From children to soldiers, everyone in India marked the 72nd Independence Day with much vigour and zeal. Here are glimpses of the celebrations from across the nation.
Senior Samajwadi Party leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mohammad Azam Khan, UP Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker and BJP leader Rajesh Agarwal and former state BSP President Indrajit Saroj are leading.
A criminal case has been registered against Bollywood actress and Samajwadi Party member Jaya Bachchan for hiding facts in her affidavit filed for the Rajya Sabha byelection held in June 2004. An FIR against Bachchan was lodged on behalf of Principal Secretary Vidhan Sabha R P Pandey, who was the returning officer of byelection, official sources said on Tuesday.
Former chief minister Bhajan Lal of the newly-floated Haryana Janhit Congress won the Adampur seat for a record 10th time while the Congress retained both the Indri and Gohana seats.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav turned in a fine all-round performance as he led his team the Chief Minister's XI to a victory over the state's bureaucrats in a friendly 20-overs-a-side tennis ball cricket match at Lucknow's Le Martinier school grounds on Sunday.
Here's a recap of the events from the past 48 hours.
Vidhan Sabha Principal Secretary and Returning Officer R P Pandey declared Mayawati and Maurya elected unopposed after the expiry of the time for withdrawal of nominations on Thursday.
The prime minister also suggested a single voters' list for Lok Sabha, assembly and panchayat polls, saying separate lists are a waste of resources.
'Sachin Pilot has revived the Congress.' 'What goes in favour of Ashok Gehlot is experience.'
Congress chief had accepted the resignation of Punjab PCC chief Shamsher Singh Dullo, but had asked him to continue on the post till the appointment of the next PCC president.
The ruling Bahujan Samaj Party has won the by-elections to all five constituencies, two Lok Sabha and three Vidhan Sabha seats, which went to polls on April 12. BSP candidate Bhismshankar alias Kushal Tiwari won the Khalilababad Lok Sabha seat by a margin of over 64,000 votes, trouncing his nearest rival Bhalchandra Yadav of SP. BSP nominee Akbar Ahmad Dampi won the Azamgarh Lok Sabha seat defeating his nearest rival Ramakant Yadav of BJP by a margin of over 53,000 votes.
Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker Ishwardas Rohani has accepted the resignation of former chief minister Uma Bharti from membership of the Vidhan Sabha.
Under the bill, cow slaughter will be an offence punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may be extended up to 10 year.
After announcing his desire to quit, Uttaranchal Chief Minister N D Tiwari has now expressed his reservation about contesting Assembly elections due early next year, triggering a fresh bout of infighting in the state's ruling Congress.
'In over four decades in journalism I cannot recall a greater exercise in futility than the ongoing Vidhan Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh.'
The EC's decision to conduct early assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh has created a piquant situation, as legally the new House cannot be constituted before the expiry of the term of the existing Vidhan Sabha on March 9 next year.
The chief minister pointed out that prompt action had been taken by the Punjab Police and the accused had been caught without delay, unlike in the Hathras incident. "That was why Rahul Gandhi had to rush to Hathras, to secure justice for the victim's family, and did not need to visit Hoshiarpur," he said.
The notice to Bachchan has been issued by the principal secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha.
Bachchan was disqualified in March following a complaint filed by a Kanpur-based Congress leader that she held an office of profit.
He hoped that some of the dissident MLAs, who are led by sacked deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, will also attend the session when it is called "very soon".
It is wrong to say the Congress doesn't matter. Certainly one set of people who do not believe that for a minute is the BJP. That's why even in his speech in Parliament on Constitution Day, Mr Modi called dynastic politics a threat to democracy, observes Shekhar Gupta.
Addressing the members of the House, Singh said agriculture is a state subject but the Centre ignored it. "I find it very strange what the government of India wants to do," he said.
Addressing public rallies at Barnala chowk and Bhawanigarh in Sangrur, the chief minister vowed to do whatever it takes to protect the farmers and the state from the 'devastating' effects of the 'black laws'.
On Thursday, the state government will face a trial of strength in the assembly.
The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Congress and RLD members were up on their feet as soon as the governor rose to read his address and began shouting anti-government slogans.
The urban design of Naya Raipur promises to incorporate the best of international cities as well as traditional Chhattisgarh culture.
The elections to legislative assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Odisha will be held simultaneously along with the Lok Sabha polls
SAD has so far declared its candidates for 88 of the 117 seats. As in the last polls, SAD has left 23 seats for its ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The BSP chief is already a Lok Sabha member from Akbarpur seat in Uttar Pradesh.
Here's a recap of the events from the past 24 hours.
The others to be elected to the Upper House from Punjab were Ashwini Kumar and Dharampal Sabharwal (Congress) and Virender Singh Bajwa (Shiromani Akali Dal).
'The BJP believes it has little to lose from a loss of alliance with the Shiv Sena. Fighting alone gives the BJP the chance to test its troops today, and then rework its tactics if necessary, before the big test in 2019,' says T V R Shenoy.
Releasing the manifesto titled 'Badlav Ka Sankalp' (commitment to change) in the presence of All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala and other Mahagathbandhan leaders, Tejashwi Yadav said their government, if elected, would first approve the process for appointments on about 10 lakh jobs in the government.
The suggestion figures in a note sent by Mishra while returning -- for a second time -- Ashok Gehlot Cabinet's recommendation to call a session.
Some members of the group want to join the ruling BSP.
"I am resigning. I will not enter the Vidhan Sabha till I come clean," Rawat said in a choked voice as he announced his resignation in the state assembly.
Congress candidate Manvendra Singh, who recently crossed over from the BJP, will be facing off the Rajasthan chief minister in her political fortress of Jhalrapatan.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances