Anand Mishra

Anand Mishra is a journalist with over 20 years of experience in political reporting and leadership roles. He currently serves as the Political Editor of Frontline. A poetry buff who occasionally dabbles in philosophy—both oriental and occidental—Mishra has previously worked for organizations including Deccan Herald, DNA, The Indian Express, Press Trust of India, and Hindustan Times.

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Consider last week’s incident: three boxes of samosas and cakes, intended for Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, mysteriously vanished—only to be discovered in the possession of his own security staff. The response was a full-fledged CID probe.

Samosa Squad Alert!

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren addresses an election campaign in support of Ganesh Mahali, the party’s Saraikela seat candidate for the Jharkhand Assembly election, in Seraikela Kharsawan on November 6.

In Jharkhand, a contest between BJP’s anti-infiltration stance and JMM’s tribal identity politics

While BJP stirs fears of demographic change in Santhal Pargana, JMM banks on Sarna Code demand and welfare promises to protect tribal rights.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Babulal Marandi in Garhwa on November 4, 2024.

Census and Sensibility

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Varanasi on October 20, 2024.

Of Adityanath, Kedarnath, and Badrinath

Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda after losing Haryana, at a press conference in Rohtak on October 8.

Congress’ old guard: The party’s strength or its stumbling block?

After the defeats in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, Congress remains shackled by ageing satraps who struggle to adapt or make way for youth.

(from left) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav during the RJD’s Jan Vishwas Maha Rally, at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on March 3, 2024.

Keeping it all in the family

Jan Suraaj Party chief Prashant Kishor addresses a press conference ahead of the Assembly byelections in Bihar, in Patna on October 16.

Bihar and the new kid on the block

A banner at Albert Ekka Chowkin Ranchi urging the Central government to release the dues of Rs.1.36 lakh crore.

BJP mounts an aggressive campaign to recapture tribal votes in Jharkhand

Fielding high-profile defectors and forging new alliances, the saffron party is trying to improve its dismal performance in ST-reserved seats in 2019.

Polling officials check EVMs and other election material for the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election, in Kishtwar district on September 17, 2024.

Raising the EVM bogey

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with J.P. Nadda during the event to launch the BJP’s manifesto, “Sankalp Patra” at the party headquarters in New Delhi on April 14, 2024.

Party, power, and the president

Former President Ram Nath Kovind presents the High-Level Committee’s report on simultaneous elections to President Droupadi Murmu, on September 18. Home Minister Amit Shah is also seen.

One election, many issues

Despite stiff resistance, the saffron party is steamrolling its plan. But mustering the required numbers in Parliament will be an uphill task.

The Dalits in general have no history of violence with Muslims, barring a few Scheduled Castes that have moved towards the BJP in last 10 years. Also, much water has flown down the Ganges in the ensuing years and Azad can start something fresh even as the bigger “secular” parties tread on eggshells with Muslim voters because of the fear of Hindutva consolidation in BJP’s favour.

Azad’s Dalit-Muslim gamble

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