This was her second term as chief minister and, in keeping with the tradition of voters choosing the Congress and the BJP alternately, the ruling party looks set to lose power.
If she wins in November, Haley will be the second Indian-American to be governor of an American state after Bobby Jindal in Louisiana, not a small achievement for a community which accounts for less than one per cent of the entire American population.
In what can be termed a big blow to Barack Obama, the Republicans have surged to victory in two governors' races defeating Democrats, reports said.
He also said his opponents may hate him, call him 'Pappu' but he has no anger, hatred against the PM and the BJP.
Bobby Jindal and Nikki Haley are not on the list of speakers at the Republican National Convention.
On the urging of his Indian American constituents, particularly hoteliers who have origins in Gujarat and are ardent fans of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, a United States lawmaker, Congressman, Joe Walsh, a right wing conservative Republican, and is the darling of the Tea Party Movement, has launched a campaign to prevail on the Obama administration to grant a diplomatic visa to Modi. Aziz Haniffa reports
Khadim Hussain Rizvi is now gone. But the mass appeal of fundamentalism among Pakistan's burgeoning, young, illiterate, unemployed and angry population isn't, observes Shekhar Gupta.
The Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Madhya Pradesh has brought in a stringent law against cow slaughter which has raised the jail term from the current three years to seven years for violators.
Early results suggested that Moon, the Democratic Party's candidate in the election to replace ousted president Park Geun-hye.
Superintendent of Police Malla Reddy said Koneru Krishna, brother of TRS MLA Koneru Kannappa, has been arrested and booked under various sections of the IPC.
The Opposition seems to be speaking on lines of the neighbouring country on Article 370, he said.
"Europe is watching us. I'm sure that in many European countries there is relief and hope at the idea that austerity does not have to be our only fate," the president-elect said in a victory speech in his constituency of Tulle in central France.
This will also be his first August 15 address after coming back to power with a huge mandate.
Images from the IPL final between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, in Dubai on Tuesday.
'The BJP, or the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, are celebrating their biggest ideological and philosophical victory in some time,' says Shekhar Gupta.
'The sadhus and sanyasis of UP are not for any economics.' 'They only know the religious agenda and the RSS will support them.' 'Modi does not have full control of the party at the ground level like Indira Gandhi had.'
'Three decades after liberalisation kicked off, my friend's son and niece -- both born well after that historic shift in economic policy -- find themselves newly off the beaten path for no fault than listening to their heart,' notes Shyam G Menon.
Mumbai-origin Gulam Kaderbhoy Noon, who migrated to Britain with little funds and went on to found several Indian food companies that made him known as Britain's first 'Curry King', died on Tuesday at the age of 79 after he surrendered in his battle against liver cancer.
Kaushik Khona's second innings at GoAir will be more challenging than the first. Globally, the aviation industry is in deep distress because of the pandemic, reports Aneesh Phadnis.
'As a student of history, I am no pessimist, but regardless of which party/coalitions comes to power on May 23, the space for secularism, pluralism and minority rights has shrunk significantly,' says Mohammad Sajjad.
For children of many conservative Indian families, Navratri means getting the licence to do what they always wanted to -- partying, smoking, drinking and making out. But with parents increasingly resorting to private detectives to snoop on them, the festival of nine nights isn't always fun and games. Abhishek Mande weighs in the pros and cons.
He hoped that the candidate 'advances the principles of our party and appeals to a wide, vast majority of Americans'.
An Australian environmental group has launched a legal challenge against Adani Enterprises' $7 billion Carmichael coal mine project in the Galilee Basin.
Shankar Acharya gives ten predictions on key politico-economic developments in the world and ten for India.
'Like it or not, the Congress is still the only party with the potential to challenge the BJP at a pan-Indian level,' says T V R Shenoy.
The current estimate, however, largely covers only the cost of infrastructure such as pipes, construction of borewells, overhead costs among others and not the expenditure to be incurred on operation and maintenance.
While Dave was re-nominated for the Rajya Sabha seat from Madhya Pradesh, Akbar, who represents Jharkhand in the Upper House, was fielded from the state.
A Bloc Quebecois motion to ban the kirpan from the precincts of parliamentary buildings moved on February 14 was defeated with the Conservatives, Liberals and the New Democratic Party voting against it. The move came close on the heels of Quebec politicians banning the Sikh ceremonial dagger from the Quebec National Parliament.
The top clergy of Darul Uloom will meet in Deoband on Wednesday to decide the fate of seminary's Vice-Chancellor Maulana Ghulam Mohammed Vastanvi, who stirred a controversy by praising Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, amid speculation that he may be asked to quit.
Considered a Labour stronghold, the Crewe and Nantwich seat was won convincingly by Conservative candidate Edward Timpson, registering the party's first by-election gain in 26 years. Timpson won 7,860 more votes, which was the margin of victory of the Labour's candidate, Gwyneth Dunwoody, in the last election.
Deras like Sacha Sauda made the poor feel secure, cared for, loved, provided a support system and gave them dignity, says Sanjeev Nayyar.
'This time, even the professedly secular parties have maintained a conscious distance from being identified with Muslims.' 'This could be interpreted as a success of the BJP campaign of what it has been calling 'minority appeasement', says Mohammad Sajjad.
The Lakme Fashion Week (Summer-Resort) drew to a close last weekend. With temperatures crossing 40 degrees in parts of the country, these ten immensely summery skirts could well be your answer to the bright, harsh sun!
'If we encourage such forces, then tomorrow they will try to intimidate every teacher who doesn't teach their idea of what is right and wrong.'
British Prime Minister David Cameron's remark during his India visit in June about Pakistan looking "both ways" in the war against terrorism was in line with his party's promise to America to act tough on Islamabad, the Guardian reported on Wednesday.
"Trump is a bully and a demagogue," said Sanders whose call to support party nominee Clinton was met with loud jeers and cries of "We want Bernie!" from the fired-up crowd.
Get your lowdown on what's happening in the world of Hollywood, right here!
Riding on a wave against the liberal policies of President Barrack Obama, and inspired and helped by the right wing Tea Party movement, led by leaders like Sarah Palin, former candidate for vice president, Haley, whose parents came from Amritsar in the 60s, trounced her Democratic opponent state Senator Vincent Sheheen.
Mediums may change, formats may alter but one thing remains constant -- audience making their likes and dislikes abundantly clear.
