Narendra Modi and Limits of Self-Marketing
In the age of 24 x 7 news, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the master of political theatre, his every move designed to maximize eyeballs. Which is why a...
Manohar Parikkar: the original ‘Aam aadmi’ neta
In December 2013, the entire national media was in a tizzy over Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi image. Every move of the man who would be Delhi chief...
When Pak-bashing becomes an Indian Election Issue
When Narendra Modi is on the campaign trail in his ‘janmabhoomi’ of Gujarat, his rabble-rousing rhetoric usually gets even more theatrical. Not surprisingly then, he chose a public rally...
Ten Reasons why Mr Modi is in Pole Position to win 2019
The battle has well and truly begun, the election commission has sounded the bugle for elections 2019. Elections are both a marathon cum steeplechase with many crazy jumps and...
War games in election season
War is not a cricket match and an air strike should not be reduced to a political spectacle. But we are in election season which might explain the well-choreographed...
Open Letter to Imran Khan
I write this with sadness as much as anger. Yes, like every Indian citizen, I am bloody angry at what happened in Pulwama, the killing of 40 CRPF jawans...
The importance of being Nitin Gadkari in a big election year
In February 1994, as I was preparing to leave Mumbai for Delhi, a senior professional colleague had a word of caution: “Remember, Delhi is very different to our city....
Behenji Needed More than Behen
This is the season for opinion polls with hyper-ventilating TV anchors throwing a volley of numbers at dazed viewers with an authority that at times belies the spotty track...
Remembering George Fernandes, the original political rebel
We were on a flight to Patna in early 2005 and I was sitting next to George Fernandes. He was off to campaign in the Bihar elections: as Samata...