Biswarup Gooptu

Currently, resident drone @KraftonIndia. @CardiffJomec alum. Formerly with @EconomicTimes and @Reuters. @cardiff_rugby tragic

[Vasudha Venugopal @Vasudha156]

No meeting with Rahul or Sonia Gandhi of Vijay today morning as I had said

[Vasudha Venugopal @Vasudha156]

Resignation tomorrow confirmed

[Shiv Aroor @ShivAroor]

Huge congratulations to my @NDTV colleagues @Vasudha156 & @Tarini28 on the announcement of their upcoming book on @ActorVijay!

From field to newsroom, both saw the 'Vijay Wave' coming.

Congratulations also to @SwatiChopra1 who was my editor in the #IndiasMostFearless series!

[Biswarup Gooptu @CarnageCrow]

Awesome news @Vasudha156 Big ups and looking forward to an absolutely riveting read

[Hachette India @HachetteIndia]

Presenting 'Thalapathy: The Inside Story of Vijay’s Meteoric Political Rise' by Vasudha Venugopal and Tarini Kumar, the first major account of one of the most extraordinary political journeys in recent Indian history.

Out soon with Hachette India!

[Biswarup Gooptu @CarnageCrow]

@SandipGhose @somnath1978 @DattaDamayanti Vivekananda Park. Burn Vardaan Market down.

[arijit barman @arijitbarman76]

Disappointed that so early in their lifecycle @just_snabbit has started to discriminate against poor Muslims. There is no place for such companies that is trying to solve blue collar labour problems in India. I tried to reach out to the founder but he doesn't care to even respond. So posting it here. It's pathetic really.

[Nitin Sundar🎙️🎦🏏 @knittins]

Cricket commentary in general has been in terminal decline for years now (exceptions like Ian Bishop prove the rule) - and yet, Sunil Gavaskar manages to be the ABSOLUTE WORST of the lot, even as the overall standards keep dropping.

Unsure what's more incredible -

[Economic Times @EconomicTimes]

Our aim now is to create Indian games for local use and global exports: Krafton CEO Kim https://t.co/atI1LCgK3G

[Vasudha Venugopal @Vasudha156]

Oscar 😍

[Vasudha Venugopal @Vasudha156]

My takeaways on TN polls as I leave from Chennai. More in the coming days

TN’s urban nature is in focus, cities driving politics, shaping voter mood and making inequality more visible, the real battleground this time
While most experts break TN into North, West, Delta and South, the biggest and most decisive region is urban TN.

Out of roughly 100 urban seats with over 1 lakh population, the DMK alliance holds 82, and nearly 70% of its strength comes from these areas, so defending urban TN is key to holding power.

Candidates reaching deeper into families. Split in families visible. Party workers seen specifically appealing to younger members in households, even humouring kids in door to door campaigns.

Welfare matters but doesn’t bind voters, people are grateful but want more and are willing to question and change govts

AIADMK’s focus on strongholds looks smart, but it’s unclear if that alone can capture the full anti incumbency vote. Clever of EPS to spend the last week in Kongu to consolidate his seats.

A sizeable segment of voters is not loyal to either DMK or AIADMK. Performance of parties like VCK and NTK will be specifically interesting to see if they are able to hold on to their voters.

Safety and police behaviour matter to everyday voters. Whichever party comes, pls address the drug problem in youth. Almost every mother I met in Chennai spoke about it.

Chennai region’s 35 seats will be a key test, DMK holds 32 while TVK has pushed hard in many of them. Trichy, which DMK swept last time, is another big test.

TVK campaign went beyond speeches, reel style clips, music, robots, slow motion videos, visuals grabbing attention. Designed specifically for today’s society. And it’s not only youngsters who love reels.

Money, liquor, biriyani flowed in roadshows and rallies. One could easily see what is a mobilised crowd and what is not. But crowds don’t always decided outcomes.

DMK knows anti incumbency exists, so pushed an aggressive campaign around welfare, manifesto and M. K. Stalin’s image, making this the most crucial battle for the party. 

If TN votes for change, it follows a familiar script; if DMK returns, it rewrites it but the X factor is Vijay, whose votes could decide whether this election simply turns the page or changes TN for good

[Vasudha Venugopal @Vasudha156]

Free bus rides have changed daily life for many women in Chennai. Making travel easier, saving money, and opening up work and training opportunities. But behind that relief is a clear message: rising living costs, the problem of drugs, safety, jobs, and education still weigh heavily.

So is this real relief, or just one part of a much larger expectation? And how will that shape the vote…

[Vasudha Venugopal @Vasudha156]

TVK Chief Vijay doing Amar Akbar Anthony in one day

[Vasudha Venugopal @Vasudha156]

My report from Thiruvikanagar: Porkodi Armstrong’s campaign has sparked sympathy. Contesting on the Two Leaves symbol, she seeks justice for her slain husband, a BSP leader, and promises change. Her fight also shines a light on civic neglect, drug abuse, poor sanitation, and the lack of drinking water….

[Vasudha Venugopal @Vasudha156]

My attempt to understand the Kerala elections begins with a visit to Kannur, a district with an outsized political influence, a history of fierce political battles, and a place that often sets the tone for the rest of the state. Report soon on @ndtv

[Biswarup Gooptu @CarnageCrow]

At least, Wallace had himself a happier ending this time round

[Shiv Aroor @ShivAroor]

The only thing I care about at the #Oscars is that Wallace from The Wire won Best Actor. 🙌🏽

[Vasudha Venugopal @Vasudha156]

Good call! And well done Indian Govt and all those who raised concerns!

[BBC Breaking News @BBCBreaking]

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, the BBC understands https://t.co/6qVtVZJ5GQ

[Biswarup Gooptu @CarnageCrow]

Pakistan should’ve stuck to boycotting this match #INDvsPAK @TheRealPCB

[Vasudha Venugopal @Vasudha156]

As alliances firm up in Tamil Nadu, all eyes are on Vijay and TVK. The big question is whether he will join the NDA under EPS, explore some other negotiated arrangement, or stay out altogether. If he chooses not to align, he will have to fight it out independently and prove he has the organisation and stamina to take on both major coalitions. Voters tend to like decisive leadership. Star power and popularity can open doors, but beyond a point it’s electoral arithmetic, sentiment, alliances, and hard ground-level work that decide outcomes……

[Vasudha Venugopal @Vasudha156]

From helping script the BJP’s win in Chhattisgarh to mobilising Jeevika didi networks in Bihar, colleagues describe Nitin Nabin as a hardworking organiser who understands the leadership’s vision and reflects the party’s generational shift….. https://t.co/TrQOh9rMwV