Sunday Editorial 2014 dilemma: what kind of political leadership do we need? By Ratnakar Tripathy It has now become very common for us all, including the barely literate, to talk of political paralysis in the present government. The only difference between the educated and the rest may be, and I am far from sure of this, we are less likely to blame a government for a bad monsoon or a hailstorm than the illiterate peasant. Members of the government on the other hand would have us believe that the paralysis stems from the finely balanced coalition of several parties or even worse a morally... 

Kaushik Basu: ‘opposition opposes good policies of ruling party to prevent its popularity’!   New Delhi: Kaushik Basu’s recent speech at the Washington-based Carnegie Foundation created a big storm in political circles and among the economic experts in the country. He was interpreted to be saying that no economic reforms were possible before 2014, when parliamentary elections are due. India’s chief economic advisor has since clarified that he was quoted out of context. Since India is likely to live with coalition politics for some time, it is important to reflect on the negative... 

Sonia’s no to DMK: a fresh beginning in coalition politics Delhi: after three days of nation–wide uncertainty, Sonia Gandhi’s refusal to give in ground to the DMK won back for the Congress party some of its fast diminishing self-respect. These three days were confusing even for the media and a couple of newspapers ended up with what now seem unnecessarily alarmist headlines. The sensex too began to roll hither thither in a senseless reaction. At the end of the process, it is not clear what gains the DMK made through its brinkmanship, except having to swallow its pride in an eyeball...