Arun Kumar is Associate Editor of the Hindustan Times, with over three and a half decades of experience covering Jharkhand and Bihar. Ravi Upadhyay is a Senior Journalist who has worked with the news agency UNI for several years in Chandigarh and Patna.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, senior journalists break down the latest opinion polls, voter trends and ground realities from across the state.

They analyse the Bihar elections to see who was ahead - Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi Yadav, or how Prashant Kishor’s strategies influenced voters.

They also talk about how women voters, youth participation, and high voter turnout shaped the Bihar elections, along with how media coverage might have influenced the results.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

00:35 – PK’s Influence in Bihar

05:10 – Nitish’s Options Post-Election

07:47 – Tejashwi vs Tej Pratap

12:25 – Will Nitish Kumar Be Bihar CM Again?

18:18 – Women Voters & High Turnout

25:23 – Rahul Gandhi's Influence on Gen Z

31:26 – ‘Jeevika’ Scheme

33:53 – Bihar’s Unique Caste Politics

38:27 – Social Media’s Role in Bihar Elections

41:38 – Role of Jeevika Didis

42:43 – Nitish Kumar's Health

46:04 – Tejashwi’s Public Image

48:57 – Muslim Voting Patterns

Chirag Paswan is the Founder and Chief of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). He serves as the Union Minister for Food Processing Industries in the NDA government. His party is contesting 29 seats in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.

In this episode of The ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Chirag speaks about his party’s prospects in the Bihar polls and shares his political ambitions. He calls Prime Minister Narendra Modi his inspiration and says PM Modi is the only reason he remains with the NDA.

Chirag also takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi’s Gen Z appeal, calls Nitish Kumar a “necessity” for the NDA, and reveals why he aims to become a Vidhayak by 2030.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

00:38 – Tense Moments During Voting

02:47 – Campaign Strategy

05:15 – Ticket Distribution in NDA

07:17 – Disappointment After the First Phase?

09:46 – Rahul’s ‘Reservation in Army’ Remark

14:09 – Why Decoding Bihar Is Difficult

17:40 – Ram Vilas Paswan’s Legacy

20:49 – How Chirag Paswan Differs from His Father

25:49 – Is Nitish Kumar a Necessity for the BJP?

31:18 – When Will Chirag Return to State Politics?

33:54 – Image of a Bihari in 2025

36:49 – Casteism in Bihar

46:39 – Challenges for the NDA

Prashant Kishor, the man who has designed winning election campaigns for leaders across party lines, is now in the political battlefield himself. After the first phase of the Bihar polls, Kishor speaks his mind like never before.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he calls migrant workers the “real X-factor” of this election. He claims that “Nitish is going” and that the people of Bihar want change.

He takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi over his appeal to Gen-Z voters, asking, “Why would India’s youth listen to Rahul Gandhi?”

Kishor also explains why Jan Suraaj will “force another election if needed,” denies any post-poll alliance, and shares his blunt view of the Aam Aadmi Party and Arvind Kejriwal: “Their only weakness is a lack of patience and perseverance.”

An unfiltered conversation with the political strategist-turned-politician who has seen Indian politics from every side.

*Timestamps*

00:00 – Introduction

01:10 – First Phase of Voting in Bihar

02:21 – Role Of Migrant Labourers

03:49 – End of Nitish Kumar's Era?

05:53 – Female Voters In Bihar

10:07 – Muslim Yadav Equation

12:15 – What do Muslims in Bihar Want?

13:05 – Role of Gen-Z in Bihar Election

19:15 – Caste Politics in Bihar

24:57 – What if Jan Suraaj Joins a Coalition?

27:35 – Jan Suraaj Ideology

34:41 – Comparison with Kejriwal

35:46 – Reforms in Bihar

Sanjay Kumar Jha is a member of the Rajya Sabha and serves as the National Working President of Janata Dal (United). He is also the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sanjay Jha discusses the dynamics of NDA's Modi-Nitish factor, record voter turnout in the first phase of the Bihar election, and explains the Gen-Z factor in Bihar elections.

Jha also speaks about Nitish Kumar's health and whether he will be fit for the next CM. He addresses whether his son will be the political successor of Nitish Kumar.

More on Tejashwi Yadav, Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Vote Chori’ claim and the possible influence of Prashant Kishor on Bihar politics.

*Timestamps*

00:00 – Introduction

00:44 – Anti-Incumbency Factor in Bihar

03:13 – Bihar Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana

06:21 – Rahul Gandhi's ‘Vote Theft’ Claims

09:08 – ‘Bahubali’ Candidates in Bihar Polls

12:44 – Personality Factor in Bihar Polls

14:43 – Bihar’s Trust in Nitish Kumar

15:52 – Prashant Kishor Factor

17:25 – Tejashwi Yadav & Family Politics Trend

25:35 – ‘Gen Z’ Voter Factor in Bihar

28:14 – Job Creation in Bihar

32:20 – Future of Bihar Politics

Soha Ali Khan is an actor, author, podcaster, and one of the most articulate voices from the Pataudi family. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Soha opens up about fame, family, and finding her own identity away from the shadow of her legendary parents, Sharmila Tagore and Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.

She talks about Rang De Basanti, why she chose to step away from films, and what shaped her journey. Soha also reflects on her brother Saif Ali Khan’s career and what it was like growing up in a household where wit, grace, and legacy coexisted.

In a candid conversation, she shares her thoughts on the fear of self-censorship in cinema and the debate around 8-hour workdays for actors. Soha also opens up about motherhood, privilege, and protecting her daughter’s privacy in a world obsessed with celebrity culture.

00:00 – Introduction

02:01 – Family Traits Soha Inherited

03:14 – Sharmila Tagore on Doing OTT Series

07:57 – Did Saif Want to Be a Cricketer?

11:44 – How Soha Got Her Role in Rang De Basanti

15:12 – Facing Backlash as Filmmakers

25:10 – Soha on Saif’s Career

30:07 – Motherhood and Work

33:48 – Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi as a Father

37:30 – Soha on Being a Podcaster

41:48 – Sharmila Tagore as a Grandmother

42:52 – How Soha Met Kunal

45:23 – The Weight of Heritage

46:29 – The Bhopal House Story

47:29 – Rabindranath Tagore Connection

50:45 – Chef Kunal or Chef Soha?

53:17 – Soha’s Workout Routine

56:05 – Privacy Concerns & Saif’s House Break-In

01:00:21 – Parenting Rules

D. Sivanandhan is one of Mumbai’s most respected former Police Commissioners, a man who saw the city’s darkest days up close, from the bloody gang wars of the 1990s to the 1993 bomb blasts that shook Mumbai. He led the fight against Dawood Ibrahim’s underworld empire and is known for cleaning up the mafia.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, D. Sivanandhan takes us back to that era, when gangsters ruled the streets, businessmen were shot in broad daylight, and the Mumbai Police decided to strike back.

He talks about how the cleanup began, the underworld’s deep links with Bollywood and real estate, and how Dawood’s network thrived with Pakistan’s ISI. D. Sivanandhan also shares what went wrong during the 26/11 terror attacks and what it truly takes to protect a city like Mumbai.

00:00 – Introduction

01:42 – The Book 'The Brahmastra Unleashed'

05:35 – 90s Mumbai Underworld

16:48 – How Powerful the Underworld Was

20:45 – Dawood & the 1993 Bomb Blasts

25:46 – Transition from Karim Lala to Dawood

31:26 – Dawood vs Chhota Rajan

43:13 – The Underworld’s Pact

46:40 – Politics & Mumbai Police

58:28 – Bollywood's Underworld Connection

01:09:13 – Reel Encounters vs Real Violence

01:12:04 – The 26/11 Attacks

01:23:21 – New-Age Threats & Security Gaps

01:32:12 – Rise of Cybercrime

Ajai Chowdhry is one of India’s leading tech visionaries and a co-founder of HCL, the company that helped build India’s computer revolution. Over the decades, he has advised governments and industry leaders on how to make India a true technology powerhouse.

He is also the chairman of the EPIC Foundation, an initiative aimed at developing electronic products of national importance and driving India toward self-reliance in technology.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Ajai Chowdhry talks about the real state of ‘Make in India’: are we truly manufacturing, or just assembling parts? He shares his insights on India’s tech product gap, China’s deep grip on the electronics supply chain, and what India must do to build world-class technology from the ground up.

He also opens up about his journey with HCL, the early days of India’s tech scene, and why the next big challenge for the country is not coding, but creating. Ajai Chowdhry also talks about how AI is reshaping the future of jobs, and why, without strong R&D, ‘Make in India’ will remain just a slogan.

Timestamps

00:00 - Coming Up

02:24 - Introduction

03:28 - Why India Has No Global Product

13:27 - Layoffs in the Tech Industry

17:40 - India Trapped in US–China Trade War?

20:25 - Why India Needs Its Own Tech IP

27:02 - The Push for Data Localisation

38:47 - The Making of HCL

45:55 - Indian Industries Ready for the AI Boom?

51:50 - Human vs Machine: Who Wins?

56:16 - Quantum Computer Ops in India

01:03:38 - The Fight Over Rare Earths

01:07:28 - Nurturing Tech Talent in India

01:12:11 - Family & Early Life

Jaiveer Shergill is a Supreme Court lawyer and national spokesperson of the BJP. He is known for his sharp arguments, nuanced views, and fearless commentary. Once among the Congress party’s national spokespersons, he made headlines when he quit the party, citing “sycophancy over merit,” before joining the BJP.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Jaiveer Shergill opens up about Punjab’s drug crisis, unemployment and migration, his take on the ‘Vote Chori’ campaign, and the state of Congress politics today.

He also speaks about how the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab has failed to deliver on its promises in the state. Furthermore, he talks about faith, Sikh history, and the need to revive Punjab’s spiritual legacy.

00:00 – Coming Up

02:24 – Introduction

03:36 – Punjab’s Drug Crisis

11:18 – India’s Silent Security Threat

15:29 – Punjab’s Youth Migration

22:14 – BJP’s Future in Punjab

30:24 – Influence of Diaspora in Punjab

39:15 – Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Vote Chori’ Allegations

51:00 – Rahul Gandhi’s Style of Politics

01:00:14 – Diljit Dosanjh Controversy

01:08:51 – Quick Reactions on Stars, Politicians & Food

01:24:45 – Rift Between RSS and BJP?

01:29:19 – Cultural Significance of ‘Jore Sahib’