DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Wed, 06 May 2026 09:51:53 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/politics/bypoll-setback-karnataka-bjp-chief-meets-defeated-candidate-says-party-will-bounce-back-672529.html Davanagere Karnataka May 5 As part of reviewing the defeat and boosting morale Karnataka BJP President and MLA B Y Vijayendra on Tuesday visited the residence of defeated BJP candidate Srinivas T Dasakariyappa and held discussions with district BJP leaders on strengthening the party organisation in Davanagere district It may be noted that Srinivas lost to the Congress candidate Samarth Mallikarjun by a narrow margin of 5708 votes in the Davanagere South segmentSpeaking to reporters on the occasion Vijayendra expressed confidence that the partyâs glory days will return in DavanagereHe congratulated the voters and party workers for securing 63000 votes BJP workers welcomed Vijayendra warmly Several leaders including former minister MP Renukacharya accompanied himHe said it is not easy for an ordinary party worker to secure such a large number of votes and encouraged them to remain confident stating that everything happens for a good reason During the interaction Srinivas Dasakariyappa became emotional and Vijayendra consoled himVijayendra also had dosa at Srinivasaâs residence Referring to the byelection results he said they had high expectationsâByelections usually favour the ruling party The Chief Minister and ministers camped in Bagalkot for 15 days The same had happened when our party was in powerâ he notedHe appreciated the efforts of party workers in both constituenciesVijayendra said their candidate in Davanagere South secured a good number of votes âWe had expected over 70000 votes but luck did not favour us this time I will not comment on the alleged flow of money by Congress Along with the candidate aspirants have also worked wellâ he addedHe said that just as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shahâs efforts helped the BJP come to power in West Bengal the party is confident of forming the government in the state in 2028He further said that former CM his father BS Yediyurappa had faced many such challenges with determination and as his son he would demonstrate the same resolveâWe will strive to bring the BJP back to power Our leaders have worked well in the byelection The Gruhalaxmi scheme has turned into âElection Laxmiâ Instalments of four to five months are released during byelections and similar releases will happen ahead of Zilla Panchayat and Taluk Panchayat elections Congress is in power and there is little we can do about itâ he slammed IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bypoll-setback-karnataka-bjp-chief-meets-defeated-candidate-says-party-will-bounce-back-672529.html Wed, 06 May 2026 08:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/odisha-ceo-to-meet-bjd-delegation-on-may-11-over-rajya-sabha-poll-row-672531.html Bhubaneswar May 5 Odisha Chief Electoral Officer CEO RS Gopalan is scheduled to meet a delegation of Biju Janata Dal BJD on May 11 over the alleged illegal issuance of a second ballot paper to legislators Upasana Mohapatra and Purna Chandra Sethy during the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha held on March 16 As per the instructions of the BJD President Naveen Patnaik senior party leader Sasmit Patra on April 28 submitted an urgent representation to the Election Commission of India ECI regarding the issue officials said on TuesdayActing on the representation Rajendra Kumar Singh Election Commission of India Under Secretary on April 29 addressed a communication to the Odisha CEO requesting an urgent appointment with the BJD delegation to examine the matterSubsequently Odisha CEO has scheduled a meeting with the BJD delegation on May 11 at 11 am the regional party told in a statement on TuesdayFollowing the directions of BJD President Naveen Patnaik a party delegation led by Prasanna Acharya Deputy Leader of the BJD Legislature Party in the Odisha Assembly will meet the Odisha CEO Gopalan on May 11The delegation will also include Pramila Mallik senior BJD leader and party Chief Whip as well as polling agent for the Rajya Sabha elections Deputy Chief Whip of the BJD and partyauthorised agent Pratap Deb Arun Kumar Sahoo MLA and counting agent for the Rajya Sabha polls and Sasmit Patra BJD MP and counting agent for the Rajya Sabha elections who is also the petitioner in the matterThe BJD reiterates its demand for immediate statutory action into the alleged irregularities and seeks a fair and transparent inquiry to uphold the sanctity of the electoral processDuring the polling for four Rajya Sabha seats the Opposition BJD had raised serious objections over the alleged issuance of second ballot papers by the officers present in the voting room who are in charge of the polls IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/odisha-ceo-to-meet-bjd-delegation-on-may-11-over-rajya-sabha-poll-row-672531.html Wed, 06 May 2026 08:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/us-seeks-un-action-over-hormuz-threat-672532.html Washington May 6 The United States has proposed a UN Security Council resolution accusing Iran of threatening global shipping and destabilising one of the worlds most critical energy routes the Strait of Hormuz US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that the Trump administration working with key Gulf allies had drafted the resolution to defend freedom of navigation in the strategic waterway through which a major share of global oil shipments passesThe Islamic Republic of Iran continues to hold the worlds economy hostage with its efforts to close the Strait of Hormuz threats to attack ships in the Strait laying of sea mines that pose a danger to shipping and attempts to charge tolls for the worlds most important waterway Rubio said in a US State Department statementThe proposal comes amid growing tensions in the Gulf region and renewed concerns over disruptions to global trade and energy suppliesThe Secretary of State said the draft resolution was prepared at President Trumps direction alongside Bahrain and Gulf partners Saudi Arabia the United Arab Emirates Kuwait and QatarAccording to the US State Department the resolution requires Iran to cease attacks mining and tolling in the Strait of HormuzIt also demands that Tehran disclose the number and location of the sea mines it has laid and cooperate with efforts to remove themThe draft further supports the establishment of a humanitarian corridor though the statement did not provide details on how such a corridor would operateThe United States looks forward to this resolution being voted on in the coming days and to receiving support from Security Council members and a broad base of cosponsors Rubio saidThe Strait of Hormuz is one of the worlds most strategically important maritime passages linking Gulf oil producers to global markets through the Arabian SeaAny disruption in the narrow shipping lane can rapidly affect crude prices shipping costs and international supply chainsThe UN Security Council has debated maritime security issues linked to Iran several times in recent years though divisions among major powers including China and Russia have often complicated efforts to pass coordinated measures targeting TehranChina one of the worlds largest importers of Gulf energy supplies closely monitors developments in the Strait of Hormuz because of its importance to global oil flows and trade routes IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/us-seeks-un-action-over-hormuz-threat-672532.html Wed, 06 May 2026 08:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/indian-multi-party-delegation-in-taiwan-for-six-day-visit-till-may-9-672533.html Taipei May 6 A crossparty delegation of Indian political leaders arrived in Taiwan for a sixday visit till May 9 at the invitation of the Taiwan government the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said The delegation includes new generation political leaders from major Indian political parties such as the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP the National Peoples Party NPP Congress and the Shiv SenaUBT the Ministry said on TuesdayThe Ministry expressed its sincere welcome to the delegation and added that during their stay in Taiwan the delegation will visit relevant government agencies and participate in related eventsThe Ministry said that it hopes the guests gain a better understanding of Taiwans current developments in areas such as democracy human rights economy and technology as well as education and culture and to further deepen friendly ties with TaiwanIndia is an important likeminded and friendly country in the IndoPacific region Under the comprehensive diplomacy policy the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to expand exchanges with India in various fields steadily enhance bilateral relations and jointly contribute to the peace stability and prosperity of the IndoPacific region the Ministry addedMeanwhile Taiwan news reported that the delegations visit comes as India and Taiwan are in the process of finalising a labour deal Under which Taiwan would accept 1000 Indian migrant workersIt also added that Labour Minister Hung Shenhan said the plan could proceed as early as this year depending on demand from Taiwanese businesses and whether Indias implementation plan meets Taiwans regulatory standardsIn March 2026 the Taiwan Foreign Ministry said that Taiwan and India completed the signing of an MoU on labour force cooperation on February 16 this yearIt added that this accord will bolster peopletopeople exchanges between the two countries and help alleviate labour shortages in Taiwans industriesThe statement also highlighted that Taiwan will spare no effort in advancing cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between the two countries with the aim of further elevating cooperation and partnership between Taiwan and India IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/indian-multi-party-delegation-in-taiwan-for-six-day-visit-till-may-9-672533.html Wed, 06 May 2026 08:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tripura-cm-manik-saha-pushes-zero-tolerance-on-drugs-calls-for-stronger-law-enforcement-672534.html Agartala May 6 Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has took a strong stand in the fight to make the state drugfree During a meeting at the Civil Secretariat here on Tuesday the Chief Minister said that the police administration must remain constantly vigilant to ensure that drugs do not enter the state through the railways or any other routeVarious narcotics are smuggled from Myanmar and routed through Mizoram and southern Assam before reaching Tripura often for illegal transit into neighbouring Bangladesh The Assam Rifles Tripura Police and other security forces have often seized drugs transported into the state from different parts of the country including Delhi Our governments priority is zero tolerance towards the drug menace Law enforcement agencies must take allout measures to curb drugrelated activities said Chief Minister Saha who also holds the Home Department portfolio Directing concerned officials to take action on traffic congestion and infrastructure development the Chief Minister said that all departments must remain active and responsive He also directed the officials to strengthen public services as well as maintain law and order in the state Chief Minister Saha reiterated that the present Bharatiya Janata Partyled state government is committed to serving the people and that all departments must remain vigilant and proactive in addressing public concerns District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police from all eight districts of the state participated virtually in the Task Monitoring System TMS meetingDuring the review meeting the Chief Minister stressed the urgent need to address traffic congestion in district headquarters including Agartala city He directed authorities to take swift and effective measures ensure strict monitoring of vehicle load limits and maintain the proper functioning of traffic signal systems Transport officials were also instructed to expedite the construction of new motor stands across the state The Chief Minister also instructed the concerned authorities to closely monitor the private nursing homes rehabilitation centres and subregistrar offices to ensure transparency eliminate corruption and guarantee efficient functioning Chief Minister Saha directed officials to take preventive measures against potential outbreaks of diarrhoea and dysentery especially during the upcoming rainy season He emphasised maintaining discipline in schools while ensuring the quality and proper management of midday meal schemes On infrastructure development the Chief Minister instructed officials to expedite road repair and renovation work while strictly adhering to quality standards Regarding electricity services department officials told Chief Minister Saha that 99 per cent of the infrastructure damaged during the recent seasonal storm has already been restored The Chief Minister also directed officials to ensure there are no delays in the disbursement of MGNREGA funds and that wages and allowances for daily wage workers are paid on time The meeting was attended by Acting Secretary to the Chief Minister Apurba Roy Health Secretary Kiran Gitte Urban Development Secretary Milind Ramteke Information and Cultural Affairs Director Bimbisar Bhattacharya along with other senior secretaries and departmental directors IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tripura-cm-manik-saha-pushes-zero-tolerance-on-drugs-calls-for-stronger-law-enforcement-672534.html Wed, 06 May 2026 08:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tripura-cm-saha-pushes-zero-tolerance-on-drugs-calls-for-stronger-law-enforcement-672535.html Agartala May 6 Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has took a strong stand in the fight to make the state drugfree During a meeting at the Civil Secretariat here on Tuesday the Chief Minister said that the police administration must remain constantly vigilant to ensure that drugs do not enter the state through the railways or any other routeVarious narcotics are smuggled from Myanmar and routed through Mizoram and southern Assam before reaching Tripura often for illegal transit into neighbouring BangladeshThe Assam Rifles Tripura Police and other security forces have often seized drugs transported into the state from different parts of the country including DelhiOur governments priority is zero tolerance towards the drug menace Law enforcement agencies must take allout measures to curb drugrelated activities said Chief Minister Saha who also holds the Home Department portfolioDirecting concerned officials to take action on traffic congestion and infrastructure development the Chief Minister said that all departments must remain active and responsiveHe also directed the officials to strengthen public services as well as maintain law and order in the stateChief Minister Saha reiterated that the present Bharatiya Janata Partyled state government is committed to serving the people and that all departments must remain vigilant and proactive in addressing public concernsDistrict Magistrates and Superintendents of Police from all eight districts of the state participated virtually in the Task Monitoring System TMS meetingDuring the review meeting the Chief Minister stressed the urgent need to address traffic congestion in district headquarters including Agartala cityHe directed authorities to take swift and effective measures ensure strict monitoring of vehicle load limits and maintain the proper functioning of traffic signal systemsTransport officials were also instructed to expedite the construction of new motor stands across the stateThe Chief Minister also instructed the concerned authorities to closely monitor the private nursing homes rehabilitation centres and subregistrar offices to ensure transparency eliminate corruption and guarantee efficient functioningChief Minister Saha directed officials to take preventive measures against potential outbreaks of diarrhoea and dysentery especially during the upcoming rainy seasonHe emphasised maintaining discipline in schools while ensuring the quality and proper management of midday meal schemesOn infrastructure development the Chief Minister instructed officials to expedite road repair and renovation work while strictly adhering to quality standardsRegarding electricity services department officials told Chief Minister Saha that 99 per cent of the infrastructure damaged during the recent seasonal storm has already been restoredThe Chief Minister also directed officials to ensure there are no delays in the disbursement of MGNREGA funds and that wages and allowances for daily wage workers are paid on timeThe meeting was attended by Acting Secretary to the Chief Minister Apurba Roy Health Secretary Kiran Gitte Urban Development Secretary Milind Ramteke Information and Cultural Affairs Director Bimbisar Bhattacharya along with other senior secretaries and departmental directors IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tripura-cm-saha-pushes-zero-tolerance-on-drugs-calls-for-stronger-law-enforcement-672535.html Wed, 06 May 2026 08:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/comprehensive-sop-issued-for-monsoon-preparedness-in-urban-odisha-672537.html Bhubaneswar May 6 The Odisha Housing and Urban Development department has issued a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure SOP to all Urban Local Bodies ULBs to ensure robust preparedness for the upcoming monsoon season An official statement issued on Tuesday said the SOP has been issued under the direction of the Housing and Urban Development department Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra clearly mandating the officials to implement the guidelines in letter and spiritEmphasising accountability and urgency the state government has underscored that any lapse in execution will be viewed with serious concern reflecting its firm commitment to urban resilience and disaster preparednessAs part of the preparedness strategy ULBs have been mandated to undertake 100 per cent verification of all drainage systems including manholes to ensure public safetyImmediate repair or secure covering of damaged manholes has been prioritised while temporary safety measures such as warning signage and protective nets must be installed wherever repairs are pendingAt the same time regular desilting of drains and strict removal of encroachments obstructing natural water flow have been made compulsory to prevent urban flooding and ensure smooth drainage during heavy rainfallRecognising the recurring challenge of waterlogging in urban areas the department has identified vulnerable and lowlying zones for targeted interventionAdequate deployment of pump sets and Diesel Generator sets will be ensured in these areas to facilitate rapid dewateringUrban areas will also be systematically divided into operational zones each under the supervision of designated officers responsible for prompt emergency response and effective onground coordination during monsoon exigenciesTo strengthen disaster preparedness Multipurpose Cyclone Shelters and public institutions like schools and colleges will function as temporary relief centres equipped with essential facilities such as safe drinking water sanitation and uninterrupted powerSpecial emphasis will be placed on safeguarding vulnerable groups with lady home guards and adequate security personnel deployed for women children and the elderlyPublic health remains a key focus particularly in preventing vectorborne diseases like dengue and malariaThe ULBs have been directed to intensify fogging apply larvicides regularly and strictly monitor water stagnation and waste dumping in drains to minimise outbreak risksFor realtime response a 247 control room will be set up in every ULB to address issues related to water supply drainage and road blockagesDamaged urban roads must be restored to motorable condition within 72 hours to minimise disruptionThe state government has also urged citizens to cooperate with local authorities in maintaining cleanliness preventing drain blockages and supporting communitylevel preparedness aiming to ensure a safe and resilient urban environment during upcoming monsoon season IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/comprehensive-sop-issued-for-monsoon-preparedness-in-urban-odisha-672537.html Wed, 06 May 2026 09:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-ahmedabad-civic-body-collects-rs-1161-lakh-in-food-safety-drive-destroys-1-015-kg-of-unsafe-food-in-april-672538.html Ahmedabad May 5 The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation AMC has collected Rs 1161 lakh in administrative charges during April month as part of an extensive food safety drive that also resulted in the inspection of 2153 food business units issuance of 498 notices and destruction of 1015 kg and 1148 litres of unsafe food According to the civic bodys Health Department on Tuesday the Food Department conducted inspections across various zones of the city between April 1 and April 30 under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006During this period 367 Total Plate Count tests were carried out to assess food quality and safetyA total of 933 samples were collected from different food categoriesThese included 74 samples of cold beverages such as juice lassi ice cream sherbet and ice gola 45 samples of sugarcane juice mango milkshake and watermelon juice 101 samples of paneer and 133 samples of milk and milk productsOther samples comprised 24 of sweets 49 of panipuri water puri potato mixture and ragda 47 of nonvegetarian products 23 of bakery products 29 of namkeen 21 of pulses flour rice and grains 14 of edible oil 96 of spices and 277 classified as othersOf these 40 samples were declared substandard and action was taken against the respective food business operators in accordance with the lawSeveral establishments were sealed during the enforcement drive for violations including absence of licences unhygienic conditions presence of insects and misrepresentation of food productsOn April 6 Bhairavnath Punjabi Tadka in Vastral area was sealed after it was found operating without a food safety licence using paneer analogue instead of paneer and maintaining unhygienic conditionsOn April 7 Punjab Di Mahak in Navrangpura area was sealed after insects were found on the premisesOn April 8 Janata Mutton and Chicken Center in Amraiwadi area was sealed due to unhygienic conditionsOn April 9 Shree Jalaram Parotha House in Saijpur area was sealed for operating without a licence using paneer analogue and maintaining poor hygieneOn April 10 Vraj Dairy in Nana Chiloda area was sealed after inspectors found it manufacturing paneer analogue and selling it as paneerFurther action was taken on April 11 when another outlet of Shree Jalaram Parotha House in the Gota area was sealed for unhygienic conditionsOn April 13 Jay Jay Shrinathji Chavana Bhandar in Bapunagar area was sealed after expired food items were found along with unhygienic conditionsPatel Dairy in Saijpur Bogha and Shree Umiya Dudh Ghar in Bapunagar were sealed on April 15 and April 21 respectively for similar violationsOn April 24 Tasty Thrills LLP RPs Pizzeria in Navrangpura area was sealed after inspectors found live and dead insects in a deep freezer inside the kitchenA butter manufacturing unit in Shahpur area was sealed on April 27 for operating without a licence maintaining unhygienic conditions and failing to comply with regulatory requirementsOn April 30 ProfiC Food and Beverages Barbeque World in Ambawadi was sealed after live insects were found inside a refrigerator in the kitchenThe Health Department said it would continue inspections in the coming days with a focus on hygiene standards and compliance with licensing and registration requirementsIn the coming days intensive checking of all food business units will be carried out regarding hygienic conditions and licenceregistration the department said in the statementIt also added If units are found operating without licenceregistration or not complying with rules strict action will be taken against them under the FSSAIGPMC Act IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-ahmedabad-civic-body-collects-rs-1161-lakh-in-food-safety-drive-destroys-1-015-kg-of-unsafe-food-in-april-672538.html Wed, 06 May 2026 09:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-ahmedabad-civic-body-collects-rs-1161-lakh-in-food-safety-drive-672539.html Ahmedabad May 6 The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation AMC has collected Rs 1161 lakh in administrative charges during April month as part of an extensive food safety drive that also resulted in the inspection of 2153 food business units issuance of 498 notices and destruction of 1015 kg and 1148 litres of unsafe food According to the civic bodys Health Department on Tuesday the Food Department conducted inspections across various zones of the city between April 1 and April 30 under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006During this period 367 Total Plate Count tests were carried out to assess food quality and safetyA total of 933 samples were collected from different food categoriesThese included 74 samples of cold beverages such as juice lassi ice cream sherbet and ice gola 45 samples of sugarcane juice mango milkshake and watermelon juice 101 samples of paneer and 133 samples of milk and milk productsOther samples comprised 24 of sweets 49 of panipuri water puri potato mixture and ragda 47 of nonvegetarian products 23 of bakery products 29 of namkeen 21 of pulses flour rice and grains 14 of edible oil 96 of spices and 277 classified as othersOf these 40 samples were declared substandard and action was taken against the respective food business operators in accordance with the lawSeveral establishments were sealed during the enforcement drive for violations including absence of licences unhygienic conditions presence of insects and misrepresentation of food productsOn April 6 Bhairavnath Punjabi Tadka in Vastral area was sealed after it was found operating without a food safety licence using paneer analogue instead of paneer and maintaining unhygienic conditionsOn April 7 Punjab Di Mahak in Navrangpura area was sealed after insects were found on the premisesOn April 8 Janata Mutton and Chicken Center in Amraiwadi area was sealed due to unhygienic conditionsOn April 9 Shree Jalaram Parotha House in Saijpur area was sealed for operating without a licence using paneer analogue and maintaining poor hygieneOn April 10 Vraj Dairy in Nana Chiloda area was sealed after inspectors found it manufacturing paneer analogue and selling it as paneerFurther action was taken on April 11 when another outlet of Shree Jalaram Parotha House in the Gota area was sealed for unhygienic conditionsOn April 13 Jay Jay Shrinathji Chavana Bhandar in Bapunagar area was sealed after expired food items were found along with unhygienic conditionsPatel Dairy in Saijpur Bogha and Shree Umiya Dudh Ghar in Bapunagar were sealed on April 15 and April 21 respectively for similar violationsOn April 24 Tasty Thrills LLP RPs Pizzeria in Navrangpura area was sealed after inspectors found live and dead insects in a deep freezer inside the kitchenA butter manufacturing unit in Shahpur area was sealed on April 27 for operating without a licence maintaining unhygienic conditions and failing to comply with regulatory requirementsOn April 30 ProfiC Food and Beverages Barbeque World in Ambawadi was sealed after live insects were found inside a refrigerator in the kitchenThe Health Department said it would continue inspections in the coming days with a focus on hygiene standards and compliance with licensing and registration requirementsIn the coming days intensive checking of all food business units will be carried out regarding hygienic conditions and licenceregistration the department said in the statementIt also added If units are found operating without licenceregistration or not complying with rules strict action will be taken against them under the FSSAIGPMC Act IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-ahmedabad-civic-body-collects-rs-1161-lakh-in-food-safety-drive-672539.html Wed, 06 May 2026 09:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bihar-cabinet-expansion-likely-today-672545.html New Delhi May 6 The Bihar Cabinet expansion led by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary is highly anticipated to take place on Wednesday following key meetings with NDA leadership in Delhi According to sources the party high command has given its final approval to the list of ministers paving the way for a Cabinet expansion in BiharSamrat Choudhary returned to Patna earlier on Monday after concluding his visit to New Delhi where he held key meetings with senior leaders of the NDADuring his visit the Chief Minister met Union Home Minister Amit Shah Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other senior alliance leadersPreparations for the swearingin ceremony have already begun at Gandhi Maidan with stage decoration and logistical arrangements currently under wayA Cabinet meeting has also been scheduled for 5 pm on the same day and is expected to be the first meeting involving the newly inducted ministersSources indicate that the Cabinet formation will emphasise caste and regional balance the inclusion of experienced leaders the induction of new and young faces and adequate representation for womenThe expansion aims to reflect a mix of continuity and change aimed at strengthening governance and political outreachThe expansion is expected to prioritise caste balance experience and the inclusion of fresh faces The cabinet will likely include a blend of seasoned leaders and younger entrants with added emphasis on womenâs representationEarlier on March 30 Nitish Kumar resigned as a member of the Bihar Legislative Council signalling a major political transition as he prepared to assume office in the Rajya Sabha Samrat Choudhary was sworn in as the firstever Bharatiya Janata Party Chief Minister of Bihar ending Nitish Kumarâs 21year tenure IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bihar-cabinet-expansion-likely-today-672545.html Wed, 06 May 2026 09:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bihar-cabinet-expansion-on-may-7-to-be-a-show-of-strength-672516.html Patna May 5 Following the Bharatiya Janata Partyâs strong electoral performance in West Bengal and Assam political activity has intensified in Bihar with preparations underway for a major cabinet expansion The expansion of the Samrat Choudhary cabinet is scheduled for May 7 at the historic Gandhi Maidan in PatnaConfirming the development state BJP president Sanjay Saraogi said the event will not be a routine swearingin ceremony but a grand show of political strength with preparations being carried out on a war footingSeveral top national leaders are expected to attend the event including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit ShahAccording to party sources BJP national president Nitin Nabin and former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are also likely to be presentThe responsibility for decorating the cityâfrom the airport to Gandhi Maidanâwith flags and banners has been assigned to local party units and MLAsIn view of the Prime Ministerâs expected visit extensive security arrangements are being put in place across PatnaSenior administrative officials including the District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police have reviewed preparedness and coordinated with party representatives to finalise the event planTight security protocols and multilayered arrangements are being implemented around key locations including the BJP office and the event venueDeliberations over the cabinet expansion ongoing for several days are now in their final phasePolitical observers suggest that the reshuffle may introduce new faces while also reassigning key portfoliosThe exercise is expected to reflect a strategic balance of caste and regional representation in the stateTo manage the anticipated large turnout the administration has devised a detailed plan for crowd control and traffic regulationA large stage equipped with modern facilities is being constructed at Gandhi Maidan and security personnel will be deployed at key points to ensure the smooth conduct of the event and prevent inconvenience to the public IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bihar-cabinet-expansion-on-may-7-to-be-a-show-of-strength-672516.html Tue, 05 May 2026 21:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/apprehension-on-ec-functioning-mamata-must-give-additional-details-cpis-d-raja-672521.html New Delhi May 5 CPI General Secretary D Raja on Tuesday claimed that there were several apprehensions in the way the Election Commission functioned during the Assembly polls However he said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should present facts to prove her allegations against the polling agency Speaking to IANS he alleged There were several apprehensions the way the Election Commission has been working It has been favouring the BJPReferring to Prime Minister Narendra Modis address to the nation last month he said The Prime Minister used Doordarshan to address the nation accusing Opposition parties on the Womens Reservation Bill It was clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct but the Election Commission did not take any actionSo there were many apprehensions about the functioning of the Election Commission he reiteratedD Raja however said that being the sitting Chief Minister of Bengal if Mamata Banerjee is making allegations against the EC then she has to tell the people what are facts and evidencesThe Election Commission and the Union government will have to respond then he addedThe Mamata Banerjeeled Trinamool Congress lost to the BJP in West Bengal which secured 206 seats out of 293 whose results were counted on MondayThe CPI leader also reacted to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikaris statement that the latter will work for the Hindus in NandigramHe said The BJP will pursue politics of polarisation and play the communal card between Hindus and Muslims and that will lead to communal conflicts We will have to wait and seeAdhikari made the statement a day after his victory from both the Nandigram and Bhabanipur Assembly constituenciesFurther on Adhikaris statement that Trinamool will be destroyed within 24 hours D Raja said I dont know what he means by that How they are going to finish the Trinamool overnight Mamata Banerjee is capable of responding to himAbout several BJP leaders claiming a saffron wave in the country the CPI leader said One can think like it is the saffron wave because BJP has come to power again in Assam and for the first time in Bengal But I dont think that saffron can take over the whole country We will have to wait and see IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/apprehension-on-ec-functioning-mamata-must-give-additional-details-cpis-d-raja-672521.html Tue, 05 May 2026 21:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sringeri-recount-row-escalates-karnataka-bjp-approaches-guv-asks-him-to-administer-oath-to-mla-672524.html Bengaluru May 5 The Sringeri recount row escalated on Tuesday with a Karnataka BJP delegation meeting Governor Thawarchand Gehlot and submitting a complaint against Speaker UT Khader for delaying the administration of the oath to victorious BJP MLA DN Jeevaraj The BJP leaders urged the Governor to administer the oath himself It may be recalled that the process of reverification and recounting of postal ballots in the Sringeri Assembly constituency from the 2023 elections was conducted last week on the orders of the Karnataka High Court BJP candidate DN Jeevaraj was subsequently declared the winner by the Election Commission defeating sitting Congress MLA TD RajegowdaSenior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka former Home Minister Araga Jnanendra and BJP MLA DN Jeevaraj met the Governor at his official residence in Bengaluru and submitted a memorandum highlighting the delay in administering the oathAddressing the media after the meeting Ashoka said âWe met the Governor today As per the Constitution the Election Commission has issued a certificate declaring the BJP candidate as elected Even Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been issued a similar certificate The state gazette notification has also been published regarding Jeevarajâs election as MLA A letter in this regard has already been submitted to Speaker UT Khaderâs officeâHe alleged that the Speaker was deliberately delaying the swearingin âArticle 188 of the Constitution clearly states that administering the oath is the prerogative of the Governor It is his discretion to nominate someone for the task We have requested the Governor to administer the oath to the BJP MLA A similar incident occurred in West Bengal where two BJP MLAs were denied the oath during Mamata Banerjeeâs tenure and where later the Governor stated that he will administer the oath himselfâ Ashoka saidâWe have requested the Governor to act here as well He has spoken to the Speaker If the oath is not administered we will not spare the Speakerâs office We will launch an agitation against the Speaker for acting against the Constitutionâ he addedAshoka further said that the Governor had assured them that he would write to the government âHe has said that he will send a letter within an hour If the government does not act the Governor may have to administer the oath himself The Constitution is clear If the Speaker refuses what does that say about the dignity of the officeâ he questionedHe said the Speaker must act in accordance with the Constitution and that the BJP had informed the Governor about its plans to launch protests if the Speaker continued to delay the processâI tried to contact Speaker Khader but he was unavailable He has spoken about the law yet he himself holds the same election certificate After receiving the certificate no legal opinion is required even if the election is challenged in courtâ Ashoka saidHe also referred to the High Courtâs criticism of the state government earlier in the day over the handling of the case and allegations of tamperingâToday Chief Minister Siddaramaiah spoke about âvote dacoityâ If anyone is responsible for such an act it is the Congress governmentâ he allegedAshoka further claimed that during the 2023 election results officials had acted in favour of the ruling party âThe counting in the Sringeri constituency was delayed Postal ballots which are usually counted first were counted last The result was declared in favour of the Congress candidate Who pressured the officials thenâ he askedHe demanded a CBI enquiry into the matter âOnly then will the real culprits be exposed It must be known who contacted the election officer in 2023âwhether it was the Chief Minister or the Deputy Chief Ministerâ he saidAshoka recalled that the High Court had ordered a recount and directed that the results be announced âThe court never said the results should be submitted to the Bench When the results were not announced we filed a contempt petition Only then late at night the Returning Officer announced the results and issued the certificateâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sringeri-recount-row-escalates-karnataka-bjp-approaches-guv-asks-him-to-administer-oath-to-mla-672524.html Tue, 05 May 2026 21:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/three-indians-injured-in-uae-after-irans-attack-672347.html Abu Dhabi May 5 The Indian Embassy in the United Arab Emirates UAE has said that three Indian nationals have been injured in todays attacks in Fujairah The Embassy said that it is in touch with local authorities to ensure adequate medical care and welfare of the affected Indian nationalsThe UAEs Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the renewed unprovoked Iranian aggression using missiles and dronesThe Ministry also confirmed that three Indian nationals were injured due to the results of Irans attack on civilian sites and facilitiesThe Ministry called the actions of Iran an unacceptable act of aggression and a direct threat to the UAEs security stability and territorial integrityIt said the attacks are in violation of the principles of international law and the Charter of the United NationsThe Ministry emphasises that the UAE will not tolerate any threat to its security and sovereignty under any circumstances and that the UAE reserves its full and legitimate right to respond to these unprovoked attacks in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty national security territorial integrity and the safety of its citizens residents and visitors in accordance with international lawIt stressed the need to immediately halt these attacks and ensure full compliance with the cessation of all hostilitiesThe UAE holds Iran fully responsible for these unprovoked attacks and their repercussions the statement saidThe UAEs Ministry of Defence on Monday reported that it detected four cruise missiles launched from Iran towards various areas across the countryThe Ministry reported that the sounds heard in scattered areas of the country are the result of successful interception of the aerial threatsUAEs National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority NCEMA on X said that Air defence systems are currently responding to a missile threat Please remain in a safe location and follow official channels for warnings and updatesThe authority also asked the people not to approach touch or photograph any fragments or objects that have fallen as a result of successful air interceptions and allow the relevant authorities to assess the situation IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/three-indians-injured-in-uae-after-irans-attack-672347.html Tue, 05 May 2026 09:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/india-canada-kick-off-second-round-of-free-trade-talks-672348.html New Delhi May 5 India and Canada began the second round of negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement with the two sides aiming to seal the deal by yearend The fiveday talks in New Delhi come on Monday ahead of the Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyals scheduled visit to Canada at the end of this month to accelerate the momentum of the economic engagement as the two countries target increasing bilateral trade to 50 billion by 2030 The attempt is to fasttrack talks so that the agreement can be concluded by the yearend as decided by the Prime Ministers of the two countries earlier this year a senior official told IANS The first round of negotiations for the pact officially called the IndiaCanada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement CEPA took place in March this year following Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carneys meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi Prime Minister Carneys visit to India set the tone for a marked improvement in diplomatic ties between the two countries that had hit rock bottom during his predecessor Justin Trudeau as Canadas Prime Minister The Trudeau government was seen to be encouraging Sikh extremists to pursue an antiIndia agenda in Canada Prime Minister Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney set a yearend target to complete the negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement CEPA between the two countries and agreed to deepen bilateral collaboration in the energy and critical mineral sectors during their meeting at New Delhi in March this year The leaders expressed confidence that a comprehensive trade framework would serve as a durable economic anchor for the partnership and support the shared aspiration of expanding bilateral trade to CAD 70 billionRs 465 lakh crore by 2030 according to joint statement issued after the summit between the two leadersIndiaCanada bilateral trade in goods stood at 866 billion in 202425 while Indias exports to the country touched 422 billionMajor items of Indias exports to Canada include pharmaceutical products machinery parts and mechanical appliances iron and steel articles electronic goods organic chemicals jewellery gems and precious stones garments and textiles seafood engineering goods and auto parts Indias major imports from Canada include pulses fertilisers mineral fuels wood pulp gems and precious stones aircraft parts machinery parts and iron and aluminium scrap Indias IT sector is the main contributor to services exports to Canada IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/india-canada-kick-off-second-round-of-free-trade-talks-672348.html Tue, 05 May 2026 09:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-has-no-future-says-former-ktaka-cm-yediyurappa-hails-bjp-victory-as-historic-672349.html Bengaluru May 5 Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party BJP Central Parliamentary Committee Member BS Yediyurappa has said that the Congress has no future asserting that just as the Trinamool Congress was defeated in West Bengal the Congress will also face a similar fate in the state in the next Assembly elections Speaking to the media on Monday in the city on the results of the fivestate Assembly elections he added that the Congress which could not win even a few seats has no moral right to comment on the BJPHe said that the BJP has achieved an unprecedented victory in the byeelections which has once again reaffirmed the peoples strong trust in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra ModiThis is a historic result Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President Nitin Nabin have continuously guided and led the party effectively I congratulate them Yediyurappa addedThe former Chief Minister said that voters have blessed the NDAs commitment to development and the vision of building a Viksit BharatHe added that the Assembly poll results prove that people cannot be misled for long with mere promises of freebies People have chosen a government based on values development stability and transparency That is why they have ensured the BJPs victory Yediyurappa saidHe also noted that the BJP respects the peoples mandate and praised party workers for their dedication Countless workers have toiled day and night for this victory They are the backbone of the party he addedState BJP President and MLA BY Vijayendra said that the BJPs victories in West Bengal Assam and Puducherry have further strengthened the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra ModiSpeaking to the media at the state BJP headquarters Jagannath Bhavan in Bengaluru Vijayendra added that this was the first election under the party President Nitin Nabin and that it has delivered a strong messageHe said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah is widely regarded as the partys key strategist across the country and that his electoral strategy has played a major role in the poll victoryVijayendra also added that BJP workers in West Bengal deserve special appreciation for the win For decades our workers there faced continuous oppression They have now put an end to it he said while extending greetings and congratulations to BJP workers in all three states of West Bengal Assam PuducherryFormer Deputy Chief Minister and BJP MLA CN Ashwath Narayan said that the BJP has received encouraging results in the electionsSpeaking to the media in the city he added that the BJP is set to form the government in West Bengal He said that it is a matter of joy that the BJP originally founded by Syama Prasad Mookerjee of the Jana Sangh is now coming to power in West BengalHe described the outcome as a positive development for ensuring the countrys stability and security and for addressing various concerns BJP leader Ashwath Narayan said that among the five states the poll result in West Bengal is a major achievementHe also alleged that the Trinamool Congress had undermined democracy in the stateCommenting on the victory of BJP candidate in recounting of Sringeri Assembly seat following the High Court verdict Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka said that BJP candidate DN Jeevaraj has also secured victory in the Sringeri Assembly constituency and extended his congratulations to him He alleged that the Congress had stolen votes in Sringeri and exerted pressure to ensure the Congress candidates victory but added that this had now been prevented He said that Jeevaraj ultimately won the bypoll in the recount of votesHe added Although Jeevaraj had officially won earlier the result had not been declared at the time Now the election officer has issued the certificate confirming him as the Member of the Legislative AssemblyBJP leader Ashoka appealed to the Assembly Speaker to facilitate Jeevarajs oathtaking at the earliestHe expressed happiness that the BJP has gained an additional seat in the Karnataka Assembly He said Jeevaraj will now have the opportunity to serve as an MLA for the remaining two years and strengthen the BJP in the Sringeri Assembly seat He added that the BJP would also gain more strength to take on the Congress in the state Assembly IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-has-no-future-says-former-ktaka-cm-yediyurappa-hails-bjp-victory-as-historic-672349.html Tue, 05 May 2026 09:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/after-end-of-e-kyc-correction-deadline-188-crore-women-eligible-for-ladki-bahin-yojana-in-maharashtra-672350.html Mumbai May 5 After eKYC correction deadline ended last month around 188 crore women are eligible for the Ladki Bahin Yojana in Maharashtra The state government had extended the deadline for correction in eKYC process for the Ladki Bahin scheme till April 30 officials said on Monday After the deadline end as per the data with Women and Child development department around 188 crore women submitted the application for completion of process In February last payout for Ladki Bahin was to 175 crore beneficiary Now after receiving the funds from the Finance department payout for March and April will be given soon an official from the Women and Child Development department saidEarlier about 68 lakh accounts out of a total of 243 crore under the Maharashtras flagship Ladki Bahin Yojana have been closed permanently after these accounts failed to complete the mandatory eKYC process While the deadline to complete it was March 31 it has now been extended to April 30 which might result in increase in the numbers of closed welfare scheme beneficiary accountsThe state releases around Rs 3700 crore every month for around 225 crore beneficiaries with each eligible woman receiving Rs 1500 per month Now the amount will be reduced The state government in the annual budget for 202627 has slashed the allocation to the Ladki Bahin Yojana to Rs 26000 crore against Rs 36000 crore in 202526The state government had carried out eKYC exercise following complaints that male members were receiving benefits under the scheme or that some government employees had been registered as beneficiaries The eKYC process has received four extensions The first was in November 2025 later December 2025 and then till March 2026 The deadline was extended till April 30 2026The Ladki Bahin Yojana was launched by the MahaYuti government ahead of the state Assembly elections held in November 2024 The state government provides a monthly financial aid of Rs 1500 under the Ladki Bahin Yojana to the eligible women beneficiariesWhile the scheme has put significant pressure on state finances it is widely seen as one of the key factors behind the massive electoral victory of the MahaYuti government A wrongly framed question misinterpreted during the eKYC process had earlier resulted in more than 24 lakh beneficiaries being wrongly classified as state government employees leading to a halt in their monthly dole of Rs 1500 The problematic question in Marathi read Tumchya Gharatle koni sarkari nokrit nahi na Nobody in your family works for the government rightRespondents who should have responded with a No are said to have written Yes due to the framing of the question Following the scrutiny of these 24 lakh scheme beneficiary accounts 20 lakh have found to be genuine while scrutiny for the rest is pendingDespite the benefits taken by those who were not eligible for it the state government has already taken a policy decision not to take back money from them Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde have repeatedly said that the Maharashtra government will not close the Ladki Bahin Yojana IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/after-end-of-e-kyc-correction-deadline-188-crore-women-eligible-for-ladki-bahin-yojana-in-maharashtra-672350.html Tue, 05 May 2026 09:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/iran-us-conflict-on-brink-of-reigniting-as-washington-project-for-stranded-ships-sets-off-volleys-by-both-672351.html New York May 4 The conflict between Iran and the US was on the brink of reigniting as Washingtons Project Freedom to free ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz set off attacks by both sides with Tehran also striking neighbours US Central Command CENTCOM Chief Admiral Brad Cooper said on Monday that Iran sent a barrage of cruise missiles and drones at ships in the Strait and the US Navy retaliated shooting them downHe added that six Iranian speedboats that threatened ships were taken outBut beyond the Strait Iran appears to have resumed attacks on its neighboursThe United Arab Emirates reported that its Fujairah Oil Industry Zone was attacked by Iranian drones and its Defence Ministry said it was fending off drones and missilesOmans new agency ONA reported that a housing complex near the Strait was hit and two expatriates whose nationality was not disclosed were injuredIran appeared to be targeting other countries directly rather than the USAn official statement quoted by Irans PressTV said that it had sent missiles and drones near US warships rather than at them a nuanced differentiationUS President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that a South Korean ship had come under Iranian attackNo other ships were damaged he addedThe Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps IRGC Spokesperson Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi had earlier warned that it would forcefully stop any ship trying to break through the blockade his country had imposed according to the Iranian governments PressTVIt also denied that any of its boats had been sunkThe US denied Iranian claims that two of its missiles had struck its shipsUS CENTCOM Chief Cooper said that ships belonging to 87 countries were stranded in the Strait and the US was reaching out to dozens of ships and shipping companies to encourage traffic through the StraitThe CENTCOM said that two USflagged ships had already gone through the Strait safelyOn Saturday an Indian gas ship operating under Marshal Islands flag managed to chart its way through the Strait but it was not known if there was a deal with Iran for itIran has been demanding tolls for ships to go through the Strait which the US has condemned and the United Nations has declared illegal under international lawNeither side has made headway on negotiations to end the confrontation between them defiant on their demandsThe US would theoretically be free of Congressional restraints from resuming the war full scale because the US CENTCOM Chief said the conflict that began February 28 was truncated by the April 7 ceasefire agreement short of the 60day limit for the Legislatures approvalHe could claim a new cycle was beginning if Iran resumed major attacks IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/iran-us-conflict-on-brink-of-reigniting-as-washington-project-for-stranded-ships-sets-off-volleys-by-both-672351.html Tue, 05 May 2026 09:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/missiles-launched-towards-uae-from-iran-defence-ministry-672353.html Abu Dhabi May 5 The United Arab Emirates UAEs Defence Ministry has reported that it detected four cruise missiles launched from Iran towards various areas across the country The Ministry reported on Monday that the sounds heard in scattered areas of the country are the result of successful interception of the aerial threatsUAEs National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority NCEMA on social media platform X said that Air defence systems are currently responding to a missile threat Please remain in a safe location and follow official channels for warnings and updatesThe authority also asked the people not to approach touch or photograph any fragments or objects that have fallen as a result of successful air interceptions and allow the relevant authorities to assess the situationThe Authority issued a warning on Monday the last warning was on April 8 2026 according to their posts on XThe Ministry said that out of four cruise missiles three were engaged successfully over the countrys territorial waters while one fell in the seaOn April 3 the UAEs Ministry of Defence said that its air defence engaged 18 ballistic missiles four cruise missiles and 47 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles UAVs launched from IranAccording to the statement the UAEs air defences have engaged 475 ballistic missiles 23 cruise missiles and 2085 UAVs since the start of Iranian attacksThe attacks resulted in the martyrdom of two members of the armed forces while performing their national duty in addition to the martyrdom of a Moroccan civilian contracted by the Armed Forces as well as nine fatalities of Pakistani Nepali Bangladeshi Palestinian and Indian nationalities it addedA total of 203 people were also injured with injuries ranging from minor to moderate and severe The injured included nationals of the UAE Egypt Sudan Ethiopia the Philippines Pakistan Iran India Bangladesh Sri Lanka Azerbaijan Yemen Uganda Eritrea Lebanon Afghanistan Bahrain Comoros Turkey Iraq Nepal Nigeria Oman Jordan Palestine Ghana Indonesia Sweden and Tunisia the statement said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/missiles-launched-towards-uae-from-iran-defence-ministry-672353.html Tue, 05 May 2026 09:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/un-condemns-killing-of-yemeni-official-urges-protection-for-civil-servants-672354.html Sanaa May 5 The United Nations UN has called for accountability and stronger protection for civil society workers and public officials following the abduction and killing of a government official in Yemens southern port city of Aden In a statement posted on Monday on the social media platform X UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg strongly condemned the incidentI strongly condemn the abduction and assassination of Wissam Qaed in Aden His legacy must carry on Grundberg said Xinhua news agency reportedThe UN envoy also extended condolences to the victims family and expressed solidarity with the people of YemenSeparately UN Resident Coordinator for Yemen Laurent Bukera also condemned the killing I join the Yemeni people in condemning the murder Bukera said adding that such crimes cannot be tolerated and that those responsible must be brought to justiceAccording to a local security official the victim Wissam Qaed deputy executive director of the Social Fund for Development was abducted by unidentified gunmen near his residence in Aden on May 3 and was later found dead with multiple gunshot woundsEstablished in 1997 the Social Fund for Development operates under the Yemeni government and reports directly to the Cabinet playing a key role in development and poverty reduction programs Qaed had served as deputy executive director since 2019The incident underscores persistent security challenges in Aden despite efforts by authorities to stabilise the cityOn April 26 Yemeni security authorities said they had arrested suspected terrorists accused of plotting a series of assassinations in the southern port city of AdenCiting a security source staterun news agency Saba said the arrests described as part of efforts to enhance security and stability in Aden followed careful monitoring and surveillanceSeveral suspects were detained along with materials and evidence linked to the groups activitiesInitial investigations revealed plans to target social and religious figures in an attempt to incite chaos and destabilise the security and stability in Aden the source saidYemen has been mired in conflict since 2014 when Houthi forces seized the capital Sanaa triggering a prolonged war that has weakened state institutions and fueled instability IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/un-condemns-killing-of-yemeni-official-urges-protection-for-civil-servants-672354.html Tue, 05 May 2026 09:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/trump-flags-iran-threat-to-shipping-lane-672355.html Washington May 5 US President Donald Trump has said that Iran had fired on vessels linked to unrelated nations amid tensions around a United Statesled maritime effort raising fresh concerns over security in a key global shipping route Iran has taken some shots at unrelated Nations with respect to the Ship Movement PROJECT FREEDOM including a South Korean Cargo Ship Trump said on Monday in a social media postHe urged greater allied participation in the mission Perhaps its time for South Korea to come and join the mission he addedThe comments come as Washington advances Project Freedom a maritime initiative aimed at securing commercial shipping lanesTrump said US forces had engaged Iranian boats Weve shot down seven small Boats or as they like to call them fast Boats Its all they have left he addedHe said there had been a limited impact on shipping so far Other than the South Korean Ship there has been at this moment no damage going through the Strait Trump addedTrump also announced a military briefing scheduled for Tuesday Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine will have a News Conference tomorrow morning he saidTrumps reference to a South Korean vessel suggests the risk of broader international involvement beyond direct USIran tensions His call for Seoul to join the effort signals Washingtons push for allied supportThe United States has increased naval activity in the region citing the need to protect shipping and maintain freedom of navigation Iran has warned against foreign military presence near its watersThe Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman is one of the worlds most critical oil transit routes A significant share of global crude flows through it each day IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/trump-flags-iran-threat-to-shipping-lane-672355.html Tue, 05 May 2026 09:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/another-15-crew-members-of-us-seized-iranian-ship-released-media-672356.html Tehran May 5 Fifteen of the remaining 22 crew members of an Iranian container ship seized by the United States last month have entered Iran media reported The Iranianflagged vessel the Touska was boarded and seized by US forces off the coast of Irans southeastern port of Chabahar in the Gulf of Oman on April 19 under a US naval blockade targeting Iranian shipping Semiofficial Fars news agency said on Monday that the ship had a total of 28 crew members who were taken into US custody It added that six were released earlier Xinhua news agency reportedThe semiofficial Tasnim news agency also reported their arrivalThe United States imposed restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz following failed postceasefire negotiations with Iran in Islamabad on April 1112 according to earlier reportsThe cargo ship seized by US forces was part of a fleet linked to Chinese ports and suspected supply routes a media report saidThe MV Touska an Iranianflagged container vessel is tied to a network of ships that frequently sail to China and have been linked to transporting materials with potential military use The Wall Street Journal reportedThe ship was intercepted after attempting to breach a US naval blockade and was later boarded by American forces following warning shots that disabled its engine according to reportsShipping data cited by The Wall Street Journal showed the vessel had visited the southern Chinese port of Zhuhai twice in the weeks before it was seizedThe Touska is controlled by a sanctioned Iranian company accused of transporting items for Tehrans ballistic missile programme the report saidUS officials have not disclosed what the ship was carrying Analysts said the attempt to cross an active blockade suggests the cargo may have been important IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/another-15-crew-members-of-us-seized-iranian-ship-released-media-672356.html Tue, 05 May 2026 09:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/full-list-of-winners-of-west-bengal-assembly-polls-672357.html Kolkata May 5 Here is the list of all candidates who contested the West Bengal Assembly polls 1 MEKLIGANJ â DADHIRAM RAY BJP2 MATHABHANGA â NISHITH PRAMANIK BJP3 COOCHBEHAR UTTAR â SUKUMAR RAY BJP4 COOCHBEHAR DAKSHIN â RATHINDRA BOSE BJP5 SITALKUCHI â SABITRI BARMAN BJP6 SITAI â SANGITA ROY Trinamool Congress7 DINHATA â AJAY RAY BJP8 NATABARI â GIRIJA SHANKAR RAY BJP9 TUFANGANJ â MALATI RAVA ROY BJP10 KUMARGRAM â MANOJ KUMAR ORAON BJP11 KALCHINI â BISHAL LAMA BJP13 FALAKATA â DIPAK BARMAN BJP14 MADARIHAT â LAXUMAN LIMBU BJP15 DHUPGURI â NARESH ROY BJP16 MAYNAGURI â DALIM CHANDRA ROY BJP17 JALPAIGURI â ANANTA DEB ADHIKARY BJP18 RAJGANJ â DINESH SARKAR BJP19 DABGRAMFULBARI â SIKHA CHATTERJEE BJP20 MAL â SUKRA MUNDA BJP21 NAGRAKATA â PUNA BHENGRA BJP22 KALIMPONG â BHARAT KUMAR CHETRI BJP23 DARJEELING â NOMAN RAI BJP24 KURSEONG â SONAM LAMA BJP25 MATIGARANAXALBARI â ANANDAMAY BARMAN BJP26 SILIGURI â SHANKAR GHOSH BJP27 PHANSIDEWA â DURGA MURMU BJP28 CHOPRA â HAMIDUL RAHAMAN Trinamool Congress29 ISLAMPUR â AGARWAL KANAIA LAL Trinamool Congress30 GOALPOKHAR â MD GHULAM RABBANI Trinamool Congress31 CHAKULIA â AZAD MINHAJUL ARFIN Trinamool Congress32 KARANDIGHI â BIRAJ BISWAS BJP33 HEMTABAD â HARIPADA BARMAN BJP34 KALIAGANJ â UTPAL BRAHMACHARO BJP35 RAIGANJ â KOUSHIK CHOWDHURY BJP36 ITAHAR â MOSARAF HUSSEN Trinamool Congress37 KUSHMANDI â TAPAS CHANDRA ROY BJP38 KUMARGANJ â TORAF HOSSAIN MANDAL Trinamool Congress39 BALURGHAT â BIDYUT KUMAR ROY BJP40 TAPAN â BUDHRAI TUDU BJP41 GANGARAMPUR â SATYENDRA NATH ROY BJP42 HARIRAMPUR â BIPLAB MITRA Trinamool Congress43 HABIBPUR â JOYEL MURMU BJP44 GAZOLE â CHINMOY DEB BARMAN BJP45 CHANCHAL â PRASUN BANERJEE Trinamool Congress46 HARISCHANDRAPUR â MD MATIBUR RAHAMAN Trinamool Congress47 MALATIPUR â ABDUR RAHIM BOXI Trinamool Congress48 RATUA â SAMAR MUKHERJEE Trinamool Congress49 MANIKCHAK â GOUR CHANDRA MANDAL BJP50 MALDAHA â GOPAL CHANDRA SAHA BJP51 ENGLISH BAZAR â AMLAN BHADURI BJP52 MOTHABARI â ISLAM MD NAJRUL Trinamool Congress53 SUJAPUR â SABINA YEASMIN Trinamool Congress54 BAISNABNAGAR â RAJU KARMAKAR BJP55 FARAKKA MOHTAB SHAIKH Congress56 SAMSERGANJ â MOHAMMED NOOR ALAM Trinamool Congress57 SUTI â EMANI BISWAS Trinamool Congress58 JANGIPUR â CHITTA MUKHERJEE BJP59 RAGHUNATHGANJ â AKHRUZZAMAN Trinamool Congress60 SAGARDIGHI â BAYRON BISWAS Trinamool Congress61 LALGOLA â ABDUL AZIZ DOCTOR Trinamool Congress62 BHAGAWANGOLA â REYAT HOSSAIN SARKAR Trinamool Congress63 RANINAGAR JULFIKAR ALI Congress64 MURSHIDABAD â GOURI SANKAR GHOSH BJP65 NABAGRAM â DILIP SAHA BJP66 KHARGRAM â MITALI MAL BJP67 BURWAN â SUKHEN KUMAR BAGDI BJP68 KANDI â GARGI DAS GHOSH BJP69 BHARATPUR â MUSTAFIJUR RAHAMAN Trinamool Congress70 REJINAGAR HUMAYUN KABIR Aam Janata Unnayan Party71 BELDANGA â BHARAT KUMAR JHAWAR BJP72 BAHARAMPUR â SUBRATA MAITRA BJP73 HARIHARPARA â NIAMOT SHEIKH Trinamool Congress74 NOWDA HUMAYUN KABIR Aam Janata Unnayan Party75 DOMKAL MD MOSTAFIJUR RAHAMAN CPIM76 JALANGI â BABAR ALI Trinamool Congress77 KARIMPUR â SAMARENDRANATH GHOSH BJP78 TEHATTA â SUBRATA KABIRAJ BJP79 PALASHIPARA â RUKBANUR RAHMAN Trinamool Congress80 KALIGANJ â ALIFA AHMED Trinamool Congress81 NAKASHIPARA â SANTANU DEY BJP82 CHAPRA â JEBER SEKH Trinamool Congress83 KRISHNANAGAR UTTAR â TARAK NATH CHATTERJEE BJP84 NABADWIP â SRUTISEKHAR GOSWAMI BJP85 KRISHNANAGAR DAKSHIN â SADHAN GHOSH BJP86 SANTIPUR â SWAPAN KUMAR DAS BJP87 RANAGHAT UTTAR PASCHIM â PARTHA SARATHI CHATTERJEE BJP88 KRISHNAGANJ â SUKANTA BISWAS BJP89 RANAGHAT UTTAR PURBA â ASHIM BISWAS BJP90 RANAGHAT DAKSHIN â ASHIM KUMAR BISWAS BJP91 CHAKDAHA â BANKIM CHANDRA GHOSH BJP92 KALYANI â ANUPAM BISWAS BJP93 HARINGHATA â ASIM KUMAR SARKAR BJP94 BAGDA â SOMA THAKUR BJP95 BANGAON UTTAR â ASHOK KIRTANIA BJP96 BANGAON DAKSHIN â SWAPAN MAJUMDER BJP97 GAIGHATA â SUBRATA THAKUR BJP98 SWARUPNAGAR â BINA MONDAL Trinamool Congress99 BADURIA â BURHANUL MUKADDIM Trinamool Congress100 HABRA â DEBDAS MONDAL BJP101 ASHOKNAGAR â DR SUMAY HIRA BJP102 AMDANGA â MOHAMMAD KASEM SIDDIQUE Trinamool Congress103 BIJPUR â SUDIPTA DAS BJP104 NAIHATI â SUMITRO CHATTERJEE BJP105 BHATPARA â PAWAN KUMAR SINGH BJP106 JAGATDAL â DR RAJESH KUMAR BJP107 NOAPARA â ARJUN SINGH BJP108 BARRACKPUR â KAUSTUV BAGCHI BJP109 KHARDAHA â KALYAN CHAKRABORTI BJP110 DUM DUM UTTAR â SOURAV SIKDAR BJP111 PANIHATI â RATNA DEBNATH BJP112 KAMARHATI â MADAN MITRA Trinamool Congress113 BARANAGAR â SAJAL GHOSH BJP114 DUM DUM â ARIJIT BAKSHI BJP115 RAJARHAT NEW TOWN TAPAS CHATTERJEE Trinamool Congress116 BIDHANNAGAR â SHARADWAT MUKHERJEE BJP117 RAJARHAT GOPALPUR â TARUNJYOTI TEWARI BJP118 MADHYAMGRAM â RATHIN GHOSH Trinamool Congress119 BARASAT â SANKAR CHATTERJEE BJP120 DEGANGA â ANISUR RAHAMAN BIDESH Trinamool Congress121 HAROA â ABDUL MATIN MUHAMMAD Trinamool Congress122 MINAKHAN â USHA RANI MONDAL Trinamool Congress123 SANDESHKHALI â SANAT SARDAR BJP124 BASIRHAT DAKSHIN â SURAJIT MITRA Trinamool Congress125 BASIRHAT UTTAR â MD TAUSEFFUR RAHMAN Trinamool Congress126 HINGALGANJ â REKHA PATRA BJP127 GOSABA â BIKARNA NASKAR BJP128 BASANTI â NILIMA MISTRY BISHAL Trinamool Congress129 KULTALI â GANESH CHANDRA MONDAL Trinamool Congress130 PATHARPRATIMA â SAMIR KUMAR JANA Trinamool Congress131 KAKDWIP â DIPANKAR JANA BJP132 SAGAR â SUMANTA MANDAL BJP133 KULPI â BARNALI DHARA Trinamool Congress134 RAIDIGHI â TAPAS MONDAL Trinamool Congress135 MANDIRBAZAR â JOYDEB HALDER Trinamool Congress136 JAYNAGAR â BISWANATH DAS Trinamool Congress137 BARUIPUR PURBA BIVAS SARDAR Trinamool Congress138 CANNING PASCHIM â PARESH RAM DAS Trinamool Congress139 CANNING PURBA â MD BAHARUL ISLAM Trinamool Congress140 BARUIPUR PASCHIM â BIMAN BANERJEE Trinamool Congress141 MAGRAHAT PURBA â SARMISTHA PURKAIT Trinamool Congress142 MAGRAHAT PASCHIM â MD SAMIM AHAMED MOLLA Trinamool Congress143 DIAMOND HARBOUR â PANNA LAL HALDER Trinamool Congress145 SATGACHHIA â AGNISWAR NASKAR BJP146 BISHNUPUR â DILIP MONDAL Trinamool Congress147 SONARPUR DAKSHIN â RUPA GANGULY BJP148 BHANGAR NAWSAD SIDDIQUI All India Secular Front149 KASBA â AHMED JAVED KHAN Trinamool Congress150 JADAVPUR â SARBORI MUKHERJEE BJP151 SONARPUR UTTAR â DEBASISH DHAR BJP152 TOLLYGANJ â PAPIA ADHIKARY BJP153 BEHALA PURBA â SANKAR SIKDER BJP154 BEHALA PASCHIM â DR INDRANIL KHAN BJP155 MAHESHTALA â SUBHASIS DAS Trinamool Congress156 BUDGE BUDGE â ASHOK KUMAR DEB Trinamool Congress157 METIABURUZ â ABDUL KHALEQUE MOLLA Trinamool Congress158 KOLKATA PORT â FIRHAD HAKIM Trinamool Congress159 BHABANIPUR â ADHIKARI SUVENDU BJP160 RASHBEHARI â DASGUPTA SWAPAN BJP161 BALLYGUNGE â SOBHANDEB CHATTOPADHYAY Trinamool Congress162 CHOWRANGEE â BANDYOPADHYAY NAYNA Trinamool Congress163 ENTALLY â SANDIPAN SAHA Trinamool Congress164 BELEGHATA â KUNAL KUMAR GHOSH Trinamool Congress165 JORASANKO â VIJAY OJHA BJP166 SHYAMPUKUR â PURNIMA CHAKRABORTY BJP167 MANIKTALA â TAPAS ROY BJP168 KASHIPURBELGACHHIA â RITESH TIWARI BJP169 BALLY â SANJAY KUMAR SINGH BJP170 HOWRAH UTTAR â UMESH RAI BJP171 HOWRAH MADHYA â ARUP ROY Trinamool Congress172 SHIBPUR â RUDRANIL GHOSH BJP173 HOWRAH DAKSHIN â NANDITA CHOWDHURY Trinamool Congress174 SANKRAIL â PRIYA PAUL Trinamool Congress175 PANCHLA â GULSAN MULLICK Trinamool Congress176 ULUBERIA PURBA â RITABRATA BANERJEE Trinamool Congress177 ULUBERIA UTTAR â CHIRAN BERA BJP178 ULUBERIA DAKSHIN â PULAK ROY Trinamool Congress179 SHYAMPUR â DR HIRANMOY CHATTOPADHYAYA BJP180 BAGNAN â ARUNAVA SEN Trinamool Congress181 AMTA â AMIT SAMANTA BJP182 UDAYNARAYANPUR â SAMIR KUMAR PANJA Trinamool Congress183 JAGATBALLAVPUR â ANUPAM GHOSH BJP184 DOMJUR â TAPAS MAITY Trinamool Congress185 UTTARPARA â DIPANJAN CHAKRABORTY BJP186 SREERAMPUR â BHASKAR BHATTACHARYA BJP187 CHAMPDANI â DILIP SINGH BJP188 SINGUR â ARUP KUMAR DAS BJP189 CHANDANNAGAR â DEEPANJAN KUMAR GUHA BJP190 CHUNCHURA â SUBIR NAG BJP191 BALAGARH â SUMANA SARKAR BJP192 PANDUA â TUSAR KUMAR MAJUMDAR BJP193 SAPTAGRAM â SWARAJ GHOSH BJP194 CHANDITALA â SWATI KHANDOKER Trinamool Congress195 JANGIPARA â PROSENJIT BAG BJP196 HARIPAL â MADHUMITA GHOSH BJP197 DHANEKHALI â ASIMA PATRA Trinamool Congress198 TARAKESWAR â SANTU PAN BJP199 PURSURAH â BIMAN GHOSH BJP200 ARAMBAG â BAG HEMANTA BJP201 GOGHAT â PRASANTA DIGAR BJP202 KHANAKUL â SUSANTA GHOSH BJP203 TAMLUK â HARE KRISHNA BERA BJP204 PANSKURA PURBA â SUBRATA MAITY BJP205 PANSKURA PASCHIM â SINTU SENAPATI BJP206 MOYNA â ASHOKE DINDA BJP207 NANDAKUMAR â KHANRA NIRMAL BJP208 MAHISADAL â SUBHAS CHANDRA PANJA BJP209 HALDIA â PRADIP KUMAR BIJALI BJP210 NANDIGRAM â ADHIKARI SUVENDU BJP211 CHANDIPUR â PIJUSH KANTI DAS BJP212 PATASHPUR â TAPAN MAITY BJP213 KANTHI UTTAR â SUMITA SINHA BJP214 BHAGABANPUR â SANTANU PRAMANIK BJP215 KHEJURI â SUBRATA PAIK BJP216 KANTHI DAKSHIN â ARUP KUMAR DAS BJP217 RAMNAGAR â DR CHANDRA SEKHAR MONDAL BJP218 EGRA â ADHIKARI DIBYENDU BJP219 DANTAN â AJIT KUMAR JANA BJP220 NAYAGRAM â AMIYA KISKU BJP221 GOPIBALLAVPUR â RAJESH MAHATA BJP222 JHARGRAM â LAKSHMI KANTA SAU BJP223 KESHIARY â BHADRA HEMRAM BJP224 KHARAGPUR SADAR â DILIP GHOSH BJP225 NARAYANGARH â GIRI RAMAPRASAD BJP226 SABANG â AMAL KUMAR PANDA BJP227 PINGLA â SWAGATA MANNA BJP228 KHARAGPUR â DINEN ROY Trinamool Congress229 DEBRA â SUBHASHIS OM BJP230 DASPUR â TAPAN KUMAR DUTTA BJP231 GHATAL â SITAL KAPAT BJP232 CHANDRAKONA â SUKANTA DOLUI BJP233 GARBETA â PRADIP LODHA BJP234 SALBONI â BIMAN MAHATA BJP235 KESHPUR â SEULI SAHA Trinamool Congress236 MEDINIPUR â SANKAR KUMAR GUCHHAIT BJP237 BINPUR â DR PRANAT TUDU BJP238 BANDWAN â LABSEN BASKEY BJP239 BALARAMPUR â JALADHAR MAHATO BJP240 BAGHMUNDI â RAHIDAS MAHATO BJP241 JOYPUR â BISWAJIT MAHATO BJP242 PURULIA â SUDIP KUMAR MUKHERJEE BJP243 MANBAZAR â MAYNA MURMU BJP244 KASHIPUR â KAMALA KANTA HANSDA BJP245 PARA â NADIAR CHAND BOURI BJP246 RAGHUNATHPUR â MAMONI BAURI BJP247 SALTORA â CHANDANA BAURI BJP248 CHHATNA â SATYANARAYAN MUKHOPADHYAY BJP249 RANIBANDH â KSHUDIRAM TUDU BJP250 RAIPUR â KSHETRAMOHAN HANSDA BJP251 TALDANGRA â SOUVIK PATRA BJP252 BANKURA â NILADRI SEKHAR DANA BJP253 BARJORA â BILLESWAR SINHA BJP254 ONDA â AMARNATH SHAKHA BJP255 BISHNUPUR â SHUKLA CHATTERJEE BJP256 KATULPUR â LAKSHMI KANTA MAJUMDAR BJP257 INDUS â NIRMAL KUMAR DHARA BJP258 SONAMUKHI â DIBAKAR GHARAMI BJP259 KHANDAGHOSH â NABIN CHANDRA BAG Trinamool Congress260 BARDHAMAN DAKSHIN â MOUMITA BISWAS MISRA BJP261 RAINA â SUBHASH PATRA BJP262 JAMALPUR â ARUN HALDER BJP263 MONTESWAR â SAIKAT PANJA BJP264 KALNA â SIDDHARTHA MAJUMDAR BJP265 MEMARI â MANAB GUHA BJP266 BARDHAMAN UTTAR â NISITH KUMAR MALIK Trinamool Congress267 BHATAR â KARFA SOUMEN BJP268 PURBASTHALI DAKSHIN â PRAN KRISHNA TAPADAR BJP269 PURBASTHALI UTTAR â GOPAL CHATTOPADHYAY BJP270 KATWA â KRISHNA GHOSH BJP271 KETUGRAM â ANADI GHOSH BJP272 MANGALKOT â SHISHIR GHOSH BJP273 AUSGRAM â KALITA MAJI BJP274 GALSI â RAJU PATRA BJP275 PANDABESWAR â JITENDRA KUMAR TEWARI BJP276 DURGAPUR PURBA â CHANDRA SEKHAR BANERJEE BJP277 DURGAPUR PASCHIM â LAKSHMAN CHANDRA GHORUI BJP278 RANIGANJ â PARTHA GHOSH BJP279 JAMURIA â DR BIJAN MUKHERJEE BJP280 ASANSOL DAKSHIN â AGNIMITRA PAUL BJP281 ASANSOL UTTAR â KRISHNENDU MUKHERJEE BJP282 KULTI â AJAY KUMAR PODDAR BJP283 BARABANI â ARIJIT ROY BJP284 DUBRAJPUR â ANUP KUMAR SAHA BJP285 SURI â JAGANNATH CHATTOPADHYAY BJP286 BOLPUR â CHANDRANATH SINHA Trinamool Congress287 NANOOR â BIDHAN CHANDRA MAJHI Trinamool Congress288 LABPUR â DEBASIS OJHA BJP289 SAINTHIA â KRISHNA KANTA SAHA BJP290 MAYURESWAR â DUDH KUMAR MONDAL BJP291 RAMPURHAT â DHRUBA SAHA BJP292 HANSAN â FAYEZUL HAQUE Trinamool Congress293 NALHATI â RAJENDRA PRASAD SINGH Trinamool Congress294 MURARAI â DR MOSARRAF HOSSAIN Trinamool Congress IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/full-list-of-winners-of-west-bengal-assembly-polls-672357.html Tue, 05 May 2026 10:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tvk-needs-minimum-10-seats-to-form-govt-in-tn-eyes-alliances-672368.html Chennai May 5 Ending nearly six decades of Dravidian dominance in Tamil Nadu politics actorturnedpolitician C Joseph Vijayâs Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK has emerged as the surprise winner in the 2026 Assembly elections Contesting its maiden election the party has not only made a dramatic entry but has also secured recognition as a major political force in the state However despite its impressive performance TVK has fallen short of the simple majority mark required to form the government on its ownIn the 234member Assembly a party needs at least 118 seats for a clear majority TVK is currently leading in 108 constituencies leaving it 10 seats short of the halfway markAdding to the arithmetic Vijay has won from two constituencies Perambur and Tiruchy East and will have to vacate one seat effectively reducing the partyâs tally by oneFurther one of the elected MLAs will have to be appointed as the Speaker Since the Speaker does not vote during a confidence motion except in the case of a tie this effectively reduces the partyâs voting strength again increasing dependence on outside supportThis means TVK will require the backing of at least 12 additional legislators to comfortably prove its majority on the floor of the HouseThe postpoll numbers suggest that several smaller parties and alliances could play a crucial roleThe Dravida Munnetra Kazhagamled alliance has secured a fragmented mandate with the Congress winning six seats the Left parties CPI and CPIM bagging two seats each while others like the Indian Union Muslim League and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi have also secured representationOn the other hand the AIADMKled front has returned with modest numbers with parties like the Pattali Makkal Katchi and the Bharatiya Janata Party winning a handful of seats If TVK manages to secure support from even a section of these parties it could comfortably cross the majority mark However it does not necessarily need the backing of all alliance partners a smaller combination of support would sufficeMeanwhile Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Arelekar is expected to initiate the government formation processHe may invite Vijay to stake a claim and prove his majority on the Assembly floor or ask him to submit letters of support from backing parties If TVK fails to demonstrate majority support the Governor could invite the secondlargest party the DMK to explore forming a government Should all options fail the state may face Presidentâs Rule followed by fresh elections within six months IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tvk-needs-minimum-10-seats-to-form-govt-in-tn-eyes-alliances-672368.html Tue, 05 May 2026 10:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-extends-birthday-wishes-to-manohar-lal-khattar-praises-his-work-in-key-governance-sectors-672387.html New Delhi May 5 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended birthday greetings to Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar praising his role in key governance sectors Posting on X PM Modi said âBirthday greetings to Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal Khattar Ji He is at the forefront of numerous initiatives relating to enhancing urban infrastructure and the power sector both of which are important for our growth trajectory May he be blessed with a long and healthy lifeâFollowing the Prime Minister Union Home Minister Amit Shah also conveyed his wishesHe wrote âHeartfelt birthday wishes to Union Cabinet Minister Shri mlkhattar ji Under the leadership of Modi ji you are doing commendable work in the direction of strengthening the housing urban development and energy sectors I pray to God for your excellent health and long lifeâDefence Minister Rajnath Singh also posted âHeartfelt birthday greetings and best wishes to Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal Khattar ji The dedication and complete devotion with which he is working to develop urban facilities in India and further strengthen the countryâs energy sector is commendable May God grant him excellent health and long lifeâUnion Minister Nitin Gadkari added âTo my colleague in the Union Cabinet Shri mlkhattar ji heartfelt birthday wishes I pray to God for your excellent health long life and a blissful existenceâUnion Minister Kiren Rijiju also joined in wishing âHeartfelt birthday wishes to the Honorable Union Minister Shri mlkhattar ji I pray to God for your excellent health and long lifeâManohar Lal Khattar Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs of India has had a long political and organisational career He was born on this day in 1954 in Nindana village of Rohtak district in Haryana He joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh RSS in 1977 and served there for 17 years before associating with the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1994He rose through the party ranks and after winning from the Karnal Assembly constituency in 2014 became the first BJP Chief Minister of Haryana marking a significant milestone in the partyâs expansion in the state Over the years he has been associated with organisational work as well as governance roles particularly in urban development and infrastructurerelated sectors IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-extends-birthday-wishes-to-manohar-lal-khattar-praises-his-work-in-key-governance-sectors-672387.html Tue, 05 May 2026 11:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/dmk-suffers-major-setback-in-tn-as-15-key-ministers-lose-672388.html Chennai May 5 The DMK has suffered a major electoral setback in the recently concluded Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu winning only around 59 of the 164 constituencies it contested directly and slipping into the Opposition The polls witnessed a fierce threecornered contest involving the DMK the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and the AIADMK with the ruling party failing to retain its dominance amid a strong surge by TVKThe outcome was particularly striking as Chief Minister MK Stalin several senior ministers and even the Assembly Speaker were defeated reflecting a strong wave of antiincumbency across the stateAmong the prominent losers Health Minister M Subramanian was defeated in Saidapet by nearly 28500 votes while School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi lost in TiruverumburMinister TRB Rajaa was defeated in Mannargudi and Minister Moorthy lost Madurai East by over 16500 votesFinance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan faced an unexpected defeat in Madurai Central where a TVK candidate emerged victorious in a multicornered contestSenior ministers also faced setbacks across regions with KKSSR Ramachandran losing in Aruppukkottai and Thangam Thennarasu suffering defeat in his constituencyVeteran leader Durai Murugan lost Katpadi by more than 7600 votes while Minister Muthusamy was defeated in Erode West by over 22000 votesMinisters Nassar Avadi Mathivendhan Rasipuram R Rajendran Salem North Gandhi Ranipet and Saminathan Kangeyam were also among those who lostIn Alandur TM Anbarasan was defeated by a margin exceeding 25000 votesOne of the closest contests was witnessed in Tiruppattur where Minister Periyakaruppan lost by just a single vote highlighting the intensely competitive nature of the electionDespite the widespread losses a section of the DMK leadership managed to hold on to their seatsUdhayanidhi Stalin won from Chepauk with a margin of over 7300 votes while Minister Sekarbabu secured victory in HarbourKN Nehru retained Tiruchirappalli West and I Periyasamy registered a strong win in AthoorChakrapani won from Oddanchatram with a comfortable margin while EV Velu narrowly held TiruvannamalaiMinisters MRK Panneerselvam Meyyanathan CV Ganesan and K Chezhiyan were also among those who secured victories along with Anita Radhakrishnan in Tiruchendur and Raghupathi Sivashankar and Rajakannappan in their respective constituenciesThe results mark a decisive shift in Tamil Naduâs political landscape with the emergence of TVK significantly altering traditional voting patterns and eroding the dominance of both the DMK and AIADMKWhile the DMK managed to secure wins for only a limited number of its ministers the scale of highprofile defeats underscores the challenges ahead for the party as it prepares to assume the role of the Opposition after its term in power IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/dmk-suffers-major-setback-in-tn-as-15-key-ministers-lose-672388.html Tue, 05 May 2026 11:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/from-bengal-to-tn-national-consequences-of-new-election-pattern-shiv-sena-672389.html Mumbai May 5 The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray UBT on Tuesday said the results of the state elections have unfolded exactly as the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP had planned However it has raised serious concerns about the pattern used to secure these wins and the grim state of democracy it represents The Thackeray camp in a scathing editorial in the partys mouthpiece Saamana claimed that the ModiShah pattern of capturing elections was evident in the results for Assam and West Bengal In Tamil Nadu this same strategy reportedly led to a change in power displacing the DMK While actor Vijayâs TVK party did not reach a full majority it is expected to secure over 100 seats due to strategic vote division leaving the DMKCongress alliance with around 70 seats and the BJPAIADMK alliance with approximately 50The editorial said that while these five state election results are game changers for the BJP they do not appear to have been achieved through straightforward means âThe greatest anticipation was for West Bengal where Mamata Banerjeeâs Trinamool Congress had won three consecutive terms During this time Modi and Shah exerted every possible effort to defeat her but failed However this time they found a third partner in Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar which led to the BJPs successâ it allegedAccording to the editorial the credit for the BJPs victory in West Bengal must be given to Gyanesh Kumar who acted like an ally of the BJP âHe deployed 300000 paramilitary forces in Bengal and moved all state government officials out of the state While his stated noble intent was to ensure a fair election he did not display this same intent in Assam Modi and Shah harboured dreams of forming a government in Bengal to achieve this 92 lakh voters the majority of whom were Mamata Banerjee supporters were removed from the voter listsâ it saidThe Thackeray camp argued that this once again demonstrates the methods the BJP employs to fight and win elections The results in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal will have longterm consequences for national politics âGiven the dishonest manner in which the Election Commission behaved opposition parties must seriously consider whether they should even participate in future elections It is suspicious that the BJP began preparing victory celebrations immediately after the polling in West Bengal this suggests that the conspiracies for victory were orchestrated behind the scenesâ it notedThe editorial said that in a democracy if elections are fair defeat should be accepted with grace as the will of the people However the current results cannot be viewed as the peoples mandate rather they are verdicts delivered by the BJP with the cooperation of the Election Commission This was blatantly visible in West Bengal just as it was previously seen in Maharashtra and Haryana This represents the degradation of Indian democracy and raises questions about the fairness of the electoral processThe Uddhav Thackerayled Shiv Sena has termed the celebrations following these victories as a hideous form of democracy while pointing to a disturbing irony âWhile BJP workers celebrate with festivals the country is grappling with a rise in atrocities against women In Maharashtra reports of brutal crimes against young girls have shocked the nation yet these issues seem overshadowed by political revelry If someone calls this perversion a victory of religion then no saviour will ever descend to earth again to protect religion because true religion is being drowned out it claimed IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/from-bengal-to-tn-national-consequences-of-new-election-pattern-shiv-sena-672389.html Tue, 05 May 2026 11:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/mandate-to-ministry-congress-faces-delicate-balancing-act-in-kerala-comeback-672400.html Thiruvananthapuram May 5 The emphatic return of the Congressled United Democratic Front UDF to power with 102 seats marks both a political resurgence and the beginning of a delicate balancing act After a decade in the opposition the coalition comprising the Congress 63 IUML 22 Kerala Congress 7 RSP 3 and smaller allies faces the immediate challenge of converting a decisive mandate into a stable and representative governmentThe Left has been reduced to 35 seats while the BJP has secured three underscoring the scale of the UDFâs victory and the expectations riding on itThe first and most closely watched decision will be the selection of the Chief MinisterWith multiple contenders in the fray Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan senior leader Ramesh Chennithala and AICC general secretary KC Venugopal the Congress high command will have to weigh administrative experience generational change and political messagingThe choice is not merely about leadership but about setting the tone for governance and internal cohesion over the next five yearsOnce the leadership question is settled the more arduous exercise begins in naming the 21member cabinet that reflects both coalition arithmetic and Keralaâs intricate social fabricAllies will expect their due shareThe IUML is likely to secure five cabinet berths Kerala Congress two the RSP and Anoop Jacob one each and the allies in line with past precedentsThis leaves the Congress to distribute the remaining positions among its 63 MLAs a task complicated by what many describe as a problem of plentyWithin the Congress the selection process will inevitably trigger debates over regional balance caste and community representation and generational inclusionNames such as state party president Sunny Joseph veterans Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and K Muraleedharan N Sakthan M Vincent and others including PC Vishnunath AP Anil Kumar Chandy Oommen and Mathew Kuzhalnadan are already in circulationEqually significant is the push for womenâs representation with Uma Thomas Bindhu Krishna Shanimol Usman and Remya Haridas among the frontrunnersBeyond the cabinet key constitutional posts Speaker Deputy Speaker and Chief Whip will also need careful calibration to maintain coalition harmony and legislative efficiencyHow the Congress leadership navigates these overlapping demands balancing merit with representation ambition with accommodation will determine whether this sweeping mandate translates into effective governance or early frictionThe transition from opposition to administration while triumphant is rarely seamless as for the UDF the real test begins now IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/mandate-to-ministry-congress-faces-delicate-balancing-act-in-kerala-comeback-672400.html Tue, 05 May 2026 12:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/prez-murmu-pays-homage-to-former-president-giani-zail-singh-on-birth-anniversary-672406.html New Delhi May 5 IANS President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday paid floral tributes to former President Giani Zail Singh on his birth anniversary at Rashtrapati BhavannbspGiani Zail Singh served as the seventh President of India from July 25 1982 to July 25 1987 and is remembered for his longstanding contribution to public life and governanceBorn on May 5 1916 in Sandhwan village in Punjabs Faridkot district Zail Singhs political journey was shaped by his deep commitment to public service and his active role in the countrys freedom struggleHe was closely associated with the Indian independence movement and took part in the Quit India Movement during which he was imprisoned multiple times for participating in protests against British ruleAfter Independence he held several key positions in Punjab including serving as a minister and later as Chief Minister of the state between 1972 and 1977 His tenure in the state was marked by a series of administrative and developmental initiatives including land reforms and efforts to streamline governanceIn 1980 he was inducted as the Union Home Minister in the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi where he handled crucial issues related to internal security and law and orderHis political career reached its peak in 1982 when he was elected President of India During his tenure he was known for adhering to constitutional values and maintaining a strong commitment to the principles of justice liberty and equalityZail Singh was also widely regarded for his humility and his focus on the welfare of underprivileged sections of society His ability to connect with people across different backgrounds reflected his belief in social equity and inclusive governanceHe passed away on December 25 1994 leaving behind a legacy of dedicated public service that continues to inspire many in Indian politics and public lifeIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/prez-murmu-pays-homage-to-former-president-giani-zail-singh-on-birth-anniversary-672406.html Tue, 05 May 2026 12:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/from-convoy-to-quiet-exit-kerala-cm-vijayans-fall-captured-in-a-moment-of-silence-672408.html Thiruvananthapuram May 5 The fall from power when it comes is often measured not just in numbers but in moments For Pinarayi Vijayan Tuesday was one such moment quiet restrained and heavy with the weight of a decade that has abruptly drawn to a close After ten years at the helm marked by the full paraphernalia and security accorded to a Chief Minister Vijayan cut a markedly different figure on his return to ThiruvananthapuramThe emphatic verdict delivered a day earlier had left the Left Front with just 35 seats a stunning reversal for a coalition that had nursed hopes of a historic third termThe Congressled UDF surged to 102 while the BJP opened its account with three seats sealing what is widely seen as the sharpest electoral setback faced by any incumbent Chief Minister in KeralaThe resignation sent quietly through a messenger to Governor Rajendra V Arlekar on Monday night was in keeping with the understated manner that has since defined Vijayanâs public demeanourAsked to continue as caretaker until a new government assumes office he has so far chosen silence over statementThat silence was most visible at the airportsAt the entrance of the Kannur airport it was a grimfaced Vijayan who acknowledged the police officials who received him but steered clear of the waiting mediaThe contrast was starkFor a decade his arrivals were marked by elaborate security arrangements and long convoys but this time it was all missingAt Thiruvananthapuram he was received by a handful of party colleagues including Rajya Sabha member AA Rahim and V Sivankutty himself among those defeatedAbsent were the crowds the slogans and the visible assertion of authority that had long accompanied Vijayanâs public movementsThere were no remarks to the media despite repeated calls for a responseAccompanied by his wife and daughter he quietly entered the vehicle of his party secretary and drove away offering no immediate reflection on a verdict that has reshaped Keralaâs political landscapeThis time there was only a lone pilot vehicle of the Kerala Police escorting him an image that seemed to mirror the sudden contraction of political powerIn the coming days Vijayan is expected to vacate Cliff House the official residence that has been his home through two consecutive termsThe physical act of leaving that space will in many ways symbolise the end of an era one defined by centralised authority administrative continuity and ultimately an electoral reckoningFor now the silence endures perhaps the most telling response from a leader who until recently stood at the centre of Keralaâs political stage IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/from-convoy-to-quiet-exit-kerala-cm-vijayans-fall-captured-in-a-moment-of-silence-672408.html Tue, 05 May 2026 12:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/nari-shakti-stood-united-against-fear-delhi-cm-rekha-gupta-after-bjps-bengal-win-672410.html New Delhi May 5 IANS Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday attributed the sweeping victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP in West Bengal to the courage and unity of women voters saying their participation had strengthened democracy in the statenbspSpeaking after offering prayers at the Kali Bari Temple in CR Park the Chief Minister said It is the blessing of Maa Kali and her divine power that enabled the women of Bengal the Nari Shakti to stand united against terror and fear and to be able to cast their votes This time voting has given a win to democracy and this win will brighten the future of West BengalShe further took a swipe at opposition parties adding The parties that denied the Womens Reservation Bill are now facing loss and backlash whether it is MK Stalin or Mamata BanerjeeMeanwhile Gupta offered prayers at the temple and sought blessings following the electoral outcome in West BengalHer remarks come amid a major political shift in the state where the Bharatiya Janata Party is set to form the government with a decisive mandate ending the longstanding rule of the All India Trinamool CongressAccording to the Election Commission data results were declared for 293 out of the 294 Assembly constituencies with repolling scheduled in one seat The BJP secured a commanding 206 seats well above the twothirds majority mark of 196 in the 294member AssemblyThe Trinamool Congress finished with 81 seats while the Congress managed two seats and the CPIM secured one The All India Secular Front AISF and the Aam Janata Unnayan Party AJUP won one and two seats respectivelyIn terms of vote share the BJP garnered 46 per cent of the total votes polled followed by the Trinamool Congress at 41 per cent The Left Front secured 4 per cent the Congress 3 per cent and others accounted for 6 per centThe Trinamool Congress also failed to win any seats in several districts including Cooch Behar Jalpaiguri Darjeeling Bankura and Purulia and was defeated in all tribal and Matuadominated constituencies marking a significant electoral setback for the partyIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/nari-shakti-stood-united-against-fear-delhi-cm-rekha-gupta-after-bjps-bengal-win-672410.html Tue, 05 May 2026 12:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/put-petty-politics-aside-rahul-gandhi-to-cong-leaders-gloating-over-trinamools-loss--672413.html New Delhi May 5 IANS Rahul Gandhi Leader of Opposition LoP in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday criticised his own party leaders for gloating about the loss faced by the Trinamool Congress in the West Bengal Assembly electionsHe framed the BJPs victories in West Bengal and Assam as theft of mandates achieved to destroy Indian democracyIn a post on X Gandhi said Some in the Congress and others are gloating about TMCs loss They need to understand this clearly the theft of Assam and Bengals mandate is a big step forward by the BJP in its mission to destroy Indian democracyPut petty politics aside This is not about one party or another This is about India he addedThis came as the BJP is set to form the next government in West Bengal with a decisive twothirds majority ending the Trinamool Congresss 15year rule in the stateEarlier Gandhi said that he agrees with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees allegation of vote chori in BengalAssam and Bengal are clear cases of the election being stolen by the BJP with the support of the EC We agree with Mamata ji More than 100 seats were stolen in Bengal We have seen this playbook before Madhya Pradesh Haryana Maharashtra Lok Sabha 2024 etc he addedIn the 294member Assembly the majority mark stands at 196 Results were declared for 293 constituencies on Monday with repolling scheduled in the Falta seat of South 24 Parganas district on May 21 as announced by the Election Commission of India with counting for that seat due on May 24Of the declared results the BJP secured 206 seats comfortably ahead of the Trinamool Congress which managed 81 Trinamool chief and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lost her Bhabanipur seat to BJPs Suvendu Adhikari by over 15000 votesThe Congress won two seats the CPIM one while the AISF and the Aam Janata Unnayan Party secured one and two seats respectivelyNotably the Trinamool Congress failed to win a single seat in ten districts including Cooch Behar East Midnapore Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling and also lost all tribal and Matuadominated constituenciesMeanwhile in Assam the BJPled alliance registered a decisive victory in the polls consolidating its position in the state and further marginalising the opposition including the Congress which trailed significantly in the final tallyThe BJP won 82 seats and the Congress managed to secure only 19 constituenciesIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/put-petty-politics-aside-rahul-gandhi-to-cong-leaders-gloating-over-trinamools-loss--672413.html Tue, 05 May 2026 12:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/dmk-allies-reluctant-to-back-vijay-as-tvk-falls-short-of-majority-in-tamil-nadu-672418.html Chennai May 5 IANS Key allies of the DMKled alliance have indicated they are not inclined to support actorpolitician C Joseph Vijay in forming the next government in Tamil Nadu casting uncertainty over the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVKs path to power despite emerging as the singlelargest partynbspnbspThe Assembly elections held in a single phase on April 23 saw a fourcornered contest involving the DMK AIADMK Naam Tamilar Katchi and TVKWith counting completed on May 4 TVK secured 108 seats in the 234member House falling short of the majority mark of 118Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MDMK General Secretary Vaiko made it clear that parties aligned with the DMK would not extend support to Vijay There is no intention among alliance partners to move towards TVK he said effectively ruling out any postpoll realignmentViduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan echoed a similar stance emphasising the longstanding ideological alignment between Left parties and VCKWe have been travelling together on a secular political path for a long time and will continue to take major decisions collectively We have not considered supporting TVK so far he saidAdding to the uncertainty Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam DMDK leader Premalatha Vijayakanth also stopped short of offering support While acknowledging Vijays personal rapport with her late husband Vijayakanth she reiterated the partys independent ideological positionVijay is like a son of our household and was close to the Captain We congratulate him on his victory she said without making any commitmentDMDK which contested 10 seats as part of the DMK alliance managed to win only one constituencyVirudhachalam Premalatha noted that the alliance was not in a celebratory mood drawing a parallel to 1962 when the DMK refrained from celebrating after CN Annadurai lost his seatShe pointed out that a similar sentiment prevails now as DMK President MK Stalin has suffered a key defeatAmid the political deadlock Vijay has begun internal consultations at the partys Panaiyur office in Chennai meeting newlyelected MLAs and senior leaders With no firm commitments from potential allies the coming days will be crucial as he explores options to secure a majority and stake claim to form the governmentIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/dmk-allies-reluctant-to-back-vijay-as-tvk-falls-short-of-majority-in-tamil-nadu-672418.html Tue, 05 May 2026 13:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/presidents-assurance-on-constitutional-rights-gives-us-strength-raghav-chadha-672421.html New Delhi May 5 IANS Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Tuesday met President Droupadi Murmu along with three fellow MPs and raised concerns over alleged misuse of state machinery by the Aam Aadmi Party AAPled Punjab government following their decision to merge with the BJPnbspIn a statement after the meeting Chadha said the delegation conveyed to the President that twothirds of their MPs had exercised their constitutional right to leave AAP and join the BJP but were now facing what he described as targeted harassmentWe conveyed how the AAPs Punjab government is misusing state machinery to target us for exercising our constitutional rights after twothirds of MPs chose to merge with the BJP The party that once cried vendetta is now practising its most toxic form he saidChadha said the MPs drew reassurance from the Presidents response We take strength from the Presidents assurance that constitutional rights and democratic choices must be respected he addedLaunching a sharp attack on AAP he remarked that the partys conduct had turned vindictive after their exit AAP today behaves less like a political party and more like an obsessed jilted ex bitter vindictive and unable to move on he saidThe BJP leader then detailed a series of alleged incidents to support his claims of harassment He said that since April 24 2026 when they formally merged with the BJP multiple MPs had faced intimidation and pressureCiting one such instance Chadha alleged that former cricketer and MP Harbhajan Singh was targeted with slogans raised outside his residence in Jalandhar and objectionable remarks made against his family members He further alleged that stones were pelted at the house and antinational graffiti was written outside with the help of Punjab PoliceHe also accused the Punjab government of targeting industrialist and Padma Shri awardee Rajinder Gupta According to Chadha Guptas factory in Punjabs Malwa region which he said supports around 30000 families was subjected to administrative action He alleged that the water connection to the factory was cut and that the state Pollution Control Board carried out inspections aimed at shutting it down by the Punjab GovernmentChadha further said that AAP leaders had changed their stance towards them after their exit from the party As long as we were obedient we were called cultured the moment we left we were branded corrupt Those who call loot and plunder extreme honesty how can anyone maintain relations with them he saidHe also warned against what he termed a dangerous escalation of political retaliation AAP has a government in one state and control over the police there while the BJP governs 21 states The dirty game of revenge and retaliation that you have started no one can even imagine where it will end Please refrain from it he saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/presidents-assurance-on-constitutional-rights-gives-us-strength-raghav-chadha-672421.html Tue, 05 May 2026 14:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/up-cm-holds-janata-darshan-in-gorakhpur-addresses-grievances-of-over-200-people-672427.html Gorakhpur May 5 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister met over 200 people on Tuesday listening to their problems and grievances while also assuring them that their complaints would soon be looked into and acted upon The Chief Ministerâs assurance came at the Janata Darshan organised at Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakhpur this morningDo not worry the government will ensure effective resolution of every problem the Chief Minister told the visitors and also instructed officials to show sensitivity towards public grievances and ensure transparent disposalAs the people gathered at the Janata Darshan a regular occasion where the public seeks solutions directly from the Chief Minister the latter heard them out collected their application letters and gave necessary directions to the officials standing nearby for resolving the issuesHe referred some applications to the concerned administrative and police officials and directed that all issues must be resolved in a timebound and impartial mannerOn complaints related to land encroachment the Chief Minister told the administrative and police officials that if any influential person is forcibly occupying someoneâs land strict legal action must be taken against themSome people also came seeking financial assistance for medical treatment to which the Chief Minister assured them of speedy resolutionCM Yogi directed officials to promptly prepare estimates for advanced medical treatment of all needy individuals As soon as the estimate is received the government will immediately provide the required fundsThe Chief Minister also showered affection on the children by distributing chocolatesEarlier in the morning the Chief Minister offered prayers to Guru Gorakhnath considered an incarnation of Lord Shiva at the temple and paid respects at the samadhi sthal of his guru the late Mahant AvaidyanathHe also performed âGau sewaâ at the temple premises by visiting the cowshed showing affection to the cows and also feeding them jaggery a routine he follows when staying at the Gorakhnath temple IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/up-cm-holds-janata-darshan-in-gorakhpur-addresses-grievances-of-over-200-people-672427.html Tue, 05 May 2026 14:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-acb-nabs-four-including-sub-registrar-in-rs-25-lakh-bribery-case-672428.html Ahmedabad May 5 The Gujarat AntiCorruption Bureau ACB apprehended four individuals including a SubRegistrar and contractual staff of the SubRegistrar Office at Naroda6 in Ahmedabad in connection with an alleged bribery case involving Rs 25 lakh officials said on Tuesday According to the ACB the complainant had approached the office for registration of a residential property documentDuring the process SubRegistrar Aakash Desai initially raised objections Subsequently contractual employees of the office allegedly intervened in the matterJay Adivasi a contractual stamp operator and Rahil Sheikh a contractual search operator are alleged to have contacted the complainant and assured him that the documentation process would be completedOfficials said one of the accused later contacted the complainant via WhatsApp and informed him that the work would be processed without requiring a condition document under Section 73AA from the Collectorâs officeIt is further alleged that an initial payment of Rs 35000 was collected online through a QR code linked to an associate purportedly for âtoken unlockingâ of the fileThereafter a demand of Rs 25 lakh was allegedly made for completion of the registration process said to be on the instructions of the SubRegistrarUnwilling to pay the alleged bribe the complainant approached the ACB following which a trap was arranged on the same dayDuring the operation officials said Jay Adivasi allegedly engaged in conversation with the complainant and acting on behalf of Aakash Desai along with Narendra alias Sonu Ramkaran Bohra accepted the bribe amount within the premises of the SubRegistrars officeThe entire sum of Rs 25 lakh was recovered from the spot All accused were apprehended during the operation and the cash was seizedFurther investigation into the case is underway officials addedIn earlier anticorruption operations in Gujarat the ACB had arrested three individuals in January for allegedly accepting a Rs 32000 bribe in connection with Aadhaarrelated services at a civic centre in the Saraspur area of Ahmedabad within the Collectorâs office premisesIn another case in March a senior officer of the State Intelligence Bureau was arrested in Gandhinagar for allegedly accepting an Rs 80000 bribe in connection with the renewal of police protection following a trap laid by the ACB IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-acb-nabs-four-including-sub-registrar-in-rs-25-lakh-bribery-case-672428.html Tue, 05 May 2026 14:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/west-bengal-gears-up-for-crackdown-on-illegal-immigration-eyes-statewide-clean-up-672432.html New Delhi May 5 One of the key issues in West Bengal is illegal immigration It has been a problem that has been ongoing for years and with a complicit administration illegal immigrants flooded the state Prime Minister Narendra Modi while hailing the BJPs victory made it clear that illegal immigrants must be prepared to leave the state Union Home Minister Amit Shah too echoed the same sentiment Officials say that one could expect a clean up and more importantly fresh illegal immigration is likely to come down in the months to comeThe official added that illegal immigration into West Bengal and the other Northeastern states was not just an economic issue It has been a planned execution by the ISI and JamaateIslami since the late 1970s to effect a demographic change in IndiaFor the BJP illegal immigration was a major issue during the elections Even prior to the elections the issue has been raised by the party several timesAn Intelligence Bureau official said that to curb issues such as illegal immigration it is important that the state government is on board with the central agenciesWith the BJP keen to address the issue the state administration would move towards a zerotolerance policy where illegal immigration is concernedAnother official said that the first step would be to identify all illegal immigrants in the state Then the process to deport them legally would take place It would be a massive task for the state government since the numbers in West Bengal are hugeThe first step would be to look into the bordering districts of the state where the problem is immense the official said Districts such as Malda and Murshidabad would be the key areas to focus on since this is where most of the demographic changes have taken place the official addedFurther the state machinery would begin to hunt down the touts who are a major part of the problem There are touts both in India and Bangladesh who coordinate with each other to bring in illegal immigrantsAnother official said that the crackdown in West Bengal on illegal immigration would have a ripple effect across the country Most of these illegal immigrants who enter West Bengal have over the last couple of years started moving into other statesTheir presence apart from West Bengal and the northeastern states is most in the southern states where they work as cheap labour in plantations constructions among othersOnce the crackdown in West Bengal begins the trail would lead up to the other states in the country The entire racket is interconnected officials sayAnother official added that cracking down on the touts would be an important part of this exercise These touts have links in almost all states of the country It is a deep rooted network that facilitates the movement of illegal immigrants the official also addedIn addition to cracking down on illegal immigration and the network of touts the state administration in West Bengal along with the Central agencies would work closely on securing the borderDuring the election campaign the BJP had pledged to seal the border with Bangladesh Officials say that while this is a key aspect in the fight against illegal immigration cooperation with Bangladesh would also be the keyThere are certain parts of the border that cannot be fenced owing to rivers and dense forests India and Bangladesh would work closely to ensure that illegal immigrants do not use these routes to slip into the country the official added IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/west-bengal-gears-up-for-crackdown-on-illegal-immigration-eyes-statewide-clean-up-672432.html Tue, 05 May 2026 15:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/stalin-resigns-as-tn-chief-minister-after-dmks-defeat-in-assembly-polls-672433.html Chennai May 5 In the wake of a major electoral setback DMK President MK Stalin resigned as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu A formal communication in this regard was sent to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the Raj Bhavan Sources said the resignation letter reached the Governorâs office at Lok Bhavan after the Assembly election results made it clear that the DMKled alliance had fallen well short of the majority markAs per convention the Governor is expected to request Stalin to continue as the caretaker Chief Minister until a new government assumes officeThe DMKled Secular Progressive Alliance SPA which went into the polls with high expectations could secure only 73 seats in the 234member Assembly a significant drop that has pushed it into the OppositionThe DMK itself which contested 164 constituencies managed to win only around 60 seats marking a sharp decline from its previous performanceAdding to the setback Stalin suffered a personal defeat in his stronghold of Kolathur a constituency he had represented since 2011 He was defeated by VS Babu of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK making him one of the rare sitting Chief Ministers in Tamil Nadu to lose an Assembly electionThe last such instance dates back to 1996 when former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa faced defeatBabuâs victory is seen as politically significant given his past association with the DMK before shifting allegiance His win in Kolathur reflects the shifting voter sentiment and the broader churn in Tamil Naduâs political landscapeThe election has produced a fractured mandate with actorturnedpolitician Vijayâs TVK emerging as the single largest party but falling short of a majorityWith postpoll negotiations underway all eyes are now on the formation of the next governmentMeanwhile Stalin is expected to take on the role of Leader of Opposition as the DMK begins internal discussions to assess the reasons behind its electoral setback and chart its future course IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/stalin-resigns-as-tn-chief-minister-after-dmks-defeat-in-assembly-polls-672433.html Tue, 05 May 2026 15:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-governor-accepts-stalins-resignation-asks-him-to-continue-as-caretaker-cm--672441.html Chennai May 5 Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar accepted the resignation of Chief Minister MK Stalin and his Council of Ministers and requested him to continue in office as caretaker CM until alternative arrangements are made According to an official release issued from Lok Bhavan on Tuesday the Governor has asked Stalin to remain in charge until a new government is sworn in in keeping with constitutional conventionStalinâs resignation came in the wake of a significant electoral setback for the DMKled Secular Progressive Alliance SPA in the recently concluded Assembly elections Sources said the resignation letter was submitted to the Governor shortly after the results made it clear that the alliance had fallen well short of the majority markThe DMKled alliance managed to secure only 73 seats in the 234member Tamil Nadu Assembly far below the halfway mark of 118 The DMK itself which contested 164 constituencies won only around 60 seats marking a sharp decline from its previous performance and pushing the party into the OppositionIn a major personal setback Stalin also lost his longheld Kolathur constituency which he had represented since 2011 He was defeated by VS Babu of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK making him one of the rare sitting Chief Ministers in Tamil Nadu to lose an Assembly electionThe last such instance dates back to 1996 when former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was defeatedBabuâs victory is seen as politically significant given his past association with the DMK before switching sides His win in Kolathur reflects a broader shift in voter sentiment and the changing political landscape in the StateThe election has thrown up a fractured mandate with actorturnedpolitician C Joseph Vijay is leading the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK to emerge as the single largest party though it remains short of a majorityWith postpoll negotiations underway attention has now turned to the formation of the next governmentMeanwhile Stalin is likely to take on the role of Leader of Opposition as the DMK begins internal discussions to analyse its electoral setback and plan its future course IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-governor-accepts-stalins-resignation-asks-him-to-continue-as-caretaker-cm--672441.html Tue, 05 May 2026 15:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/even-jhalmuri-has-symbolic-significance-in-bengal-win-says-bjp-mp-praveen-khandelwal-672444.html New Delhi May 5 BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal on Tuesday hailed the partyâs sweeping victory in West Bengal linking it to Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs outreach to common citizens and local traditions Speaking in Delhi during a celebration event Khandelwal said âUnder PM Modiâs leadership the BJP secured an unprecedented victory in West Bengal Even jhalmuri has symbolic significance in this win PM Modiâs support for local products turned it into a symbol of connection with the common man While campaigning in West Bengal he saw a small shop of jhalmuri and PM Modi stopped and bought it Mamata Banerjee mocked this gesture Today weâre celebrating this victory with BJP workers journalists and prominent citizens in Delhi Join us and enjoy jhalmuriâThe BJP MP highlighted that the gesture resonated with voters and symbolised the partyâs grassroots connect in the state He was referring to a campaign moment that drew attention during the election season which later became part of the political narrativeKhandelwal also underlined the broader political implications of the BJPâs victory saying âWhat the Prime Minister has said is extremely important The BJPNDAâs victories across states will strengthen key political decisions Issues like one nation one election curbing illegal immigration and UCC these topics will rapidly progress nowâHis remarks come as the Bharatiya Janata Party celebrates a landmark electoral performance in West Bengal marking a significant shift in the stateâs political landscapeAccording to the final results of the Assembly elections the BJP secured 206 seats out of 293 declared constituencies comfortably crossing the twothirds majority mark of 196 in the 294member AssemblyThe All India Trinamool Congress finished with 81 seats while the Congress won two seats and the CPIM secured one The All India Secular Front AISF and the Aam Janata Unnayan Party AJUP won one and two seats respectivelyIn terms of vote share the BJP polled 46 per cent followed by the Trinamool Congress at 41 per cent The Left Front secured 4 per cent the Congress 3 per cent and others accounted for 6 per centThe Trinamool Congress also failed to win a single seat in several districts including Cooch Behar Jalpaiguri Darjeeling Bankura and Purulia and was defeated in all tribal and Matuadominated constituencies underscoring the scale of the BJPâs victory in the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/even-jhalmuri-has-symbolic-significance-in-bengal-win-says-bjp-mp-praveen-khandelwal-672444.html Tue, 05 May 2026 15:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-kerala-results-show-strength-of-indian-democracy-672456.html New Delhi May 5 Shadanand Chaudhary founder of political think tank LeaderTank on Tuesday described the outcomes of the recently held Assembly elections as strength of democracy stating that they show people hold power Reacting to the broader electoral picture Chaudhary contrasted developments in different statesTamil Nadu shows now a new leader has come into the arena and it shows the strength of Indian democracy he saidHe added that political change in Bengal was expected after multiple terms in powerObviously Mamata Banerjee should go because there was no point for her to keep continuing she already served three terms she already showed the public what she can do Now another party should get the chance to develop Bengal and show the people what they can deliver he said At the same time he raised concerns about the conduct of the electionReferring to other states he pointed to voter behaviour in Kerala as an example of democratic choiceIf you see the results from Kerala that again shows why Kerala is so developed high in literacy Even though all people refer to the Kerala government as a good model of development because of its high literacy rate and development However people have changed the government to give another person an opportunity to show what they can do Thats the way ideally democracy should work he saidChaudhary further added I dont say that every time the government should change sometimes you need to appreciate if someone has done good work But if you feel that they are not promising something new to deliver then change that government and give another person a chance to show them what they can do he saidTurning to Assam he said Other than these three states the other elections were usual Obviously in Assam the BJP has a big gain but it doesnt have any message IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-kerala-results-show-strength-of-indian-democracy-672456.html Tue, 05 May 2026 16:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sringeri-recount-row-congress-alleges-postal-ballot-tampering-vows-legal-fight-672463.html Bengaluru May 5 Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President DK Shivakumar on Tuesday alleged largescale irregularities in the recounting of votes in the Sringeri Assembly constituency claiming that postal ballots cast in favour of the Congress candidate were tampered with and subsequently invalidated He further vowed a legal fight It can be recalled that in the recounting of postal ballots for Sringeri Assembly segment BJP candidate DN Jeevaraj has emerged victorious against sitting Congress MLA TD RajegowdaAddressing reporters at the Chief Ministerâs official residence âKrishnaâ in Bengaluru Shivakumar said the developments were unprecedented and amounted to a serious electoral offence âSuch an incident has not taken place anywhere in the country We will take up a legal fight against thisâ he saidElaborating on the counting process he noted that postal ballots are typically opened in the presence of agents from both parties and election officials and are validated before being counted He alleged that after this procedure was completed the BJP candidate misused officials to alter the postal ballotsâThey specifically insisted on recounting certain bundles of votes There appears to be involvement of both officials and the BJP candidate in this malpractice A thorough and serious investigation is necessaryâ he saidShivakumar urged the Election Commission to intervene and ensure justice describing the incident as âone of the biggest conspiracies in the countryâ He further accused the BJP in Karnataka of being involved in the alleged wrongdoing and asserted that the Congress would pursue the matter through legal meansâWe know how to handle politicsâ he addedKarnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also levelled serious allegations of electoral malpractice in the Sringeri Assembly constituency claiming that a âcriminal conspiracyâ had taken place in the handling of postal ballots and vote countingVictorious BJP leader Jeevaraj officially received the MLA certificate on Monday and described this victory achieved after three years of continuous legal battle as âa victory for truthâ Jeevaraj who had alleged irregularities during vote counting after the 2023 election said that a significant discrepancy was found in votes that had previously been rejected during the recount IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sringeri-recount-row-congress-alleges-postal-ballot-tampering-vows-legal-fight-672463.html Tue, 05 May 2026 17:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/a-day-after-trinamools-defeat-bengal-advocate-general-kishore-datta-tenders-his-resignation-672464.html Kolkata May 5 A day after the Trinamool Congress defeat in the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly polls the Advocate General of the state Kishore Datta tendered his resignation on Tuesday Datta had forwarded his resignation to the office of the West Bengal Governor RN Ravi insiders from the Lok Bhavan confirmedHe was appointed as West Bengalâs Advocate General twice during the last 15 years of the Trinamool Congress regime since 2011An extremely close confidant of outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Datta resigned when the state government was on the back foot due to the postpoll violence case following the 2021 Assembly elections Then Soumendranath Mukherjee took charge as the AGHowever in November 2023 Mukherjee suddenly resigned from the chair following which Datta was appointed West Bengalâs Advocate General for the second term Mukherjeeâs resignation came amid a series of legal setbacks for the state government in the Calcutta High Court in several cases His resignation in November 2023 coincided with the replacement of the then public prosecutor Saswata Gopal Mukherjee by Debasish RoyAfter he resigned from the post of West Bengals Advocate General Soumendranath Mukherjee told a section of the media that he had resigned without any specific reasons and his resignation did not state any reasonHowever at that time insiders from the state legal department confirmed that there was some pressure on him from the then state law minister Malay Ghatak to resign amid a series of legal setbacks faced by the state government at the Calcutta High CourtOn Monday morning the advocates from the legal cell of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP approached the Calcutta High Courtâs Chief Justice Sujoy Paul requesting the latterâs intervention to put on hold verdicts and orders in staterelated cases till the formation of the new state cabinetSoon after that it was confirmed that Datta had tendered his resignation from the chair of West Bengalâs Advocate General IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/a-day-after-trinamools-defeat-bengal-advocate-general-kishore-datta-tenders-his-resignation-672464.html Tue, 05 May 2026 17:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tvk-stakes-claim-to-form-government-in-tamil-nadu-seeks-two-weeks-to-prove-majority-672475.html Chennai May 5 Actorpolitician C Joseph Vijayled Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK has staked a claim to form the government in Tamil Nadu after emerging as the single largest party in the Assembly elections winning 108 seats With no party securing the required majority mark of 118 in the 234member Assembly the state has entered a phase of political uncertainty and intense negotiations Banking on its strong electoral performance the TVK has approached Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar asserting its right to form the government and seeking a twoweek window to prove its majority on the floor of the house The development has triggered speculation over possible alliances as the TVK remains 10 seats short of the halfway mark Attention has now shifted to which parties or independents may extend support to Vijayâs party enabling it to form a stable government Meanwhile Congress Tamil Nadu incharge Girish Chodankar said the election verdict reflected a clear desire for change among the people Interacting with media persons he noted that young voters and women had played a key role in the TVKâs strong performance People have voted for change Youth and women in particular have supported the TVK in large numbers We respect the peopleâs verdict he saidChodankar added that a detailed report on the Tamil Nadu election outcome had been submitted to senior Congress leadership including party President Mallikarjun Kharge Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and General Secretary KC Venugopal The next course of action in Tamil Nadu will be decided collectively by the leadership he said Chodankar also indicated that several Congress leaders were open to extending support if the situation demanded Once the TVK elects its legislature party leader they can approach us No one should underestimate the TVK he cautioned With the numbers game now taking centre stage all eyes are on the Governorâs next move and the evolving political alignments that will determine who forms the next government in Tamil Nadu IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tvk-stakes-claim-to-form-government-in-tamil-nadu-seeks-two-weeks-to-prove-majority-672475.html Tue, 05 May 2026 18:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/blessing-that-transcends-time-kiren-rijiju-pays-obeisance-to-sacred-relics-of-lord-buddha-in-leh-672480.html Leh May 5 Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Minority Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday said the message of Buddha transcends time geography and borders He said this after having a âdarshanâ of Lord Buddhaâs sacred relics in Leh where he arrived earlier in the day He paid obeisance to Lord Buddhaâs holy relicsAfter having darshan he said on X âDeeply humbled to bow in sacred veneration of the Holy Relics of Tathagata Buddha at Jivetsal Leh The arrival of the revered Piprahwa relics in Ladakh is a blessing that transcends time geography amp borders carrying the living presence of the Tathagata and his eternal message of compassion wisdom amp peaceâThe sacred Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha arrived here on April 29 via an Indian Air Force aircraft for a historic public exposition being held from May 1 to May 14The relics were received with high honour and reverence at Kushok Bakula Rimpoche Airport These revered relics will remain on display in Leh and Zanskar to promote peace and cultural heritagePrime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasised the profound spiritual and cultural significance of the Piprahwa Buddha relics which returned to India after many yearsHe highlighted their homecoming celebrated during Buddha Purnima in 2026 as a testament to preserving Indias rich heritage and a boost to cultural tourismUnion Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a large gathering of devotees here on the inaugural day of the celebrations coinciding with Buddha PurnimaHM Shah told the gathering that the sacred relics of Lord Buddha had come to Ladakh after 70 years He said during those days very few people must have had darshan since there were no roads no connectivity and no access between various places in the regionAppreciating the large turnout of people on the inaugural day the Union Home Minister said people from Leh and Kargil districts including followers of other faiths had come to pay obeisance to Lord Buddha whose message was as relevant to our times as it was 2500 years backHM Shah said among the Avatars Buddha is the only one who was born on Buddha Purnima attained salvation on the same day and gave up physical existence on Buddha PurnimaHe said that because of the historic Silk Route Ladakh was not only the meeting point for trade and commerce but also for religions and philosophies IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/blessing-that-transcends-time-kiren-rijiju-pays-obeisance-to-sacred-relics-of-lord-buddha-in-leh-672480.html Tue, 05 May 2026 18:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/nia-submits-preliminary-report-on-beldanga-violence-at-calcutta-high-court-672481.html Kolkata May 5 The National Investigation Agency NIA on Tuesday submitted a preliminary report on the Beldanga riots The report was submitted to the Division Bench of Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen The court will take its decision after examining the report The next hearing of the case will be held after two weeks However the Calcutta High Court has said that there is no obstacle to the NIAs investigation into the Beldanga caseUnrest erupted in Murshidabad districts Beldanga on January 16 due to the mysterious death of a migrant worker in neighbouring Jharkhand It was alleged that Alam Sheikh was murdered A blockade was started by leaving his body on the road Locals protested by blocking the National Highway and railway tracks for about 30 hoursA day later on January 17 the protesters indulged in violence in the name of the blockade Railway property was vandalised and journalists were beaten upThe NIA took over the investigation into the Beldanga incident on the orders of the court About 15 arrested accused got bail from the NIA special court The NIA filed an appeal in the Calcutta High Court challenging the bail granted by the NIA special court in KolkataIn addition the advocate general of the state government and the lawyers of the accused who were granted bail claimed that the Supreme Court has ordered that the Calcutta High Court will decide whether the UAPA Section will be applicable in this case or not Therefore the Calcutta High Court will hear the two cases together after two weeksOn Tuesday Additional Solicitor General Ashok Chakraborty drew the attention of the court and said that there is no counsel to respond on behalf of the state at this time after the change of power yesterday Therefore the Division Bench of the Chief Justice said that the case will be heard again after two weeksAfter a decadeandahalf there has been another political change in the state The BJP has come to power by bringing down the Trinamool Congress government The party won 207 seats in the 294seat strong West Bengal Assembly Trinamoolâs seats have come down to 80 from the 215 it won in 2021The BJP is yet to form a new government after ending the 15yearlong Trinamool government This morning the BJPs legal cell has sought three weeks time to decide who will be the new state advocate general so that during that time the High Court does not give any orders in all the cases in which the state is a party IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/nia-submits-preliminary-report-on-beldanga-violence-at-calcutta-high-court-672481.html Tue, 05 May 2026 18:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/andhra-emerging-as-global-hub-for-next-generation-manufacturing-lokesh-672484.html Amaravati May 5 Andhra Pradesh is positioning itself as a global hub for nextgeneration manufacturing and digital infrastructure said state minister Nara Lokesh on Tuesday He stated that Andhra Pradesh is moving beyond hosting data centres to manufacturing the components that power the global data boomThe minister announced that a foundation stone will be laid on Wednesday for a new chiller manufacturing facility at Sri CityThe state government sees this as a significant milestone in its industrial and digital infrastructure journeyâWith worldclass industrial ecosystems like Sri City strong policy support and our unwavering focus on speed and scale Andhra Pradesh is positioning itself as a global hub for nextgeneration manufacturing and digital infrastructure said Lokesh the minister for information technology electronics amp communications and human resources developmentâAndhra Pradesh is not content with being just a host for data centres we are determined to become the engine that powers them The groundbreaking of Carrier Global Corporationâs facility at Sri City marks a defining moment in our journey to build a fullstack data infrastructure ecosystem from energy and data centres to the manufacturing of the components that sustain themâ he said in a statementAccording to an official release the investment by Carrier represents Andhra Pradeshâs strategic pivot from being a destination for data centres to becoming a global hub for manufacturing the critical components that power the digital economyAndhra Pradesh is rapidly emerging as one of Indiaâs most significant data centre destinations anchored by largescale global investments and a forwardlooking policy frameworkIn recent weeks alone a landmark 15 billion Google AI data centre hubâone of the largest digital infrastructure investments in Indiaâhas broken ground in Visakhapatnam with a planned 1 GW hyperscale capacity This is complemented by proposals such as Reliance Industriesâ â¹16 lakh crore 15 GW data centre cluster alongside multiple commitments from global and domestic players With an overall pipeline estimated at over â¹6 lakh crore and a targeted capacity of 6 GW Andhra Pradesh is positioning itself well ahead of the current national capacity building a scale that few regions globally can match said the releaseâThis momentum backed by progressive policies such as dedicated power frameworks for data centres is transforming the state particularly Visakhapatnam into a premier hub for AI cloud and digital infrastructure Carrierâs entry further strengthens this ecosystem bringing advanced cooling technologies that are indispensable for nextgeneration data centres AI infrastructure and highperformance computing environmentsâ it saidThe state is focussing on building a complete value chain from data centre infrastructure to component manufacturing including cooling and thermal management systems power and energy management solutions precision engineering components and electronics and control systemsBy integrating manufacturing with digital infrastructure Andhra Pradesh aims to create a selfsustaining ecosystem that reduces import dependency boosts exports and positions India as a global leader in data infrastructure manufacturing the government saidSri Cityâs evolution into a major HVAC and electronics hub makes it central to this strategy With â¹12000 crore invested in cooling and AC manufacturing 25000 direct jobs created in the segment a strong supplier base contributing â¹4600 crore in investments the state eyes 60 per cent share in Indiaâs AC production by 2027 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/andhra-emerging-as-global-hub-for-next-generation-manufacturing-lokesh-672484.html Tue, 05 May 2026 18:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pawan-kalyan-hails-new-railway-zone-as-transformative-step-for-andhras-growth-672486.html Amaravati May 5 Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday hailed the gazette notification issued by the Centre for South Coast Railway Zone with its headquarters at Visakhapatnam âNew Zone New Speed New Growth A transformative step for Andhra Pradeshâs growth and connectivityâ the Jana Sena leader posted on âXâHe expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Union Government under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for officially declaring in the Gazette of India the constitution of the South Coast Railway Zone with headquarters at Visakhapatnam effective from June 1 2026âThis historic decision brings the Guntakal Guntur and Vijayawada divisions of South Central Railway along with the restructured Waltair division now renamed as Visakhapatnam division under the new zone significantly strengthening Andhra Pradeshâs railway networkâ posted Pawan KalyanâThe creation of a new Rayagada division under East Coast Railway further enhances operational efficiency This longawaited step will accelerate regional development improve connectivity and create new opportunities for the people of Andhra Pradeshâ he addedThe actorpolitician thanked Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for his consistent efforts in achieving this for the state He termed it a proud and progressive step forward for Andhra PradeshMeanwhile Telugu Desam Partyâs state president Palla Srinivasa Rao hailed the gazette notification as a historic milestone for North AndhraHe described it as the culmination of a decadeslong struggle and the fulfilment of the collective aspirations of North AndhraHe stated that the move effectively validates the perseverance of the regionâs leadership and the dreams of its peopleSrinivasa Rao attributed the realisation of the zone to the unrelenting pursuit and strategic foresight of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu He emphasised that the Chief Minister had consistently leveraged his influence at the national level to ensure that the commitments made under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act were translated into realityThe echoes of the Visakha Railway Zone is Andhraâs Right slogan raised by TDP parliamentarians between 2014 and 2019 have finally found their destination Srinivasa Rao said He further remarked that while the zone was initially announced in 2019 the project languished during the 20192024 period due to what he termed the lackadaisical attitude and administrative inertia of the previous regime particularly regarding critical land acquisitionThe TDP leader highlighted that upon the NDA coalition assuming power in 2024 the process was placed on a war footingChief Minister Naiduâs immediate intervention with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Railway Ministry removed the longstanding bureaucratic bottlenecks By resolving land acquisition issues expeditiously the State paved the way for the Centre to allocate substantial funds and fasttrack administrative clearances he statedThe Gazette notification mandates that the South Coast Railway Zone â encompassing the Guntakal Guntur and Vijayawada divisions â will become fully operational from June 1 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pawan-kalyan-hails-new-railway-zone-as-transformative-step-for-andhras-growth-672486.html Tue, 05 May 2026 18:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sringeri-recount-row-karnataka-hc-stays-fir-against-victorious-bjp-mla-jeevaraj-672497.html Bengaluru May 5 The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday granted an interim stay on the FIR registered against Sringeri MLA DN Jeevaraj in connection with allegations of tampering with postal ballots Rapping the police department the court has warned cops against acting under political influence Following the victory of BJP candidates in recounting of postal ballots in Sringeri Assembly segment a case was registered at the Chikkamagaluru Town Police Station on Monday against three individuals by Karnataka Police including DN Jeevaraj over allegations of irregularities in postal ballots in the Sringeri Assembly constituencyThe process of reverification and recounting of postal ballots in the Sringeri constituency in the 2023 Assembly elections on the orders of the Karnataka High Court was completed on SundayThe Bench headed by Justice V Srishananda gave the order with regard to the case while looking into the petition in this regard by victorious BJP MLA JeevarajJeevaraj had approached the High Court seeking to quash the criminal case filed against him A Vacation Bench headed by Justice Srishananda heard the petition and expressed strong dissatisfaction over the manner in which the case was handled by the authoritiesThe court questioned how an FIR could be registered now for an incident that allegedly took place on May 13 2023 It also pulled up the prosecution for failing to bring the alleged tampering to the courtâs notice earlierDuring the hearing the judge observed that such allegations are often made by defeated candidates and issued directions for the Investigating Officer to appear before the courtThe Bench further questioned why an FIR had been registered against the Deputy Commissioner who was in office in 2023 while no case was filed against the current election officer Gaurav Shetty It cautioned the police against acting under political influenceThe court noted that the recounting of postal ballots had been conducted as per its earlier directions and questioned why issues such as missing seals or double markings were not raised at that stageObserving that it would have granted a stay even if an FIR had been filed against former MLA TD Rajegowda the court opined that a case cannot be registered against a Deputy Commissioner under the Representation of the People ActThe court granted an interim stay on any coercive action in the case and adjourned the matter to May 7 for further hearingThe complaint in this regard was filed by Sudheer Kumar Murolli an advocate on May 3 who served as an agent at a postal ballot counting table In his complaint he alleged suspected tampering of ballot papers during the counting processThe FIR was filed under Sections 143 465 468 471 120B and 149 of the IPC and Section 136 of Representation of People Act 1951 and 1988 The complainant has stated that since the recounting process was done till late after midnight there was a delay in lodging of police complaintJeevaraj has been declared elected as MLA from the Sringeri Assembly constituency following a recount of postal ballots securing victory by a margin of 52 votesWith this win Jeevaraj has been elected as an MLA for the fourth time The election officer formally handed over the certificate to him after the completion of the recount processThe result comes nearly three years after the 2023 Assembly election in which Congress candidate TD Rajegowda had won by a margin of 201 votes In the 2026 postal ballot recount a significant number of votes were declared invalid altering the final outcome IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sringeri-recount-row-karnataka-hc-stays-fir-against-victorious-bjp-mla-jeevaraj-672497.html Tue, 05 May 2026 19:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/parivartan-hoye-gechhe-bengal-verdict-to-bay-of-bengal-vision-from-mandate-to-momentum-672498.html New Delhi May 5 Parivartan hoyechhe captures more than an electoral outcome It reflects a decisive public shift towards governance that delivers connects and integrates The mandate that has aligned West Bengal with the national leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has opened a new pathway for Indiaâs eastern strategy The political synchronisation between Delhi Kolkata and the Northeast provides a rare opportunity to convert intent into execution The Prime Ministerâs articulation of Act East Act Fast now stands on a foundation that can move at speed with clarity and purposeThis moment carries implications far beyond domestic politics It sets the stage for a renewed and confident partnership with Bangladesh where development becomes the shared language of engagement A politically aligned eastern corridor strengthens trust accelerates connectivity and restores momentum to bilateral initiatives that had slowed over time At a time when uncertainties in western maritime routes including disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have exposed vulnerabilities in traditional trade flows the eastern seaboard anchored in the Bay of Bengal gains strategic importance The opening of integrated land and maritime routes through Bangladesh offers a stable and efficient alternative reinforcing regional resilience This is where the mandate in Bengal directly supports the larger vision of Act East by linking growth security and connectivity into a single forwardmoving framework that benefits both nations and returns the development agenda to the people on both sides of the borderWhy the People Chose ChangeThe electoral verdict is rooted in a clear aspiration for development Voters across Bengal responded to the promise of coordinated governance infrastructure expansion industrial revival and job creation There is visible fatigue with administrative delays and fragmented authority The idea of a doubleengine government has translated into a demand for faster delivery better connectivity and transparent systems The electorate has moved beyond narrow political narratives and chosen a forwardlooking economic agenda that links Bengal to the larger national and regional growth storyIndia and Bangladesh Restoring Confidence Through GrowthThe most immediate and meaningful impact of this shift is on Indiaâs relationship with Bangladesh The bilateral partnership has remained strong in intent but has faced periodic constraints in execution The present moment offers an opportunity to restore confidence on both sides of the border through visible outcomes The relationship must now be anchored in trust predictability and shared prosperity Indiaâs development agenda in the East is closely linked to Bangladeshâs growth trajectory A stable confident and economically vibrant Bangladesh directly strengthens Indiaâs eastern regionFrom Border Management to Border DevelopmentThe transformation must begin at the border The IndiaBangladesh boundary can evolve from a line of regulation into a zone of opportunity Modern integrated check posts efficient land customs systems and digital clearance platforms can reduce delays and enhance trade flows Border haats and local trade networks can energise grassroots economies The emphasis should be on ease of movement for goods and people engaged in legitimate economic activity This shift in approach will build trust and create visible benefits for communities that have historically felt disconnected from national growthResolving Pending Agreements with SensitivityLongpending issues such as the Teesta water sharing arrangement and the renewal of the Ganga water framework require timely and balanced resolution These agreements carry both economic and emotional significance A transparent datadriven and mutually respectful approach will strengthen confidence in Indiaâs commitments The political alignment in West Bengal provides the space to move forward with clarity and sensitivity while addressing local concernsConnectivity as the Core of IntegrationConnectivity remains the backbone of the IndiaBangladesh partnership Rail links road corridors inland waterways and port access through Chattogram and Mongla are central to this vision For Indiaâs northeastern states Bangladesh provides the most efficient route to global markets For Bangladesh integration with Indiaâs vast market and infrastructure network opens new avenues for growth This is a natural economic complementarity that must be strengthened through sustained investment and policy supportEase of Travel and Business as Confidence BuildersMobility is a powerful instrument of diplomacy Liberalised visa regimes for business medical travel education and cultural exchange can rebuild peopletopeople trust Predictable trade policies simplified compliance frameworks and transparent regulatory systems will encourage businesses on both sides to expand engagement The objective is to create an environment where economic activity flows smoothly without disrupting domestic growth priorities in either countryEconomic Complementarity and Shared Value ChainsIndia and Bangladesh are wellpositioned to develop integrated manufacturing and supply chains Sectors such as textiles pharmaceuticals and light engineering offer strong potential for collaboration Joint industrial zones near the border can attract investment and generate employment The guiding principle should be mutual benefit ensuring that growth in one country reinforces growth in the other This approach will reduce perceptions of imbalance and build a durable economic partnershipEnergy and Maritime Cooperation in the Bay of BengalEnergy cooperation has already created a strong foundation through crossborder electricity trade and fuel supply arrangements This can be expanded into renewable energy partnerships and joint infrastructure projects The Bay of Bengal is emerging as a critical economic and strategic space India and Bangladesh can work together to strengthen maritime security develop port infrastructure and facilitate regional trade This cooperation will enhance stability and create new economic opportunities across the regionNortheast India as the Gateway to the EastThe integration of Indiaâs northeastern states with Bangladesh is central to the success of the Act East policy Improved connectivity will transform the Northeast from a peripheral region into a vibrant economic hub Trade corridors linking the Northeast to Southeast Asia through Bangladesh and Myanmar can redefine regional commerce This is not only an economic imperative but also a strategic necessity for balanced regional developmentA Partnership Based on Respect and ReciprocityThe future of IndiaBangladesh relations rests on a partnership of equals The emphasis must remain on respect sensitivity and reciprocity A developmentfirst approach that recognises each otherâs priorities will strengthen longterm cooperation Institutional mechanisms regular dialogue and sustained engagement will ensure continuity and stability in the relationshipFrom Bengal to Southeast Asia A Regional TransformationThe impact of this transformation extends beyond bilateral ties With Bangladesh as a central partner Indiaâs eastern corridor can connect seamlessly to Myanmar and the broader Southeast Asian region This integrated network of land and maritime routes will position eastern India as a key node in regional and global trade It aligns with the larger IndoPacific vision and strengthens economic resilience across the regionConclusion Delivering on the Promise of ChangeParivartan hoyechhe now carries the responsibility of delivery The alignment of political will economic vision and regional cooperation has created a moment of opportunity The success of Act East Act Fast will be measured by the speed of execution the fairness of partnerships and the tangible benefits delivered to people on both sides of the borderThe path forward is clear Build trust through growth Connect economies through infrastructure Strengthen partnerships through respect In doing so India and Bangladesh can together shape a new eastern horizon that drives prosperity not only for themselves but for the wider regionThe author is a former diplomat and strategic affairs expert Views expressed are personal IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/parivartan-hoye-gechhe-bengal-verdict-to-bay-of-bengal-vision-from-mandate-to-momentum-672498.html Tue, 05 May 2026 19:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/curtains-down-on-stage-spotlight-on-service-actor-ramesh-pisharody-on-new-stint-as-kerala-mla-672503.html Thiruvananthapuram May 5 Actorturnedpolitician Ramesh Pisharody who scripted an impressive victory in Keralaâs Palakkad Assembly constituency winning by a margin of 13147 votes in his electoral debut on Tuesday declared that he will step away from cinema and stage shows to dedicate himself fully to public life For the next five years my life will be only for Palakkad Pisharody who contested as a Congress candidate said after the verdict signalling a decisive shift from performance to public serviceKnown for his wit and easy connect with audiences he now faces the more exacting stage of governanceThe contest had drawn attention for its unusual mix of candidates BJPs Shobha Surendran brought considerable political experience while CPIMbacked independent NMR Razak added a distinct flavour as a noted hotelierIn contrast Pisharody entered the fray as a political outsider relying on popularity and grassroots engagement rather than organisational pedigreeHis candidature came at a time when the Congress was searching for a credible replacement following turbulence in the constituencyThe brief tenure of Youth Congress leader Rahul Mammkootathil had ended abruptly compelling the party to turn to a figure who could quickly resonate with votersPisharody long associated with public events and known for his sharp observational humour emerged as that choiceDespite initial scepticism over his lack of political experience his campaign gathered momentum striking a chord with a crosssection of votersHis messaging remained simple focused on accessibility humility and service rather than adversarial politicsReacting to his victory Pisharody said the result reaffirmed the essence of democracy respect for the peopleThis verdict reminds us that governance must be for the people not over them he noted thanking every voter in PalakkadHe also acknowledged party workers who worked tirelessly often at personal cost and supporters who rallied behind him from across the worldPisharodyâs decision to step away from his artistic career underscores the seriousness of his political commitmentCalling acting his livelihood he said he was prepared to embrace a simpler life if requiredHis victory signals a broader shift in voter sentiment in openness to candidates beyond traditional political mouldsFor Pisharody the applause of the stage has now given way to the expectations of public office where credibility will be measured not in performance but in delivery IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/curtains-down-on-stage-spotlight-on-service-actor-ramesh-pisharody-on-new-stint-as-kerala-mla-672503.html Tue, 05 May 2026 19:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/indias-defence-production-jumped-174-pc-to-rs-154-lakh-crore-in-last-10-years-jitendra-singh-672505.html Prayagraj May 5 Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh said on Tuesday that in the last decade India has transitioned from being a major importer of defence equipment to an emerging exporter with defence production recording a 174 per cent leap to Rs 154 lakh crore while exports grew 34 times to Rs 23622 crore The Minister said a substantial contribution of around Rs 15000 crore to total exports came from the private sector reflecting a major shift towards collaborative defence manufacturingAddressing the North Tech Symposium 2026 in Prayagraj the minister said India has entered a decisive phase in its defence journey where technology indigenous innovation and private sector participation are shaping a new global identity for the country Warfare is no longer defined by physical strength alone but increasingly driven by advanced technologies realtime data systems and automated platformsReferring to Indiaâs expanding technological base the minister said sectors such as space atomic energy artificial intelligence and quantum technologies are now integral to defence preparedness India has already achieved rapid progress in quantumsecure communication capabilities which will play a critical role in future warfare systems he addedHighlighting the increasing support from the government the minister said that the budget for 202627 earmarks Rs 681000 crore for defence which is 95 per cent more than last yearDr Jitendra Singh said reforms in key sectors have opened new opportunities for industry participation enabling faster innovation cycles and scaling of indigenous technologies He added that government support through funding mechanisms and policy initiatives is creating a strong ecosystem for research development and deploymentEmphasising the importance of synergy Dr Jitendra Singh said that the alignment of operational requirements of the Armed Forces with scientific research and industrial capability is essential for building a resilient and selfreliant defence ecosystem He called for accelerated timelines from design to deployment with focus on reliability scalability and longterm sustainmentThe Minister also spoke about the evolving role of the Armed Forces highlighting their critical contribution not only in national security but also in disaster response and humanitarian assistance recalling recent instances where timely intervention saved livesThe North Tech Symposium 2026 is being held in Prayagraj from May 4 to 6 The symposium serves as a premier platform bringing together the Armed Forces industry academia and startups to develop missionoriented indigenous solutions for evolving operational requirements Key focus areas include artificial intelligence unmanned systems counterdrone technologies robotics cyber and electronic warfare communication systems mobility platforms and highaltitude operational support Over 280 industry partners are participating in the eventDr Jitendra Singh said that Indiaâs pursuit of selfreliance in defence is rooted in technological sovereignty with a focus on developing owning and sustaining critical technologies within the country He expressed confidence that collaborative efforts between the Armed Forces industry and research institutions will accelerate Indiaâs emergence as a leading defence technology nation IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/indias-defence-production-jumped-174-pc-to-rs-154-lakh-crore-in-last-10-years-jitendra-singh-672505.html Tue, 05 May 2026 19:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/indias-steel-exports-surge-291-per-cent-amid-rising-self-reliance-672508.html New Delhi Indiaâs exports of steel rose by 291 per cent in March 2026 compared to the same month of the previous year while imports declined sharply by 95 per cent reflecting the increasing selfreliance in the sector according to an official statement issued on Tuesday The positive shift underscores Indiaâs emergence as a reliable global steel supplier It also demonstrates the countryâs improved ability to meet rising domestic demandIndiaâs steel production registered a robust 91 per cent growth in the financial year 202526 compared to the same period last year reflecting the increasing selfreliance in the sectorIndia has also established itself as a leading exporter of iron and steel alloys Rising exports of steel and related products contribute to higher foreign exchange earnings This in turn helps improve the trade balance It supports the broader vision of a selfsustained and resilient industrial ecosystem under Atmanirbhar Bharat the statement saidThe top destinations for Indiaâs finished steel exports in March 2026 were Vietnam Belgium and Taiwan Together they comprise more than 50 per cent of Indiaâs total finished steel exportsBesides exports of finished steel increased by 3580 per cent in FY 2025â26 compared to the same period last year Meanwhile imports declined by 4647 per cent during the same periodThe government has implemented several measures to strengthen raw material availability ensure global market access and reduce import dependence These steps have lowered production costs driven growth in the steel industry and supported MSMEs and small steel producersUnder the PLI scheme Rs 23022 crore investment supported specialty steel production and job creation This resulted in 24 million tonnes of output and over 13000 new jobs India has achieved about 66 per cent of its National Steel Policy production targetSpecialty steel is the downstream valueadded product of the steel manufacturing process It is one of the 14 sectors covered under the PLI Scheme which aims to boost domestic production of highvalue steel It will improve the trade balance and raise export value realisation It will also help the Indian steel industry upgrade technology and move up the value chain the statement saidGoing forward green steel aims to reduce emissions by avoiding the use of fossil fuels to reduce the carbon footprint India is also committed to decarbonising the sector and achieving netzero emissions by 2070 the statement added IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/indias-steel-exports-surge-291-per-cent-amid-rising-self-reliance-672508.html Tue, 05 May 2026 19:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/madhya-pradesh-govt-to-constitute-trade-welfare-board-672510.html Bhopal May 5 The Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday announced the establishment of a StateLevel Trade Welfare Board a move aimed at strengthening the states trade and industrial ecosystem officials said The Ministry of Industrial Investment under the stewardship of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will oversee the board with the Chief Minister himself serving as its chair the state Cabinet decided on Tuesday The Department of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises MSME currently under Minister Chetanya Kumar Kashyap will be a key member alongside representatives from seven to eight other departments directly linked to trade and commerce the Minister said here on Tuesday after the Cabinet meeting In addition five to six prominent nongovernmental organisations including FICCI and Laghu Udyog Bharati will be represented along with 10 governmentnominated members tasked with advising on trade growth development and employee welfare The initiative also envisions committees at the district level ensuring that the benefits of this board reach grassroots traders and smallscale industrialists At its core the boards primary mission is to promote exports by educating traders about available schemes and creating a supportive environment for trade expansion across districts A significant responsibility entrusted to the board is the formulation of policy proposals that simplify regulations thereby enhancing the ease of doing business Minister Kashyap addedThe aim is to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and administrative obstacles enabling traders to operate with greater efficiency and confidence he said This decision reflects a broader vision of empowering small traders and industrialists while simultaneously aligning with national priorities of boosting exports and strengthening the economy By involving both government departments and respected nongovernmental institutions the board is expected to provide balanced perspectives and practical solutions the Minister addedThe inclusion of districtlevel committees underscores the state governments intent to ensure that even local traders benefit from these reforms With its focus on regulatory simplification export promotion and welfare of employees the Trade Welfare Board marks a significant step in Madhya Pradeshs industrial and commercial policy framework It is anticipated to foster a more businessfriendly environment encourage investment and contribute to the states economic growth Minister Kashyap said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/madhya-pradesh-govt-to-constitute-trade-welfare-board-672510.html Tue, 05 May 2026 19:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/journalists-in-quetta-slam-peca-pledge-to-continue-struggle-for-freedom-of-expression-672265.html Quetta May 4 Journalists in Pakistans Quetta have expressed their commitment to defending media independence pledging to continue their struggle for freedom of expression and rejecting black laws restricting rights of press local media reported on Monday A large number of journalists carrying banners and placards highlighting their demands gathered outside the Quetta Press Club Journalists shouted slogans against restrictive legislation especially the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act PECA and other measures that erode press freedom Civil society activists also participated in the event expressing their solidarity with journalists the daily Dawn reportedAddressing the gathering Balochistan Union of Journalists BUJ President Manzoor Ahmed Rind Quetta Press Club President Irfan Saeed Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists PFUJ Assistant Secretary Noor Elahi Bugti BUJ General Secretary Shah Hussain Tareen and civil society activist Bahram Lehri spoke about the challenges faced by journalists in BalochistanThe speakers stated that journalists despite receiving threats from both state and nonstate actors have continued to fulfil their professional responsibilities without compromising on truth They paid tribute to over 50 journalists who lost their lives in the line of duty stressing that their sacrifices demonstrated the high stakes of independent journalism in the regionThey mentioned that the prevailing security situation and restrictive legislation like the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act PECA have created an increasingly difficult environment for journalistsThe speakers slammed PECA and stated that such legislation is often used for curbing dissent and silencing factual reporting They stated that restrictions on media have increased under democratic governments surpassing those seen during past authoritarian regimes Dawn reportedThe protesters called for withdrawal or review of PECA in consultation with stakeholders including the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and other media organisations They demanded an end to restrictions on press freedom and urged authorities to ensure a safe and enabling environment for journalistsThe participants called for the immediate restoration of bureau offices of television channels and newspapers that have been shut in Quetta They demanded reinstatement of journalists and media workers who had lost their jobs guarantees for job security and timely payment of their salaries IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/journalists-in-quetta-slam-peca-pledge-to-continue-struggle-for-freedom-of-expression-672265.html Mon, 04 May 2026 18:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/andhra-pradesh-governor-cm-greet-vice-president-radhakrishnan-on-his-birthday-672267.html Amaravati May 4 Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday greeted VicePresident of India C P Radhakrishnan on his birthday Governor Abdul Nazeer extended his heartiest felicitations and warm greetings to the VicePresident through a post on XâMay God Almighty bless you with good health happiness and long life in the service of the people and the nationâ wrote the GovernorChief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also took to X to wish Radhakrishnan on his birthdayâI extend my sincere wishes for his good health long life and continued dedication in service to the nation May he achieve further success in his endeavours for the progress of our country and the strengthening of parliamentary proceedings through wisdom integrity and steadfast leadershipâ posted NaiduDeputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also conveyed warm birthday greetings to the VicePresidentâHis commitment to upholding constitutional values and maintaining the dignity of the Rajya Sabha is deeply appreciated I pray to Lord Venkateswara to bless him with good health and strength to continue serving the nationâ reads the post by the Jana Sena leaderState minister and TDP national working president Nara Lokesh also greeted the VicePresidentâI pray for his good health long life and continued service to the nation I have had the fortune of having several inspiring conversations with him and truly value his guidance wisdom and leadership His efforts to strengthen our parliamentary traditions and motivate us all in our collective journey towards Indiaâs progress are truly commendableâ wrote LokeshUnion minister for coal and mines G Kishan Reddy also conveyed warm birthday greetings to the VicePresidentâYour unwavering commitment to public service and dedication to strengthening our democratic institutions continue to inspire everyone Praying for your good health long life and many more years of service to the nationâ wrote the BJP leaderâYour life in public service and your dedication to our democratic values are truly inspiring May you be blessed with good health and a long life to continue your impactful work for the nationâ reads the message by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay KumarYSR Congress Party president and former Chief Minister Y S Jagan also greeted Radhakrishnan âMay God bless you with a long and healthy life in the continued service of our nationâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/andhra-pradesh-governor-cm-greet-vice-president-radhakrishnan-on-his-birthday-672267.html Mon, 04 May 2026 18:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/historic-day-even-greater-than-expected-shashi-tharoor-as-udf-leads-in-kerala-672268.html Thiruvananthapuram May 4 With trends indicating a strong advantage for the UDF in Kerala Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday described the outcome as a historic day and a victory that has exceeded expectations Interacting with reporters Tharoor said This is a historic day for us Itâs a tremendous victoryâone that I dare say most people would agree is even greater than we had expected We are looking at an extraordinary result in Kerala potentially crossing a hundred seatsHighlighting the significance of the shift he pointed out that the CPIMled Left had maintained a stronghold in the state for decadesYou must realise that since 2001 the CPIM had consistently held around 60 seats which they had never lost This time for the first time in this century they have lost that ground he saidTharoor also placed the Kerala outcome in a broader national context noting that it could mark a turning point for Left parties in IndiaFor the country this is a major development For the first time there may be no Left government anywhere in India They had already lost in West Bengal and Tripura and now this result further reinforces that trend he addedWhile refraining from commenting on developments in other states Tharoor emphasised that the UDFâs performance in Kerala reflects genuine political momentumWhat we are witnessing here is a strong foundation for the Opposition for the years ahead We aim to build on this momentum including in states like Punjab in the future he saidOutlining priorities ahead he stressed governance and reformIn Kerala we will focus on good governance transformation and changing a narrative that many people found disappointing I am looking forward to the work ahead he saidAsked about the UDFâs chief ministerial face Tharoor said the decision rests with the party leadershipThat I donât know only Delhi can decide But I believe we should not delay and must honour the peopleâs mandate by moving forward quickly he statedHe also highlighted the depth of leadership within the allianceOne of the great strengths of the UDF is the abundance of capable leaders There will be no shortage of qualified individuals for the high command to choose from and we hope a decision will be made soon he saidDismissing speculation about his own candidature for the top post Tharoor stressed I am an MP in Delhi and will continue in that role Whoever is chosen I hope a UDF government will bring meaningful change I will be happy to contribute in any way through advice policy inputs or support but the responsibility will lie with someone elseCongress MP K C Venugopal attributed the victory to multiple factors including antiincumbency proactive campaigning collective leadership and strong coordination backed by the partyâs central leadership He also credited Rahul Gandhi for his consistent engagement with votersMeanwhile Congress leader Sachin Pilot expressed confidence in the outcome stating We are very happy that we are heading towards a decisive victory in Kerala After a decade of Left rule the people have clearly indicated their desire for change IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/historic-day-even-greater-than-expected-shashi-tharoor-as-udf-leads-in-kerala-672268.html Mon, 04 May 2026 18:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/early-trends-disappointing-but-we-are-still-hopeful-trinamool-congress-672270.html Kolkata May 4 Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy on Monday expressed disappointment regarding the early trends in the West Bengal Assembly elections However he noted that its too early to draw any conclusions as the final results have not yet been announced After winning six seats the BJP was leading in 192 seats while the Trinamool Congress was ahead in 88 Trinamools Reyat Hossain Sarkar won in the Bhagawangola Assembly seat according to the ECI trends as of 430 pmReacting to this Roy told IANS It is disappointing for us We will do an analysis of it Many people are saying that there are errors in EVM some are saying it was fully charged This is for the counting agents to comment on However the results have not yet been announced so nothing much can be said about thisTrinamool MP Rachana Banerjee speaking to IANS maintained that the party remains hopeful as the counting is still underway while also questioning the delay in the processTheres a lot of time left counting is very slow as we all know as this never happens usually the results become clear around 2 pm However there is no need to be demoralised we dont need to think about anything We are still hopeful Banerjee saidWhy is the progress so slow We dont know that In a democracy the last judgement is given by the people lets see what happens till the end But in the upcoming days we have to see how we can work smoothly we have to look into it and stay beside the people she addedMeanwhile Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee released a video message on Monday as the counting of votes was underway claiming that ultimately Trinamool Congress will have the last laughShe posted the message on her social media handle X and issued an appeal to all her party candidates and counting agents not to leave the counting centres till the endThis is the BJPs plan This I have been saying since Sunday In the initial rounds it will be shown that the BJP candidates are ahead in a majority of the assembly constituencies I heard that in almost 100 assembly constituencies they have stopped counting after the first two to three rounds the Chief Minister said in the video messageShe also accused the Central forces of harassing and assaulting the Trinamool Congress workers in different pockets of the stateAlready they have deleted a number of voters in the course of the special intensive revision Trinamool Congress candidates are leading in another 100 seats which they are not announcing They are feeding total misinformation The Election Commission of India is acting on its own whims and fancies the Chief Minister saidShe also accused the ECI of misusing the Central and state forces in the entire elections Right now even the state police are under the control of the ECI But I request the Trinamool Congress candidates and counting agents not to get disheartened Stick to your respective counting centres counting rooms and counting tables till the end I am assuring you that we will be winning at sunset she saidAccording to her since the counting for many more rounds is yet to be completed there was no reason to worry We are all with you We will win finally Be assured Do not be scared Fight till the end like tigers the Chief Minister said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/early-trends-disappointing-but-we-are-still-hopeful-trinamool-congress-672270.html Mon, 04 May 2026 18:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/common-man-is-our-vitthal-maha-cm-fadnavis-emphasises-citizen-centric-governance-via-tech-wari-20-672277.html Mumbai May 4 Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday inaugurated the Maharashtra Training Week under the Tech Wari 20 initiative asserting that the ultimate goal of technology is to simplify the lives of common citizens Comparing the public to the deity Vitthal the Chief Minister highlighted that the administrations pilgrimage Wari is dedicated to their service The event organised by the General Administration Department GAD aims to implement a rapid roadmap for citizencentric administration through technological advancementAddressing the gathering Chief Minister Fadnavis emphasised that in an era of rapidly evolving technology continuous learning is no longer optional The definition of literacy has evolved from basic reading and writing to internet proficiency and now to Artificial Intelligence AI Today only those who understand and can use AI are truly literate the Chief Minister said He predicted that 80 to 90 per cent of administrative work formats would change in the next 1000 days due to AI He stressed that while technology is vital human emotions mental health introspection and the Art of Handling Criticism are equally crucial for a robust administrationThe Chief Minister lauded the iGOT platform noting that Maharashtras officers have shown exemplary enthusiasm in adopting AI and Blockchain He remarked that if these capabilities are harnessed correctly Maharashtra could provide consulting expertise to other statesDeputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar described Tech Wari 20 as a golden opportunity for employees to become futureready Just as the Wari to Pandharpur symbolises discipline faith and unity Tech Wari represents the administrations journey toward digital empowerment This is not just a technical introduction it is a massive movement for human resource development she said She also highlighted that Maharashtra secured the top rank in the national Sadhana Saptah initiative and remains a leader in the Mission Karmayogi training programmesMaharashtra Chief Secretary Rajesh Agarwal noted that Tech Wari 20 focuses on the development of both the Left Brain analytical and Right Brain creative Focus is on AI Data Protection DPDP Act and Project Management There will be integration of music yoga dance and culture to boost mental wellbeing while laying high emphasis on cyber security and digital safety he addedMaharashtra GAD Additional Chief Secretary V Radha provided the programme details noting that 6000 employees are participating in person while the sessions are being livestreamed to more than nine lakh employees across the state The fiveday event features themes like Taalrang Naadrang Yograng Kalarang and SanskrutirangAn innovative AI agent named Vasudev interacted with the audience providing programme information and demonstrating the efficiency of AI Sessions cover Quantum Computing Generative AI Digital Public Infrastructure and Ethics in Administration the government statement saidThe Chief Minister honoured several frontline Mantralaya staff including Pallavi Sawant Nitin Gursale and others for their dedicated service IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/common-man-is-our-vitthal-maha-cm-fadnavis-emphasises-citizen-centric-governance-via-tech-wari-20-672277.html Mon, 04 May 2026 18:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-congress-wins-davanagere-south-by-5-708-votes-672278.html Bengaluru May 4 The counting of votes for the muchawaited Davanagere South Assembly segment in Karnataka has been completed and the Congress has achieved a victory by 5708 votes Earlier in the day the Congress also achieved a victory by a huge margin of 22332 votes in the Bagalkot bypoll The party has attributed the victory in bypolls in Davanagere South and Bagalkot Assembly Constituencies to the guarantee schemesIn the Davanagere South constituency Congress candidate Samarth Mallikarjun secured 69578 votes after the 24th round of counting BJPâs Srinivasa T Dasakariyappa polled 63870 votes The Socialist Democratic Party of India SDPIs Afsar Kodlipet managed to get 18975 votesThe party has attributed its wins in the Davanagere South and Bagalkot byeelections to its guarantee schemesThe Davanagere South byeelection was necessitated by the death of veteran Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa The party fielded his grandson Samarth Mallikarjun as its candidate while the BJP nominated Srinivasa T Dasakariyappa a leader from the oppressed classesThe election was seen as a prestige battle for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar while the BJP was hoping to secure its first victory in Davanagere South Assembly segment The results were crucial for both the ruling Congress and the Opposition BJPIt may be recalled that the partyâs decision regarding candidate selection in Davanagere South had led to internal rifts The Congress removed two MLCs belonging to the minority community from their posts on charges of working against candidate Samarth Mallikarjun There were 15 Muslim contestants from Davanagere SouthIn Bagalkot the byeelection was held following the untimely demise of HY Meti His son Umesh Meti is in a direct contest against the BJPâs Veeranna Charantimath Chief Minister Siddaramaiah campaigned extensively for the Congress candidateResponding after winning both the bypolls Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President DK Shivakumar stated âGuarantee schemes have worked in our favour in Karnataka Our government has responded to peopleâs difficulties That is why we have achieved good results in the byeelectionsâMeanwhile BJP State President and MLA BY Vijayendra stated âWe did not expect to lose in Bagalkot Although the Congress had won earlier we were confident that voters would support us this time Our workers have put in a lot of effort in both constituenciesââMoreover the Chief Minister stayed in Bagalkot for 15 days Members of the Cabinet were also stationed there Despite this we were confident of victory However we accept that we have faced a setback in Bagalkotâ he addedResponding to a question he said that just because the Congress has won the byeelection it cannot be concluded that there is a general shift in favour of the party âWe need to sit with our leaders and discuss the reasons for the setback in Bagalkot After that we will chalk out our strategy for organisational workâ he saidVijayendra further explained that in both constituencies there were no internal differences and local BJP leaders set aside their issues to work unitedly for the party candidate âParty leaders worked in a coordinated manner We also extended our support and workers toiled day and nightâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-congress-wins-davanagere-south-by-5-708-votes-672278.html Mon, 04 May 2026 18:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/vijays-sweeping-win-signals-major-shift-in-tamil-nadu-politics-672280.html Chennai May 4 In a stunning political upheaval actorturnedpolitician C Joseph Vijay secured a massive landslide victory from Tiruchy East by over 26000 votes leading his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK to a historic debut triumph that has dramatically reshaped Tamil Naduâs political landscape Polling for all 234 constituencies was held in a single phase on April 23 with counting conducted across 62 centres on MondayWhat began as a fourcornered contest involving the DMK AIADMK NTK and TVK culminated in a sweeping surge for Vijayâs party marking a decisive shift away from the stateâs longstanding Dravidian dominanceIn one of the biggest shocks of the election Chief Minister MK Stalin lost his Kolathur seat to TVKâs VS Babu by a margin of 9192 votes underlining the scale of the political churnHowever key DMK figures such as Udhayanidhi Stalin ChepaukThiruvallikeni and V Senthil Balaji Coimbatore South managed to retain their constituenciesTVK candidates delivered impressive performances across regions reflecting both organisational reach and voter mobilisationAdhav Arjuna won in Villivakkam Thennarasu secured Sriperumbudur and Prabhu emerged victorious in Karaikudi where NTK chief Seeman suffered his third consecutive Assembly election defeatIn Royapuram TVKs Vijay Dhamu an auto driver pulled off a sensational win against former minister D Jayakumar reflecting the partyâs strong grassroots connectThe party also registered key victories in Mylapore where Venkataramanan defeated BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan and in Radhapuram where Assembly Speaker Appavu was unseated by TVKâs SatishAmong other results DMKâs Raghupathi won in Tirumayam while minister Sekar Babu retained Chennai HarbourIn Nagapattinam MMKâs Jawahirullah secured victoryTVK leaders termed the verdict a ânew revolutionâ in Tamil Nadu and alleged that attempts were made to obstruct Vijayâs campaign and discredit the partyActor Sivakarthikeyan congratulated Vijay praising his influence and remarkable success in his first electoral contestCongress leader Girish Chodankar said a report on the results has been submitted to the party high command with further strategy to be decided by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and the senior leadershipWith heightened security at Vijayâs Chennai residence including fullbody screening for visitors the scale of his political ascent is unmistakable Tamil Nadu appears to be entering a new political phase under Vijayâs rising leadership IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/vijays-sweeping-win-signals-major-shift-in-tamil-nadu-politics-672280.html Mon, 04 May 2026 19:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bihars-win-has-paved-the-way-for-bengal-victory-pm-modis-old-remark-resurfaces-as-bjp-leads-672078.html New Delhi May 4 IANS An old video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resurfaced in which he had expressed confidence about the BJPs prospects in West BengalnbspDuring victory celebrations after the BJPs landslide win in the Bihar Assembly elections PM Modi had said Ganga Ji flows from Bihar to Bengal Bihars win has paved the way for victory in West BengalAs early trends now indicate a possible shift in power in West Bengal the Prime Ministers remark is being widely discussed The BJPs highenergy campaign driven by PM Modis extensive outreach appears to have made a significant impactIf these trends translate into a final victory it would mark the first time since Independence that the BJP forms a government in West BengalAfter the first three hours of counting of votes on Monday for the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections the number of constituencies where the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP candidates are leading is far more than those where the ruling Trinamool Congress is aheadTill 1230 pm the trend for 266 of the 293 Assembly constituencies where counting is on is available on the Election Commission website Till the period BJP candidates are leading in 173 Assembly constituencies followed by Trinamool Congress at 90 Left Front All India Secular Front AISF in one and former Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabirfounded Aam Janata Unnayan Party AJUP in oneKabir himself is leading from the Rejinagar Assembly constituency in the minoritydominated Murshidabad district As per the trends West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is leading against BJPs Suvendu Adhikari in the highprofile Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in South KolkataAdhikari is leading from his native Nandigram Assembly constituency in East Midnapore district where he is contesting simultaneously this time along with BhabanipurOn Monday morning the Chief Electoral Officer CEO of West Bengal Manoj Kumar Agarwal announced that the winning party will be able to take out a victory procession in the districts only after seeking prior permission from the district magistrate and the district electoral officerAt the same time I appeal to all political parties to maintain restraint after the final results are declared officially In a democratic process some parties will win and some parties will lose But that victory or defeat should not result in violence Agarwal saidThis time the Election Commission of India ECI has decided to retain 700 companies of central forces in West Bengal for an indefinite period till further orders to prevent events of postpoll violence as it happened in 2021The repolling in the entire Assembly constituency at Falta in South 24 Parganas district will be on May 21 and the results will be announced on May 24IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bihars-win-has-paved-the-way-for-bengal-victory-pm-modis-old-remark-resurfaces-as-bjp-leads-672078.html Mon, 04 May 2026 13:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/counting-of-votes-for-bypolls-in-seven-seats-across-five-states-set-for-today-672083.html New Delhi May 4 Counting of votes for bypolls to seven assembly seats across five states is set to take place on Monday with results expected to shape key political equations in several regions The bypolls were held on April 9 and April 23 across constituencies in Gujarat Karnataka Maharashtra Nagaland and Tripura The elections were necessitated by the deaths of sitting MLAs in the respective seats leading to closely watched contests between major political partiesIn Maharashtra the Baramati seat in Pune district has drawn major attention as it is considered a stronghold of the influential Pawar family The seat fell vacant after the death of sitting MLA Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on January 28 His wife NCP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar is contesting from the constituency making it one of the most highprofile contests in the bypollsIn Karnataka bypolls were held in Bagalkot and Davanagere South following the deaths of senior Congress MLAs H Y Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa The contests are being viewed as a prestige battle between the ruling Congress and the BJP The BJP has fielded Veerabhadrayya Charantimath from Bagalkot and Srinivas T Dasakariyappa from Davanagere South while the Congress has fielded Umesh Meti and Samarth Mallikarjun respectivelyIn Gujarat the Umreth seat in Anand district went to polls after the death of BJP MLA Govind Parmar The main contest is between BJP candidate Harshad Parmar the son of the late MLA and Congress nominee Bhrugurajsinh Chauhan along with other candidatesNagalandâs Koridang seat in Mokokchung district saw a multicornered contest after the death of BJP MLA Imkong L Imchen Six candidates are in the fray including BJPâs Daochier I Imchen who is also the consensus nominee of the ruling alliance along with Congress NPP and Independent candidatesIn Tripura the Dharmanagar seat witnessed a triangular contest between the BJP Congress and CPIMled Left Front after the death of Assembly Speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen in December The key candidates include BJPâs Jahar Chakraborti Congressâs Chayan Bhattacharjee and CPIMâs Amitabha DattaMeanwhile the scheduled bypoll in Goaâs Ponda constituency was cancelled by the Bombay High Court just hours before polling was to take place IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/counting-of-votes-for-bypolls-in-seven-seats-across-five-states-set-for-today-672083.html Mon, 04 May 2026 13:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/counting-of-votes-begins-in-tripura-bypolls-amid-tight-security-672121.html Agartala May 4 The counting of votes for the Dharmanagar Assembly bypoll for which the election was held on April 9 began at 8 am on Monday under tight security arrangements officials said Election officials said that postal ballots will be counted first followed by votes cast in EVMs Electronic Voting Machines and there will be four rounds of counting in the North Tripura district headquarters in DharmanagarVotes will be counted in only one counting hall where 14 tables including one for postal ballots have been placed Each counting table will be supervised and monitored by a counting supervisor and counting assistants Central observers appointed by the Election Commission will monitor the counting processThe results are expected to be declared by Monday afternoonDeputy Inspector General of Police Northern Range Ratiranjan Debnath told the media that a threetier security arrangement has been put in place ahead of the counting of votes for the bypoll to the Dharmanagar Assembly constituency in North Tripura districtNorth Tripura District Magistrate and Collector Chandni Chandran who is the District Election Officer along with Returning Officer Debjani Choudhury said that Central Reserve Police Force CRPF the Tripura State Rifles and state Police personnel in adequate numbers were deployed in the threetier security arrangements in and around the counting centreProhibitory orders have been imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita BNSS within a 100metre radius of the counting centre from 6 am on Monday till the end of the counting of votes to ensure peaceful vote countingChoudhury who is the SubDivisional Magistrate of Dharmanagar SubDivision said that 14 counting tables were set up in the counting centre at the district headquarters and votes recorded in 55 Electronic Voting Machines EVMs would be counted in four phasesAround 80 per cent of the 46142 voters including 23758 women exercised their vote in the bypoll for the Dharmanagar Assembly constituency in North Tripura district on April 9 The bypoll was necessitated by the demise of sitting MLA and Tripura Assembly Speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen who passed away on December 26 last year at a private hospital in Bengaluru after a prolonged illness at the age of 72Sen had been elected to the Tripura Assembly four times twice as a Congress candidate in 2008 and 2013 and later in 2018 and 2023 as a BJP nominee from the same Assembly constituencyThe Dharmanagar Assembly constituency has remained a stronghold of either the Congress or the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP since 2008 with the CPIM last winning the Assembly seat in 2003A multicornered contest has made the electoral battle highly competitive The six candidates in the fray include nominees from major political parties smaller outfits and an Independent candidateKey candidates include Jahar Chakraborti of the BJP Chayan Bhattacharjee of the Congress and Amitabha Datta representing the CPIMled Left Front Datta had won the seat in the 2003 Assembly elections Chakraborti 59 currently serves as the BJPs North Tripura district VicePresidentIn addition candidates from the Amra Bangali party Socialist Unity Centre of IndiaCommunist and an Independent aspirant are also contesting the bypoll further intensifying the political contestThe Left Front and the Congress which had entered into a seatsharing arrangement during the 2023 Tripura Assembly elections to jointly challenge the BJP contested separately in this bypoll adding another dimension to the contestSupported by the Left parties Congress leader Chayan Bhattacharjee had earlier contested the Dharmanagar Assembly seat in 2023 but lost narrowly to BJP candidate Biswa Bandhu Sen by a margin of 956 votes IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/counting-of-votes-begins-in-tripura-bypolls-amid-tight-security-672121.html Mon, 04 May 2026 13:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-polls-counting-begins-with-the-tallying-of-postal-ballots-672122.html Kolkata May 4 The counting of votes cast in the twophase Assembly polls in West Bengal started at 8 am on Monday with the postal ballots being counted initially This time the Election Commission of India ECI has brought about some changes in the counting pattern In previous elections counting of votes started only after the counting of postal ballots was completed fullyHowever this time counting of only postal ballots will be done for the first 30 minutes that is from 8 am to 830 am From 830 am onwards the postal ballots and the EVM votes will be counted simultaneouslyâThe counting of the postal ballots only for the first 30 minutes is to ensure that the counting of the postal ballots is completed before the completion of the counting of EVM votes In case in any counting room if the counting of postal ballots is not completed before the last two rounds of counting the counting of EVM votes will be kept on hold for some time and only postal ballots will be counted during that period The EVM vote counting will resume after the counting of postal ballots is completedâ said an insider from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer CEOHe also said that by following this new process a clear trend in the results will be available by noonOn Monday the counting is on for only 293 of 294 Assembly constituencies in the state since the ECI on Saturday announced repolling for the entire Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district on May 21 the results for which will be declared on May 24The contest in West Bengal is mainly between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the principal opposition Bharatiya Janata Party BJP In the last elections in 2021 Trinamool Congress ended tally with 216 seats followed by the BJP at 77 and All India Secular Front AISF at oneNeither Congress nor the CPIMled Left Front despite contesting the polls in an alliance could win from a single constituency This time the main challenge for both Congress and Left Front is to open their accounts again in terms of presence in the state Assembly This time Left Front and Congress have contested independently although Left Front had a seatsharing arrangement with AISFThe twophase Assembly polls in West Bengal this time were conducted on April 23 and April 29 with a record turnout of nearly 93 per cent Most of the exit poll predictions this time barring two have predicted the end of the 15year Trinamool Congress regime and the beginning of the BJP rule in West Bengal IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-polls-counting-begins-with-the-tallying-of-postal-ballots-672122.html Mon, 04 May 2026 13:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/kerala-polls-postal-votes-counting-underway-as-its-neck-and-neck-between-left-and-cong-672123.html Thiruvananthapuram May 4 Counting of postal votes has begun in Kerala with early indications giving a slight edge to the Left Democratic Front LDF which is leading The Congressled United Democratic Front UDF is close behind while the Bharatiya Janata Party BJPled National Democratic Alliance NDA has opened its account in one seat After months of intense political battles and campaign rhetoric the state is set to learn today who will form the next governmentCounting for the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly elections commenced at 8 am across 140 constituencies with postal ballots taken up first followed by votes recorded in electronic voting machines from around 830 amInitial trends are expected to firm up by 9 am with a clearer picture likely by 10 amExit polls have largely predicted a change of guard in favour of the UDFHowever the LDF remains confident of securing a third consecutive term banking on its welfare measures and governance recordThe NDA on its part is aiming to improve its vote share and position itself as a potential kingmaker in a closely fought contestThe UDF has campaigned on a strong antiincumbency plank citing rising prices corruption allegations and unemploymentIt is targeting a tally of 8090 seats though internal differences over leadership could pose challengesThe LDF led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is relying on its âdevelopment and welfareâ narrative highlighting infrastructure projects and social security schemes even as it faces concerns over voter fatigue in some constituenciesThe NDA is seeking to cross the 20 per cent vote share mark drawing momentum from highprofile campaigning and perceived gains among key communities though its ability to convert this into seats remains under scrutinyKey constituencies to watch include Dharmadam Paravur and Haripad along with Thrissur Palakkad Nemom and NilamburWith counting underway under tight security all eyes are on whether early trends will hold or give way to a dramatic turnaround IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/kerala-polls-postal-votes-counting-underway-as-its-neck-and-neck-between-left-and-cong-672123.html Mon, 04 May 2026 13:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/counting-of-votes-underway-in-nagaland-bypoll-amid-multi-layer-security-672125.html Kohima May 4 The counting of votes for the Koridang Assembly constituency bypoll in Nagaland for which the election was held on April 9 commenced at 8 am on Monday under multilayer security arrangements officials said Election officials said that as per the Election Commission guidelines postal ballots were being counted first followed by votes stored in the EVMs Electronic Voting Machines and there will be three rounds of counting at the Mokokchung District Deputy Commissioners officeWith the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces CAPF along with state security personnel a multilayered security arrangement CCTV surveillance and strict access control measures have been put in place at the Mokokchung District Deputy Commissioners officeA senior election official said that all necessary preparations have been undertaken to ensure smooth and transparent counting of votes for the Koridang Assembly Constituency byelectionThe byelection held on April 9 was necessitated following the demise of sitting BJP MLA Imkong L Imchen who passed away on November 11 2024 at a private hospital in Guwahati after a brief illness He was 75 years oldThe bypoll recorded a voter turnout of 8221 per cent out of a total electorate of 22390 voters on April 9 with electors casting their votes across 30 polling stationsThe election official said that the highly secured counting centre has been fully prepared with a structured layout including designated tables for counting personnel observers and agents of contesting candidates to ensure a smooth transparent and orderly processMultiple CCTV cameras have been installed to closely monitor every stage of the counting processIn view of the electionrelated violence reported on April 5 and 6 which resulted in one fatality several injuries and damage to vehicles a robust multitier security arrangement has been deployed in and around the counting centre to prevent any untoward incidentsFollowing Election Commission instructions the Electronic Voting Machines EVMs currently stored in strong rooms under roundtheclock security will be opened in the presence of candidates or their authorised agents prior to the commencement of counting on Monday morningA total of six candidates are contesting the byelection The BJP a constituent of the ruling Peoples Democratic Alliance PDA has fielded Daochier I Imchen son of the late legislator Imkong L Imchen as the consensus candidate of the multiparty allianceOther prominent candidates include I Abenjang of the National Peoples Party NPP and T Chalukumba Ao of the CongressThree Independent candidates Imchatoba Imchen Imtiwapang Kichu and Major Toshikaba Retd are also in the fray making the contest competitiveThe results are expected to be declared by Monday afternoon IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/counting-of-votes-underway-in-nagaland-bypoll-amid-multi-layer-security-672125.html Mon, 04 May 2026 13:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-extends-birthday-greetings-to-vp-radhakrishnan-praises-his-deep-commitment-to-democratic-values-672128.html New Delhi May 4 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday extended birthday wishes to Vice President CP Radhakrishnan praising his contribution to parliamentary functioning and his commitment to the vision of a developed India Posting on X PM Modi said âWarm birthday greetings to Vice President Thiru CP Radhakrishnan Ji He is making numerous efforts to strengthen our collective dream of building a Viksit Bharat His consistent efforts to enhance the productivity and effectiveness of our Parliamentary proceedings reflect his deep commitment to democratic values Equally inspiring is his unwavering passion for allround development with a concern for the poor and marginalised His public life continues to be guided by dedication discipline and a clear sense of purpose I pray for his good health happiness and a long life in the service of the nationâDefence Minister Rajnath Singh also conveyed his wishes highlighting Radhakrishnanâs role in strengthening Parliament and inclusive developmentHe posted âGreetings and warm wishes to Vice President of India Thiru CP Radhakrishnan ji on his birth day He is making noteworthy contributions to our nation especially in ensuring Parliamentary productivity and in ensuring the fruits of development reach all sections of society May he be blessed with a long and healthy lifeâUttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath joined in extending greetings praying for his long life and continued service to the nationHe wrote âHeartfelt birthday wishes to the Honble Vice President Shri CP Radhakrishnan Ji May you be blessed with excellent health long life and continuous success and energy on the path of national service by the grace of Lord Shri Ram this is my prayerâCP Radhakrishnan was elected as the 15th Vice President in September 2025 defeating the INDIA bloc nominee Justice B Sudershan Reddy by 152 votes Prior to his election he was serving as the 24th Governor of Maharashtra having assumed office on July 31 2024He has also previously served as the Governor of Jharkhand from February 2023 to July 2024 and held additional responsibilities as Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry between March and July 2024 Over the years Radhakrishnan has been entrusted with multiple gubernatorial roles reflecting his longstanding administrative experience and presence in public life IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-extends-birthday-greetings-to-vp-radhakrishnan-praises-his-deep-commitment-to-democratic-values-672128.html Mon, 04 May 2026 14:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/cong-prepares-for-celebrations-in-kerala-tents-erected-ladoos-set-to-arrive-672130.html Thiruvananthapuram May 4 As the counting got underway in Kerala on Monday the Congress leaders appeared to be confident about their performance A specially erected shamiyana in front of the Congress state headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram alongside reports of bulk orders for ladoos clearly signalled that the party was bracing for a victory celebration As counting began for the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly election early postal ballot trends pointed to a closely fought contestThe Left Democratic Front LDF and the Congressled United Democratic Front UDF were involved in a neckandneck raceThe National Democratic Alliance NDA led by the Bharatiya Janata Party opened its account in four seats where it is leadingDespite the early numbers confidence remains high across camps State Communist Party of India Marxist secretary MV Govindan expressed strong optimism that the LDF is on course for a historic third consecutive termThe Left is banking on its governance record welfare delivery and infrastructure push under Chief Minister Pinarayi VijayanThe UDF meanwhile has anchored its campaign on antiincumbency pointing to rising prices corruption allegations and unemploymentBuoyed by exit poll projections favouring a change of guard Congress leaders appear confident that public sentiment has translated into votes even as internal leadership tussles linger in the backgroundThe NDA is aiming to expand its footprint by increasing vote share beyond 20 per cent hoping to emerge as a decisive force if the verdict turns fragmentedHighdecibel campaigning and outreach to key communities are seen as its primary strengthsAcross Keralaâs 140 constituencies counting is progressing under tight security with electronic voting machine tallies expected to sharpen trends through the morningKey battlegrounds include Dharmadam Paravur Haripad Thrissur Palakkad Nemom and NilamburWith early leads offering no decisive advantage yet the state awaits clarity on whether the initial edge for the LDF will hold or if the UDFâs visible confidence will translate into a change in powerAt Kalamassery the constituency of State Industries Minister P Rajeeve voting got delayed as the keys to the strong room appeared to be missing IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/cong-prepares-for-celebrations-in-kerala-tents-erected-ladoos-set-to-arrive-672130.html Mon, 04 May 2026 14:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/kerala-results-cm-vijayan-trailing-in-early-trends-672135.html Thiruvananthapuram May 4 For the first time Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is trailing as are several of his cabinet colleagues State Congress president and fighting his own battle in his home turf Sunny Joseph said this was a clear trend and nothing is stopping them from storming to power As counting gathers pace it signals a challenging day for the ruling Left Democratic Front LDFAs per the latest trends 14 ministers including CM Vijayan are trailing in their respective constituencies In 2021 Vijayan won Dharmadam with a margin of 50000 votesThe Congressled UDF is leading in 93 the Left in 42 and the BJP in fiveThe broader picture however points to a strong surge by the Congressled United Democratic Front UDF which has established a clear lead after early rounds of EVM countingThe alliance is ahead in a substantial number of seats indicating that its campaign centred on antiincumbency rising prices corruption allegations and unemployment may be striking a chord with votersThe LDF which had aimed for a historic third consecutive term is facing visible resistance in several sitting constituenciesTrailing ministers underline the extent of the challenge raising questions about vote erosion and the limits of its development and welfare narrativeParty leaders including state secretary MV Govindan had expressed confidence ahead of counting but emerging trends suggest a tougher contest than anticipatedIn contrast buoyancy is evident in UDF ranks with early leads reinforcing expectations of a potential return to powerCelebratory preparations that began in the morning at party offices now appear less premature as numbers consolidateThe National Democratic Alliance NDA led by the Bharatiya Janata Party remains limited in terms of seat leads but is looking to make incremental gains and improve its vote shareAs counting progresses across all 140 constituencies under tight security the focus remains on whether the UDF can convert its early advantage into a decisive mandate and whether Vijayanâs personal contest will offer any consolation in an otherwise difficult electoral landscape for the Left IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/kerala-results-cm-vijayan-trailing-in-early-trends-672135.html Mon, 04 May 2026 14:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/assam-results-gaurav-gogoi-trails-in-early-trends-himanta-sarma-leads-672137.html Guwahati May 4 Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi was trailing behind BJP rival Hitendra Nath Goswami after the first round of counting in Assams Jorhat Assembly constituency on Monday According to early trends Goswami secured 4993 votes taking a lead of 1056 votes while Gogoi polled 3937 votes in the opening round of countingOfficials said that only one out of the 14 rounds of counting has been completed so far and the margin is likely to fluctuate as more rounds are taken upThe Jorhat seat remains a key battleground with both parties closely tracking the evolving trendsMeanwhile Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was leading from the Jalukbari Assembly constituency seat giving an early boost to the ruling alliance as counting progressed across the state amid tight security arrangementsThe BJPled NDA was leading in 80 Assembly seats while the Congressled opposition alliance was ahead in 26 constituencies in the early rounds of counting for the Assembly electionsPolling for the Assembly elections was held on April 9 with an impressive voter turnout of 8596 per cent from an electorate of more than 250 croreA total of 722 candidates are in the fray including 59 women contenders The Congress fielded the highest number of candidates at 99 followed by the BJP with 90 The All India United Democratic Front AIUDF contested 30 seats Among NDA allies the Asom Gana Parishad fielded 26 candidates while the Bodo Peoples Front contested 11 seatsWithin the opposition bloc Raijor Dal fielded 13 candidates Assam Jatiya Parishad contested 10 CPIM three and the All Party Hill Leaders Conference two seats Other parties in the contest include the Aam Aadmi Party and United Peoples Party Liberal with 18 seats each the Trinamool Congress with 22 and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha with 16 There are also 258 Independent candidates IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/assam-results-gaurav-gogoi-trails-in-early-trends-himanta-sarma-leads-672137.html Mon, 04 May 2026 14:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/formation-of-bjp-govt-certain-in-bengal-leaders-confident-of-historic-win-672140.html New Delhi May 4 As vote counting continues in West Bengal BJP leaders have expressed strong confidence in forming the government citing early trends that show the party ahead in several constituencies West Bengal BJP State President Samik Bhattacharya said âWhatever ups and downs took place during the elections let that be now let people enjoy The formation of the BJP government is certainâ His statement reflects growing optimism within the party camp as counting progressesBJP leader Shishir Bajoria also claimed that the trends indicate a historic outcome for the party He said âIt is clearly visible today that everything will become clear in some time and the BJP is going to create history here with a massive majorityâBJP National Secretary Anil K Antony highlighted that the party is witnessing positive momentum across states where counting is underwaySpeaking to IANS Antony said âThese are initial trends and the initial trends are very positive We are very sure that as the day progresses further our party is going to increase its mandate in each of these states where the current trends are very positive In West Bengal the party is moving towards a decisive victory right now We are leading in more than half the states For the first time ever we are going to see a doubleengine government in West Bengal something which is becoming normal these daysâAccording to early trends as of 10 am the BJP is leading in 48 seats in West Bengal as counting continuesThe electoral contests across the state have drawn significant attention with both the ruling Trinamool Congress and opposition BJP closely tracking constituencywise developments as results begin to take shapeAs counting progresses through the day both parties remain on edge with final outcomes expected to determine the political direction of West Bengal in the coming term IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/formation-of-bjp-govt-certain-in-bengal-leaders-confident-of-historic-win-672140.html Mon, 04 May 2026 14:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-bypolls-bjp-leads-in-davanagere-south-congress-ahead-in-bagalkot-672145.html Bengaluru May 4 The counting of votes for two Assembly segments in Karnataka Davanagere South and Bagalkot where byelections were held began on Monday The results are crucial for both the ruling Congress party and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party BJP In the muchawaited Davanagere South constituency BJPâs Srinivasa T Dasakariyappa is leading over Congress candidate Samarth Mallikarjun Srinivasa has polled 3711 votes while Samarth Mallikarjun has secured 3134 votes after the first round of counting There are a total of 21 rounds of countingIn the Bagalkot Assembly segment at the end of the second round of counting Congress candidate Umesh Meti has taken a lead of more than 5000 votes over BJP candidate Veeranna Charantimath Umesh Meti has secured 10996 votes while Veeranna Charantimath has polled 5980 votes There are a total of 23 rounds of countingIn Bagalkot the byelection was held following the untimely demise of HY Meti His son Umesh Meti is in a direct contest against the BJPâs Veeranna Charantimath Chief Minister Siddaramaiah campaigned extensively for the Congress candidateThe counting of votes began at 8 am and will be conducted in 23 rounds across 14 tables Bagalkot Deputy Commissioner Sangappa said that all preparations had been made for the counting process A total of 63 counting personnel have been deployed and all necessary arrangements are in placeCandidates and election agents arrived at the counting centre by 7 am and the strongroom was opened in their presenceThe Davanagere South bypoll was necessitated by the death of veteran Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa The party fielded his grandson Samarth Mallikarjun as its candidate while the BJP nominated Srinivasa T Dasakariyappa a party leader from the oppressed classesFollowing allegations of antiparty activities Congress removed two MLCs from party positions after announcing its candidate The prestige of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is at stake while the BJP is hoping to secure its first victory in this Assembly segmentElection Officer Santosh Kumar and Deputy Commissioner GM Gangadharaswamy reviewed the preparations in Davanagere The strongroom was opened in the presence of the candidatesâ agentsA total of 14 tables have been set up for counting Postal ballots were counted before 8 am and counting of EVMs began at 830 am The results will be declared after a total of 21 rounds at least Each table has four staff members including a micro observer and all tables are under CCTV surveillance IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-bypolls-bjp-leads-in-davanagere-south-congress-ahead-in-bagalkot-672145.html Mon, 04 May 2026 14:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/major-demolition-drive-against-unauthorised-structures-in-jammu-672150.html Jammu May 4 The Jammu Development Authority JDA said on Monday that it has carried out a major demolition drive against unauthorised constructions along the Ring Road Corridor in Jammu district to ensure public safety An official statement said that in a significant enforcement action undertaken on Monday the Jammu Development Authority JDA carried out a major demolition drive along the Ring Road Corridor to curb unauthorised constructions and ensure planned urban developmentDuring the drive more than 15 illegal structures which had been raised without obtaining the requisite building permissions from the competent authority were demolishedThe JDA said these structures were found to be in clear violation of approved land use norms and building regulations Preliminary assessments indicated that the unauthorised constructions posed a serious threat to public safetyMany of these structures were either structurally unsound or had encroached upon critical areas thereby increasing the risk of damage to life and property particularly to nearby residential and commercial establishmentsThe demolition operation was conducted by the Enforcement Wing of JDA with the assistance of local administration and law enforcement agencies ensuring that the drive was carried out smoothly and without any untoward incidentPrior notices as per due legal procedure had been served to the violators providing them with adequate opportunity to comply with the regulations The Authority reiterates its commitment to maintaining planned development in Jammu and urges the general public to strictly adhere to building norms and obtain necessary permissions before undertaking any construction activityUnauthorised constructions not only violate the law but also endanger public safety and disrupt orderly urban growth The JDA further emphasises that similar enforcement actions will continue in the future against all such violations without exceptionThere are two development authorities JDA in Jammu city and Srinagar Development Authority SDA in Srinagar city in addition to the two municipal corporations These control construction and developmental plans in the twin capitals to ensure planned civic and safe development and expansion of these two fastgrowing cities IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/major-demolition-drive-against-unauthorised-structures-in-jammu-672150.html Mon, 04 May 2026 14:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/vijays-tvk-surges-across-tn-as-stalin-trails-in-kolathur-early-trends-show-major-upsets-672153.html Chennai May 4 DMK chief Chief Minister MK Stalin is trailing in his home turf of Kolathur even as Vijayled Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK continues its strong surge across Tamil Nadu according to early counting trends on Monday In the Kolathur constituency after the sixth round of counting TVK candidate VS Babu has taken the lead with 24993 votes while Stalin is in second place with 20982 votes The AIADMK candidate trails far behind with 5982 votes followed by Naam Tamilar Katchi NTK with 1801 votes indicating a significant shift in what has long been considered a DMK strongholdTVKâs momentum is visible across several constituencies in the state In Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar the party is leading after the third round with 5142 votes ahead of the DMKâs 3182 and AIADMKâs 1409 The NTK candidate remains a distant fourthThe party has also established leads in key Chennai constituencies including Egmore Anna Nagar Villivakkam and Thousand Lights underlining its growing urban appealMeanwhile senior DMK leader V Senthil Balaji is holding on to a lead in Coimbatore South constituency after the second round offering some relief to the ruling partyIn contrast AIADMK strongman SP Velumani is leading in Thondamuthur after six rounds of countingIn Vriddhachalam DMDK leader Premalatha Vijayakanth is trailing adding to the setbacks faced by smaller allies in the frayTVK chief Vijay himself is maintaining a comfortable lead in both Perambur after four rounds and Tiruchy East after three rounds reinforcing the partyâs impressive debut performance in the Assembly electionsReports have also emerged that the party has booked a resort in Mahabalipuram to house its winning MLAs amid concerns of potential postpoll poachingReacting to the early trends TVK national spokesperson Felix Gerald exuded confidence that the party would secure an absolute majority and form the next governmentHe said the outcome reflects widespread public disillusionment with traditional partiesâThey may have decades of experience but only in looting the state People have placed their trust in TVK as a genuine alternativeâ Gerald saidAs counting progresses the trends suggest a dramatic reshaping of Tamil Naduâs political landscape with TVK emerging as a formidable challenger to the stateâs entrenched Dravidian parties IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/vijays-tvk-surges-across-tn-as-stalin-trails-in-kolathur-early-trends-show-major-upsets-672153.html Mon, 04 May 2026 14:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/as-bjp-eyes-govt-formation-in-bengal-bjp-mp-mahesh-sharma-credits-pm-modi-and-amit-shah-672159.html New Delhi May 4 As vote counting continues in West Bengal BJP MP Dr Mahesh Sharma expressed strong confidence over emerging trends suggesting that the party is moving towards forming the government in the state and credited the partyâs central leadership workers and voters for the performance as counting progresses Sharma said the early trends reflect the efforts of the party leadership and cadre on the ground He stated that the BJP expects to form the government and bring development to the state He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modis exemplary leadership and Home Minister Amit Shahs astute election management and also committed work by the partys grassroot workers for the partys stupendous performanceSharing further details on the partyâs internal leadership efforts Mahesh Sharma said âOur Chanakya of all our policies Amit Shah along with party workers here Suvendu Adhikari Dilip Ghosh all of them had started this with great enthusiasm and the result is now in front of usâBJP leader Agnimitra Paul also expressed confidence in the partyâs prospects stating that the BJP is on course to form the next government She emphasized the partyâs development agenda and inclusive approach She said âWe are going to form a government For every person for all religions for all castes we have one mantra and that is developmentâThe statements come amid closely watched counting trends in West Bengal where both the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress are tracking constituencywise developments closely as results begin to take shapeThe election battle in the state has been intense with both sides projecting competing narratives of governance development and political change Early trends have triggered strong reactions from leaders across party lines as counting continuesAs the day progresses both parties remain focused on final outcomes that will decide the political direction of West Bengal in the coming term with supporters of both camps awaiting clarity as counting enters crucial rounds IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/as-bjp-eyes-govt-formation-in-bengal-bjp-mp-mahesh-sharma-credits-pm-modi-and-amit-shah-672159.html Mon, 04 May 2026 14:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/andhra-pradesh-government-intervenes-to-help-woman-stranded-in-oman-672160.html Amaravati May 4 The Andhra Pradesh government has come to the rescue of a woman from the state stranded in Oman Dudekula Shehnaz a native of Vayalapadu village in Annmayya district was held in confinement by her employerFollowing intervention by the state government and Andhra Pradesh NonResident Telugu Society APNRTS she is now expected to return home on May 7According to an official release on Monday the woman was held in confinement and the agents office demanded Rs 2 lakh to cover expensesShahnaz had travelled to Muscat last November in search of a job Dissatisfied with the work she wished to return home but was not allowed to leaveHer family members had expressed deep concern after her phone was confiscated Her husband Abubaker had lodged a complaint with the APNRTSThe state government and the APNRTS responded immediately A letter was sent to the Indian embassy in MuscatPolice intervened to facilitate negotiations with the agent who agreed to bear the costs and send Shahnaz back to Andhra Pradesh the release saidChief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu stated that the state government is committed to ensuring the safety and security of migrant workers He commended the APNRTSEarlier the office of Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan stated on Sunday that he responded to a woman in distressThe Deputy Chief Ministers office contacted the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the diplomatic missionShehnaz who had gone to Muscat to work for her familys sustenance was unable to bear the harassment in her workplace and sent a video message to Pawan Kalyan via social mediaThe video she sent showing her weeping and saying Pawan Kalyan anna save me deeply moved the Deputy Chief Minister Hearing her words that they were beating her not even giving food or water and that her life was in danger Pawan Kalyan was profoundly affected He immediately instructed his office staff to take the necessary actions to bring her back to the homeland without delay In accordance with the Deputy Chief Ministers orders the office staff initiated efforts to rescue ShehnazThey spoke with the agent in Oman through her husband They also contacted the diplomatic mission and officials from the Ministry of External Affairs IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/andhra-pradesh-government-intervenes-to-help-woman-stranded-in-oman-672160.html Mon, 04 May 2026 14:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ruling-bjps-jahar-chakraborti-takes-commanding-lead-in-tripuras-dharmanagar-bypoll-counting-672161.html Agartala May 4 The ruling BJP candidate Jahar Chakraborti has surged ahead in the Dharmanagar Assembly bypoll leading by around 18300 votes over his nearest rival CPIMâs Amitabha Datta The byeelection was held on April 9 and the vote counting is currently underway at the North Tripura district headquarters in Dharmanagar amid tight security arrangementsAccording to Election Commission data Chakraborti has established a significant lead over both Datta and Congress candidate Chayan Bhattacharya After the second round of counting Chakraborti secured 24291 votes while Datta and Bhattacharya received 6001 and 5936 votes respectivelyThe counting of votes for the Dharmanagar Assembly bypoll began at 8 AM on Monday under tight security arrangements officials saidElection officials said that postal ballots were counted first followed by votes cast in Electronic Voting Machines EVMs and there will be four rounds of counting in the North Tripura district headquarters at DharmanagarVotes will be counted in only one counting hall where 14 counting tables including one for postal ballots have been placedEach counting table will be supervised and monitored by a counting supervisor and counting assistants Central observers appointed by the Election Commission will monitor the counting processThe results are expected to be declared by Monday afternoonDeputy Inspector General of Police Northern Range Ratiranjan Debnath told the media that a threetier security arrangement has been put in place ahead of the counting of votes for the bypoll to the Dharmanagar Assembly constituency in North Tripura districtNorth Tripura District Magistrate amp Collector Chandni Chandran who is the District Election Officer along with Returning Officer Debjani Choudhury said that the Central Reserve Police Force CRPF the Tripura State Rifles and state police personnel in adequate numbers were deployed in the threetier security arrangements in and around the counting centreProhibitory orders have been imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita BNSS within a 100metre radius of the counting centre from 6 AM on Monday till the end of the counting of votes to ensure peaceful vote countingOver 80 per cent of the 46142 voters including 23758 women exercised their vote in the bypoll for the Dharmanagar Assembly constituency in North Tripura district on April 9The bypoll was necessitated by the demise of sitting MLA and Tripura Assembly Speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen who passed away on December 26 last year at a private hospital in Bengaluru after a prolonged illness at the age of 72Sen had been elected to the Tripura Assembly four times twice as a Congress candidate in 2008 and 2013 and later in 2018 and 2023 as a BJP nominee from the same Assembly constituencyThe Dharmanagar Assembly constituency has remained a stronghold of either the Congress or the BJP since 2008 with the CPIM last winning the Assembly seat in 2003A multicornered contest has made the electoral battle highly competitive The six candidates in the fray include nominees from major political parties smaller outfits and an Independent candidateKey candidates include Jahar Chakraborti of the BJP Chayan Bhattacharjee of the Congress and Amitabha Datta representing the CPIMled Left FrontDatta had won the seat in the 2003 Assembly elections Chakraborti 59 currently serves as the BJPs North Tripura district VicePresidentIn addition candidates from the Amra Bangali party Socialist Unity Centre of IndiaCommunist and an Independent aspirant are also contesting the bypoll further intensifying the political contestThe Left Front and the Congress which had entered into a seatsharing arrangement during the 2023 Tripura Assembly elections to jointly challenge the BJP contested separately in this bypoll adding another dimension to the contestSupported by the Left parties Congress leader Chayan Bhattacharjee had earlier contested the Dharmanagar Assembly seat in 2023 but lost narrowly to BJP candidate Biswa Bandhu Sen by a margin of 956 votes IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ruling-bjps-jahar-chakraborti-takes-commanding-lead-in-tripuras-dharmanagar-bypoll-counting-672161.html Mon, 04 May 2026 14:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/nagaland-bypoll-bjps-daochier-imchen-leads-by-over-3-000-votes-672165.html Kohima May 4 BJP candidate Daochier I Imchen has taken an early lead in the Koridang Assembly constituency bypoll in Nagaland ahead by around 3100 votes over his nearest rival Independent candidate Major Toshikaba Retd The byelection was held on April 9 Counting of votes is underway with initial trends indicating a good performance by the BJP nomineeAfter the second round of counting Imchen secured 7317 votes Independent candidates Major Toshikaba Retd and Imtiwapang Kichu followed with 4194 and 3633 votes respectivelyThe BJP is a constituent of the ruling Peoples Democratic Alliance PDA The party nominee Daochier I Imchen who is the son of the late legislator Imkong L Imchen was the consensus candidate of the multiparty PDA allianceA total of six candidates are contesting the byelection Other candidates include I Abenjang of the National Peoples Party NPP and T Chalukumba Ao of the Congress Three Independent candidates Imchatoba Imchen Imtiwapang Kichu and Major Toshikaba Retd are also in the fray making the contest competitive The complete results are expected to be declared by the afternoonThe counting of votes for the Koridang Assembly constituency bypoll in Nagaland commenced at 8 am on Monday under a multilayer security arrangement officials said Election officials said that as per the Election Commission guidelines postal ballots were counted first followed by votes stored in the EVMs Electronic Voting Machines and there will be three rounds of counting at the Mokokchung District Deputy Commissioners officeWith the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces CAPF along with state security personnel a multilayered security arrangement CCTV surveillance and strict access control measures have been put in place at the Mokokchung District Deputy Commissioners officeA senior election official said that all necessary preparations have been undertaken to ensure smooth and transparent counting of votes for the Koridang Assembly Constituency byelectionThe byelection held on April 9 was necessitated following the demise of sitting BJP MLA Imkong L Imchen who passed away on November 11 2024 at a private hospital in Guwahati after a brief illness He was 75 years oldThe bypoll recorded a voter turnout of 8221 per cent on April 9 with electors casting their votes at 30 polling stations IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/nagaland-bypoll-bjps-daochier-imchen-leads-by-over-3-000-votes-672165.html Mon, 04 May 2026 14:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-bjps-dn-jeevaraj-wins-sringeri-after-postal-ballot-recount-calls-it-victory-for-truth-672166.html Bengaluru May 4 In the recounting of postal ballots in Sringeri BJP candidate DN Jeevaraj has emerged victorious against sitting Congress MLA TD Rajegowda Election Officer Gaurav Kumar Shetty officially announced the result on Monday The process of reverification and recounting of postal ballots in the Sringeri constituency in the 2023 Assembly elections on the orders of the Karnataka High Court was completed and a report was submitted to the Election Commission of India on SundayJeevaraj officially received the MLA certificate on Monday and described this victory achieved after three years of continuous legal battle as âa victory for truthâ Jeevaraj who had alleged irregularities during vote counting after the 2023 election said that a significant discrepancy was found in votes that had previously been rejected during the recountHe stated that bundles containing 25 votes each were rejected during the recount âEarlier votes were illegally added to ensure someoneâs victory We had already requested that the ballot papers be securedâ he recalledResponding to the FIR registered against him following his victory Jeevaraj said âIt is not right to allege tampering after losing When they won earlier it was called a constitutional victory when we win they call it tampering There was no basis to register an FIR against me yet it has been done illegally We will challenge this in the Supreme CourtâReacting to the development BJP Yuva Morcha President and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya stated Heartfelt congratulations to DN Jeevaraj on his victory in the recounting of votes in the Sringeri Assembly constituency conducted as per the High Courtâs order This is a victory that reinforces our faith in the electoral system and the judiciarySincere thanks to all the voters of the Sringeri constituency for their complete support throughout this continuous struggle Surya statedIt can be recalled that Karnataka BJP on Sunday demanded that the result of recounting of Sringeri Assembly constituency should be declared immediately as per the High Court order and also alleged that the Congress government in the state is exerting pressure on officialsThe BJP on Sunday claimed victory based on the figures provided by the Election Officer though the official result is yet to be announced by the ECIHowever on Saturday sitting Congress MLA TD Rajegowda claimed victory following the recount and celebrated with his supporters near the counting centreDeputy Chief Minister and State Congress President DK Shivakumar on Sunday alleged that a largescale conspiracy and systematic crime had taken place in the Sringeri Assembly seat in Chikkamagaluru district calling it a blot on the country and democracy IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-bjps-dn-jeevaraj-wins-sringeri-after-postal-ballot-recount-calls-it-victory-for-truth-672166.html Mon, 04 May 2026 14:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-bypolls-congress-secures-leads-in-both-assembly-segments-celebrations-begin-in-bagalkot-672169.html Bengaluru May 4 The counting of votes for two Assembly segments in Karnataka Davanagere South and Bagalkot where byeelections were held were progressing well on Monday According to latest official statistics the Congress is leading in both segments after initial setback in Davanagere South segment The Congress party workers have begun celebrations in Bagalkot segment as the candidate has maintained more than 15000 votes and counting of only four rounds is remainingEarlier the BJP was leading by 3925 votes in Davanagere South and the ruling Congress party had obtained leads by 10321 votes in the initial rounds Currently the Congress candidate Samarth Mallikarjun is leading by 3986 votes in Davanagere South and Umesh Meti the Congress candidate in Bagalkot is leading by 15235 votesThe results are crucial for both the ruling Congress party and the Opposition BJPIn the muchawaited Davanagere South constituency BJPâs Srinivasa T Dasakariyappas is trailing against Congress candidate Samarth Mallikarjun Srinivasa has polled 26544 while Samarth Mallikarjun has secured 30530 votes after the ninth round of counting There are a total of 21 rounds of countingIn the Bagalkot Assembly segment at the end of the 19th round of counting Congress candidate Umesh Meti has maintained a good lead of 15235 votes over BJP candidate Veeranna Charantimath Umesh Meti has secured 78482 votes while Veeranna Charantimath has polled 63607 votes There are a total of 23 rounds of countingIn Bagalkot the byeelection was held following the untimely demise of HY Meti His son Umesh Meti is in a direct contest against the BJPâs Veeranna Charantimath Chief Minister Siddaramaiah campaigned extensively for the Congress candidateThe counting of votes began at 8 AM and will be conducted in 23 rounds across 14 tables Bagalkot Deputy Commissioner Sangappa said that all preparations had been made for the counting process A total of 63 counting personnel have been deployed and all necessary arrangements are in placeThe Davanagere South bypoll was necessitated by the death of veteran Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa The party fielded his grandson Samarth Mallikarjun as its candidate while the BJP nominated Srinivasa T Dasakariyappa a party leader from the oppressed classesFollowing allegations of antiparty activities Congress removed two MLCs from party positions after announcing its candidate The prestige of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is at stake while the BJP is hoping to secure its first victory in this Assembly segmentElection Officer Santosh Kumar and Deputy Commissioner GM Gangadharaswamy reviewed the preparations in Davanagere The strongroom was opened in the presence of the candidatesâ agents IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-bypolls-congress-secures-leads-in-both-assembly-segments-celebrations-begin-in-bagalkot-672169.html Mon, 04 May 2026 14:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/nda-tightens-grip-on-puducherry-as-rangasamy-namassivayam-register-key-wins-672172.html Puducherry May 4 The NDA alliance strengthened its position in the Puducherry Assembly election results on Monday with key victories and early trends indicating a clear edge over the Congressled front In a significant result BJP candidate A Namassivayam secured a decisive victory from the Mannadipet Assembly constituency defeating his Congress rival TPR Selvame by a margin of 6110 votes The win marks a notable improvement for the BJP leader who had won the seat by a much narrower margin of 2750 votes in the 2021 electionsThe expanded margin this time reflects stronger consolidation of support in favour of the BJP in the constituencyMeanwhile Chief Minister N Rangasamy retained his stronghold of Thattanchavady winning the seat by 4441 votes The victory reinforces Rangasamyâs continued political dominance in the constituency and bolsters the position of the All India NR Congress AINRC a key constituent of the NDA alliance in the union territoryAs counting progressed across Puducherry the NDA alliance surged ahead with leads in 13 seats indicating a comfortable advantage in the 30member AssemblyThe AINRC emerged as the principal contributor within the alliance accounting for the majority of these leads while the BJPâs improved performance in select constituencies added to the coalitionâs momentumIn contrast the Congressled alliance struggled to keep pace managing leads in just six seats in early trendsWithin the opposition bloc the DMK was ahead in three constituencies while the Congress led in two reflecting a fragmented performance that has so far failed to challenge the NDAâs dominanceInterestingly candidates outside the major alliances also made their presence feltIndependents were leading in three constituencies while actor Vijayâs Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK opened its account in Puducherry by leading in one seatThese âOthersâ holding a total of four seats in early trends could prove crucial in the event of tighter margins in the final rounds of countingWith counting still underway the trends suggest a clear advantage for the NDA alliance even as the Congressled front looks to regain ground in the remaining rounds IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/nda-tightens-grip-on-puducherry-as-rangasamy-namassivayam-register-key-wins-672172.html Mon, 04 May 2026 14:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/kumaraswamy-hails-nda-victory-as-endorsement-of-pm-modis-viksit-bharat-vision-672176.html BengaluruNew Delhi May 4 Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy on Monday hailed the National Democratic Allianceâs NDA performance in the state election results describing it as a strong endorsement of Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs leadership and his vision for a âViksit Bharatâ In a statement issued as the results pour in Kumaraswamy said the mandate reflects the continued trust of the people in the governmentâs policies and governance model He noted that the outcome demonstrates a clear alignment between public aspirations and the principles of inclusive development encapsulated in âSabka Saath Sabka Vikas Sabka VishwasâHe further said the NDA has emerged as a platform of credibility performance and inclusive governance adding that the results underline the importance voters place on delivery integrity and strong public connect particularly among the youthKumaraswamy credited Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his strategic leadership and organisational strengthening which he said played a key role in expanding the NDAâs reach across the countryHe also acknowledged the efforts of BJP National President Nitin Nabin in energising the party organisation and maintaining close engagement with party workersExtending his congratulations Kumaraswamy lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi Amit Shah Nitin Nabin NDA candidates party workers and voters describing the outcome as a historic mandate in favour of stability and developmentoriented governanceResponding to the fivestate election results Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the outcome in Assam was on expected lines and they accept it In Kerala they have secured more seats than anticipated âWe had said we would win around 76 to 80 seats but we are leading in 95 seatsâ he said He added that he believes there may be an antiincumbency wave in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Speaking about the TVK party gaining a lead in Tamil Nadu he said he would congratulate VijayChief Minister Siddaramaiah further expressed confidence that the Congress will win the byelections in Davanagere and Bagalkot He said that in Davanagere the victory margin may be lower due to various reasons but they will still win IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/kumaraswamy-hails-nda-victory-as-endorsement-of-pm-modis-viksit-bharat-vision-672176.html Mon, 04 May 2026 14:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktr-meets-brs-leader-in-jail-accuses-congress-government-of-vindictive-politics-672182.html Hyderabad May 4 Bharat Rashtra Samithi BRS Working President KT Rama Rao on Monday visited party leader Manne Krishank at Sangareddy Jail where he is lodged in a case relating to alleged assault on a Congress party worker Several senior leaders of the BRS accompanied Rama Rao during this visitKrishank and seven of his associates were arrested on April 24 in Hyderabad for allegedly assaulting a Congress worker over a social media postKTR however termed his arrest illegal He claimed that as a student leader of Osmania University and former Chairman of the Telangana State Mineral Development Corporation Krishank has been continuously fighting for public issuesIt is despicable that for questioning government corruption and maladministration over 35 false cases have been filed against him to harass him The Revanth Reddy government indulging in vindictive politics is trying to throttle the voice of democracy KTR told media personsThe BRS leader accused the Congress government of pursuing vindictive politics and filing fabricated cases against them Manne Krishank is an educated young man a lawyer and a PhD holder Having stood at the forefront of the student movement at Osmania University he served as the Chairman of the Telangana State Mineral Development Corporation following the formation of the Telangana state he saidKTR alleged that a series of cases are being registered against Krishank solely because he has been questioning the governments corruption and irregularities and bringing these issues to the publics attention over the past two and a half years It is atrocious that in cases where the potential punishment is less than four yearsâsituations where station bail should typically be grantedâhe has been kept in jail for 12 days and is being portrayed as a habitual offender he remarkedHe stated that cases were filed against the BRS leaders for various reasonsânotably for raising the issue of harassment against Miss England on social media for exposing the affairs of the Chief Ministers family members and their proxy companies for bringing to light corruption in the allocation of government contracts and for questioning injustices occurring at the rural levelThe BRS leader criticised the government stating that instead of focusing on the rising crime rate within the state it remains preoccupied with filing cases over social media posts Even when shootings occur in broad daylight in Karimnagar the government fails to respond Yet it remains hypervigilant regarding who posts what on social media he remarked IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktr-meets-brs-leader-in-jail-accuses-congress-government-of-vindictive-politics-672182.html Mon, 04 May 2026 15:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/kerala-polls-chandy-oommens-bicycle-campaign-rides-into-history-672186.html Thiruvananthapuram May 4 In a result that blends legacy simplicity and political momentum Chandy Oommen is racing towards a historic victory on a humble bicycle as his margin crossed the 50000 mark on Monday afternoon The son of twotime former Chief Minister late Oommen Chandy Chandy Oommenâs campaign stood out in a crowded and highdecibel electoral seasonEschewing the usual fanfare he ran a lowkey campaign with minimal publicity material relying instead on direct voter engagement While most candidates crisscrossed their constituencies in SUVs and campaign convoys he chose a far humbler mode of outreach a bicycleThat image of him cycling through villages and town centres quickly became symbolic of his approach Accessible grounded and personalThe campaign drew national attention when Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi joined him for a bicycle ride amplifying the message of simplicity and connectThere is also a strong emotional undercurrent to his victoryHis father Oommen Chandy represented Puthuppally continuously from 1970 until his passing two years ago never losing the seatHis highest winning margin had been a little over 30000 votes a benchmark that Chandy Oommen had already surpassed in the byeelection that followed his fatherâs deathNow as he crosses the 50000 vote margin he is set to rewrite that legacy in emphatic fashionParty workers and supporters see the mandate as both a tribute to a towering political figure and an endorsement of a newgeneration leader carving his own pathA bachelor known for his relatively understated public persona Chandy Oommen is now widely expected to be inducted as a minister in the new governmentAs Kerala delivers a decisive verdict his story stands out not just for the scale of victory but for the way it was achieved one pedal at a time IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/kerala-polls-chandy-oommens-bicycle-campaign-rides-into-history-672186.html Mon, 04 May 2026 15:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/media-bodies-raise-concern-over-increasing-curbs-on-press-freedom-in-pakistan-672188.html Islamabad May 4 Media bodies and civil society organisations have voiced concern over increasing curbs on press freedom and growing risks to journalists in Pakistan local media reported on Monday In a joint statement released to mark the World Press Freedom Day the Joint Action Committee â comprising the Pakistan Broadcasters Association PBA the All Pakistan Newspapers Society APNS the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors CPNE the Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors AMEND and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists PFUJ termed the past year challenging for journalism with growing restrictions around the world the daily Dawn reportedIt stated that the state of freedom of expression has not been satisfactory in Pakistan According to the statement journalists in Pakistan face harassment arrests violence and increasing pressure from state institutions while media outlets face editorial interference demonstrating how outlets are being controlled at various levels and tactics being used like government advertisements to get editorial control limiting the right to information through censorship and taking dissenting voices off airMeanwhile civil society representatives issued an open letter to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif where they mentioned that the media landscape in Pakistan was increasingly marked by intimidation legal pressure and economic vulnerabilityThe signatories stated that World Press Freedom Day meant to celebrate the role of a free press was a reminder of the risks faced by journalists They mentioned that a functioning democracy relied on strong institutions especially on independent media committed to factual reporting and accountability Dawn reportedIn the letter the signatories spoke about the increasing pattern of harassment under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act PECA which they said was often used to silence dissent instead of securing convictions In the letter the signatories mentioned several cases in which journalists were booked under the law but later released due to a lack of evidenceThe cases included Islamabadbased journalist Asad Toor who faced multiple legal actions over social media posts and Farhan Mallick founder of a digital news platform who was arrested in 2025 on allegations of antistate activity before being acquitted earlier this year The letter stated that the acquittals demonstrated concerns that such prosecutions were often fishing expeditions for intimidationLast week a report in Islamabadbased media watchdog Freedom Network detailed that Pakistans media landscape saw a reduction in space for free expression during the past year due to increasing legal regulatory and economic and other pressuresTitled Regulatory Repression of Freedom of Expression â Legal Controls and PECA Undermine Media and Journalism in Pakistan the report stated that the amended PECA law is the most consequential instrument being used to restrict journalists and free speech practitioners in the countryAccording to the report the provisions of PECA law were increasingly being used in 2025 and 2026 to criminalise lawful expression target dissent and intimidate journalists lawyers and political commentators Freedom Network released the report to mark World Press Freedom Day which is observed globally on May 3 each yearThe weaponisation of PECA has created a climate of fear where journalists are compelled to selfcensor to avoid legal repercussions said Freedom Network Executive Director Iqbal Khattak while terming it as one of the most serious threats to media freedom in Pakistan todayThe report has highlighted convictions of human rights lawyers including Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha as examples of how custodial sentences were being used to deter dissent Furthermore dozens of journalists have faced charges under increased provisions of PECA while defamation cases regulatory suspensions and internet shutdowns have further affected independent journalism IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/media-bodies-raise-concern-over-increasing-curbs-on-press-freedom-in-pakistan-672188.html Mon, 04 May 2026 15:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/nagaland-bypoll-bjp-retains-koridang-assembly-seat-672193.html Kohima May 4 The Bharatiya Janata Party BJP constituent of the ruling Peopleâs Democratic Alliance PDA retained the Koridang Assembly seat in Nagaland where the byelection was held on April 9 and the results were declared on Monday According to the Election Commission BJP candidate Daochier I Imchen defeated Independent candidate Major Toshikaba Retd by a margin of 3123 votesImchen secured 7317 votes while the Independent candidate Major Toshikaba Retd bagged 4194 votesImchen 35 has been elected to the Nagaland state Assembly for the first timeNagaland Chief Minister and PDA supremo Neiphiu Rio congratulated BJP candidate Daochier I Imchen for his election to the state AssemblyThe Chief Minister said in a post on his X handle âCongratulations to PDA consensus candidate Shri Daochier I Imchen of BJP on winning the 28 Koridang AC byelection The mandate reflects public confidence in our shared vision We remain committed to advancing development and progress and are grateful for the supportââGrateful to the electorate for reposing faith in the PDA coalition and appreciation to all the party workers of the alliance for their dedication and hard work We are motivated to work harder for the allround progress of Nagalandâ Rio statedThe BJP is a constituent of the ruling Peoples Democratic Alliance PDA headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu RioBJP nominee Imchen is the son of the late legislator Imkong L Imchen and was the consensus candidate of the multiparty PDA allianceA total of six candidates were contesting the byelection Other candidates included T Chalukumba Ao of the Congress and Independent candidate Imchatoba Imchen The Congress nominee secured only 144 votesThe results were declared after three rounds of counting at the Mokokchung District Deputy Commissioners office Election officials said that as per the Election Commission guidelines postal ballots were counted first followed by votes stored in the EVMs Electronic Voting MachinesThe byelection held on April 9 was necessitated following the demise of sitting BJP MLA Imkong L Imchen who passed away on November 11 2025 at a private hospital in Guwahati after a brief illness He was 75 years oldThe bypoll recorded a voter turnout of 8221 per cent on April 9 with electors casting their votes across 30 polling stations In view of the electionrelated violence reported on April 5 and 6 which resulted in one fatality several injuries and damage to vehicles a robust multitier security arrangement had been deployed in and around the counting centre to prevent any untoward incidents IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/nagaland-bypoll-bjp-retains-koridang-assembly-seat-672193.html Mon, 04 May 2026 15:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-cm-rekha-guptas-jhalmuri-rasgulla-party-as-bjp-inches-closer-to-victory-in-bengal-672204.html New Delhi May 4 IANS Jhalmuri a Bengali snack popularised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the West Bengal election campaign was the flavour of the celebrations in Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Guptas office on Monday as the BJP registered an emphatic win in the eastern statenbspChief Minister Gupta and her Cabinet colleagues ate Jhalmuri and Rasgulla in the Delhi Secretariat to celebrate the BJPs win in the West Bengal Assembly electionsnbspIn a celebratory message on X CM Gupta said Under the leadership of the esteemed Prime Minister Shri narendramodi ji every state in the country is turning saffron With Assams hattrick victory BJP government has also come to power in Bengal Heartiest congratulations on the resounding victory Celebrating the win with jhalmuri and rasgullaEarlier Chief Minister Gupta joined star BJP campaigners in wooing voters in Bengal and campaigned enthusiastically for the twophase elections in the 294 seats whose results were declared on Monday bringing the party to power in the state for the first timeWhile campaigning for BJP candidates in Kharagpur and Durgapur among other areas she highlighted the terrorbased rule of the Trinamool government headed by Mamata BanerjeeShe visited a tea stall and interacted with its women owner in Durgapur and even hit out at suspected TMC workers who allegedly switched off streetlights during her roadshow in Kolkata in an attempt to disrupt the eventIn one of her election speeches earlier she said Every resident of Bengal who has endured 15 years of politics marked by fear and intimidation is now determined for changeThe sense of oppression has only increased over time but today people appear to have firmly made up their minds This time they are ready to bring a government of the Lotus symbol in Bengal After the results on May 4 it will feel like a sunrise where everyone is respected she saidThe Delhi Chief Minister also criticised the Trinamool Congress administration alleging that West Bengal has been in a difficult situation for several years She raised concerns about the safety of women claiming that there is an atmosphere of fearIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-cm-rekha-guptas-jhalmuri-rasgulla-party-as-bjp-inches-closer-to-victory-in-bengal-672204.html Mon, 04 May 2026 16:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-bypolls-congress-wins-bagalkot-davanagere-south-sees-close-contest-672208.html Bengaluru May 4 The counting of votes for the Bagalkot Assembly segment in Karnataka has been completed with Congress securing a huge victory margin of 22332 votes Meanwhile Davanagere South is witnessing a close contest and the Congress party is leading by 5657 votes The Congress party workers are celebrating in the Bagalkot segment as the candidate has secured a win with a huge margin of votes Bagalkot Congress candidate Umesh Meti has secured a decisive victory in the byelection Meti polled a total of 98919 votes while the BJP candidate secured 76587 votes at the end of the counting of all 23 rounds Responding to the development Congress candidate from Bagalkot Umesh Meti stated âEvery Congress worker and leader worked as if they themselves were the candidateHe further expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi Minister for Textiles Sugarcane Development and Sugar Shivanand Patil and Excise Minister RB Timmappur and the entire cabinetUmesh Meti said he will focus on development in the constituency and fulfil his late father Metiâs dream of establishing a medical collegeIn the muchawaited Davanagere South constituency BJPâs Srinivasa T Dasakariyappa continued to trail against Congress candidate Samarth Mallikarjun Srinivasa polled 54335 while Samarth Mallikarjun has secured 59992 votes after the 18th round of counting There are a total of 21 rounds of counting The Socialist Democratic Party of India SDPIs Afsar Kodlipet managed to get 18203 votesThe results are crucial for both the ruling Congress party and the Opposition BJPIn Bagalkot the byelection was held following the untimely demise of HY Meti His son Umesh Meti is in a direct contest against the BJPâs Veeranna CharantimathChief Minister Siddaramaiah campaigned extensively for the Congress candidateThe Davanagere South bypoll was necessitated by the death of veteran Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa The party fielded his grandson Samarth Mallikarjun as its candidate while the BJP nominated Srinivasa T Dasakariyappa a party leader from the oppressed classesFollowing allegations of antiparty activities Congress removed two MLCs from party positions after announcing its candidate The prestige of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is at stake while the BJP is hoping to secure its first victory in this Assembly segment IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-bypolls-congress-wins-bagalkot-davanagere-south-sees-close-contest-672208.html Mon, 04 May 2026 16:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/left-staring-at-loss-of-last-state-to-be-out-of-power-after-50-years-672210.html New Delhi May 4 Indias Left parties once a powerful force in national and regional politics are now confronting the possibility of being out of power across all states for the first time in more than five decades To understand the magnitude of this moment it helps to revisit the past In 1996 veteran CPIM leader Jyoti Basu who had already served as Chief Minister of West Bengal for two decades came close to becoming Prime Minister as part of the United Front coalition Although Basu was willing to accept the role his partyâs Politburo declined the proposal a decision he later famously termed a historic blunderBy 2008 the Left still held significant sway at the national level The Congressled United Progressive Alliance government headed by Manmohan Singh depended on Left support in Parliament However the alliance fractured when Left parties withdrew backing over the IndoUS nuclear agreement forcing the government to prove its majority in a crucial trust vote At the time Left parties governed three states West Bengal Kerala and Tripura and had a sizable presence in the Lok SabhaFast forward to the present and the political landscape has shifted dramatically With voter preferences increasingly leaning toward rightofcentre parties the influence of Communist parties has steadily diminished Current trends in Kerala suggest that the Left Democratic Front LDF led by Pinarayi Vijayan may lose power If confirmed this would mark the first instance since around 1970 that no Left party holds office in any Indian stateThe history of Left politics in India however is both rich and significant In the countryâs first general elections in 1951â52 the Communist Party of India emerged as the largest opposition group in Parliament Just a few years later in 1957 Kerala witnessed a landmark event when a Communist government was democratically elected the first such occurrence anywhere in the worldThe late 1970s marked another high point In 1977 the CPIM established its dominance in West Bengal initiating what would become the longest uninterrupted tenure by any political party in an Indian state Under Jyoti Basuâs leadership the Left Front governed the state for over two decades with Basu himself serving as Chief Minister for 23 years before handing over to Buddhadeb Bhattacharya in 2000 The Left retained control in the state until 2011Tripura too emerged as a stronghold Beginning in 1993 the Left Front secured repeated electoral victories Leaders like Manik Sarkar became synonymous with stable governance holding office for 20 years and cementing the partyâs dominance in the northeastern stateHowever the decline began to accelerate in the last decade In 2011 a wave of public discontent in West Bengal fueled by protests over land acquisition in regions like Nandigram and Singur paved the way for Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress to sweep the elections The Left Frontâs strength in the Assembly dropped sharply signalling the end of its long rule in the stateThis further reduced the Leftâs political presence to a single state Kerala The rise of the BJP at the Centre in 2014 was followed by a saffron wave in states and in 2018 it conquered the Lefts Tripura fortress as well The party won 36 seats in the 60member Assembly bringing the Communists tally down from 50 to a mere 16 This further reduced the Leftâs political presence to a single state KeralaKerala then became the final bastion In 2016 the Left returned to power under Vijayan and even broke the stateâs longstanding pattern of alternating governments by securing a second consecutive term in 2021 This victory offered a temporary revival for the LeftNow with the latest electoral trends indicating a strong lead for the Congressled United Democratic Front even this last foothold appears uncertain Early counting suggests the UDF is significantly ahead in the majority of constituencies raising the likelihood of a political shift in the stateMeanwhile celebrations have already begun among Congress workers in Thiruvananthapuram reflecting confidence in a decisive win If these trends hold the Leftâs long journey in Indian governance may enter an unprecedented phase one without direct control of any state government IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/left-staring-at-loss-of-last-state-to-be-out-of-power-after-50-years-672210.html Mon, 04 May 2026 16:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/peoples-endorsement-of-pm-modis-govt-setback-for-india-bloc-bjp-mp-sudhakar-672214.html Chikkaballapur Bengaluru May 4 BJP MP K Sudhakar said that the party has secured an unprecedented victory in four out of five states in the Assembly elections reflecting the peopleâs appreciation for the development work carried out by the NDA government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and serves as a strong rebuke to the Congress and the INDIA bloc He stated that the resounding victory of the BJPled NDA alliance in the Assembly elections in Assam West Bengal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry is a clear indication that people have endorsed PM Modiâs development agenda Since the last Lok Sabha elections the Congress party and its allies had formed the INDIA bloc in an attempt to weaken public support for the BJP However he said it has once again been proven that the INDIA bloc is a major failureIn West Bengal he alleged that people frustrated with the misrule of Mamata Banerjeeâs TMC communal politics hooliganism antiindustry policies and policies favouring illegal immigrants from Bangladesh have supported the NDA and voted out the Trinamool He added that the BJP has put an end to what he described as authoritarian rule where âDidiâs word was finalâ and that the NDA has achieved a historic victory in the state He said West Bengal will now move on the path of development like other BJPruled statesIn Tamil Nadu he said the team led by MK Stalin an ally of the Congress has suffered a major setback while the AIADMKled NDA alliance has achieved a remarkable victory He added that the BJP has also performed strongly in Assam and Puducherry Sudhakar remarked that this outcome should serve as a lesson to the Congress government which he alleged has focused on populist guarantees rather than development He claimed that a similar result would emerge in the next Assembly elections in Karnataka bringing an end to what he termed antipeople governanceHe expressed gratitude to the voters for supporting the BJP and the NDA alliance He also extended congratulations to PM Modi Union Home Minister Amit Shah BJP National BJP President Nitin Nabin and party workers IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/peoples-endorsement-of-pm-modis-govt-setback-for-india-bloc-bjp-mp-sudhakar-672214.html Mon, 04 May 2026 16:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/baramati-bypoll-sunetra-pawar-scripts-history-wins-by-record-margin-of-over-218-lakh-votes-672216.html BaramatiMumbai May 4 The Baramati Assembly byeelection reached a definitive conclusion on Monday with Sunetra Ajit Pawar the candidate for the Nationalist Congress Party Ajit Pawar faction and Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra securing a landslide victory In a historic performance Sunetra Pawar shattered all previous records including the 2019 victory margin set by her husband the late Ajit PawarAccording to data available at the end of the 24th round of counting Sunetra Pawar has emerged victorious with a recordbreaking margin of 218930 votesThis victory is now being hailed as the highest winning margin for any legislative candidate in the history of IndiaThe election saw a total consolidation of power behind Sunetra Pawar Appeals from her sons Jay Pawar and Parth Pawar along with support from various political parties and organisations translated into a massive wave of votesNot a single opponent managed to cross the 1000vote mark There were in all 23 nominees including Sunetra PawarKaruna Munde received 125 votes while Abhijit Bichukale secured 121 votes With this result Sunetra Pawar has officially overtaken the previous national record held by Sunil Kumar Sharma from Sahibabad Uttar Pradesh who won by a margin of 214835 votes in 2022Speaking to the media following the announcement NCP MP Parth Pawar expressed a mix of gratitude and solemnity âI thank the people for electing us with a record margin We never imagined we would have to face this election under such circumstances None of us feel today is a day for celebration he statedParth Pawar further announced that he would remain dedicated to the people planning to hold public grievance meetings once the Model Code of Conduct concludesSpeaking to reporters in Mumbai Sunetra Pawar said it is a tribute to Ajit Pawar and she dedicated her monumental win to the memory of her late husbandShe urged supporters to maintain decorum and avoid loud celebrations or the throwing of gulal The trust shown by the people of Baramati through their votes is dedicated to the sacred memory of respected Ajit Dada We are all emotional today I request all workers not to take out processions or celebrate excessively Let us maintain restraint in a manner that honours Dadaâs thoughtsShe further stated âDedicate the trust shown by all of you through your votes to the sacred memories of the revered Ajit dada As this result is being declared today the memories of the revered Dada have been illuminated and we are all feeling emotional I humbly request all the workers who loved Dada dearly that as a celebration of this victory no one should take out processions or throw gulal Let us maintain restraint and behave in a manner befitting Dadas idealsââI sincerely thank all the people of Baramati for giving me the opportunity to shape the Baramati of Dadas dreams This is not the end this is just the beginning Of determination of struggle and of a new Baramatiâ she saidShe concluded by promising a New Baramati stating This is not the end it is just the beginning A beginning of determination struggle and a new Baramati IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/baramati-bypoll-sunetra-pawar-scripts-history-wins-by-record-margin-of-over-218-lakh-votes-672216.html Mon, 04 May 2026 16:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/kerala-mandate-reflects-shift-in-voter-mood-kc-venugopal-672229.html Thiruvananthapuram May 4 Framing the election outcome as a decisive shift in public sentiment Congress General Secretary and Lok Sabha member KC Venugopal on Monday said the results validate the oppositionâs reading of a prochange undercurrent across Kerala The Congressled UDF is leading in 102 seats the Left Democratic Front in 36 and the BJP has picked up two including NemomThroughout the campaign we maintained that a wave was building Even when exit polls suggested otherwise we were confident of a strong tally expecting to cross the 100seat mark Venugopal said adding that the assessment was rooted in consistent ground feedbackWe could sense the pulse of the voters and todayâs verdict reflects that sentiment he notedTargeting the ruling dispensation led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Venugopal argued that the governmentâs aggressive publicity push following the December local body poll setback failed to alter voter perceptionAfter that debacle there was a massive publicity campaign backed by significant spending But people were not convinced he said calling the outcome a blow to the arrogance of the CPIM leadership and its rank and fileHe pointed to developments in traditional Left strongholds in Kannur as evidence of a broader churnLook at Payyanur a constituency that has consistently elected CPIMs most prominent leaders and Taliparamba long considered a party citadel The trends emerging from these areas clearly indicate that even core bastions are witnessing a shift Venugopal observedCommenting on the Chief Ministerâs own contest he described the victory as âtechnicalâ noting that Vijayan had trailed during the initial rounds of counting before recovering laterâThe early rounds reflected the mood on the groundâ he saidVenugopal maintained that the verdict signals a wider recalibration in Keralaâs political landscape with voters demanding accountability and responsive governanceâThis is not just an electoral result it is a messageâ he said underscoring that they would seek to build on the momentum in the coming months IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/kerala-mandate-reflects-shift-in-voter-mood-kc-venugopal-672229.html Mon, 04 May 2026 17:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/guarantee-schemes-worked-in-ktaka-power-expected-in-kerala-surprising-results-in-tn-dy-cm-shivakumar-672232.html Bengaluru May 4 Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President DK Shivakumar on Monday said that the Congress governmentâs guarantee schemes have yielded positive results in the state expressing confidence over electoral outcomes while also commenting on results in other states âGuarantee schemes have worked in our favour in Karnataka Our government has responded to peopleâs difficulties and that is why we have seen good results in the byeelections Among other states we were confident of coming to power in Keralaâ Shivakumar said while speaking to the mediaResponding to a question on the reduced victory margin in Davanagere South he said âAfter so much confusion we knew a margin of 25000â30000 votes would not be possible But we were confident of winning comfortably SDPI had an impactâOn the role of SDPI votes he said âThe Chief Minister has already spoken about it I do not want to comment further We did not take SDPI lightly It is also a political party and they have drawn minority votesâWhen asked whether the election results would bring any changes in Karnataka he said âNothing will happen to our state Some people may be happy and some may be disappointed Even when there was a doubleengine government they did nothingâOn the UDF allianceâs performance in Kerala Shivakumar said âWe had won the local body elections there earlier The LDF has been in power for 10 years and people wanted a change Even during the campaign people expressed confidence in usâHe described the results in Tamil Nadu as âsurprisingâ saying âA new era has begun there We could not fully understand the public mood Local leaders had indicated this In politics spanning 40 years relationships and affiliations cannot be easily brokenâOn questions regarding the absence of Rahul Gandhi alongside MK Stalin during campaigning he said âI will not comment on that We went there as per the high commandâs decisionâAsked whether celebrity appeal influenced voting he said âWe expected around 30â40 per cent of votes to go that way but they have received even moreâOn Assam he said the party did not achieve expected results âWe had hoped for 50â60 seats and local leaders had also indicated we would reach that markâWhen asked about the reasons for the loss he said âDuring constituency delimitation minorities were consolidated in certain areas This appears to have been done strategicallyâOn West Bengal he alleged misuse of power âThere has been systematic misuse of authority The Election Commission has been misused to the maximum extent possible More than two lakh votes were deleted which has impacted the outcomeâ he claimed IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/guarantee-schemes-worked-in-ktaka-power-expected-in-kerala-surprising-results-in-tn-dy-cm-shivakumar-672232.html Mon, 04 May 2026 17:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/jagan-lokesh-congratulate-vijay-on-astounding-electoral-debut-672235.html Amaravati May 4 Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and state minister and Telugu Desam Party TDP Working President Nara Lokesh congratulated Vijay on the electoral victory of his party TVK in Tamil Nadu Assembly elections âA special and heartfelt shoutout to my dear brother Vijay Emerging as the singlelargest party in your very first election is impressive Wishing you immense strength and success as you embark on this new chapter of service God be with youâ posted Jagan Mohan Reddy on XThe YSRCP chief expressed sympathies for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the defeat of her party Trinamool Congress âMy sympathies are with Didi Congratulations to BJP and othersâ added Jagan while reacting to results of Assembly polls in West Bengal Assam and KeralaAndhra Pradesh state minister and TDP leader Nara Lokesh also congratulated Vijay on an astounding electoral debut in Tamil NaduâThe outcome reflects the evolving aspirations of the stateâs electorate and adds a new dimension to its political landscape Wishing him the very best as he steps into public life and works towards addressing the expectations of the people with responsibility and commitmentâ wrote LokeshLokesh also conveyed his heartiest congratulations to the NDA on the election results in Assam and West Bengal âThe peopleâs mandate reflects a deep and growing trust in development stability and decisive leadership Under the visionary leadership of Narendra Modi this verdict reinforces the nationâs faith in governance that delivers with speed scale and integrity It is a powerful endorsement of a forwardlooking India that aspires for growth opportunity and inclusive progressâ he addedDeputy Speaker of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly K Raghu Rama Krishna Raju has congratulated Prime Minister Modi and the BJP on securing a âdecisive and historicâ victory in the West Bengal elections He stated that this âremarkableâ mandate reflects the deep trust and confidence the people have placed in the leadership of PM ModiâUnder the dynamic and inspiring leadership of Shri Narendra Modi Ji this victory further reinforces the nationâs confidence in his unwavering dedication decisive governance and relentless pursuit of Indiaâs growth and global stature The verdict stands as a testament to the tireless efforts of the BJP leadership and cadre and to a steadfast commitment to building a stronger more inclusive and prosperous India It also highlights the peopleâs aspirations for stability progress and transparent governanceâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/jagan-lokesh-congratulate-vijay-on-astounding-electoral-debut-672235.html Mon, 04 May 2026 17:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ncw-takes-cognisance-of-pune-rape-and-murder-incident-raises-concern-over-women-safety-672021.html PuneMumbai May 2 The National Commission for Women NCW on Saturday took suo motu cognisance following the heinous incident of rape and murder of a minor girl in Pune officials said In a post on social media platform X the NCW wrote This heinous crime causes profound pain and outrage and it highlights serious concerns regarding the safety of young girlsWhile strongly condemning this grave inhuman act the Commission has stated that such crimes constitute a serious violation of childrens rights and raise questions about the societys security systemThe Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has urged the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights to immediately take cognisance of this case ensure monitoring of the investigation and take necessary action to ensure the strictest possible punishment for the perpetrators the NCW said in the X postAt the same time emphasis has also been laid on providing prompt assistance and compensation to the victims family filing a timebound charge sheet under POCSO and ensuring a speedy trial in a fasttrack courtEnsuring the safety and justice for every girl child is our utmost priority the Commission addedThe horrific sexual assault and brutal murder of a fouryearold girl allegedly by a 65yearold man in Bhors Nasrapur area of Pune district on May 1 has sparked massive outrage across MaharashtraWhile Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis vowed death penalty for the Nasrapur minors rapist and killer the opposition parties in the state criticised the state government over the law and order situation in the stateThe minor girl who had come to Nasrapur for her summer holidays was lured by the accused to a cattle shed under the pretext of giving her foodAfter the rape the accused murdered the child with a stone and hid her body under a pile of dungThe police sources said that the crime was uncovered via CCTV footage leading to the immediate arrest of the 65yearold suspect who reportedly has a history of similar molestation charges dating back to 1998 and 2015Chief Minister Fadnavis who is also the State Home Minister has condemned the act in the strongest terms describing it as a blot on humanity He directed the Pune Rural Police to ensure a watertight case and announced that the trial would be conducted in a FastTrack CourtCM Fadnavis assured the public that the true story and all facts will be brought to light soon and that the government would seek the death penalty for the accused to set a stern precedent He has ordered increased police patrolling in the Bhor region to restore a sense of security among residentsFollowing the massive protests in Nasrapur CM Fadnavis confirmed that senior police officials including the SP of Pune Rural are overseeing the investigation to ensure no loopholes remain in the prosecutionâs caseThe Opposition has slammed the state government over the deteriorating law and order situation in Maharashtra and the failure to protect women and childrenNCPSP Working President Supriya Sule visited the area and expressed her deep grief calling the incident inhuman She criticised the administration for the recurring nature of such crimes in Pune district and demanded that the police act without any political pressure to ensure the highest punishmentCongress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar targeted the Home Ministry questioning how a repeat offender was roaming free He alleged that the fear of the law has vanished under the current Mahayuti government and demanded a complete overhaul of the safety protocols for minorsMaharashtra Legislative Council deputy chairperson Neelam Gorhe demanded a stern action against the culprit while Shiv Sena MP Jyoti Waghmare has called for a death penalty against those involved in the caseBJP legislator Chitra Wagh said the incident has shaken society and the fight for getting justice for a toddler should be fought till the end The local community in Nasrapur reacted with intense angerOn Friday night hundreds of villagers blocked the PuneSatara Highway demanding that the accused be handed over to them A total shutdown was observed in Nasrapur and surrounding villages on Saturday Residents have called for a speedy trial and are demanding the hanging of the culprit within a month IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ncw-takes-cognisance-of-pune-rape-and-murder-incident-raises-concern-over-women-safety-672021.html Sun, 03 May 2026 17:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ysrcp-criticises-cm-chandrababu-naidu-for-using-derogatory-terms-to-describe-party-672022.html Amaravati May 3 IANS YSR Congress Party on Sunday strongly criticised Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for terming YSRCP an axe partynbspHitting hard at CM Naidus remarks the opposition party alleged that Amaravati has turned into a golden goose for him and he has been digging away at peoples welfare like a crowbarnbspSpeaking to the media in Nellore on Sunday former Minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy lashed out at Chandrababu Naidu and TDP for calling the opposition an axe party and said it is he who has been a symbol of a crowbar churning out the exchequer to benefit himself and his coterieChandrababu Naidu and other TDP leaders while accusing YSRCP of practising politics of murder have been calling the opposition party an axe partynbspAmaravati has become a golden goose for Chandrababu and his coterie as they have been digging out huge amounts from the exchequer through inflated contracts on one hand and depriving people of health education medical care besides ditching farmers women youth and other sections of society said Govardhan ReddyHe alleged that state finances are being looted as the government is paying an exorbitant construction price of Rs 20489 per sq ft in Amaravati He remarked that this is unheard of anywhere in the country as the standard rate is just around Rs 4500 per sq ftnbspThe contracts were given to his favoured few who were given work during his earlier term and the rates were increased manifold in an organised manner he saidnbspThe former minister claimed that the Telangana Secretariat and the Parliament Bhavan were constructed at just a fraction of the cost being spent by Chandrababu Naidu in Amaravati which shows the level of corruptionFrom usurping the TDP and the Chief Ministers post from the party founder NTR it has become a pattern for him to dig deep and change colours to further his political career besides rampant corruption and manipulation which has been his nature he saidnbspThe YSRCP leader said that the Mahanadu being held here will have no impact on voters as they have decided to give YSRCP a clean sweep in the ensuing elections His calling YSRCP names has no impact as people have come to believe that they have been cheated once again and Chandrababu Naidu has failed to implement his poll promises he addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ysrcp-criticises-cm-chandrababu-naidu-for-using-derogatory-terms-to-describe-party-672022.html Sun, 03 May 2026 17:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/kolkata-police-again-removes-kalighat-police-station-officer-in-charge-672027.html Kolkata May 3 The Kolkata Police on Sunday removed the Kalighat Police Station OfficerinCharge OC Chameli Mukherjee within 24 hours after appointing her to the post officials said With this the OC of Kalighat Police Station in West Bengals Bhabanipur Assembly constituency has been changed four times in the last 36 days The residence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee falls under Kalighat police station area in south KolkataChameli Mukherjee was appointed to the post on Saturday replacing Gautam Das following a controversy over his social media post However that directive was cancelled within 24 hours This time Balai Bagh has been made the OC of Kalighat Police Station Balai Bagh was the Additional OC of Polerhat Police Station in Bhangar division of Kolkata Police He has been made the OC of Kalighat police station in Kolkata South division The Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand gave this orderSince the announcement of the West Bengal Assembly polls the Election Commission has made several changes in Kolkata and the state policeDuring that period the OC of Kalighat was changed for the first time on March 29 with Utpal Ghosh of the Kolkata Polices Intelligence Department appointed to this post The Election Commission removed Utpal Ghosh within a month of his appointment Gautam Das was made the new OC of Kalighat on April 25 He was in the Special Branch of Kolkata Police Later Gautam Das was suspended by the Kolkata Police on Saturday over his controversial social media post and subsequently removed from the post Chameli Mukherjee was made the OC of Kalighat in his place She was the OC of Ultadanga Women Police Station However that decision was overturned on Sunday This time Balai Bagh was brought to Kalighat from Polerhat Police Station in BhangarVoting was held in two phases on April 23 and 29 in 294 Assembly constituencies of West Bengal The results of the elections will be known after the counting of votes on May 4 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/kolkata-police-again-removes-kalighat-police-station-officer-in-charge-672027.html Sun, 03 May 2026 17:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bjp-questions-bhagwant-manns-continuance-as-punjab-cm-cites-assembly-episode-672030.html Chandigarh May 3 IANS A delegation of the Punjab BJP unit led by state President Sunil Jakhar met Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and demanded the replacement of Chief Minister Bhagwant MannnbspJakhar alleged that the conduct of CM Mann during the justheld Assembly session where he reportedly appeared in an inebriated state makes him unfit to continue leading a sensitive border state like Punjab He said If the law does not allow a person under the influence of alcohol to drive then how can such a person be allowed to run a stateJakhar later told the media that the party urged the Governor to ask the ruling party leadership to select a new leader as Mann has lost the moral right to remain Chief Minister He said the party also requested the Governor to summon the Chief Secretary and ascertain whether he is working under any pressurenbspQuoting sources he said that during the May 1 Cabinet meeting held ahead of the Assembly session apart from two ministers the Chief Secretary was also allegedly threatened and humiliatedThe BJP chief said it is necessary to call officials and ensure they can work freely in accordance with the law without fear and to assure them that the Constitution and the Central government will protect them if they act within the rulesnbspJakhar said the Assembly session held on Labour Day ie May 1 was merely a pretext claiming it was actully convened by the Chief Minister to save his positionnbspHe alleged that after the session MLA Raman Arora who has been jailed in a corruption case was provided police protection which shows that the government is shielding corrupt individuals and has effectively given its MLAs a free hand to engage in corruptionnbspHe termed this a dangerous trend that must be stopped and claimed the Chief Minister is making decisions under fear and pressure of losing his chair contrary to his oath of officenbspOn the issue of the drug census being conducted by the state government Jakhar said it would only defame Punjab across the world as a state of drug usersnbspReferring to related advertisements he alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party would use the Rs 250 crore allocated for this census to earn huge commissions adding that it has become the hallmark of the party to use advertisements as a tool to make moneyHe questioned what message the Chief Ministers image would send to the youth alleging a contradiction between antidrug messaging and the CMs conductnbspHe said this census would only defame Punjab and suggested that if such a survey is to be conducted it should begin with the Chief Minister himselfnbspThe BJP leader also questioned the very rationale of people disclosing drug use within their families and called the exercise a waste of time and money stressing instead the need to break the drug supply chainTo a question about a change of Chief Minister in view of the confidence motion having been passed in the Assembly which prevents a noconfidence motion from being brought again within six months he said what would happen if a majority turns against the Chief Minister during that periodnbspResponding to a question regarding the FIR against BJP leader Sandeep Pathak Jakhar said the BJP is not afraid of such cases and alleged that the FIR was filed to intimidate members within the ruling party and prevent them from leavingIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/politics/bjp-questions-bhagwant-manns-continuance-as-punjab-cm-cites-assembly-episode-672030.html Sun, 03 May 2026 17:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-cm-rekha-gupta-orders-new-transparent-system-for-traffic-challan-settlement-672035.html New Delhi May 3 IANS Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has announced a new structured and timebound system for settling traffic challans signalling a stricter approach to road discipline an official said on SundaynbspThe Chief Minister said the move aims to curb violations improve road safety and bring greater transparency through a fully digital processnbspShe added that the new system is designed to be fully digital timebound and accountableThis will ensure better compliance with traffic rules and help reduce road accidents she said urging citizens to follow traffic norms settle challans on time and act as responsible road usersnbspUnder the new framework avoiding challans will no longer be possible and timely resolution will be mandatory for all citizens a statement saidnbspImportantly violators will not be able to approach courts directly to contest a challan without first going through the prescribed processnbspThe Chief Minister said the Delhi government will soon implement amendments made by the Centre to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989The revised system makes the challan process more stringent transparent and technologydrivennbspAnyone committing five or more traffic violations within a year will be classified as a serious offender Such cases may lead to suspension or disqualification of the driving licence under the amended rules the statement saidnbspChief Minister Gupta said the issuance of challans will now be fully modernisednbspPolice or authorised officers can issue challans either physically or electronicallynbspIn addition violations captured through cameras and digital surveillance systems will automatically generate challans the statement addedIf the department has a violators mobile number the echallan will be delivered within three days while a physical notice will be delivered within 15 days All challans will be recorded sequentially on an online portal to ensure transparency the statement addednbspMotorists have been advised to update their mobile numbers and addresses on their driving licence and vehicle registration certificates to avoid inconveniencenbspOnce a challan is issued the violator will have 45 days to either pay the fine or challenge it before a grievance redressal officer through the online portal supported by documentary evidenceIf no action is taken within this period the challan will be deemed accepted and payment must be made within the next 30 days the statement saidnbspIf a challenge is rejected the individual can either pay the fine within 30 days or approach the court after depositing 50 per cent of the challan amountnbspFailure to act within the stipulated time will result in the challan being treated as accepted with payment required within 15 days thereafter Payments can be made through electronic modes The grievance redressal officer will be required to upload a decision on the portal within 30 days the statement addednbspThe Chief Minister made it clear that once deadlines lapse daily electronic notices will be issuedContinued nonpayment will lead to restrictions on all vehiclerelated services including payment of taxes and processing of driving licence or registrationrelated requestsnbspThe vehicle will be flagged on the portal as not to be transacted effectively blocking any further transactions until the dues are clearednbspIn cases where necessary and subject to court orders police or authorised officers may also impound vehicles involved in violationsnbspAll challans will be issued in the name of the registered vehicle owner who will be notified via SMS email or other digital means the statement saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-cm-rekha-gupta-orders-new-transparent-system-for-traffic-challan-settlement-672035.html Sun, 03 May 2026 18:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/peaceful-re-polling-at-15-booths-in-bengal-so-far-5557-pc-voter-turnout-in-first-6-hours-672001.html Kolkata May 2 The repolling for 15 polling booths under two Assembly constituencies in South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal which started at 7 am on Saturday has been peaceful so far with the polling process going on under blanket security coverage of central forces assisted by personnel from the state police forces The average polling percentage in all 15 polling booths combined had been 5557 in the first six hours of polling till 1 pm The average polling percentage for the 11 polling booths under the Magrahat Paschim Assembly constituency stood at 549 till 1 pm On the other hand the average polling percentage in the four polling booths under Diamond Harbour constituency had been 5633 till the same period as per figures provided by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer CEO West BengalVoting is taking place at booths 46 126 127 128 142 214 215 216 230 231 232 in Magrahat Paschim and 117 179 194 243 in Diamond HarbourEven the voters standing at the queues of the polling booths both in Diamond Harbour and Magrahat Paschim constituencies told media persons that there had been absolutely no tension on the repolling dayOfficially the polling at these 15 booths will continue till 6 pm However in case some voters are found standing in the queue at 6 pm then polling will continue until the last voter casts hisher voteBoth Diamond Harbour and Magrahat Paschim Assembly constituencies went to the polls in the second phase of the twophase Assembly elections in West Bengal on April 29The twophase Assembly polls in West Bengal were conducted on April 23 and April 29 In the first phase there was polling for 152 assembly constituencies and in the second phase there was polling for the remaining 142 Assembly constituenciesThe counting of votes will be taken up on May 4 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/peaceful-re-polling-at-15-booths-in-bengal-so-far-5557-pc-voter-turnout-in-first-6-hours-672001.html Sat, 02 May 2026 17:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/peaceful-re-polling-at-15-booths-in-bengal-so-far-over-55-pc-voter-turnout-in-first-6-hours-672002.html Kolkata May 2 The repolling for 15 polling booths under two Assembly constituencies in South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal which started at 7 am on Saturday has been peaceful so far with the polling process going on under blanket security coverage of central forces assisted by personnel from the state police forces The average polling percentage in all 15 polling booths combined had been 5557 in the first six hours of polling till 1 pm The average polling percentage for the 11 polling booths under the Magrahat Paschim Assembly constituency stood at 549 till 1 pm On the other hand the average polling percentage in the four polling booths under Diamond Harbour constituency had been 5633 till the same period as per figures provided by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer CEO West BengalVoting is taking place at booths 46 126 127 128 142 214 215 216 230 231 232 in Magrahat Paschim and 117 179 194 243 in Diamond HarbourEven the voters standing at the queues of the polling booths both in Diamond Harbour and Magrahat Paschim constituencies told media persons that there had been absolutely no tension on the repolling dayOfficially the polling at these 15 booths will continue till 6 pm However in case some voters are found standing in the queue at 6 pm then polling will continue until the last voter casts hisher voteBoth Diamond Harbour and Magrahat Paschim Assembly constituencies went to the polls in the second phase of the twophase Assembly elections in West Bengal on April 29The twophase Assembly polls in West Bengal were conducted on April 23 and April 29 In the first phase there was polling for 152 assembly constituencies and in the second phase there was polling for the remaining 142 Assembly constituenciesThe counting of votes will be taken up on May 4 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/peaceful-re-polling-at-15-booths-in-bengal-so-far-over-55-pc-voter-turnout-in-first-6-hours-672002.html Sat, 02 May 2026 17:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/assembly-poll-outcome-on-may-4-a-crucial-test-for-lefts-survival-bid-672012.html New Delhi May 2 A peoples mandate to be declared on May 4 following the highvoltage Assembly election exercise would be crucial for the Left parties who stand marginalised except for a coalition government in Kerala Exit polls have however predicted a regime change in ThiruvananthapuramMeanwhile in West Bengal apart from the two main political parties Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party making headlines through the current poll process the Left has found a mention for infusing newer more energetic youth faces in the organisation as well as among candidatesIt fielded 192 candidates across 294 seats in the state emphasising that several of its nominees are from the partys youth wing and aged below 45 yearsHow far these younger leaders will be able to claw into a turf largely divided between the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party is a subject of speculation But that it is a battle for survival in the changing world is apparentThe Left parties in Kerala primarily the Communist Party of India Marxistâled Left Democratic Front LDF have stayed relevant till now unlike other states where they have withered including West BengalThe roots of the Left in Kerala go back to the 1940sâ50s but its decisive breakthrough came in 1957 when a Communistâled coalition formed the worlds first democratically elected Communist governmentAfter periodic setbacks the LDF reâemerged in the 1980s as a stable coalition alternating power with the UDF and winning six government formations between 1980 and 2021The outgoing LDF government led by Pinarayi Vijayan despite portraying able governance and administrative successes is facing inertia factionalism within the CPIM and a growing dependence on charismatic leadership centred on the Chief MinisterThe partys national weight has shrunk and its ability to project ideology has weakened through timesMoreover the Lefts record on jobâcreation and industrial growth has come under criticism especially as Kerala faces rising fiscal stress and youth unemployment despite its high human development indicesIn West Bengal the CPIMâled Left Front held an almost unshakeable grip over state politics shaping the states institutional structures agrarian relations and social movementsIt first came to power postEmergency period in 1977 winning 230 of the 294 Assembly seats and securing around 54 per cent of the voteUnder Jyoti Basu the coalition implemented land reforms strengthened local panchayats and expanded a network of public sector units and cooperativesThe regime styled itself as developmentâoriented but within a socialist framework combining welfare measures with a rigid cadreâdriven party structureHere the Lefts decline was as dramatic as its riseBasus successor Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was in a hurry to attract industries after aggressive trade unionism drove away prospective investors as factories shut shopBy the 2000s inflexibility over industrial policy most visibly in the violent landâacquisition conflicts at Singur and Nandigram eroded its rural baseThe Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee successfully positioned itself as both antiâLeft and antiâCongress winning the 2011 Assembly elections and ending 34 years of uninterrupted Left ruleIn the time that followed and by 2019 it failed to win a single Lok Sabha seat in West BengalThe 2021 Assembly election delivered a nearâtotal wipeout with the Left Front drawing a blank in the 294âseat HouseIn Tripura the BJP triumphed in 2018 ending an uninterrupted Left rule after almost a quartercenturyOverall the Lefts organisational crisis has been compounded by an ageing leadershipFor years key decisionâmaking in the CPIM and its allied parties remained concentrated in the hands of veterans who had cut their political teeth in the 1970s and 1980sIn recent years the party at the allâIndia level has begun institutionalising age limits with 75 set as the upper age limit for central committee membership and a wave of retirements has swept out many senior leadersIn West Bengal the Left Front and its constituent parties have publicly spoken of phasing out functionaries aged above 70 years and consciously bringing in younger faces into the state committee district committees and crucially into election ticketsThis generational transition is not yet complete but it reflects an explicit strategy where the Left hopes that the youth can reconnect with firstâtime voters adapt to social media politics and project a more open less rigid image than the old guard associated with the regimes later years IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/assembly-poll-outcome-on-may-4-a-crucial-test-for-lefts-survival-bid-672012.html Sat, 02 May 2026 18:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/nadda-patil-to-address-concluding-session-of-vgrc-south-gujarat-today-671936.html Surat May 2 Union Minister Health JP Nadda and Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil are addressing the concluding session of the third edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference VGRC â South Gujarat being held on Saturday in Surat The twoday event draws to a close with participation from senior political leadership diplomats and industry representativesOn the occasion Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel is releasing the book titled âSouth Gujarat â The Industrial Catalystâ marking a key programme highlight of the valedictory sessionThe conference began on Friday at Auro University where Chief Minister Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi inaugurated the event and addressed the inaugural sessionSanghavi welcomed delegates from partner countries and various organisations and noted the presence of Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri and Union Minister CR Patil during the opening proceedingsIn his presentation titled âSouth Gujarat as a Growth Centreâ Sanghavi highlighted the role of policy implementation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Patel stating that VGRC is aimed at accelerating regional industrial development attracting sectorspecific investments and strengthening global partnerships in alignment with the vision of Viksit Bharat at 2047At the concluding session State Finance Minister Kanu Desai is delivering the opening addressThe programme also includes participation from industrialist Dr Faruk Patel Rwandas High Commissioner Jacqueline Mukangira and Ukraines Ambassador Dr Oleksandr PolishchukOver the twoday conference VGRCSouth Gujarat has hosted sectoral seminars and discussions covering agriculture horticulture textiles chemicals and petrochemicals startups nuclear energy fertilisers natural gas and womenâs empowermentCountryspecific sessions were also organised by Japan and UkraineThe second day features the Regional MSME Conclave focussing on sectors including gems and jewellery circular economy skill development aerospace and Defence fisheries and cooperatives green energy and green hydrogen ecotourism and urban economic zone developmentA session organised by the Trade Representation of Russia in India is also part of the programmeAlongside the conference the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Exhibition is being held from May 1 to 5 across 12000 square metres at a single venueIt includes initiatives such as the Vendor Development Programme International Reverse BuyerSeller Meet RBSM and Udyami Mela with participation from industries MSMEs startups and government departments across Bharuch Dang Navsari Surat Tapi and Valsad districts IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/nadda-patil-to-address-concluding-session-of-vgrc-south-gujarat-today-671936.html Sat, 02 May 2026 11:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/peaceful-re-polling-at-15-booths-in-bengal-so-far-1623-pc-polling-in-1st-two-hours-671947.html Kolkata May 2 The repolling at 15 polling booths under two Assembly constituencies in South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal that started since 7 AM on Saturday has been peaceful so far The polling process is going on under blanket security coverage of central forces assisted by personnel from the state police forcesThe average polling percentage in all the 15 polling booths combined had been 1623 in the first two hours of polling till 9 AMThe average polling percentage for the 11 polling booths under the Magrahat Paschim Assembly constituency stood at 1658 till 9 AM On the other hand the average polling percentage in the four polling booths under Diamond Harbour constituency had been 1583 per cent as per figures provided by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer CEO West BengalEven the voters standing at the queues of the polling booths both in Diamond Harbour and Magrahat Paschim constituencies told media persons that there had been absolutely no tension on the repolling dayHowever some of the voters standing in queues in some booths at Magrahat Paschim said they did not understand the justification for repolling in their respective booths They contended that they did not witness any violence on the main polling day which was on April 29Voting is taking place at booths 46 126 127 128 142 214 215 216 230 231 232 in Magrahat Paschim and 117 179 194 243 in Diamond HarbourOfficially the polling at these 15 booths will continue till 6 PM However in case some voters are found standing at the queue at 6 PM then polling will continue until the last voter will cast his voteBoth Diamond Harbour and Magrahat Paschim Assembly constituencies went for polls in the second phase of the twophase Assembly elections in West Bengal on April 29The twophase Assembly polls in West Bengal were conducted on April 23 and April 29 In the first phase there was polling for 152 Assembly constituencies and in the second phase there was polling for the remaining 142 Assembly constituenciesThe counting will be conducted on May 4 and the results will be declared on the same day IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/peaceful-re-polling-at-15-booths-in-bengal-so-far-1623-pc-polling-in-1st-two-hours-671947.html Sat, 02 May 2026 11:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-to-hear-tmcs-plea-today-against-calcutta-high-court-order-671958.html New Delhi May 2 IANS The Supreme Court of India is set to hear on Saturday a petition filed by the Trinamool Congress TMC challenging an order of the Calcutta High Court that dismissed its plea against the Election Commission of India ECI decision to appoint Central government and Central Public Sector Undertaking PSU employees as counting supervisors and assistants for the West Bengal Assembly electionsnbspAs per the cause list published on the official website of the apex court the fresh petition filed by the ruling party from West Bengal will be taken up for hearing on Saturday by a bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Joymalya BagchiThe TMCs legal team is understood to have approached the Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant seeking the constitution of a Special bench for urgent listing of the matterThe move comes a day after the Calcutta High Court rejected TMCs writ petition in its entirety and upheld the ECIs authority to appoint counting personnel from Central government and PSU establishmentsA singlejudge bench of Justice Krishna Rao had reserved the matter earlier on Thursday after hearing the parties and later pronounced the judgment in the eveningIt is the prerogative of the ECI to appoint counting supervisors and counting assistants either from the state government or the Central government This Court does not find any illegality in appointing counting supervisors and counting assistants from Central governmentCentral PSU employees instead of state government employees the Calcutta High Court had saidIt also added that the impugned communication issued by the West Bengal Additional Chief Electoral Officer Vibhu Goel was aimed at ensuring transparency integrity and orderly conduct of counting proceedings and formed part of the ongoing electoral processJustice Rao said that Clause 1579 of the handbook for Returning Officers permits counting supervisors and assistants to be appointed from either Central or state government officials or comparable undertakingsThe judge ruled that the ECIs decision to prefer Central governmentCentral PSU employees was well within its authorityAddressing the Trinamool Congress primary contention that Central government employees being under the administrative control of the Bharatiya Janata Partyled Union government could favour the principal opposition party in the state the Calcutta High Court held that such apprehension was not sustainableIt said that microobservers who are invariably drawn from Central governmentCentral PSU employees would also be present at every counting table along with counting agents of candidates and other officials thereby ensuring adequate checks and balancesThe Calcutta High Court also noted that if any irregularity or favouritism occurs during the counting process the TMC retains the right to challenge it through an election petition after the declaration of resultsCiting Section 100 of the Representation of the People Act 1951 the High Court judgment said If the petitioner proves that the Central governmentCentral PSU employees appointed as counting supervisors and counting assistants helped the opponent by manipulating votes during counting the petitioner has the liberty to raise all such grounds in an election petitionThe writ petition had challenged a communication issued by the West Bengal Additional Chief Electoral Officer which required that at least one among the counting supervisor and counting assistant at each counting table shall be a Central governmentCentral PSU employeeSenior Advocate Kalyan Bandopadhyay appearing for the petitioner said that the impugned directive lacked jurisdiction and deviated from the Election Commissions own handbook which does not mandate Central government personnel for such rolesIt was further contended that while microobservers are required to be Central governmentPSU employees extending this requirement to counting supervisors and assistants was arbitrary and specific to West BengalIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-to-hear-tmcs-plea-today-against-calcutta-high-court-order-671958.html Sat, 02 May 2026 12:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/hearts-beating-faster-for-many-in-kerala-with-dday-just-48-hours-away-671961.html Thiruvananthapuram May 2 As the clock ticks towards Monday morning political Kerala finds itself on edge with anxious anticipation cutting across party lines For the ruling Communist Party of India Marxist and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan this is a defining moment a test of whether the Left can script history a historic third termFor the United Democratic Front led by the Congress it is an opportunity to reclaim powerAnd for the Bharatiya Janata Party the focus is more modest yet significant reopening its account after losing its lone seat in 2021 and if momentum permits expanding its footprintThe counting of votes will begin at 8 AM starting with postal and service votes By 830 AM the counting of votes polled in EVMs will be underway setting the stage for early trends that could shape the narrative of the dayOn Saturday morning the undercurrent of tension was palpable even in casual political interactionsState Fisheries Minister Saji Cherian seeking a thirdconsecutive victory exuded confidence about his own prospectsYet beyond personal optimism he appeared more invested in the larger question confronting the LeftAs he met acquaintances over a routine morning coffee Cherian repeatedly posed a question Wonât the Left return to powerThe responses often delivered with knowing smiles rather than words reflected the uncertainty that now defines this electionDespite public assertions of confidence by leaders the absence of a clear decisive narrative has left room for doubt across campsIf Cherian wins from his Chengannur seat he would be rewriting a new piece of history as the famed Manmohan Bungalow which was his official residence for the past five years is believed to be jinxed It is said that anyone who stays in this residence will either not last a full term as a minister or will not get reelected to the Kerala Legislative AssemblyFor the Left the stakes are historic a hat trick of wins would break a longstanding electoral pattern in KeralaFor the UDF the contest represents a potential comeback built on perceived shifts in voter sentimentMeanwhile the BJPâs performance will be closely watched for signs of incremental growthAs dawn breaks on counting day one thing is certain hearts are beating faster and by midday Kerala could well have a clearer answer to its most pressing political question IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/hearts-beating-faster-for-many-in-kerala-with-dday-just-48-hours-away-671961.html Sat, 02 May 2026 12:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/jp-nadda-arrives-in-gujarat-for-vgrc-concluding-session-meets-state-bjp-chief-671964.html SuratAhmedabad May 2 Union Health Minister and former Bhartiya Janata Party BJP J P Nadda arrived in Gujarat on Saturday to attend the concluding session of the third edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference VGRC â South Gujarat in Surat He is scheduled to address the valedictory programme alongside Union Jal Shakti Minister C R PatilAhead of the closing session Nadda held a courtesy meeting in Ahmedabad with state BJP president Jagdish VishwakarmaThe interaction took place shortly after his arrival in the state as senior leaders gathered for the final day of the twoday conferenceThe VGRCSouth Gujarat event which concludes on Saturday has drawn participation from senior political leadership diplomats and industry representativesChief Minister Bhupendra Patel is releasing a book titled âSouth Gujarat The Industrial Catalystâ during the valedictory session marking a key programme highlightState Finance Minister Kanu Desai is delivering the opening address at the concluding sessionThe conference began on Friday at Auro University in Surat where Chief Minister Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi inaugurated the event and addressed the inaugural sessionSanghavi welcomed delegates from partner countries and various organisations and noted the presence of Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Patil during the opening proceedingsIn his presentation titled âSouth Gujarat as a Growth Centreâ Sanghavi said âVGRC is aimed at accelerating regional industrial development attracting sectorspecific investments and strengthening global partnerships in alignment with the vision of Viksit Bharat at 2047â while highlighting the role of policy implementation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister PatelThe concluding session is also being attended by industrialist Dr Faruk Patel Rwandaâs High Commissioner Jacqueline Mukangira and Ukraineâs Ambassador Oleksandr PolishchukOver the twoday conference sectoral seminars and discussions have been held covering agriculture horticulture textiles chemicals and petrochemicals startups nuclear energy fertilisers natural gas and womenâs empowermentCountryspecific sessions were also organised by Japan and UkraineThe second day features a Regional MSME Conclave focusing on sectors including gems and jewellery circular economy skill development aerospace and defence fisheries and cooperatives green energy and green hydrogen ecotourism and urban economic zone developmentA session organised by the Trade Representation of Russia in India is also part of the programmeAlongside the conference the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Exhibition is being held from May 1 to 5 across 12000 square metres at a single venueIt includes initiatives such as the Vendor Development Programme International Reverse BuyerSeller Meet and Udyami Mela with participation from industries MSMEs startups and government departments across Bharuch Dang Navsari Surat Tapi and Valsad districts IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/jp-nadda-arrives-in-gujarat-for-vgrc-concluding-session-meets-state-bjp-chief-671964.html Sat, 02 May 2026 13:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/our-effort-is-to-give-strictest-punishment-to-pune-minors-rape-murder-accused-yogesh-kadam-671969.html Mumbai May 2 On the Pune minors rape and murder case Maharashtra Minister Yogesh Kadam on Saturday said that the investigation is currently underway and the effort is on to ensure that the strictest punishment is given to the rapist Speaking to IANS Yogesh Kadam said The investigation is currently underway and it is our effort that the strictest punishment be given to that personShiv Sena National Spokesperson Shaina NC said What has our society come to A fourâyearâold girl and a 65âyearâold man who lured her who sexually assaulted her and killed her The CCTV footage shows how she was shoved under cow dung This has triggered such outrage Hundreds of villagers have rushed to the police chowki The police are taking cognisance of it But I think as a society itâs a larger question on what has become of us This is not just Kalyug This is the worst kind of atrocity against a fourâyearâold child And POCSO charges have been filed as has the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita under various SectionsIn a chilling reminder of the growing insecurity being faced by the most vulnerable members of our society the Bhor Taluka region of Pune has been rocked by a crime of unimaginable cruelty A 65yearold man stands accused of the rape and brutal murder of a fouryearold girl reportedly ending her life by crushing her with a stoneThe sheer depravity of this act committed against a child who could barely speak let alone understand the evil she was facing â has sparked a wave of justified furyIn Nasrapur outraged villagers have staged a blockade on the PuneBengaluru Highway Despite the suspect being in police custody the communityâs demand is visceral and clear They want immediate uncompromising justiceAs per the initial information the incident came to light when the girl went missing in the afternoon and her family started a frantic search During the search her mutilated and bloodied body was discoveredCCTV footage from the area reportedly showed the accused old man taking the toddler along which helped police identify and detain himThe gruesome crime has triggered a massive wave of anger among residents On Friday evening when the childâs body was brought near the local police station emotional scenes unfolded as grieving family members broke down and villagers gathered in large numbers demanding justiceA social activist said I stand with this griefstricken community While we operate under a system of law the recurring failure of fasttrack courts to deliver swift verdicts has eroded public trust When justice is delayed for years the deterrent effect vanishes and the cycle of violence continuesSandip Singh Gill Superintendent of Pune Rural Police said within 15 days the chargesheet will be filed against the accused and the cases will be run in fast track court Gill assured the protesters that police will take very strict action in the matterThe accused has been taken into custody and an investigation is underwayThis tragedy is not isolated Just days ago on April 30 a 38yearold man was arrested in Greater Noida for allegedly strangling his 14yearold stepdaughter and dumping her body in a forest Preliminary investigations suggest a history of sexual assault IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/our-effort-is-to-give-strictest-punishment-to-pune-minors-rape-murder-accused-yogesh-kadam-671969.html Sat, 02 May 2026 14:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/i-dont-believe-in-exit-polls-says-manickam-tagore-urges-all-to-wait-for-counting-day-671972.html New Delhi May 2 Dismissing the credibility of exit polls Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Saturday said the actual mandate of the people will only be clear on counting day âI dont believe in exit polls Let us wait for the real counting on the 4th People have already decided People have given a verdict That has to be read out also let us wait for another 48 hours peopleâs mandate should not be manipulatedââ he told IANSHis remarks come amid a sharply divided exit poll landscape in Tamil Nadu where different agencies have projected contrasting outcomes for the major political playersThe contest in the state is seen as a threecornered fight involving the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam DMKled alliance the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam AIADMK in alliance with the BJP and actor Vijayâs Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVKAmong the projections the Axis My India survey has drawn attention by predicting a surprise debut victory for TVK with 98 to 120 seats It places the DMK in the range of 92 to 110 seats while the AIADMK is projected to secure between 22 and 32 seats underlining the unusually fragmented nature of predictions this electionVoting in Tamil Nadu was held on April 24 with the state recording a high voter turnout of 8513 per cent The DMK centred its campaign on its Dravidian Model of governance and welfare initiatives while the AIADMK focussed on promises of corruptionfree governance and an end to what it described as âone family ruleâMeanwhile in West Bengal Assembly elections were conducted in two phases on April 24 and April 29 with counting for both Tamil Nadu and West Bengal scheduled for May 4Repolling is underway on Saturday in 15 polling stations across South 24 Parganas district including 11 booths in Magrahat Paschim and four in Diamond Harbour Assembly constituenciesVoting began at 7 AM and will continue till 6 PM with enhanced security arrangements in place Voters in the Diamond Harbour area have expressed mixed reactions but have largely acknowledged improved arrangements and tighter security during the repoll process IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/i-dont-believe-in-exit-polls-says-manickam-tagore-urges-all-to-wait-for-counting-day-671972.html Sat, 02 May 2026 15:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-l-g-ts-sandhu-relives-memories-of-his-student-days-at-st-stephens-college-671999.html New Delhi May 2 Delhi Lieutenant Governor TS Sandhu on Saturday relived memories of his student life at St Stephenâs College of Delhi University as he walked the corridors interacted with faculty saw archive photos and addressed graduating students at the Convocation Addressing the Class of 2026 Sandhu encouraged them to pursue excellence with humility and to serve the nation with both competence and characterâThis occasion marks an important transition in the lives of the graduating class It is a moment that brings together reflection anticipation and a quiet recognition of the journey that has brought you hereâ he saidâFor many of you St Stephenâs has not only been a place of academic pursuit but also a space where ideas were shaped perspectives were challenged and friendships were formedâ said Sandhu in an impassioned speechHe said âSt Stephenâs College is also my alma mater and I have spent some of the most meaningful and formative moments of my life here The memories of those years â of conversations classrooms debates and friendships remain with me even today They shaped not only my academic journey but also my outlook on lifeâSandhu said âWhen I look back at my time here two aspects stand out clearly The first is the emphasis on intellectual curiosity You are encouraged not merely to learn but to questionâto examine assumptions and engage with ideas critically even when they challenge your own beliefsââThe second is the sense of balance between excellence and humility This institution places before you high expectations but it also instils a quiet discipline â an understanding that achievement is not an end in itself but a responsibility he saidThe world you are entering will present opportunities but also complexities How you navigate them will depend not only on your knowledge but on your judgment and values he saidLater Sandhu took to X to share his joy of reliving memories of his days as a college studentâDelighted to visit my alma mater St Stephenâs College for the Annual Dismissal Service Walking through its familiar corridors brought back memories of enriching conversations engaging classrooms spirited debates and lifelong friendshipsâ he saidâAddressing the Class of 2026 I encouraged them to pursue excellence with humility and to serve the nation with both competence and character Heartiest congratulations to the graduating class May you carry forward the rich legacy intellect and unique spirit of the College as you embark on your journeys aheadâ he saidSandhu earned a BA degree in History from St Stephens College in 1982 and later pursued an MA in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University JNU before joining the Indian Foreign Service in 1988 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-l-g-ts-sandhu-relives-memories-of-his-student-days-at-st-stephens-college-671999.html Sat, 02 May 2026 17:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/trump-backs-iraq-pm-nominee-ali-al-zaidi-signals-support-for-new-govt-671795.html Washington May 1 US President Donald Trump on Thursday congratulated Ali alZaidi on his nomination as Iraqâs next Prime Minister signalling support for the formation of a new government in Baghdad and expressing hope for closer bilateral ties In a post on his official social media platform Trump said âCongratulations to Ali alZaidi on his nomination to be the next Prime Minister of IraqâHe added that Washington wishes him success as he seeks to form a government capable of addressing security concerns and governance challengesâWe wish him success as he works to form a new government free from terrorism that could deliver a brighter future for Iraqâ Trump saidThe US President also pointed to the prospect of strengthening ties between the two countries under alZaidiâs leadershipâWe look forward to a strong vibrant and highly productive new relationship between Iraq and the United Statesâ he saidTrump described the development as a potential turning point in bilateral relationsâThis is the beginning of a tremendous new chapter between our nations â prosperity stability and success like never seen beforeâ he saidHe concluded his message with a personal note âAgain Ali congratulationsâThe statement comes as Iraq navigates a sensitive political transitionThe United States maintains a diplomatic mission in Iraq which American officials describe as focused on sustaining a longterm strategic partnership with the Government of Iraq and its peopleIn coordination with the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS the United States had supported Iraqâs efforts that led to the December 2017 milestone of liberating the country from ISIS controlAn official statement mentions that following the territorial defeat of ISIS the US increased efforts to stabilise liberated areas as Iraq continues to develop as a sovereign stable and selfreliant countryOfficials describe Iraq as a key partner for the United States in the region and a country playing an increasingly constructive role in the Middle EastIraq has functioning government institutions including an active legislature and the US continues broad engagement with Iraq on diplomatic political economic and security issues under the USIraq Strategic Framework Agreement SFA which forms the basis of bilateral relations IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/trump-backs-iraq-pm-nominee-ali-al-zaidi-signals-support-for-new-govt-671795.html Fri, 01 May 2026 08:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/kiren-rijiju-hails-warm-welcome-in-north-sikkim-671796.html Gangtok May 1 Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said he was deeply moved by the warm reception accorded to him during his visit to Mangan district in Sikkim praising the hospitality and spirit of the people of the region Sharing his experience in a post on X Rijiju said the residents of Mangan Lachung and Lachen welcomed him with warmth and affectionHe described the picturesque Himalayan region as a land that beautifully represents âstrength and simplicity in its finest formâThe Union Minister was accompanied by Sikkim minister Samdup Lepcha government officials local leaders and noted singer Mohit Chauhan during the visitThe gathering reflected close coordination between the Centre and the state government in promoting development and public outreach in the regionRijiju also appreciated the cultural richness and peaceful environment of North Sikkim stating that such interactions strengthen bonds between communities and leadershipHis visit is being seen as significant amid continued focus on connectivity tourism and infrastructure growth in the strategically important Himalayan state of SikkimNotably PM Modi on his recent visit to the Himalayan state inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for multiple development projects worth around Rs 4000 crore in Sikkim asserting that the Northeast region is Indiaâs âAshtalakshmiâ and that the Himalayan state is an important part of itAddressing a public gathering at the Paljor Stadium the Prime Minister said the Centre has attached special importance to the development of the Northeast over the past several years and has moved beyond the âAct Eastâ policy to an âAct Fastâ approach IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/kiren-rijiju-hails-warm-welcome-in-north-sikkim-671796.html Fri, 01 May 2026 08:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/president-murmu-to-visit-army-training-command-in-shimla-today-671799.html New Delhi May 1 President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to visit the Army Training Command in Shimla on Friday before leaving for Delhi capping a fiveday summer sojourn to her official residence in Mashobra In Mashobra President Murmu took a round of various areas in Rashtrapati Niwas and reviewed the amenities for visitorsShe also planted a Khumani sapling in the lawn of the official residence according to an official statementAhead of the Presidents proposed address at the convocation ceremony of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya in Palampur on Thursday a security ring was thrown around the city with the local administration restricting aero sports like paragliding for five hoursDuring her visit to Himachal Pradesh which started on April 27 the President made Rashtrapati Niwas at Mashobra in Shimla as her base before heading out to different events over several daysEarlier on Tuesday President Murmu attended a banquet hosted by the Himachal Pradesh Governor Kavinder Gupta at Lok Bhavan in ShimlaThe Rashtrapati Niwas at Mashobra opened its doors to the public in April 2023At present the authorities provide a free bus service to tourists to the Presidents summer retreatThe Shimla to Mashobra service was started to celebrate President Murmus two years in office on July 25 2024The complimentary bus service of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation operates from the lift parking at Mall Road in Shimla on Friday Saturday and SundayA guide at the presidential residence said that visitors can explore the 174yearold Rashtrapati Niwas nature trails and other parts of the building including its lawns and parksConstructed in 1850 by the King of Koti in European architectural style the Rashtrapati Niwas previously known as the Retreat Building is one of four existing presidential residences in IndiaThe other three are Rashtrapati Ashiana a Presidential retreat in Dehradun Rashtrapati Nilayam in Telangana and Rashtrapati Bhavan the official residence of the President in New Delhi IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/president-murmu-to-visit-army-training-command-in-shimla-today-671799.html Fri, 01 May 2026 08:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/hm-amit-shah-to-offer-prayers-at-buddha-relics-in-leh-on-buddha-purnima-671800.html New Delhi May 1 Union Home Minister Amit Shah will join devotees on Friday to pay respects to the sacred relics of Lord Buddha on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima He arrived in the Union Territory of Ladakh on Thursday on a twoday visitUnion Minister Shah earlier said in a post on X Tomorrow will be a historic day for Ladakh when on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima the sacred relics of Lord Buddha will be available for the people of Ladakh to pay their respectsI consider myself fortunate that I too will have the rare opportunity tomorrow to have darshan of these holy relicsIn order that these sacred relics may be easily accessible for darshan by the people of Ladakh over the next two weeks I held a meeting today with the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh and the concerned officials in this regardHe was welcomed on arrival by Ladakh Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena senior government officials elected representatives and local residents many of whom were dressed in traditional attireHe Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be paying respects to the holy relics of Lord Buddha on Friday May 1 on the occasion of the 2569th Buddha Purnima The Home Ministers visit and his vision for the development of Ladakh shall motivate us to work towards fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Saxena saidAfter the arrival of the Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha in Leh people have been gathering in large numbers to pay their respectsThis is Union Home Minister Amit Shahâs first visit to Ladakh since protests over demands for statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule in September last year during which four protesters were killed and more than 80 others injuredThe Centre has decided to engage in dialogue with representatives from Ladakh to address their concerns and explore measures to preserve the regions unique environment and cultural heritageUnion Minister Amit Shah is also scheduled to launch major dairy and cooperative sector projects during his visit to Ladakh IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/hm-amit-shah-to-offer-prayers-at-buddha-relics-in-leh-on-buddha-purnima-671800.html Fri, 01 May 2026 08:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/national-plot-to-shrink-maratha-history-says-shiv-sena-671820.html Mumbai May 1 The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray UBT on the 67th Foundation Day of Maharashtra on Friday claimed that the Marathi people were being cornered by Maharashtrahaters and subservient local rulers It called upon the Marathis to once again raise the cry of Maharashtra Dharma to protect their identity and pride against this perceived national conspiracy The Thackeray camp in the partys mouthpiece Saamana said that even today rickshaw drivers in Mumbai refuse to speak Marathi Instead of enforcing the language rulers are bowing before them and withholding decisions that would make Marathi mandatoryâProgressive Maharashtra is currently trapped in the clutches of superstition and charlatanism The selfrespect of Maharashtra and the Marathi identity Asmita are being suffocated by the confluence of Maharashtrahaters at the Centre and subservient rulers within the state There is a national conspiracy underway to extinguish the torch of Maharashtra and Marathi pride The Marathi people must thwart this for that the clarion call of Maharashtra Dharma must be sounded once againâ the editorial in Saamana saidIt said that while the government prepares for the usual artificial rain of promises regarding the welfare of the Marathi people tehre is a stark contrast between rhetoric and reality âMumbai was won through the blood and sweat of mill workers farmers and labourers Yet today the question remains does Mumbai truly belong to those workers anymore In the very heart of the capital rickshaw drivers reportedly refuse to speak Marathi Rather than enforcing the language the current administration is accused of prostrating before these elements by staying decisions that would make Marathi mandatoryâ said the editorialThe editorial further claimed that the recent changes in NCERT and CBSE curricula such as removing maps of the Maratha Empire or reducing the glorious history of Shivaji Maharaj to a mere 68 words point toward a systematic erasure of the states heritage and Marathi identityThe Thackeray camp said claims will be made that Mumbai belongs only to the Marathi people and leaders will boast about being the protectors of Maharashtra Dharma Yet as the sun sets these rulers forget the day and begin bargaining away the glory of Maharashtra This is the restless reality of Maharashtra today it saidâMay 1st is not only Maharashtra Day but also International Workers Day The Sacred Vessel Mangal Kalash of Maharashtraâs creation was brought forth on this day because mill workers farmers and labourers fought the struggle to ensure Mumbai remained part of the state Does Mumbai truly belong to those labourers anymoreâ the editorial askedThe editorial stated that while Maharashtra has always been on the path of progress it is now caught in the pythonlike grip of superstition and fake godmen It alleged that there is a visible systematic plan to keep people entangled in these delusions to loot the state yet the Marathi people have not yet risen in protest âWhere has the Maratha valour celebrated in folk songs Powadas vanishedâ it askedThe Uddhav Thackerayled Shiv Sena urged people to remember the 106 martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the formation of Maharashtra and to reclaim the bravery once sung in the ballads of the Shahirs IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/national-plot-to-shrink-maratha-history-says-shiv-sena-671820.html Fri, 01 May 2026 10:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/andhra-pradesh-telangana-cms-greet-workers-on-may-day-highlight-schemes-671827.html Amaravati May 1 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana CM Revanth Reddy greeted workers on the occasion of International Labour Day Chandrababu Naidu took to âXâ to greet âbrothers and sisters in the workforce and the farming communityââRegardless of ones profession it is our duty to accord equal respect to every individual who toils This is a historic day that recognizes the rights of the working class those who labor tirelessly day and night If agriculture the very backbone of our nations economic progress continues to advance it is solely due to the sheer hard work and strength of our farmers and farm laborersâ he said âThe nation can truly move forward on the path of progress only when workers and farmers walk together in unity For this very reason the coalition government is constantly devising strategic plans and taking proactive steps to ensure the welfare of both workers and farmers It is currently implementing numerous welfare and development schemes dedicated to the working communityâ he addedOn the occasion of âMay Dayâ Governor of Andhra Pradesh S Abdul Nazeer extended greetings to all the workers and said the invaluable contribution of workers in building a strong and selfreliant societyTheir hard work and dedication are the foundation of the nationâs growth and prosperity he said Telangana Chief Minister extended heartfelt greetings to all working communities on the occasion of International Workers DayThe Chief Minister said in a message that his government was moving forward in tune with the spirit of the working class and affirmed that the workers would receive due respect and dignity in the governmentThe CM noted that the workers are the true partners in the development of the Telangana State envisioned by his government The new industrial policy being implemented by the state government would contribute significantly to the upliftment and empowerment of the workforce he saidReiterating that the âpeoples governmentâ was giving top priority to the welfare and wellbeing of workers CM Revanth Reddy said that inspired by the spirit of May Day the government was implementing numerous welfare and developmental programmes The Chief Minister said the government already launched the Rs 5 lakh accident insurance scheme for gig workers employed in the unorganised sector and also introduced the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Welfare Act The Chief Minister highlighted that the government introduced a slew of initiatives with the sole objective of workers welfare and lakhs of people are securing employment directly and indirectly Longpending appointments on compassionate grounds in various government departments were also made He noted that the government was releasing bonuses ahead of the Dasara and Diwali festivals to the workers of Singareni company which has been playing an important role in the states development and stands as a beacon of pride for the entire nation The CM also said that for the first time in the history of Singareni the government provided a bonus of Rs 5000 to each contract worker With the cooperation of banks the state government was providing insurance coverage worth Rs one crore to the Singareni workers Special measures are also being taken to ensure the welfare of Telangana workers employed in Gulf countries Rs 5 lakh financial assistance will be provided to the kin of the Telangana workers who passed away in the Gulf countries IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/andhra-pradesh-telangana-cms-greet-workers-on-may-day-highlight-schemes-671827.html Fri, 01 May 2026 12:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/storms-heavy-rain-in-uttar-pradesh-claim-24-lives-in-2-days-up-cm-adityanath-assures-support-671830.html Lucknow May 1 Severe weather conditions including heavy rain strong storms and lightning have caused widespread damage across Uttar Pradesh over the past two days claiming at least 24 lives According to official reports 15 people have been injured while 16 animals have also died in the extreme weather events Several districts in the state have been affected by continuous rainfall gusty winds and frequent lightning strikes significantly disrupting normal life Farmers working in open fields people outdoors and families residing in mud houses have been among the worst hit Reports of fallen trees power outages and waterlogging have emerged from multiple areasChief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed deep condolences to the families of those who lost their lives He assured that the state government stands firmly with all affected families during this crisisThe Chief Minister has directed officials to ensure immediate and proper medical treatment for the injured along with the availability of all essential healthcare facilities in hospitals He has also ordered that compensation for the deceased injured and livestock losses be provided within 24 hoursDistrict Magistrates and other authorities concerned have been instructed to expedite relief and rescue operations The Chief Minister warned that any negligence or delay in providing assistance will not be toleratedAdministrative teams are actively engaged in relief efforts across the affected districts Doortodoor damage assessments are underway and assistance is being extended to those in needMeanwhile the India Meteorological Department has forecast continued heavy rainfall thunderstorms and lightning in several parts of the state over the next few days indicating that the risk is far from overWeather patterns are also shifting in other parts of northern India Regions including Delhi and the National Capital Region witnessed rainfall and hailstorms on Thursday bringing relief from heatwave conditions The IMD has further predicted light to moderate showers for Uttarakhand Punjab Haryana and Chandigarh on Friday IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/storms-heavy-rain-in-uttar-pradesh-claim-24-lives-in-2-days-up-cm-adityanath-assures-support-671830.html Fri, 01 May 2026 12:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/census-2027-rajasthan-cm-sharma-participates-in-self-enumeration-671837.html Jaipur May 1 Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Thursday participated in the selfenumeration process launched under Census 2027 setting an example for citizens across the state Accessing the official portal he filled in his personal details and successfully submitted the required information online appealing to citizens to join the nationbuilding exerciseEncouraging widespread public participation the Chief Minister described Census 2027 as a crucial step towards strengthening governance and planningHe emphasised that accurate and comprehensive data collection would play a vital role in shaping policies and ensuring effective delivery of welfare schemesHighlighting the broader vision Sharma said the exercise aligns with the national goals of Digital India and Viksit Bharat 2047He urged citizens to actively take part in this largescale initiative âI appeal to every resident of the state to participate in this important campaign and extend full cooperation to make it successful Census 2027 is not merely a data collection exercise but a significant step in nationbuildingâ he saidOfficials informed that the selfenumeration facility will remain available from May 1 to May 15 allowing citizens to conveniently submit their details onlineThis digital option is expected to enhance accuracy reduce manual effort and streamline the overall census process Following this phase enumerators will begin doortodoor visits across Rajasthan from May 16 as part of the first phase of the Census operationDuring this stage house listing and housing enumeration activities will be carried out to gather detailed information at the household level The state government has made necessary arrangements to ensure a smooth and efficient process combining digital tools with onground verificationCitizens are encouraged to make use of the selfenumeration facility within the stipulated timeframe and contribute to building a reliable national database IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/census-2027-rajasthan-cm-sharma-participates-in-self-enumeration-671837.html Fri, 01 May 2026 13:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/rajasthan-governor-launches-census-2027-via-self-enumeration-at-lok-bhawan-671844.html Jaipur May 1 Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde formally launched the âCensus 2027â process in the state on Friday at Lok Bhawan by undertaking selfenumeration With this the first phase of census activities has officially commenced across the state On this occasion the Governor appealed to citizens to actively participate in the crucial national exercise and ensure the submission of accurate and complete information through the selfenumeration facilityHe noted that the Census Web Portal developed by the Government of India is simple secure and userfriendly allowing individuals to conveniently fill in their detailsBagde particularly called upon youth and social organisations to extend support to those unfamiliar with digital platforms ensuring that no one is excluded from the process He emphasised that public participation in âCensus 2027â reflects a direct contribution to the nationâs inclusive and holistic developmentThe Governor also urged citizens to cooperate with census enumerators during the forthcoming doortodoor survey provide correct information and make use of helpline services in case of any doubts or queriesHighlighting a key feature officials noted that this will be Indiaâs first fully digital census with data collection being conducted entirely through digital devices In addition citizens have been given the option of selfenumeration through a secure webbased systemCensus Director Vishnu Charan Malik informed that the selfenumeration facility will be available on the official portal from May 1 to May 15 prior to the commencement of field surveys Citizens can log in using their mobile numbers and required credentials to submit details about themselves and their familiesThe Governorâs Secretary Dr Prithvi was also present during the launch ceremonyEarlier Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma participated in the selfenumeration process launched under Census 2027 setting an example for citizens across the state Accessing the official portal he filled in his personal details and successfully submitted the required information online appealing to citizens to join the nationbuilding exerciseEncouraging widespread public participation the Chief Minister described Census 2027 as a crucial step towards strengthening governance and planning IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/rajasthan-governor-launches-census-2027-via-self-enumeration-at-lok-bhawan-671844.html Fri, 01 May 2026 13:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarats-per-capita-income-crosses-rs-3-lakh-60-pc-above-national-average-671860.html Gandhinagar May 1 Gujaratâs per capita income has crossed Rs 3 lakh for the first time reaching a level around 60 per cent higher than the national average according to official data released on Friday The figure is said to show the stateâs sustained economic expansion with Gujarat contributing 83 per cent to Indiaâs Gross Domestic Product GDP despite accounting for about five per cent of the population and six per cent of the land areaThe state also holds a 19 per cent share in the countryâs total industrial production and contributes 26 per cent to Indiaâs exportsOfficials said the growth reflects âefficient financial management and probusiness policiesâ noting that Gujarat has recorded an average growth rate of 114 per cent over the past decade higher than the national averageThe state has also maintained a real growth rate of 842 per cent in recent years Prime Minister Narendra Modi who led the state government between 2001 and 2014 had laid the foundation for Gujaratâs development trajectory which has continued through a positive approach proactive policymaking and public participation the government saidGujaratâs industrial strength is complemented by its role in global tradeAround 40 per cent of Indiaâs cargo is handled through the stateâs ports a figure officials said demonstrates that âGujarat is Indiaâs most important gateway for global tradeâThe state leads the countryâs chemical industry with a 33 per cent share and has expanded into emerging sectors such as semiconductors and financial technologyAuthorities said Gujarat has achieved balanced development from agriculture to fintech contributing to the broader goal of a developed IndiaDigital governance initiatives have also been expanded with programmes such as eGram and Seva Setu aimed at extending technology and public services to remote areas allowing paperless administration and citizen services at the fingertipsMajor infrastructure projects are underway including the AhmedabadMumbai bullet train which is expected to reduce travel time between key cities such as Ahmedabad Vadodara and Surat as well as boost economic activityConstruction is also in progress at Lothal on the National Maritime Heritage Complex intended to revive and showcase Indiaâs maritime legacyTourism and religious infrastructure are being upgraded with developments including the Sagar Darshan Path Promenade near the Somnath temple and a corridor project at Ambaji along with the 51 Shaktipeeth Parikrama PathMarking the 66th Foundation Day the state government said Gujarat through strong financial discipline transparent governance and entrepreneurial effort is moving towards contributing to the national vision of âViksit Bharat at 2047â The state has emerged as the countryâs growth engine IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarats-per-capita-income-crosses-rs-3-lakh-60-pc-above-national-average-671860.html Fri, 01 May 2026 14:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/with-maoist-problem-almost-over-telangana-police-set-for-a-revamp-671872.html Hyderabad May 1 With the Maoist problem almost eliminated Telangana Police will revamp the department to focus on new areas of crime said new Director General of Police C V Anand on Friday He told a press conference after taking charge as the state police chief that the functioning of the department will be reviewed and some areas will be revampedHe pointed out that in the 1980s and 1990s certain wings like Greyhounds and Special Intelligence Bureau SIB were created to tackle the Naxal problemâNow that the Maoist problem is almost eliminated itâs not correct to continue the personnelâ he saidWhile stating that the chances of revival of the Maoist movement are remote the DGP said they would take all precautions to make sure that the problem does not arise againHe emphasised the need for innovative thinking and redeployment of the personnel to tackle new problemsAnand said some units which are very important but were not given proper attention or sufficient manpower due to a lack of staff in the past would be strengthenedReferring to vacancies the DGP said the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister told the department to focus on revamp by identifying unnecessary attachments and unnecessary deploymentsStating that road safety would be one of the top priorities Anand said the Traffic Management and Road Safety Bureau will be created on the lines of the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau TGCSB and Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement EAGLE established in recent yearsHe said the proposed body would work to standardise traffic management practices and ensure uniformity in the implementation of traffic rules across the state to prevent accidents and reduce the number of fatalitiesHe noted that every year 8500 people die in road accidents across the stateHighlighting the magnitude of the traffic problem he said every day 1600 new vehicles are coming on the roads in four commissionerates in Greater HyderabadStating that Telangana Police emerged as the number one police in the country with revolutionary changes and innovation in all sectors in recent years Anand said under his leadership it would continue its journey in the same direction by using the latest technologySaying that while Telangana Police have a good record in maintaining law and order he acknowledged that in a few places the failure of the fieldlevel officials to anticipate communal incidents and other law and order issues was creating problems âMy effort will be to see that all officials improve this qualityâ he saidAppreciating the work being done by TGCSB in tackling cybercrimes he underlined the need for the active participation of fieldlevel officers Superintendents Police and Commissioners of PoliceThe DGP said narcotics control would be one of his top priorities While noting that EAGLE and Hyderabad Narcotics Enforcement Wing HNE were doing commendable work he stated that all SPs should also conduct antinarcotics operationsAnand said that to prevent the drug menace in school and college campuses the department would focus on awareness Antidrugs committees in educational institutions will be activated with the involvement of education and other departmentsEarlier senior police officials extended a warm welcome to Anand upon his arrival at the DGP office The newlyappointed DGP received a guard of honour from the police and later assumed charge as the head of the police force IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/with-maoist-problem-almost-over-telangana-police-set-for-a-revamp-671872.html Fri, 01 May 2026 16:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/meghalaya-launches-self-enumeration-9-000-enumerators-supervisors-to-be-deployed-671877.html Shillong May 1 Selfenumeration for Census 2027 commenced across Meghalaya on Friday marking a significant milestone in Indiaâs first fully digital Census officials said Director of Census Operations Meghalaya Biswajit Pegu described Census 2027 as a landmark exercise noting that it will be the 16th Census overall and the 8th since Independence He informed that around 9000 enumerators and supervisors will be deployed across the state supported by a robust multilayered supervision mechanism to ensure accuracy in data collection The administrative boundaries of Meghalaya have been frozen as of December 31 2025 specifically for Census purposes The exercise will be conducted under the supervision of Deputy Commissioners acting as Principal Census Officers with support from Charge Officers Supervisors and Enumerators the official added Census authorities have urged citizens to actively participate in the selfenumeration process and extend full cooperation to field staff to ensure reliable and comprehensive data for inclusive development and evidencebased governance in the state Highlighting a key feature of this Census Pegu said that for the first time the entire process from enumeration to data analysis will be carried out digitally using mobile applications and the Census Management and Monitoring System CMMS portal Citizens can opt for selfenumeration through an online portal from May 1 to May 15 This facility allows individuals to fill in their household details independently which will later be verified by enumerators during housetohouse visits According to officials this initiative is expected to enhance transparency accuracy and public participation Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases Phase I includes SelfEnumeration and House Listing Operations HLO Following the selfenumeration period HLO will be carried out from May 16 to June 14 During this phase enumerators will gather data on housing conditions assets and basic amenities through a structured questionnaire consisting of 33 questions Phase II the Population Enumeration phase is scheduled for February 2027 with the reference date set as March 1 2027 Pegu also highlighted the legal framework governing the exercise stating that the Census is conducted under the provisions of the Census Act 1948 and the Census Rules 1990 He noted that digital transformation will improve data quality through preloaded questionnaires in mobile applications and enable faster processing for the timely publication of results Elaborating on the methodology the official said that data collection will be conducted using dedicated mobile apps operated by enumerators and supervisors on smartphones The CMMS portal will oversee all activities including training monitoring and the creation of geocoded House Listing Blocks through the HLB Creator HLBC Data submitted through selfenumeration will be verified during field visits before final submission On data security Pegu assured that stringent safeguards have been put in place to maintain confidentiality Individual and householdlevel data will remain undisclosed with only aggregated data released for policy formulation and development planningMobile numbers collected during the process will be used strictly for communication and verification purposes The Census will cover all normal and institutional households However certain categories including foreigners and diplomatic personnel will be excluded during the House Listing Operations phase Subhasish Chatterjee Joint Director Directorate of Census Operations Meghalaya announced that a national tollfree helpline 1855 has been launched to assist citizens ahead of Census 2027 The helpline will address queries related to the census process including house listing and population enumeration while providing guidance and resolving concerns to ensure accurate and timely information dissemination Officials also stressed the importance of public awareness noting that media professionals play a crucial role in spreading accurate information dispelling misconceptions and encouraging citizens to participate confidently and effectively in Census 2027 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/meghalaya-launches-self-enumeration-9-000-enumerators-supervisors-to-be-deployed-671877.html Fri, 01 May 2026 16:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/foreign-delegates-highlight-semiconductor-renewable-energy-opportunities-at-vgrc-in-surat-671882.html Surat May 1 Foreign delegates at the twoday Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference VGRC South Gujarat in Surat which commenced on Friday highlighted growing international interest in the states industrial ecosystem Representatives from Russia and Japan pointed to growing opportunities in sectors such as semiconductors and renewable energyAleksandr Fursov Deputy Consul General of Russia in Mumbai said the conference reflects the depth of economic ties between the two countriesâRussia and India have a longstanding tradition of bilateral economic cooperation We always view conferences like Vibrant Gujarat as a great opportunity for business people to meet each other get to know each other better and learn about the opportunities each country has and is ready to offer to its partnersâ he told IANSA delegate from Japan Onio underlined Gujaratâs growing role in emerging industriesâToday I joined this conference as a speaker in the Japan session to introduce our organisation From my understanding the semiconductor industry is a very important and rapidly growing sector here in Gujarat Also Gujarat is known as the state with the highest solar panel installations in Indiaâ he saidEarlier in the day Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated VGRC in SuratThe twoday event being held on May 1 and 2 at Auro University is part of the state governmentâs effort to extend the Vibrant Gujarat model to regional hubs and promote localised investment opportunitiesThe conference is being held alongside the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Exhibition VGRE bringing together industries MSMEs startups and government bodies from districts across South Gujarat including Surat Bharuch Navsari Valsad Tapi and DangIt features seminars sectorfocused discussions businesstobusiness and businesstogovernment meetings as well as a reverse buyerseller meet aimed at facilitating partnershipsIndustry representatives also pointed to the evolution of the Vibrant Gujarat initiative over the yearsDinesh Navadiya Chairman of the Indian Diamond Institute told IANS âEspecially when it comes to the concept of Vibrant Gujarat the credit for introducing it in India goes to our Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat That is when Vibrant Gujarat was started Since then every Chief Minister of Gujarat has carried forward the Vibrant Gujarat programme But this time Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has given it a new directionâRohit Mehta former president of the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry SGCCI said the initiative continues to create new avenues for industryâVibrant Gujarat is extremely extremely important At the Chamber of Commerce we have been associated with Vibrant Gujarat from the very beginning and we have continuously supported the government New opportunities keep emerging all the time At present Surat has the highest concentration of solar panel manufacturing There are many companies here and now these companies are also focusing more on cell manufacturing So in the field of solar and renewable energy there are tremendous opportunitiesâ he saidSpeaking to IANS Chairman and MD KP Group Faruk Patel said Back in 2012 and 2013 during PM Modiâs tenure we signed an MoU worth Rs 768 crore and later we expanded it nearly 10 times So no one can have greater confidence than us about the fact that this South Gujarat Regional Conference being organised under Vibrant Gujarat is going to benefit many industriesThe South Gujarat conference is one in a series of regional events organised between editions of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit aimed at sustaining investment momentum and strengthening Gujaratâs position as a preferred destination for domestic and international business collaboration IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/foreign-delegates-highlight-semiconductor-renewable-energy-opportunities-at-vgrc-in-surat-671882.html Fri, 01 May 2026 17:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/andhra-pradesh-spending-rs-33-000-crore-annually-on-social-security-pensions-671889.html Amaravati May 1 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said on Friday that the state government is spending Rs 33000 crore every year on social security pensions and this is unparalleled in the country The state government is providing pensions to 6247 lakh beneficiaries every month It has spent more than Rs 63000 crore on pensions during the last 22 monthsWe ensure that Rs 2700 crore is kept ready every single month I do not view this as a burden rather I regard it as a responsibility This programme provides muchneeded relief and support to the poor the Chief Minister said while addressing a public meeting after distributing pensions among some beneficiaries under NTR Bharosa pension scheme in Krishna districtChief Minister Chandrababu Naidu participated in Pedala Sevalo service to the poor programme in Pamidimukkala in Pamarru constituency of Krishna districtStating that he along with Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a promise to rebuild Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed that they have been working tirelessly for the past 22 months to fulfil this promiseEver since the Telugu Desam Partyled coalition government assumed office it has been working to rebuild shattered systems and restore the glory of Andhra Pradesh the Chief Minister saidChief Minister Chandrababu Naidu reiterated that the state government are reducing electricity tariffs as promised during the previous state Assembly elections and made it clear that they would not increase power ratesHe noted that previous administrations had burdened the people with electricity tariff hikes on nine separate occasionsHe affirmed that the peoplecentric government is functioning with great transparency delivering good governance powered primarily by the cooperation extended by the publicThe Chief Minister announced that henceforth at every public meeting he would seek feedback from the people regarding the performance of their respective MLAsHe said he would personally assess the performance of MLAs in the presence of peopleI stand on the side of the people not on the side of the MLAs My commitment lies solely with the people Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu remarkedHe emphasised that as the team leader the state government as a whole would earn a good reputation only if the elected representatives and officials worked together IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/andhra-pradesh-spending-rs-33-000-crore-annually-on-social-security-pensions-671889.html Fri, 01 May 2026 18:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/andhra-pradesh-govt-notifies-five-e-mobility-cities-671891.html Amaravati May 1 The government of Andhra Pradesh on Friday notified five model EMobility cities across the state marking a major step towards building a sustainable technologydriven and futureready urban mobility ecosystem Five model EMobility cities represent the five administrative regions of the state These cities are Visakhapatnam in North Andhra Rajahmundry in Godavari region Vijayawada in Central Andhra Nellore in South Andhra and Tirupati in RayalaseemaThe government issued orders operationalising the Andhra Pradesh Sustainable Electric Mobility Policy 40 2024â29The Municipal Administration amp Urban Development Department approved the Operational Framework and Strategic Roadmap for implementation of the policy in Urban Local Bodies ULBsThe initiative is aimed at transforming Andhra Pradesh into one of Indiaâs leading hubs for electric mobility adoption EV infrastructure development green urban transport systems and sustainable urban planning while aligning with the Stateâs longterm vision of achieving carbon neutrality in the transport sector by 2047 said an official releaseOperational framework envisages development of highdensity EV charging infrastructure green routes green channels battery swapping stations zero emission zones and integrated electric mobility ecosystems in the identified cities The framework also proposes a strategic charging infrastructure network with one EV charging station per 3x3 km grid within EMobility cities and one EV charging station every 30 km along intercity Green ChannelshighwaysThe government has also proposed utilisation of a dedicated Rs 250 crore Corpus Fund under the AP Sustainable Electric Mobility Policy 40 with Rs 50 crore earmarked for each Model EMobility City to support infrastructure deployment grid strengthening fleet electrification innovation pilots viability gap funding and consumer adoption initiativesThe framework provides for a phased and integrated implementation approach covering EV charging stations battery swapping infrastructure green freight corridors electric public transport systems renewable energy integration smart urban mobility planning Zero Emission Zones ZEZs and Dedicated City EMobility Cells CEMCsAs part of the implementation strategy cityspecific interventions have also been proposed Green tourism mobility electric BRTS corridors and green freight corridors have been proposed for Visakhapatnam Model Green Routes along BRTS corridors and logisticsfocused EV infrastructure are proposed for Vijayawada Electrification of river transport systems and green goods corridors are proposed for Rajahmundry EV logistics systems for fisheries and coastal transport infrastructure are mooted for Nellore and Full electrification of Tirumala shuttle systems and Zero Emission pilgrim mobility zones for Tirupati IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/andhra-pradesh-govt-notifies-five-e-mobility-cities-671891.html Fri, 01 May 2026 20:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/andhra-pradesh-cm-promises-to-set-up-labour-addas-to-help-workers-671892.html Amaravati May 1 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday announced that labour âaddasâ will be set up across the state to support workers by upgrading their skills In the first phase 15 such centres will be established in major cities and towns The Chief Minister made the announcement after distributing Shramashakti awards to outstanding workers and employers at Pamidimukkala village in Krishna district on International Workersâ DayChandrababu Naidu stated that these labour addas would be developed into skill development centres where workers can upgrade their skillsNew ESI hospitals will also be set up in places like Achyutapuram Guntur Kurnool Sri City and Amaravati to improve workers healthcareThe Chief Minister emphasised that just as workers work tirelessly the government is equally committed to the development of the state He highlighted that the Telugu Desam Party symbol reflects workers and farmers and reaffirmed commitment to uplift poor families including enabling their children to become entrepreneursNaidu said the welfare measures for workers include Rs 25000 financial assistance for the marriage of construction workers also applicable to their daughters Rs 20000 support for childbirth Rs 60000 assistance in case of natural death and Rs 20000 for funeral expenses In addition four labour courts are also available for dispute resolutionThe Chief Minister said the government derives satisfaction from peopleâs happiness and considers welfare spending a responsibility not a burdenRegarding Machilipatnam Port he said land acquisition was done in 2014 but the previous government cancelled tenders in 2019 causing delays At present breakwater dredging and offshore works are progressing rapidly He stated that the target is to complete the port by December this yearThe Chief Minister stated that major investments are coming into the state including a large data centre investment by Reliance following interest from companies like GoogleHe praised reforms in Panchayati Raj led by Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and education reforms by Education Minister Nara Lokesh He said the reforms in the education sector led to improved Class 10 resultsThe Chief Minister criticised the opposition alleging destructive governance in the past and stating that the current government has been rebuilding systems over the last 22 months IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/andhra-pradesh-cm-promises-to-set-up-labour-addas-to-help-workers-671892.html Fri, 01 May 2026 20:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/uae-telecom-giant-etisalat-may-exit-pakistan-671893.html New Delhi May 1 Leading UAE telecom major Etisalat is reviewing its investment in Pakistan which could lead to its exit from Pakistan TelecomÂmuniÂcation Company Ltd PTCL according to a report in the local media Insiders say Etisalat had indicated that the review is driven by a combination of global macroeconomic uncertainty regional geopolitical tensions and evolving capital allocation strategies among sovereignlinked investors the report in the Dawn saidEtisalatâs plans are still at the preliminary assessment stage with no final decision taken as yet the report statedAsked for comment PTCL told Dawn its longterm business plan had recently been approved by its board and shareholders PTCL is not aware about shareholdersâ plan of any change at this stageâ the company said in its statementFor Pakistan PTCL remains a strategically important entity despite its mixed ownership â the government and its entities still hold around 62 per cent stake in it although 26 per cent shares and management control are in the hands of the Gulf telecom giant which recently rebranded and is in the process of corporate restructuring The remaining 12 pc shares are held by private investors through the Pakistan Stock ExchangePTCL has been facing continuous losses over the past couple of years turning a profit only recently following its acquisition of Telenor PakistanJust recently Islamabad repaid about 35bn to the UAE which had been rolling over these deposits for years to shore up Pakistanâs foreign exchange reserve target under multiple IMF programmesConcurrently Saudi Arabia has increased its role in maintaining Pakistanâs reserves by enhancing the volume of its safe deposits in Pakistan by 3bn to 8bn to fill the financing gap under IMF requirements Meanwhile the IMFâs executive board is set to meet on May 8 to clear the disbursement of another 121bn tranche for PakistanA senior Finance Division official told Dawn that in the event of any portfolio rebalancing by UAE stakeholders Pakistan retained credible downside protection through alternative GCC capital flows noting that strategic interest from Saudi and Qatari investors provided a viable alternative pathway to ensure continuity of investment operational stability and longterm sectoral growthSources referred to the UAEâs recent measured rebalancing toward US dollar reserves and domestic market commitments amid global volatility saying that this reflects standard focus on hardcurrency buffers balanceofpayment stability and capital efficiency the report added IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/uae-telecom-giant-etisalat-may-exit-pakistan-671893.html Fri, 01 May 2026 20:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/lpg-shortage-forces-menu-changes-at-chennais-amma-canteens-671750.html Chennai April 30 A shortage of LPG cylinders has disrupted operations at Amma Canteens across Chennai forcing authorities to scale down food production and trim menus at several outlets The impact has been most visible in the reduction of idli output and the suspension of chapati preparation in many locations Field visits conducted on Wednesday in areas such as Egmore and Triplicane revealed that canteen staff have been instructed to limit cooking due to inadequate gas supply Chapatis which require relatively higher fuel consumption have been dropped entirely at several outlets while idli production has been significantly curtailed to cope with the constraintsThe canteens run by the Greater Chennai Corporation GCC form a crucial part of the cityâs subsidised food network serving thousands of lowincome residents dailyAccording to officials the scale of LPG supply has reduced drastically over the past 10 days affecting normal functioning âEarlier more than 300 cylinders were supplied daily Now it has dropped to around 150â a Corporation official said highlighting the severity of the shortageTo manage the crisis the GCC has introduced a hubbased cooking model in select areas Under this arrangement food is prepared at designated centres and distributed to a cluster of around 15 to 18 nearby canteens ensuring that basic services continue despite the limited fuel availabilityOn the ground the impact has been stark At the Gengu Reddy Subway canteen in Egmore the weekly supply of LPG cylinders has dropped from five to just two leading to a sharp fall in idli production from 350 to 150 per dayIn Chintadripet canteens are now receiving only two to three cylinders a week reducing idli output from 500 to 300 and replacing evening chapatis with idlis Similarly in Triplicane idli production has declined from 600 to 350 per day while chapati numbers have been cut by halfHowever not all centres have been equally affectedThe canteen at the Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children campus continues to function normally despite broader instructions to suspend chapati preparationOfficials maintain that the situation is temporary and have assured that fullscale operations will resume once LPG supplies stabiliseUntil then authorities are focusing on maintaining essential services while adapting to the constraints IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/lpg-shortage-forces-menu-changes-at-chennais-amma-canteens-671750.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/op-sindoor-demonstrates-transition-from-diplomatic-statements-to-concrete-action-on-terror-rajnath-singh-671751.html New Delhi April 30 IANS Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday that decisive action under Operation Sindoor conveyed an unequivocal global message that India is no longer bound by the old mindset of merely issuing diplomatic statements when terror attacks are perpetrated on its soilAddressing a National Security Summit in New Delhi the Defence Minister said the Prime Minister Narendra Modiled government has moved beyond mere intent and rhetoric by demonstrating its unwavering commitment through decisive actionRajnath Singh asserted that the government has maintained a firm stance that any act of terrorism under any circumstances will not be toleratedHe described the surgical strikes airstrikes and Operation Sindoor as a manifestation of the governments resolute stance against the menaceOn Pakistans continuous support to terrorism he said Both India and Pakistan attained independence at the same time However today India is recognised globally for IT Information Technology while Pakistan is regarded as the epicentre of a different IT International TerrorismRajnath Singh termed Operation Sindoor as a shining example of jointness and synergy of the Indian Defence ForcesHe stated that the Indian Army Indian Navy and Indian Air Force acted in concert and under a unified plan demonstrating conclusively that Indias military might no longer operates in silos instead it has emerged as a joint integrated and global powerThe Defence Minister added that India executed Operation Sindoor on its own terms and at a time of its own choosing and halted it strictly on its own termsDuring the course of the operation we targeted with absolute precision only those who had perpetrated the attack against us We did not halt the operation because our capabilities had been exhausted or diminished We halted it entirely on our own terms We were fully prepared to sustain a prolonged conflict We possess the requisite surge capacity and the inherent strength to rapidly scale up our capabilities in moments of sudden crisis he saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/op-sindoor-demonstrates-transition-from-diplomatic-statements-to-concrete-action-on-terror-rajnath-singh-671751.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/op-sindoor-signals-shift-from-words-to-action-on-terror-rajnath-singh-671763.html New Delhi April 30 IANS Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday that decisive action under Operation Sindoor conveyed an unequivocal global message that India is no longer bound by the old mindset of merely issuing diplomatic statements when terror attacks are perpetrated on its soilAddressing a National Security Summit in New Delhi the Defence Minister said the Prime Minister Narendra Modiled government has moved beyond mere intent and rhetoric by demonstrating its unwavering commitment through decisive actionRajnath Singh asserted that the government has maintained a firm stance that any act of terrorism under any circumstances will not be toleratedHe described the surgical strikes airstrikes and Operation Sindoor as a manifestation of the governments resolute stance against the menaceOn Pakistans continuous support to terrorism he said Both India and Pakistan attained independence at the same time However today India is recognised globally for IT Information Technology while Pakistan is regarded as the epicentre of a different IT International TerrorismRajnath Singh termed Operation Sindoor as a shining example of jointness and synergy of the Indian Defence ForcesHe stated that the Indian Army Indian Navy and Indian Air Force acted in concert and under a unified plan demonstrating conclusively that Indias military might no longer operates in silos instead it has emerged as a joint integrated and global powerThe Defence Minister added that India executed Operation Sindoor on its own terms and at a time of its own choosing and halted it strictly on its own termsDuring the course of the operation we targeted with absolute precision only those who had perpetrated the attack against us We did not halt the operation because our capabilities had been exhausted or diminished We halted it entirely on our own terms We were fully prepared to sustain a prolonged conflict We possess the requisite surge capacity and the inherent strength to rapidly scale up our capabilities in moments of sudden crisis he saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/op-sindoor-signals-shift-from-words-to-action-on-terror-rajnath-singh-671763.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/over-12-lakh-workers-in-gujarat-get-rs-2-029-crore-bonus-govt-highlights-reforms-671764.html Gandhinagar April 30 The Gujarat government has disbursed more than Rs 2029 crore in bonuses to over 1244 lakh workers during 202425 while expanding digital grievance systems and labour reforms according to official data Marking International Labour Day on May 1 officials said the occasion is ânot just a day but a festival recognising the contribution of crores of labourers devoted to hard workâ and added that âthe progress of any nation is built on the sweat of its workersâUnder the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel the government stated it has sought to combine âtechnology with human sensitivityâ to provide workers with economic justice and security positioning Gujarat as taking a leading role in labour empowermentA central feature of the stateâs initiatives is the âShram Setu Portalâ launched by the Labour Skill Development and Employment Department to enable faster and more transparent resolution of workersâ grievancesThe portal includes a case and claim module designed to handle disputes related to gratuity wage increases termination and other demandsIn 2025 a total of 5550 applications were processed online through this systemOfficials said Workersâ lives have become easier through the integration of technology and sensitivity All procedures from inspections to compliance have also been digitised through an inspection moduleIn 2025 the state conducted 13810 inspections online with industrial establishments submitting compliance digitallyTo support workers further a Labour Support Call Centre has been made operational During 2025 the centre received 18402 callsAppropriate guidance and action were provided on all calls contributing to strengthening workersâ trust officials notedThey further said that reforms introduced during the year were aimed at promoting ease of doing business while reducing unnecessary legal complexitiesReferring to amendments linked to the âJan Vishwas Billâ introduced by the Central government they noted Provisions for compounding offences and revised penalties have been incorporated into the Gujarat Industrial Relations Act and the Gujarat Shops and Establishments Act making administrative processes more transparentIt is asserted that these reforms are expected to make operations easier for traders and industrial units resulting in new employment opportunities for workersThe government also reported that its mediation efforts led to the payment of more than Rs 1113 crore as wage differences to 7655 workers across 1232 institutions in 2025In addition more than 1244 lakh workers received bonus payments totalling Rs 202917 crore during 202425 with disbursement aligned with the Diwali periodSeparately the eShram portal launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment in 2021 to register unorganised workers recorded more than four lakh registrations in Gujarat between January 1 2025 and December 31 2025The government said these measures demonstrate that workers contributing to the stateâs development are being supported through a combination of welfare initiatives and digital systems adding that âwhen workers prosper India becomes truly selfreliantâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/over-12-lakh-workers-in-gujarat-get-rs-2-029-crore-bonus-govt-highlights-reforms-671764.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/telangana-appoints-outgoing-dgp-shivadhar-reddy-as-security-advisor-671765.html Hyderabad April 30 The Telangana government on Thursday appointed outgoing Director General of Police B Shivadhar Reddy as the State Security Advisor SSA He will advise the government on the issues concerning police law and order internal security crime control narcotics control and road safety for a period of three years from the date of assumption of charge said a Government OrderHe will have the status and rank of Chief Secretary to the government According to the GO he will be paid a fixed remuneration of Rs 225 lakh per month Shivadhar Reddy is superannuating from service on Thursday April 30 The government has already appointed CV Anand as the next DGPAccording to the GO Shivadhar Reddy is entitled to office accommodation He is also entitled to rentfree accommodation or HRA of Rs 50000 in lieu of a rented or own house The SSA will be provided with a government vehicle The Home Department shall provide him an OSD a private secretary one personal assistant two drivers and four office subordinatesMeanwhile the state government has also appointed senior Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao as advisor to the government for Backward Classes BC welfare and developmentHe will enjoy the rank and status of minister of state in the stateChief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao has issued a Government Order in this regard âHe will rank at Article 18 of the Warrant of Precedence as a measure personal to the dignitary for the duration of the term of the office without formal amendment to the State Table of Warrant of Precedenceâ reads the GOHanumantha Rao a former MP and one of the senior leaders of the Congress party was a strong aspirant for the Rajya Sabha seat in the recent elections held for two seats from TelanganaHowever the party picked Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Vem Narender Reddy Both were unanimously elected to the Upper House of ParliamentSinghvi was elected for the second term while Narender Reddy a close friend of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy made his debut as the MP IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/telangana-appoints-outgoing-dgp-shivadhar-reddy-as-security-advisor-671765.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/justice-anupinder-singh-grewal-appointed-as-new-nclt-president-671767.html New Delhi April 30 The Centre has approved the appointment of Justice Retd Anupinder Singh Grewal former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court as President of the National Company Law Tribunal NCLT According to an official notification issued by the Department of Personnel and Training DoPT the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet cleared the Ministry of Corporate Affairsâ proposal for Justice Grewalâs appointment to the top post in the NCLTâThe Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs for appointment of Justice Retd Anupinder Singh Grewal former Judge of the High Court of Punjab amp Haryana to the post of President National Company Law Tribunal NCLT in the pay scale of Rs 80000 fixed prerevised for a period of five years with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the post or till attaining the age of 67 years whichever is earlierâ the notification statedJustice Grewal succeeds Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar who had served as NCLT President with effect from November 1 2021 and demitted office earlier this yearThe NCLT functions as a key adjudicatory body for corporate disputes in India dealing with matters related to the Companies Act and insolvency proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code IBCBorn on March 10 1964 into an agriculturist family from Punjabâs Ludhiana district Justice Grewal pursued his academic journey at St Stephenâs College Delhi where he completed his BA Honours in History in 1985 and MA in History in 1987 He later obtained his LLB degree from the University of Delhi in 1992He began legal practice at the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 1992 and went on to serve in several significant legal positions for the Punjab government including Assistant Advocate General Deputy Advocate General Senior Deputy Advocate General and Additional Advocate GeneralJustice Grewal was also appointed Senior Panel Counsel for conducting Central government cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in November 2009 and continued in that role till his elevation to the BenchHe was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on September 25 2014 Later he was transferred to the Rajasthan High Court in December 2014 and was sworn in as a permanent judge there in May 2016Subsequently he was transferred back to the Punjab and Haryana High Court where he assumed charge in October 2016 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/justice-anupinder-singh-grewal-appointed-as-new-nclt-president-671767.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/suspended-bureaucrat-b-ashok-slams-cm-vijayan-calls-action-badge-of-honour-671772.html Thiruvananthapuram April 30 A day after his suspension senior IAS officer Dr B Ashok launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan alleging political interference misuse of public funds and an erosion of bureaucratic independence under the current regime Addressing the media on Thursday Ashok who has put in 28 years of service and also serves as President of the IAS Association claimed his suspension was linked to the associationâs legal victories against the government since 2023âThe anger of the Chief Minister is understandableâ he said noting that the association had won five cases during this periodDrawing a contrast between the two Left governments Ashok said the first Vijayan administration 2016â2021 respected and acknowledged the role of civil servants particularly senior ministersHowever he alleged that the second term saw a shift in governance style with around a dozen longretired officials wielding significant influenceHe specifically pointed to the appointment of former Chief Secretary KM Abraham to a newly created role in the Chief Ministerâs Office calling it an unprecedented moveAshok made it clear he would not immediately challenge the suspension in court describing it instead as a âbadge of honourâHe argued that the action reflected a broader pattern in how he had been treated by the governmentâLet the suspension order lie on my table I am sure a new government will address it appropriatelyâ he said suggesting that the electoral verdict on April 9 had already gone against the ruling frontHe further alleged that in the past six months a group of officials had been mobilised to secure a third term for the government including the use of public funds for a largescale publicity campaignAccording to him a Mumbaibased PR agency was awarded a Rs 130 crore contract for this purposeCalling the developments âserious irregularitiesâ Ashok warned that a dangerous precedent was being set one that risked turning the civil service into a body subservient to political authority IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/suspended-bureaucrat-b-ashok-slams-cm-vijayan-calls-action-badge-of-honour-671772.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/amit-shah-to-start-two-day-ladakh-visit-today-671681.html Ladakh April 30 IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit the Union Territory of Ladakh on a twoday tour starting Thursday during which he will pay his respects to the sacred relics of Lord Buddha on the occasion of Buddha Purnima on May 1nbspAhead of the visit the Union Ministry of Home Affairs MHA also announced that a meeting of the SubCommittee will be held on May 22 for discussions with the Leh Apex Body LAB and the Kargil Democratic Alliance KDAnbspThe previous round of talks between the stakeholders took place on February 4 in New Delhi and the upcoming meeting will be held after a gap of nearly three and a half monthsAccording to officials Shah is scheduled to arrive in Leh later in the day and will offer prayers to the sacred relics of Lord Buddha on May 1 as part of the Buddha Purnima observanceDuring his visit the Home Minister is also expected to review ongoing development projects in Ladakh and hold interactions with prominent citizens of the Union Territory However the administration has not yet released a detailed itinerary of his engagementsThe announcement of Shahs visit was made earlier on April 26 by Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar SaxenaIt gives me great pleasure in sharing that Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be arriving in Leh on April 30 for a twoday visit On May 1 he will pay his respects to the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha on the occasion of Buddha Purnima and share his thoughts on the spiritual significance of the sacred exposition being held in Ladakh from May 114 the Lieutenant Governor said in a post on XHe further noted that the visit highlights the Government of Indias continued focus on the development of LadakhShortly after announcing the visit the Lieutenant Governor also informed that the MHA has decided to convene a meeting of the SubCommittee to continue political dialogue with representatives of Ladakhbased groups on May 22I am pleased to announce that the Ministry of Home Affairs Govt of India has taken a decision to convene a meeting of the subcommittee for political dialogue on May 22 This will carry forward the process of constructive democratic dialogue with key stakeholders of Ladakh and pave the way for an enduring solution to meet the aspirations of the people of Ladakh he said in another post on XIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/amit-shah-to-start-two-day-ladakh-visit-today-671681.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/vijay-calls-key-meeting-of-tvk-candidates-ahead-of-tn-election-results-671682.html Chennai April 30 IANS With the results of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections set to be announced soon actorturnedpolitician Joseph Vijay is convening a crucial meeting with candidates of his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK on ThursdaynbspnbspThe meeting will take place at 1 pm at the party headquarters in Panaiyur Chennai and is expected to focus on postpoll assessments and preparations ahead of the counting of votesNotably only candidates who contested the election have been permitted to attend the meeting underlining the importance of the discussionsTamil Nadu went to the polls in a single phase on April 23 witnessing a highstakes contest involving major alliances as well as emerging political players This election marked the electoral debut of Vijays TVK which has generated considerable attention across the state particularly among younger votersBarring one setback in the Edappadi constituency where the partys nomination was rejected TVK fielded candidates in 233 out of the 234 Assembly constituencies The partys aggressive expansion and widespread candidate presence have positioned it as a significant new entrant in the states political landscapeIn preparation for the meeting all candidates have been instructed to bring with them the original Form 17C collected from their respective polling stations Form 17C is an official document issued by the Returning Officer that contains detailed data on the number of votes recorded at each polling boothThe directive highlights the partys emphasis on transparency and accuracy in tracking polling data The Form 17C is considered a critical document in the electoral process as it allows candidates to verify the votes polled and crosscheck them during the counting processSources within the party indicated that the meeting may also be used to consolidate boothlevel data and assess voting patterns across constituenciesWith speculation mounting over the role TVK could play in the final outcome the internal review is seen as a strategic move to ensure preparednessAs Tamil Nadu awaits the official verdict on May 4 Vijays initiative signals a methodical approach by his party in navigating its first electoral testIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/vijay-calls-key-meeting-of-tvk-candidates-ahead-of-tn-election-results-671682.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ashwini-vaishnaw-to-flag-off-jammu-srinagar-vande-bharat-today-671683.html Jammu April 30 IANS Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will flag off a direct 20coach Vande Bharat train service between Jammu and Srinagar on Thursday while regular services for the public will commence from May 2In addition to giving a fillip to tourism the service will reduce travel time between Jammu and Srinagar while providing allweather connectivity between the two capitals of Jammu and KashmirThe historic rail link between Katra town in Reasi district of Jammu division and Srinagar in the Kashmir Valley was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6 2025For nearly 70 years the dream of a rail link between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country remained elusive and work on the project began in the late 1990sThe first train operated within the Kashmir Valley in October 2008 while it cost a whopping Rs 28000 crore to establish the rail link between the Kashmir Valley and Jammu divisionConsidered one of the most challenging rail link projects in the world laying tracks across the treacherous Himalayan terrain has been described as a marvel of engineering and human endeavourThis rail link remained an unrealised dream for the people of the Kashmir Valley till 2025 although trains had reached Udhampur town in 2005Railway officials said the modern 20coach Vande Bharat train will commence its maiden journey from Jammu Tawi JAT and travel up to Srinagar connecting the region across difficult geographical terrainSimultaneously a train will depart from Srinagar for Jammu on the same day the service begins from Jammu to Srinagar officials saidBefore the commencement of this service a trial run of the JammuSrinagar Vande Bharat was conducted on Tuesday from Jammu to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra officials addedThe inaugural Vande Bharat train equipped with stateoftheart amenities and comprising 20 coaches will cover a total distance of 267 kilometres on ThursdayThe train service will operate six days a week between Jammu and Srinagar There will be no service on this route on TuesdaysConstructed using indigenous technology this Vande Bharat Express will offer passengers a worldclass travel experience Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal saidIt features amenities such as the Kavach safety system for passenger security a GPSbased passenger information system and comfortable rotating seatsThis service will not only reduce travel time but also provide a massive boost to the local economy and tourism he addedAn eightcoach train was earlier operating between Katra and Srinagar The introduction of a 20coach train will allow more passengers to travel on the routeIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ashwini-vaishnaw-to-flag-off-jammu-srinagar-vande-bharat-today-671683.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/hm-amit-shah-to-visit-ladakh-attend-first-global-buddha-relics-exhibition-671701.html Srinagar April 30 Union Home Minister Amit Shah will undertake a twoday visit to the Union Territory of Ladakh beginning April 30 Thursday In a post on X he described it as a âmoment of profound good fortuneâ to partake in the firstever international exposition of the holy relics of Lord Buddha which commences on May 1 coinciding with Buddha Purnima Meanwhile the sacred Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha Tathagata arrived in Leh on Wednesday for a historic public exposition marking the beginning of a major spiritual celebration in the Union Territory of LadakhHM Amit Shah on Wednesday posted on X âTomorrow will be leaving for Ladakh for a twoday visit It is a moment of profound good fortune for me to be attending on the occasion of Buddha Purnima the first ever international exposition of the holy relics of Lord Buddha commencing on the 1st of MayIn this exposition devotees from different parts of the world will offer veneration to the relics of Lord BuddhaLadakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena along with senior officials and spiritual leaders received the holy relics at Kushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport in a ceremonial welcomeThe Ladakh Police accorded a guard of honour while monks performed special prayers amid an atmosphere of deep devotionSpeaking to the media LG Saxena said the relics were being placed in secure custody before being opened for public viewingToday the holy relics of Buddha were brought to Ladakh and they received a grand welcome here They are currently being taken from the technical area of the airport to the living quarters and will be kept in safe custody there he saidHe further added that the exposition will begin on the occasion of Buddha PurnimaThis will be opened to the public on May 1st the day of Buddha Purnima The Home Minister is visiting on that day and this will be a major event in front of him Saxena saidFollowing the reception the relics were taken in a grand procession to Jivetsal the designated venue for public exposition beginning May 1 which also marks the 2569th Buddha PurnimaThousands of devotees participated in the procession with people in traditional attire lining the route to witness the sacred arrival LG Saxena described the occasion as highly auspicious stating that the relics have been brought to India for public exposition after being displayed internationally in several countriesHe also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for selecting Ladakh for the event noting the regions deep spiritual and cultural connection with BuddhismThe relics will remain open for public veneration at Jivetsal from May 2 to May 10 followed by exposition in Zanskar on May 11 and 12 and then at the Dharma Centre in Leh from May 13 to 14 before being taken back to Delhi on May 15 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/hm-amit-shah-to-visit-ladakh-attend-first-global-buddha-relics-exhibition-671701.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-polls-2nd-phase-recorded-voting-at-9247-pc-till-midnight-average-in-two-phases-at-9285-pc-671729.html Kolkata April 30 The polling percentage in the second phase of elections for 142 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal on April 29 has been recorded at 9247 till midnight thus taking the overall average percentage in the two phases to a record high of 9285 However as clarified by insiders from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer CEO West Bengal on Thursday morning neither of these figures is final as tabulation will be available later in the dayThe polling percentage figure in the second phase of polls till midnight Wednesday is marginally lower than the figure of 9288 till midnight of April 23 when the first phase of polls for 152 Assembly constituencies took place Nationally the previous record of the highest polling percentage was recorded in Tripura in 2013 when the figure was recorded at 9182 per centThe average polling percentage in the two phases at 9285 is also a record high in West BengalIn West Bengal the previous record of polling percentage was in the 2011 Assembly elections the year which marked the end of the previous 34year Left Front regime in the state and the beginning of the Mamata Banerjeeled Trinamool Congress regimeIn the sixphase 2011 West Bengal Assembly polls the average polling percentage was the highest in 15 years at 8433 per cent till it was broken this timeIncidentally the Chief Election Commissioner CEC Gyanesh Kumar has already congratulated the people of West Bengal for participating in the polling process in record numbers in both phases first on April 23 and then on WednesdayâHighest ever percentage of polling in West Bengal in both Phase I amp II since Independence ECI congratulates each voter of West Bengal on this historic feat a statement issued by the Election Commission of India quoting Kumar had readâOne major reason behind the high polling percentage was that the polling was conducted after the deduction of absent missing shifted and duplicate voters from the voters list In simple terms and to put it lightly the polling this time was done with a votersâ list of pure milk minus the dilution by mixing waterâ the CEOâs office insider said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-polls-2nd-phase-recorded-voting-at-9247-pc-till-midnight-average-in-two-phases-at-9285-pc-671729.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-bjp-slams-siddaramaiah-govt-over-failure-to-tackle-water-crisis-alleges-neglect-of-farmers-671597.html Bengaluru April 29 Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Congress government in Karnataka alleging complete neglect of farmers amid severe heatwave conditions and water scarcity across the state He said that crops are being destroyed due to intense summer heat while drinking water is unavailable in several regions questioning the state governmentâs âprofarmer commitmentâAccording to Ashoka nearly 20 per cent of sugarcane crops in parts of Chikkodi and Nippani in Belagavi district have already been damaged due to extreme heat He also said that people in more than 76 villages in Gadag district are facing a severe drinking water crisisâWhile farmers are struggling for survival the Congress government is busy with internal political disputes over powerâ he allegedListing what he called the failures of the state government Ashoka said farmers are suffering due to power shortages despite the availability of water in reservoirs such as Kabini Krishna and Malaprabha He claimed that farmers are unable to operate pump sets due to irregular electricity supplyHe further stated that the situation has created a paradox where âthere is water but no electricity and electricity but no waterâ calling it an administrative failureAshoka also claimed that sugarcane crops are drying up in the field due to both heat stress and power cuts and questioned what measures the government has taken to address farmersâ distressOn the drinking water crisis he said several districts including Gadag are facing severe shortages forcing people and livestock to struggle for basic water needs He also alleged that the government may be indirectly supporting tanker water supply operatorsAddressing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Ashoka urged him to shift focus from political survival to the plight of farmers in North Karnataka He demanded immediate announcement of crop loss compensation and proper arrangements for drinking water supply in affected villagesâIf the government fails to act the suffering of farmers will turn into strong public anger against this administrationâ he warnedIt can be noted that the Karnataka health department has asked all district and taluk hospitals to set up heatstroke management rooms with dedicated beds to treat patients with Heat Related Illness HRI According to a circular issued last Friday the Community Health Centres should mark two beds the Taluk hospitals should have at least five dedicated beds and the district hospitals should have at least ten such beds The rooms should be operational till July 31 and equipped with thermometers fans and ice cubes the circular said Apart from that the medical and paramedical staff should also be trained to ensure they are prepared to test any HRI IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-bjp-slams-siddaramaiah-govt-over-failure-to-tackle-water-crisis-alleges-neglect-of-farmers-671597.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-2nd-phase-polls-1839-pc-turnout-recorded-in-first-two-hours-of-polling-671602.html New Delhi April 29 As voting for the second phase of West Bengal is underway voter turnout was recorded at 1839 per cent till 9 am Polling began at 7 am for 142 constituencies across six districts in West Bengal including its capital Kolkata in the second phase of the twophase Assembly pollsThe polling process started with mild tension in certain pockets from the very first hourIn the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in South Kolkata which is witnessing a battle between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Suvendu Adhikari the Chief Ministers brother Kartik Banerjee was cautioned by central forces for assembling near a police station with companions in excess of the permitted numberThe central forces cautioned him not to assemble near a polling station with more than four persons at a timeAt Bhawanipuradjacent Rashbehari constituency also in South Kolkata mild tension broke out following allegations that ruling Trinamool Congress activists were not allowing Congress booth agents to enter a particular polling booth Congress alleged hooliganism in the Rashbehari Assembly constituency by the ruling party activistsPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday morning issued a social media post in Bengal giving a call for the voters in these 142 Assembly constituencies to vote in large numbersâToday is the second phase of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections 2026 I urge all those who are voting today to cast their votes in record numbers to make our democracy more vibrant and participatory In particular it is extremely urgent that the women and youth power of West Bengal turn out in large numbers to exercise their voting rightsâ the social media post by the Prime Minister readMeanwhile tension prevailed at Singur in Hooghly district since Tuesday night with the outgoing Trinamool Congress legislator Bencharam Manna staging a protest demonstration in front of the local police station alleging excesses by the security forcesThe polling process at a booth in Santipur Assembly constituency in Nadia district started late due to an EVM malfunctionMock polling mandatory before the actual polling process was conducted at all polling booths where the elections are being conductedApart from the state capital Kolkata the six districts where polling is being held in the second phase on Wednesday are North 24 Parganas South 24 Parganas Hooghly Howrah Nadia and East BurdwanThe second phase of the Assembly polls is being conducted under unprecedented security cover with the deployment of 2407 companies of central forces including Central Armed Police Forces the India Reserve Battalion and personnel from armed police wings of other states in addition to personnel from West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-2nd-phase-polls-1839-pc-turnout-recorded-in-first-two-hours-of-polling-671602.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/election-observer-ajay-pal-crpf-dg-inspect-polling-booths-to-ensure-fair-bengal-polls-671619.html Diamond Harbour April 29 CRPF Director General GP Singh arrived in Diamond Harbour on Wednesday to coordinate with Election Observer Ajay Pal Sharma regarding the second phase of the West Bengal polls As part of a highstakes effort to ensure free and fair elections Sharma has been conducting rigorous inspections across multiple booths The deployment of the hardline IPS officer famously dubbed Uttar Pradeshâs âSinghamâ has ignited fresh controversy in the already volatile South 24 Parganas Tensions between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP escalated after a viral video surfaced showing the encounter specialist warning supporters of Trinamool Congress candidate Jehangir Khan against voter intimidationThe 2011batch officer a Ludhiana native has garnered significant attention for his nononsense policing style This dabang reputation was the catalyst for his appointment to this sensitive region a Trinamool Congress stronghold with a 36 per cent Muslim population Amidst a record deployment of central forces Sharmaâs presence underscores the Election Commissions firm stance on maintaining order in Bengalâs most contested battlegroundsMeanwhile as polling for the second phase of West Bengal is underway voter turnout was recorded at 1839 per cent till 9 amPolling began at 7 am for 142 constituencies across six districts in West Bengal including its capital Kolkata in the second phase of the twophase Assembly pollsThe polling process started with mild tension in certain pockets from the very first hourIn the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in South Kolkata which is witnessing a battle between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Suvendu Adhikari the Chief Ministers brother Kartik Banerjee was cautioned by central forces for assembling near a police station with companions in excess of the permitted numberThe central forces cautioned him not to assemble near a polling station with more than four persons at a timeAt Bhawanipuradjacent Rashbehari constituency also in South Kolkata mild tension broke out following allegations that ruling Trinamool Congress activists were not allowing Congress booth agents to enter a particular polling booth Congress alleged hooliganism in the Rashbehari Assembly constituency by the ruling party activistsEarlier in the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a social media post urging voters in West Bengals 142 Assembly constituencies to vote in large numbersâToday is the second phase of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections 2026 I urge all those who are voting today to cast their votes in record numbers to make our democracy more vibrant and participatory In particular it is extremely urgent that the women and youth power of West Bengal turn out in large numbers to exercise their voting rightsâ the social media post by the Prime Minister read IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/election-observer-ajay-pal-crpf-dg-inspect-polling-booths-to-ensure-fair-bengal-polls-671619.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ganga-expressway-new-lifeline-for-ups-development-pm-modi--671625.html Hardoi April 29 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the Ganga Expressway during a public event in Hardoi and said that in this era of modern progress this project passing in the vicinity of Maa Ganga will become a new lifeline for the development of Uttar PradeshThe inauguration of this project built for Rs 36230 crore will mark a significant milestone in the development of worldclass infrastructure in the countryThe Ganga Expressway is a 594kilometrelong 6lane expandable to 8 lanes accesscontrolled greenfield highspeed corridor built at a total cost of around Rs 36230 crore according to an official statementThe expressway traverses 12 districts Meerut Bulandshahr Hapur Amroha Sambhal Badaun Shahjahanpur Hardoi Unnao Raebareli Pratapgarh and Prayagrajthereby connecting Western Central and Eastern regions of Uttar Pradesh through a single seamless highspeed corridorAddressing a massive public gathering after inaugurating the Ganga Expressway PM Modi said I bow down to this holy land of Lord Narsingh Just a short distance away Maa Ganga flows showering her blessings which is why this entire region is no less than a pilgrimage I believe that the boon of expressways to UP is also due to Maa Gangas blessings Now you can reach Sangam in just hours and also seek blessings from Baba in KashiThe way Maa Ganga has been a lifeline of UP and this country the same way in this era of modern progress this expressway passing in the vicinity of Maa Ganga will become a new lifeline for the development of UP he saidnbspThe Prime Minister said that it is a remarkable coincidence that over the past few days he has remained in the very presence of Maa Ganga citing his visits to West Bengal for election campaigning and to Varanasi on TuesdaynbspnbspAnd now I have been granted the opportunity to dedicate this expressway named after Maa Ganga to the nation I am delighted that the Uttar Pradesh government has chosen to name this expressway after Maa Ganga This initiative not only reflects our vision for development but also offers a glimpse of our rich heritage he said congratulating the people on the expresswayThe project is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj from the current 1012 hours to approximately 6 hours enhancing ease of movement and transportation efficiency said the statementA key highlight of the project is the provision of a 35 kmlong Emergency Landing Facility airstrip in Shahjahanpur district This dualuse infrastructure enhances national security preparedness and adds strategic value beyond economic benefits it saidThe Ganga Expressway is envisioned as a major economic corridor with the development of Integrated Manufacturing and Logistics Corridors over approximately 2635 hectares across the 12 districts along its alignmentThe expressway will reduce logistics costs improve supply chain efficiency and boost manufacturing competitiveness the statement saidImproved connectivity will provide farmers with direct access to urban and export markets facilitating better price realisation and strengthening rural incomesThe project is also expected to boost tourism unlock new economic opportunities and generate direct and indirect employment across the region the statement saidThe Ganga Expressway will also serve as a backbone for a broader expressway network in the state with several link corridors either operational or planned including the AgraLucknow Expressway Jewar Link Expressway Farrukhabad Link Expressway and the proposed extension from Meerut to HaridwarThis emerging expressway grid will expand highspeed road connectivity across Uttar Pradesh from East to West and from North to South enabling balanced regional developmentThe Ganga Expressway is not merely a transportation project but a transformative initiative that will reduce logistics costs attract industrial investment boost agricultural and rural incomes generate employment and drive holistic economic growth across the state the statement saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ganga-expressway-new-lifeline-for-ups-development-pm-modi--671625.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/encounter-breaks-out-between-maoists-and-security-forces-in-jharkhands-west-singhbhum-forests-671632.html Chaibasa Jharkhand April 29 An encounter has broken out between Maoists and security forces in the forest areas of Jharkhandâs West Singhbhum district on Wednesday morning officials said The exchange of fire took place in the Tonto police station area when personnel of the CoBRA 209 Battalion were out on a patrol inside the dense forests of RutughutuAccording to information security forces have been conducting an intensive search operation for the past two days in the Boroi and Toonbeda areas under the Goelkera police station limits During the operation Maoists who were lying in wait for an ambush opened fire on the moving patrol team at around 430 am on Wednesday Security personnel retaliated promptly leading to intermittent exchange of fire that has continued since morningFollowing the incident a high alert has been issued in the area Security forces have cordoned off the entire affected area and additional personnel have been kept on alert West Singhbhum Superintendent of Police Amit Renu said that extensive search operations are underway in the forested areas and the situation is being closely monitoredOf late concerns had been raised about renewed Maoist activity in the Goelkera region following the recent killing of a former Maoist According to sources a squad led by Maoist commander Misir Besra is attempting to strengthen its presence in the area Security agencies had already received inputs suggesting a possible increase in Maoist activity in the bordering forest regions of Saranda and KolhanFollowing the encounter security arrangements have been intensified across the West Singhbhum district and a high alert has been declared in sensitive forest areas of the Kolhan region Police and paramilitary forces are currently carrying out search operations in the difficult forest terrain for area domination and to flush out Maoists IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/encounter-breaks-out-between-maoists-and-security-forces-in-jharkhands-west-singhbhum-forests-671632.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-polls-voting-picks-up-pace-3997-pc-recorded-in-1st-four-hours-671635.html Kolkata April 29 The polling percentage in the first four hours till 11 am on Wednesday in the second phase of West Bengal Assembly elections has been recorded at 3997 This is slightly lower than the 411 per cent recorded in the first four hours of April 23 voting in the first phase in 152 Assembly constituenciesDistrictwise till 11 am East Burdwan district recorded the highest polling percentage at 4450 followed by Hooghly district at 4312 Nadia at 4034 Howrah at 3945 North 24 Parganas at 3843 the electoral district of Kolkata Uttar at 3839 South 24 Parganas at 3792 and the electoral district of Kolkata Dakshin at 3678Incidentally this polling percentage is substantially higher than the average percentage of 2810 recorded in the same period in the sevenphase 2024 Lok Sabha pollsOn Wednesday the Union Home Minister called up the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari and enquired about the progress of polling in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in South Kolkata which is witnessing a highprofile contest between Adhikari and Chief Minister Mamata BanerjeeMeanwhile sporadic tension continues to prevail in the hypersensitive Bhangar Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district A team of the National Investigation Agency NIA reached the constituency in relation to the agencyâs investigation into two cases it is investigating one related to an explosion and the other related to the recovery of crude bombs there just before the second phase of pollingMeanwhile the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP had demanded repolling at Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district which during the last couple of days witnessed a battle of dialogues between the Election Commission of India ECIappointed police observer Ajay Pal Sharma and the Trinamool Congress candidate from Falta Jahangir KhanAt Kanchrapara in North 24 Parganas district the Trinamool Congress councillor from Kanchrapara Municipality Kalyan Kar got into an argument with an Independent candidate for standing within a hundred meters of the polling booth Finally the councillor got into a scuffle with an Independent candidate Later the police arrived and brought the situation under controlA Trinamool Congress polling agent was arrested in Nadias Chapra Assembly constituency by the central forces personnel deployed there The agent of booth 54 of Chapra Assembly constituency was accused of influencing voters IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-polls-voting-picks-up-pace-3997-pc-recorded-in-1st-four-hours-671635.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/lokesh-takes-oath-as-tdps-national-working-president-671639.html Amaravati April 29 Nara Lokesh on Wednesday took oath as the National Working President of the Telugu Desam Party TDP TDP National President and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu administered oath to members of the new executive at the party headquarters at MangalagiriChandrababu Naidu administered the oath of office to the Politburo as well as the National and State committeesThe new bodies were announced on April 15 For the first time in the TDPâs history the party has appointed a National Working PresidentLokesh who handled the portfolio of human resources development information technology and electronics is already seen as the heirapparent of Chandrababu Naidu and his appointment as National Working President has sent a clear message that the 43yearold will be the political successor of the 76yearold NaiduHis promotion came nearly two years after the TDPled National Democratic Alliance NDA came to power in the state with a landslide majorityLokeshâs elevation is seen as the reward for the key role he played in the partyâs electoral successThe TDP leadership constituted the committees through a blend of both seasoned veterans and fresh facesFor the first time in the partys history leaders from the Mandal and Cluster levels have been included in the politburoTrue to the partys slogan The cadre is the leader priority in the committees has been given to those who have actively dedicated themselves to the partys workThe TDP said that even after 44 years the leadership has appointed committees designed to give the party a fresh and revitalised imageThe committee appointments were meticulously balanced combining the seasoned guidance of senior leaders with the dynamic energy of their junior counterpartsMangalagiri cluster incharge Guthikonda Dhanunjay and Gantyada Mandal party president Gantyada Sridevi have been included in the politburoSenior leaders Yanamala Ramakrishnudu and Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary continue to hold pivotal responsibilitiesâa distinction they have maintained throughout the tenures of NT Rama Rao NTR and Chandrababu as party presidents and now in the current committee under Lokeshs leadership as National Working PresidentChandrababu Naiduâs brotherinlaw actor and party MLA N Balakrishna has also been retained as politburo member Balakrishna son of late NTR is also the fatherinlaw of LokeshIndividuals who have previously demonstrated active engagement in the partys social media initiatives were accorded positions within the committeesBefore the swearingin Chandrababu Naidu Lokesh and other leaders paid tributes to the partys founding president NTR IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/lokesh-takes-oath-as-tdps-national-working-president-671639.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/cm-chandrababu-naidu-urges-tdp-cadres-to-increase-vote-share-in-next-polls-671644.html Amaravati April 29 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday urged party leaders and cadres to strengthen the TDP more at every polling booth level to increase its vote share in the next elections âIn the next elections we must secure a higher number of votes than we did in the 2024 electionsâ he said while addressing the party leaders after administering an oath to the new politburo national and state committees of the TDP at the party headquarters at MangalagiriHe urged the party leaders to highlight the development works undertaken by the government in the upcoming local body electionsHe exuded confidence of a landslide victory in the local body polls âRemember that the next general elections will be held in just three years The people voted for our alliance with the specific mandate to rebuild and transform the state We must secure a higher vote count in the next election than we did in 2024 only then can it be truly said that we have performed our duties effectivelyâHe also emphasised the coordination with alliance partners Jana Sena and BJP at the grassroots level and advised TDP cadres to give no room for any controversiesCM Naidu said that he and Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan share an excellent rapport and are maintaining a very good relationshipParty workers at the grassroots level should conduct themselves in the same manner We must also maintain coordination with the BJP There is no rift between the state and the Centre nor should there ever be oneâChandrababu Naidu claimed that TDP is the only party with a strong cadre and is known for discipline Stating that the TDPâs flag always flew high he said in its history of 44 years the party faced many challenges but its valour never diminished He remarked that TDP will remain as long as the Telugu people existChandrababu Naidu told the party leaders that he had been involved in the exercise of constituting party committees for four decades but never undertook such an extensive exercise on this scale beforeâWe have formed these new committees after a rigorous process of sifting and through careful strategic planning We have constituted these committees by honouring seniors providing opportunities to newcomers and ensuring a place for those who have worked hardâ he saidHe mentioned that individuals such as the Mandal Party President and a Cluster InCharge have been included in the PolitburoStating that discipline is the very essence of the TDP he said working with discipline from the grassroots worker all the way up to the Party President is the fundamental principle of the TDPâYou must interact with the public gently and remain accessible to them You must serve as a bridge between the people and the government If leaders or party workers commit errors it brings disrepute to both the party and the governmentâCM Naidu praised his son Nara Lokesh who took oath as the partyâs national working president He said Lokesh played a pivotal role while TDP was in the opposition From conducting training sessions to overseeing the welfare of party activists he discharged his responsibilities with great efficiencyLokesh is working tirelessly to fulfil our promise of providing 20 lakh jobs If global companies have chosen to invest in Andhra Pradesh it is largely due to Lokesh he saidâIt was in recognition of Lokeshs competence that we entrusted him with the responsibilities of the working president Itâs not merely a post Itâs a huge responsibilityâCM Naidu claimed that with the assistance of the Central government the state government is steering the economy which was on life support back to recoveryâWe are taking steady steps and bringing our systems back on track We have revived stalled Central schemes and are in the process of rescheduling debts We have fulfilled our Super Six guarantees and are delivering welfare benefits to the peopleâHe claimed that the government successfully restored the brand image and public trust that the state had lost during the previous administrationAccusing the YSR Congress Party of false propaganda against the government he urged the cadres to counter the same by placing facts before people âA party driven by a killing mentality has no concern for public welfare and harbours an aversion to development While the state government strives to secure funds its adversaries are actively attempting to obstruct these efforts Despite their obstruction investments are flowing into the state on a massive scale driven by the confidence placed in usâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/cm-chandrababu-naidu-urges-tdp-cadres-to-increase-vote-share-in-next-polls-671644.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-home-minister-supports-ahinda-convention-says-kharge-aware-of-situation-671654.html Bengaluru April 29 Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Wednesday that the proposed AHINDA convention in Hubballi was aimed at addressing the socioeconomic backwardness of marginalised communities and bringing them into the mainstream The event is being held amid speculation that the convention was a show of strength for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah amid the row over the change of guard in the stateIt can be noted that AHINDA stands for Alpasankhyataru Hindulidavaru and Dalitaru and refers to Minorities Backward Classes and DalitsSpeaking to reporters in Bengaluru he said the AHINDA movement was initiated to uplift communities that are educationally socially and economically backwardHe further added that AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge is well aware of the prevailing political situation in the state within the ruling Congress party Further supporting the AHINDA convention he said âSuch a convention should be held Their issues must be discussed and addressed It is important that these communities are encouraged to come into the mainstreamResponding to questions on why a separate Dalit convention had not been held Parameshwara said the concerns of Dalits would also be addressed within the AHINDA frameworkOn the ongoing speculation over a possible change in the Chief Minister the Home Minister said he did not have much information and it would not be appropriate for him to comment He said AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge was well aware of the political situation in the state âIt is a matter of pride that Kharge is the AICC president He has vast experience and a deep understanding of state politics If he becomes Chief Minister it would be a matter of great happinessâ he saidHe also clarified recent visits by senior leaders to New Delhi stating that Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President DK Shivakumar had gone to discuss issues related to protection while leaders such as Minister Satish Jarkiholi and Minister KH Muniyappa had visited to meet the SC Commission regarding internal reservation mattersOn criticism over the Speakerâs office remaining silent in the Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni case Parameshwara said the matter was part of a process that could not be stopped âThere may be a delay of a day or two but the process will be completedâ he saidRegarding the issuance of a notification on internal reservation he said it had been released in line with the governmentâs decision and would pave the way for recruitment to around 56000 posts âAll departments including ours will proceed with recruitment The Finance Department has already given its approvalâ he addedIt can be noted that amid the leadership tussle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar intensifying following the conclusion of voting in Tamil Nadu Kerala and Assam the ruling Congress party is witnessing hectic political activities Following a meeting of Shivakumar with the partys high command recently cabinet ministers and staunch supporters of CM Siddaramaiah have gone to Delhi These leaders have issued a public statement urging the high command to end the confusion over leadership in the state Congress insiders state that along with this the cabinet ministers hailing from oppressed classes are pressuring the high command to consent to the AHINDA convention Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar had earlier scuttled the plans of holding the AHINDA convention in the state Sources further state that the AHINDA convention will be used to send a strong message that CM Siddaramaiah is an unquestionable leader of the oppressed classes and minorities The organisation of the convention also has the objective of compelling the high command to continue Siddaramaiah in the CMs position for the full term IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-home-minister-supports-ahinda-convention-says-kharge-aware-of-situation-671654.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-polls-brisk-voting-underway-6111-pc-recorded-in-first-six-hours-671661.html Kolkata April 29 The polling percentage in the first six hours till 1 pm on Wednesday in the second phase of West Bengal Assembly elections for 142 constituencies has been recorded at 6111 This is slightly lower than the 6218 per cent recorded in the first six hours of April 23 voting in the first phase in 152 Assembly constituenciesIn districtwise voting till 1 pm East Burdwan district recorded the highest polling percentage at 6680 followed by Hooghly district at 6457 Nadia at 6141 Howrah at 6068 the electoral district of Kolkata Uttar at 6018 North 24 Parganas at 5920 South 24 Parganas at 5858 and the electoral district of Kolkata Dakshin at 5773Incidentally this polling percentage is substantially higher than the average percentage of 4510 recorded in the same period in the sevenphase 2024 Lok Sabha pollsAlthough there have been reports of pollrelated violence and disruption from certain pockets since morning no reports of casualties or major injuries or largescale voter intimidation have been reported This is being largely attributed to the alert monitoring by the central forces under the strict surveillance of 142 general observers and 95 police observers up from 84 in the first phase of polls this timeIn the last two hours allegations were made against Trinamool Congress for threatening villagers in Dakshin Basulnath village under Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district The villagers allege that they were threatened by the ruling party activists either to vote in favour of the ruling party or not to vote at allA huge contingent of the Central Reserve Police Force CRPF under the command of an Inspector Generalrank officer reached the spot and escorted the voters to the polling boothFalta already came into the limelight on Wednesday after it was noticed that in a booth the EVM button beside the name of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP candidate was covered with white tape The Election Commission of India ECI has already ordered a probe into the matter IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-polls-brisk-voting-underway-6111-pc-recorded-in-first-six-hours-671661.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/state-of-war-in-bengal-says-trinamool-mp-saayoni-ghosh-over-crpf-deployment-during-polls-671666.html Kolkata April 29 Trinamool Congress MP Saayoni Ghosh on Wednesday termed the deployment of CRPF personnel for Assembly polls in West Bengal as state of war Taking a jibe at the central forces who have been deployed by the Election Commission for peaceful conduct of elections in the state she said that only the Navy and Air Force were left to enter Bengal Speaking to IANS amid the second phase of polling Ghosh asserted that her party is in favour of free and fair election and that they dont need to cause violence as she believes that the people of Bengal are with Chief Minister Mamata BanerjeeOver CRPFs deployment the Trinamool Congress MP said Theres just the Air Force and Navy who are left to enter the state There are tanks around it is like a state of war in BengalIt shows the desperation of the BJP and how they can see that the ground is slipping away from their feet she addedAgreeing to Mamata Banerjees allegations that poll observers from outside have been deployed in the state Ghosh said They BJP are going lock stock and barrel It is their motto to take over Bengal by hook or crookSharpening her attack on the BJP the Trinamool Congress MP said They are doing everything possible from exploiting agencies to conducting a Special Intensive Revision SIR just two months before the election deleting the names of legitimate voters to intimidating votersOur officers have also been transferred and observers have been brought from Uttar Pradesh Gujarat Madhya Pradesh who dont know our language and who have no connect with the people she allegedGhosh also alleged that all kind of efforts are being made by the BJP to intimidate people so that they dont vote in favour of Chief Minister Banerjee and to tamper with the polling percentage as wellSounding confident of the partys victory the Trinamool MP said The BJP may keep doing all these things but Mamata Banerjee is standing firm with Bengal and its peopleShe also added When the results come out theres going to be a clear reflection of the peoples mandate IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/state-of-war-in-bengal-says-trinamool-mp-saayoni-ghosh-over-crpf-deployment-during-polls-671666.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ysrcp-leader-srihari-arrested-again-for-abusive-social-media-post-671669.html Amaravati April 29 YSR Congress Party YSRCP General Secretary Media Pudi Srihari has been arrested once again for an allegedly abusive social media post targeting Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Police from Kuppam town arrested him in Bengaluru on Wednesday He was being brought to KuppamThe arrest came a day after the Supreme Court declined to intervene in Andhra Pradesh High Courtâs order suspending the remand rejection order of the trial courtSrihari who served as Chief Public Relations Officer CPRO to then Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy had approached the Supreme Court apprehending arrest after the High Court suspended the remand rejection order given by the trial court in KuppamSrihari was arrested on April 15 in Vijayawada in the case registered against him over making objectionable social media posts with morphed images of Chief Minister Chandrababu NaiduHe was subsequently shifted to Kuppam where the case was registered against him and another YSRCP functionary Girish Kumar ReddySrihari was produced before the trial court on April 16 He was released after the court rejected the petition by the police to send him to judicial remandLater the High Court suspended the order of the trial court The matter was scheduled for further hearing in the High Court on Wednesday However apprehending his arrested Srihari approached the Supreme Court which declined to intervene in the High Court orderArguing the case on behalf of Srihari senior counsel S Niranjan Reddy had stated that the police created false evidence against him He also submitted to the Supreme Court that the High Court did not consider discrepancies pointed out by them during the hearingSenior counsel Mukul Rohatgi who appeared for the state government argued that there is no need for any interim order as the High Court is scheduled to hear the caseSrihari had denied creating posting or forwarding the content in question He said he had worked as a senior journalist for over 25 years and had always functioned within the limits of the lawHe maintained that even as a political leader he continued to follow the ethics of journalism and respected the law IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ysrcp-leader-srihari-arrested-again-for-abusive-social-media-post-671669.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/punjab-police-install-2-291-cctv-cameras-along-pakistan-border-671676.html Chandigarh April 29 Punjab Police have installed 2291 CCTV cameras at 585 locations along the international border with Pakistan as part of this second line of defence creating a dense surveillance net across vulnerable villages and transit routes Under Gangstran Te Vaar the police are strengthening the technologydriven security grid designed to choke the very lifelines of organised crime networks operating with crossborder linkagesWhile the Border Security Force BSF continues to guard the international boundary the police are ensuring that even if contraband slips through it doesnât travel farAnd increasingly the numbers reflect that intentIn addition to installing CCTVs 41 police stations in border districts have been brought under CCTV coverage feeding into a broader ecosystem of monitoring and responseBut this is not just about expanding surveillance it is about making it countOn the ground checkpoints nakas have become sharper and less predictable backed by realtime intelligence Vehicle checks are no longer routine but targeted a police statement said on WednesdayAntidrone vigilance has been intensified especially in districts that have seen repeated drops of arms and narcoticsThe second line of defence is where the chain is effectively broken While border sealing remains the first layer any breach that occurs is swiftly intercepted within our jurisdiction Our nakas are no longer routine checkpoints they are intelligenceled positioned and operated on the basis of verified inputsâ said Senior Superintendent of Police Amritsar Rural Suhail Qasim MirSimultaneously villagelevel defence committees and local networks are closely integrated into the security framework ensuring that groundlevel movement does not go unnoticed We are also continuously strengthening critical infrastructure surveillance systems mobility and rapid response mechanisms so that this layer functions both as a deterrent and a disruption point for any criminal activity he addedUnderlining the shift Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said the strengthening of the second line is central to the stateâs antigangster strategyWe are building depth in our policing The focus is on dismantling the entire ecosystem from crossborder supply to lastmile delivery The second line of defence ensures that even if an attempt is made it is detected early and neutralised swiftly he addedFor observers of the stateâs policing landscape this marks a clear shift The focus is shifting from reacting to crimes to disrupting the logistics that enable them Because every drone drop intercepted every suspicious vehicle flagged every movement tracked through the CCTV grid directly weakens the ecosystem that sustains gangsters many of whom operate remotely often from abroad IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/punjab-police-install-2-291-cctv-cameras-along-pakistan-border-671676.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/telangana-releases-rs-1-000-crore-towards-pending-dues-for-employees-671679.html Hyderabad April 29 Taking another significant step towards resolving longpending issues of the government employees in Telangana the state government has released Rs 1000 crore towards pending dues Acting on the directions of the Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka the funds were released on Wednesday Principal Secretary of the Finance Department Sandeep Kumar Sultania issued the orders for the release With this the Deputy CM has fulfilled the assurance given in the Assembly said an official releaseLast year during discussions with employee unions the government had promised to release Rs 700 crore per month Accordingly the government honored its commitment and made monthly payments up to March 2026However after personally observing the financial needs and difficulties faced by employees Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka decided to increase the monthly allocation to Rs 1000 crore from the current financial year As part of this Rs 1000 crore for the month of April has been released on a war footingThe government has responded very positively towards retired employees All pending GPF General Provident Fund dues up to October 2025 have been completely cleared with these funds According to the official release this brings great relief to thousands of senior citizens who were waiting for their retirement benefitsRegarding employeesâ health needs the government has directed officials to ensure that medical bills are cleared without even a single dayâs delay and on a priority basis At present medical bill payments are being processed at a very fast pace Along with medical bills scholarship payments are also being clearedThe government has emphasised that there should be no compromise on employees health security Steps have been taken to ensure that medical bills are processed regularly without any delayWith the slogan âEmployees are partners in governance addressing their issues is our responsibilityâ the government is moving forward Senior officials stated that the increased allocation and clearance of GPF dues reflect the governmentâs commitment and sincerityThis latest decision demonstrates the governmentâs dedication to the welfare of employees Officials stated that the government will always stay one step ahead in recognising and resolving employeesâ problems Employee unions have expressed happiness over the largescale release of funds initiated by the Deputy CM IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/telangana-releases-rs-1-000-crore-towards-pending-dues-for-employees-671679.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/chandrababu-naidu-ashwini-vaishnaw-lay-foundation-for-google-cloud-ai-hub-in-vizag-671492.html Visakhapatnam April 28 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu along with Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw laid the foundation stone for the Google Cloud India AI Hub in Visakhapatnam marking the beginning of a new era in the stateâs technological journey Google is going to invest 15 billion in the project making it one of the largest foreign direct investments FDIs in Indiaâs historyThe data centre with a total capacity of 1 gigawatt will be developed across nearly 600 acres in Tharluwada Adavivaram and Rambilli regionsSpeaking at the groundbreaking ceremony Chandrababu Naidu urged Google and its partners in the project AdaniConneX and Airtel Nxtra to complete the project for inauguration by September 2028 He assured all the help from the state government for the early completion of the projectHe termed Googles arrival as a gamechanger not just for Visakhapatnam but for the entire state of Andhra PradeshHe recalled that 30 years ago when he laid the foundation for Cyberabad as an IT City it evolved into a hub for wealth creationStating that this will be the largest data centre in Asia the Chief Minister said Andhra Pradesh will emerge as the AI data gateway for the nationGoogle which began as a search engine is now transforming into a growth engine for India While everyone typically searches on Google in this instance Google searched and chose Andhra Pradesh he saidNaidu stated that Visakhapatnam has all the advantages and termed it the best destination for the mega project Assuring that there is no shortage of water he promised to bring water from the Godavari River to the city within 60 daysHe said the government would leverage the Google AI Data Centre to enhance the Speed of Governance that the government is committed to deliveringIn addition to the four secretaries at the CMO a new AI assistant will now assist me personally in ensuring effective and good governance he saidHe exuded confidence that with the arrival of Google the youth of Visakhapatnam will gain access to largescale employment opportunitiesChandrababu Naidu also announced that Bhogapuram International Airport will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in JulyThe ceremony was attended by Union Ministers Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu Pemmasani Chandrasekhar and Bhoopati Raju Srinivasa Varma state ministers Nara Lokesh Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy MP M Bharat US Consul General Laura E Williams Google Global Infrastructure and Google Cloud Vice President Vikas Kohli Adani Group Director Jeet Adani Adani Ports amp SEZ Ltd Managing Director Karan Adani Bharti Enterprises Vice Chairman Rakesh Mittal and othersUnion Minister Vaishnaw noted that as a country India missed out on many technology cycles and that the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is that India should take a lead in the new cycle of technologiesHe said while India became the IT services leader thanks to the initiatives in the 1990s and early 2000s it missed out on manufacturing of semiconductors servers laptops and mobile phones but the situation has changed over the last one decade with the launch of the Make in India initiativeFrom negligible electronic manufacturing today the mobile phone has become the single most exported commodity in the country overtaking gems and jewellery textiles and diesel he saidVaishnaw said that the Prime Minister has the vision to make India a major electronic manufacturing hub in the entire world In todayâs world of geopolitical uncertainties the world is looking for a trusted partner where IT rights will be protected and security concerns will be met This is possible only in India he saidAll global users of electronics were looking at India as a major sourcing design development and manufacturing hub for components modules submodules and finished products he said urging Google to focus on manufacturing their servers in India These data centres require a large number of servers We have the capability of manufacturing servers At least five companies are manufacturing highquality servers in IndiaHe urged the industry to collaborate in the AI Mission in improving power efficiency and also the efficiency in water consumptionThe central minister thanked Google for three subsea cables which will land in VizagHe noted that one cable will go to Australia via the Pacific Ocean to the West Coast of the US the second to the Middle East Europe and the US while the third will go to Cape of Good Hope and from there straight to the USGoogle Global infrastructure and Google Cloud Vice President Kohli stated that this is Googleâs largest commitment to Indiaâs digital future He termed it a foundation step towards realising the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047This project represents a 15 billion blueprint to deliver a fullstack AI ecosystem he said adding that they were proud to bring Googleâs bestinclass AI stack to India to help accelerate Indiaâs digital transformationHe noted that this hub includes the AmericaIndia connect initiative to deliver highcapacity subsea connectivity that India needs to lead the global AI economyBy establishing Visakhapatnam as an international subsea gateway we will add vital diversity to the existing landings in Mumbai and Chennai increasing the resilience of Indiaâs digital backbone and improving economic security he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/chandrababu-naidu-ashwini-vaishnaw-lay-foundation-for-google-cloud-ai-hub-in-vizag-671492.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-gets-grand-welcome-in-varanasi-women-power-in-spotlight-671502.html Varanasi April 28 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi on Tuesday for a twoday visit receiving a grand welcome at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport from Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and senior BJP leadersnbspThe visit is marked by a massive show of womens participation at the JanAakrosh Mahila Sammelan at BLW Ground where the Prime Minister is set to address thousands and roll out 163 development projects aimed at accelerating growth in the regionAfter landing the Prime Minister travelled by helicopter to the Bareka helipad and proceeded to the guest house He is scheduled to address the gathering at around 5 pm Notably the entire event is being managed by women from stage anchoring to security arrangements underscoring the focus on womenled leadershipA large turnout of women and female students is expected with 44 women representatives set to share the stage raising issues related to empowerment safety selfreliance and equal opportunities The event is being described as one of the largest womencentric political gatherings in KashiEarlier in the day PM Modi accompanied by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other ministers offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Dham Along with the Prime Minister BJPs National President Nitin Naveen the Deputy CM and several other senior leaders have also arrived in KashiDuring the visit the Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for 163 projects worth Rs 633208 crore Of these 50 projects worth Rs 105469 crore will be inaugurated while foundation stones will be laid for 113 projects valued at Rs 527739 crore He will also transfer a bonus of Rs 105 crore to lakhs of milk producers linked with AmulThe projects span key sectors including road infrastructure railway overbridges flyovers healthcare and education facilities drinking water supply sewerage systems sanitation sports infrastructure pond rejuvenation green energy initiatives and urban development These measures are expected to significantly strengthen infrastructure in Purvanchal and boost regional developmentIn a push to rail connectivity the Prime Minister will also flag off two Amrit Bharat Express trains one between Banaras and Pune Hadapsar and another connecting Ayodhya with Mumbai Lokmanya Tilak TerminusThis is PM Modis 54th visit to Varanasi over the past 11 years and his first in 2026 His previous visit to the city was in November 2025 The visit is being seen as significant for its dual emphasis on women empowerment and a major developmental push in eastern Uttar PradeshIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-gets-grand-welcome-in-varanasi-women-power-in-spotlight-671502.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/karachi-residents-hold-protest-against-prolonged-power-outages-671504.html Islamabad April 28 Residents in Karachi held a protest against prolonged unannounced power outages lasting up to 16 hours daily resulting in severe traffic congestion in the cityâs business district for hours local media reported on Tuesday The protests on Monday impacted vehicular movement on the II Chundrigar Road Ziauddin Ahmed Road and nearby areas for over two hours with roads in nearby areas including Saddar and Pakistan Chowk clogged and commuters facing difficulty under extreme heat as queues of traffic stretched for kilometres daily Dawn reportedFrustrated with prolonged power outages residents of Railway Colony gathered at the Shaheen Complex intersection blocked traffic and shouted slogans against KElectric for resorting to unannounced loadshedding for long hoursThe protesters demanded immediate restoration of power supply complaining that unannounced loadshedding of up to 16 hours in the area made life of residents very difficult during the summerA resident said that they had not received the proper power supply for the past several weeks Our children canât sleep patients are suffering and thereâs no water because the pumps donât work without electricityAnother resident Muhammad Aslam said that they were forced to live without electricity for 16 hours despite paying their bills regularly How long can we stay silent he askedAnother protester Shazia Bibi said that unannounced loadshedding for long hours was torture for residents Our food is rotting we canât charge our phones and the heat is killing usOfficegoers students and patients faced problems due to traffic congestion under scorching heat due to the protestsA woman who was taking her father to a hospital said that they were stranded in the traffic for 90 minutes with no way out Dawn reportedPolice reached the protest site and negotiated with the demonstrators The protest was dispersed after nearly 30 minutes but the traffic jam took over two hours to clearPeople were facing problems from earlier this month as the power outages increased up to eight hours in urban areas and 1216 hours in rural areas in the service areas of Lahore Electric Supply Company Lesco and other districts of Pakistans Punjab provinceThe situation worsened after the power distribution in Lahore and cities and towns in other districts started observing unannounced or forced loadshedding on an hourly basis resulting in people spending most of their time without electricity Dawn reportedSeveral divisions and districts of Punjab including Faisalabad Gujranwala Sialkot Toba Tek Singh Sahiwal Kasur Sheikhupura Multan Khanewal Bahawalpur Rahim Yar Khan Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan also witnessed power outages The Lesco spokesperson said that there was an increase in complaints about loadshedding IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/karachi-residents-hold-protest-against-prolonged-power-outages-671504.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/vp-radhakrishnan-offers-prayers-at-tirumala-temple-671505.html Tirupati April 28 Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Tuesday offered prayers at Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple atop Tirumala near here He was accorded a warm welcome by Andhra Pradesh Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy along with Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam TTD Chairman BR Naidu Executive Officer Muddada Ravichandra and other TTD officials A team of temple priests extended a traditional ceremonial welcome âIstikaphalâ to himSubsequently he paid his obeisance to the Dwajasthambham temple flagpole and offered prayers Thereafter he visited and offered prayers at the shrines of Goddess Vakulamata Lord Vimana Venkateswara the Bhashyakara Sannidhi shrine of the Acharyas and Lord Yoga Narasimha SwamyLater at the Ranganayakula Mandapam Vedic scholars rendered âVedasirvachanamâ Vedic blessings The TTD Chairman and the EO presented the Vice President with a portrait of the presiding deity along with âTeertha Prasadamâ sacred water and consecrated foodThe Vice President also visited and offered prayers at the shrine of Bedi Anjaneya Swamy located directly opposite the main templeTTD Additional Executive Officer Venkaiah Chowdary and TTD Board Member Bhanu Prakash Reddy were among those who welcomed the Vice President and facilitated the arrangements for the darshanMeanwhile according to a post on the Vice Presidentâs official âXâ account he prayed for peace prosperity and the wellbeing of allThe Vice President on Monday addressed the centenary celebrations of Andhra University in Visakhapatnam He later arrived in TirupatiThis is the second time that Radhakrishnan has offered prayers at the Tirumala temple after assuming office as Vice PresidentHe earlier visited Andhra Pradesh on September 2425 2025 engaging in a series of cultural and spiritual programmes in Vijayawada and TirumalaOn September 25 he visited the Tirumala temple and had darshan praying for the wellbeing of all citizens He had also inaugurated the newly constructed Pilgrim Amenities Centre PAC âVenkatadri Nilayamâ at TTD in the presence of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu ministers and senior officials IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/vp-radhakrishnan-offers-prayers-at-tirumala-temple-671505.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-meets-padma-awardees-distinguished-personalities-in-gangtok-671402.html New Delhi April 28 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said he interacted with Padma awardees and several distinguished personalities during his visit to Gangtok describing the exchange as engaging and wideranging Taking to X the Prime Minister wrote âIn Gangtok earlier this evening interacted with Padma awardees and people who have distinguished themselves in different fields It was wonderful discussing a wide range of issuesâHe also shared a photograph from the interactionEarlier on Monday Gangtok witnessed a large public turnout during PM Modis roadshow in Sikkim for the closing ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the stateâs statehood Thousands of people from across Sikkim gathered to catch a glimpse of the Prime Minister and take part in the occasionThe streets of the capital city were packed from early morning reflecting the public response to the Prime Ministerâs visit Residents from remote and farflung areas travelled long distances to be part of the event turning the roadshow into a large public gathering with visible participation across the cityBikash Basnet Political Secretary to the Chief Minister of Sikkim told IANS the turnout was unprecedented âEveryone here in Gangtok was so excited People started gathering since morning Itâs been almost a year since we have been waiting for his presence People from farflung areas of Sikkim gathered here in Gangtok Every corner of the city was filled with people We could see the excitement on peopleâs faces It was historic and a proud moment for every Sikkimeseâ he saidThe Prime Ministerâs visit coincided with celebrations linked to the stateâs golden jubilee year adding to the significance of the eventKunzang Gyatso an Everest climber and President of the Sikkim Sports Climbing Association said the visit had inspired the younger generation âWe are very delighted to see the Prime Minister especially our young generation I would like to thank Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang for inviting him for the golden jubilee celebrationsâ he saidResidents described the visit as a moment of pride for the stateSubedar Ranjit Khaling a former Army personnel said âWe were so excited to see the Prime Minister here that we cannot describe it in words Such a big leader coming to our small state in the Northeast is a very proud moment for usâAfter the roadshow concluded celebrations continued across Gangtok with people seen gathering in groups singing and moving through the streets reflecting the festive atmosphere in the city IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-meets-padma-awardees-distinguished-personalities-in-gangtok-671402.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-local-poll-results-today-counting-to-commence-at-designated-centres-671417.html Gandhinagar April 28 The counting of votes for Gujaratâs extensive local body elections is scheduled on Tuesday with results expected later in the day according to officials from the State Election Commission The counting process will determine the outcome across 15 Municipal Corporations 84 Municipalities 34 District Panchayats and 260 Taluka Panchayats where polling was held on April 26Officials said counting will begin at designated centres with security and administrative arrangements put in place across districtsMore than 9000 seats are at stake in the elections making it one of the largest grassroots electoral exercises in the stateA total of 32748 nominations had been filed with over 26000 candidates remaining in the fray after withdrawals while several seats were declared elected unopposed ahead of pollingThe elections were contested by major political parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP Congress and Aam Aadmi Party AAP along with independents and smaller partiesCampaigning had concluded following a mandated silence period before polling which was conducted using electronic voting machines EVMs across thousands of polling stationsVoter turnout in the local body elections varied across tiers according to data released by the State Election CommissionParticipation stood at 4902 per cent in Municipal Corporations reflecting relatively lower engagement in urban centres while Municipalities recorded a turnout of 5950 per centIn rural bodies turnout was higher with 6169 per cent in District Panchayats and 6238 per cent in Taluka PanchayatsMeanwhile byelections to 13 seats in 11 municipalities saw a turnout of 5538 per centIn Ahmedabad counting will take place at centres including LD Engineering College and Gujarat College with traffic restrictions imposed in surrounding areas from midnight to facilitate the process and ensure securityThe polls conducted after delimitation and implementation of a 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes in local bodies are being closely watched as an indicator of political strength at the grassroots level ahead of future elections in the stateOfficials said results will be declared after completion of counting procedures across all centres IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-local-poll-results-today-counting-to-commence-at-designated-centres-671417.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/trinamool-worker-shot-at-by-bike-borne-men-in-bengals-halisahar-probe-on-671452.html Kolkata April 28 A Trinamool Congress worker in Halisahar in West Bengals North 24 Parganas district was shot at by bikeborne masked miscreants said the police on Tuesday Trinamool has directly accused the BJP of attacking its worker Prosenjit Maulik alias Raja was seriously injured in the shootout on the last day of campaigningHe has been admitted to the Kalyani JNM Hospital in a critical condition There has been intense tension over this incident before the second phase of voting on WednesdayA large police force has rushed to the spot after receiving the news The reason for this incident is still not clear An investigation into the incident has already started A vigorous search has been started to find the miscreants who were responsible for the shootingAccording to the police Trinamool worker Raja a resident of Khasbati North Road was standing on the roadside on Misri Pukur Road in Ward No 9 of Halishahar on Monday night when some masked miscreants on a bike opened fire at him A total of three rounds of shots were fired at himIt is learnt that one bullet hit Raja in the stomach and the other two bullets hit the mobile phone in his pocket After that the Trinamool worker fell and the locals rescued him and took him to Kalyani JNM HospitalThe political tension in the area intensified after the incidentBijpur Trinamool candidate Subodh Adhikari claimed This is the culture of the BJP This attack was carried out by miscreants out of fear of their impending defeatHowever BJP candidate Sudipta Das dismissed the allegations and said The miscreants in the area are Trinamool supporters It is not known why the incident happened It could also be due to the Trinamools own conflictThe police said that an investigation into the incident has been launched A search is underway to find the attackersAs many as 142 constituencies will go to the polls on Wednesday in the second and final phase of the Assembly elections in West Bengal Counting of votes will be held on May 4 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/trinamool-worker-shot-at-by-bike-borne-men-in-bengals-halisahar-probe-on-671452.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pmks-anbumani-ramadoss-blames-dmk-govt-for-rise-in-illicit-liquor-trade-in-tn-671478.html Chennai April 28 Anbumani Ramadoss criticised the ruling MK Stalinled DMK government alleging that its inaction has led to a surge in illicit liquor sales across Tamil Nadu forcing local communities to take matters into their own hands In a statement on Tuesday the PMK leader referred to a recent incident in Podur village near Bennenagaram in Dharmapuri district where a group of women allegedly ransacked four illegal liquor outlets operating in the area The main accused in the illicit trade identified as Govindan reportedly escaped during the incidentWhile asserting that taking the law into oneâs own hands is not an acceptable solution Ramadoss said the prevailing situation was a direct consequence of administrative failureHe alleged that the DMK government which has been in power for the past five years has created an environment where villagers felt compelled to act due to the unchecked proliferation of illegal liquor shopsAccording to him the four outlets in Podur were not newly established but had been functioning for several years Despite repeated protests by local residents demanding their closure no effective action was taken by the authoritiesHe further claimed that similar illegal roadside liquor outlets operate round the clock across the Dharmapuri districtRamadoss also pointed out that the PMK had organised multiple protests seeking the removal of such outlets and that Dharmapuri MLA SP Venkateshwaran had raised the issue in the Assembly However he alleged that the state government failed to act and instead indulged in âpetty politicsâ by mobilising certain groups to demand the opening of governmentrun liquor outlets in other villagesHighlighting the scale of the issue Ramadoss claimed that while 4787 TASMAC shops function legally across Tamil Nadu more than 20000 illegal liquor outlets are operating in parallelHe alleged that this has not only devastated poor and middleclass families but also resulted in massive revenue losses and corruption estimated at over Rs 50000 crore annually due to evasion of excise duties and taxesDescribing the Podur incident as a reflection of public anger against illicit liquor Ramadoss urged authorities not to take action against the women involved Instead he called upon the government and police to intensify efforts to shut down illegal liquor operations across the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pmks-anbumani-ramadoss-blames-dmk-govt-for-rise-in-illicit-liquor-trade-in-tn-671478.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/siddaramaiah-ready-to-step-down-if-rahul-gandhi-asks-says-ex-ktaka-minister-rajanna-671480.html Bengaluru April 28 Amid the ongoing leadership tussle former Karnataka Minister and Congress MLA KN Rajanna has made a startling statement suggesting that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is ready to step down from his post if Rahul Gandhi says so The statement has assumed significance as Rajanna is a close associate of CM SiddaramaiahIt can also be noted that CM Siddaramaiahs close associates Ministers Satish Jarkiholi and HC Mahadevappa both hailing from the Dalit community have reached Delhi and are demanding an end to the confusion over the leadership issue in the state Speaking in Bengaluru Rajanna said on Tuesday that there is growing confusion within the party over the issue of leadership change He added that while Siddaramaiah is prepared to continue in office he is also willing to relinquish power if directed by the party high commandRajanna who had earlier claimed that Siddaramaiahâs recent silence might be due to external influences now said the Chief Minister has conveyed an openminded stance on the matter According to him Siddaramaiah has indicated that he would abide by any decision taken by Rahul Gandhi and expects cooperation from party membersHe stressed that resolving the ongoing uncertainty would benefit the state and urged the party leadership not to allow the confusion to persist Rajanna noted that this is not a decision to be taken in haste as it involves both the future of the party and the people of KarnatakaExpressing confidence in the high command Rajanna said Siddaramaiah has already made it clear that he will act in accordance with Rahul Gandhiâs direction âPower is not permanent Those who lose it can regain itâ he said describing the Chief Ministerâs mindset as one of compliance with the party leadershipAt the same time Rajanna stated that many leaders including himself have conveyed to the high command that Siddaramaiah should continue as Chief MinisterHe also reiterated his stand in favour of a Dalit Chief Minister saying the AHINDA minorities backward classes and Dalits communities are not fully satisfied He remarked that there is a significant difference between Siddaramaiahâs leadership during 201318 and the current term from 202326With nearly two years remaining for the next election Rajanna said it is too early to predict future developments adding that much can change in politics over time IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/siddaramaiah-ready-to-step-down-if-rahul-gandhi-asks-says-ex-ktaka-minister-rajanna-671480.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/mangaluru-blast-case-conviction-ktaka-bjp-chief-demands-apology-from-cong-leaders-671484.html Bengaluru April 28 BJPs Karnataka President and MLA BY Vijayendra on Tuesday welcomed the verdict of an NIA special court sentencing Mohammed Shariq the prime accused in the Mangaluru cooker blast case to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment stating that the ruling reinforces the countryâs firm stance against terrorism He also demanded apologies from Congress leaders for issuing statements in favour of the accused after the incident In a statement Vijayendra claimed that certain leaders had referred to the accused as âbrotherâ and described the blast as an âaccidentâ thereby attempting to justify acts of terrorVijayendra demanded that if those leaders have any moral responsibility they should apologise to the people of the state He said the judgment in the Mangaluru cooker blast case demonstrates that forces threatening national security have no place in the system He added that the efficiency of central investigative agencies and the judiciaryâs strict approach should instil confidence among the publicHowever he also launched a sharp attack on leaders of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee KPCC alleging that at the initial stage of the case some had indulged in appeasement politics by supporting antinational elements The BJP leader further warned that such attitudes which he described as standing with antinational elements for political gain pose a serious threat to internal securityReiterating his partyâs position Vijayendra asserted that terrorism has no religion and that there can be no forgiveness for acts of terror or those who support themIt can be recalled that in December 2022 Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President DK Shivakumar had stirred significant controversy by questioning the official labelling of the Mangaluru cooker blast as a terror actShivakumar alleged that the thenruling BJP government was using the cooker blast which occurred in an autorickshaw to divert attention from a voter data theft scandal in Bengaluru He questioned how the police could declare the suspect a terrorist without a full investigation IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/mangaluru-blast-case-conviction-ktaka-bjp-chief-demands-apology-from-cong-leaders-671484.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bjp-chief-nitin-nabin-to-visit-rajasthan-today-671285.html New Delhi April 27 BJP President Nitin Nabin is scheduled to visit Rajasthan on Monday to discuss strengthening the party structure and shaping future strategies In a display of political grandeur and traditional Rajasthani hospitality the BJP is preparing an elaborate welcome for its National President who is visiting Rajasthan for the first time after assuming officeEchoing the spirit of âPadharo Mhare Deshâ the party has planned a redcarpet reception stretching from the airport to the state headquarters in Jaipur with welcome ceremonies scheduled at 11 key locations across the city party workers saidAccording to the proposed schedule Nitin Nabin will arrive in Jaipur in the morning and proceed directly to TonkIn Tonk he will inaugurate seven newly constructed district BJP offices and lay the foundation stones for two more The programme will also see him addressing party workers and the general public with participation expected from workers across seven districts said Rajasthan BJP President Madan RathoreBJP leaders have indicated that partys district offices in Bundi Pratapgarh Dungarpur Barmer Pali and Churu will also be inaugurated during the eventFoundation stones for two additional BJP district offices are expected to be laid party sources addedFollowing these programmes Nitin Nabin will return to Jaipur where he will chair a meeting of the State BJP Core Committee at the partys state headquartersThe visit comes shortly after Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma met the BJP President in New DelhiThe two leaders discussed several issues related to both governance and party organisation in Rajasthan party sources saidKey topics included pending appointments in the state party unit preparations for upcoming Panchayati Raj elections and other crucial issuesSources indicate that Chief Minister Sharma personally requested Nitin Nabin to visit Rajasthan adding to the significance of this tripRajasthan BJP President Madan Rathore emphasised that the party aims to go beyond routine political activity and focus on strengthening and modernising its organisational frameworkAs part of this effort new BJP offices are being established across all districts in Rajasthan IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bjp-chief-nitin-nabin-to-visit-rajasthan-today-671285.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-responds-to-karnataka-mans-wedding-invitation-extends-warm-wishes-671304.html Bengaluru April 27 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has responded to a wedding invitation sent by a man from Karnataka extending his warm wishes through an official letter The development came to light on Monday after Rajesh Nayak shared a video about it with many people appreciating the Prime Ministerâs responsiveness to an invitation from a common citizen Rajesh Nayak a resident of Kanihala village in Raichur district got married to Savitha on April 13 Out of a personal wish he decided to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to his wedding and sent the invitation card by postIn a letter dated April 16 PM Modi wrote âShri Ramesh Nayak Ji I thank you heartily for inviting me to your wedding As you enter this auspicious phase of life may you and Savitha be blessed with a wonderful life ahead I express my heartfelt gratitude for inviting me to the ceremonyââMay the coupleâs hearts minds and actions be in harmony Stand by each other at all times hold each otherâs hands in pursuit of your dreams and aspirations and take on responsibilities with care and affection May you and Savitha be ideal partners in the journey of life by accepting each otherâs imperfections and learning from each otherâs strengthsâ the letter further statedâI once again extend my greetings and best wishes to both of you for a long happy and beautiful life togetherâ the Prime Minister addedSpeaking about the letter Rajesh said on Monday âI shared this video to convey a special moment Our wedding took place on April 13 I had sent the wedding invitation a few weeks earlier While sending it I hoped for a response but I did not have high expectations Now I have received a letter from the Prime Minister conveying his greetings It is remarkable that despite holding the highest office he considered a letter from a common man I am grateful to himâHe added âI never thought he would read my wedding invitation Receiving this letter shows how considerate the Prime Minister is I convey my heartfelt regards on behalf of myself my wife my parents and the people of Kanihala village It is a matter of pride for meâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-responds-to-karnataka-mans-wedding-invitation-extends-warm-wishes-671304.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/nia-registers-case-over-recovery-of-79-crude-bombs-in-bengal-671315.html New DelhiKolkata April 27 IANS The National Investigation Agency NIA has taken over the investigation into a case involving the recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials in West Bengal where the second and final phase of the Assembly polls is scheduled for April 29 officials saidnbspAccording to an official statement the agency has reregistered FIR No 622026 dated April 25 2026 of Uttar Kashi Police Station under Bhangar Division in Kolkata as RC252026NIADLI dated April 26 2026 and has formally begun its probeIn pursuance of the MHA order the NIA has registered FIR No 622026 dated 25042026 of PS Uttar Kashi Bhangar Division Kolkata as RC252026NIADLI dated 26042026 and taken up the investigation The case pertains to the recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials by Kolkata Police which were being stored at a spot thereby endangering human life and property the statement saidNotably the first phase of the twophase polling in West Bengal was held on April 23The case relates to the recovery of a large number of crude bombs by the Kolkata Police which were allegedly being stored at a particular location posing a serious threat to human life and propertyOfficials said the materials were seized during a police operation in the Bhangar area following inputs about suspicious storage of explosive substancesThe NIA which functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs has now taken over the caseAccording to sources the agency will examine the circumstances under which the crude bombs were stored and will look into all aspects of the case including the possible intent behind stockpiling such materialsSources indicated that the focus of the investigation will be on identifying those responsible for storing the explosives and ascertaining whether there was any larger conspiracy linked to the recoveryMeanwhile the NIA on Sunday arrested a prime accused in a separate West Bengal bomb explosion case in which one person was killed and three others were seriously injured earlier this year officials saidAhidul Islam Molla of Bijoyganj Bazar in South 24 Parganas district was arrested following a detailed examination of his role in the explosion which took place in March at Dakshin Bamunia villageAnother accused had been arrested earlier in the case by the state police an NIA statement saidThe NIA said its investigation revealed that Ahidul Islam was a coconspirator in the crime involving the preparation of bombs and the destruction of evidenceThe bombs had exploded while being prepared as part of the conspiracy killing one of the accused involved in the crime the agency said adding that efforts were on to identify other coaccusedIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/nia-registers-case-over-recovery-of-79-crude-bombs-in-bengal-671315.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/jampk-govt-declares-seminary-in-shopian-district-as-unlawful-671316.html Srinagar April 27 The Jammu and Kashmir government has declared a seminary running in Shopian district as unlawful after citing its links with a banned organisation said officials on Monday The officials said the union territory government has declared the seminary an unlawful entity under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act UAPA 1967 citing alleged links with a banned organisation financial irregularities and concerns over radicalisationThe order was issued by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg under Section 81 of the Act The action follows a dossier submitted by the Senior Superintendent of Police SSP Shopian on March 24 Based on this the authorities concluded that the institution was involved in âserious legal administrative and financial irregularitiesâ including a lack of mandatory registration and alleged evasion of statutory oversightOfficials said there was credible evidence of covert links between the seminary and JamaateIslami JeI a banned outfit with individuals affiliated with it allegedly occupying key administrative and academic positions The order also cited financial opacity and suspected diversion of funds besides inputs suggesting that the institution fostered an environment conducive to radicalisation with some former students allegedly linked to militancyA showcause notice was issued to the chairman of the institution on March 31 seeking an explanation The reply was examined after seeking comments from the SSP Shopian who termed the objections âfactually untenable and devoid of legal meritâ officials saidThe administration said the proceedings were preventive in nature and aimed at curbing misuse of the premises for unlawful activitiesFollowing the notification authorities are empowered to take further action including sealing of the premises and freezing of financial assets they added The Union Ministry of Home Affairs MHA has already declared some organisations like the JamaateIslami and the Awami Action Committee AAC as unlawful organisations The ministry extended the ban on JeI JampK for five years on February 27 2024 It was initially declared an unlawful association in February 2019 The AAC led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was banned on March 11 2025 for five years IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/jampk-govt-declares-seminary-in-shopian-district-as-unlawful-671316.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/true-strength-of-nation-lies-in-selfless-spirit-of-service-of-its-citizens-says-pm-modi-671317.html New Delhi April 27 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday stressed the importance of selfless service saying it forms the foundation of a strong and compassionate society while urging citizens to inspire one another through acts of goodwillnbspIn a post on X the Prime Minister wrote The true strength of the nation lies in the selfless spirit of service of its citizens This inspires people to motivate one another while also enriching our society furtherPM Modi also shared a Sanskrit verse meaning Trees bear the harsh sunlight themselves yet they give shade to others Their fruits are also meant for others Trees are like selfless and noble people who always provide comfort and help to others loosely translated from SanskritEarlier on Sunday PM Modi visited the Matua Thakur Mandir in Thakurnagar in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal ahead of his election rally where he recalled his meeting with Matua community matriarch Binapani Devi Sharing a photograph from his 2019 visit the Prime Minister said he was reminded of receiving the blessings of Boro Ma during his earlier trip to the templeAddressing a rally in Thakurnagar PM Modi also spoke about his visit to Orakandi describing it as a deeply emotional experience He recalled performing puja at the temple there and meeting members of the Matua community adding that the compassion shown by Binapani Devi left a lasting impression on himThe Prime Minister further highlighted the Centres implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 stating that it was aimed at providing citizenship to communities such as the Matuas He invoked Syama Prasad Mookerjee noting his role in advocating for refugees from East Bengal and asserted that ensuring their rights remains a historical responsibility of IndiaSyama Prasad Mookerjee won from Kolkata At that time Jana Sangh got a lot of support from 24 Parganas and Nadia He stood by the refugees from East Bengal He spoke for them Syama Prasad is considered the spokesperson for the refugees From Partition till today all the refugees are our responsibility It is Indias historical responsibility to think about them That is why Modi brought the CAA Why was this not done before I will tell the Matuas and Namasudras that you will be given citizenship a permanent address papers and all the rights that all citizens of India get This is Modis guarantee said the PMIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/true-strength-of-nation-lies-in-selfless-spirit-of-service-of-its-citizens-says-pm-modi-671317.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-meets-new-niti-aayog-member-gobardhan-das-says-his-rich-work-will-enrich-policy-making-671322.html New Delhi April 27 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Prof Gobardhan Das and said that his personal life journey is very inspiring He further said that his rich work and scholarship will enrich policymaking architecturenbspPM Modi took to social media X and said Met Prof Gobardhan Das Ji this morning His personal life journey is very inspiring Every struggle he faced only strengthened his commitment to serve society and make it free from suffering This has been reflected in his contribution to public health and immunology His rich work and scholarship will enrich our policymaking architectureOn April 25 Gobardhan Das the newly appointed member of NITI Aayog had outlined an ambitious roadmap for national development and regional revitalisation emphasising his commitment to realising PM Modis vision of a developed India by 2047Speaking to IANS following his appointment Das had expressed gratitude to PM Modi for entrusting him with a role at the countrys premier policy think tank He said the appointment was not just an honour for him but for the entire Bengali community and pledged to work tirelessly to propel the nation forward across sectorsA significant portion of Das remarks focused on his home state West BengalInvoking the legacies of iconic figures such as Sri Aurobindo Rabindranath Tagore Bankim Chandra Chatterjee Syama Prasad Mookerjee and renowned scientist Meghnad Saha he said West Bengal is a land of great thinkers and visionaries often referred to as Sonar BanglaHe said his primary objective is to restore the state to its former glory as Sonar BanglaHe noted with concern that the current state of education and healthcare in West Bengal requires urgent intervention to check migration with many citizens forced to seek basic services and employment outside the stateDas said the mandate of NITI Aayog would be utilised to bridge these developmental gapsHe emphasised that for India to become a truly selfreliant and capable global power the principle of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas must remain the bedrock of policymakingHighlighting the countrys response during the Covid19 pandemic he cited the indigenous development of vaccines as a testament to Indias leadership and scientific capability when focused on a common national goalAs a member of NITI Aayog Das said he would focus on revitalising the industrial and manufacturing sectors to generate local employment and ensure that no citizen is left behind in the journey towards prosperityHe reiterated that the goal is not just economic growth but a comprehensive transformation that ensures the welfare and security of every IndianBy fostering collective effort and inclusive policies Das said the vision of a developed selfreliant India is within reach with regional strengths contributing to a stronger national identityIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-meets-new-niti-aayog-member-gobardhan-das-says-his-rich-work-will-enrich-policy-making-671322.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/is-the-bjp-breaching-sachin-pilots-fortress-nitin-nabins-tonk-gambit-decoded-671329.html Jaipur April 27 IANS The BJP appears to be setting the stage for an aggressive political push in Rajasthan choosing Tonk long regarded as the political stronghold of Congress leader Sachin Pilot as the starting point of its National President Nitin Nabins maiden tour of the state on MondaynbspParty workers say the choice of Tonk is deliberate signalling the BJPs intent to challenge the Congress in regions where it has traditionally enjoyed influencenbspIn politics geography is strategy By choosing Tonk the BJP is stepping straight into Congress territory signalling that it is ready to challenge the opposition where it feels most secure This isnt optics its intent they addedTonk is not just another assembly seat it represents Pilots influence and Congresss emotional connect in Eastern Rajasthan A BJP show of strength here is being read as a direct political provocation and a calculated one The timing sharpens the intrigue With Congress MP Harish Chandra Meena also rooted in the region Tonk suddenly becomes more than symbolic it becomes a testing groundWhispers of leaders switching sides ahead of the rally have only heightened the political temperatureBehind the headlinegrabbing politics lies a methodical organisational push Nabin will inaugurate the Tonk district BJP office while simultaneously launching offices across multiple districts Bundi Pratapgarh Dungarpur Churu Pali and Barmer and laying the foundation stone in Jalore This is not just expansion its infrastructure politics Booth by booth district by district the BJP is tightening its gripWith Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and senior leadership in attendance the event is both a show of strength and an organisational reboot The BJPs confidence is quite highIn the 2023 Assembly elections it outperformed Congress in key eastern districts winning 13 seats against Congresss 8 Compared to 2018 the BJP has clearly gained ground here The BJP won 13 seats across the five key districts of Bharatpur Karauli Sawai Madhopur Dholpur and Dausa In contrast the Congress was confined to eight seats with one seat being claimed by an independent candidateNow the focus shifts can the BJP flip the remaining Congressheld seatsThe partys programme includes strengthen the network stay mobilised and prepare for the next electoral cycleNabins visit is as much about energising the cadre as it is about unsettling the opposition The Tonk move reveals a threelayered strategy enter opposition strongholds deepen grassroots structure and synchronise government and organisationThe grand Jaipur welcome complete with Yuva Morcha bike rallies and Mahila Morchas traditional Kalash procession adds momentum but the real action will be behind closed doors in the Core Committee meeting where electoral strategy will be finetunedCall it a soft launch of the BJPs next campaign or a psychological push into Congress territory Either way starting from Tonk is a statement the BJP is no longer playing defensive politics in Rajasthan By stepping into Sachin Pilots backyard the party is attempting something bigger reshaping the contest on its own termsThe question now is not whether this move is strategic The question is Will it work and how will it work and what will be its impact on Sachin Pilot who is presently leading the Congress show in Kerala as an observer of the Assembly elections in the stateIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/is-the-bjp-breaching-sachin-pilots-fortress-nitin-nabins-tonk-gambit-decoded-671329.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bjp-supporters-hail-pm-modi-ahead-of-poll-rally-in-bengals-barrackpore-671333.html New Delhi April 27 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address a Vijay Sankalp Sabha in Barrackpore West Bengal on the final day of campaigning for the second phase of the assembly elections on MondaynbspThe rally venue is teeming with surge of supporters as well as common people wanting to have a glimpse of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Many of them visibly excited and exhilarated over PM Modis rally voiced confidence in his leadership and shared what they expect from the new government after the ongoing Assembly electionsSpeaking ahead of the rally a BJP karyakarta highlighted the enthusiasm among party workers and their connection with the Prime MinisterWe work closely with the Prime Minister We are BJP karyakarta We have met him many times Meeting him makes us proud and energised The BJP is important here because many factories and industries are shut down Earlier Bengal was the capital from where it all started and then we had to face TMC in power for 15 years Now its time for the BJP a worker told IANSAnother supporter echoed similar sentiments expressing faith in PM Modis leadership and vision We are here to see PM Modi and indeed Modi hai to mumkin hai To support this principle we are here We want a Modi government for our betterment in West Bengal We want a doubleengine government the supporter saidThe Prime Ministers visit to Barrackpore on April 27 2026 is a key part of the Bharatiya Janata Partys BJP campaign strategy as it seeks to strengthen its presence in the state ahead of pollingMeanwhile political activity in West Bengal has intensified with parties making their last efforts to connect with voters The BJP has been raising issues such as industrial decline development and governance while also targeting the ruling Trinamool Congress over its long tenure in the stateEarlier on Sunday while addressing a Vijay Sankalp Sabha in Bangaon PM Modi invoked Subhas Chandra Bose and said Bengal has everything The people of Bengal have abundant capability so Bengal can once again become the number one state in the country We just need to remember Netaji Subhas Chandra Boses call Netaji had said Give me blood and I will give you freedom In response to Netajis call the countrymen sacrificed everything they had Today Bengal needs just one vote from you Give us your blessings give us your vote and we will free you from TMCIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bjp-supporters-hail-pm-modi-ahead-of-poll-rally-in-bengals-barrackpore-671333.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/azharuddin-kodandaram-take-oath-as-telangana-mlcs-671339.html Hyderabad April 27 Telangana Minister for Minority Welfare Mohammad Azharuddin and Professor M Kodandaram Reddy on Monday took oath as members of the states Legislative Council Council Chairman G Sukhender Reddy administered the oath to them at an event held in the Assembly buildingChief Minister A Revanth Reddy his Cabinet colleagues state Congress president Mahesh Kumar Goud and other leaders of the ruling Congress party attended the eventGovernor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Sunday nominated Azharuddin and Kodandaram as members of the Legislative Council under the Governorâs quotaHowever the nominations will be subject to the final outcome of all the appeals pending in this regard reads the notification issued by the state governmentAccording to the notification Azharuddin and Kodandaram have been nominated in place of D Rajeshwar Rao and Farooq Hussain whose term expired on May 27 2023Azharuddinâs nomination as MLC came as a huge relief for the former Indian cricket captain and the ruling Congress partySworn in as the minister on October 31 2025 Azharuddin was constitutionally required to get elected to either the Assembly or the Council by April 30 to continue in the CabinetKodandaram a key figure in the movement for statehood to Telangana is the leader of Telangana Jana Samithi TJS which had supported the Congress party in the 2023 electionsThe nominations ended a long period of uncertainty The Telangana Cabinet had recommended the names of Azharuddin and Kodandaram for nomination to the Council under the Governorâs quota on August 30 2025 However the Governor has not cleared the nominations due to a case pending in the Supreme CourtChief Minister A Revanth Reddy had met the Governor on April 19 to request him to approve the pending nominationsLast month the Chief Minister had cited the Supreme Courtâs observation that it had no objection in the matter and that the state government was free to pursue the issue with the Governor for clearanceThe Cabinetâs decision to nominate them as MLCs in August last year came two weeks after the Supreme Court stayed the appointment of Kodandaram and Amer Ali Khan as MLCs under the Governorâs quotaBoth Kodandaram and Amer Ali Khan were sworn in as MLCs in 2024 The apex court gave a stay on a petition filed by Bharat Rashtra Samithi BRS leaders Dasoju Sravan and Kurra Satyanarayana challenging the nominations made by the state governmentKodandaram and Amer Ali Khan were nominated as MLCs in January 2024 but the High Court set aside the nomination in March on petitions by Dasoju Sravan and Kurra Satyanarayana whose nomination as MLCs was recommended by the previous government of BRS in July 2023 The same was rejected by thenGovernor Tamilisai Soundararajan on the grounds that the two were âpolitically aligned personsâThe High Court had quashed the Governorâs decision holding that the Governor can only return the governmentâs recommendation for reconsiderationFollowing the High Court order the BRS leaders had requested the Governor to nominate them as MLCs However as the BRS had lost power to Congress the Governor rejected the requestSravan and Satyanarayana had challenged the Governorâs refusal in the Supreme Court IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/azharuddin-kodandaram-take-oath-as-telangana-mlcs-671339.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/mangaluru-blast-verdict-likely-today-will-act-based-on-outcome-ktaka-home-minister-671345.html Bengaluru April 27 Ahead of the verdict by the Special NIA court in the Mangaluru cooker bomb blast case Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Monday said he expects a fair judgment and that the government will take further action based on the outcome Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru the Minister said the court is expected to pronounce its verdict in the case today âThe police department has done everything required under the law They have collected the necessary evidence and submitted it I expect a just verdict Let us wait and watchâ he saidResponding to allegations made by the BJP regarding the case Parameshwara said two aspects must be kept in mind âOne is the political narrative where statements are made as part of public discourse We have observed the opposition making such remarksâ he notedHowever he stressed that the legal process remains paramount âWhat is important is what needs to be done legally The court will announce its verdict today and we will decide on further action based on the outcomeâ he addedThe Special NIA court for terrorism cases in Bengaluru has accepted a guilty plea filed by Mohammed Shariq the main accused in the Mangaluru cooker bomb blast case The blast occurred inside an autorickshaw in the coastal city on November 19 2022The accused No 1 Mohammed Shariq is known as Shariq aka Mohammed Sharik Premraj Hutagi aka Premraj aka Gowli Arun Kumar Shariq 27 who hails from Shivamogga admitted to the charges nearly three years after the explosion inside an autorickshaw on November 19 2022 He initially pleaded not guilty when the court framed charges on April 20 2024 but reversed his stand in December 2025 by submitting a fresh plea under Section 229 Conviction on plea of guilty of the Code of Criminal Procedure CrPCShariq suffered severe burns when the pressure cooker bomb he was allegedly transporting to be planted in Mangaluru detonated prematurely on his lap due to a faulty timer setting The NIA arrested him soon after he was discharged from a Mangaluru hospitalAccording to the NIA Shariq is part of an Islamic Stateinspired Shivamogga module connected to multiple terrorlinked incidents since 2020 At the time of the blast he was already wanted in a September 2022 Shivamogga case involving IED testing by the same module He was arrested in 2020 for writing antinational graffiti in MangaluruThe module is also accused of the March 1 2024 Rameshwaram Cafe blast in Bengaluru where investigators believe an IED similar to the one allegedly carried by Shariq was planted by founding member Mussavir Hussain along with the nowarrested Abdul Matheen Taha IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/mangaluru-blast-verdict-likely-today-will-act-based-on-outcome-ktaka-home-minister-671345.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktr-urges-brs-cadres-to-pledge-to-protect-telangana-671354.html Hyderabad April 27 Bharat Rashtra Samithi BRS working president K T Rama Rao on Monday called upon party cadres to take a pledge on the partyâs Foundation Day to protect Telangana alleging that the state is facing destruction under the Congress regime âOn the Partys foundation day let us pledge once again To protect Telangana let us rise once more and stand united in millionsâ KTR posted on âXâThe former minister urged the party cadres to rededicate themselves to the reconstruction of Telangana on the occasion of its 26th Foundation DayKTR stated that as the party was born out of a movement BRS forced Delhi to achieve the goal of a separate state He also claimed that as the ruling party for a decade it steered Telangana on the path of progress âToday as the main opposition party we are standing firm for the cause of millions of people sounding the war trumpet against the inept government and standing tall as the voice of Telanganaâ he wroteKTR termed BRS a symbol of its unbreakable bond with the people and described the pink flag as representing Telanganaâs selfrespecting political identityKTR said that the journey of the party for twoandahalf decades under K Chandrasekhar Rao was marked by historic struggles and achievementsEarlier in the day he hoisted the party flag at the BRS headquarters Telangana Bhavan to mark the Foundation Day with several party leaders participating in the celebrationsHe declined to comment on certain remarks made by his sister K Kavitha who floated a new political party called Telangana Rashtra Sena TRS on April 25 Kavitha who had quit BRS last year after being suspended by his father and the party president K Chandrasekhar Rao KCR had criticised both KCR and KTRKavitha had called KCR a changed man and also remarked that KTR knows nothingBRS organised the formation day celebrations across the state KTR had called upon the party cadres to hoist party flags in every village town constituency and district headquarters to mark the dayKTR during a teleconference with party leaders on Sunday explained that in light of the massive public meeting recently held in Jagtial and keeping the current intense summer heat in mind the plenary session has been limited to a State Executive Committee meeting this timeThe invitations for this meeting have been extended exclusively to State Executive Committee members MPs MLAs MLCs district presidents former public representatives and former chairpersons of various corporations KCR had floated Telangana Rashtra Samithi TRS in 2001 to revive the Telangana movement The separate state became a reality on June 2 2014 In 2022 TRS changed its name to BRS with KCR planning to expand the party to other statesHowever after ruling Telangana for nearly a decade the BRS lost power to Congress in Telangana in 2023 The party suffered a humiliating defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as well drawing a blank its worstever performance IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktr-urges-brs-cadres-to-pledge-to-protect-telangana-671354.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/hopeful-and-happy-enthusiastic-crowds-throng-gangtok-streets-for-pm-modis-roadshow-671360.html Gangtok April 27 Large crowds gathered in Gangtok as Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived for the closing ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Sikkims statehood Enthusiastic residents lined both sides of the roads for the Prime Ministers roadshow waving the tricolour and dressed in traditional attire Elaborate security arrangements were put in place across the city for the highprofile visitGangtok was adorned with national flags along the route stretching from Biralu Dwar to MG Marg creating a festive atmosphere as people eagerly awaited the Prime Ministers arrivalLocals expressed excitement and hope ahead of the visit Speaking to reporters entrepreneur Deewakar Basnet said I think one of the first things I would like to say is that we are very thankful to the Prime Minister for visiting Sikkim on the occasion of the 50th year of statehood celebration One of the biggest expectations is that the Prime Minister will provide justice and work to lift up Sikkims deprived communities and this is something that everyone here is hopeful for Apart from that I believe he will certainly talk about the future of Sikkim and what expectations India has from us during his visits today and tomorrowLast year the Prime Minister was unable to make it to the celebrations due to the weather but this time we are hopeful and happy that he will grace us on the occasion of the closing ceremony he added Following his arrival a twokilometrelong cultural roadshow has been planned to welcome the Prime Minister as he travels to Lok Bhawan where he will stay overnightThe visit is part of the golden jubilee celebrations of Sikkims statehood Notably this marks his second attempt to attend the commemorative event within a year after adverse weather conditions last year prevented him from reaching GangtokOn April 28 he is scheduled to visit the Orchidarium in Gangtok developed as a worldclass Orchid Experience Centre to showcase the states rich ecological and floral heritageLater at around 10 am PM Modi will attend the concluding ceremony of the Golden Jubilee celebrations at Paljor Stadium where he will inaugurate launch and lay the foundation stone of projects spanning sectors such as infrastructure connectivity healthcare education power urban development environment tourism and agriculture He will also address the gatheringIn the healthcare sector the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for a 100bedded Ayurveda hospital at Yangang in Namchi district and inaugurate a 30bedded Integrated Sowa Rigpa Hospital at NIT DeoraliIn education he will inaugurate the permanent campus of Sikkim University at Yangang the administrative block of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose University of Excellence at Chakung Helen Lepcha Medical College at Socheygang and Dentam Professional College in the Gyalshing districtModel residential schools at Hee Gyathang a new Model Degree College at Mangshila and a monastic hostelcumclassroom at Boomtar Gumpa will also be inauguratedAdditionally ITenabled infrastructure projects across 160 schools will be launchedTo boost connectivity PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for two doublelane steel arch bridges over the Teesta river at Sirwani and Lower Samdong and inaugurate the upgraded road from Birdhang to Namchi via KitchudumraIn the power sector he will inaugurate the revamping of the transmission and distribution network in GangtokUnder urban development projects to be inaugurated include the Jan Seva Sachivalaya at Lumsey the Civil Service Officers Institute in Gangtok housing initiatives under the Sikkim Urban Garib Awas Yojana and quarters for police personnelThe foundation stone for a Sadhbhav Mandap at MG Marg will also be laidEnvironmental initiatives include laying the foundation stone for a sewerage system rehabilitation project at Singtam and inaugurating the River Rani Chu pollution abatement schemeIn tourism the Prime Minister will inaugurate the redevelopment of the Ridge Precinct in Gangtok ecotourism and pilgrimage infrastructure at Dodak facilities related to the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and a Yatri Niwas at Krishna Pranami MangaldhamThe foundation stone for an EcoPilgrimage Complex at Silnon will also be laidHe will also inaugurate the Sikkim IFFCO Processing Plant aimed at boosting agroprocessing and farmer incomes along with indoor cricket facilities at Mining in Pakyong district IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/hopeful-and-happy-enthusiastic-crowds-throng-gangtok-streets-for-pm-modis-roadshow-671360.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/dy-cm-shivakumars-talks-with-high-command-routine-karnataka-hm-671364.html Bengaluru April 27 Regarding the meeting of the DK brothers Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and former MP DK Suresh with the party high command in New Delhi Karnataka Home Minister Parameshwara said such developments are part of politics Speaking to the media in Bengaluru on Monday he remarked that this is what defines politics and such situations are naturalOn his meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah he said it is also part of political activityHe added that the state Congress President Shivakumar had gone to meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss issues related to the state and matters concerning the Defence sectorResponding to DK Shivakumarâs statement that whatever discussions took place would eventually come out Parameshwara said it was a political statement and does not require further interpretation He said they simply held a meeting and returned after having a mealOn Minister for PWD Satish Jarkiholiâs remark that the government is facing hurdles from AHINDA communities in fulfilling its promises Parameshwara said it was Jarkiholiâs personal statement and he has no comments to offer on itOn the discussion that there is no timebound deadline for the caste census report HM Parameshwara said it could be delayed due to various reasonsHe noted that factors such as elections political developments and Assembly sessions may influence the timeline and it may take some more timeHe added that he does not have detailed information on the matter and it would not be appropriate for him to comment furtherOn the issue of black marketing of IPL tickets and the filing of an FIR he said that if an FIR has been registered the police will take action against those involvedHe stressed that there is no permission for black ticket sales and if anyone is found selling tickets illegally action will be takenHe said the police will verify the allegations He clarified that ticket sales are conducted online and the government has no direct role in the process as it has been left to the authorities concerned The details mentioned in the FIR will be examined IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/dy-cm-shivakumars-talks-with-high-command-routine-karnataka-hm-671364.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/jharkhand-hc-pulls-up-govt-over-coal-mine-safety-asks-chief-inspector-of-factories-to-appear-671373.html Ranchi April 27 The Jharkhand High Court on Monday took a strict stance on the safety health and rights of coal mine workers Taking suo motu cognisance of the issue a division bench of Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Sanjay Prasad directed the stateâs Chief Inspector of Factories to appear in person at the next date of hearingThe Supreme Court in recent years has issued stringent directions concerning the safety of mine workers and their right to life The apex court had clearly stated that the life and health of those working in mines are of paramount importance and that negligence at any level would not be toleratedIn this context the Supreme Court had asked all High Courts across the country to monitor the issue following which the Jharkhand High Court initiated these proceedingsDuring the hearing on Monday the state government submitted a review report on inspections of major coal mines and factories along with an assessment of compliance with safety standards to the High CourtHowever the bench expressed deep dissatisfaction with the report observing that there remained a significant gap between conditions on the ground and compliance with prescribed safety normsIt sought details from the government on concrete steps taken so far to ensure workersâ safety during hazardous operations and to safeguard their healthThe court categorically directed that safety rules must be strictly enforced in mines adequate medical facilities must be ensured for workers and illegal mining must be completely curbedThe High Court further asked the state to provide comprehensive information on progress made towards the regularisation of contract workers payment of minimum wages and implementation of welfare schemes for mine workersTaking note of the seriousness of the matter the court directed the Chief Inspector of Factories to remain personally present on the next date of hearing and explain what measures have been taken so far to implement the courtâs directions IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/jharkhand-hc-pulls-up-govt-over-coal-mine-safety-asks-chief-inspector-of-factories-to-appear-671373.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/making-rg-kar-victims-mother-candidate-proves-bjps-commitment-towards-womens-safety-says-pm-modi-671234.html Kolkata April 26 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that standing with and nominating the mother of the RG Kar rapemurder victim as a party candidate in the West Bengal Assembly elections has proved the Bharatiya Janata Partys commitment towards womens safety in the statenbspSwapna Debnath the mother of the woman doctor of staterun RG Kar Medical College ampamp Hospital in Kolkata who was raped and murdered within the hospital premises in August 2024 is the BJP candidate from Panihati Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas district which houses the ancestral residence of the victimMother and sisters have been victims of jungle rule in the Trinamool Congress regime The anger in their eyes is visible the most the reflections of which were felt in the huge polling percentage in the first phase of the Assembly polls on April 23 PM Modi saidGoons tortured sisters in Sandeshkhali and they got the backing of the Trinamool Congress Mothers and sisters are constantly abused in West Bengal by the ruling partys goons Do not forget this Girls have been going missing every day since the current regime in West Bengal came into power Trinamool Congress does care about women But the BJP is committed to womens safety he saidIn the 2024 Lok Sabha polls we nominated one sister from Sandeshkhali who protested the atrocities against women there One sister became a victim at a hospital in Kolkata Giving nomination to her mother as a party candidate this time proves BJPs commitment towards womens safety in West Bengal the Prime Minister said at a campaign rally at Thakurnagar in North 24 Parganas district in the afternoonSpeaking on the occasion the Prime Minister also said that if the BJP comes to power in West Bengal this time the focus will not just be on ensuring womens safety but also enabling overall womens empowermentThe new government will ensure that all women coming from financially backward sections are able to earn at least a lakh a year If they want to get bank loans at affordable interest rates to start a new business like eateries at affordable interest rates your brother Modi will give the guarantee for that Apart from that the women in West Bengal will be provided with a monthly allowance of Rs 3000 which will amount to Rs 36000 a year At the same time 33 per cent of the state government jobs will be reserved for women the Prime Minister saidPM Modi also took a caustic remark at the Trinamool Congress over his jhalmuri break in the middle of the BJPs poll campaign saying that this has given shock to some people a remark addressed to the ruling party leaders mocking him over snacking on a local street foodThe reels and videos of Bengali youth are being praised on social media nationally I have also seen some of this creative content Those who are so annoyed by my jhalmuri break do not like the creativity of the youth of Bengal BJP will make content creation the strength of Bengal he addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/making-rg-kar-victims-mother-candidate-proves-bjps-commitment-towards-womens-safety-says-pm-modi-671234.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 16:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/piyush-goyal-new-zealand-trade-minister-hold-discussions-with-exporters-in-agra-671238.html New Delhi April 26 IANS Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealands Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay met with leaders from the leather and footwear AYUSH pharma medical devices light engineering and sports goods sectors in Agra on SundaynbspHad an enriching engagement with the business leaders and was also joined by my friend Mr Todd McClay MP Minister for Trade ampamp Investment New Zealand Goyal wrote on XAlso launched the Agra World Capital of Footwear brand campaign celebrating the skills of our artisans and women entrepreneurs and positioning Agra as a global sourcing destination employment engine and export powerhouse the minister saidGoyal further stated that the IndiaNew Zealand FTA marks a defining milestone unlocking new opportunities for our farmers women artisans MSMEs businesses and skilled professionalsIn line with Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision this agreement is a gateway to a deeper more enduring and peoplecentred partnership between our two nations he addedMcClay reaffirmed that India is a strategic priority for New Zealand and urged businesses to actively pursue joint ventures and investment in IndiaIndia and New Zealand will sign the Free Trade Agreement FTA on Monday which will remove tariffs on 100 per cent of Indias exports to New Zealand and either sharply reduce or remove tariffs on 95 per cent of the countrys imports from New ZealandThe deal will provide India with immediate dutyfree access on 100 per cent of tariff lines This is down from the 10 per cent tariff New Zealand currently levies on about 450 tariff lines that India exports including textiles and apparel products leather and headgear ceramics carpets and automobiles and auto componentsIndia has also managed to keep several items out of the FTA including all dairy products such as milk cream whey yoghurt and cheese as well as farm productsThe FTA also includes a provision wherein New Zealand will invest 20 billion in India over 15 years This is in the same vein as the 100 billion investment commitment the European Free Trade Association made in their FTA with IndiaBesides the FTA also includes several provisions relating to the mobility of working professionals and students New Zealand has signed an annex on student mobility and poststudy work visas for the first time with any country Under this Indian students can work up to 20 hours per week while studying in New Zealand with extended poststudy work visasFurther the agreement includes a quota of 5000 visas for skilled Indians for a stay of up to three years in the sectors of interest to India which include AYUSH practitioners yoga instructors chefs and music teachers as well as other key sectors such as IT engineering healthcare education and constructionUnder the Working Holiday Visa programme included in the agreement 1000 young Indians annually can avail multiple entries in New Zealand for a period of 12 monthsIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/piyush-goyal-new-zealand-trade-minister-hold-discussions-with-exporters-in-agra-671238.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 16:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/amit-shah-jeet-adani-cm-bhupendra-patel-cast-votes-as-gujarat-local-body-polls-underway-671239.html Ahmedabad April 26 IANS Voting for local body elections in Gujarat began on Sunday with prominent political leaders and public figures stepping out early to cast their ballots underscoring the importance of grassroots democracy in the statenbspAmong those who voted were Adani Airport Holdings Ltd Director Jeet Adani and his wife Diva Shah who exercised their franchise at a polling station in Ahmedabad amid ongoing voting across the stateUnion Home Minister Amit Shah also cast his vote along with his family at a polling booth in GandhinagarHe was accompanied by his wife Sonal Shah son Jay Shah and daughterinlaw Rishita PatelAfter voting Shah visited a temple and offered prayers and the family was seen displaying their inked fingersGujarat Chief Minister Patel cast his vote at a polling booth in Ahmedabad soon after polling commenced at 7 amCalling the elections a festival of democracy Patel urged citizens to participate actively describing voting as an important civic dutyLocal body elections are being held in Gujarat today This is a celebration of democracy and every citizen should take part and fulfil their responsibility he saidChief Minister Harsh Sanghavi also voted in Surat and expressed confidence in strong public participationHe said that people across Gujarat were turning out in large numbers to strengthen what he described as the politics of development championed by Prime Minister Narendra ModiSanghavi added that citizens were enthusiastic and ready to contribute to the states development journeyToday along with my family people from the city and across the state have cast their votes The citizens of Gujarat have stepped forward to further reinforce Prime Minister Modis developmentdriven politics he saidPolling is being held for 15 municipal corporations including Ahmedabad Surat Vadodara and Rajkot along with 84 municipalities 34 district panchayats and 260 taluka panchayats The counting of votes is scheduled to take place on April 28IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/amit-shah-jeet-adani-cm-bhupendra-patel-cast-votes-as-gujarat-local-body-polls-underway-671239.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 16:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/vice-prez-radhakrishnan-to-lead-centenary-celebrations-of-andhra-university-tomorrow-671250.html New Delhi April 26 IANS VicePresident VP CP Radhakrishnan will address students faculty and alumni at the centenary celebrations of Andhra University in Visakhapatnam on Monday the first day of his twoday visit to Andhra Pradesh an official said on SundaynbspApart from the VicePresident cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and other dignitaries are expected to attend the celebrations on MondaynbspEarlier addressing the 35th convocation ceremony of the University of Rajasthan in Jaipur on Saturday VicePresident Radhakrishnan urged youth to become job creators and nationbuildersHe said the university continues to shape generations of thinkers leaders and changemakers committed to knowledge integrity and servicenbspCongratulating the graduating students he noted that a convocation marks both an end and a beginning urging them to use education as a tool for societal progressnbspHe emphasised that the true value of education lies in its application for innovation ethical conduct and the betterment of societynbspAndhra University ViceChancellor VC GP Raja Sekhar called upon alumni members to share your memories achievements and goodwill messages that will form part of the Centenary SouvenirHe asked them to send short video clips of nearly 60 seconds duration or halfpage writeups capturing their cherished memories of and association with Andhra University to be featured as part of the centenary documentationnbspVC Sekhar said the centenary year will culminate in a Grand Finale the grandest celebration in the universitys hundredyear historynbspThis will bring together alumni faculty distinguished guests students and wellwishers from across India and abroad for a historic occasion that marks the close of one century and the beginning of the next he noted in a statementAs part of the centenary year the university instituted Vaarotsavam the Centenary Celebrations Week which is being held from April 18 at the Andhra University campusnbspThe Vaarotsavam is a standing open invitation to every alumnus of every batch every department and every era to return to the campus reconnect with friends and mentors relive cherished memories and participate in the vibrant life of the University No formal registration is necessary to feel welcome Andhra University is and will always be your home the Vice Chancellor said in an invitation to the alumninbspThe universitys centenary events began on March 26 with the International Students Cultural Festival at the Andhra University Convention CentreIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/vice-prez-radhakrishnan-to-lead-centenary-celebrations-of-andhra-university-tomorrow-671250.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 17:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/de-addiction-possible-with-awareness-law-enforcement-sameer-wankhede-671176.html Mumbai April 26 Indian Railway Service officer Sameer Wankhede who attended a Hindu conference in Mumbai told the news agency IANS that the programme is very commendableâ He said that his primary focus has always been on initiatives aimed at deaddiction and that when society unites on such critical issues collective efforts combined with effective law enforcement can bring about meaningful changeâSameer Wankhede stated that he has also made an appeal to the Hindu communityâHe said that he has requested all those present including attendees and religious leaders to educate the public through religious scriptures as the principles of deaddiction are enshrined in both Buddhism and HinduismâHe added that he has come to stand in support of the Hindu community and that if people come together they can put a stop to this menaceâHe said that if 100 per cent implementation of the law and public awareness go hand in hand they can successfully fight against drug abuseâHe further remarked that the Hindu community constitutes a vast segment of the nationâs population and that if awareness regarding the fight against drugs takes root within this community drug peddlers will be unable to thrive within societyâHe noted that he has encountered such cases even during his tenure at the Narcotics Control BureauâHe added that those who supply narcotics to children must face severe punishmentIt is pertinent to mention that the Bombay High Court recently heard a petition seeking to quash cancel a First Information Report filed against Narcotics Control Bureau officer Sameer WankhedeâThis case stems from allegations that Wankhede demanded a bribe from superstar Shah Rukh KhanâDuring the hearing Sameer Wankhede categorically denied all these allegationsâHe asserted that he had not demanded a bribe from Shah Rukh Khan or anyone else in connection with the Cordelia cruise drug caseâIt was in this very case that Shah Rukh Khans son Aryan Khan was arrestedâSenior Counsel Abad Ponda represented Wankhede in courtâHe presented brief arguments before a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Chandrashekhar and Justice Suman ShyamâPonda informed the court that his client neither demanded money from anyone nor accepted any sum as alleged in the Central Bureau of Investigations First Information ReportâHe stated that no concrete evidence has been presented thus far in this case which has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Actâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/de-addiction-possible-with-awareness-law-enforcement-sameer-wankhede-671176.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-local-body-elections-to-be-held-today-across-393-civic-bodies-671179.html New Delhi April 26 Voting for Gujaratâs extensive local body elections is set to take place on Sunday covering 393 selfgovernment institutions across the state The elections include 15 municipal corporations 84 municipalities 34 district panchayats and 260 taluka panchayats making it a major democratic exercisePolling is scheduled to begin at 700 AM and will conclude at 600 PM If necessary repolling will be conducted the following day The counting of votes will take place on April 28These elections are particularly significant as they are being viewed as a key barometer of public sentiment ahead of the Gujarat Assembly elections scheduled for the end of next year as well as the general elections expected within the next two years More than 418 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes with turnout expected to be high across nearly 50000 polling stationsA total of 9992 local representatives are being elected After withdrawals more than 20000 candidates remain in the fray while several candidates have already been elected unopposedThe contest is multicornered with the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP Congress Aam Aadmi Party AAP and independent candidates competing across the state The BJP currently holds control over the municipal corporations of Ahmedabad Surat Vadodara and Rajkot all of which are politically significant and expected to influence the broader electoral landscapeThis election cycle is also notable as it is being conducted under revised reservation norms for Other Backward Classes OBCs providing 27 percent reservation The changes required extensive delimitation and ward restructuring in several districts Along with existing reservations for Scheduled Castes Scheduled Tribes and women these reforms are expected to reshape local governance bodies across Gujarat IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-local-body-elections-to-be-held-today-across-393-civic-bodies-671179.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/this-is-opportunism-ts-singh-deo-on-7-aap-mps-joining-bjp-671199.html New Delhi April 26 Senior Congress leader TS Singh Deo on Sunday strongly criticised Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha and six other MPs who left the Aam Aadmi Party AAP and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP calling it a case of political opportunism and a decline in political values Speaking to IANS he said âThis is opportunism The focus has become how to remain in power and how to gain benefits from it and examples of this are emerging one after another The political character of the country has declined rapidly and deeply which is unfortunate Otherwise people come and go and the public observes themThey earlier used to call the Bharatiya Janata Party a group of goons this is on record and openly spoke against them on policy matters Now they are saying that the Aam Aadmi Party has deviated from its principles which is why they have joined another partyâ he addedEarlier Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput also reacted to the developments saying âBoth Arvind Kejriwalâs Aam Aadmi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party are claimed to be offshoots of the RSS Both are said to be part of the same larger system It does not make much difference whether someone moves from one side to the other Our allegation is that Arvind Kejriwal has shifted people according to his convenience so that there is no problem in securing a twothirds majority on the impeachment motion being brought against Gyanesh KumarâEarlier on Friday Raghav Chadha effectively announced a major political shift stating that he along with rebel MPs had submitted documents showing the support of seven lawmakers for their move to the Rajya Sabha Chairman He said the AAPâs Rajya Sabha legislature party was splitting with the group of seven MPs joining the ruling BJPHe made the announcement during a press conference alongside fellow lawmakers Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal He later posted on X âToday exercising the provisions of the Constitution of India more than twothirds of the AAP MPs in the Rajya Sabha have merged with the BJP Seven MPs have signed the document which was submitted to the Honâble Chairman of the Rajya SabhaâChadha also personally submitted the signed documents to the Rajya Sabha Chairman The MPs involved in the move include Swati Maliwal Harbhajan Singh Sandeep Pathak Ashok Mittal Rajinder Gupta and Vikram Sahni With the reported split AAPâs strength in the Rajya Sabha is likely to reduce significantly from 10 members to just three IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/this-is-opportunism-ts-singh-deo-on-7-aap-mps-joining-bjp-671199.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 10:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ed-raids-houses-of-two-kolkata-businessmen-in-sona-pappu-syndicate-case-671205.html Kolkata April 26 The Enforcement Directorate ED on Sunday was conducting searches at three places including the houses of two businessmen in Anandapur and Alipore areas in Kolkata According to ED officials this search was linked to its investigation into a criminallinked syndicate of Sona Pappu alias Biswajit PoddarThe ED has already arrested Joy Kamdar a businessman close to Sona Pappu Kamdar is currently in the EDs custody It is reported that these businessmen whose premises are being searched were traced after questioning Joy KamdarSeveral ED teams accompanied by central forces left the CGO complex in Salt Lake in the morningA search is underway at a businessmans house in a wellknown area in Anandapur A team has also gone to Alipore Sources said that the ED teams are investigating whether the businessmen have any connection with Joys investmentsThe raid was conducted to investigate a money laundering case against Sona Pappu who is booked in multiple cases including attempted murder and extortion said an ED officialMore details are awaitedSona Pappu allegedly runs syndicates in the South Kolkata areas of Kasba and Ballygunge and has several FIRs against him over various allegations He is also a prime accused in the Golpark clashes that took place in February He is at present absconding but from time to time he comes online on social media to target the central investigation agency for harassing his family membersIt is alleged that Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas was also involved in financial transactions with Joy ED conducted a search at Biswas house earlier this monthThe ED raids come amid the ongoing Assembly elections in the state The first phase of voting has been completed in 152 Assembly constituencies and the second phase of voting will be held in the remaining 142 constituencies on April 29The political parties have been campaigning vigorously Prime Minister Narendra Modi is coming to the state again on Sunday He will hold a roadshow in North KolkataThe ruling party Trinamool Congress has questioned the central agencys excessive activity in the runup to the elections The party has alleged that the ruling BJP at the Centre is using agencies for political gain IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ed-raids-houses-of-two-kolkata-businessmen-in-sona-pappu-syndicate-case-671205.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 11:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/centre-sanctions-over-rs-947-crore-for-relief-rehabilitation-of-manipur-violence-victims-671226.html Imphal April 26 The Union Ministry of Home Affairs MHA has approved Rs 42436 crore for the operation of relief camps set up by the Manipur government to provide shelter to people affected by the ethnic violence in the state officials said According to the state Home Department the MHA has also sanctioned Rs 523 crore for the rehabilitation of violenceaffected Internally Displaced Persons IDPs These details were shared in response to an RTI query filed by senior Manipur Congress leader Hareshwar GoshwamiThe Home Department reported that 58881 people have been displaced from their homes in villages due to the ethnic violence in the state from May 3 2023 until March 30 2026As per the RTI reply 174 relief camps were operational as of March 10 2026 Additionally 3000 prefabricated houses have been constructed by the Manipur Police Housing Corporation Ltd to provide temporary accommodation for displaced personsRegarding casualties the department stated that 217 deaths have been recorded in connection with the violence based on ex gratia payments made to the next of kin NoKThe violence has also caused widespread destruction of private and government properties with 7894 permanent houses completely destroyed and 2646 houses partially damaged since May 3 2023The ethnic violence erupted between the Meitei and KukiZo communities on May 3 2023 following a âTribal Solidarity Marchâ organised in the hill districts The march was held to protest the Meitei communityâs demand for Scheduled Tribe statusMeiteis constitute about 53 per cent of Manipurâs population and primarily reside in the Imphal Valley which comprises five to six districts Tribal communities including Nagas and Kukis make up around 40 per cent of the population and largely inhabit the stateâs eleven hill districtsIn response to the crisis the state government had initially set up more than 300 relief camps across the Imphal Valley and hill regions providing shelter to nearly 60000 displaced men women and childrenWith the gradual improvement in the situation many individuals have since returned to their homes and villagesMeanwhile Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has stated that expediting the rehabilitation and resettlement of IDPs remains a top priority for the governmentHe noted that the Centre has extended substantial support for constructing permanent housing compensating losses of personal belongings and movable assets and assisting in the repair of partially damaged homesFurthermore an allocation of Rs 734 crore has been made in the 202627 Budget to accelerate the rehabilitation and resettlement efforts for those affected by the violence IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/centre-sanctions-over-rs-947-crore-for-relief-rehabilitation-of-manipur-violence-victims-671226.html Sun, 26 Apr 2026 15:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/speaker-khaders-letter-seeking-withdrawal-of-dargah-riot-cases-sparks-controversy-in-karnataka-671103.html Bengaluru April 25 A fresh controversy has erupted in Karnataka after Assembly Speaker UT Khader wrote to Home Minister G Parameshwara seeking a review and possible withdrawal of cases against alleged âinnocent Muslim youthâ in connection with the 2022 Ladle Mashak Dargah violence case The letter has also reignited the Ladle Mashak Dargah dispute in Aland town of Kalaburagi district which had triggered widespread unrest in 2022 Khader in his letter has urged the government to review the case and drop charges against those he claims were falsely implicatedThe Speakerâs move has drawn strong opposition from Hindu organisations including Shiv Sena which have condemned the request and warned the government against withdrawing the cases They have stated that the incident involved serious violence and that any attempt to drop charges would lead to largescale protestsHindu groups have also alleged that the move could send a wrong message and undermine justice for those affected in the incident They have demanded that the government ensure a fair investigation and proceed strictly according to the lawThe case pertains to an incident at the Ladle Mashak Dargah where the Sri Raghav Chaitanya Shivalinga is located Tensions had escalated after allegations that the Shivalinga was desecrated by miscreants In response members of Hindu organisations had visited the site to perform purification ritualsDuring the event largescale violence broke out with stonepelting reported against vehicles and individuals including a Union Minister district officials such as the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police and leaders of Hindu organisations Several people were injured in the incidentFollowing the violence Aland police registered cases against hundreds of persons including an alleged key accused identified as Ansari However Khader has now contended that several innocent Muslim youths were also named in the case and charges against them should be droppedThe development has once again brought the Ladle Mashak Dargah case into focus with the issue threatening to trigger renewed political and communal tensions in the stateIt can be noted that the Ladle Mashak Dargah in Aland Kalaburagi district is a 14thcentury Sufi shrine dedicated to Hazrat Sheikh Alauddin Ansari popularly known as Ladle Mashaikh Historically significant for promoting communal harmony the shrine has traditionally hosted both Sufi Urs celebrations and Hindu rituals dedicated to the Raghava Chaitanya Shivling which is located inside the complex The shrine was mentioned by the 15thcentury Russian traveler Afanasy Nikitin as a major trading hub and pilgrimage site Urs where horses and various goods were traded referring to it as the best fair in IndiaFor centuries it has been a centre of blended culture where both Muslims and Hindus offered prayers IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/speaker-khaders-letter-seeking-withdrawal-of-dargah-riot-cases-sparks-controversy-in-karnataka-671103.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 12:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/vp-radhakrishnan-arrives-in-jaipur-to-attend-rajasthan-university-convocation-671104.html New Delhi April 25 IANS VicePresident CP Radhakrishnan arrived in Jaipur on Saturday to attend key programmes including the 35th Convocation of the University of Rajasthan and the 23rd Cancer Survivors Day event marking a visit focussed on education healthcare and public welfare engagementsnbspnbspHis visit underscores continued highlevel participation in academic and social initiatives aimed at promoting serviceoriented developmentAccording to an official post shared by the VicePresidents social media handle VicePresident Shri CP Radhakrishnan was warmly welcomed at Jaipur International Airport upon his arrival by the Governor of Rajasthan Shri Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde the Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan Dr Prem Chand Bairwa and other dignitaries The VicePresident will attend the 35th Convocation of the University of Rajasthan and the 23rd Cancer Survivors Day of Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital and Research Centre todayThe VicePresident will also participate in the 23rd Cancer Survivors Day organised by Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital and Research Centre reflecting the emphasis on patient care awareness and support systems for survivorsThe event is expected to highlight advancements in cancer treatment and the importance of communitydriven healthcare initiativesEarlier VP Radhakrishnan chaired the sixth convocation ceremony of AIIMS Rishikesh in Uttarakhand on Thursday where he addressed graduating medical students and said that convocation marks not just the end of academic training but the beginning of a greater responsibility towards society and the nation He urged young doctors to serve with dedication compassion and a strong sense of purposeHe emphasised that healthcare is a public trust and a crucial pillar of nationbuilding encouraging graduates to focus on preventive care rural outreach research and innovation He also highlighted the spiritual and cultural importance of Rishikesh as a global centre of healing and reflection which adds deeper significance to such academic milestonesReferring to Indias response during the COVID19 pandemic the VicePresident praised the countrys resilience under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi He noted the success of the nationwide vaccination drive that reached more than 140 crore citizens and highlighted Indias global contribution through Vaccine Maitri under which vaccines were supplied to over 100 countries reinforcing Indias role in global health cooperationIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/vp-radhakrishnan-arrives-in-jaipur-to-attend-rajasthan-university-convocation-671104.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 12:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pakistan-looks-to-replace-flagged-ogws-in-jampk-moves-to-reboot-student-outreach-plan-671113.html New Delhi April 25 In a bid to rebuild and revive its terror network in Jammu and Kashmir Pakistan has been trying to set up a group of completely new overground workers OGWs The OGW network crucial for terror operations in the Valley has largely fallen following an intense crackdown by the Indian security agenciesAn official said that the new OGW network is being set up because most of them part of the old or existing guard have police records against themThe ones with police records are easy to track and this information has been used several times by the Jammu and Kashmir Police to nab these OGWs the official addedWhile attempts are being made to send in foreign fighters to Jammu and Kashmir Pakistan realises that they cannot operate without a strong OGW networkThis is the network that facilitates the movement of terrorists their shelter food and logisticsThe presence of a strong OGW network is key to a successful terrorist strike by terrorists Hence Pakistan is shunning many within the existing guard and looking for newer ones the official saidSome of the men who are on the target list include shopkeepers tour guides and unemployed youthAnother official said that Pakistan would not entirely dismantle its OGW networkIt would have a couple of them from the old guard to be part of the network These persons have experience and would be needed to train the newer lot the official addedThe ISI is also attempting to get the youth of Jammu and Kashmir onboard It is attempting to restart its earlier programme through which the ISI would sponsor the education of the youthThe education would be imparted in top universities and colleges abroad They would pick countries such as the US UK and Australia for the education of the youth Like in the past they would avoid taking the students to Pakistan and imparting education This would become too obvious and Pakistan would want to avoid thatOnce abroad the Pakistani agents would get in touch with these students and radicalise them The ISI will push money for the education of the youth discreetly so that the funding trail is not traced Once their education and radicalisation programme is completed they would return to Jammu and Kashmir where they would be expected to further the ISIs narrative and rope in more youth an official saidThese developments make it clear that Pakistan is desperate to reset its Kashmir plansA lot has changed in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 The Indian government has been getting the youth into the mainstream and telling them to shun supporting terror and move away from the separatist mindsetPakistan on the other hand is facing heat from its terror groups and hardliners regarding the Kashmir issueThe establishment is being questioned about the lack of action in Jammu and Kashmir and why things have quietened downA majority of Pakistans policy is shaped around Kashmir and in the context of local politics raking up this issue is important for the ISI and ArmyOff late the infiltrations have been hard owing to heavy security Hence Pakistan is trying to take baby steps and trying to reshape the narrativeFor this it has decided to start from the ground level by rebuilding its OGW networkAt the same time it wants to recapture the minds of the youth in Kashmir This explains why it wants to restart its education funding programme This program in reality is not an educational programme but one that is aimed at radicalisation an official added IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pakistan-looks-to-replace-flagged-ogws-in-jampk-moves-to-reboot-student-outreach-plan-671113.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 13:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bjp-alleges-historic-betrayal-of-scs-over-karnataka-govts-internal-reservation-move-671119.html Bengaluru April 25 Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party BJP President and MLA BY Vijayendra on Saturday criticised the Congressled state governments decision on internal reservation for Scheduled Castes alleging that it amounts to a historic betrayal of the community In a statement released Vijayendra said the Congress government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had backstabbed Scheduled Castes by delaying the implementation of reservation distribution as per Supreme Court directions for nearly twoandahalf yearsHe said the state government has now categorised Scheduled Castes into A B and C groups through a Cabinet decisionHe added that the previous BJP government under Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommais leadership had increased reservation for Scheduled Castes from 15 to 17 per centHowever the State BJP President alleged that the present Congress government has reduced allocations within categoriesAccording to Vijayendra the quota for Category A has been reduced from 6 to 525 per cent while Category B has been cut from 55 per cent to 525 per cent resulting in injustice to multiple communities in the stateHe also alleged that the earlier allocation of 45 per cent for Banjara Bhovi Koracha and Korama communities along with a separate one per cent reservation for nomadic groups has been scrappedHe said these groups have now been merged into a single Category C and instead of a justified 55 per cent share they have been given only 45 per cent which he termed as another act of injusticeThe State BJP President also claimed that despite there being no stay order from the court the state government itself filed an affidavit agreeing to reduce the overall Scheduled Caste reservation from 17 to 15 per cent which led to the reductionCriticising the state governments handling of employment Vijayendra said lakhs of government posts remain vacant and have not been filledHe accused the Congress government of wasting nearly twoandahalf years in the name of internal reservation and now with only about two years left in its tenure announcing recruitment as a means to mislead the public including the Scheduled CastesHe also warned that senior Congress leaders including party President Mallikarjun Kharge Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar would have to pay a political price in the future for the alleged injustice done to Scheduled Castes in KarnatakaVijayendra said that if the Congress is truly committed to Scheduled Castes even now the state government should undertake an appropriate legal battle to retain the 17 per cent reservation implemented under the previous BJP governmentOtherwise the State BJP President cautioned the Congress may face a significant political decline in South IndiaIn a move aimed at ensuring justice to all communities within the Scheduled Castes the Karnataka Cabinet on Friday took a historic decision unanimously approving internal reservation in the ratio of 52552545 for left right and other communitiesSiddaramaiah announced that for communities categorised as left 525 per cent for Right 525 per cent and for other communities 45 per cent reservationAs announced in the Budget the state government will fill 56432 posts this year Notifications will be issued shortly and recruitment will be expedited Until the court gives a final judgment the 50 per cent reservation cap will be followed though the state government remains committed to implementing 56 per cent reservation in the future the Chief Minister said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bjp-alleges-historic-betrayal-of-scs-over-karnataka-govts-internal-reservation-move-671119.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/v-p-radhakrishnan-urges-students-to-become-job-creators-nation-builders-671125.html Jaipur April 25 The VicePresident of India CP Radhakrishnan on Saturday urged youth to become job creators and nationbuilders while addressing the 35th convocation ceremony of the University of Rajasthan in Jaipur Gracing the programme as the chief guest the VicePresident described Rajasthan as a land of rich heritage bravery and cultural depth noting that Jaipur stands as a symbol of both tradition and progress He said the university continues to shape generations of thinkers leaders and changemakers committed to knowledge integrity and serviceCongratulating graduating students he said a convocation marks both an end and a beginning urging them to use education as a tool for societal progress He emphasised that the true value of education lies in its application for innovation ethical conduct and the betterment of societyReferring to the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat he encouraged students to become innovators and employment generatorsHe also appreciated the efforts of the Rajasthan government under Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma in promoting opportunities for the youthHighlighting womenâs empowerment the VicePresident expressed pride in the achievements of women graduates noting that a majority of gold medal winners in recent years have been women He stressed that a truly developed nation cannot exist without equal opportunity dignity and leadership roles for women and expressed hope that the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam would enhance womenâs representation in legislative bodiesAddressing the challenges of a rapidly changing world he urged students to think critically act ethically and embrace lifelong learningâExcellence without empathy and achievement without humility are incompleteâ he said calling on graduates to remain resilient and grounded in valuesHe also advised students to contribute meaningfully to society respect diversity avoid drugs and use social media constructivelyAmong those present on the occasion were Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa Rajya Sabha MP Radha Mohan Das Agrawal and ViceChancellor of the university Alpana Kateja IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/v-p-radhakrishnan-urges-students-to-become-job-creators-nation-builders-671125.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/once-a-judge-always-a-judge-says-cji-surya-kant-in-jaipur-671126.html Jaipur April 25 Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant on Saturday emphasised the continued importance of retired judges in strengthening the judiciary likening them to Rajasthans traditional bawris stepwells that serve as vital reservoirs during times of drought Addressing a oneday seminar titled The Bench Beyond Retirement in Jaipur the CJI said former judges act as a dependable resource during institutional stress much like stepwells that sustain communities in arid regionsDrawing from his roots in Churu he noted how people rely on bawris where rainwater accumulates over time and is used during droughtsOur former judges are like those bawris the CJI said noting that their wisdom and experience are often sought in courts Lok Adalats mediation and arbitration during crisisA judge never truly retires Once a judge always a judge he remarked underscoring that their experience cannot be replicated through committees or training programmesWe organise a farewell garland them speak warmly of their service and then quietly assume that the system will move on just fine without them Their chambers are vacated files are handed over and we move ahead But this assumption in my view is not just incorrect it is a wasteful tradition Because a judge never truly retires Once a judge always a judge The experience a judge carries cannot be replicated by any committee nor compressed into any training programmeThey do not carry merely the knowledge of law they carry the knowledge of people They have seen the struggles of a rural farmer whose life savings are at stake the anxieties of a firstgeneration entrepreneur the silent battles of families and individuals at their most vulnerable moments CJI Surya Kant said highlighting that retired judges bring not just legal expertise but also deep understanding of human issues having witnessed a wide range of societal challenges from rural distress to entrepreneurial struggles and personal disputesHe stressed that the trust earned by judges over decades is a national resource and warned that leaving it underutilised amounts to a public lossSuggesting a more structured role for former judges the CJI outlined four key areas where they could contribute significantly as mediators and arbitrators legal educators prelitigation counsellors and institution builders mentoring the next generation of legal professionalsLet me suggest four key roles where former judges can transform our justice system First as mediators and arbitrators where their stature and impartiality can resolve disputes efficiently Second as legal educators reaching schools colleges and even gram panchayats explaining rights in simple language to those who may not even know they possess them Third as prelitigation counsellors helping resolve conflicts before they turn into long exhausting legal battles And fourth as institution builders mentoring young mediators training legal aid lawyers and preserving institutional memory for future generationsWhile noting progress through initiatives like Lok Adalats and emerging arbitration centres the CJI called for a formal framework to engage retired judges with dignity and accountability instead of adhoc arrangementsReferring to poet Dushyant Kumar CJI Surya Kant underlined the enduring faith of common citizens in the judiciary and stressed the responsibility of strengthening that trustWoh aadmi nahin mukammal bayan hai Mathe pe uske chot ka gehra nishaan hai Fatehaal hai par jhole mein ek Samvidhaan haiQuoting lines about resilience in the face of adversity the CJI said that a robust system built on experience and wisdom can withstand even the toughest challengesLet us not allow our bawris to dry up in neglect he added urging preservation and meaningful engagement of retired judges to ensure accessible and enduring justiceHe concluded his address by saying Jisko toofanon se uljhne ki aadat ho Aisi kashti ko samandar bhi dua deta hai IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/once-a-judge-always-a-judge-says-cji-surya-kant-in-jaipur-671126.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-to-challenge-gauhati-hc-order-denying-relief-to-pawan-khera-in-supreme-court-671127.html New Delhi April 25 The Congress said on Saturday that it will challenge the Gauhati High Court order rejecting anticipatory bail to party leader Pawan Khera before the Supreme Court Congress General Secretary Communications Jairam Ramesh said that the party stands solidly in solidarity with Khera and expressed confidence that relief would be granted and justice would prevail over the politics of threat intimidation and harassmentThe entire Indian National Congress stands solidly in solidarity with Pawan Khera the Chairman of its Media and Publicity Department The verdict of the Guwahati High Court is in the process of being challenged in the Supreme Court We are confident that justice will prevail over the politics of threat intimidation and harassment Ramesh said in a post on social media platform XThe reaction comes a day after the Gauhati High Court rejected Kheras plea for anticipatory bail in connection with an FIR lodged in Assam over his alleged remarks against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarmas wife Riniki Bhuyan SharmaA singlejudge bench of Justice Parthivjyoti Saikia held that Khera does not deserve to be given the privilege of anticipatory bail and said the case could not be treated as one of defamation simpliciterThe case cannot be termed as a case of defamation simpliciter There are materials for a prima facie case under Section 339 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS 2023 Justice Saikia said while rejecting Kheras anticipatory bail pleaThe case stems from statements made by Khera during a press conference in Guwahati earlier this month where he alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sharma held multiple foreign passports and had financial dealings abroadFollowing the remarks Riniki Bhuyan Sharma filed an FIR denying the allegations and asserting that she is solely an Indian citizenAppearing for Khera senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the statements were part of political rhetoric made in the context of electoral discourse and at best could amount to defamationHe also alleged political vendetta and apprehended harassment in the event of arrestHowever opposing the plea Assam Advocate General Devajit Lon Saikia said that the allegations were based on documents later found to be false attracting serious offences beyond mere defamation under the Bharatiya Nyaya SanhitaIn its order the Guwahati High Court underlined the need for custodial interrogation to ascertain the source and authenticity of the documents relied upon by KheraThis Court is of the opinion that custodial interrogation is necessary to find out who are the associates of Mr Khera who had collected those documents for him and how and from where they had collected those documents the High Court order saidRejecting the argument of political motivation Gauhati High Court said that the accusations appeared to stem from a motive of furthering the ends of justice and found no material to suggest that the proceedings were intended to injure and humiliate the petitionerEarlier the Supreme Court had refused to grant Khera protection from arrest and declined to extend his transit anticipatory bail directing him to approach the competent court in Assam IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-to-challenge-gauhati-hc-order-denying-relief-to-pawan-khera-in-supreme-court-671127.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 15:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bihar-cm-samrat-choudhary-meets-nitish-kumar-post-trust-vote-in-patna-671135.html Patna April 25 IANS After securing the vote of confidence in the Bihar Assembly Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary reached 1 Anee Marg his official residence on Saturday to pay a courtesy visit to former Chief Minister Nitish KumarUnion Minister and JDU Lok Sabha MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh was also present during the meeting which lasted for about 20 minutesWhile the exact details of the discussion have not been disclosed it is widely speculated that the talks revolved around the muchanticipated Cabinet expansion in BiharChief Minister Samrat Choudhary had proved his majority in the Bihar Assembly on FridayDuring the debate preceding the floor test Samrat Choudhary praised Nitish Kumar saying that the veteran JDU leader could neither be removed from his seat of power nor from their heartsHe credited Nitish Kumar with establishing good governance in the state and expressed confidence that Bihar would continue progressing under his guidanceHighlighting the former Chief Ministers contributions Samrat Choudhary said that over the past two decades Nitish Kumar has given Bihar a new identity by bringing farmers labourers and the underprivileged into the mainstreamHe also mentioned initiatives such as increased government employment opportunities the implementation of liquor ban and steps toward womens empowermentChief Minister Choudhary also clarified that the Bharatiya Janata Party has entrusted him with key responsibilities adding that positions of power are not personal property but a matter of public trustIt is worth noting that even after the formation of the new government the Cabinet in Bihar is yet to be expandedAt present all departments are being handled by the Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad YadavAs a result political circles are closely watching for the Cabinet expansion which is expected in the coming daysEarlier on Saturday former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had also met Deputy Chief Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav to deliberate on various issuesIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bihar-cm-samrat-choudhary-meets-nitish-kumar-post-trust-vote-in-patna-671135.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 16:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/felt-disappointed-disgusted-raghav-chadha-on-aap-exit-says-party-fell-into-corrupt-hands--671142.html New Delhi April 25 IANS Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha said on Saturday that he and six other Members of Parliament chose to leave the Aam Aadmi Party AAP as the party had fallen into corrupt and compromised hands leaving them disappointed disenchanted and disgustedChadha triggered a major political development on Friday by announcing his resignation from AAP along with six other Rajya Sabha MPs Swati Maliwal Harbhajan Singh Sandeep Pathak Ashok Mittal Rajinder Gupta and Vikram Sahni all of whom are set to join the Bharatiya Janata Party BJPHe said that this group representing a twothirds faction of AAPs Rajya Sabha MPs will formally merge with the BJP in the coming daysSpeaking to the reporters Chadha said Every true patriot every individual who nurtured the Aam Aadmi Party with their very blood and sweat and who had joined the party with immense hope has either already left the AAP or is in the process of leaving it This is because every honest and hardworking person now feels that there is nothing left in this party The AAP is now going down the wrong path where no one wishes to maintain any association with it Hence one by one numerous leaders have left the Aam Aadmi PartyHe also added that the Constitution empowers elected MPs to take such decisions if they believe their party has deviated from its principlesIf they elected MPs feel that their party has fallen into corrupt and compromised hands or that the party is heading down the wrong path then they have the right to leave their party provided a sufficient number of MPs wish to do so To facilitate this a threshold requiring the support of twothirds or more of the elected members was established he saidReferring to the scale of the exit of large number of lawmakers from AAP Chadha added It is not just 23 but seven MPs who are collectively leaving the Aam Aadmi PartyThey are doing so because they believe that the Aam Aadmi Party has indeed fallen into corrupt and compromised hands And to those who claim specifically the leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party that we left out of fear let us be clear we did not leave the Aam Aadmi Party out of fear we left because we felt disappointed disenchanted and disgusted he saidChadha also raised the longstanding Sheesh Mahal controversy calling it a decisive factor behind the partys defeat in the Delhi Assembly electionsAnd another significant issue is the Sheesh Mahal controversy currently unfolding in Delhi Indeed if there was one single overriding reason for the defeat in the Delhi elections the primary cause behind the Aam Aadmi Partys electoral loss it was precisely that Sheesh Mahal episode he saidThe development comes amid a sharp political attack by the BJP on Arvind Kejriwal following the exit of the seven MPs from AAPThe BJP described Kejriwal as the Rahman Dakait of Delhi and released fresh images of what it termed Sheesh Mahal 2Reacting to this Chadha said Yet even today less than a year after the conclusion of the Delhi elections the pictures of Sheesh Mahal 2 have emerged The Aam Aadmi Party should engage in deep introspection regarding all these issuesOne wonders how the dedicated party workers who remain with the Aam Aadmi Party will manage to answer the people when they are inevitably confronted with questions regarding the Sheesh Mahal controversy The Aam Aadmi Party should engage in selfreflection regarding this and give it careful consideration he addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/felt-disappointed-disgusted-raghav-chadha-on-aap-exit-says-party-fell-into-corrupt-hands--671142.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 17:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/andhra-mlc-arrested-for-threatening-witnesses-in-drivers-murder-case-671000.html Amaravati April 24 Anantha Babu a member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council belonging to YSR Congress Party was arrested on Friday in the case of the murder of Dalit youth and driver Veedhi Subrahmanyam The Member of Legislative Council MLC was arrested by police in Rajamahendravaram amid high drama when he came out of a court after hearing on a petition for cancellation of his bailPolice personnel were deployed in large numbers outside the court to arrest the MLC who was accompanied by his wife Lakshmi Durga also an accused in the murder casePolice are likely to shift the MLC to Kakinada where he is likely to be produced before a court later in the dayPolice were on the lookout for Anantha Babu who had reportedly gone into hiding after being accused of violating bail conditions and intimidating key witnesses in the case Police had formed five special teams comprising five Circle Inspectors and 10 SubInspectors to nab the MLC A fresh case was registered at the Sarpavaram Police Station in Kakinada on April 20 following complaints by four key witnesses in the murder caseThey alleged that Anantha Babu had offered them substantial sums of money to change their statements They also alleged that when they refused the bribe they were met with death threats Three of them claimed that they were forcibly detained in an apartment by the MLCâs followers and were pressured to retract their previous statements and provide false testimony during the trial The MLC was booked for witness tampering and criminal intimidation Special Public Prosecutor Muppalla Subbarao had also filed a petition in the Rajahmundry Special Court seeking the immediate cancellation of Anantha Babuâs bail The petition argued that by attempting to influence witnesses and using threats the accused had breached the conditions set forth by the Supreme Court when he was granted bailThe Special Court had adjourned the hearing to FridayAnantha Babu whose real name is Anantha Uday Bhaskar is accused of killing his former driver Subrahmanyam and later delivering the body to the victimâs houseSubrahmanyam 34 was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Kakinada on May 19 2022 The MLC of the thenruling YSR Congress Party had personally transported the body to the victimâs parentsâ residence around 2 am in his own car claiming it was a road accidentThe family however suspected foul play and refused to accept the body The murder had sparked protests by the victimâs relatives and Dalit organisationsThe MLC was subsequently arrested and the YSRCP suspended him from the partyWith the investigating officer unable to submit the charge sheet within 90 days Anantha Babu was released on default bail in December 2022After coming to power in June 2024 the TDPled coalition government decided to reinvestigate the case In July 2025 the SCST Special Court ordered a reinvestigation into the case IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/andhra-mlc-arrested-for-threatening-witnesses-in-drivers-murder-case-671000.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bangladesh-faces-deepening-debt-crisis-671019.html New Delhi April 24 In the five fiscal years from 2026 to 2030 Bangladesh will need to spend a staggering 26 billion to repay external debt which is expected to create a huge economic burden on the country according to an article in the local media The debt burden is considered âenormousâ as in the 54 years since independence Bangladesh has spent a total of 40 billion on external debt repayment In contrast in just the next five years it will have to spend nearly twothirds of that amount the Dhaka Tribune article saidAs of last June Bangladeshâs total external debt stood at 77 billion which is 19 per cent of national income and this ratio has been rising over timeCurrently Bangladeshâs debt servicing to government revenue ratio is 165 per cent Although this is slightly below the International Monetary Fundâs risk threshold of 18 per cent the overall picture is far from reassuring the article observedIt further stated that during the 10 fiscal years from 2026 to 2035 Bangladeshâs external debt repayments will total 51 billion double the amount of the next five years By 2030 annual repayments will peak at around 55 billionFrom 2021 to 2025 Bangladesh earned about 2 billion from remittances per month Thus the peak annual repayment could be covered by roughly three months of remittance income If current trends continue it will take Bangladesh 37 years until 2063 to fully free itself from the current debt burden the article pointed outRegarding the factors leading to the piling up of this massive debt the article states that some causes are global such as the Ukraine war the Covid19 pandemic and now the Middle East conflict The global turmoil has negatively affected exports foreign direct investment and remittance inflows of Bangladesh which has weakened the countryâs capacity to repay its debtDomestic factors include Bangladeshâs largescale infrastructure projects largely financed through foreign loans which have contributed heavily to the debt burden These include the 11 billion Ruppur Nuclear Power Project the Karnaphuli Tunnel the Padma Rail Link and the third terminal of the Shahjalal International AirportDelays in the implementation of these projects have increased project costs and consequently debt repayment obligations of BangladeshSecond Bangladesh has failed to adequately expand its tax base Tax revenue especially direct taxes has not reached desired levelsThirdly many bilateral and multilateral lenders have changed their interest structures shortened repayment periods and reduced grace periods Altogether these changes have intensified the pressure on Bangladeshâs debt servicing situation the article added IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bangladesh-faces-deepening-debt-crisis-671019.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/panchayati-raj-institutions-a-gift-of-rajiv-gandhi-congress-671022.html New Delhi April 24 The Congress party marked the National Panchayati Raj Day on Friday by recalling some landmark laws enacted by governments headed by Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh to boost grassroots democracy in villages Crediting Rajiv Gandhi for the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution on this day in 1993 Congress MP and Communications Incharge Jairam Ramesh said âThis truly transformational initiative was due wholly to the insistence and persistence of Rajiv GandhiââIt was he who ensured that onethird of the elected seats in Panchayati Raj institutions would be reserved for women including for women belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communitiesâ said the former Union MinisterâIt was entirely his contribution that today there are around 32 lakh elected representatives in Panchayati Raj institutions of whom about 15 lakh are women This amendment 64th had originally been introduced in mid1989 but after passage in the Lok Sabha it could not pass in the Rajya Sabha because of the opposition of the BJPâ said RameshHighlighting the role of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in promoting Panchayati Raj institutions Ramesh wrote on X âIt was the Dr Manmohan Singh government that had created the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in May 2004 and launched the historic MGNREGA in Feb 2006 that gave gram panchayats a pivotal role in planning and executionââRamesh said the 73rd Amendment brought by the Rajiv Gandhi government introduced the extraordinarily detailed Articles 243A to 243O in the Constitution to vastly empower panchayats and make them the foundations of our polityToday there are about 26 lakh gram panchayats over 6700 intermediate panchayats and 673 zilla parishadsâ he saidIn a veiled reference to the recent defeat of the amendment bill on womenâs quota Ramesh said âThe further revival of panchayats and nagarpalikas that form Articles 243P to 243ZG is far more urgent than simply increasing the strength of the Lok Sabhaââ IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/panchayati-raj-institutions-a-gift-of-rajiv-gandhi-congress-671022.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/v-p-radhakrishnan-to-attend-35th-convocation-of-rajasthan-university-tomorrow-671029.html Jaipur April 24 VicePresident CP Radhakrishnan will visit Jaipur on Saturday to attend the 35th Convocation of the University of Rajasthan and other events an official said on Friday Apart from attending the Convocation the VicePresident will also attend the 23rd Cancer Survivors Day organised by Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Jaipur said the official in a statementEarlier on Thursday VicePresident Radhakrishnan chaired the sixth convocation ceremony of AIIMS Rishikesh in Uttarakhand and reminded them that convocation marks not only the culmination of years of disciplined effort and sacrifice but also the beginning of a greater responsibility towards society and the nationHe urged the graduates to embrace their professional duties with dedication and a sense of purposeThe VicePresident emphasised that healthcare is a public trust and that medical professionals play a vital role in nationbuildingHe urged the young graduates to contribute through preventive care rural outreach research and innovation and to remain guided by the values of empathy integrity and serviceHighlighting the spiritual and cultural significance of Rishikesh as a global centre of reflection and healing and a gateway to the Himalayas VicePresident Radhakrishnan noted that such a setting adds deeper meaning to the solemnity of the convocation ceremonyReflecting on the challenges posed by the pandemic the VicePresident added that India demonstrated resilience innovation and commitment under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra ModiHe highlighted Indias largescale vaccination drive noting that more than 140 crore citizens received free vaccines ensuring equitable access to healthcare especially in underserved regionsHe emphasised that Indian scientists developed vaccines not for profit but for the welfare of humanityThe VicePresident also underlined Indias global responsibility through its Vaccine Maitri initiative under which vaccines were supplied to more than 100 countriesHe said this initiative reflected the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam The World is One Family and reinforced Indias role as a compassionate and responsible global partner IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/v-p-radhakrishnan-to-attend-35th-convocation-of-rajasthan-university-tomorrow-671029.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/excess-explosives-angle-looked-into-as-search-continues-in-thrissur-pooram-tragedy-671030.html Thrissur Kerala April 24 Amid mounting concern over the scale of the Mundathikode fireworks tragedy associated with the famed Thrissur Pooram Kerala Dewaswoms Minister V N Vasavan on Friday said an investigation would examine whether excessive quantities of explosive materials were stored at the site even as recovery operations continued to yield human remains from surrounding areas The minister said the government would initiate detailed discussions to prevent such disasters in the future including a shift in fireworks practicesHe stressed that displays should prioritise visual appeal over noise drawing parallels with international events such as the OlympicsIn this context he noted that this yearâs Thrissur Pooram fireworks have already been cancelledProviding an update on casualties Vasavan said 10 victims were initially identified with one more confirmed laterIn all 14 people lost their lives So far 29 sets of human remains have been recovered with DNA testing underwayFour individuals remain unaccounted for even as the condition of four injured persons continues to be criticalThose with minor injuries have been dischargedA total of 38 persons were present at the time of the incident though official records confirming the exact number were lost in the explosionMeanwhile search teams have recovered additional body parts from areas far beyond the immediate accident site underlining the intensity of the blastPortions of a head were found in a field about 400 metres away while parts of a hand were recovered nearly a kilometre from the siteAuthorities suspect that stray animals may have carried some of the remainsFurther fragments have been located in nearby paddy fields as search operations continue with the assistance of cadaver dogsPolice teams working in groups are also combing nearby residential areas with the help of local residentsOfficials said the results of DNA analysis are expected to begin arriving from Saturday which will be crucial in identifying victimsTo expedite the process a mobile DNA testing unit has been deployed at Thrissur Medical College where samples from all recovered remains including unidentified bodies have been sent for examinationAuthorities said the findings would be key to bringing clarity to the full extent of the tragedy IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/excess-explosives-angle-looked-into-as-search-continues-in-thrissur-pooram-tragedy-671030.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/cet-janeu-row-karnataka-minister-promises-probe-says-no-report-received-yet-671035.html Bengaluru April 24 Minister for Higher Education MC Sudhakar responding to the alleged janeu row stated that the incident has not come to the notice of the Karnataka Examination Authority KEA as yet He said that if any such incident had taken place a report would be sought and strict action would be initiated It may be noted that at a CET examination centre in Koramangala Bengaluru a student was allegedly forced to remove his sacred thread before being allowed to write the examSpeaking to the media in Bengaluru on Friday MC Sudhakar said âThe infrastructure of both government and private colleges is utilised while conducting the Common Entrance Test CET The services of staff from various institutions are also used on a large scale If any staff member of any institution has acted in an extreme or inappropriate manner action will be takenâHe added that no report regarding the incident has reached the authorities so far âWe do not have any information at present It is also unclear whether the issue was resolved at the centre level If we receive any information in this regard strict action will definitely be takenâ he saidâThere are 745 examination centres across the state Just as the traffic police continuously create awareness about wearing helmets to save lives yet violations still occur similar issues arise during examinations as well I do not know how to describe such behaviourâwhether it is due to a particular mindset done deliberately to create controversy or an attempt to bring disrepute We come across various possibilitiesâ he statedâSome incidents may even be staged We will not allow such practices If anything of this sort has happened we will take strict action within the legal frameworkâ Sudhakar addedIt can be noted that the janeu row has resurfaced in Karnataka following reports that a student appearing for the CET was allegedly denied entry into the examination hall unless he removed his âjaneuâThe âjaneuâ is a sacred thread worn by Hindu males especially Brahmins across the left shoulder and under the right arm symbolising initiation into education and spiritual life IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/cet-janeu-row-karnataka-minister-promises-probe-says-no-report-received-yet-671035.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/swati-maliwal-harbhajan-singh-ashok-mittal-among-aap-rs-mps-switching-sides-to-bjp-claims-raghav-671039.html New Delhi April 24 IANS Raghav Chadha the senior Aam Aadmi Party AAP Rajya Sabha MP dropped a political bombshell on Friday by announcing his exit from the party along with six other party lawmakers all headed to the Bhartiya Janata Party BJPnbspHe said that the twothirds faction of the AAP Rajya Sabha MPs comprising a breakaway faction will merge with the BJP in the coming daysnbspChadha made the announcement in a press conference accompanied by another party Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep PathakAccording to multiple reports citing Chadha those others who have decided to join ranks and take the plunge are Swati Maliwal Harbhajan Singh Sandeep Pathak Ashok Mittal Rajinder Gupta and Vikram SahninbspThe development comes as a body blow for the fledgling party and its convenor as well as former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind KejriwalnbspRaghav one of the youngest parliamentarians also announced that along with him twothirds of AAP Rajya Sabha MPs have decided to switch their political loyalties a stance that will help them bypass the antidefection law and shield them from any action by the parent partyThe development comes days after Raghav Chadhas demotion in the House from the post of Deputy Leader of the party for allegedly not raising key issues against the governmentnbspInterestingly Ashok Mittal who replaced Chadha as the new party Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha has also joined him in the merger with the BJPnbsp nbspCurrently the AAP has 10 members in the Upper House with broad representation from Punjab the only state where it remains in powernbspOut of 10 MPs seven are from Punjab namely Raghav Chadha Rajinder Gupta Ashok Kumar Mittal Sandeep Kumar Pathak Vikramjit Singh Sahney Harbhajan Singh and Sant Balbir SinghnbspThe lawmakers from Delhi are Swati Maliwal Narain Dass Gupta and Sanjay Singh https://dailyworld.in/politics/swati-maliwal-harbhajan-singh-ashok-mittal-among-aap-rs-mps-switching-sides-to-bjp-claims-raghav-671039.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-surat-to-realise-metro-dream-soon-trial-run-on-key-corridor-makes-residents-rejoice-671040.html Ahmedabad April 24 After Ahmedabad the Diamond City of Surat in Gujarat is now ready for its tryst with Metro rail services A trial run for the Metro train recently commenced in Surat on an 85kilometrelong route connecting Dream City and Althan Tenament which will speed up connectivity and ease congestion between the two commercial centres The construction work on the Surat Metro network is going at a brisk pace and will be dedicated to the public soonAnand Singh Bisht Project Director of the Surat Metro Rail Project stated that Corridor I also known as the Diamond Corridor connects Dream City to Sarthana It spans a total length of 216 kilometres of which 15 kilometres is elevated and 65 kilometres is underground This corridor comprises 14 elevated and 6 underground stations Corridor II also referred to as the Textile Corridor connects Bhesan to Saroli It has a total length of 187 kilometres and is entirely elevated featuring 18 elevated stationsAn intensive examination of the Metro trains speed braking system and technical aspects is currently underway during a 500hour trial run between Dream City and Althan TenamentFurthermore construction work on seven Metro stations along this route is also in its final stages It is anticipated that following the safety inspections and testing procedures the Surat Metro train service will soon be dedicated to the publicThe commencement of Metro operations will provide direct connectivity to the Surat Diamond Bourse thereby giving a significant boost to the pace of the diamond industry This will facilitate fast and comfortable transportation for the 40000 to 45000 artisans and traders who commute daily from areas such as Varachha Katargam and SarthanaJayanti Savaliya Regional Chairman of the Gujarat Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council stated that the traffic problem would be alleviated to a great extent with the launch of the Metro to the Diamond Bourse 45000 people will be able to commute to and from the facility The Metro system designed to connect the entire city has been exceptionally wellplannedThe launch of the Metro service will not only provide the people of Surat relief from traffic congestion but will also offer them a superior alternative for fast safe and ecofriendly travelRaj Patel a resident of Surat remarked that the arrival of the Metro in the city will bring ease to the daily lives of those who rely on public transport from morning till evening enabling people to travel from one place to another on timeAs a resident of Surat I am delighted After years of waiting we are finally getting the Metro and the heart of every Surati is filled with joy he saidRoshan Chimna a local resident observed The construction work for this project in Surat has been completed remarkably fast What could be a greater source of pride than this IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-surat-to-realise-metro-dream-soon-trial-run-on-key-corridor-makes-residents-rejoice-671040.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-dy-cm-shivakumar-raises-concern-over-height-restrictions-near-defence-airports-in-bengaluru-671043.html New DelhiBengaluru April 24 Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar who is also Bengaluru Development Minister met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi and discussed the height restrictions being imposed around defence airports in Bengaluru Raising concerns about the impact of these restrictions on development in several parts of the city Shivakumar urged the Defence Minister to consider a balanced approach that ensures aviation safety while supporting Bengaluruâs growth the Deputy Chief Ministers office said in a statement Submitting a letter with the demand to Rajnath Singh during the meeting Shivakumar also brought to his attention the letters previously written by the Karnataka government to the Central government on the same issueIn his letter the Deputy Chief Minister cited the excessive restrictions imposed by the authorities of the defence airports in Bengaluru while granting NOC for construction within the 20km range of the airports as per the prevailing RulesBengaluru is one of the fastestgrowing cities in the world and HAL airport is located in the core area of Bengaluru where there is a huge demand for development and the additional restrictions being imposed are hampering the development in the areas around the airport Letters have been written in this regard to the Secretary Ministry of Civil Aviation the Secretary Department of Defence Production Ministry of Defence and the Defence Secretary Ministry of Defence copies attached I request you to kindly look into the issue and direct the concerned to take necessary action to resolve the same in the interest of both the flight safety and development demands of the city he saidPresently there are four airports functioning in Bengaluru including the IAFs Yelahanka airbase Authorities concerned need to seek NOC from these airport authorities as per the rules before granting permissions for construction The Greater Bengaluru Authority has brought to the notice of the state government the more stringent restrictions that are being imposed by the defence authorities while granting NOCs In order to sort out the issues and expedite the noobjection certificate clearance process meetings were conducted with the representatives of the airports in Bengaluru The authorities representing the defence airports informed that under rule 52 of the GSR 751E the authorised officer of the defence airports are allowed to impose additional restrictions and hence they are restricting the height based on their calculations IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-dy-cm-shivakumar-raises-concern-over-height-restrictions-near-defence-airports-in-bengaluru-671043.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-could-face-lanka-like-situation-guarantees-have-derailed-economy-kumaraswamy-671048.html Mysuru Karnataka April 24 Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy claimed that the guarantee schemes of the Congress have severely weakened the stateâs economy pushing Karnataka and other states towards financial distress He was speaking after participating in templerelated programmes Kumaraswamy said that while providing Rs 2000 to women may appear beneficial people must examine how the government is funding itReferring to Sri Lankaâs economic crisis Kumaraswamy alleged that mismanagement of the economy could push Karnataka towards a similar fateâThe government is borrowing heavily to fund these guarantees Already this government has accumulated a debt of Rs 726 lakh crore This has placed a burden of at least Rs 1 lakh on each of the stateâs 63 crore peopleâ he allegedHe added that he is ready to debate this claim on any platform and challenged the state government to come forward for a discussion if it has the courageâThe impact of these guarantee schemes has emptied the state treasury The government is struggling to pay salaries to its employees on time Similarly the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh which came to power on the promise of guarantees has financially weakened that state as wellThere are media reports that salaries of officials including the Chief Secretary have been cutâ he claimed expressing concern that Karnataka could face a similar situationQuestioning the effectiveness of cash assistance he said âCan a family be run with Rs 2000 given to womenWhile the government provides money under schemes like Gruha Laxmi rising prices and increased taxes are reducing household incomes At the same time the government is taking on excessive debt burdening future generationsâ he allegedDuring his visit Kumaraswamy participated in the inauguration of the Sri Melanakatte Ganapati Temple in Basavanapura Geradada and Kenchanahalli villages and the inauguration of the gopuram and consecration ceremonies at Sri Basaveshwara Swamy Temple in Hosahagrahara He also offered special prayers at the templesSpeaking at the Ganapati Temple inauguration he said it was his privilege to inaugurate the temple and that the programme attended along with former minister SR Mahesh was spiritually fulfilling He noted that the temple located amidst nature provides a sense of peace and devotionLater he visited the Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple in Saligrama where he offered prayers and spent some time in the presence of the deity along with local leaders IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-could-face-lanka-like-situation-guarantees-have-derailed-economy-kumaraswamy-671048.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/haryana-to-set-up-23-additional-air-quality-monitoring-stations-in-ncr-671056.html Chandigarh April 24 The Haryana government will set up 23 additional air quality monitoring stations in the National Capital Region NCR increasing the total to 52 by July The state will also soon introduce an aggregator policy to regulate transport services while legacy solid waste is targeted for complete elimination within 11 months This information came to light at a comprehensive review meeting on air quality management in the NCR chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi hereThe Chief Secretary directed all departments to strictly adhere to timelines stressing that sustained coordination across sectors is essential for longterm improvement in air qualityRastogi directed Commissioners of Municipal Corporations in the NCR areas as well as the Gurugram Faridabad and Sonipat Metropolitan Development Authorities to identify key roads at least five in each jurisdiction for development or redevelopment as model dustfree stretchesHe asked them to prepare comprehensive plans with clear timelines for all milestones from detailed project report DPR preparation to final completion for this year He emphasised that emissions from transport construction and demolition activities and industries must be tackled through precise planning and timebound action on the groundAdditional Chief Secretary Environment Sudhir Raj Pal stressed the need for checking vehicular pollution across the region He said enforcement of pollution norms must be strengthened and checking drives intensified particularly on heavily trafficked corridors to identify and penalise grossly polluting vehiclesPal also highlighted the need to adopt cuttingedge technology to monitor emissions from moving vehicles and issue challans accordinglyChief Secretary Rastogi directed the Transport Department to collate data from Pollution Under Control PUC centres including the number of cases where certificates were refused and instances where vehicles exceeded prescribed emission normsPrincipal Secretary Transport Raja Shekhar Vundru said the department would soon introduce an aggregator policy to regulate cab and ridesharing services in the stateThe policy aims to bring a large fleet of privately operated vehicles under a structured regulatory framework ensuring compliance with emission standards and contributing to the reduction of transportrelated pollutionHe said that in compliance with directions of the Commission for Air Quality Management diesel autorickshaws have nearly been phased out from major NCR districts as per timelines In the remaining NCR areas they will be phased out by December 31He also briefed the meeting on the Naya Safar Yojana under which nearly 19 lakh old trucks and 16000 buses will be phased out and replaced with cleaner BSVI CNG and electric vehicles through financial incentives IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/haryana-to-set-up-23-additional-air-quality-monitoring-stations-in-ncr-671056.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/normal-lpg-supply-over-1783-lakh-small-cylinders-sold-in-april--671057.html New Delhi April 24 The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said on Friday that more than 81000 small 5 kg LPG cylinders were sold across the country bringing the total to 1783 lakh during Aprilâ âSo far the supply of domestic LPG continues to be normal with no dryouts being reported at retail distributorshipsâ the ministry informedâThe 5 kg LPG cylinders are used by migrant workers in urban areas for cookingâBesides 527 lakh PNG connections have been gasified and infrastructure has been created for an additional 260 lakh connections taking the total to 787 lakh connectionsAbout 597 lakh customers have also been registered for new connections More than 42000 PNG consumers have also surrendered their LPG connections via the MYPNGDin website the statement saidâMeanwhile online domestic LPG cylinder bookings have increased to 98 per cent while authentication codebased deliveries to the registered mobile number of the consumer have increased to around 94 per cent to prevent diversion at the distributor levelâThe supply of cooking gas to domestic households has been prioritised even as overall LPG supply remains affected by the prevailing geopolitical situationâOver 8483 metric tonnes MT of commercial LPG equivalent to more than 446 lakh 19 kg LPG cylinders was sold on Wednesday taking the total sold this month to 140362 MT equivalent to more than 7387 lakh 19 kg LPG cylindersâMeanwhile enforcement actions continue across the country to curb hoarding and black marketing of LPG Cumulatively to date more than 15 lakh raids have been conducted and more than 66000 cylinders have been seized across the countryFurther more than 1100 First Information Reports have been registered and 255 persons have been arrestedâPublic sector oil companies have strengthened and continued surprise inspections imposed penalties on 298 LPG distributorships and suspended 70 LPG distributorships so farâThe Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas further stated that it is taking steps to ensure the uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and LPG across the country in the context of the closure of the Strait of HormuzâCitizens are advised to avoid panic purchase of petrol diesel and LPG and to beware of rumours relying on official sources for correct information LPG consumers are requested to use digital booking platforms and avoid visiting distributorsâAll refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories while sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel are being maintained Local LPG production from refineries has been increased to support domestic consumption the statement addedâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/normal-lpg-supply-over-1783-lakh-small-cylinders-sold-in-april--671057.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/jaipal-poonia-murder-case-9-including-ex-mlas-brother-convicted-2-acquitted-671063.html Jaipur April 24 In a major development in the highprofile Jaipal Poonia murder case a local court on Friday convicted nine of the eleven accused while acquitting two due to lack of evidence The verdict was delivered by the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Sundarlal Kharol amid tight security arrangements The court premises in Kuchaman City were heavily guarded resembling a police cantonment with a large deployment of personnel to maintain law and order during the proceedingsThe court found nine accused guilty based on the evidence presented by the prosecution Those convicted include Moti Singh Chaudhary Ranjit Firoz Khan Sandeep Tejpal Rajesh Krishna Kumar Haroon and RajeshAmong them Moti Singh Chaudhary is the elder brother of former MLA Mahendra Singh Chaudhary who had served as Deputy Chief Whip in the Congress governmentMeanwhile the court acquitted Kuldeep and Hanuman Saini granting them the benefit of the doubt due to insufficient evidence While delivering the verdict the court reserved its decision on sentencingThe quantum of punishment and the specific legal provisions under which the convicts will be sentenced are scheduled to be announced on SaturdayLegal experts and observers are closely watching the case as the sentencing phase is expected to take into account multiple factors including the gravity of the offence the role of each accused and the broader impact of the crime on public orderThe case has remained under sustained public and political scrutiny and the sentencing is likely to be seen as a decisive moment in determining the extent of accountability fixed on those found guiltyThe murder dates back to May 14 2022 when Jaipal Poonia a local leader associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party Kisan Morcha in Nawa tehsil was shot dead in broad daylight by assailants who arrived in an SUV The brazen nature of the attack carried out in a public setting had sent shockwaves across the region and raised serious concerns over law and order Eyewitness accounts at the time had indicated that the attackers executed the crime swiftly before fleeing leaving behind a trail of panic and confusion among local residentsThe attackers fled the scene immediately after carrying out the shooting and the incident triggered widespread outrage across Rajasthan drawing attention at both the state and national levels Political leaders community groups and civil society organisations had demanded swift and transparent action to bring those responsible to justice Fridayâs verdict is being seen as a significant milestone in the protracted legal process marking progress after nearly two years of investigation and trialHowever with the sentencing still pending attention now remains firmly fixed on the final outcome which will ultimately determine the full course of justice in this highprofile case IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/jaipal-poonia-murder-case-9-including-ex-mlas-brother-convicted-2-acquitted-671063.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/75-lakh-marginalised-students-given-over-rs-7-900-crore-educational-aid-virendra-kumar-671065.html New Delhi April 24 Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar said that as part of educational empowerment of marginalised students Rs 798147 crore were disbursed to more than 75 lakh SC beneficiaries in 202526 an official said The Ministry said in a statement that the expenditure under SC welfare schemes has shown a consistent positive growth with an upward trend with a 21 per cent increase under the Pre Matric Scholarship Scheme for SCs and OthersThere has been an 1123 per cent increase under the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for SCs an increase of 135 per cent under the Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students and a 16 per cent increase under the Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas SHRESHTA Scheme for SCs as compared to the financial year 2024â25 said the statementVirendra Kumar said that the government remains committed to ensuring inclusive development and social justice for all sections of society through targeted interventions and welfare initiativesHe said the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is focused on the implementation of various Acts and welfare schemes aimed at the upliftment of diverse sections of society including Scheduled Castes SCs Other Backward Classes OBCs senior citizens victims of alcoholism and substance abuse transgender persons persons engaged in begging Denotified and Nomadic Tribes DNTs manual scavengers sanitation workers including waste pickers and Economically Weaker Sections EWSIn another statement the Ministry said that 26plus crore people including 95plus crore youth 647plus crore women and 28000plus master volunteers have been sensitised on substance use through more than 83 lakh activities conducted under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan NMBA at various levels including in educational institutionsThe NMBA was launched on August 15 2020 by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment in 272 identified most vulnerable districts and now it has been extended to all districts of the country with effect from August 15 2023The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan intends to reach out to the masses and spread awareness about substance useThe NMBA App currently accessible to authorised users supports States Districts spiritual organisations and other stakeholders in uploading and tracking activities under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan through a consolidated dashboard with near realtime visibility said the statementIt also serves as a resource platform by providing Information Education and Communication IEC materials along with basic communication support for Nasha Mukti Mitras to facilitate awareness effortsIn a step towards strengthening the monitoring and implementation framework of the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction NAPDDR the Ministry plans to launch the upgraded Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan NMBA App 20 said the statementThe enhanced application is designed as a centralised digital tool for StatesDistricts and other stakeholders to facilitate realtime reporting monitoring and coordination among implementing agencies at the National State District and institutional levelsThe upgraded version builds upon existing capabilities while introducing new features aimed at enhancing transparency accountability and datadriven governance said the statement IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/75-lakh-marginalised-students-given-over-rs-7-900-crore-educational-aid-virendra-kumar-671065.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/india-us-ties-face-trust-deficit-need-reset-670874.html Washington April 24 A deepening âlack of mutual trustâ has emerged as the biggest challenge in IndiaUS ties even as both sides continue to engage across strategic and economic fronts speakers said at the Hudson Instituteâs New India Conference âThere is a big lack of mutual trust today We need to build that trust once againâ Ram Madhav said pointing to a sharp shift in perceptions compared to earlier phases of close political alignmentThe panel said the relationship while resilient is undergoing a difficult phase marked by misaligned expectations policy uncertainty and slower momentumElizabeth Threlkeld of the Stimson Centre said both sides often misread each otherâs constraints âEach side has a tendency to see the othersâ limits as choices but their own limits as necessitiesâ she said calling for a candid reassessment of shared interestsShe said rebuilding trust would require focusing on âgenuine mutual interestsâ and delivering practical outcomes that reduce friction in cooperationKurt Campbell former US Deputy Secretary of State said the strain runs deeper than policy disagreements âThis has caused a deep hurtâ a deep profound hurt among Indian friendsâ he said adding that emotional and political factors are shaping perceptions on both sidesCampbell said the relationship had advanced significantly over the past two decades with an expectation it would become the âdominant relationshipâ of the century making the current phase more consequentialThe discussion also highlighted persistent friction in areas such as trade defence cooperation and policy coordination often slowed by bureaucratic processes and differing political systemsAt the same time speakers stressed that engagement continues and opportunities remain particularly in economic cooperationMadhav said India has shown flexibility on key issues including tariffs and energy imports and is moving ahead with a potential trade agreement despite domestic political pressures âThat wouldnât discourage usâ the government will go aheadâ he saidHe also emphasised the importance of reengaging on initiatives such as the IndiaMiddle EastEurope corridor and I2U2 which have seen uncertainty in recent monthsSpeakers broadly agreed that the relationship requires sustained political attention and renewed alignment on priorities even as global crises add pressureThe New India Conference held on April 23 brought together policymakers and experts to examine Indiaâs global trajectory and the future of USIndia relationsOver the past two decades the partnership has expanded across defence trade and technology supported by strong diaspora ties However recent geopolitical shifts and policy divergences have exposed structural gaps making trustbuilding a central task going forward IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/india-us-ties-face-trust-deficit-need-reset-670874.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 07:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bihar-assembly-to-hold-special-session-today-as-cm-seeks-vote-of-confidenc-670880.html New Delhi April 24 IANS The National Democratic Alliance NDA government led by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary will seek a vote of confidence in a special session of the Bihar Assembly on FridaynbspAn official notification regarding the session was issued by Assembly Principal Secretary Poonam SinhaAhead of the session Speaker Prem Kumar chaired an allparty meeting earlier urging leaders to ensure smooth functioning of the HouseRepresentatives from various political parties assured full cooperationAmong those present at the meeting were Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav Deputy Speaker Narendra Narayan Yadav and several MLAs including Vijay Kumar Sinha Vinod Narayan Jha Alok Kumar Mehta Manohar Prasad Singh Madhav Anand Raju Tiwari Indrajit Prasad Gupta Satish Kumar Singh Yadav Kumar Sarvajeet and Prafulla ManjhiSpeaking on the upcoming session Deputy Chief Minister and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said the House will deliberate and vote on the confidence motion to be moved by the new Bihar governmentHe assured full cooperation from the state government to ensure smooth proceedings in the AssemblyThis will be the second session of the 18th Bihar Legislative AssemblyThe Assembly Secretariat has formally informed all legislators including the Chief Minister and members of the Council of MinistersSamrat Choudhary assumed office on April 15 following a political transition in the state after Nitish Kumar moved to the Rajya SabhaAs per constitutional provisions the new Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary must prove a majority in the Assembly to validate the state governmentIn the November 2025 Bihar Assembly elections the NDA secured a majority with 202 MLAs placing the government in a strong position ahead of the trust voteFollowing the formation of the new government portfolios have been allocated among MinistersChief Minister Samrat Choudhary currently holds charge of 29 departments including General Administration Home Cabinet Secretariat Vigilance and ElectionDeputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary has been assigned 10 departments including Water Resources and Parliamentary Affairs while Deputy Chief Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav is in charge of eight departments including Energy and Planning and DevelopmentThe Bihar Cabinet expansion is yet to take placeIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bihar-assembly-to-hold-special-session-today-as-cm-seeks-vote-of-confidenc-670880.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-hails-panchayati-raj-day-calls-public-service-a-path-to-nation-building-670881.html New Delhi April 24 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended greetings on National Panchayati Raj Day praising elected representatives across the country for their dedication to public service and nationbuildingnbspIn a post on X PM Modi said Heartiest greetings to public representatives across the country on the occasion of Panchayati Raj Day Your dedication to public service as well as nationbuilding is truly inspiring for everyoneHe also shared a Sanskrit verse highlighting the essence of public office and peoplecentric governance The happiness of the peoples representative lies in the happiness of the people his welfare lies in the welfare of the people A peoples representative has no personal favourites whatever is dear to the people is what is dear to him loosely translated from SanskritExtending greetings on the occasion Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Heartiest greetings to the fellow citizens on National Panchayati Raj Day The Panchayat system one of the oldest democratic traditions of India is a strong pillar of our democracy Panchayats which play a vital role in rural development governanceadministration social justice disaster management and cultural preservation are becoming even more empowered and selfreliant in the Modi government contributing to the creation of Viksit BharatUnion Minister Nitin Gadkari also conveyed his wishes stating Heartfelt greetings on National Panchayati Raj Day Panchayats must be empowered and developed to fulfill the dream of Aatmanirbhar Bharat The Panchayati Raj system plays a vital role in rural development and the nations upliftment Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji our government is making every possible effort to strengthen the Panchayati Raj systemUttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also conveyed his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the people of the state on National Panchayati Raj DayThe Panchayati Raj system is a means to strengthen Indias democratic tradition Let us all together resolve to further strengthen the spirit of Gram Swaraj and to build prosperous and selfreliant villages only then will the dream of Developed IndiaDeveloped Uttar Pradesh be realised CM Yogi saidThe Panchayati Raj Day celebrated annually by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj commemorates the 73rd Amendment Act 1992 of the Constitution which came into effect in 1993 This day celebrates the national local selfgovernance and democratic decentralisationIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-hails-panchayati-raj-day-calls-public-service-a-path-to-nation-building-670881.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/marks-beginning-of-new-era-of-good-governance-hm-shah-hails-bengal-voters-for-historic-turnout-670882.html New Delhi April 24 IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday congratulated the voters of West Bengal for breaking all records of participation by casting a historic vote in the first phase saying this marked the beginning of a new era of good governance in the statenbspAmit Shah took to social media X and said I congratulate the voters of West Bengal for breaking all records of participation in the grand festival of democracy by casting a historic vote in the first phaseI also congratulate the Honorable Election Commission the brave soldiers of all Central Armed Police Forces CAPFs and our West Bengal Police for the most peaceful and safe voting in Bengals history he saidThis marks the beginning of a new era of good governance in Bengal he saidMeanwhile the state on Thursday witnessed the first phase of its Assembly elections with polling held across several districts in northern and southern parts The phase recorded a voter turnout of 926 per cent the highest ever for a first phase in a state which may change after final tabulationThe elections have turned into a highstakes contest between the ruling All India Trinamool Congress led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party amid intense political debate over voter list revisionIn the 2021 Assembly election which was conducted amid the Covid19 pandemic and a fiercely polarised battle between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP turnout was recorded at 8230 per centWith 929 per cent of the 36 crore registered voters recorded on Thursday this means more people have voted in Bengal in this election than in 2021 This is also the highest turnout ever recorded in the state since independenceGyanesh Kumar Chief Election Commissioner of India was quoted as saying Highest ever percentage of polling in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu since Independence ECI salutes each voter of West Bengal and Tamil NaduThe second phase of polling is scheduled for April 29 and the counting of votes will take place on May 4IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/marks-beginning-of-new-era-of-good-governance-hm-shah-hails-bengal-voters-for-historic-turnout-670882.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/didnt-come-to-delhi-just-for-fresh-air-met-high-command-leaders-ktaka-dy-cm-shivakumar-670925.html New DelhiBengaluru April 24 Amid the continued unease in the ruling party in Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DKShivakumar met Congress leaders in the national capital Adding to speculation he refused to share the details of the meetings saying that he would not reveal them âI have met party leaders I will continue doing my work but I will not reveal who I have met I have not come to Delhi just to enjoy the airâ said Dy CM ShivakumarSpeaking in New Delhi on Thursday night Shivakumar said when asked whether he would submit an election report to party leaders âI toured Tamil Nadu Kerala and Assam for election campaigns I need to brief our leaders about the developments in these states The party had entrusted me with the responsibility of campaigning there Conducting elections in Karnataka is my duty as KPCC President and Deputy Chief Minister and I will do thatâResponding to questions about possible changes in the state he said âBeing in a responsible position can I discuss such matters in front of the media I will not speak about this Please do not try to extract such information from meâWhen asked about the heat he remarked âItâs very hot When I went to Tamil Nadu and Periyapatna in Karnataka the heat was intense Kerala is comparatively betterâOn reports that MLAs and ministers met the Chief Minister over discontent among the Muslim community he said âWe have received some inputs at the party level We must all work togetherâReacting to reports that ministers close to the Chief Minister held a meeting he said âI have no information about it I donât know who is close to whom I donât bother about such meetingsâWhen asked about senior MLAs planning another Delhi visit to press for a cabinet reshuffle he said âLetâs wait and watchâOn elections in various states he said âAssembly elections in Tamil Nadu Kerala and Assam along with bypolls in Karnataka have concluded We even held a Zoom meeting on the Assam elections on Wednesday I will be visiting Assam again We will form the government in alliance in Tamil Nadu and Kerala Our leaders and workers have worked very hard in Assam and the response to our alliance has been positiveâOn his Delhi visit he said âI had gone to Hyderabad with my family and came to Delhi from there I have not come to Delhi just for the fresh air I need to discuss Bengalururelated issues with Union ministers I had sought an appointment and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has given me time at 1145 am on FridayâOn discontent among minority leaders he said âThey have expressed their feelings and opinions which is not wrong Sometimes what we say may not be right sometimes what they say may not be right We will sit together and discussâResponding to demands for revocation of suspension of Muslim leaders he said âWhom have we suspended They themselves have resigned from their positions Please examine what is written in the resignation letter IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/didnt-come-to-delhi-just-for-fresh-air-met-high-command-leaders-ktaka-dy-cm-shivakumar-670925.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/every-single-person-linked-to-rg-kar-rape-murder-conspiracy-will-be-brought-to-justice-says-pm-modi-670926.html Kolkata April 24 IANS Every individual regardless of their influence who is connected to the larger conspiracy surrounding the RG Kar rape and murder case will be identified and held accountable after the formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP government in West Bengal next month Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated during a campaign rally at the Panihati Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas district on FridaynbspIncidentally the ancestral residence of the woman doctor who was murdered on the premises of the staterun RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata in August 2024 is located in Panihati and the BJP candidate from that constituency this time is the victims mother Swapna DebnathIn this Assembly election the women of Bengal will rewrite history and teach the antiwoman ruling party in the state a lesson The Trinamool Congress associates had conducted so many atrocities on women for so long They will all be accounted for after May 4 the day of the results the Prime Minister saidHe said the BJP candidate from Panihati has struggled throughout her life to make her daughter a doctor to serve the nation Her daughter is lost in this jungle of misrule of the Trinamool Congress I promise that not a single person behind that larger conspiracy will be spared PM Modi saidThe Prime Minister also said that the Trinamool Congress leadership has been scared by the polling pattern and voting percentage in the first phase of the Assembly polls for 152 constituencies on ThursdayThey have become desperate now So they have started instigating the criminal elements again They are desperate to fuel the fire once before it gets extinguished the Prime Minister saidHe said that the unemployed youths in the Trinamool Congress regime will never get jobs in the state as long as the corrupt Trinamool Congress regime continues There will be no new investment and even the existing industrial units will also shift their bases Trinamool Congress has vitiated the investment ambience in the state in the last 15 years the Prime Minister saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/every-single-person-linked-to-rg-kar-rape-murder-conspiracy-will-be-brought-to-justice-says-pm-modi-670926.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-cm-chatter-rattles-udf-camp-supporters-ahead-of-kerala-verdict-670934.html Thiruvananthapuram April 24 Even before the counting begins Keralaâs familiar electoral suspense has given way to a more predictable drama one within the Indian National Congress Polling concluded on April 9 with results due only on May 4 The Congressled United Democratic Front UDF buoyed by expectations of returning to power after a decade finds itself grappling with a resurfacing ailment leadership jockeyingThe unusual break in Keralaâs longstanding pattern of alternating governments when the CPIMled Left Front retained power in 2021 had already raised the stakesNow the prospect of a comeback appears to have intensified internal fault linesSupporters of senior leaders Ramesh Chennithala VD Satheesan and KC Venugopal have begun projecting their respective choices for the Chief Ministerâs post in the public domainThe premature contest has not only embarrassed the party but also drawn sharp criticism from within and outsideVeteran media critic MN Karassery was unsparing calling the public posturing âshamelessâ and warning that such open displays of ambition risk eroding voter patienceThe unease is now spilling into alliance ranks P Abdul Hameed Malappuram district general secretary of the Indian Union Muslim League and an MLA has come down heavily on the Congress party cautioning that such discussions should never have been allowed to surfaceHe said the ongoing debate over the Chief Ministerâs post is disappointing to those who voted for the UDF and risks demoralising grassroots workers who have endured a difficult decade in the oppositionAbdul Hameed pointedly observed that those who ought to have curbed the chatter are themselves making public statements aggravating the situationâLeaders at the national level are engaging in such discussions and when they arise it is the responsibility of senior leaders to contain them not amplify themâ he said adding that the League would abide by whatever decision the high command takes with Rahul Gandhi fully aware of Keralaâs political realitiesThe contrast with the CPIM is starkThe Left has maintained a studied silence on leadership questions projecting cohesionIn Congress however factional currents long a defining feature of its Kerala unit have resurfaced with renewed vigour unsettling cadres and allies alikeWith days to go before counting the UDF faces a paradox the closer it appears to power the more its internal discord threatens to cloud the momentSharing the spoils of power has always been done and no one will forget when the spat between K Karunakaran and AK Antony reached a high soon after a stupendous win by the Congress party in 2001 when Antony became the Chief Minister Karunakaranâs son K Muraleedharan was made the state party president by ejecting the then president Thennala Balakrishna Pillai IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-cm-chatter-rattles-udf-camp-supporters-ahead-of-kerala-verdict-670934.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-orders-reinstatement-of-gujarat-judicial-officer-with-full-benefits-670973.html New Delhi April 24 IANS The Supreme Court has directed the reinstatement of a Gujarat judicial officer with all consequential benefits after setting aside a disciplinary action that sought to subject her to a de novo inquirynbspnbspA bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe held that the order initiating a fresh inquiry against Chandni Prateek Sharma was contrary to the governing service rules and consequently quashed the Gujarat High Courts judgment which had upheld the actionnbspThe respondents are directed to reinstate the appellant and to grant her all consequential benefits the apex court ordered while allowing the appealnbspSharma who joined the Gujarat State Judicial Service in 2012 and was promoted to Senior Civil Judge in 2018 had been placed under suspension in February 2020 following complaints alleging misconduct including habitual absenteeism and procedural irregularitiesnbspAn inquiry officer after examining 21 witnesses had found only one charge proved while exonerating her of the remaining allegationsnbspHowever the disciplinary authority disagreed with the findings and ordered a de novo inquiry after issuing a show cause noticenbspThe Gujarat High Court in its September 26 2024 judgment had upheld the decision observing that the disciplinary authority had recorded reasons for ordering a fresh inquirynbspSetting aside this view the Supreme Court clarified that Rule 10 of the Gujarat Civil Services Discipline and Appeal Rules 1971 permits only a further inquiry and not a fresh or de novo inquirynbspThe expression further inquiry does not mean a fresh or a de novo inquiry but only a further inquiry the Justice Narasimhaled Bench observednbspHolding that the initiation of a de novo inquiry was legally unsustainable the top court said the Gujarat High Court failed to appreciate the settled legal position on the issue Quashing the impugned judgment the Supreme Court restored Sharmas service directing that she be reinstated with full consequential benefits flowing from such reinstatementnbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-orders-reinstatement-of-gujarat-judicial-officer-with-full-benefits-670973.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 15:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-polls-voting-begins-for-152-assembly-constituencies-in-16-districts-670765.html Kolkata April 23 Polling has begun for 152 assembly constituencies scattered over 16 districts from 7 am on Thursday in the first phase of the twophase crucial West Bengal assembly polls The votersâ enthusiasm over the elections seemed to be quite high this time with the queues of voters being witnessed in front of some polling stations in several assembly constituencies much before the beginning of the polling process at 7 am officiallyThis time the voters are required to go through a twostage verification process the first being by the central armed police CAPF personnel before entering the polling station premises and the second by the boothlevel officer BLO concerned before entering the polling roomThe polling process had been peaceful so far at the time the report was filed However there had been reports of some malfunctioning of electronic voting machines EVMs at certain polling booths at the time of the beginning of the polling processMock polling mandatory before the actual polling process could not start in time at a polling station at the industrial township of Durgapur in West Burdwan district because of the inactive battery of the EVM thereSimilarly mock polling could not be conducted at a polling booth at Siliguri in Darjeeling district in North Bengal and Baharampur in the minoritydominated Murshidabad districtThe 16 districts where polling is being held in the first phase on Thursday are Cooch Behar Darjeeling Kalimpong Jalpaiguri Alipurduar North Dinajpur South Dinajpur and Malda in North Bengal and Murshidabad East Midnapore West Midnapore Jhargram Purulia Bankura West Burdwan and Birbhum in South BengalSeven of these 16 districts are under the Election Commission of Indiaâs special scanner due to security concerns on the polling dayThe first phase of the Assembly polls is being conducted under unprecedented security cover with the deployment of 2407 companies of central forces including Central Armed Police Forces the India Reserve Battalion and personnel from armed police wings of other states in addition to personnel from West Bengal Police and Kolkata PoliceWebcasting is being conducted in all polling stationsPrime Minister Narendra Modi posted a social media message in Bengal addressing the people of West Bengal âThe first phase of voting for the West Bengal Assembly elections is today I call upon all citizens to participate with full enthusiasm in this festival of democracy I especially urge my young friends and the women of West Bengal to vote in large numbersâ the message from the Prime Minister readThe Chief Election Officer CEO West Bengal Manoj Kumar Agarwal the Election Commission of India ECIappointed special observer Subrata Gupta and the ECIappointed police observer NK Mishra stayed back at the CEOâs office in central observer overnight on Wednesday conducting lastminute supervisions to ensure free amp fair and violencefree polls in the first phase on ThursdayThe second phase of polls in West Bengal for the remaining 142 assembly constituencies will be on April 29 âThe results will be declared on May 4 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-polls-voting-begins-for-152-assembly-constituencies-in-16-districts-670765.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/continue-to-be-bold-in-pursuit-of-unsc-reform-macky-sall-candidate-for-un-chief-670770.html United Nations April 23 âWe have to continue to be boldâ in pursuing the reform of the Security Council said Macky Sall who is a candidate for secretarygeneral The debate over reforming the Council has been going on for over 30 years but the âone thing that we can all agree on is that today the Security Council is not representative of todays world he said on Wednesday at a candidateâs forum hereThere are many different proposals for reforming the Council and some even say that it cannot take place now within the time of tension that more time is needed for reformââWhat I can try to do is push the agenda forwardâ he pledged while replying to a question on behalf of the G4 India Germany Japan and Brazil which pursue reforms togetherHe said âWe need to ensure inclusion whilst also bearing in mind the need to maintain the credibility and above all the effectiveness of the council because with five vetoes thats already a hard taskâAll options are on the table and I will push as hard as I canâ he saidBut he added âObviously the decision is not that of the secretarygeneral It is the decision of member states if this reform is to go forwardâSall a former president of Senegal is one of the four candidates who want to succeed Antonio Guterres when his second term ends this yearHe is the only one from Africa the other three are from Latin AmericaHe was nominated by Burundi whose President Evariste Ndayishimiye is the president of the African UnionBut Sall does not have the backing of his countryWhile he faced a gauntlet of questions from diplomats and civil society representatives during a threehour session his supporters and his opponents held demonstrations outside the UN buildingSall was the president of the African Union AU during 202223 when the organisation became a member of G20 at the New Delhi summit while it was led by Prime Minister Narendra ModiHe recalled his efforts on behalf of the AU for joining the G20 the group of industrialised and emerging nations as an example of how he would lead the UN if he got the jobAU becoming a full member of the G20 âwas not an obvious thing at the time but it was through discussion through dialogueâ and by talking to all leaders that he managed it he saidI think that this capacity to talk to anyone everyone without any barriers this is what I want to and can put at the disposal of the organisationâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/continue-to-be-bold-in-pursuit-of-unsc-reform-macky-sall-candidate-for-un-chief-670770.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/early-voter-turnout-in-bengal-stands-at-1876-pc-tn-records-over-17-pc-670779.html KolkataChennai April 23 The voter turnout in the West Bengal Assembly elections was recorded at 1876 per cent and in Tamil Nadu at 1769 per cent as of 9 am on Thursday according to data shared by the Election Commission of India ECI Polling began for 152 assembly constituencies scattered over 16 districts of West Bengal from 7 am on Thursday in the first phase of the twophase crucial Assembly polls Voter enthusiasm for the elections appeared to be quite high this time as long lines were seen in front of several polling stationsThe 16 districts where polling is being held in the first phase on Thursday are Cooch Behar Darjeeling Kalimpong Jalpaiguri Alipurduar North Dinajpur South Dinajpur and Malda in North Bengal and Murshidabad East Midnapore West Midnapore Jhargram Purulia Bankura West Burdwan and Birbhum in South BengalThe second phase of polls in West Bengal for the remaining 142 assembly constituencies will be on April 29 âThe results will be declared on May 4Meanwhile polling for the highstakes Tamil Nadu Assembly elections across all 234 constituencies also began at 7 am with over 573 crore eligible voters set to decide the fate of 4023 candidates in a fiercely contested fourcornered battle The electoral contest primarily features the DMKled Secular Progressive Alliance the AIADMKled National Democratic Alliance Naam Tamilar Katchi NTK and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK making this one of the most competitive elections in recent yearsVoting commenced early in the morning with voters seen queuing up in large numbers at polling booths reflecting strong public enthusiasm to participate in the democratic processWith voter turnout expected to play a decisive role political parties are closely monitoring polling trends across constituenciesThe counting of votes is scheduled for May 4 when the electoral verdict will determine the next government in Tamil Nadu IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/early-voter-turnout-in-bengal-stands-at-1876-pc-tn-records-over-17-pc-670779.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/jai-badri-vishal-resonates-as-portals-of-badrinath-dham-open-cm-dhami-offers-prayers-670781.html Chamoli April 23 With the resounding chants of Jai Badri Vishal the portals of Shri Badrinath Dham opened early on Thursday imbuing the entire atmosphere with devotion and faith This marks the official start to the Char Dham Yatra The portals of one of the most sacred shrines of Hinduism opened at 615 am amid Vedic chants and rituals The temple priests performed worship and rituals for Lord Badri Vishal accompanied by Vedic mantras following which the temple was opened for devotees to offer their prayers and seek darshan Thousands of devotees were present at the site to witness this special occasion Many had even queued up since the previous night eager to be among the very first to catch a glimpse of the LordAs the temple gates opened joy and reverence were clearly visible in the eyes of the devotees Some stood with folded hands in prayer others prayed with deep emotion while some attempted to capture this momentous occasion on their mobile phones A distinct sense of peace and contentment was evident on every faceDuring the event the temple complex was beautifully adorned with flowers further enhancing its grandeur The Army band also added to the sanctity of this auspicious occasion with their melodious tunes A palpable sense of positive energy permeated the entire atmosphereChief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also arrived in Badrinath to offer prayers On this occasion he performed the first puja of Lord Badri Vishal in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi praying for the happiness prosperity and wellbeing of the people of the stateIn a post on X CM Dhami wrote With the opening of the portals of Shri Badrinath Dham the sacred Char Dham Yatra has officially commenced Providing a safe wellorganised and hasslefree travel experience to all devotees arriving from across the country and abroad in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand is our governments top priorityIn another post CM Dhami stated I had the privilege of being present on the auspicious occasion of the opening of the portals of Shri Badrinath Dham the holy abode of Lord Shri Hari Vishnu Nestled in the lap of the Himalayas this divine shrine stands as a living symbol of the unwavering faith Sanatan traditions and spiritual consciousness of millions of devotees On this sacred occasion the transcendental devotion divine energy and profound spiritual experience left my heart overwhelmed with emotionPrior to this the gates of Shri Kedarnath Gangotri and Yamunotri Dhams had already been opened Now devotees arriving from across the country and abroad will be able to participate in this sacred pilgrimageEvery year hundreds of thousands of devotees undertake this journey considering their lives blessed after having the darshan of Lord Badri Vishal It is believed that offering prayers here brings peace to the mind and alleviates all suffering This is precisely why despite the arduous nature of the journey the devotees faith remains unwavering IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/jai-badri-vishal-resonates-as-portals-of-badrinath-dham-open-cm-dhami-offers-prayers-670781.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/stalin-vijay-rajnikanth-among-early-voters-in-tamil-nadu-elections-670782.html Chennai April 23 Chief Minister MK Stalin actorpolitician Vijay and superstar Rajinikanth were among the prominent early voters as polling began across Tamil Naduâs 234 Assembly constituencies on Thursday Stalin cast his vote at a polling station in Teynampet Chennai accompanied by his wife Durga StalinDeputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin also exercised his franchise along with his wife Krithika reflecting the ruling DMK leadershipâs early participation in the democratic processVijay the leader of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK voted at a government middle school polling station in Neelankarai His arrival drew large crowds of fans leading to brief congestion at the venue Police personnel stepped in to manage the situation and escorted him safely into the booth amid tight securityRajinikanth cast his vote at the Stella Maris polling booth in Chennai accompanied by his daughter SoundaryaSpeaking to reporters he urged all eligible voters to come out and vote in large numbers emphasising the importance of participating in the democratic processVoting is being held in a single phase across all 234 constituencies in what is seen as a highstakes electoral battleA total of 4023 candidates are in the fray while over 573 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise according to the Election CommissionThe contest features a fourcornered fight involving the DMKled alliance the AIADMKled front Naam Tamilar Katchi NTK and Vijayâs TVK adding a new dimension to the stateâs political landscapeSenior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan cast her vote at a polling station in Saligramam while Union Minister L Murugan contesting from Avinashi voted in KoyambeduMeanwhile polling was briefly delayed at a booth in Thillai Nagar Tiruchy due to technical issues in two Electronic Voting Machines EVMsMinister K N Nehru contesting from Tiruchy West was among those waiting in queues as officials worked to resolve the malfunction Authorities have deployed extensive security arrangements and urged voters to turn out in large numbers to ensure a peaceful and participatory election IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/stalin-vijay-rajnikanth-among-early-voters-in-tamil-nadu-elections-670782.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-bypoll-voting-underway-in-umreth-amid-extensive-arrangements-670783.html Anand April 23 Polling is underway for the Umreth Assembly byelection in Gujaratâs Anand district with voters turning out across urban and rural polling stations since 7 am on Thursday amid tight administrative and security arrangements The byelection covers the Umreth constituency where a total of 245623 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots across 306 polling stations set up by the district election machineryOf these 68 polling stations are in urban areas and 238 in rural locations spanning 46 villages of Umreth taluka and the surrounding Anand rural region along with the municipalities of Ode Umreth and BoriaviVoting is being conducted between 7 am and 6 pm as scheduled by the Election Commission of India Counting of votes will take place on May 4Six candidates are contesting the seat Officials said special arrangements have been made to facilitate inclusive participation including 4174 firsttime voters aged 1819 years and 1556 voters aged above 85 yearsIn addition 1546 voters with disabilities are registered in the constituency According to election officials 88 senior citizens above 85 years of age and 13 voters with disabilities have already exercised their franchise through home voting arrangementsTo ensure smooth conduct of polling around 1348 polling personnel supported by 22 micro observers and 19 districtlevel nodal officers have been deployed taking the total field workforce to nearly 1500 officialsAll staff members were trained in multiple phases prior to polling daySecurity arrangements have been strengthened across the constituency with deployment of two Deputy Superintendents of Police four Police Inspectors around 500 police and home guard personnel and three companies of the Central Reserve Police Force to maintain law and order and ensure a peaceful voting environmentSpecial facilities have been put in place to improve accessibility for voters including 218 wheelchairs assistance from 361 volunteers and six dedicated vehicles for senior citizens above 85 years of age and persons with disabilities to reach polling stationsVoter assistance booths have also been set up at all centres to help citizens with information and support servicesElection authorities have confirmed that voters may use any one of 12 approved identity documents including Aadhaar card driving licence passport PAN card MGNREGA job card pension documents with photographs and other governmentissued identity proofs in addition to voter ID cardsNonresident Indian electors are required to produce their original passports for identification at polling stationsIn a parallel arrangement ahead of polling day 212 officials and staff engaged in election duty cast their votes through postal ballot at a designated centre between April 15 and 17The district administration has also made medical arrangements signing agreements with multiple hospitals in Anand and Karamsad to provide cashless emergency treatment to election personnelOral rehydration solution packets have been distributed at polling stations as a precaution against heatrelated health issuesOfficials said that the polling process is being monitored through webcasting at all stations to ensure transparency and realtime oversight throughout the dayThe Umreth Assembly constituency fell vacant following the death of sitting MLA Govind Parmar a twoterm legislator of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP who died last month after a brief illness leading to the Election Commission announcing a byelection for the seat IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-bypoll-voting-underway-in-umreth-amid-extensive-arrangements-670783.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-polls-polling-process-overall-peaceful-1876-pc-voting-in-first-two-hours-670787.html Kolkata April 23 Barring stray incidents of tension in certain pockets the polling process in 152 Assembly constituencies in 16 districts of West Bengal has been overall peaceful in the first two hours on Thursday with 1876 per cent voting recorded till 9 am Districtwise the highest polling percentage till 9 am has been recorded in West Midnapore at 2051 per cent and the lowest in Malda at 1676 per cent as per the statistics provided by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer CEO West BengalAt a polling booth under Raninagar Assembly constituency in minoritydominated Murshidabad district which had already been earmarked by the Election Commission of India ECI as the most sensitive district tension flared up in the morning following Congressâ allegations of their polling agent being forcefully evicted from the booth by the ruling Trinamool Congress activistsThe Congress candidate from Raninagar Zulfikar Ali alleged that Trinamool Congress backed hooligans were hiding in a forested area with crude bombs and firearms and intimidating voters going to the polling booths âThey have forcefully evicted one of our agents from that boothâ Ali allegedAt the two Assembly constituencies of Nandigram and its adjacent Haldia in East Midnapore district which is the native district of the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Suvendu Adhikari the Trinamool Congress leadership accused the police officers in charge of the polling duties of deliberately harassing the ruling party supporters following the instructions of AdhikariThere were scattered protests by the Trinamool Congress workers in both these constituenciesAdhikari denied the allegations and said that the polling process has been more or less peaceful both in East Midnapore and West Midnapore districts âThey are raising these baseless allegations sensing their inevitable defeat Except in Pingla in West Midnapore there are some tensions because of the role played by the local inspectorincharge Chinmoy Pramanik I have demanded his suspensionâ Adhikari said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-polls-polling-process-overall-peaceful-1876-pc-voting-in-first-two-hours-670787.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/alliance-will-form-govt-in-tn-dmk-delivered-on-key-issues-says-chidambaram-670793.html Karaikudi April 23 Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram cast his vote in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on Thursday and expressed confidence that the Secular Progressive Alliance will return to power in the state Polling for the highstakes Tamil Nadu Assembly elections across all 234 constituencies began at 7 am with over 573 crore eligible voters set to decide the fate of 4023 candidates in a fiercely contested fourcornered battleThe electoral contest primarily features the DMKled Secular Progressive Alliance the AIADMKled National Democratic Alliance Naam Tamilar Katchi NTK and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK making this one of the most competitive elections in recent yearsAfter casting his ballot at Chittal Aachi Memorial High School near Karaikudi senior Congress leader Chidambaram told reporters that voters across the state are focused on three key priorities Across Tamil Nadu the expectations that are resonating are threefold the need for a stable government growth and welfare schemes for the people I am confident that the DMK government which has delivered on these three will be formed and that the Secular Progressive Alliance will be in power for another five years he saidHe also voiced confidence that a stable government led by the alliance would be capable of managing the states finances and addressing its rising debt burden During the Budget Session Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu had stated that as per the Interim Budget Estimates for 2026â27 the states outstanding debt is projected to reach Rs 1071 lakh croreResponding to concerns over the debt Chidambaram maintained that it can be handled with proper financial planning There wont be any problem There are ministers There are capable officials When preparing the budget both the states own revenue and the Central governments revenue should be taken into account and the necessary budget should be drawn up This applies to the Central government as well as the state government he saidHe further stressed that borrowing is a normal economic practice and should not be viewed negatively if managed prudently A stable strong government will definitely manage the budget properly How much debt does the Central government have There is nothing wrong with borrowing all countries borrow Its not just Tamil Nadu that borrows The key is whether the debt can be serviced meaning whether we can pay the interest on the loan thats the calculation he addedChidambaram also took issue with the use of the term freebie in political discourse arguing that welfare measures should be seen differently I reject the term âfreebieâ It is not a freebie I have said this many times Universal Basic Income they are repeatedly providing it so that everyone across Tamil Nadu has a basic income UBI we should see it as ensuring that everyone receives a minimum income It should not be viewed as a freebie he saidThe counting of votes is scheduled for May 4 when the electoral verdict will determine the next government in Tamil Nadu IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/alliance-will-form-govt-in-tn-dmk-delivered-on-key-issues-says-chidambaram-670793.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-urges-bengal-voters-to-participate-in-festival-of-democracy-as-voting-begins-across-152-seats-670805.html New Delhi April 23 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on voters to take part in large numbers as West Bengal entered the first phase of its Assembly elections on Thursday with polling underway across 152 constituenciesnbspPM Modi posted on X Phase 1 of the West Bengal Assembly elections takes place today I urge all citizens to participate in this festival of democracy with full strength I especially appeal to my young friends and to the women of West Bengal to vote in large numbersVoting began at 700 am as West Bengal kicked off the first phase of its Assembly elections across 152 constituencies spread over 16 districts marking the opening of a crucial and closely watched electoral contest in the statenbspLong queues of voters were seen outside polling stations early in the morning with citizens actively participating in the democratic exercise At Primary Health Centre No 1 voters were seen standing in line to cast their votes while at Booth No 12176 polling also got underway with steady turnout reported in the initial hoursAround 36 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in this phase which will decide the fate of 1478 candidates The constituencies are evenly distributed across north and south Bengal reflecting the wide geographical and political spread of this highstakes electoral battleThe Election Commission of India has deployed a record 2407 companies of Central Armed Police Forces for this phase making it one of the most heavily secured elections in the states history Officials said the deployment reflects the Commissions focus on ensuring peaceful and fair polling across sensitive regionsWhile the number of phases has been reduced compared to earlier elections security arrangements have been significantly strengthened The state is witnessing an unprecedented presence of central forces supported by new Election Commission protocols aimed at the strict enforcement of electoral rulesThe current twophase election schedule marks a sharp reduction from eight phases in 2021 and six phases in 2016 when polling itself was spread across multiple daysOn the political front the contest is primarily between the ruling Trinamool Congress TMC led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP which is the main opposition in the state The TMC is aiming for a fourth consecutive term while the BJP which won 77 seats in the previous Assembly elections is making a renewed attempt to form the governmentPolling in the remaining 142 constituencies will be held on April 29 while counting of votes is scheduled for May 4IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-urges-bengal-voters-to-participate-in-festival-of-democracy-as-voting-begins-across-152-seats-670805.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-bypoll-early-turnout-stands-at-2565-pc-as-voting-continues-across-306-booths-670816.html Anand April 23 Polling for the Umreth Assembly byeelection in Gujaratâs Anand district is continuing steadily with 2565 per cent voter turnout recorded by 11 AM according to data released by the Election Commission of India Voting began at 7 AM on Thursday across 306 polling stations spread over urban and rural parts of the constituency which includes 46 villages of Umreth taluka and surrounding Anand rural areas along with the municipalities of Ode Umreth and BoriaviThe constituency has a total electorate of 245623 voters who are deciding the outcome among six candidates in the frayThe Election Commission has scheduled polling to continue until 6 PM while counting of votes will be held on May 4Officials said arrangements have been made to ensure smooth conduct of voting with a workforce of around 1348 polling personnel deployed on duty supported by 22 micro observers and 19 districtlevel nodal officers taking the total field deployment to nearly 1500 staff membersWebcasting facilities have been installed at all polling stations for realtime monitoring of the processSecurity has been tightened across the constituency with the deployment of two Deputy Superintendents of Police four Police Inspectors around 500 police and home guard personnel along with three companies of the Central Reserve Police Force to maintain law and orderTo facilitate voter participation authorities have arranged 218 wheelchairs for elderly and differentlyabled voters along with 361 volunteers stationed across polling centresSix vehicles have also been deployed to assist senior citizens aged 85 and above as well as Persons with Disabilities PwD in reaching polling stationsVoter Assistance Booths have been set up at all locations to help citizens with information and supportThe electorate includes 4174 firsttime voters aged 18â19 years while 1556 voters above the age of 85 and 1546 PwDs are also registered in the constituencyOfficials confirmed that some of these voters have already exercised their franchise through home voting arrangementsAuthorities have also ensured medical preparedness during polling with arrangements made in coordination with hospitals in Anand Bhalej and Karamsad for emergency care of election personnelORS packets have been distributed at polling stations as a precaution against heatrelated issuesVoters are allowed to use any one of 12 approved identity documents for identification including Aadhaar passport driving licence PAN card and voter ID while nonresident Indian electors must produce their original passport at polling stations IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-bypoll-early-turnout-stands-at-2565-pc-as-voting-continues-across-306-booths-670816.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/brisk-polling-in-tn-assembly-elections-3756-pc-turnout-recorded-so-far-670820.html Chennai April 23 Voting is underway across all 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu on Thursday with a voter turnout of 3756 per cent being recorded till 11 am The key battle is between the DMKled Secular Progressive Alliance and the AIADMKled National Democratic Alliance while Naam Tamilar Katchi NTK and actor Vijayâs Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK have added further intensity to the raceAccording to the Election Commission a total of 4023 candidates are in the fray with over 573 crore eligible voters expected to decide the electoral fate of the statePolling began early in the morning under tight security arrangements and officials reported a steady voter turnout across districts By 11 am Tamil Nadu has recorded a voter turnout of 3756 per cent indicating a brisk polling trend in several regionsElection authorities are closely monitoring the process to ensure smooth and peaceful voting throughout the daySeveral prominent political leaders and public figures exercised their franchise during the morning hours Thol Thirumavalavan leader of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi VCK cast his vote at a government school polling booth in Anganur located in the Kunnam Assembly constituency of Ariyalur districtV K Sasikala former AIADMK general secretary voted at Stella Maris College in Chennai Speaking to reporters after casting her vote she described the election as a âfestival of democracyâ and urged citizens across Tamil Nadu to fulfil their democratic duty by voting in large numbersGK Vasan president of the Tamil Maanila Congress stood in line and cast his vote at a Corporation School polling booth in Alwarpet Chennai reflecting the enthusiasm among voters and leaders alikeIn Vanur constituency VCK MP D Ravikumar exercised his franchise at a polling booth in MorattandiAmong celebrities actor Trisha Krishnan cast her vote at a polling station in Alwarpet Chennai accompanied by her mother When asked about expectations from the election she refrained from political commentary and simply appealed to citizens to vote stating that participation in the democratic process was most importantWith steady turnout figures and active participation from voters and prominent personalities Tamil Nadu is witnessing a vibrant democratic exercise Polling will continue until the evening with officials expecting turnout percentages to rise further as the day progresses IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/brisk-polling-in-tn-assembly-elections-3756-pc-turnout-recorded-so-far-670820.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/think-about-your-future-then-vote-says-dmks-kanimozhi-after-casting-ballot-in-chennai-670822.html New Delhi April 23 DMK Deputy General Secretary and MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi cast her vote at CSI St Ebbaâs Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Chennai on Thursday and urged citizens to vote thoughtfully emphasising the importance of the election for the stateâs future and identity Speaking after voting she said âThink about your future think about the future of the state think about who will fight for the rights of the state and for the language we stand for and then voteâReacting to claims against DMK she said They will keep raising issues Any government will ensure that there are enough facilities for voters to come and vote If the DMK is confident that people will vote them back to power why would any government do something like this If you want to make accusations then its your politicsPolling for the highstakes Tamil Nadu Assembly elections began at 7 AM across all 234 constituencies with voters turning up in large numbers at polling booths early in the day Long queues were seen at several locations reflecting strong public enthusiasm to participate in the democratic exerciseAccording to data shared by the Election Commission of India voter turnout stood at 3756 per cent as of 11 AM indicating steady participation in the initial hours of polling Officials expect turnout to increase further as the day progressesA total of over 573 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes in this election which will determine the fate of 4023 candidates The contest is shaping up as a fiercely competitive fourcornered battle making it one of the most closely watched elections in recent yearsThe electoral fray primarily features the DMKled Secular Progressive Alliance the AIADMKled National Democratic Alliance Naam Tamilar Katchi NTK and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK along with several other parties and independent candidatesLeaders from various parties have also appealed to voters to come out in large numbers and exercise their franchiseSecurity arrangements have been tightened across the state to ensure smooth and peaceful polling with election officials monitoring the process closelyThe counting of votes is scheduled for May 4 when the results will determine the next government in Tamil Nadu IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/think-about-your-future-then-vote-says-dmks-kanimozhi-after-casting-ballot-in-chennai-670822.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-polls-635-complaints-registered-with-eci-in-first-four-hours-of-voting-670835.html Kolkata April 23 A total of 635 complaints were registered with the Election Commission of India ECI till 11 am on Thursday regarding the polling in the first phase of West Bengal Assembly polls covering 152 Assembly constituencies in 16 districts Of the 635 complaints registered with the ECI 260 have been submitted physically to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer CEO while another 375 have been submitted through the CVigil appThe complaints were mostly regarding violence election malpractices etc said sourcesIn the first four hours of polling the average polling rate in the 152 constituencies was recorded at 4111 per cent Districtwise till that period the maximum polling percentage was reported from Jhargram at 4371 per cent with the figure being lowest in the case of Cooch Behar at 3867 per centA tragic incident took place at a polling booth under the Keshpur Assembly constituency in West Midnapore district when a voter died within the booth while she came to cast her vote The deceased was identified as Isratan Biwi She felt uneasy after reaching the polling booth and died on the spotTension broke out in front of a polling booth in Barwan Assembly constituency in minoritydominated Murshidabad district after the Trinamool Congress leadership alleged that the EVM button was pressed in favour of the ruling party candidates but the vote was getting registered in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP candidateThe polling was stopped for some time However later the polling resumed following the intervention of the ECIappointed general observer for Barwan Ujjwal Singh and the security personnelSingh while describing the allegation as impossible said that since an allegation has been floated the matter would be investigatedMeanwhile fresh tension broke out in the Naoda Assembly constituency in Murshidabad district where Humayun Kabir the former Trinamool Congress legislator who recently floated his own political party is contesting As his convoy reached the Shibnagar area in Naoda it was attacked allegedly by the Trinamool Congress activists However because of the intervention by the Central Armed Police Forces CAPF tension subsided soonAmid such stray incidents former state Congress president in West Bengal and fourtime Congress Lok Sabha member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury who is the party candidate this time from Berhampur Assembly constituency also in Murshidabad district expressed satisfaction with the ECI in ensuring overall peaceful polls so farThe incidents of voter intimidation and harassment eviction of the opposition polling agents and largescale violence which became a regular election feature in the last few years are not evident much this time till noon âThe role of ECI this time is really commendableâ he saidThe Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari said that of the 152 constituencies where polling is being conducted in the first phase on Thursday the BJP might be able to bag up to 125 constituencies IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-polls-635-complaints-registered-with-eci-in-first-four-hours-of-voting-670835.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/records-will-be-broken-this-time-pm-modi-on-bengal-voting-lauds-eci-for-largely-peaceful-polls-670838.html Kolkata April 23 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday gave full credit to the Election Commission of India ECI for ensuring overall peaceful and violencefree polls in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly election being held in 152 constituenciesnbspToday the first phase of voting in West Bengal is underway I congratulate all the voters Everyone should celebrate the festival of democracy There has been less violence this time so far Earlier people were hanged and the ruling party claimed it was suicide I congratulate the Election Commission of India the Prime Minister said while addressing a campaign rally at Krishnanagar in Nadia district which is going to polls in the second phase on April 29The Prime Minister also expressed confidence in the high polling percentage recorded till afternoon and the enthusiasm with which voters were waiting in long queues in front of the polling booths ignoring the scorching heat to cast their votesThe manner in which the polling is going on and the enthusiasm with which the voters are voting it seems all records will be broken this time The state government employees are working responsibly to make the polling process peaceful I congratulate all of them the Prime Minister saidSpeaking on the occasion he also indirectly criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee without taking her name over the latters jibes about PM Modis unexpected stop in Jhargram for a quick bite of the popular Bengali street snack the jhalmuri during his last campaign rally in the state on April 19I heard that my jhalmuri matter jolted some people here The funny thing is that I consumed Jhalmuri and the Trinamool Congress felt the heat After the results are declared on May 4 the BJP will celebrate victory in West Bengal At that time both sweets and jhalmuri will be distributed the Prime Minister saidAccording to him in West Bengal elections this time the battle is more between Trinamool Congress and common people rather than between the BJP and Trinamool CongressThis time the state government employees are voting after coming out of fear Doctors are voting for better medical systems Lawyers are voting to ensure justice Teachers are voting for a fearfree educational system The police are voting to serve the public the Prime Minister saidHe also said that during his recent tours he had realised how the people of West Bengal are frustrated with the misrule of Trinamool Congress I have realised how sick people are of corruption extortion and hooliganism There are many districts where Trinamool Congress will not be able to open their accounts this time the Prime Minister saidKrishnanagar is voicing strong discontent against TMCs misgovernance and lack of accountability People are tired of its corruption and inefficiency the PM saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/records-will-be-broken-this-time-pm-modi-on-bengal-voting-lauds-eci-for-largely-peaceful-polls-670838.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-records-6118-pc-voter-turnout-tn-touches-56-pc-mark-670845.html KolkataChennai April 23 West Bengal had a voter turnout of 6118 per cent while Tamil Nadu had 5681 per cent by 1 pm as polling for the Assembly elections was ongoing according to data from the Election Commission of India ECI Polling began for 152 assembly constituencies scattered over 16 districts of West Bengal from 7 am on Thursday in the first phase of the twophase crucial Assembly polls Voter enthusiasm for the elections appeared to be quite high this time as long lines were seen in front of several polling stationsThe 16 districts where polling is being held in the first phase on Thursday are Cooch Behar Darjeeling Kalimpong Jalpaiguri Alipurduar North Dinajpur South Dinajpur and Malda in North Bengal and Murshidabad East Midnapore West Midnapore Jhargram Purulia Bankura West Burdwan and Birbhum in South BengalThe second phase of polls in West Bengal for the remaining 142 assembly constituencies will be on April 29 âA total of 635 complaints were registered with the ECI till 11 am regarding the polling in the first phase of elections covering 152 Assembly constituencies in 16 districts Of the 635 complaints registered with the ECI 260 have been submitted physically to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer CEO while another 375 have been submitted through the CVigil appMeanwhile polling for the highstakes Tamil Nadu Assembly elections across all 234 constituencies also began at 7 am with over 573 crore eligible voters set to decide the fate of 4023 candidates in a fiercely contested fourcornered battle The electoral contest primarily features the DMKled Secular Progressive Alliance the AIADMKled National Democratic Alliance Naam Tamilar Katchi NTK and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK making this one of the most competitive elections in recent yearsVoting commenced early in the morning with voters seen queuing up in large numbers at polling booths reflecting strong public enthusiasm to participate in the democratic processWith voter turnout expected to play a decisive role political parties are closely monitoring polling trends across constituenciesThe counting of votes is scheduled for May 4 when the electoral verdict will determine the next governments in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-records-6118-pc-voter-turnout-tn-touches-56-pc-mark-670845.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/row-erupts-over-bihars-satellite-township-plan-rohini-acharya-questions-land-transaction-ban-670846.html Patna April 23 A political controversy has erupted in Bihar following the state governmentâs decision to develop satellite townships in 11 cities including Patna As part of the plan the NDA government has imposed a temporary ban on the purchase and sale of land in the identified areas triggering sharp reactions from Opposition leaders Rohini Acharya daughter of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav strongly criticised the move calling it shocking and difficult to understandIn a post on X Acharya alleged that the decision could adversely impact Biharâs already fragile economyâThe ban on land transactions in 11 major cities is shocking Given Biharâs current economic condition such a decision raises serious questions about intentâ she saidShe further argued that land transactions form a significant source of revenue and livelihood for manyâThis impractical decision will worsen the stateâs financial condition For common people land transactions are often a means to fulfil social and economic responsibilities as well as a source of financial securityâ she addedAcharya also raised concerns over the implementation of the proposed township projects alleging that the development work could be handed over to corporate entitiesShe claimed that valuable land might be allocated at low rates only to be later sold at high prices within these townshipsThe Bihar government however maintains that the move is aimed at planned urban expansion and the development of modern infrastructure across key cities in the stateThe issue is expected to intensify political debate in the coming days as the Opposition continues to question the intent and potential impact of the policyThe Samrat Choudhary government on Wednesday approved 22 proposals in the Cabinet meeting held in Patna and one of the most important decisions taken during the meeting was the imposition of an immediate moratorium on purchase sale transfer of land development of land and constructionIt is applied to designated township areas across several cities and townsIt is applicable to townships in Patna Sonepur Gaya Darbhanga Saharsa Purnea and Munger till March 27 2027 and in Muzaffarpur Chhapra Bhagalpur and Sitamarhi till June 30 2027 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/row-erupts-over-bihars-satellite-township-plan-rohini-acharya-questions-land-transaction-ban-670846.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tamil-nadu-5681-pc-voter-turnout-till-1-pm-670854.html Chennai April 23 Tamil Nadu recorded a voter turnout of 5681 per cent till 1 pm on Thursday as polling progressed steadily across all 234 Assembly constituencies in a single phase election marked by a fourcornered contest The battle features the DMKled alliance the AIADMKled front Naam Tamilar Katchi NTK and actor Vijayâs Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVKA total of 4023 candidates are in the fray with over 573 crore voters eligible to cast their ballotsAmong districts Tiruppur registered the highest turnout at 6297 per cent followed by Namakkal 6251 per cent Erode 6179 per cent and Salem 6142 per cent The Nilgiris recorded the lowest turnout at 5042 per cent with Kanyakumari 5035 per cent and Tirunelveli 5073 per cent also witnessing relatively lower participationFormer Chief Minister O Panneerselvam cast his vote in Periyakulam in Theni district Speaking to reporters he said the political impact of Vijay would be known only after the results are declaredFilm personalities also joined voters in exercising their franchise and appealed for greater participation Director K Bhagyaraj voted in Chennaiâs Thousand Lights constituency along with his family and urged voters especially the youth to think about the next five years while casting their voteActor Yogi Babu cast his vote in the Maduravoyal constituency after standing in a queue and called upon citizens to recognise the importance of voting and ensure they take part in the democratic processMeanwhile election authorities acted against violations of poll rules In Tirupattur a TVK functionary was arrested for allegedly recording a video inside a polling booth while casting his vote which is prohibited under Election Commission normsPolling is being conducted under tight security arrangements across the State with officials closely monitoring the process to ensure free and fair elections The counting of votes will take place on May 4 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tamil-nadu-5681-pc-voter-turnout-till-1-pm-670854.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-voter-turnout-reaches-70-per-cent-bengal-at-7877-per-cent-670861.html KolkataChennai April 23 The voter turnout for the West Bengal Assembly elections was recorded at 7877 per cent while that for Tamil Nadu stood at 70 per cent as of 3 pm according to data from the Election Commission of India ECI Polling began for 152 assembly constituencies scattered over 16 districts of West Bengal from 7 am on Thursday in the first phase of the twophase crucial Assembly pollsVoter enthusiasm for the elections appeared to be quite high this time as long lines were seen in front of several polling stationsThe 16 districts where polling is being held in the first phase on Thursday are Cooch Behar Darjeeling Kalimpong Jalpaiguri Alipurduar North Dinajpur South Dinajpur and Malda in North Bengal and Murshidabad East Midnapore West Midnapore Jhargram Purulia Bankura West Burdwan and Birbhum in South BengalThe second phase of polls in West Bengal for the remaining 142 assembly constituencies will be on April 29 âA total of 635 complaints were registered with the ECI till 11 am regarding the polling in the first phase of elections covering 152 Assembly constituencies in 16 districtsOf the 635 complaints registered with the ECI 260 have been submitted physically to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer CEO while another 375 have been submitted through the CVigil appMeanwhile polling for the highstakes Tamil Nadu Assembly elections across all 234 constituencies also began at 7 am with over 573 crore eligible voters set to decide the fate of 4023 candidates in a fiercely contested fourcornered battleThe electoral contest primarily features the DMKled Secular Progressive Alliance the AIADMKled National Democratic Alliance the Naam Tamilar Katchi NTK and the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK making this one of the most competitive elections in recent yearsVoting commenced early in the morning with voters seen queuing up in large numbers at polling booths reflecting strong public enthusiasm to participate in the democratic processWith voter turnout expected to play a decisive role political parties are closely monitoring polling trends across constituenciesThe counting of votes is scheduled for May 4 when the electoral verdict will determine the next governments in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-voter-turnout-reaches-70-per-cent-bengal-at-7877-per-cent-670861.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-3714-pc-turnout-recorded-by-1-pm-in-umreth-assembly-bypoll-as-voting-continues-670862.html Anand April 23 Polling for the Umreth Assembly byelection in Gujarats Anand district continued through Thursday with 3714 per cent voter turnout recorded by 1 pm according to data released by the Election Commission of India Voting began at 7 am on Thursday across 306 polling stations in the Assembly constituency which covers 46 villages of Umreth taluka and parts of Anands rural area along with the municipalities of Ode Umreth and BoriaviA total of 245623 voters are eligible to decide the outcome in the poll contest involving six candidatesThe Election Commission has scheduled polling to continue until 6 pm while counting of votes will be held on May 4Officials said voting has been proceeding in a structured manner under tight administrative supervision with around 1348 polling personnel deployed on duty assisted by 22 micro observers and 19 nodal officersNearly 1500 officials in total are engaged in the polling processWebcasting has been enabled at all polling stations to ensure continuous monitoringSecurity arrangements remain in place with the deployment of two Deputy Superintendents of Police four Police Inspectors around 500 police and home guard personnel and three companies of the Central Reserve Police ForceTo ensure accessibility election authorities have arranged 218 wheelchairs for elderly and differentlyabled voters supported by 361 volunteers across polling stationsSix dedicated vehicles have also been provided for voters aged 85 years and above and persons with disabilities to assist them in reaching polling centresVoter Assistance Booths have been set up at all stations to provide guidance and informationThe electorate includes 4174 firsttime voters aged between 18 to 19 years along with 1556 voters aged above 85 years and 1546 differentlyabled personsOfficials said some voters from these categories have already cast their votes through home voting arrangements conducted ahead of the polling dayEarlier 212 electionduty staff members exercised their vote through postal ballots between April 15 to 17Authorities have also put in place medical arrangements in coordination with hospitals in Anand Bhalej and Karamsad to provide emergency care to election personnelORS packets have been made available at polling stations as a precaution against heatrelated conditionsVoters are permitted to use any one of 12 approved identity documents including Aadhaar card passport driving licence and voter ID while nonresident Indian voters must produce their original passport for identification at polling stations IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-3714-pc-turnout-recorded-by-1-pm-in-umreth-assembly-bypoll-as-voting-continues-670862.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/calcutta-hc-reprimands-ec-over-imposing-restrictions-on-bike-movement-before-bengal-polls-670867.html Kolkata April 23 The Calcutta High Court on Thursday strongly criticised the Election Commission over imposing restrictions on the use of motorbikes two days before the Assembly polls in Bengal On Thursday Justice Krishna Rao told the Election Commission that it was abusing its power and citizens were being harassed in this way After the judgeâs observation the Election Commission will submit an affidavit to the court on Friday In the affidavit the Election Commission will explain why the restrictions were imposed two days before the election The poll panel can also tell the court about past bad incidents regarding bikesOn Thursday Justice Rao also told the Election Commission that the rights of ordinary citizens cannot be taken away in this wayThe judge commented that it could stop the cars too Even then people can carry bombs and guns and create chaos said the judgeThe judge further asked the Election Commission to show the court how many cases in the last five years were examples of bike gangs creating chaosThe court was of the view that this was a step that had been taken to halt everything two days before the election The judge further said that this was being done to cover up the failure of the authoritiesThe Election Commission issued a notification on Tuesday stating that no bike processions will be allowed two days before the pollsThe commissions notification stated that bikes can be ridden only from 6 AM to 6 PM two days before the election However no passenger will be allowed to sit on the back of the bike during this time Bikes can be ridden from 6 AM to 6 PM on the day of the electionHowever this exemption will be available only if the bike is used for voting or for any urgent workThe Commission stated that these restrictions will not be effective for urgent needs like medical emergency family work or taking children to and from school Those who ride bikes to go to social events have also been exemptedAccording to the Commission this rule will not be effective for other Appbased cab and food delivery services Apart from this if anyone wants to get exemption from the restrictions he will have to take written permission from the local police station the poll panel saidChallenging this order of the Election Commission the attention of the Calcutta High Court was drawn to the directives on WednesdayJustice Rao allowed the case to be filed and the hearing of that case was held on Thursday Tomorrow the Election Commission will submit an affidavit in this regard IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/calcutta-hc-reprimands-ec-over-imposing-restrictions-on-bike-movement-before-bengal-polls-670867.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/such-disgraceful-conduct-cant-be-normalised-bjp-to-eci-over-kharges-terrorist-remark-670721.html New Delhi April 22 IANS A delegation of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP met the Election Commission of India ECI on Wednesday to lodge a strong protest against Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharges terrorist remark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and to demand exemplary action to serve as a deterrent for others who try to breach political red linesnbspThe highlevel BJP delegation comprised Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju Nirmala Sitharaman and Arjun Ram Meghwal and BJP national General Secretary Arun Singh who all urged the Election Commission to intervene and take action against venomous remarks by the Congress chiefParliamentary Affairs Minister Rijiju while speaking to the media said the BJP delegation conveyed the partys deep sorrow and anger over the abominable language used by Congress president against the Prime Minister and called for taking immediate cognisanceRijiju further said For Kharge to call PM Modi a terrorist is not just a remark but a grave insult to the entire nation Such disgraceful conduct cannot be normalisedAccording to him the poll panel has taken note of their concerns and assured them of adequate action over namecalling in the midst of electionsRijiju further informed that they have demanded that the Congress party and Kharge apologise before the nation and exemplary action should follow so that a clear message goes down in the political discourse so that no one dares to cross the limitsNirmala Sitharaman too in scathing criticism of the Congress party called out its pattern and history of abusing the Prime MinisterToday we appeared before the polling commission to bring to their notice that the President of Congress and the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha have spoken in such condemnable words The Congress has shown a pattern of repeatedly using abusive language against the Prime Minister Sitharaman saidTheres no change or correction in their course They have not changed their approach she addedTerming the conduct outrageous she said that this was driven by the Congress partys deep hatred for the Prime Minister and this calls for a firm and stern action against the guiltyBJPs anger and outrage over Kharge follows the latters obnoxious remarks made against the Prime Minister during a presser in Tamil Nadu on the last day of the poll campaignThough Kharge later claimed that this was not what he meant it has failed to convince the BJP which smells a motive and pattern by the Congress leader just ahead of electionsKharges remarks that created a political firestorm read How can these AIADMK people join hands with Modi when their party itself was founded by Annadurai He is a terrorist His party does not believe in equality and justice These people are joining with them it means they are weakening democracyIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/such-disgraceful-conduct-cant-be-normalised-bjp-to-eci-over-kharges-terrorist-remark-670721.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/atal-pension-yojana-surpasses-historic-9-crore-gross-enrolments-670733.html New Delhi April 22 The Union government said on Wednesday that the Atal Pension Yojana APY has achieved a historic milestone by surpassing total gross enrolments of nine crore subscribers Gross enrolments during the Financial Year 2025â26 crossed 135 crore subscribers marking the highestever enrolments recorded in a single financial year since the inception of the scheme according to a Finance Ministry statementLaunched on May 9 2015 with the vision of establishing a universal social security system for all Indians APY is a flagship social security scheme of the Union government administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority PFRDAAccording to the Ministry APY is designed to provide a Sampurna Suraksha Kavach Complete Security Shield by ensuring benefits like a guaranteed monthly pension ranging from Rs 1000 to Rs 5000 for subscribers after attaining 60 years of ageAlso same pension continues to the spouse after the subscribers demise and the return of the corpus accumulated till the age of 60 to the nominee after the death of bothThe pension scheme is open to all Indian citizens between the age of 18 and 40 years except those who are or have been income taxpayersAPY is a voluntary contributory pension scheme primarily focused on the poor the underprivileged and workers in the unorganised sectorOver the past decade the scheme has witnessed remarkable growth driven by sustained efforts of banks Public Sector BanksRegional Rural BanksPrivate BanksSmall Finance BanksCooperative banks State Level Bankers CommitteeUnion Territory Level Bankers CommitteesLead District Managers the Department of Posts and continuous support from the Union government the official statement saidAccording to the Ministry PFRDA has played a proactive role in expanding the schemes footprint across all states and districts in the country through extensive outreach initiatives capacitybuilding programmes multilingual awareness materials media campaigns and regular performance reviews IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/atal-pension-yojana-surpasses-historic-9-crore-gross-enrolments-670733.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/farm-tourism-homestays-to-create-new-jobs-for-youth-in-haryana-670616.html Chandigarh April 21 The Haryana government aims to take tourism in the state to new heights through farm tourism and homestays which will create new employment opportunities for the youth officials said To achieve this issues faced by farm tourism and homestay operators will be resolved on a priority basis Amit Kumar Agrawal Haryana Commissioner and State Tourism Department Secretary said on Tuesday At a meeting here with farm tourism and homestay operators Agrawal said the state government is making efforts to promote tourism activities in the state Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini is personally taking keen interest in the development of farm tourism and homestays in the state the Haryana Commissioner and State Tourism Department Secretary was quoted as saying During the meeting farm tourism and homestay operators apprised the department of issues related to various departments and requested their resolution They said that the global annual market for farm tourism and homestays is Rs 5000 crore and is continuously growing If the Haryana government addresses the challenges faced by this sector the state can achieve significant progress in this field they added The operators also highlighted difficulties related to necessary facilities and approvals required from different departments in detail Agrawal directed operators to submit their issues in writing within the next five days Based on these inputs a comprehensive farm tourism and homestay policy will be formulated in coordination with all departments and will be presented for Cabinet approval Once implemented it will ensure smooth functioning of these services Additionally services related to this sector will be notified under the Right to Service Act to ensure timely delivery within a stipulated period Agrawal said the state government is also studying policies implemented by other states related to agrotourism and homestays to make Haryanas policy more effective He added that as per the directions of the Chief Minister tourism and hospitality will be promoted on a par with other industries in the state to generate maximum employment opportunitiesHe also told that the Central government has included farm tourism and homestays under the ease of doing business framework IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/farm-tourism-homestays-to-create-new-jobs-for-youth-in-haryana-670616.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 06:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-elections-eci-focuses-on-robust-poll-day-arrangements-670631.html Chennai April 22 With polling for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled on Thursday the Election Commission ECI has put in place extensive arrangements across the state to ensure smooth peaceful and voterfriendly polling Officials said preparations are in full swing with a strong focus on infrastructure accessibility and realtime monitoring at polling stations A total of 75064 polling booths have been set up each equipped with essential facilities and supported by trained personnel The Commission has directed Chief Electoral Officers to ensure that every polling station is fully prepared to handle voters efficiently and without disruption To maintain law and order and ensure peaceful polling microobservers have been deployed at every polling station These officials will closely monitor the voting process and report any irregularities in real time strengthening transparency The distribution of Voter Information Slips VIS has also commenced to help voters easily identify their polling stations and verify their details in advance Minimum facilities at polling stations will include drinking water shaded waiting areas toilets with water supply adequate lighting ramps for persons with disabilities proper signage and wellmaintained booths Seating arrangements will also be made at regular intervals in queues to support voters particularly the elderly and differentlyabled As part of voter awareness efforts four standardised voter information posters will be prominently displayed at all polling stations These will provide details such as polling station information candidate lists voting procedures accepted identity documents and key dos and donâts for voters Voter Assistance Booths will be established at each polling station to help voters locate their polling station number and serial number in the electoral roll Clearly marked guide posters will also be placed along routes leading to polling centres to ensure easy navigation Additionally mobile phone deposit facilities will be provided outside polling stations Voters will be required to switch off their phones and hand them over to designated volunteers before entering the polling booth and can collect them after casting their vote Campaigning for the elections has concluded and the state has now entered the mandatory silence period ahead of voting The Election Commission has reiterated that all arrangements will be strictly monitored with field staff instructed to complete preparations well in advance to ensure a seamless and voterfriendly polling experience IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-elections-eci-focuses-on-robust-poll-day-arrangements-670631.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/nadda-bashes-kharges-terrorist-remark-says-cong-gone-berserk-out-of-fear-of-defeat-in-elections-670651.html New Delhi April 22 Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Wednesday hit out at Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge over the terrorist remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that the people of the country will give a befitting response to the party He said that the Congress chiefs derogatory remarks were a grave insult to the mandate of the countrys 140 crore peopleKharge triggered a major political controversy on Tuesday while attacking AIADMKs alliance with the BJP ahead of Tamil Nadu Assembly elections referring to PM Modi as a terrorist during a press conference He later clarified that he meant the Prime Minister was terrorising people and political parties and not that he was a terroristReacting to this Nadda took to X and said The use of the word terrorist by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji is a grave insult to the mandate of 140 crore countrymenThe issueless and visionless Congress has gone berserk out of fear of the impending defeat in the upcoming elections in five states In its attempt to snatch away womens rights it is facing the wrath of the public across the country irked by its eroding mass base Congress leaders are unable to digest the continuously rising popularity of Prime Minister Modi Ji he saidCondemning Kharges remarks the Union Minister said The shameful and derogatory language used by the Congress President against Prime Minister Modi Ji cannot be condemned enough no matter how strongly it is denouncedThe people of the country will surely give a befitting response to the Congress for its derogatory remark against the Prime Minister he addedEarlier on Tuesday Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a post on X slammed Kharge and accused Congress of repeatedly lowering the standards of public discourse âHe wrote that Kharge had breached every standard of public conduct and brought shame to the nation by calling the elected Prime Minister a terrorist âShah emphasised that PM Modi had curbed terrorism over the past twelve years and described the remark as highly condemnable âHe added that every time Congress hurls abuses at PM Modi the people of India respond and this time too the public will give its answer â IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/nadda-bashes-kharges-terrorist-remark-says-cong-gone-berserk-out-of-fear-of-defeat-in-elections-670651.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/rtc-buses-go-off-the-roads-in-telangana-as-employees-begin-strike-670654.html Hyderabad April 22 Public road transport services in Telangana came to a grinding halt on Wednesday as employees of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation TGSRTC began their indefinite strike in support of their demands TGSRTC buses went off the roads across the state since midnight as the Joint Action Committee JAC of employeesâ unions decided to go ahead with the strike following the failure of talks with the state governmentWith the RTC buses remaining confined to all 90 depots commuters faced severe hardships across the state including the capital Hyderabad At many places commuters were seen hiring private vehicles to reach their destinations Striking employees staged a protest outside the depots demanding that the government resolve their longpending demands Police tightened security at the depots to prevent any untoward incidentAt a few places TGSRTC was operating electric buses with the help of contract employeesTGSRTC operates about 9500 buses including 2500 hired buses and over 1000 electric buses About 25 lakh people travel by RTC buses across the state every dayMahatma Gandhi Bus Station MGBS in Hyderabad the biggest bus station in the state wore a deserted look A similar situation prevailed at Jubilee Bus Station JBS in Secunderabad and other bus stations in the state capital and all other districts TGSRTC Managing Director Nagi Reddy has appealed to the employees to return to work He stated that the government is ready to resolve its demands in a phased mannerHe alleged that a few unions were misleading the employees The MD said the government constituted a committee of IAS officers to address the demandsThe talks held Tuesday night between the JAC and the committee failed to resolve the deadlockThe committee sought four weeks to resolve the demands JAC leaders said their demands are not new They made it clear that they will continue the strike till their 32 demands are resolved JAC chairman Eeduru Venkanna told media persons that all unions have extended their support to the strike call Merging TGSRTC with the government is the main demand of the JAC The RTC JAC Chairman asserted that the government ignored the issue of merger even after explicitly including it in its election manifestoHe said that the government constituted a committee as a delaying tactic He recalled that the JAC served the strike notice 41 days agoVenkanna stated that they are compelled to resort to a strike due to unavoidable circumstances He alleged that under the pretext of introducing electric buses attempts are being made to transfer employees currently stationed at Hyderabad depots to the districts IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/rtc-buses-go-off-the-roads-in-telangana-as-employees-begin-strike-670654.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/kaleshwaram-commission-telangana-hc-bars-govt-from-taking-action-against-kcr-670661.html Hyderabad April 22 In a huge relief to former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and former Minister T Harish Rao the Telangana High Court barred the state government from taking any action against them and two other petitioners on the basis of the report of the Justice PC Ghose Commission which enquired into alleged irregularities in the execution of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme The High Court observed that the Ghose Commission did not follow the procedure under the Commission of Inquiry ActA Bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin on Wednesday pronounced the orders on the batch of writ petitions filed separately by Bharat Rashtra Samithi BRS President K Chandrasekhar Rao KCR Harish Rao retired IAS officer and former Chief Secretary SK Joshi and serving IAS officer Smitha Sabharwal challenging the reportThe petitioners had sought a direction to set aside and quash the report of the CommissionThe petitioners had also challenged the constitution of the Commission but the court held that the government has the power to constitute the Commission However the court found that the findings of the Commission canât be a basis for action against any of the petitioners a lawyer saidDuring the hearing counsels for the four petitioners rebutted the findings of the Commission and contended that their clients were not served the mandatory notices under Section 8B and 8C of the Commission of Inquiry ActAfter hearing the arguments on the petitions the court had reserved its orders last month The orders were to be pronounced on April 8 but the same were postponed to April 22The Bench directed the government not to initiate any coercive action against all four petitioners based on the findings of the Ghose Commission reportSupreme Court senior counsel Dama Sheshadri Naidu had argued for KCR while Advocate General A Sudershan Reddy and senior counsel S Niranjan Reddy had appeared for the state government and the Ghose Commission respectivelyThe Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme KLIS said to be the worldâs largest multistage lift irrigation project was started by the then BRS government in May 2016 Its main component was inaugurated by the then CM KCR in 2019In March 2024 the Congress government constituted a commission headed by former Supreme Court judge Pinaki Chandra Ghose to probe alleged irregularities in planning design construction quality control operation and maintenance of Medigadda Annaram and Sundilla Barrages of the Kaleshwaram projectThe commission submitted its report to the Telangana government on July 31 2025The Commission held KCR directly and vicariously accountable for irregularities in planning execution completion operation and maintenance of the Kaleshwaram project It also indicted Harish Rao then Chief Secretary Joshi and then Secretary to Chief Minister Smitha Sabharwal IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/kaleshwaram-commission-telangana-hc-bars-govt-from-taking-action-against-kcr-670661.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-to-hear-ed-plea-against-mamata-banerjee-in-i-pac-raid-case-today-670665.html New Delhi April 22 IANS The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate ED against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday in connection with the Indian Political Action Committee IPAC raid casenbspThe hearing forms part of an ongoing legal dispute over allegations that the Chief Minister interfered in an ED search operation conducted at the premises of the Indian Political Action CommitteeThe matter traces back to raids carried out by the ED on January 8 as part of a multicrore money laundering investigation linked to an alleged coal smuggling scamAccording to the agency Mamata Banerjee accompanied by more than 100 police personnel and senior officials entered the IPAC office as well as the residence of its founder Pratik Jain while the searches were underwayThe ED has alleged that she unauthoritatively removed key evidence during the operation including laptops mobile phones and documents containing electoral dataDuring earlier proceedings the Supreme Court had described the alleged confrontation as very unusual and termed it an unhappy situation raising concerns about the absence of clear legal remedies in cases where a highranking state functionary is accused of obstructing a central investigationAppearing for the ED Solicitor General Tushar Mehta has sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the alleged interference along with appropriate action against the Chief Minister and the states Director General of Police The agency has argued that central investigative bodies cannot be left remediless if their operations are physically obstructedOn the other hand the West Bengal government represented by senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi has contested the maintainability of the plea The state has argued that the ED being a government department cannot claim fundamental rights or invoke Article 32 to directly approach the Supreme CourtThe state has also alleged that the raids are politically motivated and aimed at undermining the All India Trinamool Congress ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly electionsMeanwhile in a related development IPAC cofounder Vinesh Kumar Chandel was arrested on April 13 after which the organisation is reported to have scaled down or paused its operations in West BengalA court at Patiala House Court subsequently remanded Chandel to 10 days of ED custody in connection with the money laundering probe linked to the alleged coal pilferage case He is expected to remain in custody until April 23 for further interrogationIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-to-hear-ed-plea-against-mamata-banerjee-in-i-pac-raid-case-today-670665.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/un-secretary-general-candidate-bacheletto-push-as-much-as-possible-for-unsc-reforms-670666.html United Nations April 22 Michelle Bachelet Jeria who is running to be the next secretarygeneral has declared she would âpush as much as possibleâ to have the member states reform the Security Council âTheres a huge movement that they UN members understand that the Security Council needs to be reformed but in which way will depend on how members decideâ she said on Tuesday at a news conference following a candidatesâ forumThe Council needs to have representation of those who are underrepresented as permanent members or nonpermanent members she saidIf it is not reformed there is not much hope for the multilateral system she added emphasising the need for changeBachelet said that while the secretarygeneral doesnât have the mandate to reform the Council she will do her best to convince member nations to act on reforming itA pediatric doctor by profession Bachelet is a former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and was the president of Chile which nominated her along with Mexico and BrazilDuring the candidateâs forum on behalf of G4 Germanyâs Permanent Representative Thomas Hans Ossowski asked her what role she would see for the SecretaryGeneral in reforming the Security Council that âdoes not reflect todays geopolitical realitiesâ and its relevance and effectiveness are questionedG4 a group of India Germany Japan and Brazil lobbies for Council reform and they mutually support each other for permanent seats on a reformed CouncilBachelet said that there is a need for making the Council reflect the world as it is today so it can be more efficient and effective with better geographic representation with permanent members from certain regions and the secretarygeneral can play a role in bringing this aboutIndiaâs External Ministry Secretary Shibi George asked her about her approach to achieving the developmental goals of the Global SouthBachelet said the member states should make achieving the development goals a political priority and ensure finances are available for itIt will also have to be ensured that the Global South is well represented in the different decisionmaking positions at the UN agencies and the Secretariat she saidThis is to make sure their voices are really heard not only in particular group meetings like those on the situation of the least developed countries but on a daily basis she saidThere are three other candidates competing to succeed Antonio Guterres whose second term ends this year The Security Council will select the winner and recommend its choice to the General Assembly for approval IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/un-secretary-general-candidate-bacheletto-push-as-much-as-possible-for-unsc-reforms-670666.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/india-stands-united-will-never-bow-to-terror-pm-modi-remembers-pahalgam-victims-670670.html New Delhi April 22 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday remembered the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack on the first anniversary of the dastardly massacre and said that India will never bow to any form of terrornbspHe extended condolences to bereaved families while affirming national unity in grief and a firm resolve that India will never yield to terrorism or allow terrorist designs to succeedIndia on Wednesday is observing one year of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in which Pakistanbacked terrorists gunned down 26 innocent tourists after identifying their religion in one of the most brutal incidents targeting civilians in recent yearsIn a post on X PM Modi said Remembering the innocent lives lost in the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack on this day last year They will never be forgotten My thoughts are also with the bereaved families as they cope with this lossAs a nation we stand united in grief and resolve India will never bow to any form of terror The heinous designs of terrorists will never succeed the Prime Minister addedEarlier in the day the Indian Army took to social media and warned that any misdeeds against the nation will be met by a responseIn a post on X the Army said For acts against India the response is assured Justice will be served AlwaysIt also shared a photo showcasing Operation Mahadev with the tagline It was only a matter of time in red colour This refers to the intense manhunt and neutralisation of the terrorists involved in the attackOperation Mahadev was launched immediately after the April 22 attack It involved extensive searches in difficult Himalayan terrain near DachigamMahadev Ridge culminating in the elimination of the three main perpetratorsThe Indian armed forces scanned over 300 sq kilometres of treacherous terrain for 93 days and eventually neutralised the terroristsA day ahead of the anniversary the Indian Army reiterated its firm commitment to justice and issued a strong warning that any breach of the boundaries of humanity would invite a decisive responseIn a stronglyworded post on its X handle the Indian Army said When boundaries of humanity are crossed the response is decisive Justice is served India stands unitedThe post was accompanied by a visual message stating Some boundaries should never be crossed featuring a map of India marked with red sindoor powder symbolising the Armys decisive action against terrorists under Operation SindoorThe image also carried the message India does not forget underlining the countrys resolve and unityThe Pahalgam terror attack took place on April 22 2025 when 26 people were killed in a brutal massacre targeting tourists The attack was carried out by The Resistance Front an offshoot of the Pakistanbased LashkareTaibaThe attackers singled out victims after asking about their religion forcing them to recite the Islamic kalima to identify nonMuslims Among those killed were 25 tourists and one local pony ride operator who tried to save the touristsSeveral victims were newly married and many were shot at close range in front of their familiesIn response to the attack Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 6 and 7 carrying out what officials described as a focused measured and nonescalatory military action targeting highvalue terror bases in Pakistan and PakistanoccupiedKashmirFollowing the operation Pakistan responded with drone activity and shelling over the next week targeting civilian and religious sites and schoolsIndia subsequently carried out retaliatory strikes including on radar installations in Lahore and facilities near GujranwalaAfter sustaining significant damage Pakistans Director General of Military Operations reached out to his Indian counterpart urging a stop to military action This led to a ceasefire understanding between the two sides on May 10 2025Despite the ceasefire there were continued attempts involving waves of UAVs and small drones entering Indian civilian and military areas These intrusions were intercepted and the Indian armed forces responded firmly with field commanders authorised to take appropriate action in case of any violationsOperation Sindoor was a significant demonstration of Indias military and strategic capability combining both military and nonmilitary measuresThe operation successfully neutralised terrorist threats deterred further aggression and reinforced Indias zerotolerance policy towards terrorism while maintaining strategic restraintIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/india-stands-united-will-never-bow-to-terror-pm-modi-remembers-pahalgam-victims-670670.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/india-remains-firm-in-its-commitment-to-fight-terrorism-eam-jaishankar-on-pahalgam-attack-anniversary-670671.html New Delhi April 22 IANS External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar on Wednesday remembered the victims of the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 innocent people were killed by Pakistanbased terrorists and reaffirmed Indias resolve to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestationsnbspEAM Jaishankar took to X and said Join the nation in remembering the victims of the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack which took place this day last year India stands steadfast in its resolve to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestationsEarlier in the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid homage to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack on its first anniversary and expressed solidarity with their familiesIn a post on X PM Modi said the victims will never be forgotten describing the April 22 2025 attack as a tragedy that continues to weigh on the nations conscience and asserted that the country will not bow to any form of terrorRemembering the innocent lives lost in the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack on this day last year They will never be forgotten My thoughts are also with the bereaved families as they cope with this loss he said in a post on XAs a nation we stand united in grief and resolve India will never bow to any form of terror The heinous designs of terrorists will never succeed the Prime Minister addedThe Pahalgam terror attack took place on April 22 2025 when 26 people were killed in a brutal massacre targeting tourists The attack was carried out by The Resistance Front an offshoot of the Pakistanbased LashkareTaibaThe attackers singled out victims after asking about their religion forcing them to recite the Islamic kalima to identify nonMuslims Among those killed were 25 tourists and one local pony ride operator who tried to save the touristsSeveral victims were newly married and many were shot at close range in front of their familiesIn response to the attack Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 6 and 7 carrying out what officials described as a focused measured and nonescalatory military action targeting highvalue terror bases in Pakistan and PakistanoccupiedKashmirOperation Sindoor was a significant demonstration of Indias military and strategic capability combining both military and nonmilitary measuresThe operation successfully neutralised terrorist threats deterred further aggression and reinforced Indias zerotolerance policy towards terrorism while maintaining strategic restraintMeanwhile the Jammu and Kashmir administration has also stepped up security in Pahalgam deploying additional forces and increasing surveillance to ensure a peaceful commemoration which is expected to be attended by political leaders civil society members and families of the victimsIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/india-remains-firm-in-its-commitment-to-fight-terrorism-eam-jaishankar-on-pahalgam-attack-anniversary-670671.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/telangana-transport-minister-appeals-to-rtc-employees-to-end-strike-670675.html Hyderabad April 22 Telanganaâs Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Wednesday urged employees of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation TGSRTC to call off the strike to protect the public organisation Stating that a strike is not a solution the minister said a highlevel committee formed by the government is looking into their demands and a report is expected in four weeksThe minister appealed to RTC employees and their families to call off the strike in the interest of protecting the organisation and ensuring public welfare He said in a statement that the government has already constituted a fourmember committee of senior officials to address the issues The committee has been instructed to submit its report within four weeks He clarified that this is not a delay tactic Ponnam Prabhakar said that of the 32 issues raised by RTC employees the government has no objection to 29 issues and they can be resolved immediately The remaining issues of the RTC merger and recognition of unions involve technical aspects and require detailed examination These will be discussed with the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister he saidThe minister highlighted key steps taken by the government for the welfare of employees He said salaries were being paid on the first of every month despite delays in the RTC merger The longpending 2017 PRC has been cleared along with pending DA dues while the 2013 pending bonds have been settled He stated that PF dues have been reduced from Rs 1205 crore to Rs 600 crore while CCS dues have been reduced from Rs 690 crore to Rs 300 crore Monthly payments of Rs 75 crore are being made towards PF and CCS He promised that the recruitment of 4538 employees would be completed soon to reduce the workload The government has made 1134 compassionate appointments Around 250 employees previously removed from service have been reinstated The minister emphasised that RTC is gradually recovering and disruptions at this stage would harm both the institution and the public RTC serves as a lifeline for rural and economically weaker sections with around 65 lakh daily passengers including 45 lakh women Many depend on RTC for education employment and healthcare He urged employees to use democratic means of protest through their leadership without disrupting public transport He stressed that poor people cannot afford alternative travel options He assured that the government is committed to resolving all issues and stands firmly with RTC employees while urging them to resume duties and avoid inconvenience to the public IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/telangana-transport-minister-appeals-to-rtc-employees-to-end-strike-670675.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:01:00 +0530