Rahul Gokhale

India’s periodic flirtation with compulsory voting raises the fundamental question of whether participation can be mandated without eroding liberty. While hearing a petition seeking to strengthen the provision of ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) - introduced to ensure that voters dissatisfied with all candidates are not denied their democratic voice - the Supreme Court made a striking verbal observation on a related but far more contentious issue: compulsory voting. Chief Justice Surya Kant and...

With a sweeping municipal mandate in hand, Maharashtra’s ruling alliance must prove that concrete victories can translate into everyday competence. Nearly a month after the January 15 civic polls, the BJP-led Mahayuti is consolidating its clear majority in most of the 29 municipal corporations. While the election of mayors and deputy mayors nears completion, the formation of key standing committees remains stalled. For city administrations emerging from years of bureaucratic oversight under...

Humayun Kabir India’s political landscape is once again getting crowded with new party banners, ambitious launches, and familiar claims of “alternatives.” In just the last fortnight, three new political outfits have emerged across three states. In West Bengal, Humayun Kabir has floated the Janata Unnayan Party; in Odisha, former Congress MLA Mohammed Moquim has unveiled a party to be formally launched on January 12, National Youth Day; and in Telangana, K. Kavitha, recently expelled from the...