Columnists

Rahul Verma

The BSP in a changed battlefield

Thu, Jul 20, 2017

The trouble for the BSP is that a much younger and energetic Dalit leadership has started shaping the discourse within Dalit politics. The BSP’s future in Indian politics depends heavily on what Mayawati chooses to do in the coming months.

A chief minister like Yogi

Tue, Apr 04, 2017

Building a Hindu social coalition helped the BJP win UP. Adityanath represents that mandate

Close, but no Bihar

Tue, Mar 07, 2017

There are similarities between UP polls and the lead-up to the Mahagathbandhan’s victory last year. But the BJP seems to have made critical adjustments this time.

Late to the party

Fri, Feb 10, 2017

BSP needs to look beyond social engineering, at the changing grammar of politics. It could focus on Mayawati’s image as an efficient administrator.

In the ruins of Babri

Wed, Dec 07, 2016

The mandir-masjid dispute continues to frame the political debate in UP 24 years after the destruction of the mosque. Communal faultlines in the state have deepened, in recent times

Lokniti-CSDS Post-poll Analysis: Women bought Jaya her return ticket

Tue, May 24, 2016

Survey data suggest women, traditional backers of the Chief Minister, rallied behind her as never before, overwhelming all negatives.

Lokniti-CSDS post-poll analysis: BJP enters Kerala cutting into votes of Left, Congress fronts

Mon, May 23, 2016

The NDA received 14.6 per cent of votes and apart from winning one seat, the BJP candidates were runners-up in six seats.

Two Dravidian poles, intact

Thu, May 19, 2016

Today’s assembly results are unlikely to mark a critical change in Tamil Nadu’s bipolar contest

Desperately seeking Ambedkar

Sat, Apr 30, 2016

The more interesting question to ask is: Why is the BJP pushing itself so aggressively to appropriate Ambedkar now, and not five or 10 years ago?

Bihar post-poll survey: Both caste and development, viewed through identity lens

Tue, Nov 10, 2015

While the upper castes overwhelmingly voted for the NDA, Yadavs, Muslims and Kurmis stood behind the maha gathbandhan.

Decision 2015

Bihar post poll survey: Dalits dump NDA, rural Bihar stays out of its reach

Tue, Nov 10, 2015

The Lokniti-CSDS post-poll survey examines what went wrong for the NDA in Bihar, especially after a pre-poll survey had found it ahead of the grand alliance.