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.
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Assam is going to the polls on April 9. Representational Image/Reuters Kerala, Assam and Puducherry are polling in a single phase today (April 9). Voting is being held across 126 seats in Assam, 140 in Kerala, and 30 in Puducherry, with the results declared on May 4. In Assam, 2.5 crore voters will decide the fate of 722 candidates. Around 2.7 crore electors will exercise their franchise in Kerala, with 890 candidates putting their hat in the ring. As many as 9.44 lakh voters are eligible to cast their ballots in Puducherry, with 294 candidates trying their luck. As the two states and the Union Territory go to the polls, here's a look at the key battles to keep an eye on. Assam Assembly elections: Key contests In Assam, the key fight is between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies - Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People's Front (BPF), and the Congress-led opposition alliance of six parties. Badruddin Ajmal's All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) is contesting the polls alone this time. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is seeking a second term in the northeastern state and a third for the BJP-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance). He is fighting from the Jalukbari constituency, which he has represented since 2001. The Congress has pitted 34-year-old Bidisha Neog against Sarma. In the 2021 Assam Assembly polls, Sarma secured a staggering 77.38 per cent of the vote, winning by a margin of more than 100,000 votes against the Congress candidate Romen Chandra Borthakur. All eyes will be on the Jorhat Assembly constituency, which is witnessing a high-stakes contest between Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi and BJP's former Assam Assembly Speaker and former minister Hitendra Nath Goswami. A three-time Lok Sabha MP, Gogoi is making his debut in the state polls. He is the chief ministerial face of the Congress-led opposition alliance. BJP's Goswami had won the seat in the 2021 polls, defeating the Congress candidate Rana Goswami by a margin of over 6,000 votes. Pradyut Bordoloi, who jumped ship from the Congress to the BJP ahead of the Assembly polls in Assam, has been fielded from the Dispur constituency. He is up against Congress rival Mira Borthakur Goswami and Jayanta Kumar Das, who is in the fray as an independent. The Dispur Assembly seat is currently held by BJP's Atul Bora, who beat Congress leader Manjit Mahanta by a margin of over 1.2 lakh votes in 2021. At 27, Kunki Chowdhury has grabbed Assam's attention as the youngest candidate in the elections. She is fighting on a ticket from Congress's ally Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) from the Guwahati Central constituency. Chowdhury is taking on the BJP's 70-year-old Vijay Kumar Gupta, a businessman and the saffron party's organisation man. During the electoral campaigning, the young politician found herself in the middle of the spotlight after her family was targeted by Chief Minister Sarma. The high-profile battle from Guwahati Central between the underdog and the veteran is a must-watch. Akhil Gogoi is vying to retain the Sibsagar Assembly constituency, which he won in 2021 by 11,875 votes against the BJP's Surabhi Rajkonwari. Akhil Gogoi's Raijor Dal is part of the opposition alliance led by the Congress. The BJP has fielded Kushal Dowari from the Sibsagar seat, making it a triangular contest as its ally AGP has nominated Pradip Hazarika. Kerala Assembly elections: Big fights In Kerala, the election battle is dominated by CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). The BJP is also vying to make greater inroads in the southern state. It is expected to be a tight contest in Kerala this time, as the UDF seeks to return to power and deny LDF a third consecutive term. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, 81, is fighting from the Dharmadam Assembly seat in Kannur. The UDF has fielded VP Abdul Rasheed as its candidate against the CPI(M) veteran. Vijayan had won the seat in the 2021 Kerala Assembly polls by a margin of a little over 50,000 votes against Congress candidate C Raghunathan. Vijayan, who is aiming to secure a third term, has been portrayed as the man who transformed Kerala. The UDF is, however, giving a tough fight. The contest for the Nemom seat in Thiruvananthapuram has attracted attention from across the country. V Sivankutty of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) is trying to retain the seat but is up against two strong rivals. BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Congress' KS Sabarinadhan are also in the fray from Nemom. Notably, in the 2016 Kerala Assembly polls, Nemom was the only seat which elected a BJP candidate -- O Rajagopal. However, in 2021, CPI(M) leader Sivankutty was elected as an MLA from the constituency, which he had also won in 2011. Another high-profile constituency, Palakkad, is witnessing a triangular contest. The UDF has nominated film and television personality Ramesh Pisharody, who is contesting against BJP state general secretary Sobha Surendran and LDF-backed Independent NMR Razak. In the 2021 polls, UDF's Shafi Parambil bested NDA candidate Metroman E Sreedharan to win the Palakkad constituency for a third time by 3,859 votes. Aranmula is also seeing a tight three-way contest. Kerala Health Minister Veena George is the sitting MLA, who is hoping to bag a third term on an LDF ticket. The UDF's candidate is Abin Varkey, a Youth Congress leader. The NDA has fielded BJP veteran Kummanam Rajasekharan against the duo. CPI(M) leader George had won the Aranmula seat with 74,950 votes and 46.30 per cent vote share in 2021. The Congress candidate K Sivadasan Nair had emerged as the runner-up, securing 55,947 votes and 34.56 per cent vote share. A high-voltage tussle is taking place in the Peravoor constituency in the Kannur district between UDF's Sunny Joseph and former Health Minister and CPI(M) candidate KK Shailaja. Joseph is a three-time sitting Congress MLA from Peravoor, who is aiming to defend his turf again. Fondly known as "teacher", Shailaja has expressed confidence about wresting the Peravoor Assembly seat from Congress. She represented the constituency in 2006 but lost to Sunny Joseph in 2011, who has been the Peravoor MLA since then. Shailaja had won the Mattannur constituency with a record majority of 60,963 votes in the 2021 Assembly election. However, the LDF shifted her to Peravoor this time. Puducherry Assembly polls: Major battles The NDA alliance, comprising All India NR Congress (AINRC) and the BJP, is facing the opposition coalition led by the Congress. Tamil actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is making its electoral debut in the Puducherry Assembly polls. Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy has again entered the fray from the Thattanchavady Assembly constituency. The Congress has pulled a surprise by fielding V Vaithilingam, a two-time CM and a sitting MP, from the high-profile seat. Thattanchavady is a stronghold of Rangasamy, who won the seat four times in a row since 1991 before shifting to the Indira Nagar constituency in the 2011 elections. In 2021, he returned to the seat, winning it by a margin of 5,456 votes against K Sethu Selvam of the Communist Party of India. Puducherry BJP president VP Ramalingam is contesting the polls from the Raj Bhavan Assembly constituency. He is being challenged by Vignesh Kannan of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), son of former Puducherry minister P Kannan. DMK is fighting the polls in alliance with the Congress. The BJP's ally, the All India NR Congress, had successfully contested from the Raj Bhavan seat in the 2021 Assembly polls.
IMPHAL, Nov 17: The NPP on Sunday withdrew support from the BJP-led Government in Manipur, even as violence continued to rock the state as offices of the Congress and the saffron party were ransacked in the hill district of Jiribam where an unidentified body was found earlier in the day, officials said. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp A BJP MLA's ancestral house was vandalised in Imphal Valley while a building owned by Ashab Uddin, the Independent legislator of Jiribam, was ransacked, officials said. The incidents occurred a day after irate mobs set fire to the residences of ...Read More >
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], November 19 (ANI): With the Maharashtra elections approaching, wrestler and Congress MLA from Haryana's Julana, Vinesh Phogat, held a roadshow in Pune to support Congress candidate Datta Bahirat from the Shivajinagar Assembly constituency. She urged voters to ensure a victory for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), criticising the Mahayuti government for "injustice" by toppling the government elected by the people. "Everything is going well... If people shower their blessings on us on the 20th, we will win with a bigger margin this time. I appeal to voters to respond to ...Read More >
nion Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje cited statistics in the Lok Sabha on Monday to show that youth unemployment rates in India were lower than global levels. The minister cited a report by the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Institute for Human Development (IHD) which states that the worldwide youth unemployment rate was 15.6 per cent in 2021. Further, as per World Employment and Social Outlook Trends, 2024 by ILO, globally, in 2023, the youth unemployment rate was 13.3 per cent. On the other hand, the latest annual Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS ...Read More >
Small-cap Stock: Krystal Integrated Services Limited (Krystal) share price rose 5 per cent to ₹779.3 on Tuesday, November 26 after the company announced receiving a ₹106.3 crore contract from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The contract, valued at ₹1,062.99 million ( ₹106.3 crore), covers three years and involves providing comprehensive attendant manpower services to BMC's Education and Security Departments. This initiative is aimed at improving public sector operational efficiency in Mumbai. Small-cap stock Krystal Integrated Services share was trading in the green, up 3.07 pe ...Read More >
Assam's 75th Constitution Day highlighted the importance of the Indian Constitution, with CM Himanta Biswa Sarma commemorating the contributions of freedom fighters and Dr. BR Ambedkar. The event, held in Guwahati, underscored the Constitution's reflection of India's cultural heritage and its role in ensuring equality, freedom, and justice for all citizens. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma participated in the 75th Constitution Day celebrations in Guwahati, emphasizing the significance of the Indian Constitution. This annual observation, assigned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 ...Read More >
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday instructed officials to formulate proposals for constructing an iconic Deep-Technology building in the capital city of Amaravati. "I had built Hi-Tech City structure in Hyderabad to promote information technology. Now, it is time to embrace Deep-Tech and Artificial Intelligence to take advantage of the opportunities arising out of the latest technology," he underlined while reviewing the New IT Policy at the state secretariat. The Chief Minister announced that the state government will provide Rs 25 lakh as seed fundin ...Read More >
Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak announced the examination of the Jhansi Medical College fire report after a tragic incident claimed 10 infants' lives. Investigations point to a short circuit as the cause. Amid electoral criticism, Congress calls for reverting to ballot papers following a recent election loss. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak confirmed on Wednesday that the report regarding the devastating fire at Jhansi Medical College has been received. An investigation into the details of the report will be conducted to determine the causes of the tragic incident. ...Read More >
Srinagar, Nov 27 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir's Road Transport Corporation (RTC), a crucial backbone of public transportation, has raised serious concerns over the barring of its buses from entering Srinagar city limits. The move has triggered alarm within the Corporation, with officials cautioning about significant disruptions to public transport services and daily commutes, alongside substantial financial losses for the RTC. The restriction, in effect since November 4 when the maiden session of the Assembly commenced, is causing a daily revenue loss of Rs. 4 lakh to the Corporation. In a lette ...Read More >
Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan has called for the replacement of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with ballot papers, citing concerns over the legitimacy of election results. Ranjan raised doubts about the EVM's accuracy, suggesting that the results may be influenced and advocating for a ballot paper system like many other countries. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also echoed similar sentiments, accusing EVMs of wasting votes from marginalized communities. This comes after the Congress' defeat in the Maharashtra Assembly election. The Supreme Court, however, dismissed a petition seeking th ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: BJP leader Amit Malviya on Tuesday accused Rahul Gandhi of being "so arrogant that he did not even greet the President" during the 75th Constitution Day event held in Parliament. This comes as the grand old party has often voiced its criticism against the saffron party for not inviting President Droupadi Murmu at the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building last year and Ram Temple consecration this year. "Rahul Gandhi is so arrogant that he did not even greet the President. Just because she comes from the tribal community, is a woman and Rahul Gandhi is the prince of ...Read More >
Mumbai Indians (MI) made strategic moves in the IPL 2025 mega-auction, securing New Zealand pacer Trent Boult for ₹12.50 crore. MI owner Akash Ambani praised Boult’s invaluable skill in swinging the new ball, acknowledging the team’s struggles when he wasn’t playing for them in recent years. The franchise also acquired England’s Reece Topley for ₹75 lakh and New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner for ₹2 crore. MI further strengthened their spin department by signing young Afghan talent Allah Ghazanfar for ₹4.80 crore, who has impressed with his performances in international cricket. ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], November 18 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party leader and in-charge of the party's National IT Department, Amit Malviya, on Monday, criticised the Congress party's 'hypocrisy' over their stance on the Adani Group, pointing to past investments and agreements made with the corporate conglomerate by Congress-ruled states. Taking to social media platform X, Malviya referenced Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's recent "public admission of accepting money" from the Adani Group on November 10, 2024, pointing out that this acknowledgment contradicted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's ...Read More >
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India] November 18 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party MP K Laxman slammed Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, accusing the Congress party of 'misleading' people. He further said that the people of Maharashtra know "how to teach a lesson" to Congress. "Revanth Reddy as a CM of Telangana and as a Congress leader is misleading the public. Maharashtra people are clever enough they know how to teach a lesson to these Congress people and Revanth Reddy you will come to know what has happened in Haryana that is going to be repeated in Maharashtra, and Jharkhand also," K Laxman ...Read More >
New Delhi, Nov 26: The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking directions to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to introduce ballot paper in place of EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines). A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and P.B. Varale rejected the prayer to return to the ballot system due to the alleged manipulability of EVMs. "When you lose, EVMs are tampered with; when you win, EVMs are fine," remarked the apex court, when the petitioner referred to the statements made by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and his predecessor Jagan Mohan ...Read More >
Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the third edition of Nayi Chetna - Pahal Badlaav Ki, a national campaign against gender-based violence, at Rang Bhawan Auditorium, New Delhi yesterday. Delivering his address, Shri Chouhan stated that the Government has taken a slew of initiatives for women's economic and social development. He stressed that gender-based violence is not an issue that persists in rural areas, but in urban areas as well. He said with the presence of Union Minister of Women and Child Development Smt. Annpurn ...Read More >
Bigg Boss 18: Shilpa Shirodkar is termed 'biggest backstabber' after Vivian Dsena... Deepak Kalal fights with passenger in flight? Know the truth behind viral video Delhi court fixes Nov 28 for hearing former CM Arvind Kejriwal's plea over sanction copy in... Where will the Champions Trophy 2025 be played? ICC to take final call on THIS date Amid divorce rumours with Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan recalls telling Amitabh Bachchan he made 'big mistake' by... Deepinder Goyal's Zomato opens Rs 8500 crore QIP share sale, sets floor price at Rs... Delhi Capitals co-owner pens emotional fare ...Read More >
Proceedings in both houses of the Parliament came to halt on Wednesday amid protests by Oppostion members over the Adani Bribery controversy, recent violence in Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh and other issues. Lok Sabha proceedings were initially adjourned until 12 noon and later until Thursday, as Opposition members, including those from Congress, protested and sought to raise various issues at the start of the session. Some members from the Congress and Samajwadi Party were in the Well while other Opposition members stood in the aisle and shouted slogans. The Opposition members wanted to discus ...Read More >
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition is now gearing up for a national protest after losing Maharashtra state elections. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, which suffered a crushing defeat in last week's Maharashtra state elections, is now gearing up for a national protest against the credibility of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), which it blames for its loss. The MVA, led by the Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction), and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) (led by Sharad Pawar), is planning to challenge the use of EVMs in court and demand a return to ballot paper voting. Fo ...Read More >
Infosys has announced an average 85% performance bonus for eligible employees in Q2 FY25, reflecting its strong financial performance. The bonus, paid to mid- and junior-level staff, will be credited with the November salaries, with individual payouts varying based on performance. This follows Infosys' impressive 4.7% rise in Q2 net profit and a revenue increase of 5.1%, leading to an upward revision of its FY25 revenue guidance. The bonus payout surpasses the previous quarter's 80%, with Infosys outpacing rivals like TCS. Employees are also awaiting salary hikes, with revisions expected from ...Read More >
Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, has accused two top AAP leaders of backing separate candidates for the Barnala assembly bypoll on November 20. Bajwa claimed that while one leader is supporting the official AAP candidate, the other is backing a rebel candidate. He urged the public to reject both and vote for the Congress candidate. Bajwa also took a jibe at Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, suggesting he could become Punjab's "Eknath Shinde" after reportedly being in contact with the Union Home Ministry through a Punjab-based Union minister. ...Read More >
Vijayawada, Nov 26 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday directed the officials to formulate proposals for constructing an iconic Deep technology building in the capital city of Amaravati. Bengaluru, Nov 26 (UNI) Congress MLA HR Gaviyappa's call to reconsider some election guarantees has sparked a political storm in Karnataka, drawing sharp criticism from Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and exposing potential fissures within the ruling party. Gaviyappa, representing Vijayanagara, suggested that certain guarantees were straining state finances and hindering th ...Read More >
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has launched an investigation into three cases of violence in Manipur, including the abduction and killing of six women and children from the State's Jiribam district on November 11. The anti-terror agency re-registered three cases afresh on November 13 after the Ministry of Home Affairs decided to hand over the cases to it considering the gravity of the offences amid escalating violence in the strife-torn State. "The objective is to unearth the larger conspiracy behind the brutal attacks," an NIA spokesperson said on Tuesday (November 26, 2024). Last ...Read More >
The Minister for Information, Communication, Technology and National Guidance, Hon. Chris Baryomunsi has unveiled government plans to extend internet connectivity to all sub-counties through a loan acquired from the Exim Bank of China. Baryomunsi said that with the US$150 million, government will go beyond its ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs) and district headquarters) to connect all sub-counties to the National Backbone Infrastructure (NBI). "This is vital for ensuring that all regions benefit from the digital economy. Last mile connectivity, the final segment connecting the NBI to ...Read More >
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Modi and the Union Cabinet for approving 3 multitracking projects of the Railway Ministry worth Rs 7 thousand 927 crore. Chief Minister Yadav said that the state is making rapid progress under the able leadership of Prime Minister Modi, due to the increasing network of railways in the state, and transportation for the people of the state has also become fast and easier. The people of the state are grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for the continuous new developments and contri ...Read More >
New Delhi, Nov 26 (UNI) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday greeted the people on the occasion of 75th Constitution Day. On social media handle X, Kharge said, "The Constitution of India, painstakingly and carefully drafted by our foremothers and forefathers, is the lifeblood of our nation. It guarantees us social, economic and political rights. It constitutes India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC". He said, "Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity are not ...Read More >
BJP leaders, including Amit Malviya, CR Kesavan, and Pradeep Bhandari, accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of arrogance after he allegedly failed to greet President Droupadi Murmu, a tribal woman, during her speech on Constitution Day. Malviya claimed that Gandhi's refusal to acknowledge the President stemmed from her tribal background, while Kesavan and Bhandari pointed to Gandhi's "dynastic entitlement" and anti-tribal sentiments. The President, addressing Parliament, highlighted the significance of India's Constitution and lauded the government's efforts in social justice and inclusive dev ...Read More >
During Tuesday's trading session, the shares of a global leader in glass-lined equipment surged nearly 3 percent to Rs. 1,247.5 on BSE, after a foreign portfolio investor (FPI) bought shares worth a total of around Rs. 167.4 crores in the company via a bulk deal. With a market capitalisation of Rs. 5,524 crores, at 02:19 p.m., the shares of GMM Pfaudler Limited were trading in the green at Rs. 1,228.7, up by nearly 1.4 percent, as compared to its previous closing price of Rs. 1,211.3. As per the latest block deal available with the NSE, foreign portfolio investor Amansa Holdings Private Limi ...Read More >
New Delhi, November 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the government at the Centre has strengthened the spirit of the Constitution over the last 10 years. Addressing the Constitution Day celebrations at the Supreme Court, PM Modi highlighted that in the last 10 years, more than 53 crore bank accounts were opened, more than 4 crore pukka houses were given and more than 10 crore free gas connections were given. "In the last 5-6 years, by providing tap water facilities in more than 12 crore houses, the government made the lives of citizens easy, particularly of women," he sai ...Read More >
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, campaigning to invite global investors to the Global Investors Summit to be held in Bhopal in February 2025, addressed an interactive session with industrialists during a roadshow in London, UK, on Tuesday. Yadav praised the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the rapid industrial development seen across India. Inviting the industrialists to invest in Madhya Pradesh, he highlighted that the state possesses one of the largest land banks in the country. Madhya Pradesh has transparent and investor-friendly policies and is a leader in the mining and ...Read More >
CHENNAI: Singles, Doubles, and the Team Championship - the 18-year-old Chennai girl, the daughter of an auto driver from Kasimedu, left nothing for competitors from around the world at the sixth edition of the Carrom World Cup held in the US which Team India swept. The Women's Singles final was a hard-fought contest, where the 18-year-old M Khazima kept her nerves to defeat 12-time national and multiple World Cup winner Rashmi Kumari from Bihar. With this victory, Khazima became the youngest Carrom World Champion. Khazima, whose father Mehaboob Basha is an auto driver from Kasimedu, had been ...Read More >