Suhas Palshikar
The writer taught political science at Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, and is chief editor of ‘Studies in Indian Politics’.
Articles By Suhas Palshikar
The PM’s ideas remain short on promise, high on word play
On Independence Day, we heard the aspiring statesman, the man of ideas, the debater, the polemicist, the ruthless executive.
Sonia Gandhi as interim Congress chief represents desperation at best and abdication of politics at worst
Sonia Gandhi’s return as party president is likely to impede the real task of party-building that the Congress has been postponing since the 1980s. Rajiv Gandhi reminded the party of this when it was celebrating its centenary. Sonia could not do it when she took over in the late Nineties.
We have lamented political events in Karnataka. We must also note their significance
The current processes of in-flow and out-flow underline the weakness of the way parties are organised. Parties do talk about membership drives, but they often obfuscate intra-party democracy and intra-party competition.
One more quota
We are moving away from the constitutional logic behind enabling clauses such as Articles 15 and 16.
People’s demand for a strong leader feeds into the BJP’s majoritarian politics perfectly
Over the past decade-and-a-half, the idea that claims made by the majority are a natural corollary of democracy has settled itself quite comfortably in India’s collective imagination of democracy
Dear Yogendra, I disagree
Why the Congress is necessary.
Modi has brought into practice a style of one-way communication: Giving out messages
Modi probably believes that he doesn’t need the media because his power derives from the people. He forgets that without the prolonged love affair that the media had with him, his image could not have been built in the way it was between 2013 and 2018.
A debate has two sides
BJP shows it will weave nationalism, security with religious identity. So far, Opposition has no response.
Book review: History, process and pious hope
A former chief election commissioner does not apportion blame, but focuses on pivotal poll issues
Defeat of saffron party in 2019 may not ensure failure of BJP project
The last elections brought about the discourse of “New India”. It brought to the forefront a wound caused (to some political groups) by the imagery of India that originated in India’s national movement.
Good, Bad, Ugly
Moments like Pulwama hold up a mirror to the government, media and nation.
Pseudo-social justice
Policy is not based on assessments of deprivation — it merely addresses specific groups
Republic of unfreedom
Our political class has failed to uphold civil liberties. It counts on the people’s apathy on the question.
Here’s looking at you, BJP
Assembly outcomes won’t bring transformations. But they may just bring BJP narrative down to earth.
Temple entry, and exit
Rahul Gandhi’s temple visits point to electoral rise of new Congress, and final departure of idea of Congress
Reshimbagh reality check
There is no glasnost. The same consistently confusing politics manifests itself as the core project of RSS.
The urban Naxal subterfuge
Such naming is meant to suppress dissent. It erases the distinction between disagreement and violence.
The new reservation
It is not a demand for social justice but proportional power-sharing that underlies the new quota agitations
Don’t hold your nose
Congress needs to frame a cogent stand on coalitions rather than looking at them merely as tactical necessity
Two speeches, a spectacle
At Nagpur, Pranab Mukherjee lost an opportunity. Mohan Bhagwat seized it
