Kalyani Shankar

Kalyani Shankar is a political commentator and columnist. She was Political Editor at Hindustan Times and Washington correspondent. She was also a broadcast and television journalist. Shankar was a Nuffield press fellow at Cambridge University and senior fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Centre in Washington. She is the author of Nixon, Indira and India: Politics and Beyond, India and the United States: Politics of the Sixties and Gods of Power: Personality Cult and Indian Democracy.

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Beginning of a new era: India-EU set to enter a set of productive relations

As New Delhi gears up to welcome the top leadership of the European Union as the chief guest for this week’s Republic Day celebrations and the upcoming summit, the signals from Brussels…
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Rivalry between Siddharamaiah, DKS may affect Congress in 5 state polls

Karnataka’s political crisis is rooted in an intensifying power struggle between Chief Minister Siddharamaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar (DKS). The unresolved question of a rotating chief minister system has deepened…

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Erratic, expansionary, dominance: Trump’s first year of second term

US President Donald Trump will complete his first year in office on January 20. Trump’s second-term foreign policy, which began in January 2025, represents a significant departure from traditional US approaches, even…
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Political crisis in Bangladesh snowballing into grave situation

Bangladesh has been passing through a political crisis since the resignation of the Sheikh Hasina government last year, with the situation causing regional tensions with India. A series of riots, arson attacks…
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Shock and awe will mark 2026, so watch out for the interplay of events

The year 2025 has ended, and 2026 is approaching. What does the crystal ball say about the year 2026? Emerging events and political shifts are likely to unfold as we head into…
Opinions

Find ways to implement solutions to electoral reforms

Parliament’s discussion on Electoral reform last week disappointed many because it lacked a concrete action plan and evolved into a blame game. While it was a heated debate, it highlighted the potential…
Opinions

‘This is the right time to resolve controversy over Vande Mataram’

The Parliament opened its winter session this week with a significant political clash over the national song, “Vande Mataram.” The controversy surrounding the patriotic song persists even after 150 years since its…

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Mamdani victory empowers marginalised communities in NYC

Curtis Sliwa says, Mamdani’s victory symbolises change and overcame a $22 million effort by 26 billionaires to block his path to becoming New York City’s Mayor, inspiring hope in the power of…
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Polls predict close fight as Bihar votes on welfare and change

The upcoming 2025 Bihar Assembly election is expected to be fiercely competitive, with significant implications for all parties involved. While opinion polls favour the ruling NDA (National Democratic Alliance), they obscure strong…
Opinions

Bihar polls: Nitish Kumar can still upset the BJP applecart

In electoral politics, voters play a crucial role. Their support will be key in determining whether Nitish Kumar can secure his tenth term as Chief Minister. Table of contentsLegacy with women votersHealth…
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What is the future of Indian students going to the United States

The visa crisis has particularly impacted international students, including those from India. There are growing concerns about the future of their education in the US. Approximately 1.1 million international students are studying…
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Desperately seeking Nobel; Will he get or won’t is the question

American President Donald Trump has set his sights on winning the Nobel Prize. His desire to become a Nobel Laureate has been a topic of discussion for nearly a decade. His recent…
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Nepal: Present tense, future unsure, Gen Z restless

Nepal has welcomed a new Prime Minister, marking a significant step toward the country’s future after a period of turbulence. On Saturday, Sushila Karki, the first female Prime Minister of Nepal and…
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Telangana: Future of BRS is in jeopardy; cracks in the party widen with KCR punishing daughter Kavitha

Why do political families believe they can hold onto power indefinitely? This is common in many one-man or one-woman parties, where leaders often engage in nepotism by appointing relatives to positions of…
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Washington, New Delhi are not itching for a trade war; Trump may back out of the looming crisis

On Wednesday morning, last week, India woke up to 50 percent tariffs imposed on its goods sold to the US. The Trump administration followed through on its threat to double levies from…