News for '2026 election'

Vijay takes a selfie with Rahul Gandhi after swearing-in

Vijay takes a selfie with Rahul Gandhi after swearing-in

Rediff.com10 May 2026

Actor Vijay, president of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The ceremony included a selfie with Rahul Gandhi and a 360-degree video of the cheering crowd. Vijay's party achieved a historic debut, ending the duopoly of DMK and AIADMK.

At 89, My Father Chose Ayodhya, Varanasi, Sikkim

At 89, My Father Chose Ayodhya, Varanasi, Sikkim

Rediff.com3 Jun 2026

Sacred spots and soaring peaks: Bucket-listing across the heartland. Roopa Unnikrishnan and her father journey through the heart of India.

Robot Nila Adds Twist To Voting

Robot Nila Adds Twist To Voting

Rediff.com9 Apr 2026

Glimpses of technology at the polling booth

'Very Bad For Global Economy If War Continues'

'Very Bad For Global Economy If War Continues'

Rediff.com28 Apr 2026

'Even if the war ends tomorrow, which is unlikely, and we go back to the pre-war status quo, the world will still need some time to get over the sudden shock of oil price increases.'

Yogi Adityanath: UP Attracted Rs 50 Trillion Investment Proposals Since 2017

Yogi Adityanath: UP Attracted Rs 50 Trillion Investment Proposals Since 2017

Rediff.com12 May 2026

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that the state has secured investment proposals worth approximately Rs 50 trillion over the past nine years, attributing this economic revival to the enforcement of the rule of law and strategic policy changes. He affirmed UP's trajectory towards becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2029-30.

Sanatana Dharma divides, must be 'abolished': Udhayanidhi

Sanatana Dharma divides, must be 'abolished': Udhayanidhi

Rediff.com12 May 2026

DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin reiterated his call for the abolition of Sanatana Dharma, claiming it divides people, during his maiden speech as the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. He also addressed concerns regarding the positioning of the Tamil invocation song in government events.

West Asia Conflict Deepens India's Economic Challenges

West Asia Conflict Deepens India's Economic Challenges

Rediff.com30 Apr 2026

Even if there is an early agreement on a cessation of hostilities in West Asia, the price shock will not go away easily, points out A K Bhattacharya.

CM vs LoP: Bhabanipur gears up for mega battle between Mamata, Suvendu

CM vs LoP: Bhabanipur gears up for mega battle between Mamata, Suvendu

Rediff.com31 Mar 2026

Bhabanipur is set to be the focal point of the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, with Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari preparing for a high-stakes political battle. The constituency will witness rival processions and symbolic gestures as both parties aim to assert their dominance.

Gulf War: Big Lessons For Investors

Gulf War: Big Lessons For Investors

Rediff.com11 May 2026

History is rarely decided by who has the biggest weapons, but by who has the better process. The same rule applies to investing, says Ramalingam Kalirajan.

Mann urges President to terminate defector MPs; raises recall demand

Mann urges President to terminate defector MPs; raises recall demand

Rediff.com5 May 2026

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.

How actor Vijay transformed his popularity into political power

How actor Vijay transformed his popularity into political power

Rediff.com4 May 2026

Actor Vijay's political party, TVK, has significantly impacted the Tamil Nadu political landscape in its debut election, challenging established political norms and achieving notable success.

Congress picks Satheesan as next Kerala CM; swearing-in on May 18

Congress picks Satheesan as next Kerala CM; swearing-in on May 18

Rediff.com15 May 2026

The Congress party has announced VD Satheesan as the next chief minister of Kerala, ending days of speculation. The decision was revealed at a press conference in New Delhi.

EC rejects rigging claims a day after Mamata stormed EVM strong room

EC rejects rigging claims a day after Mamata stormed EVM strong room

Rediff.com1 May 2026

West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer, Manoj Agarwal, has refuted allegations of potential malpractices at counting centres, assuring that robust security measures are in place. This comes after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee raised concerns about possible tampering with EVMs.

Even If US, Iran Signed Deal Today, Hormuz Strait Won't...

Even If US, Iran Signed Deal Today, Hormuz Strait Won't...

Rediff.com23 Apr 2026

...reopen for up to six months. Until then, the Strait stays nearly closed. The world pays. And no one, including the man who started this, can say when it ends, notes Prem Panicker in his must read blog on the Iran War.

AIADMK, BJP begin preliminary talks for 2026 TN polls

AIADMK, BJP begin preliminary talks for 2026 TN polls

Rediff.com23 Dec 2025

NDA constituents AIADMK and BJP have started preliminary discussions for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Key leaders from both parties met to discuss strategies to defeat the DMK government and strengthen their alliance.

CBSE Announces Class 10 Second Board Exam Dates

CBSE Announces Class 10 Second Board Exam Dates

Rediff.com23 Apr 2026

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released the schedule for the second board examinations for Class 10, which will take place from May 15 to May 21. The exams are optional and offer students a chance to improve their scores or clear failed subjects.

BJP attacks TMC over 'mafia culture' after killing of Suvendu aide

BJP attacks TMC over 'mafia culture' after killing of Suvendu aide

Rediff.com7 May 2026

The BJP has accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of fostering a 'mafia culture' and 'maha jungle raj' in West Bengal following the killing of an aide to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. The party alleges the incident reflects institutionalised post-poll violence in the state and demands a CBI probe.

Mamata to hold virtual meeting with all TMC counting agents on Saturday

Mamata to hold virtual meeting with all TMC counting agents on Saturday

Rediff.com1 May 2026

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee will hold a virtual meeting with counting agents to ensure there are no lapses during the vote counting process.

Abhishek Banerjee Accuses Centre of 'Taking' from People Amid LPG Price Hike

Abhishek Banerjee Accuses Centre of 'Taking' from People Amid LPG Price Hike

Rediff.com1 Apr 2026

TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee criticises the Union government over the hike in commercial LPG prices, accusing the Centre of 'taking' from people while the Mamata Banerjee administration provides relief. He also challenged the BJP to present a report card of its work in Rajganj constituency.

Bengal polls: Can BJP breach Mamata's southern stronghold this time?

Bengal polls: Can BJP breach Mamata's southern stronghold this time?

Rediff.com29 Apr 2026

West Bengal's final phase of assembly elections focuses on the TMC's southern stronghold, where the BJP aims to make inroads. The outcome will determine whether Mamata Banerjee's party retains its dominance or if the BJP can secure a path to power.

Banerjee Accuses BJP Of Dividing Bengal On Religious Lines

Banerjee Accuses BJP Of Dividing Bengal On Religious Lines

Rediff.com20 Apr 2026

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the BJP for allegedly attempting to divide people on religious and caste lines during a community outreach programme in her Bhabanipur constituency.

Post Bengal rally surprise: Modi stops for jhalmuri, shares with locals

Post Bengal rally surprise: Modi stops for jhalmuri, shares with locals

Rediff.com19 Apr 2026

After completing a power-packed schedule of four back-to-back rallies in Purulia, Jhargram, Medinipur and Bishnupur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen unwinding in a light-hearted moment as he relished West Bengal's popular street snack "Jhalmuri" near a small local shop.

How BJP turned TMC's structural cracks into a sweeping mandate

How BJP turned TMC's structural cracks into a sweeping mandate

Rediff.com5 May 2026

The BJP's landslide victory in West Bengal has not merely redrawn the electoral map but overturned the operating logic of politics in the state, breaching the TMC's entrenched fortress despite a decade-and-a-half of dominance, minority consolidation, and a sustained "outsider" narrative.

UPI payment at toll plaza emerges as key lead in Suvendu aide murder probe

UPI payment at toll plaza emerges as key lead in Suvendu aide murder probe

Rediff.com10 May 2026

Investigators probing the murder of Chandranath Rath, a close aide of West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari, have found a key lead in the form of a UPI transaction made at a toll plaza in Howrah.

DMK to move SC against delimitation bill, if passed in Parl

DMK to move SC against delimitation bill, if passed in Parl

Rediff.com16 Apr 2026

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Thursday said that it will move the Supreme Court against the delimitation bill, if it is passed in the Parliament.

TVK worker files SC plea against governor; party disowns

TVK worker files SC plea against governor; party disowns

Rediff.com8 May 2026

A member of actor-turned-politician Vijay-led Tamilaka Vettri Kazhagam on Friday moved the Supreme Court seeking directions to Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to invite his single largest political party to form the government in the state.

Is a quick comeback within reach for Mamata after this setback?

Is a quick comeback within reach for Mamata after this setback?

Rediff.com5 May 2026

Mamata Banerjee's defeat in West Bengal marks a significant turning point in her political career, challenging her ability to rebuild and regain influence after a long period of dominance.

'Betrayed again': Modi accuses TMC of denying Bengal women 33% quota

'Betrayed again': Modi accuses TMC of denying Bengal women 33% quota

Rediff.com19 Apr 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of betraying women by obstructing the passage of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which aimed to reserve 33 per cent of seats in Parliament and state assemblies for women. Modi asserted that women in West Bengal would punish the TMC in the upcoming assembly elections.

'BJP Has Seen Defeat For 40 Years. That's Why It Never Loses In Gujarat Today'

'BJP Has Seen Defeat For 40 Years. That's Why It Never Loses In Gujarat Today'

Rediff.com30 Apr 2026

'Narendra Modi -- a man with deep and vital experience of Indian politics -- has seen the BJP lose many elections between 1975 and 2015, and with every defeat, he learned lessons that made sure he would never allow his party to be defeated so easily again.'

Banerjee Accuses BJP Of Dividing Bengal On Religious Lines

Banerjee Accuses BJP Of Dividing Bengal On Religious Lines

Rediff.com19 Apr 2026

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the BJP for allegedly deleting names from electoral rolls and attempting to divide people on religious and caste lines during a community outreach programme in her Bhabanipur constituency.

PMK urges Modi to ban cigarette sales to future generations

PMK urges Modi to ban cigarette sales to future generations

Rediff.com2 May 2026

PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to implement a legislative ban on the sale of cigarettes to individuals born on or after January 1, 2009, aiming to create a smoke-free generation in India.

'I'm very tough on myself; if I don't do well': Varun Chakravarthy

'I'm very tough on myself; if I don't do well': Varun Chakravarthy

Rediff.com19 Apr 2026

Varun Chakravarthy defends his recent form, attributing his struggles to unhelpful pitches rather than any flaws in his bowling, after a match-winning performance for Kolkata Knight Riders.

No Israeli push, no nuclear Iran: Trump hardens Iran stance, targets media

No Israeli push, no nuclear Iran: Trump hardens Iran stance, targets media

Rediff.com21 Apr 2026

US President Donald Trump on Monday doubled down on his hardline stance against Tehran while dismissing mainstream media narratives regarding his foreign policy motivations.

'Congress Eyeing 2036 Polls'

'Congress Eyeing 2036 Polls'

Rediff.com20 Dec 2025

'It is clear they have accepted that the next two elections belong to the BJP.'

Bengal polls: Why South Bengal's 91 seats will decide battle for Nabanna

Bengal polls: Why South Bengal's 91 seats will decide battle for Nabanna

Rediff.com27 Apr 2026

In West Bengal's electoral chessboard, governments are rarely made in the hills of North Bengal or the forested region of Jangalmahal. Power is usually decided in the crowded plains of South Bengal, where elections are won less by momentum and more by mathematics.

India will...: Modi congratulates Tarique Rahman; BNP reacts

India will...: Modi congratulates Tarique Rahman; BNP reacts

Rediff.com13 Feb 2026

The BNP on Friday claimed victory in the general elections in Bangladesh to replace the interim administration

UP electoral roll swells by 84 lakh after special revision

UP electoral roll swells by 84 lakh after special revision

Rediff.com10 Apr 2026

Uttar Pradesh's electorate has increased by over 84 lakh following the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), according to the final voter list. The revision exercise, conducted across all 75 districts, aimed to update and refine the electoral roll, resulting in a significant rise in both male and female voters, as well as an improved gender ratio.

BJP-TMC clash dominates as Bengal heads into final phase voting

BJP-TMC clash dominates as Bengal heads into final phase voting

Rediff.com28 Apr 2026

The campaign for the current election cycle ended on Monday as canvassing for the final phase in West Bengal concluded with a bitter war of words between rival parties over cross-border infiltration, corruption, unemployment and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Assam Delimitation Tilts Electoral Balance

Assam Delimitation Tilts Electoral Balance

Rediff.com9 Apr 2026

While the total number of assembly seats remains unchanged at 126, the redrawing of boundaries has reshaped voter composition across constituencies -- a shift that is likely to influence electoral outcomes in the years ahead.

Vijay wins floor test with 144 votes; DMK walks out, AIADMK divided

Vijay wins floor test with 144 votes; DMK walks out, AIADMK divided

Rediff.com13 May 2026

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay-led TVK government successfully won the trust vote in the Tamil Nadu assembly, securing 144 votes in favour, with support from the Congress, VCK, and an AIADMK rebel faction.