Swati Chaturvedi – Author, NDTV.com

Opinion: As Part Of BJP Turns On Him, BSY Responds, "Tell Amit Shah"

Swati Chaturvedi | Friday January 15, 2021

Hours after he added seven ministers to his cabinet, BS Yediyurappa, the 77-year-old Chief Minister of Karnataka, came face-to-face with allegations of "son stroke" and "blackmail via CD". The charges are thrown at him by a group of senior leaders of his own party, the BJP, venting after they were not promoted to ministers.

Opinion: Pawar's Advice To Mamata On How To Take On Amit Shah

Swati Chaturvedi | Wednesday December 23, 2020

Mamata Banerjee, 65, has the toughest of opponents - Union Home Minister Amit Shah - in her endeavour to get a third term as Chief Minister of Bengal. The last few weeks have seen some key members of her party transplanted firmly to Shah's side in the BJP.

Opinion: Kamal Nath’s Big Role In Sonia Gandhi Meeting With Rebels

Swati Chaturvedi | Friday December 18, 2020

Kamal Nath has presented himself to both sides as an "honest broker" who wants to help the dissenters achieve their goal of party elections, present a rejuvenated leadership of the Congress, and help the Gandhi family adjust to the new situation which is a huge departure from the unchallenged supremacy they have enjoyed for their political careers.

Opinion: In This Round, Amit Shah Seems To Have Scored Over Mamata

Swati Chaturvedi | Thursday December 03, 2020

The departure of leaders like Adhikari portrays Mamata Banerjee as a leader struggling to keep her flock together, unable to ward off the allure for her party members of the BJP. But if there is one thing she is known for, it is as a fighter. It would be foolhardy, at this juncture, to assume she is operating from a position of weakness.

Opinion: BJP's Giant Hyderabad Move - Why Now, Why So Big

Swati Chaturvedi | Saturday November 28, 2020

No election is too small to ignore. Not for the Modi-Shah version of the BJP. Each election is a chance to test, create or edge out allies. And to expand, expand, expand.

Opinion: Ahmed <I>Bhai</I>, A Politician's Politician

Opinion: Ahmed Bhai, A Politician's Politician

Swati Chaturvedi | Wednesday November 25, 2020

Patel was the last of the old-school leaders of the Congress - a big heart and broad shoulders which shrugged off minor issues but could tangle - or un-knot, as needed - complicated political threads. Patel was a "politician's politician" with a huge network of relationships across party lines, corporates and the media. A consummate back-room strategist, he knew both ...

Opinion: Sonia's Holding Operation For Rahul Now In Shambles

Swati Chaturvedi | Tuesday November 24, 2020

The Congress dissenters have not asked the Gandhis to relinquish organisational/party roles - yet. But, after the loss in two general elections and serial defeats in state elections (most recently, the disastrous run in Bihar), it has come down to this - when, not if.

Opinion: <I>"Hum Log Aa Gaye Hain,"</I> Said Nitish In 4 am Call

Opinion: "Hum Log Aa Gaye Hain," Said Nitish In 4 am Call

Swati Chaturvedi | Wednesday November 11, 2020

The "double engine" claim of NarendraModi and NitishKumar is exaggerated. The centre under NarendraModi is the engine and NitishKumar is now just a bogey being tugged along by NarendraModi. Nitish Kumar has been claiming that he will get a better financial deal for Bihar from the centre. The jury is still out on that. Nitish Kumar, who has a huge sense of entitlement ...

Opinion: Mayawati Taking Sides, Big Rajya Sabha Catch - BJP's Sweet Spot

Swati Chaturvedi | Tuesday November 03, 2020

Having mistreated or annoyed some of its big allies into exiting its team, the BJP has more reason than ever to keep Mayawati happy. Her huge Dalit support base will help in the BJP's re-election plan for Uttar Pradesh, which is, along with Bengal, the big focus now for India's ruling party. And it will all move at a deliberate, carefully-timed pace.

Opinion: Scindia Sets Out To Prove His Real Worth To Congress And BJP

Swati Chaturvedi | Wednesday October 28, 2020

Within his new party, and to his old, Scindia has a lot to prove. Above all, the need to be taken seriously as a commanding leader who merits a bigger role than allowed so far.

Opinion: Tejashwi Yadav Is Stealing Some Very Big Scenes In Bihar

Swati Chaturvedi | Saturday October 24, 2020

Till a few weeks ago, Tejashwi Yadav, who is leading the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Bihar's main opposition party, while his father, Lalu Yadav, is under arrest, was dismissed as an heirloom politician, not entirely indefensibly.

Opinion: Yogi Adityanath's Big Draw - Even Nitish's Candidates Seek Him Out

Swati Chaturvedi | Wednesday October 21, 2020

The Sangh knows that Yogi's star power and appeal has to be nurtured and projected as ever-growing so that by the time UP gets ready to vote, there's really only one choice. As he reaches out to voters in Bihar, thecampaign there helps to build up Yogi more. That's not just a happy coincidence. For either him or the RSS.

Opinion: With 3 Big Statements, Amit Shah Signals He's Changing The Game

Swati Chaturvedi | Monday October 19, 2020

The new Shah is meant to disarm. But just wait till the momentum kicks in for thr Bengal elections. Expect a return to old-school Shah then.

Opinion: Amit Shah's Big Move To Checkmate Ally Nitish Kumar

Swati Chaturvedi | Monday October 05, 2020

Chirag Paswan, 37, and his party, the LJP, have come good on their threat of stepping out of a Bihar alliance that includes Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The LJP will run candidates against those of Nitish Kumar's party, the JDU, but will not contest the seats that are assigned to the BJP.

Opinion: The Big Political Failure Of Mayawati, Akhilesh And Congress

Swati Chaturvedi | Wednesday September 30, 2020

What the opposition is failing to highlight is that under Yogi, there has been a wholesale increase in caste violence as the Thakurs seem to call all the shots.

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