Sushovan Dhar is a political activist and trade unionist based in Kolkata, India.
Mass protests in Bangladesh ousted Sheikh Hasina after state repression left hundreds dead. But an interim government headed by microcredit guru Muhammad Yunus can’t be relied on to tackle the dire social problems facing the country’s popular classes.
Repression of student protests in Bangladesh has killed almost 200 people. The protests began over the allocation of government jobs but developed into a wider challenge to a ruling party that’s out of touch and increasingly authoritarian.
The political formulas that worked so well before for Narendra Modi proved less effective this year and he lost his single-party majority. Modi will remain in office, but his opponents will be more confident that they can challenge his Hindutva agenda.
The main challenge to Narendra Modi in India’s election comes from the Indian National Congress and the alliance it leads. But the party is struggling to keep afloat as a national force as it pays the price for embracing neoliberal economic policies.