Sandeep Joshi
Communal polarisation may hand him victory in Pilibhit
 
 Varun Gandhi in Pilibhit. Photo: PTI 
Communal polarisation in Pilibhit could have an impact in neighbouring constituencies
Controversial Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Varun Gandhi is banking on the polarisation of voters along communal lines to win the election from Pilibhit, which his mother and former Union Minister Maneka […]

R.K. RADHAKRISHNAN
The Central Chennai Lok Sabha constituency will see a straight fight between the DMK and the AIADMK. Former Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology Dayanidhi Maran, who resigned after falling out with Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s family but later mended fences with him, is seeking re-election from this redrawn constituency; his opponent is […]

T. Ramakrishnan, Chennai
PARTY: Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam; CONSTITUENCY: Virudhunagar; STATE: Tamil Nadu; MISSION STATEMENT: One job per family
The Virudhunagar Lok Sabha constituency, created after restructuring the earlier Sivakasi seat, was in the news well before the candidature of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko was announced. This was because of the entry of […]

Vidya Subrahmaniam, Rampur
The Telugu actress is popular but her contest against the Congress’ Begum is marked by intrigue and irony
At Jayaprada Nahata’s luxury suite in Rampur’s best hotel, India’s diversity is in spectacular display. The Samajwadi Party candidate (and sitting Lok Sabha MP) is praying at a makeshift temple mounted on a platform in the […]

Sarabjit Pandher
Hans Raj Hans is a household name in Punjab, a folk singer who can hold audiences spellbound with his Sufi, Punjabi and Indipop songs.

PARTY: Shiromani Akali Dal
CONSTITUENCY: Jalandhar
STATE: Punjab
MISSION STATEMENT: Let new thoughts from new people make the difference in the running of the State
Jalandhar: From humble beginnings — he was born to an […]

 
 PARTY: Shiromani Akali Dal
CONSTITUENCY: Bathinda
STATE: Punjab
MISSION STATEMENT: Roll back female foeticide and halt denudation of Punjab’s green cover
By Sarabjit Pandher in Bathinda
Born into Amritsar’s Majithia family, and trained as a textile designer, Harsimrat Kaur is married into one of the most powerful political families of Punjab, the Badals of Muktsar.
Daughter-in-law of Sardar Parkash Singh Badal, […]

Sujay Mehdudia, Sirsa
Ashok Tanwar represents the new face of the Congress party
Coming from an ordinary Dalit family in Jhajjar village of Haryana, with no political background or godfather, Indian Youth Congress president, Ashok Tanwar represents the changing face of the Indian polity. His rise from the ranks to fight his first electoral battle from the […]

PARTY: AIADMK
CONSTITUENCY: Thoothukudi
STATE: Tamil Nadu
MISSION STATEMENT: Development of basic infrastructure is on top of her agenda 
For someone who didn’t really see it coming, Cynthia Pandian is adapting herself to her new role as AIADMK candidate for the Thoothukudi Constituency with a seeming effortlessness. Though she has been close to politics — being the wife of […]

K. Balchand, Patna
Lalu Prasad is locked in battle in Pataliputra with two Yadavs, a former mentor and a former disciple
Though named after the ancient Mauryan capital, Pataliputra is a totally rural Lok Sabha constituency. And, the battle here is shaping up to be an intriguing one. Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu […]

Shyam Ranganathan, Chennai
 Party: Bahujan Samaj Party
Constituency: Mayiladuthurai
State: Tamil Nadu
Mission Statement: Help the poor become rich and the rich to retain their wealth
L.V. Saptarishi of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has a head start on the other candidates in the Mayiladuthurai Lok Sabha constituency.
The retired IAS officer of the 1969 cadre has been visiting villages here […]