Winds of change in Punjab?
The incumbent Congress government is facing a tough battle in Punjab, as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) strikes a chord with its promise of change.
Supporters campaign for Jai Inder Kaur, daughter of Punjab Lok Congress president and former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh at Qila Chowk in Patiala on February 18, 2022. | Photo Credit: PTI
Maya pricks social justice balloon?
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is holding on to its social base, and is challenging the social justice politics being advanced by the coalition led by the Samajwadi Party in U.P. Will this help the Bharatiya Janata Party? This report from the ground offers some insights.
What Yogi does not want U.P. to be
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addresses address a public meeting for the state assembly elections, in Hathras. | Photo Credit: PTI
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was heard saying the State might become Kashmir, West Bengal, or Kerala if “the voters committed any mistake in voting”. How does U.P. compare with the three States that he mentioned, in terms of development? The Hindu data team offers some answers.
Federalism Tract
Two questions central to the hijab noise
Students with Hijab who refused to attend classes, in Udupi. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The noise around Muslim women’s right to wear the hijab is violent. In all the din, if you are interested in making sense of this controversy, and to make an opinion of your own, I would suggest the following. There are two fundamental questions. First, if you support a Muslim woman’s decision to wear a hijab, does it amount to support for patriarchy and gender disparity? This article explains the distinction. The second point is whether the state can ban the use of hijab, and that in turn depends on whether it is an essential practise of Islam. The Karnataka government is arguing that hijab is not an essential practise of Islam. What is the ‘essential practice’ test? Read this explainer.
Devolution and centralisation
Regional political elites are demanding more power from the Centre, but are generally hesitant to devolve it further down to the social and geographical constituents within the region. The new proposal to reserve Assembly seats for tribes people in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time has brought this question in focus. How and why did the elites of J&K stall ST reservations in the Assembly? This article explains.
The Congress is opposed to the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act now, but people at the receiving end of the controversial Act can’t find much difference between the party and the BJP on the issue. In the Naga hills of poll-bound Manipur, Narendra Modi and Nehru are on the same page.
Regional parties are pushing ahead with their plans for a joint platform, and a convention of Chief Ministers in being planned. What does it entail? Read our editorial.
DMK MLA and youth wing secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin campaigning for urban local bodies election in Salem in Tamil Nadu. | Photo Credit: Lakshmi Narayanan E.
In the local body election in Tamil Nadu, the campaign is on national questions, particularly the BJP’s plans for the State.
The centralisation of power in Delhi is being aided and accompanied by a centralisation of judicial powers with the Supreme Court, which is against the spirit of the Constitution. This piece captures the process and its implications.
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