Saam Daam Dand Bhed

Host: Saurabh Dwivedi Guests: Sheela Bhatt, P. Vaidyanathan Iyer, Vikas Pathak, Manoj C.G., Asad Rehman The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), the youth collective that has brought students onto the streets over exam paper leaks, has called a protest for 10 October. The Congress is becoming more active on the streets, Rahul Gandhi is alleging "vote chori", or vote theft, and his sudden decision to join the CJP protest has some INDIA bloc leaders speaking openly. In this episode, Saurabh Dwivedi and the panel discuss why the Congress is turning to street politics now, how Rahul Gandhi's vote theft allegations should be understood, why some INDIA bloc leaders have spoken out about his decision to join the protest, and the political planning and strategy behind the protest. The second big story of the week: Narendra Modi's 25 years in public office. The panel looks back at his years as Chief Minister of Gujarat and the major political challenges he faced in that period, his journey from Chief Minister to Prime…

Host: Saurabh Dwivedi Guests: Prasenjit Bose, Pushkar Mishra, Shyamlal Yadav, Vikas Pathak, Manoj C. G., Lalmani Verma Student politics is back in the headlines, on campuses and on the streets. The ABVP and the SFI clashed at Jadavpur University in August and at Himachal Pradesh University in September, and on 25 September a planned screening of a documentary on Umar Khalid sparked a clash at Pondicherry University. On many campuses, student union elections have been stalled for years. Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janta Party, a satirical youth collective launched online in May, has brought tens of thousands of students onto the streets over exam paper leaks, outside traditional party structures. In this episode, Saurabh Dwivedi brings together a former SFI member, a former ABVP member and senior Indian Express journalists. They trace how student politics in India has evolved and discuss why state chief ministers do not want student unions, how the 1990s changed campus politics, why student unions have not made…

Saam Daam Dand Bhed | Episode 06 | Indian Express Hindi Host: Saurabh Dwivedi Guests: Ritika Chopra, S. Y. Quraishi, Deeptiman Tiwari, Santosh Singh, Pooja Sasikumar Pillai, Sukrita Baruah, For months, two members of India's Election Commission have been putting their dissent on paper. An Indian Express investigation shows that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded at least 14 formal objections over 10 months. They said decisions on voter registration, deletion and restoration of names, SIR appeals and oversight of voter-data systems were taken without their knowledge or against their written advice. The full Commission met on 9 September, its first full meeting in four months. In this episode, Saurabh Dwivedi speaks to the reporter behind the investigation and a former Chief Election Commissioner. They discuss how the story was reported, how the three-member Commission is meant to work, why the commissioners learnt of some decisions from the media, the constitutional questions…

This week on Saam Daam Dand Bhed, Saurabh Dwivedi and the panel break down the biggest political and policy developments from 10–17 September. First, the Uniform Civil Code push gathers pace, not through Parliament, but state by state. With Amit Shah setting a 2029 deadline for all 21 NDA-ruled states, what could UCC mean for marriage, divorce, inheritance and live-in relationships? Then, the panel discusses the end of free UPI for larger merchant payments. With MDR now applicable on UPI payments above ₹2,000, who will really bear the cost: the shopkeeper, the customer, or the payment apps? Plus, the week’s political Jaayza from across India. Saam Daam Dand Bhed streams every Saturday, 9 AM on Indian Express Hindi. Follow for more.

In this bonus episode of Saam Daam Dand Bhed we look at the political developments inside the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the larger story of caste politics in India.Why did Mayawati remove Akash Anand and Ashok Siddhartha from the BSP? What led to the internal differences, and what does this episode reveal about the political dynamics within Mayawati’s party and her family? We speak to our reporter Lalmani Verma and delve deep into the politics of UP. In the second section of the episode, we speak with journalist and author Manoj Mitta and step back from the immediate political story to understand the history of caste politics in India. We trace how caste has shaped political mobilisation, with references to historical texts, political movements and the formation of parties that emerged around caste and social justice. From the evolution of Dalit politics to the rise of parties representing different caste groups, we explore how these political formations changed India’s electoral landscape and continue…

In this episode we decode the political strategies, caste equations and historical stories shaping Indian politics. We begin with the growing political importance of Gen-Z and women voters. Why are sections of these crucial voter groups becoming increasingly vocal, and why is this shift a concern for the BJP? We look at how the BJP and Congress are trying to connect with younger voters, women and Dalit communities, and how Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi are shaping their strategies for the politics of the future. We also examine how both parties are using social media, trends and digital optics to stay relevant and win over voters. The episode then turns to the complex politics of caste, reservation and Dalit identity. With the BJP facing difficult questions around reservation and its traditional vote base, how is the party attempting to strike a balance? Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi and the Congress are taking a more aggressive approach to Dalit identity politics, including their support for initiatives such as…

India’s 7.8% GDP growth has sparked a debate over the credibility of the numbers, methodology and the bigger picture of the Indian economy. At the same time, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s recent remarks on Muslims and Hindu-Muslim unity have raised questions about the Sangh’s changing political strategy. What is the real story behind India’s GDP growth? What does the RSS want to achieve with its outreach to Muslims? Listen to the full episode of Saam Daam Dand Bhed with Saurabh Dwivedi.For video podcast, visit our YouTube Channel.

In this episode of Saam Daam Dand Bhed, we decode Rahul Gandhi's aggressive new political approach and the shifting power dynamics between the RSS and BJP.Rahul Gandhi is directly targeting Gen Z voters, particularly young women, utilizing bold rhetoric like "Smash the Patriarchy." Driven by a visible Left influence, his relentless campaigns around caste and OBC reservations, alongside protests for pellet gun victims and demonstrations outside the PM's residence are drawing massive attention. However, two critical questions emerge: Does the Congress possess the organizational framework at the grassroots level to convert this momentum into actual votes? And is his aggressive OBC posturing alienating crucial INDIA bloc allies like the Samajwadi Party (SP) and RJD?We also analyze the internal equations of the ruling dispensation. Is Amit Shah's influence waning as the RSS tightens its grip on the BJP's future? We look at how the RSS is taking matters into its own hands, attempting to establish a fresh dialogue…

Indian Express Hindi's new weekly political show "Saam Daam Dand Bhed" breaks down the week's biggest political stories. Episode 1 features in-depth analysis of UGC equity regulations, caste census controversy, Vande Mataram row, and BJP's organizational reshuffle. Hosted by Saurabh Dwivedi with guests Vikas Pathak, Diptiman Tiwari, and Liz Matthew. Every Saturday at 9 AM. Subscribe for India's smartest weekly political breakdown covering government policy, electoral politics, and the stories behind the headlines. Watch for political commentary, book recommendations, and tributes to important political figures. For video podcast, visit our YouTube channel.