Frontline Conversations

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Frontline Conversations

  1. 4 days ago

    Inside the US-Iran deal: Talmiz Ahmad on Trump, Israel, Iran, and a changing Middle East

    Amid a fragile US-Iran ceasefire and a major shift in West Asian geopolitics, what does the latest agreement mean for Iran, Israel, the US, and the future of the region? In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Talmiz Ahmad, former Indian diplomat and West Asia expert, analyses the changing dynamics of the Middle East and the forces shaping its future. Drawing on his decades of diplomatic experience and his book "West Asia at War: Repression, Resistance, and Great Power Games", Ambassador Ahmad examines the evolving relationship between Washington and Tehran, Israel’s role in regional politics, and whether the latest developments could mark a turning point in decades of conflict. The interview also looks at the wider implications for India, including its energy interests, diplomatic balancing act, and engagement with a region central to global politics and security. Highlights: US-Iran relations and the future of diplomacy Israel’s role in West Asian geopolitics Iran’s nuclear programme and regional strategy Trump’s Middle East policy and peace efforts Palestine, Lebanon, and the future of regional stability India’s interests in West Asia UPSC aspirants tracking international relations and geopolitics Students of political science, diplomacy, and international affairs Journalists covering West Asia and global conflicts Viewers seeking deeper analysis beyond headlines Perfect for: Credits: Host: Bashir Ali Abbas Editing: Razal Pareed Producer: Kavya Pradeep M If you found this discussion insightful, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to Frontline for more in-depth conversations. Subscribe to Frontline: Subscribe to Frontline Digital: Renewals / New Subscriptions for Unlimited Access Follow us on: Facebook -   / frontlineindia   Twitter - Frontline (@frontline_india) / X Instagram -   / frontline.magazine   LinkedIn -   / frontline-magazine-b12921295  #TalmizAhmad #WestAsia #MiddleEast #Iran #Israel #USIran #Geopolitics #InternationalRelations #IndiaForeignPolicy #Diplomacy #Trump #FrontlineConversations #CurrentAffairs

    54 min

  2. 19 Jun

    Inside the TMC crisis: Sagarika Ghose on power, loyalty, and politics

    In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Sagarika Ghose, Rajya Sabha MP, Trinamool Congress, discusses the unprecedented political crisis facing the Trinamool Congress following its defeat in the West Bengal 2026 Assembly election. As the party grapples with defections by senior leaders, legislators, and parliamentarians, Ghose offers her perspective on the reasons behind the exodus, the role of the BJP, and the future of Mamata Banerjee's political project. The conversation examines allegations of political intimidation, the use of investigative agencies against opposition leaders, questions surrounding the conduct of the 2026 election, and the growing debate over internal democracy within the Trinamool Congress. Ghose also reflects on Mamata Banerjee's leadership, Abhishek Banerjee's role in the party, the ideological foundations of the Trinamool Congress, and the party's relationship with the Congress and the INDIA alliance. As Bengal's political landscape undergoes a dramatic transformation, this discussion explores whether the Trinamool Congress can recover from its current crisis and what the developments mean for opposition politics in India. Chapters: 00:00 | Intro: Is Trinamool Congress falling apart? 02:05 | Sagarika Ghosh on TMC rebellion & mass defections 05:34 | Allegations of political vendetta and state power misuse 07:42 | Why are Mamata Banerjee's loyalists deserting her? 12:49 | Was power the only glue holding TMC together? 14:28 | BJP's strategy, delimitation & creating an 'artificial majority' 19:45 | Did IPAC's role trigger discontent inside TMC? 24:00 | Was the 2026 Bengal election free and fair? 29:30 | Why Is TMC's core leadership surrendering to BJP? 31:42 | Does Trinamool Congress have an ideology? 35:45 | TMC's "grassroots liberalism" and Bengali identity explained 39:04 | TMC-Congress talks and the future of INDIA alliance 41:01 | Is this the end of Mamata Banerjee? 42:21 | Is Abhishek Banerjee's political future in danger? 44:34 | Conclusion: Can Mamata Banerjee rebuild TMC? Perfect for: • Viewers interested in West Bengal politics and the future of the Trinamool Congress • Audiences following the INDIA alliance and opposition politics in India • Students of Indian democracy, elections, and federal politics • Those interested in Mamata Banerjee's political journey and leadership style • Anyone seeking to understand the implications of political defections and party realignments Credits: Host: Suhrid Sankar Chattopadhyay Editing: Razal Pareed Producers: Kavya Pradeep M and Mridula Vijayarangakumar If you found this discussion insightful, don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to Frontline for more in-depth conversations. Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online... Follow us on: Facebook -   / frontlineindia   Twitter - Frontline (@frontline_india) / X Instagram -   / frontline.magazine   LinkedIn -   / frontline-magazine-b12921295  #sagarikaghose #MamataBanerjee #TrinamoolCongress #WestBengalPolitics #FrontlineConversations #INDIAAlliance #BJP #AbhishekBanerjee #PoliticalInterview #IndianPolitics #Democracy #ElectionPolitics #OppositionPolitics #WestBengal #CurrentAffairs #PoliticalAnalysis

    44 min

  3. 19 Jun

    Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek, and the struggle for Trinamool's future | Jawhar Sircar

    In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Jawhar Sircar, Former Rajya Sabha MP, Trinamool Congress, analyses the political crisis engulfing the Trinamool following its electoral defeat and the rebellion by a majority of its legislators. Sircar reflects on the structural weaknesses within the party, the rise of Abhishek Banerjee, the growing discontent among Trinamool leaders, and the factors that led to the dramatic split within the organisation. Drawing on his experience as both an administrator and a former insider in the party, he discusses the culture of dissent within the TMC, the politics of loyalty and power, the role of the BJP in the unfolding developments, and why many legislators may be seeking political survival rather than ideological realignment. Chapters: 01:12 | Was TMC's collapse expected? 03:38 | Why Mamata ignored internal warnings 05:08 | Is the revolt really against Abhishek Banerjee? 08:00 | Is BJP backing the TMC rebels? 11:29 | Why rebel MLAs need political protection 14:04 | Are TMC rebels becoming BJP's shadow opposition? 15:08 | Can TMC survive without Mamata Banerjee? 18:37 | Rise of Ritabrata Banerjee and the new TMC leadership 19:58 | Do the rebel leaders Have a political future? 20:32 | Does Mamata Banerjee still have a future in politics? 22:25 | Corruption, governance, and TMC's decline 25:05 | When did Mamata start losing control? 27:40 | What role can Mamata play in the INDIA bloc now? 30:40 | Conclusion: Is BJP backing the TMC rebels? Perfect for: • Viewers interested in West Bengal politics and the Trinamool Congress • Students of Indian politics and regional parties • Audiences following the BJP's rise in eastern India • Those interested in political defections, party structures, and leadership crises • Anyone seeking to understand Mamata Banerjee's political future Credits: Host: Suhrid Sankar Chattopadhyay Camera: Jayanta Shaw Editing: Razal Pareed Producers: Kavya Pradeep M and Mridula Vijayarangakumar If you found this discussion insightful, don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to Frontline for more in-depth conversations. #MamataBanerjee #TMCCrisis #JawharSircar #WestBengalPolitics #TrinamoolCongress #BJP #BengalPolitics #IndiaPolitics #AbhishekBanerjee #PoliticalAnalysis #IndianPolitics #FrontlineConversations #INDIAAlliance #PoliticalInterview #WestBengal Subscribe to Frontline: Subscribe to Frontline Digital: Renewals / New Subscriptions for Unlimited Access Follow us on: Facebook -   / frontlineindia   Twitter -   / frontline_india   Instagram -   / frontline.magazine   LinkedIn -   / frontline-magazine-b12921295

    31 min

  4. 19 Jun

    TMC split explained: Ritabrata Banerjee on corruption, power, and rebellion

    In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Ritabrata Banerjee, Leader of the Opposition, Trinamool Legislative Party, speaks about the political upheaval that has shaken West Bengal politics following the Assembly election results. Banerjee discusses the rebellion by a majority of Trinamool MLAs, allegations of internal authoritarianism, the growing influence of Abhishek Banerjee within the party, and why many legislators believe the party leadership became disconnected from grassroots workers. He also addresses claims that the rebellion benefits the BJP, reflects on Mamata Banerjee's future role in the party, and outlines his vision for a more democratic and constructive opposition in West Bengal. Chapters: 01:58 | Why TMC MLAs rebelled 04:00 | Forged signatures, CID probe & Assembly controversy 06:20 | Attack on Abhishek Banerjee's leadership 08:10 | TMC Ignored ground reality 10:11 | Will More TMC MLAs switch sides? 14:26 | Mamata Banerjee's new role after the revolt 16:17 | Has Mamata lost control of Trinamool Congress? 17:16 | Are the rebels secretly helping BJP? 19:15 | Corruption allegations and the role of IPAC 22:32 | Battle for the TMC symbol: What's next? 23:54 | INDIA alliance, 2029 elections & future strategy 24:54 | Closing remarks Perfect for: • Viewers interested in West Bengal politics and Trinamool Congress developments • Students, researchers, and followers of Indian political affairs • Audiences tracking the future of Mamata Banerjee and the INDIA alliance • Those interested in party democracy, political leadership, and factional politics • Anyone seeking to understand the significance of the Trinamool rebellion Credits: Host: Suhrid Sankar Chattopadhyay Camera: Jayanta Shaw Editing: Razal Pareed Producers: Kavya Pradeep M and Mridula Vijayarangakumar #MamataBanerjee #trinamool #westbengal #RitobrataBanerjee #tmc #WestBengalPolitics #AbhishekBanerjee #BJP #IndiaAlliance #PoliticalInterview #BengalNews #IndianPolitics #WestBengal #OppositionPolitics If you found this discussion insightful, don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to Frontline for more in-depth conversations. Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online-subscription/ Follow us on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/frontlineindia/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/frontline_india Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/frontline.magazine LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/frontline-magazine-b12921295/

    24 min

  5. 19 Jun

    Engineer Rashid’s family on jail, grief, and Kashmir politics

    In this episode of Frontline Conversations, MLA Sheikh Khursheed and Abrar Rashid, brother and son of MP Engineer Rashid respectively, speak about the personal and political fallout of Engineer Rashid's seven-year incarceration, the impact of Article 370, and the future of Kashmir politics. Abrar Rashid reflects on growing up without his father, the trauma experienced by families separated by imprisonment, and why he believes Article 370 changed the course of his life. Sheikh Khursheed discusses the legal battle surrounding Engineer Rashid, the challenges faced by the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party, and his criticism of governance in Jammu & Kashmir. The conversation explores democracy, justice, representation, and the aspirations of Kashmiris in a post-Article 370 era. Chapters: 00:00 | Introduction 01:54 | Life after Article 370 and Engineer Rashid's arrest 05:42 | The family's legal battle 08:18 | Growing up without a father 14:00 | "My dreams were shattered after Article 370" 16:20 | Kashmir's collective trauma 19:15 | AIP's electoral challenges 27:40 | Liquor ban, drugs, and public health 33:20 | Demolition drives and Kashmir politics Credits: Host: Gowhar Geelani Camera: Adil Abass and Idrees Abbas Editing: Razal Pareed Producers: Mridula Vijayarangakumar and Kavya Pradeep M If you found this discussion insightful, don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to Frontline for more in-depth conversations. Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online-subscription/ Follow us on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/frontlineindia/ Twitter - Frontline (@frontline_india) / X Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/frontline.magazine LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/frontline-magazine-b12921295/ #EngineerRashid #AbrarRashid #Kashmir #Article370 #KashmirPolitics #OmarAbdullah #JammuAndKashmir #Baramulla #AIP #IndianPolitics #FrontlineConversations #CurrentAffairs

    35 min

  6. 17 Jun

    Why Amaravati became India's most controversial capital project | Carol Upadhya interview

    Why did thousands of Andhra Pradesh farmers voluntarily give up their land for Amaravati? In this episode of Frontline Conversations, social anthropologist Carol Upadhya discusses the rise, fall, and revival of Andhra Pradesh's capital city project, exploring caste politics, land pooling, real estate booms, environmental risks, the Amaravati protests, and the political contest between Chandrababu Naidu and Jagan Mohan Reddy. Drawing on more than ten years of fieldwork and her new book, "Urbanizing the Future: A New City Project in Agrarian South India", Upadhya examines why many farmers willingly gave up their land for the Amaravati project. She examines the experiences of farmers, landless labourers, Dalits, women protesters, activists, planners, and policymakers, while looking at larger questions about urbanisation, dispossession, environmental risk, and development in contemporary India. Chapters: 00:00 | Introduction: Carol Upadhya on Amaravati 01:31 | Why Amaravati fascinated researchers 03:55 | Why did farmers give up land? 06:09 | Role of caste and Chandrababu Naidu 08:42 | How farmers were convinced to join Amaravati 10:24 | Resistance, coercion, and environmental concerns 14:54 | Landless labourers, Dalits, and unequal outcomes 17:41 | What happens to villages inside a planned city? 19:52 | Flood risks and ecological concerns 23:14 | Real estate speculation and land boom 26:03 | World Bank, Singapore, and financing Andhra 30:35 | Jagan Mohan Reddy's three-capital proposal 33:59 | Save Amaravati movement 35:52 | Women's role in Amaravati protests 38:34 | Amaravati today: Progress and challenges 42:44 | Is Amaravati India's urban future or a warning? Perfect for: • Viewers interested in Andhra Pradesh politics and Amaravati • Students of urbanisation, development studies, and public policy • Audiences following Chandrababu Naidu and Andhra's capital debate • Researchers interested in land acquisition, caste, and agrarian change • Anyone seeking to understand the future of Indian cities and planned urban development Credits: Host: Ayesha Minhaz Editing: Razal Pareed Creative Assistance: Mridula Vijayarangakumar Camera and Production: Kavya Pradeep M If you found this discussion insightful, don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to Frontline for more in-depth conversations. Subscribe to Frontline: Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online... Follow us on: Facebook -   / frontlineindia   Twitter -   / frontline_india   Instagram -   / frontline.magazine   LinkedIn -   / frontline-magazine-b12921295

    43 min

  7. 5 Jun

    Can the Cockroach Janta Party become India's next political movement? | Abhijeet Dipke

    In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the viral Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), speaks about the movement that has captured the imagination of millions of young Indians in just a few weeks. What began as political satire has rapidly evolved into a youth-led campaign centred on unemployment, exam controversies, political representation, and growing disillusionment with India's political establishment. Dipke reflects on his journey from a Dalit family in Maharashtra to Boston University, why he chose to return to India despite opportunities in the United States, and why he believes Gen Z has lost faith in traditional political parties. The conversation explores the rise of CJP, the anger surrounding NEET, CUET, the power of social media mobilisation, the challenges facing young Indians, and whether this movement could reshape India's political discourse. Chapters: 00:00 | What is Cockroach Janta Party? 01:38 | Abhijeet Dipke's journey from Maharashtra to Boston 05:18 | "It was supposed to be a joke" 07:01 | Why CJP went viral among Gen Z 08:52 | Youth frustration, unemployment & exam controversies 10:06 | The need for young political leadership 11:23 | Who is funding CJP? 14:05 | Leaving the US and returning to India 15:20 | Going from anonymity to viral fame 16:37 | Threats, backlash and family concerns 18:10 | The June 6 protest plan 19:25 | CJP's ideology and political vision 22:37 | Is this India's next major youth movement? 24:30 | Building the organisation behind CJP 25:45 | Will CJP become a political party? Perfect for: • Students and young voters interested in Indian politics • UPSC aspirants and current affairs audiences • Viewers following the NEET and education controversies • Those interested in Gen Z political engagement • Anyone seeking to understand the rise of Cockroach Janta Party Credits: Host: Soni Mishra Editing: Razal Pareed Producers: Kavya Pradeep M and Mridula Vijayarangakumar

    25 min

  8. 2 Jun

    North vs South? Yogendra Yadav explains the real delimitation battle

    In this episode of Frontline Conversations, political scientist Yogendra Yadav speaks about the growing controversy surrounding delimitation, the North-South political divide, federalism, representation, and the future of Indian democracy. He explains why the debate over Lok Sabha seat reallocation has triggered deep anxieties in southern states, and why he believes the principle of federal balance must sometimes take precedence over the democratic principle of “one person, one vote, one value”. The discussion explores the historical freeze on delimitation, fears of political domination by the Hindi heartland, and the emerging tensions around language, culture, and representation. Yogendra Yadav also raises concerns about gerrymandering, citing recent delimitation exercises in Assam and Jammu & Kashmir, and warns about the dangers of manipulating constituency boundaries to favour ruling parties. He discusses the opposition’s fears around future delimitation exercises, the role of the Election Commission, and why bipartisan safeguards are necessary to protect electoral democracy. Chapters: 00:00 | What delimitation actually means 01:09 | Why delimitation was frozen in 1976 03:55 | “Federal principle must trump democratic principle” 06:50 | North-South, Hindi-non-Hindi, & economic divides 11:34 | Why the South fears delimitation 15:55 | Hindi imposition & cultural anxieties 20:18 | Revenue sharing & federal compact 25:58 | Chandrababu Naidu’s population remarks 28:24 | Women’s reservation & Lok Sabha expansion 29:06 | “Government’s doublespeak” on delimitation 32:27 | BJP, gerrymandering & Assam delimitation 35:00 | “Gerrymandering has arrived in India” 39:12 | Can delimitation threaten democracy? 40:13 | Safeguards against manipulation 41:53 | Non-dominance as India’s core principle Perfect for: - Students of political science, governance, and public policy - UPSC aspirants and current affairs audiences - Viewers interested in federalism and constitutional debates - Journalists covering elections, democracy, and representation - Anyone trying to understand the North vs South political debate in India Credits: Host: Soni Mishra Camera: Dipesh Arora and Vedaant Lakhera Editing: Razal Pareed Producers: Kavya Pradeep M and Mridula Vijayarangakumar #Delimitation #YogendraYadav #IndianPolitics #LokSabha #Federalism #HindiImposition #BJPn#IndiaPolitics #Constitution #TamilNadu #Census #Democracy If you found this discussion insightful, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to Frontline for more in-depth conversations. Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online-subscription/ Follow us on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/frontlineindia/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/frontline_india Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/frontline.magazine LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/frontline-magazine-b12921295/

    43 min
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Frontline Conversations

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  • Creator
    Frontline
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    119
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Frontline
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    Frontline Conversations