author

N Sathiya Moorthy

N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and political analyst, is Distinguished Fellow and Head-Chennai Initiative of Observer Research Foundation. You can e-mail the author at sathiyam54@gmail.com

Stories by N SATHIYA MOORTHY

Controversy's Child Kamal Haasan

Controversy's Child Kamal Haasan

Rediff.com   6 days ago

Kamal has a crisp pen when it comes to writing short and yet powerful film dialogues. But while speaking ex tempore -- and that has been his style -- he looks every bit a confused man, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

How EPS, Stalin Keep Allies In Check

How EPS, Stalin Keep Allies In Check

Rediff.com   6 Jun 2025

EPS' acceptance of Amit Shah's proposal for an electoral alliance with the BJP is being interpreted to mean how the AIADMK has signed up the NDA national leader as a junior partner. Not many have appreciated EPS for this strategic move that has now forced the BJP to play second fiddle to the AIADMK. This has meant that the BJP has buried its ambitions of capturing power in Tamil Nadu now, and is willing to wait until after the 2029 Lok Sabha polls, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

Why Stalin Is Pushing Keeladi Over Indus Valley

Why Stalin Is Pushing Keeladi Over Indus Valley

Rediff.com   2 Jun 2025

'It has the potential to sow seeds of furthering discord when the direction of the discourse is aimed at propagating the perceived supremacy of 'cultural nationalism' from a distant past over the prevailing dominance of 'Constitutional nationalism',' argues N Sathiya Moorthy.

Israel Took 6 Days, India Nailed In 2!

Israel Took 6 Days, India Nailed In 2!

Rediff.com   15 May 2025

'For weeks, months and years, it would continue to be debated if India should have pushed the early advantage and decapacitated Pakistan militarily.' 'India refused to bite the provocatively proverbial bullet and escalate it into a full-fledged war,' notes N Sathiya Moorthy.

What Courts Gave Stalin From One Hand Took Away With Another

What Courts Gave Stalin From One Hand Took Away With Another

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2025

In more than one way, it's a setback for the DMK and Chief Minister Stalin in political terms. The electoral fall-out, if any, will have to wait until the next summer, only when assembly elections are due in the state, explains N Sathiya Moorthy.

'Second Coming' For TN's Autonomy Panel, But...

'Second Coming' For TN's Autonomy Panel, But...

Rediff.com   18 Apr 2025

Given the possibilities that next year's assembly elections could throw up, Stalin told the state assembly that an interim report had to be submitted by January 2026. The outcomes may well find its way into the DMK's poll manifesto, thus seeking to keep the electoral focus still on the BJP-ruled Centre and Prime Minister Modi, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

BJP-AIADMK Tieup: Who Wins, Who Loses

BJP-AIADMK Tieup: Who Wins, Who Loses

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2025

Over the medium and long term, the BJP hopes to devour the AIADMK, they having identified the party as 'ideologically not as sound as the DMK', predicts N Sathiya Moorthy.

Will TN Governor Ravi Quit After Stinging SC Rebuke?

Will TN Governor Ravi Quit After Stinging SC Rebuke?

Rediff.com   8 Apr 2025

Unless Governor Ravi or the Union of India moves in appeal, seeking a hearing by a constitutional Bench, this is where it all will have to end, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

More To Delimitation Than Meets The Eye

More To Delimitation Than Meets The Eye

Rediff.com   1 Apr 2025

There is a proposal from the BJP camp that they would resort to a proportion-based increase in the number of Lok Sabha seats for individual states, based on what they now have. On the face of it, this sounds like a fine argument that those demanding a 'freeze' now cannot oppose without reasons and justification, avers N Sathiya Moorthy.

BJP Concedes AIADMK Demands In Eagerness For Alliance

BJP Concedes AIADMK Demands In Eagerness For Alliance

Rediff.com   26 Mar 2025

EPS has had its way on most things, alliance-wise. A week earlier, he reiterated that he would not re-admit OPS and Sasikala Natarajan back in the party. It was a message not just to detractors in the AIADMK. It was even more so for the BJP leadership in Delhi. Even more important for the AIADMK was their demand for accepting EPS as the chief ministerial candidate of any alliance that the party would form, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

BJP Hands 'Tamil Pride' On A Platter To DMK

BJP Hands 'Tamil Pride' On A Platter To DMK

Rediff.com   6 Mar 2025

If the DMK is able to sustain the momentum until the assembly polls, the AIADMK especially and the PMK and possibly the infant TVK too would find it hard to sign up with the BJP, explains N Sathiya Moorthy.

Kamal Haasan@70: What Makes Him Ulaga Nayagan

Kamal Haasan@70: What Makes Him Ulaga Nayagan

Rediff.com   6 Nov 2024

'With passage of time, Kamal did move away from the humdrum of commercial cinema, using it only as a peg to launch a new concept or new technology, as no other actor/film-maker has done in Indian cinema.' N Sathiya Moorthy assesses the career and politics of movie legend Kamal Haasan on his 70th brthday.

Time For India To Revisit Western Alliances

Time For India To Revisit Western Alliances

Rediff.com   4 Nov 2024

It's time India re-visited its Western alliances for the attitude and approach that the West reserves for the nation when it comes to security cooperation of the kind that they might not have visualised outside of China, India's bug-bear, asserts N Sathiya Moorthy.

Will Vijay Do Business With The BJP?

Will Vijay Do Business With The BJP?

Rediff.com   28 Oct 2024

If the BJP has to work as a junior partner of Vijay's TVK, then either the party will have to change the state leader, or the latter should change himself. Incidentally, ever since Vijay started talking politics and elections, the pro-BJP/Hindutva social media had stopped dragging his name into any non-existing issue.' In particular, they have stopped referring to him by his Christian name, 'Joseph Vijay', observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

The Perils Of Political Abuse

The Perils Of Political Abuse

Rediff.com   17 Oct 2024

'Leave aside the negative fallouts of phraseology like 'urban Naxals' and 'terrorists', both the BJP and the Congress have to re-discover themselves in the context of the 2024 election results, including those of the upcoming ones for Maharashtra and Jharkhand,' observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

Udhayanidhi Stalin And The Sound of Silence

Udhayanidhi Stalin And The Sound of Silence

Rediff.com   11 Oct 2024

Tamil Nadu's Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has reacted to Andhra Pradesh counterpart Pawan Kalyan's out-of-turn taunts with a one-liner, 'Let's wait', and thereby hangs a tale, notes N Sathiya Moorthy.

Will Udhayanidhi's Elevation Backfire On Stalin?

Will Udhayanidhi's Elevation Backfire On Stalin?

Rediff.com   1 Oct 2024

Udhayanidhi's 'untimely' elevation as deputy CM may be used against the party, for critics to argue that the DMK's 'first family's is not concerned about anything else but their clan's welfare. If packaged and delivered properly, some of the sting may stick at election time, predicts N Sathiya Moorthy.

Modi Knows How To Deal With Dissanayake

Modi Knows How To Deal With Dissanayake

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2024

For India to view the new Sri Lankan leadership only through the prism of the past or through their narrow view on China, is fraught with possibilities that should be avoided, asserts N Sathiya Moorthy.

Is Tamil Nadu Heading For A Jallikattu 2.0 Moment?

Is Tamil Nadu Heading For A Jallikattu 2.0 Moment?

Rediff.com   20 Sep 2024

The recent 'revelation' by TN fishers freed by Sri Lanka after they had paid up Lankan rupees 50,000 each in fines, that their hair was tonsured in prison and they were forced to remove their garments other than the underpants, and were also made to clean toilets, as if with vengeance, has touched a raw nerve this time, just as another issue or issues had done it ahead of the Jallikattu protests, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

How India Won Back Maldives's Trust

How India Won Back Maldives's Trust

Rediff.com   12 Sep 2024

The avoidable stresses and strains in ties helped in one way. It showed for the entire region how a matured India handled diplomatic relations, especially with a smaller and suspicious neighbour, with practised dignity and patience, unruffled by provocations in word, deed and action, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.