News for 'district panchayats'

Panchayat officer who hoisted Hanuman flag in Mandya suspended

Panchayat officer who hoisted Hanuman flag in Mandya suspended

Rediff.com30 Jan 2024

Amid simmering tension in Mandya over the removal of Hanuman flag from a 108 feet tall flagpost, the Keragodu village Panchayat Development Officer has been suspended.

Man beheaded on suspicion of sorcery in Odisha

Man beheaded on suspicion of sorcery in Odisha

Rediff.com29 May 2025

The headless body of the victim, identified as Rupsingh Majhi of Deypur village under Kalampur police limits, was recovered from a village pond.

Violence mars Bengal panchayat poll nomination filing

Violence mars Bengal panchayat poll nomination filing

Rediff.com14 Jun 2023

Violence rocked parts of West Bengal over the filing of nominations for the July 8 panchayat poll as activists of the ruling Trinamool Congress and opposition parties clashed prompting the police to use force to disperse the mob.

Mandi cloudburst: Infant survives as family washed away

Mandi cloudburst: Infant survives as family washed away

Rediff.com6 Jul 2025

Ten-month-old Neetika is the lone survivor of her family after a cloudburst in Mandi district. Her father died, and her mother and grandmother are missing. Neighbors are caring for the infant, and authorities are offering assistance.

99% of electors have already been covered in SIR: EC

99% of electors have already been covered in SIR: EC

Rediff.com24 Jul 2025

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday said that 99 per cent of electors have already been covered under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in poll-bound Bihar, ECI said.

Voter Deletions: RaGa's Charges Vs ECI Rebuttal: Who's Right?

Voter Deletions: RaGa's Charges Vs ECI Rebuttal: Who's Right?

Rediff.com19 Sep 2025

Does voter deletion controversy expose critical gaps in ECI verification procedures and safeguards protecting electoral roll integrity?

Sahu's amazing journey from Chhattisgarh panchayat to Union council

Sahu's amazing journey from Chhattisgarh panchayat to Union council

Rediff.com9 Jun 2024

Tokhan Sahu, a first-time member of Parliament and a surprise addition to Narendra Modi's new cabinet, has been active in politics for the past three decades, though he has maintained a low profile throughout his career.

Aunt to raise 10-month-old orphaned by Mandi cloudburst

Aunt to raise 10-month-old orphaned by Mandi cloudburst

Rediff.com14 Jul 2025

Ten-month-old Neetika, orphaned in the Mandi flash floods, will be raised by her aunt. The community rallies to support her future.

UP journalist, wife consume poison on camera over 'harassment'

UP journalist, wife consume poison on camera over 'harassment'

Rediff.com30 May 2025

In the purported video, Israr claimed that he had recently published a news report on an alleged corruption in the Barkheda nagar panchayat, which he claimed caught the attention of the Chief Minister's Office.

Woman ends life over dowry; writes suicide note on hands, legs

Woman ends life over dowry; writes suicide note on hands, legs

Rediff.com18 Jul 2025

Manisha, from Rathauda village under Chhaprauli police station limits, recorded a video and left a three-page suicide note before her death, they said.

Congress to ditch MVA for Maharashtra local body polls?

Congress to ditch MVA for Maharashtra local body polls?

Rediff.com6 Jul 2025

With local body elections approaching in Maharashtra, a significant portion of the Congress party is advocating for contesting independently to regain lost ground amidst the BJP's growing influence. The party is currently part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.

Act against panchayats for banning Muslim traders: Nuh MLA

Act against panchayats for banning Muslim traders: Nuh MLA

Rediff.com10 Aug 2023

Congress MLA from Nuh Aftab Ahmed on Thursday demanded strict action against those village panchayats in Haryana that have allegedly 'banned' entry of Muslim traders into their villages.

Flood submerges 30 Bihar districts, 45 lakh hit in two phases of deluge

Flood submerges 30 Bihar districts, 45 lakh hit in two phases of deluge

Rediff.com4 Oct 2024

More than 45 lakh people in 30 out of the total 38 districts of the state have been affected by the calamity in two phases since last month, according to the Disaster Management Department.

Kerala: Hundreds shifted to relief camps as rains intensify

Kerala: Hundreds shifted to relief camps as rains intensify

Rediff.com1 Jun 2025

Hundreds of people were shifted to relief camps from low-lying areas of Kerala as flood water entered their houses with monsoon rains gaining further strength in the state.

3 killed in Himachal flash floods, Delhi rains claim 2 lives

3 killed in Himachal flash floods, Delhi rains claim 2 lives

Rediff.com29 Jul 2025

Flash floods triggered by a cloudburst in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, resulted in casualties and widespread damage, prompting rescue operations and relief efforts.

Can Prashant Kishor Shake Up Bihar Politics?

Can Prashant Kishor Shake Up Bihar Politics?

Rediff.com10 Jul 2025

'Prashant Kishor is a businessman before he is a politician, and given that the expected average turnout for JSP candidates is 5,000 to 6,000 votes and since Bihar has a significant number of seats where the margin between the winner and runner-up falls within that range he will capitalise on exactly that to showcase his presence.'

Has Vijay Changed After Karur Stampede?

Has Vijay Changed After Karur Stampede?

Rediff.com25 Oct 2025

Vijay, despite the loud message from his delayed arrival at the road-show/stampede venue, and more so his continued inaccessibility for fans-turned-cadres after graduating from a super-star to a political party leader with electoral ambitions, refuses to change. Or, so it seems, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

Kerala becomes India's first fully digitally literate state: CM Vijayan

Kerala becomes India's first fully digitally literate state: CM Vijayan

Rediff.com22 Aug 2025

Kerala has become the first state in India to achieve complete digital literacy, according to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Over 2.5 lakh volunteers contributed to this milestone, which included people of all age groups. The state plans to launch the second phase of the project soon, making all personal documents available in DigiLockers.

How Women Voters Cemented Nitish Kumar's Political Fortress

How Women Voters Cemented Nitish Kumar's Political Fortress

Rediff.com6 Sep 2025

For nearly two decades, Nitish Kumar has cultivated women as a distinct constituency. 'To create a broader vote base, he thought it would be better to bring women to electoral politics.'

Bureaucrats can't be allowed to frustrate grassroot democracy: SC

Bureaucrats can't be allowed to frustrate grassroot democracy: SC

Rediff.com11 Mar 2025

The Supreme Court of India has upheld a Bombay High Court order reinstating a woman as the sarpanch of a Maharashtra village, stating that bureaucrats cannot be allowed to "frustrate grassroot democracy." The court criticized instances of bureaucrats misbehaving with elected representatives and attempting to disqualify them by reopening old cases. The case involved Kalavati Rajendra Kokale, whose resignation from the sarpanch's post was withdrawn, but the Raigad district collector declared a vacancy and conducted a fresh election. The court found the collector's actions illegal and upheld Kokale's reinstatement, highlighting the importance of respecting the democratic process and elected representatives at the grassroots level.

2 killed, 20 feared swept away in Himachal flash floods

2 killed, 20 feared swept away in Himachal flash floods

Rediff.com26 Jun 2025

Two bodies were recovered from the Manuni Khad in Kangra district while around 15-20 workers stationed at a labour colony near the Indira Priyadarshini Hydroelectric project site were feared swept away following a surge in water level in the Khaniyara Manuni Khad.

Bengal: Cong panchayat candidate among 5 held for making bombs

Bengal: Cong panchayat candidate among 5 held for making bombs

Rediff.com24 Jun 2023

Earlier in the day, one person was killed and three were injured after a crude bomb went off in a mango orchard in Murshibabad district, police said.

Mandi cloudburst toll rises to 14, search on for 31 missing

Mandi cloudburst toll rises to 14, search on for 31 missing

Rediff.com4 Jul 2025

The death toll from cloudburst and flash flood-related incidents in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh has risen to 14, with a search underway for 31 missing individuals. Extensive damage to homes, infrastructure, and livestock has been reported across the district.

Nine killed in lightning strikes in Odisha

Nine killed in lightning strikes in Odisha

Rediff.com17 May 2025

While three persons died in Koraput district, two each died in Jajpur and Ganjam districts, and one each in Dhenkanal and Gajapati districts, they said.

Death toll in Bengal's panchayat poll violence rises to 15

Death toll in Bengal's panchayat poll violence rises to 15

Rediff.com9 Jul 2023

Tension was palpable in the area, and a large police contingent was deployed to prevent any further flare-up.

5 killed in torrential rains, landslides in coastal Karnataka

5 killed in torrential rains, landslides in coastal Karnataka

Rediff.com30 May 2025

On Thursday night, a landslide struck a home at Montepadavu Kodi near Mangaluru, trapping five people under debris, they said.

How 33% reservation empowered women at panchayat level

How 33% reservation empowered women at panchayat level

Rediff.com24 Sep 2023

In the three decades since reservation of seats for women in panchayati raj institutions was introduced, the country saw women dismantling gender barriers to take the lead in the political field at the grassroots level and excel in it.

BJP, Cong-led MVA claim victory in Nagpur gram panchayat polls

BJP, Cong-led MVA claim victory in Nagpur gram panchayat polls

Rediff.com6 Nov 2023

In a press release, BJP Nagpur Rural president Sudhakar Kohale said his party had won 238 sarpanch posts in 361 gram panchayats, while the Congress said the Maha Vikas Aghadi had been victorious on 223 posts.

Panchayat polls: Bengal SEC orders re-election in 690 booths amid violence

Panchayat polls: Bengal SEC orders re-election in 690 booths amid violence

Rediff.com9 Jul 2023

The SEC, which held a meeting on Sunday evening, went through reports of vote-tampering and violence which affected polling in many places, and passed the order, an official said.

Buoyed by panchayat poll results, SP pushes to win UP back

Buoyed by panchayat poll results, SP pushes to win UP back

Rediff.com28 May 2021

'We have learnt lessons from Mamata Banerjee who overcame the BJP's canard by reciting Chandi Path and playing up her Brahmin origins in her campaign. We need to adopt strategies like asking Muslims to lie low and distributing tickets prudently so that we are not accused of favouring one community.' Radhika Ramaseshan reports.

Lightning: India's Deadliest Hazard

Lightning: India's Deadliest Hazard

Rediff.com19 Aug 2025

Lightning claims more lives in India annually than any other extreme weather event. Between April and July this year alone, 1,621 people died due to lightning strikes.

Sachin Tendulkar Foundation eyes sports icon from Naxalite area

Sachin Tendulkar Foundation eyes sports icon from Naxalite area

Rediff.com15 Jun 2025

The administration has introduced 'Maidan Cup' in collaboration with the Mann Deshi Foundation and Sachin Tendulkar Foundation, under which 50 playgrounds will be developed in Dantewada to boost sports culture and talent.

Rain wreaks havoc in Kerala; floods houses, disrupts power

Rain wreaks havoc in Kerala; floods houses, disrupts power

Rediff.com30 May 2025

Houses in low lying areas of Kerala were flooded in the heavy rains, while the accompanying strong winds uprooted trees, damaged homes and caused power disruptions, throwing normal way of life into disarray across the state.

SC asks EC to publish details of 65 lakh deleted voters with reasons

SC asks EC to publish details of 65 lakh deleted voters with reasons

Rediff.com15 Aug 2025

The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to publish details of deleted names from the voters list in Bihar, along with reasons for non-inclusion, to enhance transparency in the special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral roll.

Bengal panchayat repolling peaceful, 67% voter turnout recorded till 5 pm

Bengal panchayat repolling peaceful, 67% voter turnout recorded till 5 pm

Rediff.com10 Jul 2023

The repolling started at 7 am amid tight security with four central forces personnel deployed in each booth, besides state police. Till 11 am, 10.9 per cent voter turnout was recorded.

Heavy rains lash coastal K'taka for third straight day, red alert issued

Heavy rains lash coastal K'taka for third straight day, red alert issued

Rediff.com26 May 2025

Heavy monsoon rains battered Karnataka's coastal belt for the third consecutive day on Monday, severely disrupting normal life in Dakshina Kannada district, prompting authorities to issue a red alert and deploy disaster response teams. A red alert indicates extremely heavy rainfall of over 20 cm in 24 hours, and will remain in force for the next five days, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Several parts of Mangaluru city reported waterlogging and traffic snarls, while minor incidents of landslides were reported from hilly regions across the district. The district administration has directed schools and composite colleges to remain shut on 27 and 28 following the IMD issuing a red alert. Instructions were also issued to relocate residents living in vulnerable hillside and riverside areas to safer locations. The authorities have sought prompt action from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) following complaints of water intrusion in residential areas due to ongoing highway construction works.

Dress rehearsal for 2024: Bengal panchayat polls on July 8

Dress rehearsal for 2024: Bengal panchayat polls on July 8

Rediff.com8 Jun 2023

State Election Commissioner Rajiva Sinha on Thursday said that the village council elections will be held on a single day, with the deadline for filing nominations set for June 15. The votes will be counted on July 11.

SC allows excluded Bihar voters to submit claims with Aadhaar

SC allows excluded Bihar voters to submit claims with Aadhaar

Rediff.com23 Aug 2025

Expressing surprise over political parties not coming forward in filing objections related to 65 lakh excluded voters, the top court directed the chief electoral officer of Bihar to implead them in the court proceedings.

Saina congratulates Yogi on win in UP local polls; RLD chief calls her 'sarkari shuttler'

Saina congratulates Yogi on win in UP local polls; RLD chief calls her 'sarkari shuttler'

Rediff.com4 Jul 2021

Reacting to Nehwal's tweet almost one-and-a-half-hour later, Rashtriya Lok Dal president Chaudhary tweeted, "Sarkaari shuttler recognises BJP skill in smashing peoples' verdict! I think voters need to play a subtle drop shot on celebs trying to influence their decisions!."

18 arrested, 500 booked over communal violence in Pune

18 arrested, 500 booked over communal violence in Pune

Rediff.com2 Aug 2025

Those involved in the incident targeted a motorcycle, two cars, one religious structure and a bakery, and indulged in arson. The police had to lob tear gas shells and lathi-charge to disperse the mob, the official said.