EP-458 | What’s Going Wrong for BJP? SIR, CJP Protest & Rahul Gandhi | Neerja, Rasheed, Nistula

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, senior journalists Neerja Chowdhury, Rasheed Kidwai and Nistula Hebbar discuss the BJP’s strategy, the CJP protest, Rahul Gandhi’s political approach, the SIR controversy and the challenges facing the NDA government.
They also examine whether the opposition can turn public anger into votes and what the road ahead looks like for the BJP.*Timestamps*
00:00 – Introduction
01:40 – BJP on Protests
06:36 – NEET vs SIR Protests
12:26 – BJP Losing the Plot?
16:56 – SIR Controversy
19:49 – Indira Gandhi and Protests
22:32 – BJP’s Political Response
23:06 – SIR vs Mandal
25:59 – BJP’s Protest Strategy
29:24 – What Should CEC Do?
30:58 – INDIA Bloc’s Strategy
35:10 – Rahul Gandhi’s Spies Claim
40:34 – Social Media’s Power
42:51 – Rahul Gandhi’s Impact
44:47 – Is BJP Scared?
46:00 – Vote Bank Politics
48:01 – SIR in UP
50:49 – Akhilesh vs Congress
54:30 – Social Media and Voting
55:48 – New Blood in Congress
1:03:34 – Mamata’s National Ambitions
1:09:15 – Owaisi’s Vote Strategy
1:12:21 – Goa Politics
1:14:34 – Punjab Polls 2027
1:17:20 – BJP’s Punjab Strategy
1:24:13 – Rahul Ignoring State Polls?
1:26:29 – BJP Nervous About UP?
1:31:08 – BJP’s Biggest Challenge
1:33:50 – Reshuffle and Modi’s Successor
1:37:16 – Amit Shah as Deputy PM?