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
BJP divided over Khattar’s invite to Selja to join party
The BJP, which is attempting to woo Dalit voters in Haryana, finds itself divided over Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s statement welcoming Congress lawmaker Kumari Selji to the party fold.
Updated on Sep 25, 2024 07:30 AM IST
Smriti Kak Ramachandran, New Delhi
‘United’ Mahayuti to push hyperlocal issues in assembly poll campaigns
In Maharashtra, the BJP aims for a united front in upcoming polls, while the MVA struggles with seat-sharing disagreements among its parties
Updated on Sep 21, 2024 09:25 AM IST
Nadda writes to Kharge, slams Congress for overlooking misdeeds of its leaders
Kharge wrote to Modi on Wednesday complaining against phrases such as “number one terrorist” Union minister Ravneet Bittu used against Rahul Gandhi
Published on Sep 19, 2024 10:41 AM IST
Union Cabinet approves Kovind panel’s report on ‘one nation, one election’
“One nation, one election” was one of the key promises in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s manifesto for the 2024 national elections
Published on Sep 18, 2024 03:47 PM IST
‘Have no links with Engineer Rashid’s party’: BJP rebuffs Oppn’s ‘proxy’ tag
Rashid, who is popularly known as Engineer Rashid, was arrested in a terror funding case under the UAPA in 2019 but was given interim bail by a court.
Updated on Sep 16, 2024 02:13 AM IST
Smriti Kak Ramachandran, New Delhi
‘One nation, one election’ plan on agenda for current term of NDA
In his Independence Day speech last month, PM Modi had made a strong pitch for one nation, one election.
Updated on Sep 16, 2024 08:01 AM IST
Smriti Kak Ramachandran, New Delhi
In Haryana, BJP banks on non-dominant castes
The BJP, facing resignations over ticket distribution in Haryana, aims to retain power by favoring non-dominant castes in its candidate selection.
Updated on Sep 13, 2024 07:08 AM IST
Smriti Kak Ramachandran, New Delhi
BJP’s first list for Haryana polls triggers a string of resignations
In its first list, the party changed 40 candidates, of which 27 are fresh faces and 21 under 50.
Updated on Sep 06, 2024 06:06 AM IST
Sunil RaharSmriti Kak Ramachandran, Rohtak
BJP membership an ideological movement: PM Modi
The PM asked the party to focus on increasing the membership of women, young people, tribal communities and people in border villages.
Published on Sep 03, 2024 12:13 PM IST
RSS backs caste census for welfare, says ‘don’t politicise’
The RSS supports caste census for welfare activities but warns against its political use. Emphasizes consensus in revisiting quotas and stresses social harmony.
Updated on Sep 03, 2024 08:10 AM IST
Smriti Kak Ramachandran, New Delhi
RSS supports caste census for welfarism, opposes its use as political tool
RSS also underlined that issues such as sub categorisation and introduction of a creamy layer within quotas for SCs and STs should be carried out after consultation and consensus building with the stakeholders
Published on Sep 02, 2024 06:47 PM IST
Oppn, NDA ally ask Parl’s OBC panel to discuss caste census
The demand by the Opposition and a key ally adds to increasing pressure on the government to take a call on the controversial issue
Updated on Aug 30, 2024 05:54 AM IST
Over 24,000 Indian Americans sign up for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s event
HT this month reported the event was expected to be “unique and different” in its format, flow, and themes compared to Modi’s past events in the US
Published on Aug 29, 2024 02:14 PM IST
BJP’s outreach in Maharashtra begins with interaction with workers
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has started its campaign for the Maharashtra assembly polls with an outreach towards its cadre.
Updated on Aug 29, 2024 08:04 AM IST
Smriti Kak Ramachandran, New Delhi
BJP to launch membership drive next week
The drive will be launched with Prime Minister Narendra Modi getting the certificate for the renewal of his membership from BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda
Published on Aug 27, 2024 12:49 PM IST
Behind key rethink, BJP’s more vocal allies
On Sunday, the LJP chief and union minister Chirag Paswan backed caste census, an issue that has been raised by the opposition INDIA bloc.
Updated on Aug 27, 2024 04:35 AM IST
BJP plans to highlight prompt rollback of lateral entry scheme to counter Oppn
BJP will highlight the rollback of lateral entry in bureaucracy and the Unified Pension Scheme to counter opposition on sub-classification of SC/STs ahead of state elections.
Updated on Aug 26, 2024 10:47 AM IST
BJP plans to highlight prompt rollback of lateral entry scheme to counter Oppn
In the poll-bound states, the party will highlight the government’s “quick response” to the demand to scrap lateral entry in UPSC.
Updated on Aug 26, 2024 07:26 AM IST
PM reiterates need for brining youth, non-dynasts into politics
n his Independence Day address on August 15, the PM had said there is a need to give platform to talented youth and fresh blood in politics to pave the way for ending “casteism and dynasty politics”
Published on Aug 25, 2024 01:28 PM IST
Ram Madhav’s return to energise BJP’s campaign in Jammu and Kashmir
Less than 24 hours after he was named as the election in-charge of poll-bound Jammu and Kashmir, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ram Madhav was in Srinagar on Wednesday, holding a spate of meetings with local leaders to steer the party’s campaign for the upcoming assembly election. While state elections to pick a new assembly are being held in September after a gap of 10 years in Jammu and Kashmir, it also marks the end of Ram Madhav’s political hiatus spanning half a decade.
Updated on Aug 22, 2024 03:00 AM IST
Smriti Kak Ramachandran, New delhi
With 9 seats, BJP may bag major chunk in RS bypolls
The BJP that currently has 87 members in the Rajya Sabha will have 96 seats, the Congress will get 27 lawmakers.
Published on Aug 21, 2024 08:25 AM IST
BJP targets 100 million members in fresh drive from September 1
The decision was taken at a meeting of the party’s national and state office bearers on Saturday.
Updated on Aug 18, 2024 02:02 AM IST
Smriti Kak Ramachandran, New Delhi
BJP targets enrolling 10 crore members, sets stage for electing new party chief
The decision was taken at a meeting of the party’s national and state office bearers on Saturday. The membership drive will be held in phases from September 1 to November 10
Published on Aug 17, 2024 08:58 PM IST
NDA leaders meet in Delhi, discuss ‘one nation, one poll’
In the meeting, the alliance leaders also discussed Manipur, where violence between two sections of people continues
Published on Aug 17, 2024 05:09 PM IST
Modi calls for secular civil code, underlines it is need of hour
Top BJP leaders including Modi promised to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) nationally along the lines of Uttarakhand during the campaign for the 2024 national polls
Updated on Aug 15, 2024 12:05 PM IST
RSS, BJP leaders meet ahead of coordination meeting in Kerala
RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale and joint general secretary Arun Kumar were present at the meeting along with BJP president JP Nadda and Union ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh.
Published on Aug 12, 2024 08:15 PM IST
Congress, allies have conspired together to usher in economic anarchy: RS Prasad
Hitting out at the opposition, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said that they are continuously trying to destroy the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Published on Aug 12, 2024 05:20 PM IST
SC/ST quota: No plan for creamy layer, say govt
The government will not implement the Supreme Court's suggestion for a creamy layer in SC/ST reservations. The Cabinet announced housing and infrastructure projects.
Updated on Aug 10, 2024 07:08 AM IST
Jagdeep Dhankhar, Jaya Bachchan exchange words; Oppo walks out of Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar took exception to Jaya Bachchan’s statement about his tone, snapped at her, and said her behaviour was “unacceptable”
Published on Aug 09, 2024 02:54 PM IST
RS chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar leaves House, says Opposition feels he’s unworthy
Dhankhar said he would have to leave the House following an uproar as the Opposition demanded a discussion on Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification at the Olympics
Published on Aug 08, 2024 01:23 PM IST