Contrary to what Modi said in a recent TV interview, the electoral bonds scheme when unmasked has inbuilt features for extortion and quid pro quo services and may be part of the government's larger scheme involving investigating agencies.

Critics of Trump fear that in his second term he will wreck the structures of US democracy. But his ‘great guy in India’ has already won the trophy in this game.

The RSS never allowed the emergence of authoritarian super bosses under their aegis. Instead, they insisted on consensus decisions and collective leadership. Consider the travails of BJP Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee whenever he tried to cross the RSS’s Lakshman Rekha. Today, there is no line or limit Modi can’t cross.

As the agencies seemingly resort to operations akin to those conducted by dictators, the opposition that Amit Shah has specially directed the investigating agencies to be ready with Chhattisgarh-type bombshells for the Lok Sabha polls.

The poll panel is already enslaved, simultaneous polls, changes in statutes for a one-leader system, and the establishment of a Hindu Rashtra: everything is moving as per the script.

As per the present schedule, about 140 Modi rallies have been lined up across the country during the next three months.

At least 142 schemes in the last 10 years have been launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With new schemes being announced every other day aimed at boosting Modi's cult, there has been no evaluation or scrutiny of these programmes.

What is especially disturbing is the rapid spread of the Modi cult and of saffron symbols into the hitherto apolitical military establishments.

From felling trees for security, to locking up elephants, to paralysing the city, to missing the mark with his address, Modi's visit was an interesting one.

The parliament’s fall as an institution of functioning democracy was accompanied by axe on the Election Commission and CAG.  

The parliament’s fall as an institution of functioning democracy was accompanied by axe on the Election Commission and CAG.  

The BJP's victory in the Hindu heartland states has once again demonstrated the devious means the party uses to skew the political environment for the opposition by misusing probe agencies and gaining undue benefit from electoral bonds scheme.

There is institutionalised coordination among the agencies and the ruling party officials at the central and local levels to enable these operations.

Free debates at CWC meetings, consensus selection of candidates and a greater role for state leaders are all in sharp contrast to the ruling party’s authoritarian style of functioning.

Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, India will see its biggest cult buildup yet with the help of drone-aided raths, YouTube-Instagram warriors, project inaugurations and hi-tech rallies by the prime minister.

Of late, the prime minister gives too many ‘guarantees’ to all and sundry.

Of late, the prime minister gives too many ‘guarantees’ to all and sundry.

The push for simultaneous elections, saffronisation of criminal laws, talk of quashing the basic structure and a new Constitution, secrecy about parliament agenda...what is really happening in India?

What is happening now is a multi-level operation designed to harass and tire out the opposition governments and thus make them unpopular.

Within the BJP rank and file, there is already a concern over the diminishing returns from Narendra Modi's charisma. But the opposition must emerge successfully from multiple challenges to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.