The electorate did not vote for the BJP as much as they voted against the TMC. This is an important distinction that the new government will ignore at its own peril, points out Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asserted that the TMC will return to power for a fourth consecutive term, urging opposition parties to unite against the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.
The TMC has intensified its attack on the BJP, alleging a 'larger conspiracy' involving central agencies ahead of the second phase of West Bengal polls on April 29, while also questioning the credibility of the Election Commission.
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has confirmed that a young woman from Madhya Pradesh, known for her viral videos, is a minor, leading to allegations of 'love Jihad' regarding her interfaith marriage.
Rahul Gandhi voiced his disagreement with the selection of Raj Kumar Goyal as Chief Information Commissioner, proposing alternative candidates with extensive experience in public policy and law.
Reacting strongly to reports of the Law Commission considering proposals for reforms in Muslim family laws, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board has said the measures were "ill-motivated" and have been suggested "to pave the way for enactment of a uniform civil code of the Shariat laws".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised the ruling TMC in West Bengal, alleging corruption and appeasement politics, while promoting the BJP's development agenda ahead of the assembly elections.
Supreme Court Justice B V Nagarathna has emphasised the critical importance of an independent Election Commission to ensure the neutrality and integrity of the electoral process in India.
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.
The Supreme Court has ruled that no cognisable offence was committed by BJP leaders Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma regarding alleged hate speeches during the 2020 anti-CAA protests in Delhi. The court upheld a previous decision by the Delhi High Court, stating that the speeches did not incite violence or target a specific community.
West Bengal is on edge as it awaits the results of its recent election, with the TMC and BJP vying for control. The counting process will be conducted under tight security, with the Election Commission implementing stringent measures to ensure a fair and transparent process.
A major fire near the main unit of the newly built Rajasthan refinery of HPCL has postponed the inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The fire, which broke out near the crude distillation unit, was doused in about two hours with no reported casualties.
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor criticised the government's decision to link women's reservation with the expansion of Parliament, calling delimitation a 'political demonetisation'. He argued that women's reservation should be implemented immediately based on existing parliamentary strength.
Police in Jammu have apprehended three alleged hardcore criminals in two separate cases in the outskirts of Jammu city.
The Punjab Police has requested the Centre to direct ZEE5 to halt the airing of the docu-series 'Lawrence of Punjab' on gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, citing a significant risk to public order and potential influence on youth towards criminal activities.
The Congress party has accused the government of using women's reservation as a pretext to push through delimitation, arguing that the women's quota law should be implemented immediately based on the current Lok Sabha strength.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has voiced its concern over the circulation of obscene videos of young girls in Amravati, Maharashtra, and has directed authorities to remove the content from online platforms. The NCW is closely monitoring the case and has asked for regular progress reports.
Suvendu Adhikari's rise within the BJP in West Bengal has been marked by strategic victories and relentless opposition to the TMC, culminating in his leadership role within the party's legislative wing.
BJP's Panihati candidate Ratna Debnath faced protests by TMC workers when she visited a booth in the assembly constituency in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district where polling was underway. She also accused the ruling party activists of preventing her from leaving the booth premises, following an altercation with them over an allegation of influencing voters.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed poll rallies in West Bengal, promising jobs for youths and an 'infiltrator-free' state if the BJP wins the assembly elections. He also pledged to restore industrial glory, end syndicate raj, and ensure women's safety.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced a significant increase in Lok Sabha seats for the five southern states following delimitation, countering misinformation and clarifying the timeline for women's reservation implementation.
Police in Kashmir have arrested 14 drug peddlers across multiple districts as part of a 100-day campaign to eliminate drug use in Jammu and Kashmir. Contraband substances and related paraphernalia were seized during the operations.
An FIR has been lodged against Trinamool Congress candidate Ratna Chattopadhyay for alleged vandalism in the Parnasree area of Kolkata during election campaigning.
A 27-year-old physiotherapist was attacked by her brother-in-law, disguised in women's clothing, in Delhi's Rohini area. The accused, identified as Jai Prakash Yadav, was arrested and faces charges of attempted murder.
The Punjab Police has requested the Centre to direct ZEE5 to halt the airing of the docu-series 'Lawrence of Punjab' on gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, citing a significant risk to public order and potential influence on youth towards criminal activities.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah promised one lakh jobs for youths each year based on merit if the BJP won the West Bengal election, and also pledged to make the state free of infiltrators.
Legal experts suggest West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should resign following her party's defeat in the assembly elections, or face potential dismissal by the governor.
The BJP's West Bengal unit chief, Samik Bhattacharya, has criticised the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, accusing it of crushing democracy and creating a lawless environment in the state. He highlighted political violence, rising debt, and a lack of investor confidence as key issues under the TMC's rule.
The BJP has released its election manifesto for West Bengal, promising a hardline stance on infiltration, financial assistance for women and unemployed youth, and the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission for state employees.
'I cannot imagine that any NSA before Ajit Doval would have given us this kind of time and this kind of engagement. They would have offered slogans, or nothing at all. That, too, tells you something.'
The Election Commission reports a significant reduction in West Bengal's electoral rolls following a Special Intensive Revision, with nearly 9.1 million voters deleted.
While supporting death for those convicted in terror cases and for waging war against the country, the report, 'The Death Penalty' said that although there is no valid penological justification for treating terrorism differently from other crimes, concern is often raised that abolition of capital punishment for terror-related offences and waging war will affect national security.
The Election Commission is considering holding the West Bengal assembly elections in two phases to mitigate potential poll-related violence, according to a senior official.
The Central Information Commission has ordered the disclosure of an investigation into a retired IRS officer's alleged acquisition of assets under different identities and subsequent name change to claim ownership, deeming the case a potentially significant revelation.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has accused the BJP of attempting to manipulate the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections by submitting a large number of Form 6 applications to illegally register voters from outside the state.
Rahul Gandhi playfully remarked on his and PM Modi's lack of 'the wife issue' during a Lok Sabha debate, highlighting the influence of women in everyone's lives.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has recused himself from hearing petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the 2023 law regarding the appointment of election commissioners, citing a potential conflict of interest.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is shifting its focus from individual athletes to the criminal networks that supply performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), recognising that athletes are often victims of sophisticated doping operations.
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.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has criticised the Election Commission for allegedly failing to protect judicial officers involved in electoral roll revisions in Malda district. She accused the EC of lacking control over law and order and enabling the BJP's alleged attempts to disrupt the election process.
