Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty experienced a decline due to renewed geopolitical concerns in the Strait of Hormuz, a strained US-Iran ceasefire, and the rupee hitting a record low against the US dollar.
The Bhabanipur assembly segment is Banerjee's political bastion, where she is locked in a prestige battle against Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari in what is being seen as a symbolic rematch of Nandigram, where he had defeated her in the 2021 assembly polls.
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.
The extent of doubts over the fairness of this election can be assessed by juxtaposing two figures: Total votes polled by the two principal parties and the number of people who were disallowed from voting this time, observes Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur believes PM Modi's purchase of 'jhalmuri' in Jhargram will influence the West Bengal Assembly polls, contrasting it with CM Mamata Banerjee's actions. He also criticised the TMC government for blocking central schemes and failing to ensure women's safety.
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.
Schools in Delhi are taking precautionary measures to protect students from the ongoing heatwave, including suspending outdoor activities, shifting assemblies indoors, and considering early closure for junior classes.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced that central forces will remain deployed in West Bengal for at least seven more days after the assembly elections, assuring voters of security during and after the polls.
The commission, however, has not specified how many among these new entrants are first-time voters who have just turned 18, nor has it given a detailed gender break up of these voters.
'Among the leaders whose names are going around, V D Satheesan is the leader who will fit this kind of situation.'
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini released over 2,115 crore directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries under various welfare schemes, benefiting over 58 lakh eligible individuals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the TMC of sheltering goons who torture women and promised citizenship to refugees in West Bengal. He highlighted the BJP's commitment to women's security by giving poll tickets to victims of violence.
The INDIA bloc faces a significant challenge as the Congress and DMK part ways, raising questions about the alliance's future and unity.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced the state government will introduce a stringent anti-drug law allowing for the confiscation of drug smugglers' properties. Mann criticised previous administrations for allegedly enabling the drug trade and vowed stricter penalties for sacrilege. He also accused the BJP of divisive politics and criticised the Akali Dal for alleged political manipulation of religious institutions.
Last time, assembly polls in West Bengal were held in eight phases -- by far the maximum. In Assam, elections were held in two phases, and in a singular phase in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.
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.
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief Vijay, buoyed by the support from the Left parties, on Friday called on Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the Lok Bhavan in Chennai in connection with securing an invite from him to form the government.
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).
'The next five years are crucial because Assam, West Bengal and Bihar are either governed by or politically aligned with the BJP.' 'This gives us a strong platform to take decisive steps to secure our borders.'
West Bengal Police are investigating the murder of Chandranath Rath, a close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, and have formed multiple teams to trace the assailants.
There is something that makes the Uthiramerur assembly constituency in Kancheepuram district special.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged TMC candidates and agents to remain vigilant at counting centres, alleging a 'game plan' by the BJP and the Election Commission to show the BJP taking an early lead.
The Supreme Court has declined to interfere with the Election Commission's circular regarding the deployment of central government personnel for vote counting in West Bengal, dismissing a plea by the TMC.
The murder of a close aide to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari in West Bengal has ignited post-election violence, raising concerns about political stability and the transition of power.
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.
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.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered a case to probe the recovery of 79 crude bombs in West Bengal following a directive from the Union Home Ministry.
NIA begins probe into Bhangar crude bomb case after 79 explosives recovered in West Bengal, raising serious security concerns ahead of elections.
The Uttar Pradesh government's 'One District One Cuisine' initiative, aimed at promoting local delicacies, has drawn criticism for omitting several iconic non-vegetarian dishes closely associated with the state's districts.
West Bengal minister Sujit Bose was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate for nearly nine hours in connection with the alleged civic body recruitment scam.
Glimpses of the stars who voted in the Tamil Nadu assembly election on Thursday...
ServiceNow, a leading AI platform for business transformation, is highly optimistic about its growth prospects in the Indian market, according to President and Chief Product Officer Amit Zavery.
Police in Kolkata are investigating the murder of Chandranath Rath, a close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. Multiple special investigation teams have been formed, and CCTV footage is being examined to trace those involved. The probe includes the possibility of contract killers being hired for the crime.
BJD president Naveen Patnaik has requested Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's intervention in a case where an Odisha tribal man was forced to exhume his sister's skeleton to prove her death to a rural bank. Patnaik seeks accountability for the incident, which has sparked public outrage.
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.
Banerjee reached the venue in the evening, ignoring torrential rains in Kolkata and was still seated inside till reports last received.
The Indian government has refuted claims of an impending Rs 25-28 per litre hike in petrol and diesel prices post-assembly elections, stating no such proposal is under consideration by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Under the TMC, Bengal has seen expansion of welfare, but not big-ticket private investment.
As industrial plants boost the village's profile, locals demand priority hiring, alongside better storage facilities and water security.
In a dramatic election mirroring the Nandigram contest, BJP's Suvendu Adhikari defeated Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur, marking a significant victory for the BJP and a setback for the Trinamool Congress.
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