ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash

John Brittas wears many hats: parliamentarian, journalist, Managing Director and Chief Editor of Malayalam Communications Limited, which runs Kairali TV and Kairali News. He is currently the CPI(M) Parliamentary Party Leader in the Rajya Sabha.
In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he speaks about the decline of communism in India and across the world, and why the Left struggles to connect with a wider audience today. He discusses the Kerala model, migration from the state, and Kerala’s social harmony.
He argues that Hindutva politics will not click in Kerala and says the BJP is unlikely to become a major force there in the near future. He also speaks about the Congress and claims it continues to follow a “right-wing economic ideology.”
The conversation also covers the India–US trade deal, the 2008 nuclear deal, the UPA era, Pinarayi Vijayan’s leadership, and the strength of Malayalam cinema.

00:00 – Introduction
01:11 – Why Communism is Failing in India
10:38 – Kerala’s Vibrant Culture
12:28 – How CPI(M) Is So Powerful in Kerala
23:55 – India–US Nuclear Deal
26:15 – India–US Trade Deal
33:08 – The Kerala Ecosystem
36:16 – Why Kerala Supports the Left
40:57 – Can Kerala Inspire a Left Revival?
43:23 – BJP’s Prospects in Kerala
52:55 – Religious Harmony in Kerala
58:20 – BJP’s Mayoral Win
1:05:14 – Life as a Journalist
1:10:56 – Malayalam Cinema
1:14:49 – Political Leadership in India
1:15:56 – Pinarayi Vijayan’s Leadership Style

Karti Chidambaram is an Indian National Congress MP representing the Sivaganga constituency in Tamil Nadu.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he discusses the Parliament Budget Session, DMK-Congress alliance, Actor Vijay, freebies politics, money laundering investigations against him, and BJP’s presence in Tamil Nadu.

He also addresses the Dhurandhar controversy and his alleged cameo in it, highlighting the absence of official records related to it.

*Timestamps*

00:00 – Introduction
01:47 – Parliament Deadlock
12:33 – Congress-DMK Alliance
20:04 – Congress in Tamil Nadu
25:30 – BJP-AIADMK Alliance
31:09 – Anti-Incumbency Against DMK
37:36 – Legal Cases & Investigations
43:40 – Sonia’s Role in UPA
47:27 – Sanatana Debate
51:23 – Freebie Politics
59:09 – Dhurandhar Controversy
1:05:16 – KYC, Re-KYC & Citizen Rights
1:11:13 – Family-Centric Politics
1:15:31 – Relations with Rahul Gandhi
1:16:26 – Snap Reactions
1:23:47 – Bonding with Father
1:32:09 – South Indian Food

Nayab Singh Saini, the Chief Minister of Haryana, led the BJP to win a third term in the state, despite predictions of anti-incumbency against the party.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, CM Saini talks about the key issues shaping Haryana’s future, including farmers, job creation, and women’s safety.

He also shares his vision for the development of Gurugram, focusing on better urban planning, improved drainage systems, and long-term growth for the city.

00:00 – Introduction
00:52 – No Anti-Incumbency in Haryana
08:51 – Promises Made During the Polls
13:27 – Farmers’ Protest
18:08 – Crop Diversification in Haryana
23:27 – Youth Skill Development & Women’s Safety
26:06 – Gurugram’s Development
28:28 – Punjab’s Drug Crisis
35:49 – Jobs and Employment
40:05 – Lado Lakshmi Yojana
41:52 – Welfare Schemes
44:38 – Yamuna Poison Controversy

Can gaming addiction push kids toward serious mental health crises? Does social media influence increase vulnerability to anxiety and depression in teens?
To answer these questions, we are joined by Dr. Bhavna Barmi and Anshu Bedi. Dr. Bhavna Barmi is a Senior Clinical and Child Psychologist and the founder of Happiness Studio.
Anshu Bedi is a teacher at Raghubir Singh Junior Modern School with over 32 years of experience mentoring preteens.
In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Dr. Bhavna Barmi explains that signs of stress or distress in children should never be ignored.
Anshu Bedi talks about how many parents today expect perfection from their children and stresses that this can leave them unprepared for real-world challenges.

00:00 – Introduction
01:04 – Mental Health Challenges Among Kids
07:32 – Holistic Development of Children
11:32 – Attention Span Issues in Students
15:07 – Modern Parent-Teacher Connections
18:10 – Bullying and Peer Pressure
21:27 – Emotional Signals in Children
25:13 – Academic Stress in Children
29:50 – Reduced Family Interaction on Children
34:36 – Consequences of Body Shaming
40:38 – Happiness Clinics & Mental Health Support
42:54 – Social Media Impact on Young Minds
49:52 – Current Parenting Challenges
1:05:56 – Emotional Stress in Counsellors

Rekha Gupta is the Chief Minister of Delhi, following the BJP's return to power in the capital after 27 years. Her political journey began with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

She is an elected MLA from the Shalimar Bagh constituency and has previously served as General Secretary of the BJP Mahila Morcha in Delhi. She was also a member of the party’s national executive committee.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, CM Rekha Gupta speaks about Delhi’s pollution and her government’s plans to tackle it. She also discusses key priorities, including better public transport, stronger last-mile connectivity, and her vision for a cleaner, better-governed Delhi.

*Timestamps*

00:00 – Coming Up
00:00 – Introduction
01:13 – One Year as Delhi CM
03:42 – Delhi’s Pollution Crisis
08:36 – Dust Mitigation Measures
10:26 – Garbage Mountains
13:44 – Waste Treatment Plants
15:01 – Solutions to Delhi’s Air Pollution
17:51 – Lunch for Slum Dwellers
20:45 – ‘Sheesh Mahal’ Controversy
21:51 – School Admissions & Fee Regulation
27:46 – School Safety & Monitoring
31:14 – Expectations of Delhi Residents
33:31 – Healthcare System
37:10 – Parks for Children
38:49 – Public Washrooms & Civic Sense
43:29 – Hospital Bed Allocation
45:55 – Two Female CMs Among 28 States
47:01 – Being a Woman Leader
53:38 – Priorities as Chief Minister