Rajinikanth's visible electoral strength is his constant mouthing of the term, 'aanmiga arasiyal', or 'spiritual politics', without he having to explain what it is. By implication, it is all that what Dravidian politics is not about. It may imply anti-corruption, being against Periyar's forgotten anti-god, anti-Brahmin dictum, but also ends up covering 'Tamil pride', which begins with Tamil language where, as a Maratha from Karnataka, he has more to defend himself. However, in the contemporary national context, aanmiga arasiyal is seen as a front for Rajini to market his brand of 'soft Hindutva' but identified even more with the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in political terms, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
In the wake of Fathima Lateef's tragic suicide at IIT-Madras, A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com speaks to students and professors to find out if one of India's leading educational institutions has a dark side to it.
A full majority might be difficult, but Mayawati is in a commanding position this time.
'Both the BJP and SP have workers and cadres across the state, and now it will boil down to which party manages booths smartly and gets its voters to come out.'
Surveys suggest that the AAP would win 40 seats in the 182-member assembly if elections are held tomorrow.
The BJP announced names of 107 candidates for the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.
'Segregation suits the BJP at the moment. It will not suit them forever.'
The Congress is on a search spree these days. To choose the next President. And, a new spokesperson for the party. All this, and more, in this week's Dilli Gupshup.
His ability to think like a visionary helps him expand his business, make new friends and improve his network.
The imprudent, not to mention immature, attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Congress leaders, especially on the election trail, can only be read as a sign of nerves on the eve of an important poll battle.
'(Upper caste) leaders talk against the Constitution, reservations and the nation and still get away.'
The byelections are scheduled to be held on March 11.
'About 90 per cent of our netas have no loyalty and will go with the winner.'
Milan Talkies cannot decide what kind of a movie it wants to be, feels Sukanya Verma.
'After Ambedkar, Dr Gail was the only writer who wrote critically on caste issues.'
The induction of Shiv Pratap Shukla, a Brahmin face in the BJP, is being seen as a well-calculated move to keep the upper caste in good humour.
'Just keep telling people that we have fixed the Muslims, and they will not be bothered about their empty stomachs or empty wallets.'
Mayawati thinks she has a winner if a candidate can bring in votes from his own caste to go with her Schedule Caste vote bank.
The Mumbai Police on Monday registered a case of criminal intimidation against unidentified persons who allegedly questioned a 24-year-old man in a menacing way on suspicion that his bag was made from cow skin.
'UP has shown India and the world how caste and religion can be manipulated to the maximum cynical extent.'
Joining hands with smaller parties with a political base in different castes was a part of the BJP strategy as it won big in Uttar Pradesh in the 2017 assembly polls and 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
BJP leader Ram Madhav's rant about Vice President Hamid Ansari's absence at the International Yoga Day celebrations goes deeper, says Syed Firdaus Ashraf, deep into their brain.
'One has to move with the times to stay relevant.'
If the stories weren't bound by their themes or expectations or if they weren't limited to the time and the medium, Mani Ratnam's Navarasa could have been something better, feels Divya Nair.
'People are questioning these highways and expressways in UP because ultimately, they want to get bread and butter first.'
This is one fashionable couple you should take style inspiration from for your big day!
The BJP ignored the principle of the Cabinet's joint responsibility and the adage of the buck stopping at the top, observes Amulya Ganguli.
Chandrakant Sompura has either planned, designed, built or renovated over a hundred temples in India and abroad.
Amidst indications that Samajwadi Party leader and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is warming up to the idea of an alliance with Congress, UP PCC President Raj Babbar on Monday said his party will contest alone in the state and described such talks as "hypothetical".
The couple had prayed that police or Mishra should not disturb them in their peaceful living as they were adult and had got marriage in free will.
The family of Viswanatha Gurukkal, who was attacked by a group of youngsters, blames some political parties for taking up anti-Brahminism as their poll plank. Shobha Warrier/Rediff.com reports.
"You take any section of society be it Dalits, weavers or Brahmins, everybody has been exploited. The administration of Yogi Adityanath ji is working completely against the 'vichaar' (thoughts) of Guru Gorakhnath," she said at a rally, taking a swipe at the BJP leader who is also the head of the prominent Mutt in Gorakhpur named after Saint Gorakhnath.
'I was so nervous and embarrassed that I hid behind a pillar, just watching my son quietly.' 'I could see him very quiet, not communicating with anybody.'' 'I thought he was not interested. But when he gave his first shot, he was perfect!'
Petitioner Atul Ramjibhai Makwana had approached the high court against the Junagadh district judge who, according to him, was favouring only Brahmins for posts of class III and class IV staff in his office. Justice R R Tripathi dismissed the petition by Makwana's lawyer A M Chauhan and observed, "This court has come across such argument for the first time from a learned advocate after it assumed office as judge of this court."
'There is dissatisfaction and disaffection for the BJP, but there is no anti-incumbency against the government in UP.'
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had last week announced the scheme, and said many priests were reeling under financial crisis and her government was doling out sops to support them. "The Cabinet has given its nod to the 'Rajya Purohit Kalyan Prokolpo' which the chief minister had announced a few days ago," state home secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay said at the secretariat.
Pandey, a daring IPS officer known for his rustic mannerisms, had sought voluntary retirement in 2009 amid speculation that he wanted to contest the Lok Sabha election from Buxar.
'I remember bitter people in the chawl. I can imagine some NRI writers observing the chawl boys laughing or playing cricket and saying, 'the spirit of Bombay' or some shit like that. That is all rubbish,' says novelist Manu Joseph.
Director Raj Nair's debut Malayalam feature film with Prithviraj and Samvrutha has the right concept but poor execution.
