Opinion

DK Shivakumar Comes With Mastery Of Delhi Networks And Karnataka Grassroots

It will be a true test for DK Shivakumar, the eight-time MLA and strongman from Kanakapura, as he navigates an out-of-power Siddaramaiah and manages Karnataka's delicate socio-political equations

Opinion | Siddaramaiah: The Man Who Has Never Believed In Bowing Out Quietly

Old habits die hard. Siddaramaiah is a grassroots socialist, an anarchist who has always thrived in chaos. Don't expect him to retire to a life of an elderly statesman - not yet, at least.

Opinion: TVK Dismantles Dravidian Stereotypes Without Disturbing Tamil Political Positions

A young Brahmin man, with or without any political background, winning a seat in Tamil Nadu and subsequently becoming a minister, does not fit the established template of Dravidian politics.

Opinion | As Chief Minister, VD Satheesan Will Now Have To Learn To Dance To Many Congress Tunes

Satheesan's independent "rebel" streak is precisely what worries the High Command; they are loath to lose control over Thiruvananthapuram the way they have over Bengaluru.

Opinion | Time To Pick A Chief Minister, Congress Should Not Do A Karnataka In Kerala

Karnataka has been a mess in terms of governance because of the confusion. It is now too late to bite the Karnataka bullet and enough damage has been done. But it is important not to let a similar situation develop in Kerala.

Opinion | Stalin, Mamata And The Limits Of 'Regional Identity' Politics

The claim that the DMK was the sole custodian of Tamil pride, capable of protecting it from Hindutva, had been the party's primary electoral plank. The same was true for the TMC in Bengal. Yet, they collapsed.

Opinion | No Permanent Rivals In Politics As Vijay Turns Tamil Nadu Into 3-Way Battle

Back in 2006, when former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa formed an alliance with MDMK chief Vaiko, she told waiting reporters that "there are no permanent friends or allies in politics."

Opinion | Wrong To Delay Vijay 'Sarkar', Two Leaves Must Blow The Whistle

This is a clear case - Vijay's TVK is the number one party by a mile in a hung verdict and needs to have the chance to prove its numbers on the floor of the house

Opinion | The Rise Of Vijay, The Fall Of Stalin - And A Puzzle For Palaniswami

For the defeated Stalin, this verdict is almost a reminder of the misfortune that beset his father, who was brought down by Jayalalithaa in 1991, 2001 and 2011. Except that his father never lost an assembly seat.

Tamil Nadu 2026: Explaining The 85.15% Turnout, And A North-West Battle

The first point that needs to be made from the "historic" 85.15 per cent voter turnout that the state has recorded is that, in comparison with the past, this is not a historic jump in terms of real numbers.

Opinion | The Seats That May Hold the Key to Tamil Nadu In 2026 - Central, North, and Chennai

This piece lists out defining contests in Central and North TN, including those in Chennai city.

Opinion: Seats In South And West That Hold Key To Tamil Nadu

The DMK had a full sweep in Chennai and peaked in the north and central districts and the south in 2021

Opinion | Delimitation Dynamite: Will This Push A Close Election Into DMK's Arms?

This shift firmly turns the battle into a DMK vs. BJP face-off, leaving the AIADMK deeply disconcerted.

Opinion | The Big Takeaways: Deciphering Tamil Nadu's High-Stakes Battle

This is one of the hardest elections to call because of one simple fact - the "Vijay factor" is impossible to estimate, till it can be estimated - which is after the polls.

Opinion | Nainar Or Annamalai? How 2026 Will Shape BJP's Tamil Nadu Game Plan

At the moment, the BJP-AIADMK alliance needs a "Nainar" to make the partnership work. However, the outcome in 2026 will determine how long this calibration remains relevant.

Opinion | Why A TVK-NDA Alliance Is Just A BJP Fantasy

Politics is no stranger to unlikely alliances. But such "strange bedfellows" typically emerge after elections, when numbers dictate necessity.

Opinion | From Stand-In Chief Minister To Cadre: The 'OPS' Act In DMK's Politics

For MK Stalin, bringing OPS into the fold is a low-risk, high-reward bargain

Opinion | Why TVK Must Be Protesting For Jananayagan - But Isn't

If the TVK cannot - or will not - protest the systemic targeting of its own leader's work, a vital question arises: how will it champion the complex issues of the common man?

Opinion | Machismo vs Survival: Can Rahul-Stalin Really Afford to Break Away?

Congress breaking away will weaken the DMK alliance, but it would not necessarily strengthen the Congress, either.

Opinion | Is Vijay's TVK Reacting Like A Fan Club Or A Political Party?

The conspicuous silence of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) over the Jana Nayagan controversy has triggered uneasy questions in Tamil Nadu's political circles. Is Vijay's party behaving like an extension of his fan club.