Smriti Kak Ramachandran

Smriti covers an intersection of politics and governance. Having spent over a decade in journalism, she combines old fashioned leg work with modern story telling tools.

Articles by Smriti Kak Ramachandran

Nadda slams Rahul Gandhi for ‘derogatory’ reference to OBC community

A court in Gujarat’s Surat held the Congress lawmaker guilty of criminal defamation for a remark ahead of the 2019 national polls about the Modi surname

BJP chief JP Nadda. (Twitter)
Published on Mar 24, 2023 11:15 AM IST

BJP announces reshuffle in four states

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday announced new state unit chiefs in Delhi, Bihar, Odisha and Rajasthan with an eye on strengthening the party ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections

HT Image
Published on Mar 24, 2023 12:35 AM IST

BJP names new state presidents for Delhi, Odisha, Rajasthan and Bihar

Former minister in the Odisha government, Manmohan Samal will be the new state unit president in Odisha where the BJP is looking to increase its footprint

CP Joshi replaces Satish Poonia in Rajasthan that will go to polls later this year. (Representative file image)
Published on Mar 23, 2023 12:33 PM IST

BJP plans ‘Nanni Modi’ outreach drive in Kerala

On Wednesday, Union minister V Muraleedharan and senior leader and BJP Kerala in-charge Prakash Javadekar accused the Pinarayi Vijayan government of corruption which led to the absence of a waste-management plan and a consequent fire at a landfill in Kochi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (ANI)
Updated on Mar 23, 2023 05:52 AM IST

‘Guillotine’ on anvil as House logjam persists

All-party meetings scheduled by Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday failed to break an ongoing deadlock between the government and Opposition that has jammed Parliament, hinting that the second half of the budget session might be headed towards a complete washout

The Lok Sabha was adjourned after the Jammu and Kashmir budget was passed on Tuesday. (ANI)
Updated on Mar 22, 2023 02:56 AM IST
BySaubhadra Chatterji, Smriti Kak Ramachandran, New Delhi

Opposition parties protest inside Parliament amid Adani row, demand JPC probe

Members of 17 parties including the Congress, Shiva Sena, DMK, TMC, BRS and Left congregated outside the State Bank of India (SBI) branch located on the first floor and raised slogans

This is the first time that members in Parliament have staged a protest from inside the complex. (ANI image)
Published on Mar 21, 2023 12:44 PM IST

BJP, Congress chiefs lock horns over Rahul Gandhi's democracy remarks

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda and the Congress party chief Mallikarjun Kharge crossed swords on Friday, with the former, in a statement questioning Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s motives in raising questions about India’s democracy on foreign soil.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a session at the Chatham House think tank in London.(ANI)
Updated on Mar 18, 2023 04:01 AM IST
BySmriti Kak Ramachandran and Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi

BJP questions Rahul Gandhi’s intent behind questioning India’s democracy abroad

BJP president JP Nadda said to seek interference in India’s internal matters by another country is an attack on India’s sovereignty

The BJP has demanded Gandhi’s apology over his comments in London that democracy in India is under threat. (PTI)
Published on Mar 17, 2023 10:57 AM IST

‘Anti-India forces speak same language’: Rijiju attacks Rahul Gandhi

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government has sought an apology from Gandhi for “defaming” the country and its democratic institutions through his comments during his visit to the UK, where he said there is no freedom of speech in India.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju. (PTI)
Updated on Mar 17, 2023 01:20 AM IST

BJP top brass asks leaders to refrain from making provocative speeches

New Delhi The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) central leadership has asked leaders to refrain from making provocative and inflammatory statements and speaking out of line after taking note of the disquiet brewing in certain state units over some leaders deviating from the party’s stance on issues

New Delhi, Mar 11 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters hold party flags during the celebration following the party's win in four states (Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa) Assembly elections, in New Delhi on Thursday. (ANI Photo) (Mohd Zakir)
Published on Mar 17, 2023 12:12 AM IST

‘Anti-India forces’ speak same language, Rijiju slams Rahul Gandhi

The government has sought an apology from Gandhi for “defaming” the country and its democratic institutions through his comments during his visit to the United Kingdom

Union minister Kiren Rijiju. (PTI)
Published on Mar 16, 2023 10:49 AM IST

RSS to set up new outfit for narrative building

The RSS is set to launch a new outfit, Vimarsh, ahead of its centenary celebrations that begin next year to focus on narrative building, people aware of the details said on Wednesday.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. (PTI)
Published on Mar 16, 2023 01:09 AM IST

Centre plans to highlight its achievements to mark 9th anniversary

Over the course of the next few weeks, the Union government will roll out a publicity blitzkrieg with a focus on the achievements of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s ninth year in power at the Centre, people familiar with the details said on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI/PIB)
Published on Mar 16, 2023 01:09 AM IST

Budget session: Parliament logjam likely to stay; Opposition, govt remain at odds

Disruptions and protests washed out a second day of proceedings in Parliament on Tuesday as the government and the Opposition stuck to their demands, indicating that there was little possibility of an early resolution to the impasse jamming the second half of the Budget session.

Lok Sabha proceedings underway on Tuesday. (PTI)
Published on Mar 14, 2023 11:58 PM IST
BySmriti Kak Ramachandran, Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi

RSS appoints Shailendra as new prant pracharak in Uttarakhand

The announcement of the new appointment was made at the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha that concluded in Samalkha on Tuesday.

Shailendra was earlier the prant pracharak of Rajasthan and will be replaced by Brijkant who was his deputy. (Facebook/bjpmadhukumawat)
Updated on Mar 14, 2023 08:42 PM IST

Stormy start to Parliament over Adani, Rahul remarks

Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the day amid protests from both sides.

New Delhi, Mar 13 (ANI): Proceedings of Lok Sabha underway on the first day of the second phase of the Budget session of the Parliament, in New Delhi on Monday. (ANI Photo/Sansad TV)(ANI)
Published on Mar 14, 2023 12:12 AM IST

BJP treads cautiously with AIADMK ahead of ’24 polls

BJP leaders in Tamil Nadu, who spoke to HT on condition of anonymity, said they are expecting the central leadership to step in with an olive branch to iron out the differences between the two partners that could wreck the party’s electoral plans for the 2024 general elections.

On Wednesday, 13 members of the BJP’s IT Cell quit the party to join the AIADMK, days after former state IT wing chief CTR Nirmal Kumar left on a bitter note. (FIle)
Updated on Mar 13, 2023 03:20 PM IST

Parliament to resume today, V-P holds all-party meeting

Rajya Sabha chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar held a meeting with various floor leaders on Sunday, a day before the Budget session of Parliament was set to resume, and discussed several issues, including how disruptions can be curbed, even as Opposition members signalled they will keep raising issues to confront the government

HT Image
Published on Mar 13, 2023 12:19 AM IST
BySaubhadra Chatterji and Smriti Kak Ramachandran, New Delhi

Why central leadership’s intervention is key in reviving BJP-AIADMK ties in TN

BJP leaders in Tamil Nadu, who spoke to HT on condition of anonymity, said they are expecting the central leadership to step in with an olive branch to iron out the differences between the two partners

BJP president JP Nadda is scheduled to inaugurate party offices in about 10 districts on Saturday. (Twitter | K Annamalai)
Updated on Mar 10, 2023 01:09 PM IST

BJP intensifies Lok Sabha poll outreach with focus on 160 seats

Sunil Bansal, national general secretary, has been included in the committee that oversees the work related to the 160 Lok Sabha constituencies where the BJP either lost by a thin margin in the 2019 polls or has never won

BJP intensifies Lok Sabha poll outreach with focus on 160 seats
Published on Mar 06, 2023 01:25 AM IST

BJP, allies retain power after tough battle in N-E states

The three incumbent governments in Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya returned to power in results that bode well for the Bharatiya Janata Party’s prospects in the region in next year’s national elections, ask questions of the Congress’s ability to be the core of an anti-BJP alliance, and point to the limitations of the Trinamool Congress in extending its sway beyond West Bengal

BJP leaders said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the face of the assembly elections. (ANI Photo)
Published on Mar 03, 2023 12:14 AM IST
ByUtpal Parashar and Smriti Kak Ramachandran, Guwahati/new Delhi

Assembly election results: BJP says it’s a vote for PM Modi’s development agenda

The BJP retained power in Tripura, a former Communist bastion, by winning 32 seats and in Nagaland, the BJP- NDPP alliance won 37 seats

BJP leaders said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the face of the assembly elections. (ANI Photo)
Updated on Mar 02, 2023 07:32 PM IST

BJP begins outreach plans in Punjab

The BJP’s outreach comes amidst fears that separatism could rear its head again in the border state where traditional political heavyweights Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress have been decimated and replaced by the Aam Aadmi Party

BJP workers at a recent political gathering. (HT File Photo)
Updated on Mar 01, 2023 09:15 AM IST

BJP draws up plans for 2024 electoral contests in Odisha

In Odisha, where the BJP has set its sights on increasing its tally and vote share in the 2024 assembly as well as Lok Sabha polls, the party has set in motion an electoral plan that includes organisational changes and activities to take on the ruling BJD, in what it claims will be a straight-out electoral contest.

BJP chief J P Nadda. (ANI)
Updated on Feb 27, 2023 04:28 AM IST

BJP sets about redrawing narrative in MP

The party leadership is also working on ironing out intraparty differences that was identified as a major reason for the 2018 debacle when the BJP lost the polls.

In the coming weeks, the party has lined up a series of programmes to intensify outreach, which includes brining experts from various sectors into the party’s fold (Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Updated on Feb 22, 2023 04:53 AM IST

Refrain from making comments on religion, culture: Nadda to BJP MPs

Nadda on Friday held a virtual interaction with BJP lawmakers and underlined the need to refrain from fostering narratives that could be perceived as polarising, said a party functionary.

BJP chief JP Nadda. (ANI)
Published on Feb 18, 2023 01:16 AM IST

Ladakh groups protest in Delhi, seek statehood

A section of leaders, students and citizens from Ladakh on Wednesday staged a protest in the national capital, demanding statehood with a legislature and the  implementation of Schedule VI in the region

HT Image
Updated on Feb 16, 2023 08:50 AM IST

Parliament: First part of Budget session ends amid ruckus, to resume in March

The session will resume on March 13 after a month-long break to allow the standing committees to scrutinise the Budget proposals of the respective ministries.

Opposition MPs raise slogans in the well of Rajya Sabha, in New Delhi on Monday. (ANI)
Updated on Feb 14, 2023 02:36 AM IST
BySaubhadra Chatterji and Smriti Kak Ramachandran, New Delhi

12 states, one UT get new governors in major rejig

The Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday announced the appointments of governors to 12 states and the lieutenant governor of the Union territory of Ladakh, in a major gubernatorial rejig that has come ahead of assembly elections in some states and the general elections next year

Spread over 15 acres, the Mughal Gardens, now part of the Amrit Udyan, is one of the key attractions in Rashtrapati Bhavan. (Twitter | President of India)
Updated on Feb 13, 2023 05:48 AM IST

Prez accepts Koshyari’s resignation, announces 13 gubernatorial appointments

Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, whose term since 2019 has been marred by controversies, last month announced that he wants to step down

Bhagat Singh Koshyari (File Photo)
Updated on Feb 12, 2023 12:47 PM IST
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