Saubhadra Chatterji is Deputy Political Editor at the Hindustan Times. He writes on both politics and policies.
Articles by Saubhadra Chatterji
Cautious Cong goes easy on Didi
Wary of Samajwadi chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's wavering moves, the Congress does not want to burn its bridges with the Trinamool Congress, and hopes that West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee will eventually agree to its choice of the presidential candidate.
Updated on Jun 17, 2012 12:00 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aurangzeb Naqshbandi and Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Pranab versus who?
The official announcement confirming finance minister Pranab Mukherjee as the UPA’s presidential candidate finally came on Friday, immediately drawing support from different political parties. Aurangzeb Naqshbandi and Saubhadra Chatterji report. I accept the offer with humility: Pranab | Minister, troubleshooter now Prez candidate
Updated on Jun 16, 2012 08:30 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aurangzeb Naqshbandi and Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
‘Revealed Prez list with Sonia nod’
Reacting to criticism over the disclosure of names of presidential candidates, which were discussed in an exclusive meeting with Sonia Gandhi, the Trinamool Congress said that its chief — Mamata Banerjee — had done it with the approval of the Congress president.
Updated on Jun 15, 2012 12:44 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Cong rejects TMC-SP choices, turns Left for support
Mamata Banerjee's already tenuous partnership with the Congress appeared more fragile than ever, when she insisted that former president APJ Abdul Kalam was her choice as the presidential candidate. Aurangzeb Naqshbandi and Saubhadra Chatterji report. Doing the math | Party positions | Kalam our choice: Mamata
Updated on Jun 15, 2012 11:27 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aurangzeb Naqshbandi and Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Want moratorium, not bailout package, Mamata tells UPA
Adding to the woes of the Congress in the crucial run-up to the Presidential poll, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee toughened her stand on the demand for a three-year moratorium on interest repayment on the state’s debt. Saubhadra Chatterji reports.
Updated on Jun 14, 2012 12:49 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Sonia, Mamata meet today as UPA closer to naming nominee
Presidential poll consultations within the UPA are set to move to the next level, with Mamata Banerjee's scheduled meeting with Sonia Gandhi today indicating that the alliance may finally come out with specific names. Saubhadra Chatterji reports. Didi in Delhi
Updated on Jun 13, 2012 08:27 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Before Prez polls, Centre offers sops to Bengal
With the Presidential poll round the corner, the Centre on Monday reportedly offered a slew of sops to the debt-ridden West Bengal government — led by UPA’s maverick ally Trinamool Congress.
Updated on Jun 11, 2012 11:16 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Last-min TMC letter holds up pension bill decision
A late Wednesday evening letter from Trinamool Congress leader and railway minister Mukul Roy to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and finance minister Pranab Mukherjee derailed the pension fund bill at the union cabinet meeting on Thursday. Saubhadra Chatterji reports.
Updated on Jun 08, 2012 09:43 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Now, certificates for visually-impaired
A few months ago, when Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar handed over a certificate of participation to a visually impaired student on a study visit to Parliament, she faced an innocent but important question: “But how will I read this certificate?”
Updated on Jun 07, 2012 12:28 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Govt hikes funds for key social schemes
To focus on quality, instead of quantity; housing, toilet schemes main beneficaries of hike
Updated on Jun 07, 2012 02:25 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji and Prasad Nichenametla Prasad Nichenametla, New Delhi
Hit by paralysis charge, govt for pension reforms
A day after partymen raised a stink over the United Progressive Alliance’s (UPA) alleged policy paralysis at the Congress working committee meeting, the government moved to put amendments to the pension bill — one of the reform measures that had been hit by coalition politics — at Thursday’s cabinet meeting.
Updated on Jun 06, 2012 01:44 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Govt to try pension reforms again
A day after partymen raised a stink over the UPA’s alleged policy paralysis at the CWC meeting, the govt moved to make amendments to the pension bill — one of the reforms measures that had been hit by coalition politics — at Thursday’s cabinet meeting. Saubhadra Chatterji reports. Stop, watch, go
Updated on Jun 06, 2012 09:16 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Economy revival roadmap key agenda at CWC meet
After the GDP growth rate plunged to 5.3% in the January-March quarter and the Opposition crying foul over alleged policy paralysis of the UPA, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) is set to devote a considerable time to discuss the future economic roadmap for the country, when it meets on Monday.
Updated on Jun 03, 2012 12:58 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
BJD chief suspends mentor Mohapatra
Cracking the whip on party leaders, who allegedly tried to overthrow his government, Odisha chief minister and Biju Janata dal (BJD) chief Naveen Patnaik suspended five leaders, including his one-time mentor Pyari Mohan Mohapatra and two ministers. Priya Ranjan Sahu and Saubhadra Chatterji reports.
Updated on Jun 02, 2012 01:12 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Priya Ranjan Sahu and Saubhadra Chatterji, Bhubaneswar/new Delhi
Pranab pins hopes on tax norms, FII inflows
Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee told HT just after the sharply lower GDP figures for the latest quarter were announced on Thursday that two important measures had been taken during the last two days to help bring the momentum back.
Updated on Jun 01, 2012 12:32 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
A stronger Menon back to develop naxal-hit Bastar
Weeks after his release from Maoist clutches, the undeterred collector returns to finish the projects he had launched.
Updated on May 30, 2012 01:07 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, Sukma
Take over road projects in Naxal-hit areas: Ramesh
In a new formula to build key infrastructure projects in areas worst affected by Naxal activities, rural development minister Jairam Ramesh has asked gram panchayats to take over rural road construction projects under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
Updated on May 28, 2012 11:58 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, Malkangiri (odisha)
Petrol price hike fuels cabinet boycott, allies absent
A day after the steepest hike in petrol price, the Union cabinet meeting on Thursday was marked by the absence of most of the alliance party ministers. Saubhadra Chatterji and Chetan Chauhan report. Bollywood tweets
Updated on May 25, 2012 01:51 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji and Chetan Chauhan, New Delhi
Get ready for LPG, diesel price hike
Diesel to cost Rs 4/litre more, LPG minus subsidy will be Rs 800; no change in kerosene price
Updated on May 24, 2012 01:26 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji and Zia Haq, New Delhi
Maya message to UPA: We are with you
Support for a UPA candidate in the Presidential polls is shoring up even as NCP leader PA Sangma — the ADMK and BJD’s nominee — has been canvassing for himself.
Updated on May 23, 2012 11:45 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Ramesh to upgrade roads in remote areas
In a development that has huge implications on India's security, the central government is planning more roads in border and tribal areas. Saubhadra Chatterji reports.
Updated on May 20, 2012 11:12 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Prez poll: Sangma chances fizzle out
AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa and BJD boss Naveen Patnaik's renewed bid to push former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma for President failed to enthuse key non-UPA parties, non-NDA parties on Sunday. Saubhadra Chatterji and Jayanth Jacob report.
Updated on May 20, 2012 11:14 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji and Jayanth Jacob, New Delhi
Montek singh, Jairam oppose Azad move on health survey
Union health ministry’s proposal to discontinue the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) — pitched as one of the most reliable reality-check of the health and nutrition indicators — has been opposed from within the UPA.
Updated on May 17, 2012 12:33 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
MPs spar over Aircel-Maxis, cartoon, reform bills stuck
Amid the bickering over Aircel-Maxis deal and cartoon row, key reform bills face an uncertain future in this budget session, which has another seven working days left.
Updated on May 15, 2012 01:01 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
An MP who's been in the house since its birth
For Rishang Keishing (92), the world of Indian Parliament had opened up through the window of a train. After getting elected from Manipur in the first Lok Sabha in 1952, it took four days for him to reach Delhi.
Updated on May 12, 2012 12:44 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji
List of living MPs of 1952 gets longer
The preparations to mark 60 years of Parliament are undergoing changes just two days before the main event. The reason: names of living members of the first Lok Sabha are still coming in.
Updated on May 11, 2012 11:42 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Pranab blooper: I may not be in Lok Sabha
Amid suspense over when the Congress is going to name its preferred presidential candidate, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee —widely considered as the frontrunner— further fuelled the speculations saying, “I may not be here” in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Updated on May 09, 2012 01:20 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi New Delhi
Leaders queue up to meet Mamata
Since her arrival in the Capital on Wednesday amidst hectic political parleys ahead of the Presidential poll, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's office has been flooded with requests for meetings-or, at least, telephonic talks.
Updated on May 04, 2012 11:44 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Mamata in Delhi, may do deal on presidential poll
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is in Delhi for parleys with the UPA brass, with both sides expecting an understanding on the presidential candidate as well as a moratorium for debt-ridden West Bengal. Saubhadra Chatterji reports. The buzz continues | Demands and counter-demands
Updated on May 03, 2012 01:20 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Sushma remark on Ansari lacking stature splits NDA
JD-U leader and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar phoned Vice-President Hamid Ansari on Tuesday to convey his disagreement with BJP leader Sushma Swaraj’s view that Ansari did not have the stature to be President. Vikas Pathak & Saubhadra Chatterji reports. UPA has the edge
Updated on May 03, 2012 04:45 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Vikas Pathak & Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi