All stories by R RAJAGOPALAN
Modi to reshuffle team in Sep; Scindia, Fadnavis in?
Rediff.com5 Jun 2020The RSS wants three nominees inducted: Tejaswi Surya, the young BJP MP from Bengaluru South, Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, a Rajya Sabha member, and former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Modi kickstarts week one of Unlock 1 with 28 meetings
Rediff.com1 Jun 2020On Tuesday, Modi will share his views with India Inc on 'Getting growth back'.
How India will open up: Places of worship, malls, local flights
Rediff.com1 May 2020PM to take a call on reopening places of worship on Saturday; state governments empowered to take a call on malls and wedding halls; domestic flights expected to resume on May 18, with Air India being first off the blocks.
Cabinet Secy asks states to check pre-flight ban travellers
Rediff.com27 Mar 2020Rajiv Gauba says there is a gap in the number of passengers who should have been monitored and the actual number which may seriously jeopardise efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Rahul Gandhi underwent coronavirus test on return from Italy
Rediff.com6 Mar 2020The Congress leader followed the drill issued by the Director-General of Civil Aviation for all passengers coming from Italy, which mandates a thorough check-up for covid-19, reports R Rajagopalan.
Modi to induct youngsters, allies as ministers
Rediff.com14 Feb 2020Among the names being mentioned for inclusion as ministers are Tejasvi Surya, the 29-year-old MP from Bangalore South, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, the 35-year-old MP from Ladakh, Locket Chatterjee, the 45-year old MP from Hooghly, and Dilip Ghosh, MP from West Medinipur and president of the BJP's West Bengal unit.
Sonia, Rahul, Priyanka set to lose airport privilege
Rediff.com13 Feb 2020Three months after the Modi government withdrew SPG cover to Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, they are all set to lose another special status provided to them.
BJP trying hard, but it's Kejri again in Delhi
Rediff.com5 Feb 2020Arvind Kejriwal is poised to return to power with a simple majority. Even if the BJP wins 20 to 25 seats, it will be seen as a victory, says R Rajagopalan.
Delhi assembly polls may be held on February 13
Rediff.com30 Dec 2019The Aam Aadmi Party, Delhi's ruling party, is already in election mode.
How Yediyurappa won Karnataka by-polls
Rediff.com10 Dec 2019Karnataka, by reposing its faith in BSY, remains a Hindutva stronghold, reports R Rajagopalan.
Govt gets cracking on setting up Ayodhya temple trust
Rediff.com11 Nov 2019With Parliament's winter session is to begin on November 18, the Union home and law ministries want to complete the process of formation of the board of trustees in time, reports R Rajagopalan.
'Trump of Tropics' to be R-Day chief guest
Rediff.com4 Nov 2019With Donald Trump unable to make it, Modi settles for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
A crucial fortnight for Supreme Court. And for India
Rediff.com4 Nov 2019Security has been put on high alert across the nation as the Supreme Court of India is all set to deliver its verdict in the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, Sabarimala case and a host of other legal wrangles.
73 IAS officers empanelled for central govt duty
Rediff.com10 Oct 2019Of the 73 names, 41 have been approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet for secretary-level posts, while 32 names have been cleared for holding additional secretary or equivalent-level posts, reports R Rajagopalan.
Gandhis will have to take SPG along on foreign trips
Rediff.com7 Oct 2019SPG Act tweaked to ensure that commandoes accompany protectees overseas as well.
Why Modi chose Mahabalipuram as venue to meet Xi
Rediff.com7 Oct 2019Xi's presence in Mahabalipuram is more of a political message by Modi to the world -- as well as to regional parties in South India that they should be beware of the BJP's rise, says R Rajagopalan.
Tribute: Jaitley it was who brought Modi to Delhi
Rediff.com24 Aug 2019'Jaitley was one of the earliest politicians to sense the changing political scenario in Delhi. He had closely watched the rise of the BJP and declining fortunes of the Congress party during the L K Advani era. But it was between 2009 and 2014 as the Leader of the Opposition that he began to read the tea leaves. 'And thus it was that he introduced Modi-Amit Shah duo to Lutyens Delhi,' says senior journalist R Rajagopalan who had known Jaitley since 1975.
First-time DMK MPs feel left out, look to Stalin for help
Rediff.com5 Jul 2019The DMK parliamentary party appears to be a house divided, reports R Rajagopalan.
Speaker faces MPs' tug of war over housing
Rediff.com20 Jun 2019From deciding on the composition of various House committees to fixing the seating arrangement of MPs, Speaker Om Birla has a full plate.
Can Gehlot fill Jaitley's void in Rajya Sabha?
Rediff.com14 Jun 2019Even his critics say Thaawar Chand Gehlot is a man of delivery. 'If a task is assigned, he wins it over with political sagacity,' they say.