Sharat Pradhan And Saisuresh Sivaswamy

Stories by Sharat Pradhan And Saisuresh Sivaswamy

The men enforcing election raids and cash seizures

The men enforcing election raids and cash seizures

Rediff.com   14 May 2016

'Initially, we had 48 teams, now it has been enhanced to 133 teams: that is for every 10 to 12 villages, there is a team that is working round the clock.' '133 x 3, that is, given the 8-hour shifts.' 'They are monitored every hour, they are equipped with GPS -- everything is tracked live, real time, from the control room.'

How money and manpower fuel TN's election rallies

How money and manpower fuel TN's election rallies

Rediff.com   13 May 2016

The costs involved in putting together a successful rally are bizarre.

Will re-enact law to prevent NEET: Amma's promise in Tirunelveli

Will re-enact law to prevent NEET: Amma's promise in Tirunelveli

Rediff.com   12 May 2016

Amidst the blazing heat, women line up the streets offering 'mor' (buttermilk), water, local snacks while supporters wait for a glimpse of their 'mother' AIADMK chief at an election rally in Tirunelveli.

Sreesanth: 'I will be the best politician in Kerala'

Sreesanth: 'I will be the best politician in Kerala'

Rediff.com   12 May 2016

'I am a human being, I was surely nervous, I am competing against a lot of people, but even when I played cricket there is not a single match where I was not nervous.' 'Lots of mothers, lots of sisters are so sure that no matter what happens, Sree will stand by them.' 'I will go to any length to help people.' 'If it is important to save somebody I will save him even if I have to die.'

MGR comes alive in Thiruvananthapuram!

MGR comes alive in Thiruvananthapuram!

Rediff.com   11 May 2016

What is 'MGR' doing in Thiruvananthpuram, seeking votes?

BJP's great gamble: Party opts for OBC Maurya in UP, Yeddyruppa in Karnataka

BJP's great gamble: Party opts for OBC Maurya in UP, Yeddyruppa in Karnataka

Rediff.com   9 Apr 2016

The Bharatiya Janata Party announced a major organisational reshuffle in the party, appointing Hindu hardliner Keshav Maurya and former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa as state party presidents in Uttar Pradesh and Karntaka respectively.

SP supremo's 'chhoti bahu' to contest 2017 UP assembly polls

SP supremo's 'chhoti bahu' to contest 2017 UP assembly polls

Rediff.com   27 Mar 2016

The Samajwadi Party on Sunday declared that party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's youngest daughter-in-law, Aparna Yadav, will contest the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls. S

Kanhaiya, the Leela begins now

Kanhaiya, the Leela begins now

Rediff.com   4 Mar 2016

'His prosecutors have no doubt turned a student union leader into a national figure - howsoever briefly - with their miscalculations and misdeeds, and have done Kanhaiya a huge favour.' 'But he will soon realise that it is a double-edged sword that he has been handed,' says Saisuresh Sivaswamy.

The mukhota has finally slipped

The mukhota has finally slipped

Rediff.com   18 Feb 2016

'What is holding this government to ransom is the Parivar. It is this group's thought process, ideals and philosophies that course through the veins of India's elected government. And it is this that is holding the government, and through it the country, to ransom.'

UP bypoll: Mixed bag for BJP, SP, Cong

UP bypoll: Mixed bag for BJP, SP, Cong

Rediff.com   16 Feb 2016

Notwithstanding the claims and counterclaims of different political parties about riding the crest of a populatiry wave in Uttar Pradesh, Tuesday's results of the three bypolls out of the 403 state assembly seats have sprung surprises for all key political players.

Azam Khan is at it again; claims PM Modi met Dawood in Sharif's house

Azam Khan is at it again; claims PM Modi met Dawood in Sharif's house

Rediff.com   6 Feb 2016

Known for making controversial remarks, senior Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan outdid himself when he alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met wanted underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in Lahore at the residence of his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif last December. Sharat Pradhan/ Rediff.com reports from Lucknow.

PHOTOS: When PM Modi was heckled

PHOTOS: When PM Modi was heckled

Rediff.com   22 Jan 2016

Protesters raised slogans whilst attempting to disrupt the prime minister's address at the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University in Lucknow.

Maya lights up subdued 60th birthday with Mulayam fireworks

Maya lights up subdued 60th birthday with Mulayam fireworks

Rediff.com   15 Jan 2016

Her tone and tenor was clear and unflinching as she vowed to storm back to power in 2017,

Khan't you just see the growing intolerance?

Khan't you just see the growing intolerance?

Rediff.com   24 Nov 2015

'In a competitive industry where no one has a formula for success other than the actor's personal appeal, the need to dominate the news cycle in the interim between films is so overpowering that even the otherwise sober stars can suffer a Ghajini moment,' says Saisuresh Sivaswamy.

Rahman's concert, 76-kg cake: Mulayam's mega birthday bash

Rahman's concert, 76-kg cake: Mulayam's mega birthday bash

Rediff.com   20 Nov 2015

The idea is to reinforce Mulayam's 'dhartiputra' or son-of-the-soil image, say party sources.

Azam Khan rejects rumours of his resignation from SP

Azam Khan rejects rumours of his resignation from SP

Rediff.com   11 Nov 2015

Rumours about senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan's resignation from the Akhilesh Yadav cabinet kept doing rounds here Tuesday afternoon, soon after his abrupt departure from SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's residence.

5 things Modi needs to do ASAP

5 things Modi needs to do ASAP

Rediff.com   8 Nov 2015

'The prime ministership needs a statesman, not a politician, and 18 months into the job Modi is yet to learn the difference between the two,' says Saisuresh Sivaswamy.

UP government cancels VHP condolence meet in Ayodhya

UP government cancels VHP condolence meet in Ayodhya

Rediff.com   2 Nov 2015

Sensing the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's attempts to rekindle Ayodhya sentiments, the Akhilesh Yadav-led government in Uttar Pradesh has banned a meeting to mark the 25th death anniversary of brothers, Ram and Sharad Kothari, who fell to police bullets while performing the symbolic kar sewa on November 2, 1990 -- two years before the Babri Masjid was brought down.

Akhilesh inducts 12 new faces in ministry; ex-Akali leader's entry baffles all

Akhilesh inducts 12 new faces in ministry; ex-Akali leader's entry baffles all

Rediff.com   31 Oct 2015

Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, whom Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav earlier gave a berth in the Rajya Sabha, was the surprise entry even for senior ministers who were seen asking each other about the background of the man from Punjab.

The Big UP Reshuffle: Mulayam boosts son's profile

The Big UP Reshuffle: Mulayam boosts son's profile

Rediff.com   29 Oct 2015

Even though Mulayam Singh decided which ministers to drop and which ministers to lose their portfolios, the reshuffle is being projected as a reflection of Akhilesh Yadav's assertive self.