What is missing in the BJP's armour is dominance over 50 percent of the electorate: Women. And this is a gamble Modi-Shah have indicated that they are willing to take, explains Saisuresh Sivaswamy.
The government has dismissed speculation of an imminent increase in petrol and diesel prices, assuring citizens that there are no plans for a hike despite rising crude oil costs.
Gautam Buddh Nagar police have arrested two more individuals, Himanshu Thakur and Satyam Verma, in connection with the recent violence during worker protests in Noida. The accused are alleged to have orchestrated provocative activities and violence during the demonstrations.
Over 700 citizens, including former civil servants, academics, activists, and journalists, have written to the Election Commission alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's national address on April 18 violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for elections. They are seeking an inquiry and remedial action.
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.
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.
The counting of votes for all 824 seats across four states and one Union Territory will be held on May 4.
Hockey India appoints experienced Australian coach Tim White to lead the junior women's hockey team, replacing Tushar Khandekar, with a focus on developing technically sound players for the senior team.
Andhra Pradesh is spearheading an ambitious initiative to establish a fully integrated beach sand minerals, rare earth, and titanium ecosystem, aiming to attract over 50,000 crore in investments over the next decade. This move is part of India's broader strategy to reduce its reliance on China for strategic minerals and permanent magnets, with the state preparing a comprehensive rare earth policy and planning specialised industrial clusters.
'He was able to push the AIADMK to the background.'
State-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) are reportedly incurring losses of Rs 18 per litre on petrol and Rs 35 per litre on diesel, as they continue to absorb rising crude oil costs without increasing retail prices. This situation is leading to expectations of a fuel price hike after upcoming state elections.
Under the TMC, Bengal has seen expansion of welfare, but not big-ticket private investment.
Mubassina Mohammed won the long jump gold at the fifth Indian Open Jumps Competition held at the Anju Bobby George Foundation Campus.
A legal representative of I-PAC director Rishi Raj Singh assisted the Enforcement Directorate in Delhi with data extraction from seized electronic devices. This follows raids and the arrest of another director, Vinesh Chandel, amid allegations of financial irregularities and money laundering.
Sanju Samson surprised fans with his fluent Hindi and revealed how growing up in Delhi and near the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border helped him learn multiple languages and connect with Indian teammates.
TVK chief Vijay, a candidate in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, has filed a revised election affidavit disclosing two pending FIRs, addressing discrepancies in his initial filing.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah refuted claims that southern states will have reduced representation in the Lok Sabha after the implementation of women's reservation and delimitation of constituencies, assuring an increase in both the number of seats and percentage of power.
The Election Commission will examine a complaint filed by opposition parties alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation violated the Model Code of Conduct for elections.
Veteran Indian sports journalist S Thyagarajan, renowned for his extensive coverage of hockey, has passed away at the age of 85 after battling age-related ailments. He covered six Olympics and nine Asian Games during his distinguished career.
India's top surfers and stand-up paddlers will compete in the inaugural Little Andaman Pro 2026 National Surf and SUP Championship, held in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from April 9 to 12. The event, organised by the Surfing Federation of India (SFI), aims to provide crucial competition experience ahead of the Asian Games.
Former Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Narayana Ramachandran has died in Chennai after a prolonged illness at the age of 77. He served as IOA president from 2014 to 2017 and held key positions in international squash federations.
In a swift political counter-offensive, the Bharatiya Janata Party and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners have announced a massive, nationwide protest campaign targeting the Opposition.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah refuted claims that southern states will have reduced representation in the Lok Sabha after the implementation of women's reservation and delimitation of constituencies, assuring an increase in both the number of seats and percentage of power.
Tamilaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (TVK) has announced its departure from the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, citing the DMK's 'big brother' attitude and unmet demands.
The Congress party has accused the government of scheduling a 'special session' to pass bills related to women's quota and delimitation with the intention of gaining political advantage in the upcoming West Bengal and Tamil Nadu elections, calling it a violation of the model code of conduct.
Actor Vijay faces intense CBI questioning regarding the tragic stampede at his rally in Tamil Nadu, as the investigation seeks to uncover the truth behind the incident that claimed 41 lives.
A truck driver in Bengaluru allegedly died by suicide after testing positive for drunk driving during a routine police inspection. The incident occurred after the driver's vehicle was impounded and a notice was issued.
The 87th Inter-State Sub-Junior and Cadet National Table Tennis Championships begin in Gandhidham, with 32 teams competing for the boys U-15 title. West Bengal enters as the favourite, while other states like Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra are expected to challenge.
A 34-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh was arrested in Kerala for allegedly using duplicate keys to steal ATM cards from two-wheelers and withdraw money from bank accounts.
Northern states in India are experiencing severe heatwave conditions, with temperatures reaching up to 46.6 degrees Celsius. The heatwave has impacted daily life, leading to a decline in tourism and increased power demand. Authorities have issued advisories and implemented measures to mitigate the effects of the extreme heat.
Delhi Police have arrested five individuals for allegedly running an interstate cyber fraud syndicate that used mule bank accounts to launder money across India and abroad. The investigation revealed links to international handlers and the use of cryptocurrency to route funds.
The RusBeam 2800 is now India's largest electron-beam wire deposition 3D printer operating under vacuum. The machine was custom-built for India and is operated with software developed by Rosatom.
A student from Maharashtra drowned and another went missing after entering the sea in Chennai. The Maharashtra government is coordinating with Tamil Nadu authorities for search and rescue efforts.
'You cannot run Parliament with 800 MPs as nobody will get time (to speak in Parliament). And Parliament sits for barely 60 days in a year.' 'Look at the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. They have 650 MPs and they sit for 150 days on an average in a year.'
rediffGURU T S Khurana answers readers' personal income tax queries
Several non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) are observing an increase in early-stage delinquencies within their micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) loan portfolios, primarily driven by supply chain disruptions and escalating raw material costs exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
Senior Congress leader Arun Yadav has criticised the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, alleging neglect of farmers and the enabling of mafia activities.
'He is not accessible even to his family, his wife or his mother or his father. No one.' 'He has created a barrier so that nobody can go and talk to him.' 'This kind of a mentality is a big question mark in politics.'
Voters in Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry are voting in crucial assembly elections.
Chandigarh and Karnataka emerged victorious in their respective Division B matches, while Mizoram, Haryana, Odisha, and Jharkhand secured wins in Division A games at the Hockey India Sub Junior Women National Championship.
