Sunetra Choudhury is the National Political Editor of the Hindustan Times. With over two decades of experience in print and television, she has authored Black Warrant (Roli,2019), Behind Bars: Prison Tales of India’s Most Famous (Roli,2017) and Braking News (Hachette, 2010). Sunetra is the recipient of the Red Ink award in journalism in 2016 and Mary Morgan Hewett award in 2018.
Articles by Sunetra Choudhury
Why defence ministry chaired the GoM on Class 12 exams
One of the officials quoted above said PM Modi chose Rajnath Singh after consultations because he wanted not only his senior-most minister but also someone who had experience in this area.
Updated on May 25, 2021 06:16 AM IST
Sunetra Choudhury, New Delhi
Why defence min chaired the GoM on Class 12 exams
New Delhi Defence minister Rajnath Singh was handpicked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week to head the group of ministers (GoM) looking into the feasibility of conducting Class 12 examinations because of his stature as the government’s senior-most minister and cross-party acceptance, HT has learnt after speaking to two senior government officials
Published on May 25, 2021 12:14 AM IST
Sunetra Choudhury
With Shailaja’s omission, decoding the Indian Left’s gender blind spot
The CM may have ruled out a rethink but not everyone is convinced with this decision. HT spoke to a cross section of women Left leaders on the record, including a Communist Party of India (Marxist) politburo member, who don’t agree with the chief minister
Updated on May 28, 2021 11:23 AM IST
Sunetra Choudhury
Ramp up your vaccination to permanently control this virus: Dr Faheem Younus
The chief of infectious diseases at the University of Maryland talks about the disease, Covid-19 vaccination, etc
Updated on May 21, 2021 11:48 AM IST
The inside story of why the BJP lost Bengal
The official party line is that it is focused, at the moment, in protecting workers from a vindictive TMC’s violent attacks post elections, to do any in-depth review of the results
Updated on May 17, 2021 01:57 PM IST
Sunetra Choudhury
‘Vaccine is not 100% protective, but it’s highly effective’: Former CDC director
Tom Frieden, a former director of US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), runs Resolve to Save Lives, a global public health organisation. He talks about the second Covid wave in India
Updated on May 11, 2021 01:52 PM IST
Sunetra Choudhury
Factionalism, poor local leadership behind poll losses: Leaders at CWC meet
The party again deferred its internal election to find a successor of president Sonia Gandhi “in view of the nationwide emergent conditions prevailing on account of unprecedented Corona pandemic.”
Updated on May 11, 2021 09:14 AM IST
Saubhadra ChatterjiSunetra Choudhury, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Former Congress leaders now helm six states
Abhishek Manu Singhvi’s message was likely prompted by Himanta Biswa Sarma being sworn in as CM of Assam.
Updated on May 11, 2021 05:41 AM IST
Sunetra Choudhury, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Top Central government officials attend session on boosting image, perception
HT learns that the meeting, attended by several secretaries of the government, saw the minister emphasising the need to focus on positive news.
Updated on May 05, 2021 11:44 AM IST
Sunetra Choudhury, New Delhi
How TMC pulled off a massive win against formidable BJP
TMC successfully used a combination of Asmita, messaging about successful delivery of welfare schemes and a strategic campaign against anti-incumbency to defeat a formidable campaign launched by the BJP, according to party members and election strategists involved in the campaign
Updated on May 03, 2021 10:13 AM IST
Sunetra Choudhury
‘Demand for medical oxygen rising rapidly in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, UP’: Experts
While there is still a lack of clarity over the situation in Delhi, the Centre said it is supplying enough, the state said it isn’t receiving enough while the Delhi High Court has criticised both governments for not doing their job
Updated on Apr 27, 2021 11:17 PM IST
Sunetra Choudhury
PM Modi chairs meets on infra crisis as cases, deaths soar
In his meeting with chief ministers of 11 worst-hit states and Union territories, Modi said the central government was working to increase oxygen production and ensure seamless supply across states.
Updated on Apr 25, 2021 05:38 AM IST
Sunetra Choudhury, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Work as one nation to ensure no scarcity: Modi to CMs amid surge in Covid cases
In his meeting with chief ministers of 11 worst-hit states, Modi stressed India was able to fight the first wave of the pandemic due to “collective power, united effort, and strategy’’
Published on Apr 23, 2021 05:35 PM IST
Sunetra Choudhury
Top central govt official steps in to ensure smoother interstate oxygen movement
The second wave of the Covid-19 outbreak has sparked shortages of hospital beds and other crucial supplies such as oxygen and medicines. Oxygen is a critical medical intervention against Covid-19
Published on Apr 22, 2021 03:54 PM IST
Sunetra Choudhury, New Delhi
Bengal has been a divided ground for long: Amartya Sen
What happens electorally is not just a matter of what preceding justice was in a particular area. It depends so much on the organisational facility, said Amartya Sen.
Published on Apr 19, 2021 02:33 AM IST
Sunetra Choudhury
Amit Shah got his numbers wrong in 11 states: Amit Mitra
West Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra said, "This 200 seats was said by Mr Amit Shah. Now what is his track record -- In 11 states, he got his number wrong. In 13 states, the BJP underperformed since 2019."
Updated on Apr 17, 2021 04:42 AM IST
Sunetra Choudhury, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Bengal has been committed to secularism in a way that’s remarkable: Amartya Sen
What happens electorally is not just a matter of what preceding justice was in a particular area. It depends so much on the organisational facility, says Amartya Sen
Updated on Apr 16, 2021 08:32 PM IST
Sunetra Choudhury
BJP, TMC spar over Prashant Kishor’s conversation with journalists
Kishor immediately hit back over “the selective and distorted use of part of the conversation” and asked the BJP to release the full conversation. In a tweet, Kishor added he is repeating that the BJP will not cross 100 seats in the 294-member state assembly.
Updated on Apr 11, 2021 12:25 AM IST
Sunetra Choudhury, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
BJP hits Mamata with Prashant Kishor’s clip on PM Modi. He responds with a dare
In a tweet, Prashant Kishor added he is repeating that the BJP will not cross 100 seats in the 294-member state assembly.
Updated on Apr 10, 2021 01:41 PM IST
Sunetra Choudhury, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
BJP internal assessment: Nandigram a contest
On record, however, the BJP says none of the 294 seats is difficult. “It is the first time our party has gone to 80,000 of the total 100,000 polling booths that we have across the state
Updated on Apr 07, 2021 07:42 AM IST
Sunetra Choudhury, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
BJP categorises Bengal constituencies, says Nandigram not ‘a tough contest’
The categorisation has been done by top BJP strategists, and the list itself is with only some of the party’s top leaders and campaigners, HT has learnt
Updated on Apr 06, 2021 07:33 PM IST
Sunetra Choudhury
PM’s principal adviser, PK Sinha, steps down
His office confirmed that Sinha had submitted his resignation, but there were no immediate details behind the reason for his exit
Updated on Mar 16, 2021 05:35 PM IST
Sunetra Choudhury
Split in OBC quota may help most backward from next year
2 panel members confirmed that they will recommend the current 27% quota be broken up into 4, or even 5 sub-categories.
Published on Mar 16, 2021 05:11 AM IST
Sunetra Choudhury, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
‘We can expect healthy changes to state quota bill’: Dushyant Chautala
"We were a producing state and if we have to survive in the future, we have to get more consumption with locals than people who will take the money out of the state," he said.
Updated on Mar 12, 2021 06:41 AM IST
Sunetra Choudhury, New Delhi
1999 Kargil war: Ex-Pak envoy denies US diplomat’s claim
Responding to revelations in Celeste’s forthcoming book reported by Hindustan Times last month, Qazi said: “My government did not instruct me to do any such thing as its communications with the US would naturally be through either our mission in Washington and/or the US mission in Islamabad.’’
Updated on Mar 11, 2021 03:52 AM IST
Sunetra Choudhury, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
'Set up help desks near Covid-19 vaccination centres': PM Modi in BJP MPs’ meet
“Even if you have to park their cars, or help the elderly get to the vaccination camps, do that,” the PM said at the meeting according to a second person, a BJP MP.
Updated on Mar 11, 2021 03:49 AM IST
Sunetra Choudhury, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Tirath Singh Rawat’s ability to take everyone along key factor for selection
New Delhi When the assembly elections were held in Uttarakhand in 2017, Tirath Singh Rawat was not given a ticket despite being the president of the party in the state and a sitting legislator
Updated on Mar 11, 2021 03:04 AM IST
Sunetra Choudhury, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Maharashtra guv’s meeting may have led to Trivendra Rawat’s exit in Uttarakhand
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) decision to remove Trivendra Singh Rawat a year before the polls appears to be a move to quell intraparty resentment against him. Rawat refused to share power and had about 60-odd portfolios
Updated on Mar 10, 2021 09:50 AM IST
Sunetra Choudhury, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
2nd half of Budget session may be cut short due to state polls
An official said that both Houses could meet at 11 am from the second week following the vaccination of eligible MPs.
Updated on Mar 08, 2021 12:40 AM IST
Saubhadra ChatterjiSunetra Choudhury, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Cyber policy to factor in threat from state actors
The 50-odd pages document, anchored by the national security adviser’s office, is now awaiting the approval from the Prime Minister’s office before it is released.
Updated on Mar 05, 2021 06:38 AM IST
Sunetra Choudhury, Hindustan Times, New Delhi