For over a decade, the TMC's dominance in districts such as Murshidabad, Malda and Uttar Dinajpur rested on a near-complete consolidation of Muslim votes, a bloc that accounts for 50 per cent or more of the population in large parts of this belt.
Seven Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs have officially merged with the BJP in the Rajya Sabha, reducing AAP's strength in the Upper House. The move increases the BJP's presence and has been criticised by AAP as unconstitutional.
Voting has commenced for the Assembly elections in Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry, with millions of voters deciding the fate of numerous candidates across various constituencies. The elections are crucial for determining the future governance and political landscape of these regions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to the opposition to support the government's bills for implementing the women's reservation law, cautioning against politicisation and assuring that delimitation will be fair to all states.
If West Bengal does not begin to reclaim its lost pride, the state would have lost -- perhaps irreversibly, this time, notes Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).
The Lok Sabha is set to expand to 815 seats, with 272 seats reserved for women, according to Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. The move aims to implement the women's quota without disadvantaging men or any state. The proposed legislations also include provisions for reservation for women from SC and ST categories within the women's quota.
AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has accused the BJP of conspiring to delete 2.7 million voters from West Bengal's electoral rolls, urging support for the Trinamool Congress to protect citizenship rights.
Advocacy groups issued a travel advisory on Thursday, warning that visitors traveling to the US for the 2026 World Cup may face arbitrary detention or deportation, among other human rights abuses.
The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, has reassured the public that individual data collected during the upcoming census will remain confidential and cannot be used for any purpose other than statistical aggregation.
A BJP government in Bengal inherits more problems than it might care to admit at its moment of triumph, points out Ramesh Menon
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation tonight at 8.30 PM, a day after a bill to implement women's reservation in legislatures was defeated in the Lok Sabha.
Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee is urging voters in Murshidabad to support the TMC to thwart the BJP's influence in West Bengal. He criticised the Congress and other parties, accusing them of indirectly supporting the BJP, and highlighted the TMC's commitment to protecting minority voters and preventing the implementation of NRC in Bengal.
Dhruv Sarja's KD: The Devil attempts to deliver a grounded action experience but ultimately succumbs to a loud, generic gangster narrative, muddled storytelling, and excessive theatrics, sighs Arjun Menon.
It has now reached a stage where MI is a team living on its past glory with ageing stars. The game has moved on -- faster, younger and more fearless.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced that voting on three crucial bills, including amendments to the women's quota law and the establishment of a delimitation commission, will take place at 4 PM on Friday, following an anticipated 15-18 hour debate.
Police in Manipur have arrested three suspected members of a proscribed outfit in connection with a bomb blast in Bishnupur district that resulted in the deaths of two children. The arrests were made in Churachandpur district, and arms and ammunition were seized.
Mamata Banerjee accuses the BJP of importing voters for the Assam elections and plotting similar interference in West Bengal, raising concerns about electoral integrity and potential cultural restrictions.
The Centre has appointed lawyer Karambir Singh Nalwa as Special Public Prosecutor to lead the trial in the Pahalgam terror attack case, which resulted in the deaths of 25 tourists and a local pony operator on April 22 last year.
The Allahabad High Court has rejected a plea seeking to halt prosecution proceedings against Sarfaraz Ansari, an alleged sharpshooter linked to deceased gangster Mukhtar Ansari, in connection with the Usri Chatti massacre case.
NDA floor leaders held a meeting after the Constitution Amendment Bill seeking to implement reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of seats of the Lok Sabha was defeated.
I wonder if I can rest assured -- before the election ink on my finger fades -- that my home state is at the threshold of a better future, wonders Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).
Recent controversies at major IT firms like TCS and Infosys have highlighted a persistent gap between workplace conduct policies and their implementation in corporate India. While companies assert zero tolerance for harassment and discrimination, employees and experts point to uneven enforcement and the need to embed ethical behaviour into organisational culture.
Thousands of West Bengal residents whose names were deleted from electoral rolls are awaiting decisions from tribunals, the final recourse after initial appeals were rejected. The fate of around 2.3 million people hinges on these adjudications, raising concerns about voting rights and citizenship.
The Indian armed forces will conduct an exercise to test the capabilities of its drones and counter-drone systems. The exercise, named 'Cold Start', will involve all three services and will take place in Madhya Pradesh.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has pledged to resolve the long-standing Gorkha issue within six months if the BJP wins the West Bengal elections. He criticised previous governments for failing to address the aspirations of the Gorkha people and promised a solution acceptable to them.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has advised ZEE5 not to release 'Lawrence of Punjab', a docu-series on gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, after the Punjab Police expressed apprehension that it posed a risk to public order.
Recent controversies at major IT firms like TCS and Infosys have highlighted a persistent gap between workplace conduct policies and their implementation in corporate India. While companies assert zero tolerance for harassment and discrimination, employees and experts point to uneven enforcement and the need to embed ethical behaviour into organisational culture.
A suspected World War II-era bomb has been discovered in the Baharagora area of Jharkhand's East Singhbhum district, prompting discussions with the Indian Army for inspection and necessary action.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the BJP-led central government of using the proposed amendment to the women's quota law as a front for the Delimitation Bill, which she claims will divide the country. She asserted that her party will fight this move at every step.
The BJP and the Opposition have engaged in a war of words over the implementation of the women's reservation bill, which aims to reserve seats for women in legislatures. The bill was defeated in the Lower House, leading to accusations and counter-accusations between the parties.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant cautioned against the uncritical adoption of AI in the judiciary, emphasising the need for human judgement and ethical considerations in judicial decision-making.
Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee accuses the BJP of using central agencies to undermine Mamata Banerjee in the West Bengal elections, alleging a lack of public support for the saffron party.
The Allahabad High Court dismissed a petition by an advocate seeking quick disposal of a maintenance case against his wife, calling it 'vexatious' and imposed a significant fine for concealing facts and misusing his wife's funds.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah refuted claims that southern states will have reduced representation in the Lok Sabha after the implementation of women's reservation and delimitation of constituencies, assuring an increase in both the number of seats and percentage of power.
'Cinema is such a powerful medium. It is not just the emotional impact, but some of these films are so strong that your entire body cannot help but react.'
China has denied any links to the Iranian cargo ship seized by the US in the Gulf, which allegedly contained chemical materials for manufacturing missiles. The denial follows allegations by former US envoy to the UN Nikki Haley, who claimed the ship was headed from China to Iran.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of spreading falsehoods and offering no relief to the poor through his speeches. She made these remarks at a rally in Bhangar, South 24 Parganas district, ahead of Modi's address to the nation.
The strength of the human spirit in the face of oppression and collective action is a theme well suited to these divided times, but Pallichattambi needed to be more precise and focused in its imagination to the make the noble intentions stick, notes Arjun Menon.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to Lok Sabha members to vote for the women's reservation bill, emphasising the need to empower women and rectify decades of political inaction.
The Supreme Court of India has clarified the distinct parameters for suspending sentences after conviction compared to granting pre-trial bail, setting aside a Patna High Court order in a 2016 murder case.
