Amidst the acrimonious debate over migrants in Mumbai, the city's civic body in a report says that they contribute to the economic growth of the metropolis, writes Mahesh Vijapurkar.
Mumbai, without doubt, though belonging to Maharashtra, is a migrants' city. A fact we have to learn to live with, writes Mahesh Vijapurkar
Electoral merit -- in other words, the ability to win by hook or crook -- has to cease to be a yardstick for handpicking men and women to stand for elections, writes Mahesh Vijapurkar.
Mahesh Vijapurkar on a unqiue business venture in Thane that hopes to popularise cycling.
The city is past the inflection point to dish out lessons in aesthetics. Guys get realistic and realise that the city can only run fast on the treadmill to remain where it is. And yes, true to form, this is a classic case of government ignoring core issues of affordable housing, making builders friendlier towards the buyers etc. and instead literally going for cosmetics.
The not-so-uncommon feeling amongst the people, especially the disadvantaged, is that the poor people's lives have no value and that they are less of human beings. That they count for nothing except as a number in a set of statistics.
A law making it compulsory to vote, a none-of-the-above feature, as well as the right to recall and neutral democracy at the grassroots can go a long way in stimulating the democratic processes, writes Mahesh Vijapurkar.
The arguments against making voting compulsory do not hold water, says Mahesh Vijapurkar.
The promises of yore about bringing Telangana on par with the rest of Andhra Pradesh has been on paper and the intent not honourably translated into reality on ground. And those who prevented that from happening comprise the very section which is seeking to prevent, with unprecedented defiance, the creation of a new state. All political parties, except the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi have gone back on their poll assurances of Telangana's statehood
Mahesh Vijapurkar says the indiscriminate use of force during police lathi-charges must stop.
It is time to think and do something drastically differently to boost tourism into India, writes Mahesh Vijapurkar.
It is surprising that the slum dwellers have so far not revolted and asked the government to pack up and go because, from their point of view, the slums are not a problem but a spontaneous solution to the housing problem in Mumbai which has always been behind the demand curve, the supply kept short deliberately so that progressively higher prices can rule.
'Your militia can rampage outside the legislature, but it can, and will, be thwarted entry into the legislature. You cannot carry your grudges on any aspect of life in Maharashtra there in the fashion your men have done.'
When business interests begin deciding who will rule, democracy is in trouble, writes Mahesh Vijaypurkar
The trend of political heavyweights promoting their kin is a dangerous sign for Maharashtra politics, writes Mahesh Vijapurkar
But one thing is clear -- the moment the outcomes are announced on October 22, all these speculations and wild guesses passed off as educated surmises and conclusions would be forgotten till the next round.
Mahesh Vijapurkar says the people who do not vote are often the people who complain the most about governance.
A police officer tells Mahesh Vijaypurkar why he has to be corrrpt and how the system works.
The short course of the campaign, it would be assumed, would mean less spending because the number of days to spend on is fewer. However, that is not going to be the case because given the moneybags characteristics of most candidates, and the high stakes involved and reputations to prove and keep.
The Congress and NCP are partners for a decade but both share the same political and ideological space but compete for growth. That implies one trying to grow at the expense of the other partner. Which, in turn, means identifying seats which can be assuredly won, improving the hit-rate so that when the final tally comes in, claims can be made about the which of the two is leading the other.
© 2025 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances