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January 25, 2024
Rajdeep Sardesai
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The Mandir moment as the Modi moment

In 2014, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) patriarch LK Advani, amid a power struggle with his protégé Narendra Modi, almost dismissively referred to the latter as a “brilliant events manager”....

January 11, 2024
Rajdeep Sardesai
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Navigating the fault line of Ram Mandir politics

“It was we Shiv Sainiks who brought down the Babri Masjid in just 17 minutes, the BJP just ran away. Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is our creation,” member of...

December 28, 2023
Rajdeep Sardesai
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Chronicles foretold of our exciting times

As a turbulent year draws to a close, and a potentially more chaotic period lies ahead, it’s time for an annual year-end prayer for a better India and the...

December 18, 2023
Rajdeep Sardesai
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Mamta ko gussa kyon aata hai

December 14, 2023
Rajdeep Sardesai
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With no level-playing field, elections are a mismatch

In electoral politics, “jo jeeta woh sikandar” (whoever wins is king). Six months ago, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) “double engine” pitch was called into question after the party...

November 30, 2023
Rajdeep Sardesai
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Cricket to politics, a nation in awe of idols

Nearly two decades ago, a prominent Hindi news channel showcased a flagship cricket show provocatively titled, “Match Ka Mujrim” (Criminal of the Match). The aim in a rather perverse...

November 16, 2023
Rajdeep Sardesai
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Reversal of roles for BJP, Congress in MP

Is the “new” Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a bit like the “old” Congress? And is the “new” Congress taking a slice from the original BJP playbook? These might seem...

November 2, 2023
Rajdeep Sardesai
Columns

Maratha quota stir is a sign of a state in decline

While joining journalism 35 years ago in Mumbai, a senior colleague offered this advice: “If you really want to witness political drama, you should move to Delhi, in Mumbai...

October 19, 2023
Rajdeep Sardesai
Columns

Avoid grandstanding on the war in Gaza

A week is a long time in war and politics. The horrific October 7 terror attack on Israeli civilians by the Palestinian militant outfit, Hamas has sparked off global...

October 5, 2023
Rajdeep Sardesai
Columns

How they took away the spirit of my game

“War Minus the Shooting” is the rather prescient title of a fine book on the 1996 cricket World Cup by an American journalist, Mike Marqusee. Twenty-seven years later, India-Pakistan...