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Thursday, February 19, 2026
TopicAssembly elections 2023

Topic: Assembly elections 2023

How upper castes, OBCs and SCs/STs share the power pie in three heartland states swept by BJP in 2023

33 of 48 cabinet ministers in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and MP are from general and OBC groups. Ten among the remaining 15 are from STs, while five are from SCs. 

‘Old Pension Scheme, freebies alone can’t win polls,’ says senior Congress leader Praveen Chakravarty

The Congress has made the return of OPS a poll plank in six assembly elections. But Chakravarty says the party ‘can’t engage in competitive promises & hope that's enough to win’.

JNU comrades, Kamal Nath’s cold feet, Gehlot’s insecurities—tales about Congress meltdown

Beyond BJP's victories in the three states lie untold stories of the several mini-wars that played out in the Congress party’s backrooms.

Look beyond lazy explanations on 2023 election outcome—changes and shift everyone missed

Based on the post-poll survey by Lokniti-CSDS, we can now bust some of the popular myths around the 2023 assembly elections and say what did not work—and why Congress has reasons to worry.

‘True leaders lead from behind’ & ‘India’s political dynasties’

The best cartoons of the day, chosen by the editors at ThePrint.

BJP picks MLA Bhajanlal Sharma for Rajasthan CM. Diya Kumari & Prem Chand Bairwa to be his deputies

The 1st-time MLA won from Sanganer by 48,081 votes, defeating Congress’s Pushpendra Bhardwaj. BJP, which won MP, Chhattisgarh & Rajasthan, has selected fresh CM faces in all 3 states.

Tribal leader, farmer’s son, sports enthusiast — meet Chhattisgarh’s 1st tribal CM Vishnu Deo Sai

As BJP wrested Chhattisgarh from Congress, what played decisive role was its wins in tribal belt. It's decision to choose 'soft-spoken' leader is also aimed at Lok Sabha polls.

‘Why does the city belong more to men?’ — how Indian women are reclaiming public spaces

A selection of the best news reports, analysis and opinions published by ThePrint this week.

Amit Shah’s attack on Nehru over Kashmir was ‘unjust & hypocritical’, says Urdu press

ThePrint’s round-up of how the Urdu media covered various news events through the week, and the editorial positions some of them took.

Indian businessmen are in fear & cheer mode, but feel Modi govt’s still their best bet

What businessmen would like is for Team Modi to return in 2024, but as a minority, and therefore in need of coalition partners who might put the brakes on any high-handed action.

On Camera

India must govern AI with confidence. Use guardrails, not handcuffs

The good news is that India is not starting from zero. It knows how to innovate privately while also empowering innovation publicly.

In the West, there’s anxiety. In India, optimism—Rishi Sunak says India poised to be leader in AI

On Wednesday, the former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was speaking in New Delhi at a Carnegie & Observer Research Foundation event on AI.

US military commander, envoy Sergio Gor visit Indian Army Western Command, Bengaluru next

At the Western Army Command, the American delegation was briefed on the capabilities of the formation, past operations and the path ahead.

The new Great Game—Trump’s playing for time, China for leverage & India for wiggle room

This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.