Prudential plc has announced its acquisition of a 75 per cent stake in Bharti Life Insurance for approximately 3,500 crore, a strategic move to secure majority ownership in the Indian life insurance market. This acquisition necessitates Prudential reducing its holding in ICICI Prudential Life Insurance to below 10 per cent.
In a state known for high political literacy and ideological mobilisation, the Congress' inability to quickly settle on a leader after securing a massive mandate has fed a narrative that the party remains excessively dependent on Delhi, deeply faction-ridden and vulnerable to internal sabotage
Actor Vijay has been sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, marking a significant shift in the state's political landscape. His party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), secured a notable victory in its debut election, ending the dominance of DMK and AIADMK.
Ishan Kishan's impressive 70 and Pat Cummins's three-wicket haul led Sunrisers Hyderabad to a five-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings, securing their place in the IPL 2026 playoffs. Heinrich Klaasen's contribution of 47 runs also proved vital in the win.
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has voiced its support for V D Satheesan as the potential Chief Minister of Kerala if the Congress-led UDF alliance wins, drawing criticism from SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan, who suggests this indicates the IUML would effectively rule the state.
The Congress party is considering supporting TVK in forming a government in Tamil Nadu, following a request from TVK chief Vijay. The party leadership has directed the Tamil Nadu unit to make a final decision, keeping in mind the state's sentiments and commitment to a secular government.
Intense lobbying is underway in Kerala as V D Satheesan, K C Venugopal, and Ramesh Chennithala vie for the chief minister's post, with their camps citing popularity, MLA support, and experience as key factors for the Congress high command's decision.
The Enforcement Directorate conducted fresh searches against Punjab industries minister Sanjeev Arora and others allegedly linked to him as part of a money laundering investigation.
The AINRC-led NDA has won the Puducherry Assembly elections and is set to form the government. Chief Minister N Rangasamy won both seats he contested.
Despite recent gains, the BJP-led NDA is unlikely to achieve a two-thirds majority in the Rajya Sabha in the near future, highlighting the challenges in passing key legislation requiring constitutional amendments.
The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches against Punjab industries minister Sanjeev Arora and others allegedly linked to him as part of a money laundering case investigation.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to convene a meeting of the sub-committee for political dialogue with representatives of agitating Ladakh groups on May 22, according to Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.
Exit polls suggest significant shifts in Indian state assembly elections, forecasting BJP gains in West Bengal and Assam, a DMK comeback in Tamil Nadu, and a tight race in Kerala.
Himanta Biswa Sarma's return as Assam's Chief Minister underscores the BJP's increasing dominance in the northeast, marked by both development and divisive policies.
India is the only significant power that all parties trust, or at least do not distrust, notes former defence secretary Ajay Kumar.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Punjab Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora in connection with a money laundering case involving alleged fake GST purchases and round-tripping of funds. Raids were conducted at multiple locations, and Arora was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This follows previous actions against Arora and other politically connected individuals in Punjab.
The Enforcement Directorate conducted fresh searches against Punjab industries minister Sanjeev Arora and others allegedly linked to him as part of a money laundering investigation. Raids were carried out at multiple locations, including Arora's residence and business premises, following a new case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
After a shaky start, Chennai Super Kings recovered to post a total of 187 against Lucknow Super Giants, thanks to a resilient innings from Kartik Sharma and support from Dewald Brevis and Shivam Dube.
Supporters of TVK chief Vijay gathered in large numbers outside his residence, demanding he be invited to take the oath as Chief Minister amid ongoing political uncertainty in Tamil Nadu. The gathering highlights the pressure on the TVK leadership to clarify its roadmap for the upcoming elections and its position on the ongoing government formation deadlock.
The ruling NDA coalition in India faces a significant challenge in passing the women's reservation bill in Parliament due to insufficient numbers. The bill requires a two-thirds majority in both houses, and the NDA needs to secure additional support or abstentions from other parties to achieve this.
AIADMK has finalised its seat-sharing arrangement with key NDA alliance members, including the BJP, PMK, and AMMK, for the upcoming elections, as announced by AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami.
Prem Panicker's Must Read Blog On The Gulf War.
Mamata Banerjee, the outgoing Chief Minister of West Bengal, has refused to step down after her party's defeat in the assembly elections, alleging a conspiracy and irregularities in the counting process. She also accused the Election Commission of working in favour of the BJP and announced a fact-finding committee to investigate post-poll violence.
Launched in 2024, the TVK has Vijay's shift into politics was not sudden as he had been doing groundwork since 2009, when he launched his fan club, the Vijay Makkal Iyakkam.
Counting of votes begins in Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, and West Bengal, with significant implications for regional and national parties.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit) has launched its 'vision document' outlining its ideological direction and commitment to the rise of the 'Panth' and the progress of Punjab. The 'Akali Declaration 2026' addresses issues concerning youth, farmers, women, and other sections of society, with a focus on education, health, and internal party reforms.
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.
'The BJP's tally may dip, but the NDA is likely to retain power.'
As industrial plants boost the village's profile, locals demand priority hiring, alongside better storage facilities and water security.
The delimitation of constituencies, which aimed to reduce the influence of minority candidates, is a significant factor in the NDA's strong performance in the Assam elections, where they secured a record 102 seats. The 2023 delimitation exercise redrew constituencies, reserving some Muslim-majority seats for indigenous communities, which increased the BJP and its allies' seat count.
Vijay was appointed CM after he presented letters of support from the VCK and the IUML who have two MLAs each.
The delimitation in Assam has quietly changed the political scene, raising questions about whether new constituency boundaries helped the BJP by spreading out Muslim-majority voters.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is set to chair a crucial Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, April 14.
The opposition Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) conceded defeat in the elections to municipal councils and nagar panchayats, accusing the election commission of 'facilitating' the victory of the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
A 27-year-old man allegedly stabbed a woman and her daughter to death in Palghar district, Maharashtra, following a dispute over a marriage proposal. The accused then attempted suicide and is currently hospitalised.
C Joseph Vijay was sworn in as the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, marking the first non-DMK, non-AIADMK government in the state in 60 years. The ceremony was attended by Rahul Gandhi, and Vijay promised transparent governance and asserted his sole authority. He signed files to implement key promises, including free power for domestic consumers.
Voting has commenced for the assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, with over 3.60 crore electors eligible to vote in 152 constituencies in Bengal and 5.73 crore voters in Tamil Nadu. Security measures are heightened to ensure free and fair polling.
The Leh Apex Body (LAB) has requested direct talks with Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his upcoming visit, deeming the scheduled sub-committee meeting insufficient for resolving Ladakh's long-standing issues.
Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus shone as South Africa defeated India by eight wickets in the second women's T20I, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Mammootty's greatness lies not in hiding his flaws, but in turning them into his most powerful acting tools, observes Sreehari Nair.
