Sushma Bhatnagar has covered every general election since the 1980s. Her writing brings the long view to Indian politics — the slow accumulation of trends that look like surprises only to those who arrived recently.
Recent work
Wangchuk's Hospitalisation Sharpens a Governance Reckoning India Cannot Defer
Sonam Wangchuk, hospitalised after an extended fast, has appealed for a major protest in Delhi, framing his campaign as India's 'second freedom movement.' His demands — Sixth Schedule tribal protections, statehood, land rights — sit at the intersection of legitimate democratic aspiration and one of the most sensitive border territories on earth. The Centre's continued silence on substantive concessions risks turning a solvable governance problem into a persistent internal friction along the Line of Actual Control.
One Cut, Two Cylinders, and the Fault Line Running Through India's Energy Pricing
Oil marketing companies reduced commercial LPG cylinder prices by ₹183.50 on July 1, 2026 — the first such cut this year — after a series of hikes driven by West Asia conflict and energy supply disruptions. Domestic household cylinder prices remain unchanged, preserving a two-tier architecture that has long complicated India's energy subsidy policy. The relief, real for restaurant owners and caterers, remains invisible to ordinary households.
A 41% Rainfall Deficit in June and the Long Shadow of El Niño
As of late June 2026, cumulative monsoon rainfall across India stood 41.6% below normal, with large swaths of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh already in deficit. The IMD had forecast the season at 90% of the long-period average even before it began, pointing to a strengthening El Niño. But past seasons — 2019 and 2024 — demonstrate that a weak June does not inevitably doom the full four-month total.
Iran Political Turmoil Threatens India's Strategic Investments in Chabahar Port
Reports of Iranian President Pezeshkian's resignation over disputes with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have been officially denied, but the incident highlights growing political instability in Tehran that could threaten India's billion-dollar strategic investments in Iran, including the crucial Chabahar port project.
India Reinforces Moscow Partnership Through BRICS Diplomacy
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's visit to India for BRICS meetings underscored New Delhi's commitment to its strategic partnership with Moscow, demonstrating India's independent foreign policy approach while maintaining dialogue on global conflicts including Ukraine and West Asia.
Election Commission Acts Decisively Against EVM Misinformation During Bengal Polls
The arrest of Bangla Pokkho leader Garga Chatterjee for spreading EVM misinformation during active West Bengal elections demonstrates India's institutional capacity to protect electoral integrity. The Election Commission's framework treats unsubstantiated manipulation claims as threats to democratic process, not protected speech.
India's BRICS Chairship Signals Multipolarity Ambitions Amid Global Shifts
India hosts BRICS foreign ministers on May 14-15, 2026, marking the start of its chairship year for the bloc representing 42% of global population. The meeting focuses on multilateral reform and global governance restructuring, positioning India as a leader of the Global South.
Putin's Victory Day Ceasefire Reflects Diplomatic Realism Over Military Escalation
Russian President Putin revealed that Moscow's warnings about retaliating against Ukrainian strikes during Victory Day celebrations prompted the three-day ceasefire brokered by President Trump. The temporary truce included prisoner exchanges and hints of broader peace talks between Putin and Zelenskyy.