Sukanta Majumdar is a Lok Sabha MP from Balurghat and serves as Union Minister of State for Education and Development of the North Eastern Region in the NDA government.

In this episode of The ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sukanta Majumdar discusses the high-stakes politics of West Bengal ahead of the 2026 polls.

He claims that Bengal government documents were found at Pratik Jain’s residence, whose company, I-PAC, handles the political campaign of the TMC.

Sukanta also speaks about West Bengal’s changing demographics and their political impact, concerns over democracy under the TMC and the Left’s alleged alignment with the TMC.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

00:57 – ED vs Mamata over I-PAC Raids

06:42 – President’s Rule in Bengal?

10:02 – Bengali vs Non-Bengali Politics

14:42 – Infiltration in West Bengal

20:45 – Demographic Changes in Bengal

24:33 – Who Will Be BJP’s CM Face?

29:32 – Amartya Sen and SIR Controversy

34:59 – Jobs Crisis in Bengal

38:42 – Rise of New Parties in Bengal Politics

42:16 – Industrial Decline in Bengal

50:28 – Post-Poll Violence in Bengal

56:55 – BJP’s Roadmap for 2026 Bengal Polls

Ambassador Ashok Sajjanhar served in the Indian Foreign Service for over three decades. During his distinguished career, he served as India’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Sweden, and Latvia, and held key diplomatic assignments in Washington, D.C., Brussels, Moscow, Geneva, Tehran, Dhaka, and Bangkok. Today, Ambassador Sajjanhar regularly writes and speaks on issues related to international relations and India’s foreign policy.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Ambassador Sajjanhar discusses the United States’ actions in Venezuela and what this means for global politics. He also talks about Chinese weaponry, which he claims failed to perform during the Venezuelan crisis. The conversation further explores why Indian godmen enjoy a massive following in South American countries, a phenomenon that often surprises many.

Ambassador Sajjanhar also shares his views on Donald Trump’s interest in buying Greenland, the way the US is handling trade negotiations with India, and what the future may hold for India’s foreign policy.

00:00 – Introduction

01:08 – US move to capture Maduro legitimate?

04:33 – Narco-terrorism charges against Venezuela

05:54 – When US captured Manuel Noriega (1989)

08:27 – Can the US run Venezuela?

11:41 – Venezuela is not just about oil

15:21 – Venezuela & Sathya Sai Baba connection

17:54 – Can Trump buy Greenland?

20:17 – Europe on Venezuela crisis & Greenland

24:31 – Putin’s war in Ukraine legitimate?

26:20 – China’s weapons failed in Venezuela

29:05 – China vs USA: The No. 1 global rivalry

34:00 – Will China invade Taiwan?

37:10 – India’s response to Maduro's capture

41:54 – India’s crude oil needs

44:19 – India–USA trade tensions

50:14 – India’s pivot towards China

52:28 – China–Pakistan–Bangladesh nexus

J. Sai Deepak is a senior advocate at the Supreme Court of India and a well-known author. His books include 'India, That Is Bharat: Coloniality, Civilisation, Constitution' and 'India, Bharat and Pakistan: The Constitutional Journey of a Sandwiched Civilisation.'

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, J. Sai Deepak talks about the demographic changes taking place in India’s border areas and how these shifts could impact India’s democracy, governance and policy-making. He explains why India needs a special Immigration Task Force to deal with the issue of illegal immigration.

He also discusses the SIR controversy, the North-South divide and also describes demography as the last battle to protect Hindu civilisation and warns that India cannot afford to take this issue lightly.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

01:22 – SIR Exercise Across India

06:47 – Illegal Migrants in West Bengal

14:04 – Mamata’s Stance on Illegal Migrants

20:05 – Politics Around Illegal Migration

24:42 – How India’s Border Areas Have Changed

31:00 – How India Can Address Illegal Migration

32:55 – Pawan Kalyan’s Political Influence

34:18 – North–South Population Debate

40:33 – The North–South Divide

46:11 – Tax Devolution in India

52:09 – How Owaisi Won Seats in Bihar

59:07 – Left vs Right Wing

01:04:02 – Oxford Union Debate Controversy

01:12:43 – Demographics and Cultural Debates