Politics News in English

The Financial Express

Apr 29, 2026, 08:51 AM

West Bengal Assembly Elections: Voting Underway in Phase Two; Tensions Flare Up at Polling Booths

Voting is now underway for the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections — with the counting of votes scheduled for May 4. The polls will decide electoral fate of 1,448 candidates across 142 seats on Wednesday. The TMC is aiming to record a fourth consecutive victory, while the BJP looks to secure a mandate this time around after an improved tally of 77 seats in the 2021 polls. The Left parties are seeking to regain space in the state they ruled for decades with the Congress also seeking to revive itself in the state that has a significant role in the national polity. The second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections will see voting across 142 constituencies in eight crucial districts of the state. The BJP-TMC face-off now shifts to south Bengal and urban clusters that have traditionally been a stronghold of the Mamata Banerjee -led party. The Chief Minister will face off against long-term-ally-turned-BJP-leader Suvendu Adhikari for control of her home bastion in Bhabanipur. Several senior ministers will also defend crucial constituencies — Kolkata, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Hooghly and Purba Bardhaman — as ballots are cast on Wednesday. Thousands of polling stations have been set up across eight districts in south Bengal ahead of the polls. Special Electoral Roll Observer Subrata Gupta told news agency ANI that authorities were “prepared for the worst” and urged residents to “come and vote peacefully and without any fear”. Both the state police and Central Armed Police Forces have been deployed across the state to maintain law and order. Eligible voters should verify their details on the official Election Commission website before stepping out to cast their ballots. Steps to Check Voter List online: "We have heard that a person associated with the BJP carrying a sharp object in his hand was threatening people to vote in favour of the BJP here (Narsingh Bose Lane). We have made a video of this incident and shared it with the District Administration and the media. The police have arrested that person. BJP has lost everything, and this is the reason BJP is trying to threaten people to vote in their favour," said TMC leader Abhishek Chatterjee. "I reject the allegations being made against the BJP because the man in the video is not associated with our party. We don't recognise him. It appears that the man deliberately acted in a manner to defame the BJP," came the response from Sachin Kumar Singh, the vice president of BJP Mandal-3 . According to reports, crude bombs have been recovered near a pond around 200 metres from a polling booth in Ketugram in Purba Bardhaman district. Locals had first spotted the crude bombs and informed the police. The local police has cordoned off the area and bomb squad is reportedly on their way. "It is impossible to expect elections in Bengal to be free of violence. We expected this from the ruling party's side. Still, people in large numbers are participating in the elections. The common people feel that they will be able to vote because Central Forces have been deployed in large numbers here. Common people are participating in the elections by without fear," said Congress candidate from Baharampur Assembly constituency Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. According to details shared by the Election Commission of India, 61.11% approximate voter turnout was recorded till 1 pm in the second and final phase of West Bengal elections 2026. BJP Bihar president Sanjay Saraogi on Wednesday said that the high voter turnout in the ongoing West Bengal assembly elections reflect widespread public anger against the Trinamool Congress (TMC)-led government, alleging that people are voting for change due to corruption, "cut money" practices, and concerns over governance, resource utilisation in West Bengal. "Even in the first phase, several assembly seats saw a 96 per cent voter turnout, with an average of around 93 per cent across the board. Today, a significant number of voters turned out to cast their ballots. In the first phase as well, the anger people felt towards the TMC and Mamata Banerjee's anti-people government was clearly visible at polling stations. Today too, the long queues indicate that people have made up their minds for change and to bid farewell to this anti-people government. The way Bengal's resources are being utilised for Rohingya infiltrators under government protection is concerning. From local businesses to the general public, everyone is distressed. 'Cut money' (illegal commissions) hasn't spared anyone, which is why people are voting for change today," Sanjay Saraogi told ANI. Tensions flared up in Kolkata's Kalighat area on Wednesday when the BJP's Bhabanipur candidate Suvendu Adhikari visited a polling booth and was greeted with slogans by TMC workers, prompting police intervention and a complaint by the opposition leader to the EC seeking deployment of additional central forces. Security forces had to resort to a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. https://twitter.com/ANI/status/2049392883254567219 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari landed in the same polling booth area in Bhabanipur's Chakraberia on Wednesday morning, and took swipes at one another without any direct interaction, underlining the prestige battle unfolding in the CM's political bastion. Though they did not come face-to-face or exchange courtesies, the two rival candidates were briefly in the same area in ward number 70 of Chakraberia, where Banerjee was seated outside a local party office after receiving complaints of alleged intimidation of local TMC leaders. As Banerjee remained on the verandah of the party office, Adhikari arrived on the road, just opposite the spot, accompanied by a large contingent of central forces personnel, and launched an attack on the chief minister, claiming she had realised that "not a single vote" was coming her way. While Banerjee accused the BJP of trying to "rig" the election using central forces, police observers and election officials, Adhikari dismissed her allegations as signs of "frustration", saying the chief minister was "scared" because state police no longer controlled the polling process. " Voting in Bengal is taking place in a fearless atmosphere, unimaginable in the last six or seven decades. People are casting their votes without fear. This is a virtuous symbol of the country's Constitution and the country's strengthening democracy. I express my gratitude to the great people of Bengal for being so vigilant about their rights and voting in large numbers," he said in Uttar Pradesh. https://twitter.com/ANI/status/2049388155045064724 TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien has 'dared' Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resign if the BJP loses the West Bengal Assembly elections to the Mamata Banerjee-led party. In a video message, O'Brien claimed that Modi had projected himself as the BJP's face across all 294 Assembly seats in the state and dared him to accept the challenge. "You yourself announced that you are the candidate in all 294 seats in Bengal. Stop making tall claims and accept this challenge. On May 4, when Mamata Banerjee and the TMC win Bengal, have the courage to resign from the post of PM," the TMC MP said. "West Bengal is witnessing heavy polling...people are fearlessly voting...Voting is taking place in Bengal this time in a fearless atmosphere, which was difficult to even imagine earlier," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during an event in Uttar Pradesh. Former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly casts his vote at a polling booth in Behala https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/2049385907330159025 Saikat Sarkar, the BJP candidate from the Chapra Assembly constituency, alleged that his polling agent was attacked early in the morning while on his way to a polling booth. According to Sarkar, the agent, Musharraf Mir, was heading to booth number 53 around 6 am when he was allegedly assaulted by the TMC candidate along with a person identified as Mufizul and several others. He claimed the group struck Mir from behind on the forehead using a gun and an iron rod. The injured polling agent was taken to the hospital, where he reportedly required six stitches and remains under treatment. Sarkar said a police complaint has been filed in connection with the incident and demanded that the elections be conducted in a free and fair manner. Ratna Debnath, mother of the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder victim and BJP candidate from the Panihati seat, alleged that she was verbally abused and threatened by alleged All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers during campaigning. She claimed that the group used offensive language against her and accused her of using her daughter’s name for political gain. According to her, they also behaved inappropriately and warned her of consequences on May 4. Debnath said she approached the police and demanded immediate arrests, but instead, she was asked to leave the area. She also alleged that police did not allow her Chief Election Agent to stay with her at the spot. She added that after she formally lodged a complaint at the police station, officers later arrived and removed the TMC workers who had gathered there. Sekharranjan Debnath, father of the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder victim, alleged that he and his family were threatened by alleged All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters while they were travelling during the election campaign. He claimed that several people on motorcycles were waiting on the route, raising slogans and later bringing in more party workers who allegedly tried to confront and attack them. He further alleged that instead of removing the TMC workers from the spot, the police asked his family to leave the area. According to him, such actions were being taken because the ruling party was feeling threatened by them politically. His wife, Ratna Debnath, mother of the victim, is contesting the election from the Panihati seat as a candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "At around 6 in the morning, our agent Musharraf Mir was going to booth number 53. At that time, the TMC candidate, his goon Mufizul, and other people came together and hit him on the forehead from behind with a gun, a rod. He suffered six stitches, so he is still in the hospital. After that, a complaint was filed at the police station. We want free and fair elections," claimed BJP candidate from the Chapra Assembly constituency, Saikat Sarkar. BJP candidate Bikash Sardar has alleged that hundreds of "TMC goons" had attacked his car and assaulted his driver as polling began in West Bengal. Sardar claimed the incident took place in the Kanthalberia area when he was visiting polling booths in the constituency. He alleged that stones were hurled at his vehicle and claimed that central forces were later rushed to the spot following the incident. The BJP candidate further accused policemen of beating him up. "TMC is doing 'goonda giri' (hooliganism) everywhere in the constituency. Around 200 to 250 TMC goons attacked my car with rods and bamboo sticks. They also assaulted my driver...I was also beaten up by policemen. They are helping the ruling party instead of ensuring free and fair polls," Sardar alleged. "Last night, I got a call over a complaint against me in the Election Commission that I was distributing money in the Bagda constituency. But I was at my own home. Central Forces personnel threatened several leaders to not leave their houses to cast a vote. This is the first time such a thing has happened. BJP with the Election Commission is doing 'tandav' in West Bengal. We had never seen such a thing before. The public will make it clear what they want," Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Mamata Thakur told ANI. She spoke to the media after casting her vote at a polling booth in Thakurnagar, North 24 Parganas. BJP leader Amit Malviya has alleged that voters were prevented from choosing the BJP at several polling booths in Falta under the Diamond Harbour constituency. He claimed that in multiple booths, the BJP option was allegedly blocked using tape. The Election Commission has assured a repoll if the allegations are proven true. "If any irregularities or if reports of taping of any button come in, that should be verified and noted. If true, those booths will go for a repoll," said the West Bengal Election Commissioner. According to reports, a clash erupted between BJP and TMC polling agents at Booth number 147-148 in the Ramchandrapur Adarsha Bidyabhaban within Khanakul assembly constituency. "It was a minor incident. Right now, voting is taking place in a peaceful manner. CRPF's all-women 240 Battalion is deployed here," CRPF Sub-Inspector Usha told ANI. "I went inside, everything was fine, when I came out I saw that an elderly woman, who had pain in her leg and could not stand properly, I felt bad and I said to someone who was in front of me, to help her... Within 10 metres Trinamool goons attacked me and told me then they would not let me to go out," said Ratna Debnath, the BJP candidate from the Panihati assembly constituency. She is the mother of the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder victim and BJP candidate from Panihati seat. BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya has levelled accusations of EVM tampering and demanded a repolling for several booths in the Falta area of Diamond Harbour. "In several polling booths, the option to vote for the BJP has been blocked using a tape, effectively preventing voters from exercising their choice...We demand an immediate repoll in all affected booths in Falta where such incidents have occurred," he alleged via X. Malviya shared videos from the polling booths to underscore his claim. According to details shared by the Election Commission of India, 39.97% approximate voter turnout was recorded till 11 am in the second and final phase of West Bengal elections 2026. "NIA team has come here to scare us. We had never seen NIA or CBI or ED on election day. This is the first time we are seeing this. We will not be scared," said TMC candidate from Bhangar, Saokat Molla. He had earlier levelled accusations of 'violent hooliganism' in the area. An NIA team arrived early in the morning to take over blast and bomb recovery cases in the district. The accused however, are still at large. "Gundagiri by TMC is happening everywhere in the constituency. 200-250 TMC goons attacked my car with rods and bamboo sticks. They also attacked my driver," said BJP candidate from the Basanti assembly constituency, Bikash Sardar. People were seen queueing up outside polling booths to cast their vote even as rain continued to lash parts of the state on Wednesday morning. https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/2049359032645976211 Fresh tension has erupted at a polling booth on Abinash Kabiraj Street in Kolkata after the TMC alleged that BJP candidate Purnima Chakraborty has attacked TMC camp. Police and central force are at the spot. "100 metres from the polling booth, a camp has been set up and a fake EVM has been placed. People are being told which button to press. They cannot campaign today... I am filing a complaint with the Election Commission. There is no point in complaining to the police," he claimed. "I see that voting is going well... The public has woken up, she (Mamata Banerjee) is going. Tell her to go to Ward 77. Why is she coming here to scare Hindu voters?" he asked. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari are facing off against each other in the Bhabanipur constituency. Both leaders visited booths early on Wednesday morning. “I expect that there will be 90% voting in Bhabanipur . Voting will speed up later in the day. They [TMC] are unable to do anything. This is first time that in every booth in Bhabanipur has BJP agents. I have taken rounds of 10 booths people are very excited , I will go around more booths," Adhikari said. He also questioned Mamata Banerjee's presence in the area. Adhikari said he would raise an objection with the poll observer over this. “Section 163 (of BNSS) is in effect here. Mamata Banerjee is walking around with several people. Why is Mamata Banerjee roaming here?” "The arrangements are always done well inside the booths but outside arrangements are not always good. However, this year arrangements both inside and outside is good. This is the victory of democracy. The people of West Bengal are witnessing this kind of election after 50 years," he told PTI.

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Live Hindustan

Apr 29, 2026, 07:58 AM

AAP Leader Durgesh Pathak Joins Arvind Kejriwal in Boycotting Delhi High Court Judge

After Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal boycotted Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma, other accused in the alleged liquor scam case have also joined the campaign. After Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, AAP leader Durgesh Pathak has also written'Letter No. 3'against Justice Swarna Kant Sharma. Like Kejriwal and Sisodia, Durgesh has also said that he will not go to Justice Sharma's court. Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma is a judge of the Delhi High Court and is hearing the alleged liquor scam. In late February, the trial court had discharged all 23 accused, including Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and reprimanded the CBI and ordered action against the investigating officer. The CBI challenged this decision in the High Court, which is being heard by Justice Sharma. There have been fears of bias against Justice Tushar Sharma by Arvind Kejriwal and other leaders of his party.

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Amar Ujala

Apr 29, 2026, 07:42 AM

Punjab's Aam Aadmi Party Faces Crisis After MPs Defect to BJP

ExpansionAdd as a preferredsource on google Punjab's ruling Aam Aadmi Party is currently going through its most difficult political phase. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann himself has taken the front after seven Rajya Sabha MPs left the party and joined the BJP. Trending Videos In the city campus in Shahpur, Jalandhar, a crucial meeting was held today under the leadership of state in-charge Manish Sisodia, which was attended by more than 25 MLAs and ministers. On the controversy over the word advertiser, the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly Kultar Sandhwa, Minister Barinder Goyal and MLA Balkar Sidhu were also present. On the controversy over the word "traitor" during the meeting, Speaker Kultar Sandhwa said that this is not a small issue, it cannot be answered in two minutes. He said that the leaders who have left the party should think themselves whether their decision was right or wrong.

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The New Indian Express

Apr 29, 2026, 07:39 AM

BJP Leaders Claim Strong Voter Enthusiasm Signals 'Paribartan' in West Bengal

Senior BJP leaders on Wednesday expressed satisfaction over what they described as strong voter enthusiasm across West Bengal, claiming that it augurs well for “paribartan” (change) in the state. BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya, Union Minister of State Shantanu Thakur, senior leader Dilip Ghosh and actor-turned-politician Mithun Chakraborty expressed similar views while speaking to the media, saying people exercised their democratic rights without fear or intimidation. Ghosh, who is contesting from Kharagpur Sadar, told reporters that the presence of central forces was necessitated as the "situation in West Bengal turned worse than Kashmir." "TMC goons used to attack opposition candidates and intimidate voters previously, but they can't anymore. Now, everywhere there is violence-free and fear-free atmosphere, and credit goes to the Election Commission," he told reporters. "People of the state now yearn for 'Paribortan' and removal of the TMC regime," he said. Echoing him, Bhattacharya told reporters, "After 50 years, people of West Bengal have voted in such a way, where the usual scene of intimidation, threat to voters outside polling booths by ruling party leaders was missing. Everyone has come forward to cast their votes. Whoever you like to vote for, exercise your right freely." Thakur said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's "false claims about high-handedness of central forces and the Election Commission will not work anymore, as reflected by the high voter turnout across the state in the earlier first phase and the present second phase. "In Falta, the TMC candidate was threatening voters. The special police observer of EC went there to instil confidence among voters, and polling is taking place peacefully in a fair manner. Mamata Didi's game is over," he said. Actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty, who cast his vote in Belgachia, said he voted "like an ordinary voter" standing in the queue without seeking any special facilities. "I do not want any facility. I voted like a common voter," Chakraborty told reporters after casting his ballot. Expressing confidence over the polling turnout, he said, "I hope, watching the trend, voting will be higher than 90 per cent. And if that happens, you can predict what will happen," hinting at a possible change of guard in the state government.

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Live Hindustan

Apr 29, 2026, 07:26 AM

BJP Sweeps Gujarat Civic Polls, AAP Surprises in Tribal-Dominated Areas

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has once again decimated the opposition in the Gujarat civic polls. From urban to rural areas, the lotus is everywhere. While the Congress is once again out of the contest, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has not been able to make a mark, but Arvind Kejriwal's broom in the villages of the tribal-dominated Narmada district has certainly surprised. However, it is being credited to the personal influence of tribal leader and AAP MLA Chaitra Vasava. In the area dominated by Dediapada MLA Chaitra Vasava, the AAP has won the district panchayat where the BJP government built the world's tallest statue. On the one hand, where the BJP government claims that the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's'Statue of Unity'has led to socioeconomic change, the public is showing a different attitude in the local elections. Compared to the defeat of the BJP in the Statue of Unity Narmada, the defeat in Ayodhya is also being compared to the defeat of the Ram temple, where the party also won four Lok Sabha seats in the district panchayat elections.

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Amar Ujala

Apr 29, 2026, 07:09 AM

Uttar Pradesh Inaugurates Sixth Expressway, Ganga Expressway

Vistara Follow Whatsapp Channels Uttar Pradesh has built a network of highways and expressways in the last few years. Since the expressway between Noida and Agra, five expressways have come up in the state. Today (Wednesday), April 29, the sixth expressway has been inaugurated in Uttar Pradesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated UP's new Ganga Expressway. This 594-kilometre-long e-way is also being seen as a route to power for the BJP in the next year's elections in UP. Trending videosIt is important to know what the Ganga Expressway needs and the history of its construction. What are the features of this expressway? How much is its economic and political importance? Let's know... Advertisement

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The Financial Express

Apr 29, 2026, 07:08 AM

PM Narendra Modi to Inaugurate Ganga Expressway in Uttar Pradesh

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Navbharat Times

Apr 29, 2026, 07:08 AM

Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Elections Delayed Amidst Court Case and Growing Discontent

Saurabh Rai, Lucknow / Mau: The political and administrative heat has intensified in Uttar Pradesh over the three-tier panchayat elections. The delay in the elections, the expiry of the tenure of the panchayat representatives and the growing discontent at the ground level have made the issue more serious. Meanwhile, when the Navbharat Times team questioned the Panchayat Raj Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar about the dates of the elections, he clearly said that the government is fully prepared, but the decision is pending as the matter is currently pending in the Allahabad High Court. The further process will start only after the court order. The demand for the extension of the tenure became the center of discussion at the state-level workshop held at the Panchayati Raj Directorate, Lohia Bhawan in Lucknow. During the workshop, the office bearers of the Block Pramukh Sangh lodged a strong protest over the delay in the elections and raised the demand for the extension of the tenure of the current office bearers by making them the administrators.

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Navbharat Times

Apr 29, 2026, 06:58 AM

Nepal's Political Instability: Challenges, Power Struggles, and International Influence

New Delhi: Nepal is going through a period of political instability and political activity these days. Recently, the new government led by PM Balen Shah is surrounded by many challenges. Incidents like the resignation of two ministers within a few weeks, the adjournment of the parliament session, and protests on the streets have raised questions about the stability of the government. Nepal is also in the news internationally. Big countries like China, America, and India are trying to increase their influence in Nepal. India is also active under the "Neighborhood First" policy. Meanwhile, former agent Lucky Bisht has said in a tweet that the news about the current situation in Nepal is "propaganda." Former agent Lucky Bisht's tweet is making many claims on Nepal's politics and government. He wrote that all the news of the government falling and changing the PM in Nepal is just a propaganda and a blank lie! They go further.

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Navbharat Times

Apr 29, 2026, 06:55 AM

Tejashwi Yadav's Claim: Assassin Ramdhani Yadav Had Ties to NDA Leaders

Patna: After the encounter of Ramdhani Yadav, the assassin of Sultanganj EO Krishna Kumar Bhushan, many new pictures are coming out. Now Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav has created a sensation in the political corridor. Tejashwi Yadav has released two photos and claimed that the slain criminal Ramdhani Yadav was close to NDA leaders. Tejashwi Yadav's big claim and accusation Tejashwi Yadav has put a tweet in which he has put pictures of Ramdhani Yadav, the assassin of the executive officer and who was killed in the encounter. Ramdhani Yadav is seen with BJP President Nitin Navin in one picture, and in another picture he is with Union Minister Chirag Paswan. Tejashwi Yadav has made allegations on the basis of these photos. Ramdhani Yadav was the leader of NDA - Tejashwi Yadav has written in his tweet that "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's song Marbaksar Ki 6 bullets in the chest, Sushani Goondas, BJP's protected Ramdhani Yadav is a criminal and many people will now say about the killing of Union Minister Nitin Besura.

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Dainik Statesman

Apr 29, 2026, 06:46 AM

West Bengal Voter Turnout Reaches Highest Point at 47.86%

The voter turnout was the highest among the 142 constituencies till 11 am. It was 47.86 per cent. It was followed by Manteswar. The voter turnout was 46.83 per cent. The lowest till 11 am was in Maheshtala-33. 5 per cent. The voter turnout till 11 am was 37.27 in Bhabanipur. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's opponent there is Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the opposition in the state. The voter turnout was 34.28 per cent in Bhangar.

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Live Hindustan

Apr 29, 2026, 06:45 AM

Assam Assembly Election 2026: Accuracy of Exit Polls Questioned as Results Approach

The results of the Assam Assembly Election 2026 are due to be announced on 4 May. The pulse of the political parties is high and the public is also curious to know who will get the key to power. The exit polls will also come out before the results as usual. But are the exit polls always right? Let's take a look before the results of 2026. Let's see what the major exit polls predicted in the last Assam Assembly Election 2021 and how much they proved to be right when the actual results came out on 2 May 2021. The main contest in the 2021 election was between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -led NDA and the Congress-led Mahajot. The elections for all the assembly seats in Assam were held in a single phase on 9 April. Among the figures released by the country's well-known survey agencies after the voting ended, almost all of the NDA's return in Assam was a clear majority of 75. Let's India Today's Exit Polls explain this.

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Dainik Statesman

Apr 29, 2026, 06:39 AM

Tensions Rise in Falta Assembly Constituency as TMC Candidate and Police Observer Engage in Cold War

Falta assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas has been in the headlines for two days. TMC candidate Jahangir Khan and police observer of Diamond Harbour police district Ajaypal Sharma are engaged in a cold war. The BJP has demanded a repoll within the first four hours of polling day.

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Navbharat Times

Apr 29, 2026, 06:37 AM

Vietnamese President To Lam to Visit India, Push for BrahMos Missile Deal

New Delhi: Vietnamese President To Lam is expected to visit India next week. His visit is aimed at furthering the strategic and military partnership with India. But the biggest target of his visit is the proposed deal for BrahMos missiles worth about ₹5,800 crore ($700 million). People with knowledge of the matter have been quoted as saying. During Vietnamese President To Lam's visit to India, he is expected to push for the purchase of a range of weapons and defence equipment in addition to buying BrahMos missiles. According to a report in our sister paper ET, the proposed deal could include anti-ship versions of BrahMos, which would help Vietnam enhance its maritime security capabilities. Russia has also agreed to sell BrahMos missiles to the Maldives, which India has jointly developed with Russia. Russia is a trusted friend of India, a long-time ally of Vietnam. According to the report, Russia has backed India's indigenous BrahMos missiles and Lam is the strongest leader in Vietnam after several decades.

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Indian Express

Apr 29, 2026, 06:36 AM

India's Modest Progress in Increasing Women's Representation in Parliament

While the global percentage of seats held by women in national parliaments rose from 11.3 per cent to 27.2 per cent over the last three decades, India’s progress remains relatively modest. According to a new report by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), women’s representation in the Parliament of India rose from 7.2 per cent in 1995 to 13.8 per cent in 2025. Published to mark 30 years of the landmark Beijing Declaration, the report (Women in parliament 1995-2025) provides a sobering backdrop to the ongoing debate in India over the issue of reserving 33 per cent seats for women in the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabhas. Although the Women’s Reservation Bill (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) was passed through the 106th amendment to the Indian Constitution in September 2023, it is yet to be implemented. Against this backdrop, revisiting the long history of this legislation becomes important to address the fundamental questions of constitutional, social, and political equality. In addition to voting rights, major women’s organisations were deliberating the question of reserving seats in political bodies as early as the 1930s. In India, bills to amend the Constitution to reserve seats for women in Parliament and state legislative assemblies were introduced in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2008. The first three bills lapsed with the dissolution of the respective Lok Sabhas. The 2008 bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha and passed by the Upper House. However, it also lapsed with the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha. In 2021, a public interest litigation was filed before the Supreme Court by the National Federation of Indian Women, seeking the reintroduction of the Women’s Reservation Bill to reserve 33 per cent of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies. In 2023, the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam received unanimous support in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. But more than 30 months after the law was passed, it is still being debated, raising issues of constitutional, social and political equality. Women’s representation in the Indian parliament and assemblies continues to remain marginal. India is among the countries where fewer than 7 per cent of ministers are women, according to the Global Gender Gap Report 2023, published by the World Economic Forum. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is seen as an effort that can enable equitable participation of women. It reflects India’s commitment to Article 15(3) of the Constitution, which allows the state to provide women and children with special legislation and welfare provisions. At the same time, there is a need to adhere to Article 15(4) and Article 15(5) of the Constitution, which empower the state to make special provisions for socially and educationally backward classes. These constitutional provisions draw attention to the heterogeneous nature of the category of women, and underline the need for policy designs to take into account intersectional social identities like caste and class. Notably, the women’s movement in India has historically been critiqued through an intersectional lens. Marginalised social groups like Dalits, Adivasis, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) often argue that the women’s movement has remained urban and upper-caste centric. This is also evident in debates around the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament. Reserving seats for women is seen as a move that would facilitate the political entry of primarily relatives of existing politicians or elite women. Therefore, there has been a continued demand for reservations for Dalits and other backward classes within the 33 per cent quota. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023 bill requires one-third of the seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and the Scheduled Tribes (STs) to be reserved for women. However, the non-inclusion of the OBC sub-quota in the draft legislation has been questioned by some leaders. Nivedita Menon, in her article titled “Elusive ‘Woman’: Feminism and Women’s Reservation Bill” (Economic and Political Weekly, 2000), argues that the debates around the bill reveal a fundamental set of questions about citizenship and representation. Women should not be viewed as a homogeneous group without any socially intersecting identities. Their caste, class, ethnic and religious locations are important in understanding how they should be represented in parliamentary bodies, she adds. Both Menon and Mary John (Women in Politics and the Subject of Reservations, 2017) argue that women have been historically viewed as “subjects of political reform” . The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is also aimed at bringing about the political reform of women. But what kind of implications does this ‘top-down approach’ have for democracy? One-third women’s representation in local bodies (panchayats and municipalities) mandated by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments may offer some insights. Reports highlight that elected women sarpanches are often sidelined while their male family members – commonly referred to as ‘sarpanch pati’ or ‘pradhan pati’ – exercise authority. While mere representation is not enough, there’s also a need to move beyond distinctions of women’s issues (usually non-political) versus other issues (political ones). This can be made possible by not just increasing the numerical representation of women, but also giving voice to them on diverse issues. This will help make women’s presence in politics an ordinary rather than an extraordinary phenomenon. Here, comparative examples from other countries can be considered. According to a study by PRS Legislative Research, countries like Sweden, Norway, South Africa, Australia, France, and Germany do not mandate reserved seats for women in legislatures. Instead, some political parties in these countries provide voluntary internal quotas. Such voluntary party quotas have contributed to enhancing women’s political representation. For instance, women constitute around 46 per cent of representatives in Sweden and Norway, while their share stands at 45 per cent in South Africa, 38 per cent in Australia and France, and around 35 per cent in Germany. At the same time, some studies suggest that reservations in parliamentary seats often prompt political parties to primarily field male candidates in unreserved seats. Using data from the Election Commission of India, Geetika Dang and Prerna Sharma, in their study “Why Women Candidates Are More Likely to Run as Independents” (2019), show that of the 8,251 candidates who contested the 16th Lok Sabha elections in 2014, only 8.1 per cent were women. And the largest share of women were independent candidates. This suggests that strengthening women’s participation within political parties might serve as a crucial complement to the Women’s Reservation Bill. Women’s political participation also needs to be extended beyond familial and kinship relations. Soumya Bhowmick, in his article “Equality vs Empowerment: Women in Indian Legislature” (Economic and Political Weekly, 2023), argues that implementing reservation in a top-down manner is not going to be enough. There should be substantive representation across caste and religion, and progress also depends on shifts in people’s attitudes. Moreover, institutional support in the form of training, mentoring, and leadership development, particularly for first-generation women politicians from socially marginalised backgrounds, remains insufficient. The lack of financial resources, high election campaign costs, and limited access to funding networks further make it harder for women to contest elections equitably. Politics continues to be considered a male bastion. Deep-rooted gender biases affect intra-party dynamics as well as voter perception. Therefore, if the Women’s Reservation Bill has to bring about meaningful constitutional transformation, then it has to go beyond the mere politics of women’s presence. It requires party-level restructuring and collaboration between political parties. Trace the evolution of women’s reservation in India from the 1990s to the enactment of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. Why has its implementation been delayed? Political representation of women in India is shaped as much by social structures as by legal provisions. Discuss with reference to caste, class, and kinship networks. Examine the role of societal attitudes and gender norms in limiting the effectiveness of women’s political representation. Compare legislated seat reservations with voluntary party quotas adopted in countries such as Sweden and Norway. Which model is more suitable for India? The Women’s Reservation law risks becoming a case of descriptive representation without substantive empowerment. Critically examine. (Rituparna Patgiri is an Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati .) Share your thoughts and ideas on UPSC Special articles with ashiya.parveen@ indianexpress.com . Gear up for UPSC Prelims 2026—Practice smarter, revise faster, and succeed with our Special Quiz Magazine. ( Click Here ) Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for April 2026. Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub , and follow us on Instagram and X.

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Navbharat Times

Apr 29, 2026, 06:31 AM

India Set to Become Superpower in Next 40 Years: US Expert

Washington: India is going to be a superpower in the next four decades, says US expert Robert Nicholas Burns. India is going to be a superpower because of its size, scientific talent, and geographical location. India has the size and scientific talent to play an important role in geopolitics. In the next 40 years, former US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns says, India will be the world's biggest power.

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Navbharat Times

Apr 29, 2026, 06:30 AM

Minister's Supporters Attack Report in Jharkhand Over Questioning of Minister

New Delhi: A report in Jharkhand asking a question to a minister became so heavy that the minister's supporters attacked the report. Expressing shock over the incident, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla hit out at the minister.

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Business Standard

Apr 29, 2026, 06:24 AM

Indian Rupee Falls to Weakest Level in a Month Amid High Crude Oil Prices

The Indian rupee fell to its weakest level in a month on Wednesday, near its all-time low, though losses were contained by likely central bank intervention that blunted pressure arising from persistently high crude oil prices.The rupee declined ‌to a low of 94.80 per dollar in early trade, before paring losses to last quote at 94.73, down 0.2 per cent on the day. The South Asian currency hit an all-time low of 95.21 per dollar in late-March.Dollar sales by state-run banks, most likely on behalf of the Reserve Bank of India, helped limit the currency's fall, traders said.The central bank has intervened frequently in recent sessions and traders characterize the activity as likely being aimed at curbing volatility as opposed to anchoring the currency ‌at a specific level, in line with the RBI's often stated policy on currency management.While the 94.80 per dollar level may hold on the day, "there is significant dollar buying pressure as well, so all dips (on USD/INR) will get bought into," a trader at a Mumbai-based public sector bank said, asking not to be identified as they are not authorized to speak to the media.Also ReadRupee falls 13 paise to 94.81 against US dollar during early tradePublic sector banks grapple with empty boardroom seats, face challengespremiumGovt fixes OCI card application fee at $275, scraps 6-mth stay ruleRBI's expected credit loss guidelines may hit PSBs, mid-tier banks harderpremiumRupee weakens, bond yields harden tracking rise in crude oil pricesIn global markets oil-sensitive Asian currencies continued to face pressure, with the Indonesian rupiah hitting ‌a record low, as Brent crude oil futures perched above $110 per barrel.Later in the day, the focus will be on the US Federal Reserve's ‌policy decision.The Fed is widely expected to keep rates unchanged, but focus will be ‌on commentary around how policymakers expect the war with Iran to impact the world's largest economy."Our base case is for a neutral statement in ‌Powell's last FOMC chaired event, and for Powell to continue to say they need more data to assess the full impact of disruptions to energy and energy ‌related prices," analysts at MUFG said in a note.

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Akila News✓

Apr 29, 2026, 06:23 AM

Gujarat Congress Decimated in Local Body Elections

Ahmedabad, તા.29: Congress has been decimated in the local body elections. Not getting power in any municipal corporation, there is a similar plight in other local bodies. Gujarat Congress will now do a post-mortem of the defeat in the coming days. Of course, after the defeat of the workers, leaders, some leaders of the state at the district level, some leaders of the state are raising the issue of tickets obtained arbitrarily, tickets sold in winnable seats, lack of coordination, lack of funds, and no efforts have been made to control the damage. Before the local body elections, there was an atmosphere of anti-incumbency, a number of street candidates were banned for BJP candidates, with this resentment, most of the people in the cities did not consider it appropriate to vote. Many star campaigners were not even found anywhere. Campaign materials were also not delivered on time. Instead of saving their strongholds, instead of the entire Gujarat, Congress leaders were making claims that the list of candidates had already been finalized, but the names of the candidates had not been delivered.

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Akila News✓

Apr 29, 2026, 06:22 AM

BJP Sweeps Local Elections in Both Taluks, Except One Block

(By Hitesh Gosain) Jasdan, તા.29: With the exception of Jasdan Vichhiya block, when the BJP swept the local elections in both the taluks, everyone from the Bharatiya Janata Party was overjoyed with this victory. Vijaybhai Rathod, Jasdan City BJP President, said that the BJP was today saffronized by the development work done in the village and the people's trust in the party's Maharathy Kunvarjibhai Bavaliya.

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Live Hindustan

Apr 29, 2026, 06:21 AM

US May Close Strait of Hormuz Indefinitely Amid Escalating Tensions with Iran

The Strait of Hormuz is the most important sea route for fuel supplies around the world. Although this route has been badly affected by the war between the United States and Iran for the past 2 months. Shipping has been stopped and the situation is getting worse and worse due to lack of fuel in many countries. On the other hand, there are now reports that this route may be closed for a long time. This is due to the new plan of US President Donald Trump. A report has come out that Trump is planning to give a long blow to Iran and for this he will weaponize the Strait of Hormuz. According to the report, Trump has planned a long siege in Hormuz. Trump has also asked his officials to be ready for a'long-term siege '. It is reported that Trump had previously considered two other options. Under this, either to attack Iran again or to end the war.

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Akila News✓

Apr 29, 2026, 06:19 AM

AAP Surprises BJP in Hamapur Village, Traditionally a Stronghold

(By Samir Virani) Bagsara તા.29: Hamapur village, which has the highest number of voters in Bagsara taluka, has been considered a BJP stronghold for years, but this time the AAP has a lead in all the booths of this village. The village is also allocated the highest grants and facilities at the village level of the taluka. But this year the highest lead in Hamapur village made the AAP candidate the winner. The BJP's zila panchayat candidate got only 614 votes from the four booths of the village, while the AAP candidate got close to 1103 votes. The situation was the same in the taluka panchayat. The local leaders here were not given importance by the BJP. There is also a discussion among the people that the party has worked against the party. The AAP has made a dent in the BJP's stronghold. Now it remains to be seen how the BJP sees these results.

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AajKaal News✓

Apr 29, 2026, 06:18 AM

Bengal Assembly Elections: Voter Turnout Reaches 41.11% in First Phase, Violence Reported

Today's Webdesk: Voter turnout till 11 am in the first phase of the assembly elections 41.11%. Voter turnout till 11 am in the second phase was slightly less than that in the state. Voter turnout till 11 am today was the highest in Purba Bardhaman district 39.97%. Trailing far behind was South Kolkata. 36.78%. Let's take a look at the percentage of voting till 11 am in which district. BJP workers beat a young woman and her father to death in Panihati. In the second phase of Bengal polls in four hours, the voter turnout was around 40%. In which district, Ekanjare-Howrah 39.45 Hooghly 43.12 North Kolkata 38.39 South Kolkata 36.78 Nadia 40.34 North 24 Parganas 38.43 South 24 Parganas 37.92 Purba Bardhaman 44.50 recorded the lowest percentage of voting among all assembly constituencies. 33.05 Maheshwari recorded the lowest voter turnout.

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Amar Ujala

Apr 29, 2026, 06:17 AM

BJP Releases Election Manifesto in Panchkula; Congress Also Unveils Its Party Manifesto

Expanded as a preferredsource on google BJP releases election manifesto in Panchkula today. Congress releases party manifesto in presence of CM Naib Singh Saini. Trending Videos Congress releases manifesto. BJP state office Panchkamal holds Sankalp Patra release event. BJP state president Mohanlal Badauli, organization minister Phanindranath Sharma were present. Also present were cabinet minister and Panchkula civic polls in-charge Vipul Goel and co-incharge former minister Kanwarpal Gurjar, minister Krishan Lal Panwar, minister Ranbir Gangwa, Rajya Sabha MP Kartikey Sharma, Kalka MLA Shaktirani Sharma, former speaker Gian Chand Gupta and Panchkula mayoral candidate Shyamlal Bansal. Several people from different districts joined the BJP at the manifesto release ceremony. CM Naib Saini and state president Mohanlal Badauli welcomed all the party leaders wearing Patka and former minister Jagdish Bal, Anil Yadav, Anil Bishnoi, Anil Bishnoi from Mandoli, Anil Jaiswal, Anil Bishnoi, Anil Balmiki from Hisar (Gurugram).

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Live Hindustan

Apr 29, 2026, 06:17 AM

West Bengal Assembly Elections: IPS Officer Ajay Pal Sharma Gets Relief from Calcutta High Court

The second phase of polling for the West Bengal Assembly elections is underway on Wednesday. Just ahead of it, the tussle between Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir and UP-cadre IPS Ajay Pal Sharma, who went to West Bengal as an observer, is being discussed across the country. Meanwhile, IPS Ajay Pal Sharma has got a big relief from the Calcutta High Court. The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday said that it will not issue any order against any officer on election duty till April 29, when the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections is to be held. A lawyer had orally prayed in the court of Justice Krishna Rao to stop IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma from working in the zone. IPS Ajay Pal is the police observer appointed by the Election Commission for the state Assembly elections in South 24 Parganas district. The lawyer alleged that Ajay Pal is violating the code of conduct. To this, Justice Rao said that he will not pass any order about any officer on election duty till April 29. The lawyer did not file a complaint about the entire voting process.

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Akila News✓

Apr 29, 2026, 06:16 AM

UAE Withdraws from OPEC Amid US Pressure to Control Crude Oil Prices

Dubai: US President Donald Trump has played a big game to control the ever-increasing prices of crude oil in the international market. According to reports, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has now officially pulled out of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

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Kalinga TV

Apr 29, 2026, 06:13 AM

BJP Booth Worker Allegedly Attacked by TMC Miscreants in West Bengal

Nadia (West Bengal): Amid the ongoing Phase 2 polling in West Bengal, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) booth worker alleged on Wednesday that he was attacked by a group of miscreants belonging to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the Chapra Assembly constituency in Nadia district. Around 5:30 a.m. on polling day, BJP polling agent Mosharraf Mir, assigned to booth number 53 under Hatra Panchayat, was allegedly assaulted with iron rods and firearms by unidentified individuals. Police officials rescued him and admitted him to Chapra Rural Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment. He has received six stitches on his head. According to Mir, around 15 to 20 people came with weapons, including guns, sticks, and iron rods. He has demanded the arrest of the alleged perpetrators, saying that he has recieved multiple stitches after the alleged attack on him and others. “Some TMC goons were hiding there. They have several cases against them. Janiallamulla is a criminal. He had a gun, and two other men also had guns. They were brandishing them. Then, about 15-20 more people came towards us. They had iron rods and canes. They attacked me first and hit me, causing me to fall down,” Mir told ANI. He added, “After that, they kept hitting me again and again. They also attacked the people with me. I have six stitches on my head. I want the police to arrest them. I want justice.” Over the incident, BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar said, “Chhapra is a minority-dominated area where ‘gundagardi’ happens with help from TMC, which doesn’t want any BJP booth agents present in the constituency. We are demanding strict action in this incident.” The attack took place amid the second phase of voting in the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026. Meanwhile, Nadia assembly constituency recorded a voting percentage of 18.50 per cent, while Purba Bardhaman stands at the top, with a voting percentage of 20.86%, followed by Hooghly, which has witnessed 20.16% polling until 9 am, and North 24 Paraganas recorded 17.81% votes. Kolkata North and Kolkata South have experienced 17.28% and 16.81% polling respectively, whereas 17.76 percent voting has taken place in Howrah. The main fight in West Bengal in the 2026 elections is between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP. Earlier in the day, West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari inspected the polling booths in Bhabanipur constituency. TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee cast his vote at the Mitra Institute polling booth in Bhabanipur. The second phase covers 142 out of 294 seats in West Bengal. The total electorate is around 3.21 crore, with 1,64,35,627 men, 1,57,37,418 women and 792 transgender voters. While 142 seats are up for grabs, all eyes are on the ‘Big Five’ urban contests. Apart from the high-stakes seat of Bhabanipur, Tollyganj, the heart of the Bengali film industry, is a high-profile, star-studded battle.

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Zee News Hindi✓

Apr 29, 2026, 06:07 AM

PM Modi Inaugurates India's Longest Expressway in Uttar Pradesh

PM Modi Ganga Expressway UP: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hand over the longest expressway of Uttar Pradesh to the country today. With the start of the 594 km long Ganga Expressway, the distance from Meerut to Prayagraj will be reduced to just 6 hours. This 6-lane expressway will make Uttar Pradesh a powerhouse of logistics. PM Modi is going to inaugurate the Ganga Expressway today. With the opening of this expressway built at a cost of Rs 37000 crores, Uttar Pradesh will get a gift of Rs 47000 crores. It will not just be a road project but will turn Uttar Pradesh into an industrial hub. 12 industrial nodes are being developed along the expressway, for which 6507 acres of land has been identified. So far 987 investment proposals have been received. The UP government will get an investment of about Rs 47000 crores from this expressway. The 12 districts, Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Haridwar, Raebareli, Prayagraj, Pratapgarh, are going to build the expressway.

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Akila News✓

Apr 29, 2026, 06:06 AM

China Deploys Warships to Taiwan Strait Amid Tensions

Taiwan તા.29: With the world now under the shadow of the Iran-US conflict, China has sent two warships to the Taiwan Strait, signaling a new war. Taiwan's Defense Ministry has confirmed the presence of a Chinese destroyer and frigate near the Penghu Islands. Taiwan has deployed its armed forces in response to the incursion and is keeping a strict watch on Chinese movements. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, while Taiwan is adamant on its autonomy, which has led to heightened tensions in the South China Sea. According to an official statement issued by Taiwan's Defense Ministry late on Monday, a Chinese navy destroyer and a frigate were moving suspiciously in the southwest waters of the Penghu Islands. Given the seriousness of the incident, Taiwan immediately dispatched its navy ships and air force aircraft to monitor the movements of the Chinese vessels, although the Defense Ministry did not reveal further details about the exact nature of the movements.

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Dainik Jagran

Apr 29, 2026, 06:02 AM

May Career Horoscope 2026: Office Changes and Increased Responsibilities Ahead?

Apart from this, there may be some politics or internal changes in the workplace. Responsibilities will increase in the office. Let's know from astrologer Anand Sagar Pathak how the month of May will be according to the career horoscope (May Career Horoscope 2026).

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Dainik Jagran

Apr 29, 2026, 06:02 AM

Speaker Challenges Opposition Leader Over Special Session Claims

The Speaker asked the Leader of the Opposition on what grounds he termed the special session of the Assembly as unconstitutional and under what authority or rule he conducted the proceedings of the parallel House by gathering the MLAs in the Assembly premises.

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Akila News✓

Apr 29, 2026, 06:01 AM

Youth MLA Jayeshbhai Radadiya Retains Stronghold in Dhoraji

(By Kishore Rathod) Dhoraji, તા.29: Youth MLA from Jamkandorna Jetpur, Jayeshbhai Radadiya, retained his stronghold in his constituency and secured 15 seats in the election of 16 seats of Taluka Panchayat.

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Maharashtra Times

Apr 29, 2026, 05:58 AM

Swaroopanand Deshmukh Wins Massajog Sarpanch By-Election in Beed's Kej Taluka

Sunil Jadhav, Beed: Shocking results have come out in the by-election of Massajog Sarpanch of Kej taluka in Beed. Ashwini Deshmukh, wife of late Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh and candidate for Sarpanch by-election. Swaroopanand Deshmukh, member of Gram Panchayat, has won the by-election. Santosh Deshmukh's wife lost by 92 votes. आहे.84% of the voting was against by the villagers of Massajog. Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh's wife Ashwini Deshmukh is considered to be a big shock. In the voting held on Tuesday, 1744 out of the total 2080 voters had cast their votes. A total of 84 percent voting was recorded. Then after the counting of votes being done today, the political circle of the state including the locals was waiting for the election.

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Akila News✓

Apr 29, 2026, 05:57 AM

BJP Wins Majority in Local Body Elections, Opposition Makes Gains

New Delhi, 29: The BJP has won 75 per cent of the total seats in the local body elections as compared to 2021 and has also registered a partial decline in the voting share. Out of 310 seats 6 years ago, only Congress got a mandate with a majority to rule in 19 taluka panchayats and 1 municipality. In this election, the voting share, along with 24 per cent elected public representatives, Congress and AAP have registered their presence in 360 out of 393 municipalities with a mandate. From Bhuj in Kutch to Sake Vapi Municipal Corporation, Ambaji-Danta to Sake Dwarika and from Kvant in Chhotaudepur to Savarkundla in Saurashtra, the strength of elected public representatives of opposition to BJP has increased in every institution. After 18 months, small pockets of AAP-Congress will become big islands in the assembly elections of 2027. At the end of the counting of votes on Tuesday night, 10 am, the results of 9.989 seats were declared.

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Dainik Statesman

Apr 29, 2026, 05:54 AM

Abhishek Banerjee Condemns Intimidation Tactics Ahead of Second Phase of Polling

Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee cast his vote at Mitra Institute amid political tension over the second phase of polling on Wednesday. He arrived at the polling station at 8 am as scheduled and cast his vote. He then faced the media and launched a scathing attack on the BJP and the Election Commission. Abhishek Banerjee alleged that central forces and police observers were acting out of their jurisdiction and trying to intimidate the general public. He claimed that such actions were against the democratic process. Referring to the raid by central forces on the house of Bhabanipur Trinamool Councillor Asim Basu on Tuesday night, he said that such incidents were happening repeatedly and were completely illegal. In a confident tone, Abhishek said, "There will be no use of intimidation. The BJP has been misled in the first phase, the second phase will be compromised." According to him, going door-to-door or creating pressure is an attempt to influence the voting environment, but in the end, people will give a befitting reply.

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Deccan Herald

Apr 29, 2026, 05:51 AM

NIA Deployed in West Bengal Assembly Seats to Ensure Bomb-Free Polling

Kolkata: NIA officials have been deployed in at least seven Assembly seats of West Bengal where the second phase of polling is underway on Wednesday, after the Election Commission asked the federal probe agency to ensure bombs are not used to disrupt polling. ANYTIME, ANYWHERE. Experience a more refined e-paper today Subscribe ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The sleuths of the federal anti-terror agency have been deployed in seven Assembly seats, including Kasba, Bhangar, Baruipur, and Bishnupur, an official said. "Yes, the NIA has been assigned to booths in these places. The decision was taken based on specific inputs," he said, adding that Bhangar have been included in the list due to its history of poll-related violence. The directive comes after the recovery of crude bombs in the poll-bound state and reports of a minor blast. On April 26, police recovered crude bombs from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links Stories You May Like Drug Seizure Bengaluru: Rs 36.67 Crore Bust, 16 Arrested in Major Raid Lokayukta trap: KAS officer driver held in Rs 30 lakh brib ery case probe in Arvind Kejriwal ED Summon s: Delhi HC Issues Fresh Noti ce Against Acquittal Also Read:West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 | EC asks NIA to ensure bombs not used to disrupt polls on April 29 Also Read:West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 | EC asks NIA to ensure bombs not used to disrupt polls on April 29 Later, on a directive by the Union Home Ministry, the NIA registered a case to probe the recovery of 79 crude bombs in the state. In pursuance of the home ministry's order, the anti-terror agency on Sunday registered a case, which was originally filed at Uttar Kashi police station, Bhangar division, Kolkata, on Saturday, and took up the investigation. While the first phase of polling remained largely peaceful with only sporadic incidents, police reported disturbances in certain areas ahead of the second phase. Armed patrols have been conducted extensively, covering main roads as well as interior lanes. The deployment also follows recent directives from the Supreme Court of India allowing the poll panel to involve central agencies in investigations, including a recent incident in Malda where judicial officials engaged in SIR were gheraoed by people protesting the deletion of names under the exercise. ADVERTISEMENT Published 29 April 2026, 11:21 IST India News NIA Indian politcs West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 Follow us on : Follow Us Read More

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Akila News✓

Apr 29, 2026, 05:50 AM

Congress Suffers Crushing Defeat in Gujarat Local Body Elections

New Delhi, તા.29: Congress has once again suffered a crushing defeat in the local body elections in Gujarat. This election of municipalities and panchayats held before the 2027 assembly elections in Gujarat is like a mini-assembly and the results of this election are going to be seen on the results of the elections next year. These elections, which are considered important for determining the condition and direction of the Congress, have proved that the Congress has become directionless, keeping the illusion of winning the elections only through statements and social media. More than one factor is responsible for the defeat of the Congress, but the most striking and important reason is the factionalism prevailing from the state to the village level, in addition to the selection of candidates and party funds. According to the order of the national leadership of the Congress, the decision to give the power of selection of candidates to the district president and the leaders of the region including the elected MLAs, not'good'but'my'stubbornness has proved to be suicidal for the Congress after the decade-long national convention of the Congress in Ahmedabad, including'strong horse races'on the national stage.

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Akila News✓

Apr 29, 2026, 05:49 AM

Trump's Photo to Appear on Limited-Edition US Passport

Washington તા.29: US President Donald Trump can do anything. He does whatever he wants. It seems that he wants to be the President of the United States. Earlier, it was reported that his signature will appear on American currency. Now, it is being said that Donald Trump's photo will be printed on US passports. Yes, US officials announced on Tuesday that Donald Trump's photo will soon appear on US passports. However, this will be a limited version of the US passport. In fact, this is a move by Trump to aggressively break with tradition to leave his personal imprint on government institutions. This particular passport will be issued to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence. After reports by Fox News and The Bulwark, the US State Department officially confirmed this. It will be made in limited numbers, meaning only a few people will be able to receive it. The passport will have two special photos. The official photo of Trump is placed above the Declaration of American Independence. Below it is the gold signature of Trump's father. The Department of State is celebrating the historic 250th anniversary.

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TV9 Hindi

Apr 29, 2026, 05:49 AM

Election Commission Observer Faces Removal Petition Amid Fire and Scandal in India

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court regarding the removal of IPS Ajay Pal Sharma, the observer of the Election Commission in West Bengal. Petitioner Aditya Das alleges that IPS Ajay Pal acted in a partisan manner. The petition claims that the officer intimidated the voters and violated the role of the observer. Earlier, the Calcutta High Court had refused to intervene in the case. The Madras High Court has ordered a CBI investigation into the alleged Rs 397 crore transformer purchase scam during the tenure of Power Minister Senthil Balaji. The CM Yogi Adityanath has instructed the Commissioner of Police, District Magistrate to reach the spot immediately. The CM said that negligence will not be tolerated under any circumstances. There is a massive fire in Gaur Green Avenue in Abhay Khand of Indirapuram, Ghaziabad. Voting for the second and final phase of the West Bengal Election 2026 is underway. At around 9 am, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Varanasi after a huge crowd had gathered on Gaur Green Avenue in Abhay Khand of Indirapuram, Ghaziabad.

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AajKaal News✓

Apr 29, 2026, 05:48 AM

Drivers' Votes Cast Without Their Knowledge in Indian Constituency

Nowadays, when they go to vote, they see that the vote has been cast. All the drivers involved in the election work at the BDO office are worried about who cast the vote. In the office of the Block Development Officer of Block 1 of Krishnanagar Dakshin Vidhan Sabha constituency, several vehicles have been hired for the election. And when the drivers of those vehicles go to their booth to vote, they find out that their votes have been cast. They still do not know who cast their votes. In protest, all the drivers have started demonstrating on National Highway 12. Their demand is to arrange their vote immediately. Sadhan Ghosh, the BJP candidate, has threatened to commit suicide by hanging himself. However, after receiving the news of the incident, he has directly blamed the Block Development Officer of Krishnanagar I. On the other hand, Dr. Tarun Mondal, the former MP of Jayanagar, has also expressed his anger against the commission. He said, "I am not able to vote even though I am present in the house. Courtesy the Election Commission and the Tribunal. The additional list of 1468 people released last night does not include the names of the voters of South Howrah Vidhan Sabha."

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Live Hindustan

Apr 29, 2026, 05:48 AM

West Bengal Exit Polls Set to Be Released Today, Credibility of Survey Agencies on the Line

West Bengal Exit Poll: Polling for the second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections is set to conclude today. All media platforms will be able to release exit poll results after 6.30 pm today, as per Election Commission guidelines. Counting of votes will take place on May 4, but exit poll projections will be released before that this evening. Apart from Bengal, the results of the survey for Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will also be announced by various survey agencies. Looking at the election environment, exit polls may prove to be very interesting this year. Most survey agencies'projections were proved wrong in the last election. For this reason, their credibility is also at stake in this election. As per Election Commission guidelines, all media platforms will be able to release exit poll results after 6.30 pm today. The Commission has given a clear warning that violation of this rule can lead to jail terms of up to two years, fines or both.

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Business Standard

Apr 29, 2026, 05:47 AM

PM Modi's Varanasi Roadshow Attracts Large Crowds

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roadshow in Varanasi on Wednesday morning, the second day of his two-day visit, drawing large crowds along the route, party leaders said.The roadshow commenced from Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) and passed through Lahartara, Kachahri, Ambedkar Chauraha, Chaukaghat, Teliyabag, Lahurabir and Maidagin before culminating at the Kashi Vishwanath Dham.At the temple, the prime minister offered prayers and performed rituals amid Vedic chants. After completing the prayers, Modi was welcomed by local representatives, who presented him with a trishul, damru and a traditional stole. The prime minister acknowledged the gesture and greeted the gathering.As he emerged from the temple complex, devotees raised slogans of "Har Har Mahadev", to which Modi responded by waving and folding his hands.He also briefly interacted with children present at the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor.Also ReadPM Modi appeals to people of West Bengal to cast votes in 'record numbers'Govt committed to 'Act East, Act Fast' for northeastern states: PM ModiPM Modi unveils development projects worth ₹4,000 crore in Sikkim'Irreparable loss to world of photography': PM condoles death of Raghu RaiPM Modi hails Kalpakkam reactor criticality during Mann Ki Baat broadcastBJP media in-charge Arvind Mishra said people in Varanasi were eager to catch a glimpse of the prime minister, with a large number of party workers, office-bearers and local residents lining the entire route.Devotees and supporters were seen raising slogans such as "Har Har Mahadev" and "Jai Shri Ram" to welcome the prime minister, who greeted them by waving and folding his hands.Mishra said multiple welcome points had been set up along the route, where party workers and locals welcomed the prime minister with rose petals, drum beats and conch shells.The roadshow, stretching around 14 kilometres, is being described by party leaders as one of the largest ever in the city.Heavy crowds were seen on both sides of the roads throughout the route, officials said.After the visit to Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency, the PM is scheduled to inaugurate the Ganga Expressway in Uttar Pradesh later on Wednesday.

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Amar Ujala

Apr 29, 2026, 05:47 AM

Karnataka Government Accused of Ignoring Farmers Amid Heat Wave and Water Scarcity

Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R. Ashok on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Karnataka government, accusing it of completely ignoring farmers amid severe heat wave and water scarcity in the state.

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Navbharat Times

Apr 29, 2026, 05:47 AM

Trump Administration Races Against Time to Build Protectionist Wall Around US Economy

New Delhi: The Trump administration is working on a war footing to maintain the flow of revenue to the US treasury and build a protectionist wall around the US economy. The Trump administration has until July 24 to replace the temporary 10 per cent tariffs that were imposed shortly after the Supreme Court ruling.'Trump will take a U-turn, Israel will wreak full-scale havoc in Lebanon,'former RAW agent Lucky Bisht tells Jung's Inside Story: What is Trump's new plan? The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) is launching two major investigations this week that are expected to end in a new round of tariffs: Forced in Nigeria, investigations into the US economy.

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Akila News✓

Apr 29, 2026, 05:46 AM

Amit Shah Visits Somnath Mahadev in Junagadh

Junagadh: Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrives to pay obeisance to Somnath Mahadev at the helipad where he was welcomed by DIG Junagadh Range Rajendrasinh Chudasama yesterday. (Report: Vinu Joshi, Photo: Mukesh Vaghela)

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Amar Ujala

Apr 29, 2026, 05:45 AM

US-Iran Tensions Escalate Over Maritime Routes and Security in West Asia

ExpandAdd as a preferredsource on google Tensions over maritime routes and security in West Asia continue to escalate, largely due to the US and Iran coming face-to-face on these issues, which has also caused international uproar. Iran has filed a formal complaint with the United Nations (UN), alleging that the US is acting like pirates by intercepting its ships. Iran's UN Ambassador Amir Saeed Iravani said the US has no legal basis for these actions and it is against international rules. Trending videos say such actions pose a major threat to global trade and maritime security and undermine international law. Iran claims that curbing its maritime activities and seizing ships is wrong and a pressure tactic. Iran has also indicated that it is open to negotiations to reduce tensions, but has put forward some conditions for this: Read the MetaNews report on Iran's proposal to block its ships.

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TV9 Hindi

Apr 29, 2026, 05:45 AM

West Bengal Votes Amid Tight Security Measures in Second Phase Assembly Elections

West Bengal is voting in 142 assembly seats for the second phase amid tight security. The Election Commission has deployed 2,321 companies of central forces in 8 districts for smooth polling and has also deployed several observers. However, the Trinamool Congress is very angry about the tight security. Party leader Abhishek Banerjee quipped that only Rafale jets were left in Bengal now. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee said, "Only Rafale was left to be deployed in Bengal. INS warship is also left to be deployed. The Election Commission has deployed such a heavy force for the elections." He added, "The deployment that should have been done against Pakistan and Bangladesh is being done for the people of Bengal." Targeting the Chief Election Commissioner, Abhishek said, "Gyanesh Kumar, you have to take off. We will win the election here with a huge majority. And this is not the second time that the Trinamool Congress will win 2021." Bhabanipur, the BJP candidate from West Bengal, has also come out, "he said.

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Akila News✓

Apr 29, 2026, 05:44 AM

BJP Sweeps Gujarat Civic Polls, Wins 937 Seats Out of 1,044

Ahmedabad, તા.29: In the civic polls held in Gujarat, the BJP won 90 per cent of the seats. The opposition was reduced to 10 per cent. The results of the elections to 15 municipal corporations, 84 municipalities, 34 district panchayats and 260 taluka panchayats in the state were announced. 736 of these seats were declared uncontested before the elections. The BJP won 937 of the 1,044 seats in 15 municipal corporations. The results announced today show the BJP winning all the 15 municipal corporations. Gandhidham, Rajkot, Morbi, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Bhavnagar, Surendranagar, Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Vadodara, Surat, Anand, Nadiad, Navsari and Vapi out of the total 1,044 seats in 15 municipal corporations, the BJP won 937 seats and the Congress won 95 seats. Others won 12 seats. The BJP won 115 in Surat Municipal Corporation and 160 in Ahmedabad.

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Live Hindustan

Apr 29, 2026, 05:44 AM

Navjot Kaur Sidhu Makes Explosive Claim About Raghav Chadha's ED Raid

Former cricketer and politician Navjot Singh Sidhu's wife has made a big claim about Raghav Chadha. She says that Raghav Chadha could have been raided by the ED and Priyanka Chopra took a guarantee to save him. Raghav Chadha has gone to the BJP at his behest to avoid the action of the ED. Navjot Kaur Sidhu has claimed this in a podcast.

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Western Times

Apr 29, 2026, 05:41 AM

US-Iran Talks Stall Amid Rising Tensions Over Strait of Hormuz Blockade

Washington: Tensions between the two countries are rising with the failure of efforts to start a second round of US-Iran talks. Iran has said that it is ready to unblock international waters if the US lifts its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and ends the war. Iran's nuclear program does not need to be discussed at this time. It should be included in the next round of talks. Rejecting Iran's offer, the United States announced that Iran's involvement in the Strait of Hormuz will not be tolerated. Recently, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi went to Pakistan twice for talks. Pakistan sent peace proposals to the United States, but US President Donald Trump did not accept them. In an interview, US Secretary of State Mark Rubio said that if the Strait of Hormuz is opened and payments are made, the ship may not be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

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