If TVK MLAs and ministers are perceived as clean, or demonstrably cleaner than their predecessors, the credibility dividend will be enormous. The voter will feel rewarded, points out Ramesh Menon.
TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee has urged BJP candidate Ratna Debnath to appeal to PM Modi to ensure the Aparajita Bill, which aims for time-bound punishment for rape convicts, is enacted. Banerjee criticised the BJP's stance on women's safety and highlighted the TMC government's prompt action in a previous rape-murder case.
Several incidents of post-poll violence have been reported across West Bengal, with tension escalating in various districts following the recent assembly elections. Clashes between political party supporters have led to injuries, arrests, and heightened security measures.
The Supreme Court's stay on the UGC equity regulations aimed at preventing caste-based discrimination on campuses has been met with mixed reactions. Opposition parties welcomed the decision, while some expressed concern over the implications for marginalized communities.
Delhi Police have arrested a 31-year-old man in Nashik, Maharashtra, for allegedly threatening to blow up a coaching institute in northwest Delhi and demanding Rs 21 lakh. The accused, a former Applied Mathematics professor, posed as a gangster and was tracked down through technical surveillance and ground intelligence.
Former CPI(M) leader G Sudhakaran has accused the party of engaging in caste-based campaigning in the Ambalapuzha constituency, leading to a heated exchange with party officials.
A BJP government in Bengal inherits more problems than it might care to admit at its moment of triumph, points out Ramesh Menon
rediffGURU Radheshyam Zanwar, founder of Zanwar Classes, guides students on how to prepare for engineering entrance exams and secure engineering admissions.
Tamil Nadu's Baranica Elangovan has shattered the national pole vault record, clearing 4.22m in Bhubaneswar, marking an extraordinary return to form after undergoing ACL surgery in 2020.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a strong attack on the ruling TMC in West Bengal, accusing them of running the state through 'syndicates' and promising to address atrocities against women if the BJP gains power.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed poll rallies in West Bengal, promising to tackle corruption and illegal immigration if the BJP comes to power. He criticised the current TMC government and outlined the BJP's plans for the state.
Three passengers, including an elderly couple, were allegedly drugged on the Saryu Express train in Uttar Pradesh. They were travelling from Prayagraj to Ayodhya when the incident occurred. The victims were hospitalised and are receiving treatment.
Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria has called upon schools to play a proactive role in safeguarding youth from drug abuse. He emphasised the role of educational institutions in the statewide anti-drug campaign and criticised the neighbouring country for allegedly pumping drugs into Punjab.
'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.'
A man died after becoming trapped in a lift at a Kolkata hospital, leading to accusations of negligence and corruption against the state government.
'Infertility and reproductive health challenges, much like other chronic conditions, are rising globally.'
Opposition Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) candidate Kunki Chowdhury has filed a police complaint regarding alleged deepfake videos circulating on social media that defame her family, following claims made by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma about her mother's food habits.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of being 'afraid' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing corruption allegations and a desire to protect his children.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of being 'afraid' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging corruption and a compromise of governance to protect his children.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a strong attack on the TMC in West Bengal, accusing them of corruption and syndicate rule, while promising to address atrocities against women if the BJP comes to power.
The DMK party in Tamil Nadu has released its manifesto for the upcoming Assembly elections, promising a range of welfare measures focused on women, education, and economic development, including financial assistance and job creation initiatives.
'India is at a critical juncture in this century. I want to be a part of the diplomatic team that works to make India great.'
This election is different. It is no longer simply about governance or welfare. It is about identity, fear, and who belongs. The BJP has successfully shifted the terms of the debate from what the government has delivered to who the real Bengali is and who is an outsider, points out Ramesh Menon.
Delhi Police have arrested a suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) handler, Shabir Ahmed Lone, in Delhi, uncovering a terror module with links to Pakistan's ISI. Lone is accused of running a network involved in pasting anti-national posters and planning terror activities across India.
Bengaluru City Police arrested 16 individuals, including two women, for alleged drug peddling and seized contraband worth 5.24 crore. The Narcotics Wing of the Central Crime Branch made the arrests, seizing MDMA ecstasy pills, MDMA crystal, ganja, and hydro ganja. Nine foreign nationals overstaying their visas and allegedly involved in drug peddling were also taken into custody.
A profile of incarcerated gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, detailing his criminal history, terror links, and Canada's recent designation of his gang as a terrorist entity.
TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee accuses the BJP of attempting to alter West Bengal's demography by importing voters from other states ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, alleging a conspiracy to undermine the democratic rights of local residents.
A woman in Uttar Pradesh, declared brain-dead, showed signs of life after her ambulance hit a pothole. Doctors attribute her recovery to treatment for a suspected toxic bite, not a miracle.
Yogi Adityanath champions national unity over caste divisions, asserting that 'casteism' weakens India's social fabric and hinders its progress on the global stage.
Karnataka Chief Minister announces a ban on social media for children under 16 and increased measures to prevent drug abuse in schools, colleges, and universities, alongside investments in education infrastructure and mental health support.
As he settled down to his job as army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa -- who died last week; his passing did not merit even an obituary in major print or electronic media in Pakistan! -- developed a vision of reducing his country's and his institution, the army's traditional hostility toward India, points out Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at RA&W.
'People have lost hope of finding justice in this state ... I want to give these victims, their families, the people of this state, a voice.'
The figures are grim. India accounts for around 19 per cent of global cervical cancer cases and 23 per cent of deaths.
Three individuals of Indian origin have been killed in Canada in separate incidents, raising concerns about potential hate crimes and prompting investigations by Canadian authorities.
Three individuals of Indian origin have been killed in Canada in separate incidents, raising concerns about potential hate crimes and prompting investigations by Canadian authorities.
If the oil infrastructure is attacked by the United States, the whole area could be flooded with oil, spilling into the Persian Gulf.
A 62-year-old Hindu trader was hacked to death inside his shop in Bangladesh, raising concerns about violence against the minority community.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal has criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, alleging a decline in law and order and accusing them of using financial schemes to sway voters ahead of elections.
'Nitish Kumar may be marginalised as an office-holder, but that is not the same thing as the disappearance of Nitish Kumar's politics.'
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh announce ban social media for teens, sparking debate about its effectiveness, impact on education, and implications for advertisers targeting young audiences.
