Columnist M S Shanker, Orange News 9

Who Holds the Edge in Bihar?

As the Election Commission of India has announced the poll dates for Bihar as Nov 4 and 7, while counting will be on Nov 14, the state is once again bracing for a political showdown. The NDA and the India Alliance are loudly staking claims, but a new entrant, poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishore, is emerging…

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Columnist M S Shanker, Orange News 9

Fortifying Peace, Not Waging War

India’s Military Modernisation for an Unpredictable World India is quietly, methodically transforming into a formidable military power — not to redraw maps or threaten neighbours, but to defend itself in a world that’s becoming increasingly uncertain and hostile. The new age of fast-moving geopolitics, shifting alliances, and proxy conflicts demands readiness, resilience, and rapid response….

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Columnist M S Shanker, Orange News 9

Opposition as a Global Punch-Line

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, seems to have perfected one skill in politics: converting every foreign visit into a grievance roadshow against his own country. If the role of LoP is to uphold democratic debate within the sacred precincts of Parliament, Rahul has chosen instead to become a permanent India-basher…

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Columnist M S Shanker, Orange News 9

Putin’s Statesmanship: Shielding India from U.S. Tariff Bullying

In a world where international relations are often reduced to coercion, arm-twisting, and economic blackmail, Russian President Vladimir Putin has once again shown what genuine statesmanship looks like. At a time when U.S. President Donald Trump has been weaponising tariffs and sanctions to pressure allies and adversaries alike, Putin has moved decisively to protect India,…

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Columnist M S Shanker, Orange News 9

Owaisi, Time to Drop the Theatrics

As a Hyderabadi, I hardly need to introduce Asaduddin Owaisi — the barrister-politician who inherited the legacy of the All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). His family’s political roots run deep in the Old City, where his party has built its empire on a concentrated pocket of community votes. Election after election, AIMIM has managed to hold…

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Columnist M S Shanker, Orange News 9

If You Can’t Win, Steal It

Cricket is meant to be a gentleman’s game. But when a terror-exporting nation like Pakistan enters the arena, the “gentleman” is replaced by indecency, deception, and dishonor. What unfolded at the Asia Cup was not just another cricketing contest—it was a test of national dignity. India didn’t just defeat Pakistan on the field; it humiliated…

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