India's political landscape is ablaze with activity! From the ongoing debates surrounding the new farm bills and their impact on rural India, to the upcoming state elections shaping the national narrative, the stakes couldn't be higher. Key political figures are maneuvering strategically, with alliances shifting and power dynamics constantly in flux. The opposition's challenge to the ruling party is intensifying, sparking vigorous debates on crucial policy matters including economic reforms and social justice initiatives. Parliamentary proceedings are filled with heated exchanges, reflecting the deep divisions within the nation. This evolving political climate directly impacts the lives of every Indian citizen, influencing everything from economic opportunities to social welfare programs. Stay informed about the latest developments in Indian politics, from crucial legislative decisions to grassroots movements, by exploring Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and breaking news updates. Understanding the intricacies of our political system is crucial; stay engaged, stay informed, and stay ahead.
Bhubaneswar: In a fresh setback to BJD ahead of Nuapada assembly bypoll, Lambodar Nial, BJD's 2024 Lok Sabha candidate from Kalahandi, joined the BJP along with his supporters. Nuapada falls under the Kalahandi parliamentary constituency.Nial's switch came after a closed-door meeting with BJP candidate Jay Dholakia, who himself recently crossed over from BJD. The BJP formally welcomed Nial into the party fold, describing him as a seasoned and popular leader whose presence would further strengthen the party's base in western Odisha. "Inspired by the ideals and service mantra of the BJP, Lambodar Nial and his associates have joined the BJP family," state BJP president Manmohan Samal said, adding that he personally welcomed them with party caps and scarves.Reacting to the development, BJD's Nuapada candidate Snehangini Chhuria downplayed the impact, saying Nial's exit would have no bearing on the party's prospects.
Bhubaneswar: The Winter Session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly on Tuesday witnessed intense discussions on Tuesday over delays in drinking water projects, with senior BJD MLA Badri Narayan Patra making a striking admission. During the Question Hour, Patra attributed the party's setbacks in the 2024 Assembly elections to voter dissatisfaction stemming from unfulfilled promises regarding drinking water infrastructure. "I have personally experienced voters' anger over the non-completion of promised projects before the elections. Candidates who narrowly lost felt the brunt of this frustration ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Odisha BJP President Manmohan Samal has clarified that he is not in the running for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-election. Speaking to the media, Samal stated that the decision on the party's nominee will rest with the BJP parliamentary board. According to Samal, the party parliament board will decide the candidate for Rajya Sabha election. He further said that whatever discussion is doing the round about his possibility to be selected from the party for the Rajya Sabha election is fictitious and the party parliament board will take a formal decision in this regard soon. The Ele ...Read More >
BJP member Manas Dutta blamed the previous BJD government and held it responsible for not extending their service agreement which ended in April, 2024. As hundreds of women working as support staff under the Mission Shakti department staged a demonstration outside the Assembly over different issues, the opposition BJD on Monday demanded immediate release of their salaries. While the agitating women were shouting slogans at the Mahatma Gandhi Road leading to the Assembly, the issue was raised in ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar, Dec 18 (PTI) Ahead of BJD's 28th foundation day on December 26, its chief Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday urged members to remain dedicated to serving the people of Odisha, while the party announced a mass demonstration in Bhubaneswar on January 6 to highlight the price rise of essential commodities and other issues. Patnaik asked party supporters to "raise voice against the BJP government's 'anti-people' policies" and also highlight the impact of high inflation, which hits the poor and middle class. "The party leaders and workers need to create awareness among people on the state B ...Read More >
Guwahati, Jun 5 (PTI) The Assam Congress on Thursday demanded a CBI inquiry into alleged illegal stone mining in Karbi Anglong district in violation of a Supreme Court order. Addressing a press conference here, former Rajya Sabha member Ripun Bora also alleged that Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang was allowing illegal activities in the district in nexus with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. "Large-scale illegal stone mining is taking place in the hills of Karbi Anglong in violation of the Supreme Court order. The SC had banned mining in and around K ...Read More >
Kolkata, Jun 5 (PTI) Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Thursday confirmed her marriage to former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) parliamentarian Pinaki Mishra, thanking well-wishers for their love and blessings. There was speculation about their wedding which, according to media reports, took place in a private ceremony in Germany. "Thank you everyone for the love and good wishes!! So grateful," Moitra said in a post on X, sharing a photograph of the couple cutting a cake. TMC MP and actor-politician Saayoni Ghosh congratulated the couple. "Congratulations Mm & Pm... @MahuaMoitra @OfPinaki wishi ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Opposition BJD and Congress MLAs Tuesday staged a walkout from the Odisha assembly, accusing the ruling BJP of failing to control prices of essential commodities and resolve the potato crisis in the state. The issues were debated in the House over the admissibility of an adjournment motion moved by the Opposition on price rise of vegetables, pulses, edible oil and fuel. The opposition members took exception to comments made by Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister K C Patra that adverse climate conditions, rates in international and domestic markets, and less production by ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly on Tuesday witnessed a noisy scene as Opposition BJD and Congress members held protests inside the House over alleged non-payment of salaries to around 60,000 women supporting staffers under the 'Mission Shakti' scheme. Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik accused the BJP government of "conspiring to stop" salaries of the 'Mission Shakti' staff. As soon as the Question Hour began, the BJD and Congress members trooped to the well of the House and demanded immediate release of salaries of around 60,000 women supporting staff working under the 'Mission Shakti' sch ...Read More >
Hyderabad: In a significant boost for 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbharta' in the aerospace and defence sector, and Hyderabad's growing stature as a global aerospace hub, the complete fuselage of the Rafale fighter jet will now be made in India at Hyderabad. This move marks the first time that these Rafale components will be manufactured outside France for the Indian as well as global markets.French aerospace major Dassault Aviation has signed four production transfer agreements with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) for manufacturing key sections of the Rafale fighter jet, including the lateral ...Read More >
BHUBANESWAR: The chariots of the holy Trinity reaching the Gundicha temple notwithstanding, there was no abatement in the political slugfest on the issue even on Saturday. Leader of Opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik called for a deep introspection by all in the government over the 'terrible mess' which overshadowed the Rath Yatra this year. The former chief minister, who is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Mumbai, said in a post on X, "We are not here to point fingers or blame the administration for yesterday's inordinate delay in pulling the Nandighosha chariot. But it is imp ...Read More >
Srinagar- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said foreign countries were told clearly during the post-Operation Sindoor diplomatic outreach that in case of a fresh provocation, India would repeat its action. Speaking at a discussion at the Ahmedabad Management Association, Tharoor said Indian delegations which visited foreign countries in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor managed to convey that India acted with restraint and responsibility. "In other places, we actually were able to get some very high-placed people to say not only that they respected and supported India's right of self- ...Read More >
Shimla: Heavy rains lashed Himachal Pradesh on Sunday, triggering landslides and flash floods and blocking more than 100 roads, even as the weather department issued a red alert.A landslide at Chakki Mod near Parwanoo blocked the Chandigarh-Shimla highway for hours, resulting in a massive traffic jam Sunday morning. The local administration had to divert traffic through the Jangeshu link road until the landslide debris was cleared at Chakki Mod.The traffic was first restored one-way and later two-way, but the traffic jam continued on both sides of the highway throughout the day due to slow veh ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar, June 30 (UNI) The Commissionerate Police today arrested three individuals, including a BJP corporator, for assaulting Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahu inside the corporation office. The incident sparked widespread resentment among BMC employees, who, along with several BJD corporators and leaders, staged a road blockade on the busy Bani Vihar-Master Canteen stretch in the evening. The protest brought vehicular movement to a standstill for several hours, causing severe inconvenience to commuters. Police later removed the protesters, i ...Read More >
Bengaluru, Jun 7 (PTI) A 26-year-old man allegedly beheaded his wife following a heated argument on the outskirts of Bengaluru after he suspected her of having an extra-marital affair, police said on Saturday. After killing Manasa, Shankar travelled with her severed head on his scooter to the nearest police station and confessed to the crime, they said. The man was later arrested, police said, adding that the incident occurred at Heelalige village, near Chandapura, Anekal taluk late on Friday. According to the police, the couple were married for over five years and have a four-year-old daug ...Read More >
Digha: A day after Rath Yatra, the festive fervour continues in Digha as the seaside town is now gearing up to host Ulta Rath or the return journey of the deities from the 'Masir Bari' or the old Jagannath temple. On July 5 -- the Ulta Rath day -- hotels are hoping for fresh tourist influx. Though the deities are currently in Masir Bari, a large queue of devotees visited the newly-constructed Jagannath temple on Saturday. They offered prayers to the stone idol permanently installed there. It is the wooden idols of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra that have taken the chairot rides. Bipradash Cha ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar, Jun 30 (PTI) Senior Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officer and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo was allegedly dragged from his office and assaulted by a group of miscreants on Monday, police said. Sahoo has lodged an FIR at Kharvelnagar police station. "An FIR has been registered at the Kharvel Nagar police station by the officer. We have arrested three persons so far," Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena told PTI. The police have so far arrested Jeevan Rout, Rashmi Mahapatra and Debashis Pradhan. Further investigation is on. Invo ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], June 30 (ANI): Tensions rose in Bhubaneswar on Monday after the assault on Ratnakar Sahoo, Additional Commissioner of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation. BMC Mayor Sulochana Das said the officer was dragged out of his office by 5-6 men, assaulted, and an attempt was made to abduct him. She demanded that an attempted murder case be filed and that all the accused be arrested. Speaking to the reporters, Das said, 'Nobody is safe here. A government officer was dragged out of his office by 5-6 men. He was assaulted, and there was an attempt to abduct him. We had t ...Read More >
Silchar: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday visited the flood-ravaged districts of Hailakandi and Sribhumi in the Barak Valley. He assured affected residents of providing timely disbursement of rehabilitation grants and swift repair of damaged infrastructure.This marks Sarma's second visit to the flood-hit region within four days, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Speaking to the media in Sribhumi after inspecting multiple relief camps, the CM said, "Flood-related problems may persist till July. I will return before Durga Puja to ensure that roads and infrastructure ar ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Leader of opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Sunday termed the stampede in Puri as a glaring incompetence by the govt in crowd management, while Congress attributed it to undue favour shown to BJP workers to gather around chariots."Today's stampede, occurring just a day after the abysmal failure of crowd management during the Rath Yatra that left hundreds injured, exposes the govt's glaring incompetence in ensuring a peaceful festival for devotees," Naveen wrote on X.Quoting eyewitness reports, he added that the initial response to the tragedy came from the devotees' r ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: Ravada A Chandrasekhar took charge as the new State Police Chief on Tuesday. He succeeds Shaik Darvesh Saheb, who retired on June 30. His tenure will run until July 1, 2027. A 1991-batch IPS officer currently serving as Special Director with the Intelligence Bureau, Chandrasekhar is on central deputation. He was selected over Nitin Agarwal, who topped the official list of probables. The appointment order, issued by Kerala Chief Secretary Dr A Jayathilak on behalf of the Governor, was released soon after a cabinet meeting held on Monday. Hailing from Andhra Pradesh's Godav ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], June 5 (ANI): Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Muzibulla Khan on Thursday demanded an inquiry into the Bengaluru stampede that claimed 11 lives. Muzibulla Khan said, 'The incident in Bangalore is very tragic. I wish to express my condolences to the family members. In such public events, a lot of precautions should be taken. I wish to demand an inquiry into the reason for lapses and what led to the stampede, and whoever is guilty should be punished.' He further said, 'A lesson should be learnt from this incident that there should be some guidelines to control the crowd.' ...Read More >
Pune: Hospitals in Pune have started reporting an increase in dengue cases among children following recent heavy rainfall and intermittent showers. Conditions are now ripe for mosquito breeding, experts said, as they warned citizens to ensure there's no waterlogging or stagnant pools near homes and offices. "Dengue is typically seen first in children as they often play outside," said Dr Sagar Lad, a senior neonatologist and pediatric intensivist at Jehangir Hospital and Sahyadri Hospital, Shastrinagar. Dr Lad said he's seen at least three children admitted for dengue this week, with all of the ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: A low-pressure area forming over the north Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh and West Bengal is expected to trigger heavy to very heavy rainfall across parts of Odisha through July 4, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Saturday. An upper air cyclonic circulation currently persists over southwest Bangladesh and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal, extending up to 7.6 km above mean sea level and tilting southwestward with height, the IMD said. Under its influence, a low-pressure area is likely to develop over the region within the next 48 hours. The sy ...Read More >
Mumbai: Senior BJP leader Ravindra Chavan is all set to become the next Maharashtra BJP chief as he filed his nomination for the post of party's state president on Monday. Mr. Chavan presented the nomination forms to Union Minister Kiran Rijiju, who has been appointed as a central observer for the elections by the BJP. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and outgoing party chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule were present on this occasion. With no other nomination being filed for the post, Mr. Chavan is certain to become the next state president of Maharashtra BJP, said party leaders. The ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 1 (ANI): Bhubaneswar MP and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Aparajita Sarangi condemned the assault of Ratnakar Sahoo, Additional Commissioner of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, saying that the act does not align with the party's principles. Some miscreants have allegedly assaulted Additional Commissioner of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), Ratnakar Sahoo, inside the office of the civic body during a grievance redressal meeting on Monday. Also Read | Rules Changing From July 1, 2025: From LPG Cylinder Prices and Railway Fares to Aadhaar-PAN Link ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], July 2 (ANI): The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has strongly condemned the assault on its Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo by a group of individuals. BMC Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil expressed shock over the incident and assured strict action against those involved. "The incident occurred yesterday while Mr Sahoo was attending to public grievances. We all condemn this ghastly act. An FIR was immediately lodged, and three people have been arrested. We have spoken to senior police officials and want stern action to be taken against the culpri ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar, Jul 3 (PTI) Ruling BJP MLA Santosh Khatua on Thursday courted controversy after allegedly making 'derogatory' remarks against a prominent woman BJD leader, prompting a strong backlash and a demand for an apology from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and the saffron party. BJD's senior general secretary and spokesperson Lekhashree Samantasinghar has also drawn the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by tagging a letter in her X post. Khatua, a lawmaker from Nilgiri assembly constituency in Balasore district, in a statement to certain television channels allegedly made "der ...Read More >
A tragic stampede occurred at the Gundicha Temple in Puri. Three devotees lost their lives early Sunday morning. The incident took place amidst a large gathering. Devotees had assembled to view the deities. Eyewitnesses reported vehicles triggered the panic. Police response is under scrutiny. Authorities have suspended officials and announced compensation. An investigation into the incident is underway. Three devotees lost their lives early Sunday morning in a stampede outside the Gundicha Temple ...Read More >
Puri, Jun 29 (PTI) Three persons, including two women, were killed and over 50 others injured in a stampede near Shree Gundicha Temple in Odisha's Puri early Sunday during a ceremony related to the ongoing Rath Yatra festivities, officials said. The incident took place around 4.20 am when thousands of devotees had gathered near the chariots parked in front of the temple, they said. The injured have been admitted to a nearby hospital where the condition of six people is stated to be critical. The Gundicha Temple, located around 3km from the 12th century shrine, is the aunt's house of Lord Jag ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha BJP government has renamed 21 schemes launched by the previous BJD regime, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi told the assembly Thursday. The BJP government took oath June 12 after defeating the 24-year-old Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government in the assembly elections. In a written reply to a query by BJD legislator Tusharkanti Behera, the Chief Minister said the state government has renamed 21 existing schemes and launched seven new ones. According to a statement, the BJP government has rebranded eight schemes that were named after the late Biju Patnaik, father of form ...Read More >