India Today

India Today is the leading news magazine and most widely read publication in India. The magazine’s leadership is unquestioned, so much so that India Today is what Indian journalism is judged by, for its integrity and ability to bring unbiased and incisive perspective to arguably the most dynamic, yet perplexing, region in the world. Breaking news and shaping opinion, it is now a household name and the flagship brand of India’s leading multidimensional media group. Additionally, the weekly brings with it a range supplements like Women, Home, Aspire, Spice and Simply which focus on style, health, education, fashion, etc. and Indian cities.

FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

India Today

Presenting India Today Insight • For sharp analysis on topical issues by the editors of INDIA TODAY, log on to www.indiatoday.in/india-today-magazine-insight

MAKING A PERFECT SCORE BETTER • WITH TWO PREVIOUS CLEAN SWEEPS, THE BJP SITS PRETTY IN UTTARAKHAND. THE CHALLENGE BEFORE IT IS TO WIN BY EVEN BIGGER MARGINS

KURMIS TAKE A STAND • Unhappy with the state and Centre for not granting them ST status, the community will fight independently in several seats they helped the BJP win in 2019

Kshatriyas Declare War on Rupala • The minister’s appeasement of Dalits has upset the warrior class, who want his candidature withdrawn or they will stir trouble for the BJP in all 26 seats

A SENSE OF DEPRIVATION • As the Uddhav Sena gets a lion’s share in the MVA seat-sharing deal, discontent brews within Congress ranks over the leadership conceding three key seats

THE DUNKI REPUBLIC

Dravidian Jathedars

JUMLA BABA

BETWEEN THE LINES

SULTANS OF AASMAN

AAMCHI ENGLISH

LUCKY PRASADA

RISE & FALL

Diggy’s Own Char Sau Paar

HIT PAWS

MISSING IN ACTION

CAN BJP STORM THE SOUTH? • CRUCIAL TO ITS GRAND AMBITION OF 400-PLUS SEATS, THE PARTY GOES ON A WAR FOOTING IN THE FIVE SOUTHERN STATES. BUT WITH EACH STRONGHOLD POSING A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE, IT IS A TASK EASIER SET THAN DONE

A FORMIDABLE FRONT • THE DMK-LED ALLIANCE IS LOOKING TO REPEAT ITS 2019 LOK SABHA SWEEP IN TAMIL NADU. THE AIADMK AND BJP FIGHTING THE ELECTION SEPARATELY SHOULD AID ITS CAUSE, BUT THERE COULD BE SURPRISES IN STORE

THE FOCUS AREAS

A SINGHAM IN SAFFRON • FORMER IPS OFFICER ANNAMALAI IS ON A MISSION TO MAKE THE BJP THE PRIME CHALLENGER IN TAMIL NADU. THE BATTLE FOR THE COIMBATORE LOK SABHA SEAT IS SETTING THE TEMPLATE

REWRITING THE KERALA STORY • THE CONGRESS HOLDING ON TO ONE OF ITS LAST BASTIONS, THE LEFT LOOKING FOR RESURRECTION AND THE BJP SEARCHING FOR A BREACH IN THE WALLS. WHICH WAY WILL KERALA TURN?

THE GAMEPLAN

THE RIFT OF THE GAB • AS SHASHI THAROOR LOOKS TO MAKE IT FOUR IN A ROW FOR THE CONGRESS IN THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, THE BJP’S RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR COULD WELL SPRING A SURPRISE

VERBAL BOXING • On the campaign trail, three-time Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor of the Congress and Rajeev Chandrasekhar of the BJP spoke to India Today Group Editorial Director Raj Chengappa on key issues. Here, in point-counterpoint, are excerpts of their answers

BATTLE OF THE GUARANTEES • A RESURGENT CONGRESS UNDER CM SIDDARAMAIAH IS RELYING ON ITS WELFARE GUARANTEES TO NEUTRALISE PM NARENDRA MODI’S CHARISMA AND THE IMPACT OF HIS FLAGSHIP SCHEMES

WHAT THEY ARE BETTING ON

ON A KNIFE-EDGE • YSRCP CHIEF JAGAN REDDY AND HIS TDP COUNTERPART CHANDRABABU NAIDU ARE LOCKED IN A KEEN CONTEST. THE LATTER’S NDA ALLIANCE ALSO STANDS IN THE WAY OF THE ANDHRA CM’S DREAMS OF A SECOND TERM IN POWER IN TWIN POLLS

THE BATTLE PLANS

ADVANTAGE CONGRESS • AN INCREASINGLY INTENSE CONGRESS-BJP FIGHT IS PUSHING AN ALREADY BRUISED BRS TO THE SIDELINES

THEIR WINNING FORMULAS

IN...