The National Conference (NC) will protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20 to demand the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood. The party will hold rallies in Srinagar and Jammu prior to the protest.
Delhi minister Parvesh Verma and CM Rekha Gupta engaged in a verbal spat with Arvind Kejriwal over his 'Who are you?' remark to BJP chief Nitin Nabin, amidst a probe into Ram Mandir fund embezzlement.
Speculation is mounting that Punjab's assembly elections, currently scheduled for February 2027, may be moved up to November 2026. This potential shift is reportedly driven by the upcoming Kumbh Mela and the second phase of the national census, which could impact the original timeline. Both the ruling AAP and the Congress party are reportedly preparing for an earlier election.
The BJP-led NDA is reportedly seeking support from opposition MPs to strengthen its numbers in the Lok Sabha. Sources suggest that the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) faction might see some of its nine Lok Sabha MPs defect, potentially merging with Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena to avoid disqualification under anti-defection laws.
UP CM Yogi Adityanath has reignited the debate on banning Namaz on roads, linking it to Hindutva politics ahead of assembly polls. Opposition parties criticize the move as a diversion from real issues.
After winning the BJP a brute majority in the 2026 Assam assembly polls, the question now is whether Himanta Biswa Sarma stands at par with chief ministers like Yogi Adityanath and Devendra Fadnavis, who are widely regarded as disciplined Sangh loyalists and potential next generation leaders of the BJP in the post Modi-Shah era.
Bihar's cabinet is set for a major expansion. Nishant Kumar, son of Nitish Kumar, is poised to join the ministry. This move follows the NDA's victory in the assembly polls. Senior NDA leaders are expected to attend the ceremony. The expansion aims to strengthen the alliance and accelerate development in Bihar.
Suvendu Adhikari's personal assistant, Chandranath Rath, was shot dead by motorcycle-borne assailants in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas. The incident occurred shortly after the assembly polls, escalating political tensions between the BJP and TMC, with both parties trading accusations of violence and demanding investigations.
Suvendu Adhikari's personal assistant, Chandranath Rath, was shot dead by motorcycle-borne assailants in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas. The incident occurred shortly after the assembly polls, escalating political tensions between the BJP and TMC, with both parties trading accusations of violence and demanding investigations.
Recent state election results reveal a resurgence of anti-incumbency, Hindu vote consolidation, and the enduring appeal of Narendra Modi. Factors like women's safety concerns, the rise of cash transfer schemes, and Gen Z's political awakening also played significant roles. The article delves into these ten decisive elements shaping India's electoral landscape.
Actor-turned-politician Thalapathy Vijay's TVK has emerged as the single largest party in Tamil Nadu assembly polls, dramatically altering the state's political landscape. Leveraging star power and organized fan networks, TVK has disrupted the decades-long dominance of the DMK and AIADMK, resonating with voters seeking an alternative.
Five Indian assembly elections - West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry - await results on Monday, with BJP targeting its first Bengal victory while opposition parties defend their southern and eastern strongholds. The outcomes will test BJP's national expansion under Modi and determine the future of key INDIA bloc allies DMK and TMC, with exit polls showing divergent predictions for Bengal and a potential Congress breakthrough in Kerala.
Puducherry's 2026 Assembly elections recorded a historic 89.83% voter turnout with counting scheduled for May 4 across all 30 seats. The main contest is between the ruling AINRC-BJP-led NDA and the Congress-DMK alliance, featuring several razor-thin battles and high-profile leaders including Chief Minister N Rangasamy contesting from two seats.
Congress party has strongly criticized the Centre for a ₹993 increase in commercial LPG cylinder prices, calling it the 'electoral bill' as the hike came a day after assembly polls concluded. Rahul Gandhi warned that petrol and diesel prices could be next, highlighting an 81% jump (₹1,380) since February. Party leader KC Venugopal said the near-₹1,000 hike would affect crores of Indians relying on small eateries and food businesses.
The Trinamool Congress staged a protest in Kolkata, alleging EVM tampering and procedural lapses in strongrooms before the West Bengal assembly polls. The party accused the BJP and Election Commission of collusion, while the EC asserted the strongrooms were secure and footage showed routine postal ballot segregation.
Mamata Banerjee, TMC supremo and candidate from Bhabanipur, accused the BJP of attempting to forcefully rig the West Bengal assembly elections as voting began in the second and final phase across 142 constituencies. Over 3.2 crore electors are eligible to vote across 41,001 polling stations under tight security. Banerjee alleged central forces and poll observers were interfering at the BJP's behest, while BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari accused her of bringing a large entourage to intimidate voters. Voting continues till 6pm with results due on May 4.
Voting for the final phase of West Bengal Assembly Elections began in North 24 Parganas on Wednesday. BJP's Panihati candidate Ratna Debnath, mother of the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder victim, flagged a potential issue with an EVM button while casting her vote, stating she would inform election officials. She thanked early voters and urged others to participate, expressing hope for justice in this high-profile contest. Over 3.22 crore voters are eligible to vote across 41,001 polling stations.
West Bengal heads to the second and final phase of assembly polls on Wednesday with 142 constituencies across eight districts going to vote. Over 32 million voters are expected to participate in this phase covering Kolkata North, Kolkata South, North and South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman, Nadia and Howrah. Outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and outgoing Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari are among the high-profile candidates in the fray. Around 2,500 companies of central police forces and motorbike quick response teams have been deployed for security.
West Bengal's final phase of assembly polls in 142 constituencies across seven districts proceeds under unprecedented security - over 2.3 lakh CAPF personnel, 38,000 state police, and extensive arrests. Kolkata sees highest deployment with 274 companies (22,500 personnel) securing 5,172 booths. Over 800 arrests were made Monday night alone, with 2,348 alleged troublemakers jailed under EC directives in 72 hours. Nearly 12,000 of 41,001 booths are classified as critical.
Trinamool Congress alleged that BJP supporters attacked MP Mitali Bag's car in Arambag constituency on the final day of campaigning for West Bengal Assembly polls phase 2. TMC claims her car was vandalized, windshield smashed, and glass pierced her body. The party accused Amit Shah of issuing threats that were "acted upon" and called it an attempt on an elected MP's life. Four individuals were arrested earlier in connection with violent clashes between TMC and BJP supporters in Jagatdal. Polling is scheduled for April 29 with vote counting on May 4.
The AAP, as expected, reacted very strongly to this development and accused the BJP of “Operation Lotus”, a term used to define saffron party engineered defections of political rivals. AAP leader Sanjay Singh alleged that central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) were misused to pressure and break away AAP leaders. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal accused the BJP of betraying Punjab, which is ruled by AAP and goes to assembly polls next year.
Raghav Chadha and six other AAP Rajya Sabha MPs have defected to the BJP, effectively merging their faction with the ruling party. The move poses a significant challenge to Arvind Kejriwal's AAP, particularly in Punjab, ahead of next year's assembly elections.
