Nitin Nabin's selection is a bold political decision by the Two Gujaratis. When Rahul Gandhi has resurrected the issue of social justice, the BJP and the Two Gujaratis are sticking to their plan and agenda, explains Sheela Bhatt.
This election is a thank you note to Nitish Babu from a grateful Bihari people, notes Sheela Bhatt.
If women voters are mobilised in big numbers to the voting booths on November 6 and 11 by the Nitish Kumar-led NDA, then it will be quite difficult for the Tejashwi Yadav-led Mahagathbandhan to defeat the incumbent government, points out Sheela Bhatt.
'Without our support Nitish Kumar wouldn't have become chief minister.' 'After the government was formed we became ministers, but our agenda remained the same: Amit Shah had promised reservation for Nishads.' 'He wouldn't listen, so we went to UP and contested 52 seats in the 2022 elections. He didn't like the idea of rebellion.' 'He saw that this man, coming from Bombay, is very sharp. He's made four MLAs now, tomorrow he'll make 40. A time will come when they will make it 125.' 'They bought our MLAs and ousted us from the government.'
Eighty per cent of Indians earn less than Rs 10,000, and the more you talk to this segment, the more you realise what a spectacular failure the Indian media has been in understanding, reflecting and empathising with this 'other India,' says award-winning journalist, Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt.
'Because the CBI was unable to investigate and find the murderer, they prosecuted Dr Talwar,' writer Patrick French tells Sheela Bhatt.
The BJP had no option but to get Jagdeep Dhankhar out of its way for the sake of the Modi government's stability, reveals Sheela Bhatt, the legendary political journalist.
It is, now, more or less certain that in the ongoing election the SP is emerging as the main challenger to Mayawati's power in Lucknow. The combination of an experienced Mulayam Singh Yadav and his young, untested son Akhilesh Yadav is working, reports Sheela Bhatt from Lucknow
The 2012 assembly election in Uttar Pradesh will go down as one of the most regressive elections fought on caste identity, reports Sheela Bhatt.
Sheela Bhatt finds out how the India-US relationship's initial zing has been replaced by a calmer, matured relationship.
'When one air force (India's) hits the other's airbases with impunity and that air force (Pakistan's) is not able to respond, then the air force, which has put the other's airbases out of commission, has won.'
A new kind of history has been created in Maharashtra. Accept it. We need to give credit where it's due. Modi led this change... from the setback of June 4 to November 23, notes Sheela Bhatt.
'India is so big, of course, you can always find horror stories. The reason why you have to be optimistic is because you take the country as a whole. It seems that the trajectory is positive,' writer-historian Patrick French tells Sheela Bhatt.
This would give BJP the chance to explore Constitutional options for government formation if there is no clear-cut mandate, explains Sheela Bhatt.
'In India wherever there are equals, we can't function. We are like a joint family where when the father dies the brothers quarrel and kill each other. What is going on in the BJP is similar,' says Professor Dipankar Gupta.
It's obvious to all that the Congress is overestimating its success and the BJP is underestimating the people's message delivered through the ballot box, notes Sheela Bhatt.
In India elections are never fought in a straight line. It's fought on many issues, at many levels, with multiple emotions and with a bit of good luck, too. Sheela Bhatt reports from Rajasthan.
We asked colleagues, present and past, to reflect on a man who has made such a difference to their lives and careers. Here it is then, a rich collection of memories that offer enchanting glimpses of the enigmatic Ajit Balakrishnan.
'The 2024 election results will lead to much intense targeting of Modi, more intense debates, many more breakdowns in Parliament and many more movements on the streets.' 'The results have hit Modi's standing, and the politics of the Opposition parties will be sharply focused to ensure that Modi doesn't get back his charisma of being 'invincible' with help of State power.' Sheela Bhatt looks at the political situation through the prism of 2024 Lok Sabha election results.
It's just not a date. It's just not about selecting a candidate. It's not about helping some candidate win. It's about expressing emotion, after ten years, that could reach out in India and beyond it, notes Sheela Bhatt.
The BJP enters challenging times where it has been given a task to hold onto the values of Ram in running the country as defined by Narendra Modi in Ayodhya, notes Sheela Bhatt.
Narendra Modi has proved through execution of this event in Ayodhya that amongst all his contemporaries in politics he knows ordinary Indians like none other, notes Sheela Bhatt.
'Can any nation claim, guarantee that there will be no terror strike?'
'This is the first time in the world that the prime minister of a country is openly talking of buying MLAs'
So who really is Narendra Modi? Do we really know him? Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com's ready reckoner on the mystery man who is India's new prime minister.
Sheela Bhatt finds hope for the ordinary Indian in an unlikely place -- a Delhi slum.
Zafar Sareshwala tells Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt why Muslims are better off under Narendra Modi's rule than they were under the Congress.
Author and historian Ramachandra Guha tells Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt that Narendra Modi's victory in Gujarat won't be a turning point in Indian politics because he is far too polarising.
'I am surprised to discover that Priyanka gives unimpressive speeches. It is as if she is fulfilling a 'duty.' Political passion is clearly absent.' Sheela Bhatt on the campaign trail.
Transcripts of the chat with rediff.com reporter Sheela Bhatt.
'Many estimates by international agencies suggest that the 21st century will be ruled by three industries -- agriculture, food processing and textiles. And in these three critical industries, UP, surely, has more advantages than any other location in the world -- this is the Gangetic belt,' says Professor Arvind Mohan, who is bullish about the Uttar Pradesh economy.
'UP's fiscal story is extraordinary,' economist Arvind Mohan tells Sheela Bhatt. If one has money, he advises, one should invest in Uttar Pradesh. 'Your money is likely to grow as UP is set to improve its power sector.'
Arvind Kerjriwal, the leader Team Anna, explains his motivations and his methods in a fascinating interview with Sheela Bhatt.
Arvind Kerjriwal, the leader Team Anna, explains his motivations and his methods in a fascinating interview with Sheela Bhatt.
So what is Prime Minister Narendra Modi serving Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Sabarmati riverside dinner on Wednesday? Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com procured the menu.
'India should act harshly by discontinuing the peace process. The Lashkar-e-Tayiba could not have the kind of capacity to train commandos. The Pakistani establishment's help has to be there to prepare people for such attacks,' says former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal.
The spiritual guru responds to Sheela Bhatt/Redifff.com's quick-fire questions with prompt answers.
In a written submission before the Supreme Court on February 27, Mulayam Singh responded to the allegations against him. And his reply is an eye-opener
The President asked many questions on the treasure found in the temple, however, he wasn't shown the actual treasure since it's sealed under a Supreme Court order. Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com, who accompanied the President, reports from Thiruvananthapuram.
'I see in the BJP an attempt to get growth and redistribution of resources.' 'For growth you need growth of the economy.'
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances