As Narendra Modi continues his ascendancy with impressive victories in the by-elections, Congress insiders are disturbed that party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi failed to understand the ground reality, reports Anita Katyal.
The resignation of the IPL chairman and the strong criticism of laxity in dealing with Naxal violence indicate that the Congress vice-president is not content being a political bystander any more. Anita Katyal reports
Court summons for Congress President Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi have clearly made the party extremely jittery. But Subramanian Swamy, the man who dragged them to court, believes he has hit gold.
Congress cadres are lamenting that Sonia Gandhi abdicated her authority to vice president Rahul Gandhi, who, in turn, "in his wisdom, abdicated his authority to non-political players". Rediff.com contributor Anita Katyal reports
The Bihar chief minister is in talks with the Congress while simultaneously exploring the possibility of the formation of a Federal Front, reports Anita Katyal
Conflicting signals on leadership, inclusion of defeated chief ministers and exclusion of other leaders in the election campaign committee have led to much resentment, reports Anita Katyal.
Has the generational shift being witnessed in the Congress after Rahul assumed greater responsibilities disturbed the status quo in the party? If Janardan Dwivedi's recent interviews are any indication, these voices of dissent could get louder in the coming days. Rediff.com's Anita Katyal reports
Even before the situation in Western Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district spiraled out of control, Union Minorities Minister K Rahman Khan said he had written several letters to the Ministry of Home Affairs, drawing its attention to the communal build-up in the state.
Voices in the Congress pressing for simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections this year-end are getting louder, reports Anita Katyal.
Although Muslims in Varanasi are clearly disconcerted by Narendra Modi's Hindutva agenda and are fearful of the future, they believe his emergence on the national political stage will not disturb the famous 'Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb.'
The frenetic activity currently being witnessed in the Congress combined with the United Progressive Alliance government's move to postpone the monsoon session of Parliament till end-August has once again fuelled speculation about the possibility of an early election, says Anita Katyal.
While the Congress vice-president fighting an anti-incumbency wave is doing all he can to wrest power in the Gandhi stronghold, Amethi, political pundits believe that his estranged cousin, Varun, riding on a strong Modi wave will sail through in Sultanpur. Anita Katyal reports on their political battles.
While the Congress vice-president fighting an anti-incumbency wave is doing all he can to wrest power in the Gandhi stronghold, Amethi, political pundits believe that his estranged cousin, Varun, riding on a strong Modi wave will sail through in Sultanpur. Anita Katyal reports on their political battles.
While the Congress vice-president fighting an anti-incumbency wave is doing all he can to wrest power in the Gandhi stronghold, Amethi, political pundits believe that his estranged cousin, Varun, riding on a strong Modi wave will sail through in Sultanpur. Anita Katyal reports on their political battles.
Okay so Varun Gandhi has put an end to speculation about a "Gandhi vs Gandhi" electoral face-off in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. The bigger story of the day, however, here is the strange relationship that the Gandhi siblings -- Rahul and Varun -- and their families share. Rediff.com's Anita Katyal reports
Under pressure from the rank and file, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi may directly take on Gujarat chief minister and Bharatiya Janata Party's campaign chief Narendra Modi at a rare media interaction early next month, reports Anita Katyal.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress leaders may be rejoicing over the impressive victory the party scored in Karnataka, but the celebrations could well be short-lived as the UPA government's credibility stands at an all-time low. Anita Katyal reports
The Cabinet reshuffle undertaken by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday was dictated primarily by political considerations with an eye on the year-end assembly elections and the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, reports Anita Katyal.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's recent attempts to fashion himself as an anti-corruption crusader were blown apart on Wednesday.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's recent attempts to fashion himself as an anti-corruption crusader were blown apart on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's popularity has plummeted as he faces public ire for poor governance and a never-ending string of corruption cases involving the UPA government, says Anita Katyal
Hope of victory in Karnataka and the resolution of the India-China face-off have played a role in the strategy adopted by the Congress in tackling the opposition, says Anita Katyal
In an exclusive interview to Rediff.com, Khurshid refuted reports that the flag-level talks were not moving forward. He also dismissed suggestions that he should call off his visit to Beijing if there's no progress in the talks.
Dr Singh was extremely reluctant to address the press conference and he agreed only after considerable persuasion from senior Congress leaders, says Anita Katyal
The recent assembly results and the subsequent developments have proved the Congress wrong on every count, including its strategy to avoid a direct face-off between Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi. Anita Katyal reports
The recent assembly results and the subsequent developments have proved the Congress wrong on every count, including its strategy to avoid a direct face-off between Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi. Anita Katyal reports
Some Congress insiders feel mere introspection over the assembly elections drubbing is not enough for the party. Instead, its vice president should first do some soul-searching himself. Anita Katyal reports.
Although there is growing pressure from the party rank and file that Priyanka Gandhi should play a lead role in electoral politics, the leadership will be constrained from giving in to these demands as her emergence would automatically eclipse Rahul Gandhi, notes Anita Katyal.
'I don't think it is right to think that the US has unmanageable concerns about India's economy. India can't say we want and we will not give. India has to find a right balance between give and take. I think we have to negotiate like good, solid, businessmen.' External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on India, the US, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The growing clamour in the Congress to project Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia as the party's chief ministerial candidate in the year-end assembly election in Madhya Pradesh has upset high-profile All India Congress Committee general secretary Digvijaya Singh, reports Anita Katyal.
From avoiding speaking unnecessarily to the media, to avoid power brokers in the capital, to barring them from touching his feet -- headmaster Modi doled out advice to the Bharatiya Janata Party's class of 2014 - the first-time party members of Parliament who are yet to find their feet in the national capital, writes Rediff.com contributor Anita Katyal
Faced with one crisis after another, the beleaguered ruling alliance desperately needs a seasoned politician like Pranab Mukherjee to bail it out, says Anita Katyal
The Congress believes the Telangana Rashtra Samithi will decide in favour of a merger as the decision on statehood has deprived the regional party of its chief electoral plank and an issue that defined its identity. Anita Katyal reports
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's appointment as the Bharatiya Janata Party's Campaign Committee chief and the chain of events triggered by this announcement indicate that despite the recent patch-up efforts initiated by the party's ideological mentor, the Rahstriya Swayamsevak Sangh, all is not well in the saffron outfit.
Anita Katyal explains why the Congress party is virtually in a Catch-22 situation in politically significant Andhra Pradesh over the sensitive Telangana issue.
In spite of its not-so-cordial relationship, the Samajwadi Party and the Congress could join forces to counter Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi if he contests the next Lok Sabha election from Lucknow or Varanasi. Anita Katyal reports
Speculation about Priyanka Gandhi's possible plunge into active politics invariably surfaces before a Lok Sabha poll, but soon subsides. This time, however, there appears to be no end to the whisper campaign in the Congress about the possibility of Priyanka assuming a more pro-active role in politics. Anita Katyal rerports.
Although the ruling Congress realises that it cannot hope for a repeat of its 2009 performance, it hopes that differences within BJP and NDA over naming Narendra Modi as the PM candidate may work in its favour, notes Anita Katyal.
While the Union finance minister has opted out of the election race -- one of the many Congress bigwigs who are not very confident of their electoral prospects this time around, Ghulam Nabi Azad has volunteered to contest from the Udhampur seat even though he is a sitting Rajya Sabha member. Anita Katyal reports on the Congress' fourth list of Lok Sabha candidates that was released late on Thursday night.
'Manish Tiwari has been trying for the Chandigarh seat since 1991, but I have never considered him a rival. If all he said the other day was targeted against me, it is unacceptable and I take strong exception to it,' former Railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal tells Anita Katyal in an exclusive interview.
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