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Friday, January 9, 2026
TopicAssembly elections 2023

Topic: Assembly elections 2023

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.

Chief ministership is a small thing, I will do what party tells me to, says Shivraj Chouhan

The 5-time Madhya Pradesh CM’s Ladli Behna Yojana is believed to have helped buck anti-incumbency in state. But Shivraj attributes victory to PM Modi and 'double-engine' governance.

‘Call me Modi, not Modiji’ — PM tells BJP MPs that the suffix ‘distances him from public’

The PM was addressing 1st meeting of BJP parliamentary party since BJP's victory in assembly elections in MP, Rajasthan & Chhattisgarh. Modi said party chosen because of it development model.

How MP sweep surprised BJP brass — ‘sidelined’ Shivraj’s women connect, state unit’s groundwork

A survey in June painted a dismal picture of voter fatigue, anti-incumbency for BJP. But party’s organisational structure, combined with CM’s Ladli Behna Yojana, helped turn the tide. 

Wake-up calls, beneficiary mapping & younger workers — how BJP powered pro-incumbency wave in MP

Besides aspirational seats, BJP identified 89 assembly seats where it doubled-down on efforts to spread awareness about govt schemes & get more voters to show up on polling day.

After MP debacle, Kamal Nath hints at continuing as state Congress chief for 2024. ‘State tour’ soon

Former CM is in Delhi to meet party leadership after Congress tally was reduced from 114 to 66 in 230-member assembly. Earlier, he had raised suspicion on EVMs.

‘The colour saffron’ & ‘women power? where?’

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

BJP high command looking at new faces as CMs in MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh

Shivraj, Raje, Raman Singh may be out of race, it is learnt. Union ministers Arjun Meghwal and Gajendra Shekhawat, MPs Diya Kumari, Rajyavardhan Rathore, CP Joshi said to be in running.

Why BJP high-command can’t decide on CMs two days after Hindi heartland sweep — ‘weighing options’

BJP based its campaign in Rajasthan, MP & Chhattisgarh on ‘collective leadership’, seen as a euphemism for new leadership. But there’s a ‘rethink’ in MP at least.  

Deposits lost, a vote share less than NOTA — what Rajasthan debacle means for JJP in Haryana

JJP contested Rajasthan assembly polls with the claim that it would emerge as kingmaker in Haryana with ‘key (also the election symbol of the JJP) to Vidhan Sabha in its hand’.

On Camera

Global economic growth to slow in 2026 as Trump’s tariffs bite, UN says

The global economy is forecast to expand 2.7% this year, down from an estimated 2.8% in 2025. Growth is expected to go back up to 2.9% by 2027.

2025: Pakistan’s deadliest year in over a decade

Islamabad-based think-tank PICSS's new report says Pakistan saw 'pronounced escalation' in violence last year, with 3,413 conflict-related deaths compared to 1,950 in previous year.

A year-end Mea Culpa in National Interest—The Army-Islam combo doesn’t kill democracy

Many of you might think I got something so wrong in National Interest pieces written this year. I might disagree! But some deserve a Mea Culpa. I’d deal with the most recent this week.