandrasekhar steer the party to success?

Mr Chandrasekhar calls himself a fauji brat who was born in Ahmedabad and grew up in cantonments all over India: Ladakh, Jorhat, and Delhi

Sikkim's Rs 50 tourism toll sparks debate over cost, sustainability

State argues the "entry fee" for travellers will boost infrastructure and instil ownership of sustainable tourism, but critics call it unjust and a burden on the sector. ADITI PHADNIS weighs in

How Dravidian politics has evolved beyond the LTTE over 35 years

Since the IPKF's withdrawal from Sri Lanka in 1990, the once-powerful ideology and influence of LTTE in Tamil Nadu has faded, with minimal electoral impact