Showing 1 - 10 of 2,702
What explains BJP's stellar rise?
Oped, Published on 29/05/2024
» India, with 968 million eligible voters, is currently holding the largest exercise of democratic rights in the world. Elections are being held in India from April 19 to June 1, and the results will be declared next Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- the world's largest political party -- is widely expected to win.
What do Indian women want from poll?
Oped, Published on 25/05/2024
» Since April 19, the day general elections began in India, voters have queued up outside polling booths, braving a muggy, scorching heatwave. The mood appears mostly upbeat. Voters talk to TV news reporters. They articulate wishes for change or belief in the incumbent leader.
Thailand's judiciary faces challenges
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 24/05/2024
» Thailand appears to be a country of 70 million, ultimately ruled by an unelected few. This sobering reality was on display when two connected groups of top generals seized power from democratically elected governments in September 2006 and May 2014. Unlike these blatant military coups over the past two decades, at issue now is the power and role of the judiciary. While Thailand has another democratically elected civilian government under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, the question that needs to be asked is whether the country is effectively under judicial rule.
Even the stars favour Modi for third term as PM
Oped, Published on 24/05/2024
» In the realm of astrological predictions, deciphering events such as sporting outcomes or political elections often entails scrutinising the birth charts of all contenders involved. When it comes to forecasting the outcome of elections in a vast democracy like India, the birth chart of the potential leader must be extraordinary to ascend to the highest office.
Racing to poverty
Oped, Postbag, Published on 23/05/2024
» Re: "Srettha woos F1 giants in Italy", (BP, May 21).
Election Commission must be proactive
Oped, Editorial, Published on 22/05/2024
» The Senate election process has kicked off with little fanfare. As of Monday, a little over 36,000 people had registered for the race, raising questions about the Election Commission's (EC) chances of achieving its target of getting at least 100,000 people to take part in the process.
Old rice, new debate
Oped, Postbag, Published on 21/05/2024
» Re: "Lab tests show rice 'edible' ", (BP, May 20) & "Push to sell old rice raises questions", (Post, May 19).
The popular decimation of India's democracy
Oped, Pranab Bardhan, Published on 18/05/2024
» India's ongoing parliamentary election, in which nearly a billion people casting their votes over a six-week period, should represent an extraordinary exercise of democracy. The bleak reality, however, is that the election appears poised to consolidate a decade-long process of democratic decay, which has included the decimation of liberal institutions and practices and weakening of political competition. After all, the leader who has presided over this process -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- remains wildly popular.
NACC sparks problems
Oped, Editorial, Published on 18/05/2024
» The decision by the Rayong Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases on May 13 to acquit Itthipol Kunplome of granting an illegal construction permit for a high-rise condo project in Pattaya again raises questions about the performance of the National Anti-Corruption Commission -- our independent graft-busting agency.
Thai Human Rights Council aspirations
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 17/05/2024
» Thailand's quest for membership of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), Geneva, for the period 2025-2027, is rightly gaining interest among the general public. With a new foreign minister today, it is intriguing to prospect whether there will be more (or less) momentum in the competition towards the winning post -- with elections for the HRC due in New York in October.