Derek O Brien
Derek O'Brien, MP, leads the Trinamool Congress in the Rajya Sabha
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Opinion | 'Undeclared Emergency' in Bengal: Four Pieces Of Proof
At the time of writing, there is still no clarity on who is eligible to vote, and who is not. 60 lakh names in Bengal are up in the air. Even some candidates are in this list of 'to be adjudicated'.
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Opinion | This Parliament Session, Watch What Is 'Expunged'
Is mentioning Donald Trump or Epstein unparliamentary? Are the surnames of India's two richest families unparliamentary proper nouns?
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Opinion | 12 More Questions Opposition Asked In Parliament To Hold Centre Accountable
Last week, your columnist chose 12 questions from among the 4500 questions asked in the first half of the Budget Session. 2750 questions in Lok Sabha, 1760 questions in Rajya Sabha, were balloted to be asked during Question Hour.
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Opinion | 12 Questions Opposition Asked In Parliament - And Why You Should Care
When Parliament is in session, the Opposition is trying all it can to hold the government accountable. What is the government doing?
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Opinion | West Bengal Budget: Substance Over Hype
Here are some stories worth telling about the West Bengal budget.
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Opinion | 26 Reasons Gen Z Will Back Mamata In 2026
The number of universities in Bengal has increased from 12 in 2011 to 47 now. Fourteen new medical colleges, 51 new government colleges, and 500 new ITIs have been established.
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Opinion | Ten Reasons Why Modi Government Should Not Have Killed MGNREGA
The original objective of MGNREGA was guarantee, livelihood and security. This Bill kills all three of these.
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Opinion | SIR Is Not The Problem. The Way It's Being Implemented Is - By Derek O'Brien
No one is against SIR as a concept. No one is against having clean electoral rolls. It is the methodology and the haphazard implementation that is being questioned.
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Take The Bihar Quiz Challenge - By Derek O'Brien
A quiz on Bihar, by Derek O'Brien
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Opinion | How To Lose Your Seat In 30 Days?
Since 2014, at least 12 sitting opposition ministers have been arrested; nine of them from non-BJP-ruled states. Eight crossed the 30-day custody mark. Under the bill, they'd have been automatically stripped of office despite never being convicted.
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Opinion | Why States, Not Centre, Should Get All The Credit For GST 'Savings'
Amidst all the hoopla, it is the State governments that truly deserve recognition for coming together for the GST revision. Because the States are the ones bearing the brunt of massive revenue losses.
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Opinion | Indians Are Loving Their Music Concerts ... But Not Their Venues
Facilities the world over are renovating themselves to host sporting and live entertainment events. The country that built cricket stadiums to dazzle the world, needs world-class music venues.
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Opinion | Waqf Act: When BJP Indulged In A Mockery Of Procedure
The passing of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 in Parliament was marked by chicanery and evasive tactics. Even a casual observer of Parliament can outline how the BJP-led coalition is making a mockery of parliamentary procedure.
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Opinion | Observations From A Student of Political Communication - By Derek O'Brien
For a student of political communication, this week has been fodder. The language used to describe GST reforms has been nothing short of grand. "Landmark". "Biggest ever since the 1990s". The Opposition has been advocating for such 'reforms' for eigh
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Opinion | Plato In Indian Parliament: Which Are The Empty Vessels Making The Most Noise?
If Parliamentary questions are to be studied, hundreds of centuries later, the old Greek philosopher would have proven himself right again.
