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
Politics is a game of possibilities, says SBSP chief Rajbhar
If Mayawatiji and Jayantji back the united opposition front, I am willing to be part of it. Without Mayawatiji, this front makes little sense to me, he says
Updated on Jul 04, 2023 11:41 PM IST
In Lucknow, Shah targets SP, BSP with focus on OBC voters
The senior BJP leader made these remarks while addressing a function to mark the birth anniversary of late Kurmi leader Sonelal Patel
Updated on Jul 02, 2023 11:37 PM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
Shah underlines importance of U.P. allies in Mission 300
Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged the cadres of BJP's OBC allies in Uttar Pradesh to support the party's 'Mission 300' in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and ensure a third consecutive term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shah emphasized the consolidation of backward caste voters in the state and stated that the BJP would contest the parliamentary elections in alliance with the Apna Dal (S) and Nishad party. He also praised the Yogi Adityanath government for law and order and for providing employment to OBC youth. Opposition parties criticized Shah's remarks.
Updated on Jul 02, 2023 10:40 PM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
BJP fires Emergency salvo at Opposition for associating with Congress
Timed with the 48th anniversary of the Emergency, the attack came two days after the Opposition parties met in Patna on June 23 to mull over a plan to jointly take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Updated on Jun 25, 2023 10:25 PM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
Tech newest warrior to enter battlefield, says defence minister Rajnath Singh
Defence minister Rajnath Singh raised such concerns during his three-day visit to his Lucknow Lok Sabha constituency.
Updated on Jun 23, 2023 01:45 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
In UP, 51 ‘Modi Mitras’ feted as BJP steps up Muslim outreach ahead of 2024
The BJP's minority wing in Uttar Pradesh felicitated 51 Muslim individuals as "Modi Mitra" (friends of Modi) at an event in Deoband town as part of its outreach program ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The initiative aims to identify prominent Muslims who are appreciative of PM Modi's initiatives and benefited from various welfare schemes of the BJP-led Union government. Similar events will be organized across all 80 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state. The BJP won the Deoband assembly seat, comprising around 40% Muslims, in both 2017 and 2022 elections.
Updated on Jun 23, 2023 12:46 AM IST
Decision to include BSP in Oppn alliance would be joint, not Cong’ alone: JD(U)
Amid the newfound buzz that the BSP and Congress were probing possibilities of an alliance, KC Tyagi, special advisor and chief spokesperson of Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal (U) made it clear that as of now only SP and RLD had been invited for the opposition meet from UP. JD (U) leader and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has convened the joint opposition meet in Patna on Friday. He said the decision to align with the BSP and make it a part of the united opposition strategy would be a joint decision, not that of any one party alone.
Updated on Jun 21, 2023 11:55 PM IST
Guest list at son’s wedding reception underlines importance of SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar before 2024 polls
The SBSP chief, who has perfected the art of the political flip-flop, would again be the most sought after Other Backward Classes (OBC) ally in eastern Uttar Pradesh for both the Bhartiya Janata Party and the Samajwadi Party.
Updated on Jun 15, 2023 10:42 PM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh government’s cultural policy on anvil, to be in sync with Centre’s
Online digital directory of groups that enact the Ram Leela or local folk singers to be formed, cultural centres will be set up at panchayat level
Updated on May 18, 2023 11:28 PM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
BJP’s Kamal Mitras to connect with women in each Lok Sabha constituency
Ahead of 2024 polls, these campaigners will be trained to impart details of 15 women-centric schemes of the central government in nine languages
Updated on May 18, 2023 10:32 PM IST
BJP has golden numbers to roll out big ticket projects in UP ahead of 2024 LS polls
The saffron party has notched up numbers it never had earlier in various municipal corporations of UP. The party could readmit those who had rebelled, contested as independents and won the civic polls. If that happens, the BJP’s overall strength in the corporations would go up further
Updated on May 16, 2023 08:57 PM IST
Yogi’s sway key factor behind BJP’s sweep in UP mayor elections
The UP urban local body polls were used by all major political parties to experiment and test the mood of the urban voters before the 2024.
Updated on May 15, 2023 02:36 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
BJP win in U.P. civic polls cushions impact of K’nataka jolt
The BJP also won in several minority-dominated areas for the first time – its win in Suar assembly seat in Muslim-dominated Rampur in the assembly by-poll, for instance, means Samajwadi Party’s third straight loss to the BJP in its bastion.
Updated on May 14, 2023 01:16 AM IST
Battle for UP bypolls: Azam Khan talks tough in Rampur, it’s ‘bahu vs beti’ in Mirzapur
A tough contest is expected in Rampur’s Suar assembly seat where Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam have campaigned for the Samajwadi Party while BJP despite leaving the seat for its ally Apna Dal (S) has actively campaigned. BJP has left the Chhanbey seat too for its ally where sympathy factor is on play
Updated on May 10, 2023 01:33 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
Parties using Uttar Pradesh civic elections to feel pulse for 2024 Lok Sabha polls
Muslim voting pattern of key interest in the two-phase urban local bodies’ elections that will begin in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday
Updated on May 03, 2023 11:10 PM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
BJP ups ante against SP as Nitish Kumar meets Akhilesh
Samajwadi Party says it would file a defamation case against those responsible for the musical video put out by the BJP, in which Akhilesh was mentioned
Updated on Apr 24, 2023 10:25 PM IST
Nitish Kumar to meet Akhilesh Yadav amid talk of broad coalition against BJP
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Kumar’s deputy, Tejashwi Yadav, was also expected to attend the meeting between leaders of the key parties of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
Updated on Apr 24, 2023 01:03 PM IST
UP civic polls: BJP to showcase firm resolve against criminals
As this is the last big political exercise to assess the mood of the urban electorate ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP and its top leadership are set to use the ‘mafia tamed in Yogi 2.0’ line to convince people of the restoration of rule of law under the BJP
Updated on Apr 19, 2023 01:26 AM IST
Dalit politics takes centre stage: Now, UP BJP to raise ‘Lucknow guest house incident’
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has tasked its SC/ST wing to connect with Dalits and tell them how the BJP had saved Maya from being targeted by a mob comprising SP cadre.
Updated on Apr 06, 2023 12:24 PM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
Tariq Mansoor resigns as AMU V-C after nomination as UP MLC
Once Mansoor takes oath as a member of the legislative council, he will become BJP’s fourth Muslim MLC in the 100-member House
Updated on Apr 04, 2023 10:54 PM IST
Civic polls in UP: Revised reservation criteria, changing fortunes
Much has changed since December 5 , when the Yogi 2.0 govt first issued notification. For instance, the Lucknow mayor’s seat, which was reserved for women in 2017, declared a general seat in December 5 notification has again been reserved for women, forcing parties to rechart the selection process
Updated on Apr 04, 2023 10:37 PM IST
Maya raises student suicides, blames ‘caste exploitation’
Government neglect, lack of rule of law and increasing caste exploitation are leading to increasing cases of suicide in higher educational institutes. The governments need to take urgent steps to check the trend, Maya said.
Published on Mar 16, 2023 01:59 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh: BJP brainstorms over Mission Opposition at core committee meeting
Possible MLC picks for six vacancies, organisational changes and party plan for civic polls also likely to have been discussed at the BJP core committee meeting at CM Yogi Adityanath’s official residence in Lucknow
Updated on Mar 05, 2023 12:56 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
Prayagraj killings: Maya could show the door to Atiq’s wife
In a tweet on Saturday, Mayawati advocated strong action against the guilty in the Prayagraj killing in which unidentified assailants shot dead Umesh Pal and his security personnel
Published on Feb 26, 2023 12:42 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
After Abdullah’s disqualification, BJP eyes expanding base in Rampur
BJP Rampur Sadar MLA Akash Saxena writes to EC, demands removal of Abdullah Azam’s name from the voter list
Published on Feb 17, 2023 12:30 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
FTAs will open up market access, help U.P.’s wineries: Piyush Goyal
There are many countries where people want to taste Indian wine and liquor, said the Union commerce and industry minister
Published on Feb 12, 2023 11:39 PM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
UP Global Investors Summit: LuLu group to set up food processing units, more malls in Uttar Pradesh
Investors from partner countries at UP Global Investors Summit said there has been a change in mindset about investing in Uttar Pradesh
Published on Feb 11, 2023 11:39 PM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
UP Global Investors Summit: Denmark to set up river lab in Varanasi, Singapore says it has pledged ₹29,000 crore investments
UP Global Investors Summit: Partner country leaders praise Yogi Adityanath for state’s image makeover
Updated on Feb 11, 2023 01:34 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
History is a living subject, should be revisited: Ashoka University chancellor
Ashoka University chancellor Rudrangshu Mukherjee strongly feels that mathematics and history both are among the worst taught subjects in most Indian schools, both suffer from same lacunae.
Updated on Feb 05, 2023 08:33 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow
OBC politics plays out in UP, now deputy CM Maurya backs demand for caste census
The demand for a caste census is based on the premise that it would help the government rework social justice rollout and identify such caste groups that are unrepresented or underrepresented.
Updated on Feb 05, 2023 08:38 AM IST
Manish Chandra Pandey, Lucknow