Manish Chandra Pandey is a Lucknow-based Senior Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times’ political bureau in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Along with political reporting, he loves to write offbeat/human interest stories that people connect with. Manish also covers departments. He feels he has a lot to learn not just from veterans, but also from newcomers who make him realise that there is so much to unlearn.
Articles by Manish Chandra Pandey
BJP’s backroom play: From Monday’s surprise to Tuesday’s surgical strike
A few hours after the 9am start to the voting, the seven SP rebels emerged on the Uttar Pradesh assembly balcony, flanked by deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak and transport minister Daya Shankar Singh.
Updated on Feb 28, 2024 06:40 AM IST
Mega development push to Hindutva pitch, how UP is ‘UPyogi’ for BJP in poll season
UP, which is now the country’s second-largest economy and has 80 Lok Sabha seats, also holds the key to a ‘Modi-fied’ BJP’s attempt to score a hat-trick of wins at the centre. This is reason perhaps why a blend of religious outreach and economic makeover talks make for a ‘good poll narrative’ too
Updated on Feb 21, 2024 05:48 PM IST
Rahul Gandhi, Smriti Irani trade Ayodhya barbs in Amethi
In her counter-attack, Smriti Irani said: “Empty streets of Amethi greeted Rahul’s nyay yatra and (this) is proof of the popular anger against those who skipped the Ram temple invite.”
Updated on Feb 20, 2024 07:42 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Amethi
Amethi face-off as Rahul yatra reaches lost citadel
High-profile constituency of Amethi turned battleground as Rahul Gandhi faces off against Smriti Irani in first public rally since 2019 loss.
Updated on Feb 20, 2024 05:46 AM IST
Didi vs bhaiya: Smriti Irani, Rahul Gandhi in Amethi amid 2019 rematch buzz
Smriti Irani had wrested the Amethi Lok Sabha seat from the Congress in 2019, defeating Rahul Gandhi in the Modi wave.
Updated on Feb 19, 2024 10:30 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
Top realtor fielded to build winning strategy against SP
Sanjay Seth is aware that he is short of numbers but the confidence with which he stated “bilkul jitengey (will surely win)” showed the BJP think tank’s plan to probe opposition unity ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Updated on Feb 16, 2024 08:14 AM IST
Rajya Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh: BJP fields former SP loyalist as 8th candidate
The eighth BJP candidate – former Samajwadi Party leader-turned-ex-BJP MP Sanjay Seth (a prominent realtor) –filed his nomination at around 1.30 pm – just ahead of the 3pm close of nominations on Thursday.
Updated on Feb 16, 2024 08:06 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
After Sonia’s RS shift, BJP sets eyes on Cong’s last citadel in UP
BJP leaders point to how despite her win against former aide Dinesh Pratap Singh in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Sonia’s victory margin dipped to lowest since 2004, when she first contested the polls
Updated on Feb 15, 2024 08:14 AM IST
RS nomination: BJP bares cadre focus ahead of 2024 polls
Sudhanshu Trivedi, the only other upper-caste leader in the mix and the lone one to be repeated for another RS term, stated that the BJP’s picks demonstrate the party’s focus on the cadre.
Published on Feb 14, 2024 10:23 PM IST
Amid farmers’ unrest, BJP launches farm outreach prog for dialogue with villagers
The BJP’s strategy to control any damage arising out of the fresh unrest is two-fold. It plans to use the rural outreach to connect with farmers and explain the double engine governments’ efforts to improve the lot of farmers and rural populace while simultaneously questioning the timing of the farmers’ stir.
Published on Feb 13, 2024 10:44 PM IST
Rajya Sabha polls in UP: BJP names four OBCs on list of seven, drops eight MPs
National spokesman Sudhanshu Trivedi is the only one of the nine Rajya Sabha MPs from Uttar Pradesh being renominated by the BJP.
Updated on Feb 12, 2024 12:01 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
RLD, BSP, Congress join BJP on Ayodhya darshan, SP gives it a miss
After the roughly two-hour drive that included a brief stopover at Barabanki for refreshments, the legislators led by assembly speaker Satish Mahana arrived in Ayodhya, where they were joined by chief minister Yogi Adityanath
Updated on Feb 12, 2024 05:32 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Ayodhya
Uttar Pradesh lawmakers’ Ayodhya darshan laced with faith, fervour and politics
This was the first such joint visit by lawmakers to the temple town, brimming with pilgrims since the January 22 inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya
Updated on Feb 12, 2024 07:12 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Ayodhya
BJP-RLD deal almost done, parties rework west Uttar Pradesh arithmetic
It was in west U.P. where the Congress, along with the SP and the RLD, was planning to forge a formidable chemistry by fielding common candidates.
Updated on Feb 11, 2024 05:46 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
RLD, BJP maintain suspense amid buzz, denials and studied silence
“BJP respects all and all are welcome. As for alliance, these decisions will be made by top leadership”
Updated on Feb 09, 2024 06:40 AM IST
Need stronger law to check statements hurting religious sentiments, says BJP Rajya Sabha member Ashok Bajpai
I am not saying “don’t insult Hindu faith only”. I am saying don’t insult anyone’s religious belief, feeling and if you do, then be prepared to face stern action, says Ashok Bajpai
Updated on Feb 09, 2024 06:36 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh budget: With Modi ‘GYAN’ in arsenal, Yogi 2.0 govt targets 2024 bullseye
Yogi Adityanath, whose government is the first to present eight consecutive budgets under the same chief minister in U.P, mentioned that care has been taken to ensure that the common man hasn’t been burdened with additional taxes.
Updated on Feb 06, 2024 08:38 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
Advani’s Rath Yatra reshaped country’s politics
The announcement of conferring Bharat Ratna to LK Advani is expected to keep the temple sentiments in focus ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Updated on Feb 04, 2024 05:20 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
BJP to roll out ‘Ram Darshan Yatra’ plan today
First batch of party facilitated pilgrims to Ayodhya arriving by buses from today; this process would continue almost till March with the party making plans to facilitate visits even till Ram Navami on April 17
Updated on Feb 02, 2024 05:56 AM IST
With Nitish away, coordination among Oppn groups won’t be easy: JD(U) leader
The Nitish Kumar factor will help consolidate Uttar Pradesh’s Kurmi voters in NDA’s favour, says JD(U) general secretary KC Tyagi
Updated on Jan 29, 2024 04:07 AM IST
Odisha leader Baijayant Panda named BJP’s U.P. incharge for polls
The BJP has appointed Baijayant Jay Panda as the party's election in-charge for Uttar Pradesh, while Vijay Pal Singh Tomer will handle Odisha.
Updated on Jan 28, 2024 07:08 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
To regulate pilgrim flow, Astha special trains to Ayodhya deferred till February
From February 5, too, all Astha special trains will leave within 24 hours of their arrival and the state’s transport department will facilitate the movement of the pilgrims to and from the railway station
Updated on Jan 26, 2024 09:10 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Ayodhya
Ayodhya: Better crowd management smoothens Ram Lalla’s darshan
How a reworked strategy, courteous police personnel and scanners worked on Day 2 in Ayodhya to make darshan of deity easier
Updated on Jan 25, 2024 08:28 AM IST
Degrees of devotion in the journey of faith in Ayodhya as Ram Temple inaugurated
Apart from many free kitchens being run across Ayodhya, residents held bhandaras near the Ram Mandir to ensure that none of the devotees go back hungry
Updated on Jan 24, 2024 04:17 AM IST
Ram Lalla rises: PM Modi inaugurates Ram Temple in Ayodhya
New temple dedicated to Lord Ram as a child was consecrated in a grand ceremony marked by faith, politics and fervour, in the presence of dignitaries and guests
Updated on Jan 23, 2024 02:10 AM IST
Ayodhya basking in Treta Yuga glory: Yogi Adityanath as Ram temple inaugurated
Adityanath said that the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation may have been the first time a majority struggled for so many years to ensure a befitting abode to the lord.
Updated on Jan 23, 2024 04:24 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Ayodhya
Ayodhya’s grand tryst with faith, history today
'Historic moment’ will take development journey to new heights: PM Modi; President says it’s start of a fresh cycle in country’s resurgence.
Updated on Jan 22, 2024 02:07 AM IST
Hot spots that narrate the journey of Ram temple movement
The Bada Sthan (on way from Hanuman Garhi to the then makeshift Ram temple), the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s Karsevakpuram, Karyashala (workshop), the Maniram Chhavni and the Digambar Akhara are some such spots besides the Ram Janmabhoomi area that are reminiscent of the temple movement
Updated on Jan 22, 2024 08:46 AM IST
No one goes hungry in Ram’s city
Even as community feasts offer hot meals to devotees in every corner of Ayodhya, the RSS is set to to hold free kitchens also in nearby areas of east UP.
Updated on Jan 22, 2024 05:00 AM IST
Laddoos, love and progress, Ayodhya’s triumph unfurls
There are as many as 178 Ayodhya projects worth ₹30,508.11 crore – all running against different deadlines.
Updated on Jan 21, 2024 07:24 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Ayodhya