The high-pitched campaign for the first phase of West Bengal assembly elections concluded with the BJP and TMC focusing on electoral rolls and dietary habits, while making promises to voters. Voting is scheduled in 152 constituencies across north Bengal and southern districts, with over 3.60 crore electors eligible to vote. A record number of Central paramilitary forces have been deployed, and several districts have been identified as highly sensitive.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of being 'anti-women' and obstructing the passage of the women's reservation bill in Lok Sabha. He criticised the TMC's opposition to the bill and defended the BJP's commitment to increasing women's representation in politics.
Frankly, was it really necessary in the middle of a fratricidal war for External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to travel to Abu Dhabi for a one-on-one with the sheikh on April 12?Or, for National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to follow up on April 26? Or, for PM Narendra Modi to follow through today? There are no easy answers, notes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
A Youth Congress leader, Fairoz Pathan, was murdered in his Dharwad home by unidentified assailants. Police are investigating the incident, with CCTV footage providing leads.
Odisha Police visited the residence of BJD MLA Manorama Mohanty in connection with a case against her husband for allegedly threatening a tehsildar. The MLA alleges political vendetta and misconduct by the police, while the BJP calls for due process.
The TMC and BJP are clashing over Bengal's food culture, with allegations of potential dietary restrictions adding spice to the West Bengal election campaign.
A man has been arrested in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, for allegedly murdering a 19-year-old girl. The incident has sparked outrage, with authorities promising swift justice.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accused opposition parties of obstructing the passage of the women's reservation bill in Parliament, alleging they have crushed the dreams of women and prioritised selfish politics over national progress.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted the BJP had sealed its victory in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly polls itself, claiming the party would win 110 seats in the polling held on April 23. Addressing an election rally, he promised swift implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), particularly for the Matua community, once the BJP came to power in the state.
Madhya Pradesh Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti has challenged his conviction and three-year jail sentence in a cheating case involving forged bank records. The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to the prosecution and scheduled a hearing for April 15.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged TMC candidates and agents to remain vigilant at counting centres, alleging a 'game plan' by the BJP and the Election Commission to show the BJP taking an early lead.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accused the Mamata Banerjee government of favouring infiltrators over the native population in West Bengal, asserting that the upcoming assembly election is a battle to save the state's identity.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has vowed strict action against law violators to curb the drug menace in the state, citing a recent drug bust involving a TDP MP and a former BRS MLA. He emphasised that the government will not spare anyone, regardless of their status, and highlighted the establishment of the EAGLE FORCE to combat drug-related crimes.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the BJP of deleting over 9 million names from voter lists in an attempt to win the upcoming Assembly elections. She vowed to fight the alleged manipulation legally and politically.
In the IPL, losing your wicket is forgivable; but losing your integrity isn't, asserts K R Nayar.
The Rajya Sabha witnessed a heated debate between the opposition and the government regarding a discussion on the West Asia crisis, with accusations of political maneuvering and failure to uphold the dignity of parliamentary positions.
Former Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala has criticised the state government for failing to ensure proper crop procurement arrangements and timely compensation for farmers affected by unseasonal rain.
TMC leaders Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja staged a sit-in protest alleging irregular activities inside a strongroom housing EVMs in West Bengal, following concerns raised by Mamata Banerjee regarding EVM security.
Controversy escalates in Goa over alleged objectionable remarks against St Francis Xavier, with protests and police complaints filed. The Congress demands the sacking of a minister, while the CM calls for maintaining communal harmony.
Four policemen have been suspended and two home guards disengaged from service in Odisha following the lynching of a GRP constable. The crime branch is investigating the incident, which occurred after allegations of attempted sexual assault. Opposition parties have criticised the state government over the incident.
Six individuals have been apprehended in connection with the murder of Congress leader Parminder Tiwari in Ludhiana. The motive appears to be related to a land dispute.
Trinamool Congress offices across West Bengal were allegedly defaced and damaged following the BJP's victory in the Assembly polls, with the TMC alleging BJP involvement, which the BJP denies.
'If the BJP becomes our political identity, our political face, if we are represented by the BJP, then what happens to our identity as Bengalis?'
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the unresolved Singur land issue, claiming farmers feel betrayed and the land remains unproductive.
A statue of B R Ambedkar was vandalised in Noorpur Jattan village, Punjab, leading to protests and claims of responsibility by a pro-Khalistan leader. Police are investigating the incident, which is not the first of its kind in the area.
A supervisor at a sugarcane research institute in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, has alleged that he was abducted and assaulted by a group of men due to a family dispute. Police have registered an FIR and are investigating the incident after a video surfaced on social media.
A Delhi court has convicted Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti and a former bank employee in a case involving cheating and forgery of bank records to illegally obtain interest payments.
The Supreme Court has stayed the Chhattisgarh High Court verdict that sentenced Amit Jogi to life imprisonment in the 2003 murder of NCP leader Ramavatar Jaggi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the TMC's governance in West Bengal is nearing its end, citing corruption and unfulfilled promises. He highlighted the BJP's commitment to development and security, particularly for the fisherfolk and against infiltration.
A court in Uttar Pradesh sentenced former MLA Mohammad Tabish Khan and his brother to three years' imprisonment for assaulting a police constable in 2016.
The BJP and opposition parties are engaged in a political battle over the implementation of the Women's Reservation Act, with the BJP defending it as historic and the opposition accusing the government of delaying its notification and using it to push an unconstitutional delimitation exercise.
Rebel Akali leader Barjinder Singh Makhan Brar resigns from Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit), accusing party leaders of misleading the Sikh community and colluding with external agencies to weaken the Shiromani Akali Dal.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has accused the TMC government in West Bengal of diverting central funds for party activities and destroying the state's education system. He also criticised the teacher recruitment process and expressed confidence in the BJP's victory in the upcoming assembly polls.
Police in Hathras have registered an FIR against former Delhi minister Rajendra Pal Gautam for allegedly spreading misleading information and attempting to disturb communal harmony.
Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, facing a breach of privilege notice for satirising Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, defends his actions by referencing Bal Thackeray's history of political cartoons and arguing for the protection of free speech and satire.
A four-year-old boy who was brutally assaulted by an autorickshaw driver in Vasai, Palghar, is recovering in hospital. The accused, Sandeep Pawar, has had his police custody extended. The incident, captured on CCTV, involved the driver slamming the boy to the ground after an argument with the child's father.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met with President Droupadi Murmu to request the termination of Rajya Sabha MPs from Punjab who defected to the BJP. Mann also advocated for a constitutional provision allowing voters to remove elected officials who fail to perform.
The BJP's West Bengal unit chief, Samik Bhattacharya, criticised the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, accusing it of crushing democracy and fostering lawlessness in the state. He highlighted alleged political violence, economic decline, and disrespect for constitutional posts under the TMC's rule.
Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the death of a forest guard in Morena, Madhya Pradesh, who was killed during an operation targeting illegal sand mining. The incident has sparked a Supreme Court hearing and involves members of a political party.
The Telangana High Court has adjourned the hearing on Congress leader Pawan Khera's anticipatory bail petition related to a case filed by the Assam government over allegations against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife. The court will resume hearing on April 10.
