How Trinamool Was Nailed

Trivedi's defiance exposes the crumbling legitimacy of Mamata's brand of politics

How Trinamool Was Nailed

"'Poriborton' was to be about healing and getting Bengal back on track. Either Mamata was joking when she made those promises, or her control over the party is weaker than assumed. The latter is more likely"

-The Times of India, March 20, 2012

Save The Budgets

Congress and Mamata must work out a deal

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Save-the-budgets/articleshow/12279973.cms

With West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee triggering "a political storm by requesting the axing of her own party minister, Dinesh Trivedi, after he presented the railway budget," the congress may have to be prepared for further opposition "to anything other than populist sops" from "the same quarters" in today's budget.

-The Times of India, March 16, 2012

Leadership Lessons

Lack of credible regional leaders is affecting Congress's prospects

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Leadership-lessons/articleshow/12189357.cms

The Congress is losing ground at an alarming pace, says the editorial. It can be attributed to the over-centralization of the Congress leadership, and a lack of credible regional leaders, as is the trend in most states, especially Southern states, in India.

-The Times of India, March 9, 2012

Rape Gaffe

Mamata scents conspiracy again

Rape Gaffe

-The Times of India, February 21, 2012

Poll Vault

High voter turnouts may signal high popular aspiration

Poll Vault

-The Times of India, February 21, 2012

Work Together

Centre and states must coordinate effectively to fight terrorism

Work Together

"There is an urgent need to make counterterrorism capabilities perennial rather than reactive."

-The Times of India, February 20, 2012 

Kolkata's Shame

Despite 'poribarton', little change from the Left

Kolkata's Shame

-The Times of India, February 3, 2012

The recent cancelling of the launch of Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen's latest book, Nirbashan (Exile), at the Kolkata Book Fair is "yet another example of tacit political endorsement of fundamentalists militating against freedom of expression."

The West Bengal government adopted the same spineless posture that was characteristic of the Rajasthan government.

Can our "cherished democratic values" be repeatedly held hostage by some fundamentalists?  

Mamata's memoirs

Mamata Banerjee released three of her books at the recently concluded Kolkota literary festival, (simultaneous to the Jaipur books festival) one of them being her autobiographies, "My Unforgettable Memories".

Sunethra Chawdary explains how the congress can read it to analyse the lady who is throwing so many tantrums at her...

Mamata's memoirs and how to throw the book at her

Close Shave

India must make ties with Bangladesh irreversible 


Close Shave

-The Times of India, January 23, 2012

The Sheikh Hasina-led Government, after being a firm stand for the ideals of democracy in her country, was suddenly aware of a probable-coup if it were not foiled by the Bangladeshi army. The instilling, and strengthening of, a powerful democracy - which saw the banning of many Islamist Anti-India groups - was most warmly welcome. However, if it were to happen that the Awami League government is not in power after the election, suggested by the history of alternate election since 1990, the opposition in Bangladesh Nationalist Party could reverse the gains of the last three years. 

Mamata Versus The Rest

Trinamool grapples with imagined adversaries instead of focussing on governing Bengal


Mamata Versus The Rest

-The Times of India, January 17, 2012

Getting Derailed

Railways' poor safety record and fiscal health


Getting Derailed

-The Times of India, January 12, 2012

Close to 1, 220 people have lost their lives in railway mishaps over the last five years. The article raises the question and considers the possibility, with facts and figures, of the effect of "the national transporter's poor management and financial shape."

'Mamata's compulsion is to be seen as fighting for the people'

Q&A


with  A B Bardhan, four-time general secretary of the Communist Party of India.

Interview - Q&A

-The Times of India, January 6, 2012

Life On Islands And In-Between

Article - Life On Islands And In-Between

-The Times of India, December 31, 2011

No new year partying, holidays or gifts for West Bengal ministers

Times View - Everyone deserves a break
Article - Times View

Counterview - Ministers must lead by example
Article - Counterview

-The Times of India, December 29, 2011

Focus Bengal

Will Mamata the administrator please stand up?


Article - Focus Bengal

-The Times of India, December 26, 2011