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.
Silchar, Apr 9: Polling across the seven Assembly constituencies of Cachar concluded at 5 pm on Thursday in a largely peaceful and orderly manner, even as several polling stations reported long queues of voters waiting to cast their ballots at closing time. According to data available from the Election Commission of India (ECINet), the district recorded a robust overall voter turnout of 82.19%, reflecting strong electoral participation and sustained public engagement throughout the day. Despite a few minor and temporary glitches in a small number of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), no major disruptions or law and order issues were reported. The day witnessed a steady rise in voter turnout from morning to evening, despite overcast skies. In the early hours (9 am to 11 am), participation picked up quickly, with Katigorah leading at 20.05%, followed by Silchar at 16.41%. By midday (11 am to 1 pm), turnout had crossed the halfway mark in several constituencies, with Katigorah reaching 62.83% and Silchar moving past 53%. The afternoon phase (1 pm to 3 pm) saw the sharpest surge in voter participation, with Katigorah rising to 78.93%, Lakhipur at 74.37%, and Sonai at 74.33%. Constituencies such as Udharbond and Dholai, which had recorded relatively lower early figures, also crossed the 71% mark by mid-afternoon. By the close of polling at 5 pm, Katigorah recorded the highest turnout at 86.37%, followed by Borkhola at 83.96% and Lakhipur at 83.70%. Silchar ended at 79.97%, while Dholai stood at 78.55%. Sources said that despite the official closing time, several voters were still in queues at multiple booths, indicating strong last-hour participation. This could lead to a marginal upward revision in the final turnout once all votes are accounted for. Overall, polling in Cachar was marked by high voter enthusiasm, a steady rise in turnout, and the absence of any major law and order disturbances, underscoring effective security deployment and election management across the district.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Wednesday (August 13, 2025) took a swipe at Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi's claim of "vote theft", saying that after "every defeat, Congress kept finding new excuses." He said that, seeing that it is losing the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, the Congress is already engaged in making false allegations in connivance with other Opposition parties. Rahul accuses the Election Commission of not enforcing 'one man, one vote' principle "If there is a r ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram (Keralam) [India], April 5 (ANI): The Paravur Assembly constituency in Keralam's Ernakulam district is set to witness a high-stakes contest in the upcoming state elections, with Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan seeking a sixth consecutive victory in a multi-cornered fight. Paravur, constituency number 78 in the 140-member Keralam Legislative Assembly, is a general seat with no reservation for Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes. The contest reflects the broader triangular battle in the state between the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), the Congress-led United Democrat ...Read More >
Puducherry [India], April 6 (ANI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged widespread corruption in Puducherry, claiming that a "30 per cent commission" is being taken on government contracts and accusing the administration of functioning like a "commission agent." Addressing an election rally in Lawspet, Gandhi also raised concerns over governance and law and order in the Union Territory. "Everybody knows that there is a 30 per cent commission taken on all contracts. Govt has become a commission agent. There is a liquor license raj, no matter how much the public complains, nothing ha ...Read More >
The Supreme Court on Tuesday (November 26, 2024), indicated a level of hypocrisy attached to criticism about Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), saying ""EVMs are tampered when you lose and fine if you win". The oral remark was made by Justice Vikram Nath before dismissing a petition filed by evangelist K.A. Paul, who urged for a judicial order to return to paper ballots. Also read:EVM-VVPAT case | Cannot disclose 'source code' of EVMs, will result in misuse: Supreme Court Justice Nath, during the hearing, asked Mr. Paul whether he wanted to turn the court into a political arena. Mr. Paul sa ...Read More >
Itanagar, Jun 7 (PTI) The flood situation in Arunachal Pradesh improved on Saturday with water levels of most rivers receding, even as 33,000 people in 24 districts remained affected, officials said. Twelve people lost their lives and one person went missing in rain-related incidents, including landslides, after the monsoon set in, they said. In its daily report, the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) said 33,200 people in 215 villages remained affected due to floods and landslides in the state. The water levels of most major rivers and their tributaries were showing a receding trend o ...Read More >
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 8 (ANI): Reacting to Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI), TMC leader Kunal Ghosh on Sunday said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was the first leader to raise her voice against this voter list scam in the country. On Saturday, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Maharashtra assembly election held in November 2024 was 'rigged' and claimed the same could happen in the upcoming Bihar assembly polls. 'Mamata Banerjee was the first to raise her voice against this voter list scam in th ...Read More >
As Bihar heads into assembly elections next month (November 6), the Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced a major digital overhaul of its polling infrastructure. The state will serve as the pilot for ECI Net, a new one-stop digital platform that promises real-time updates and streamlined coordination across all levels of election management. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, while announcing the two-phase election schedule on Monday, called ECI Net "the mother of all apps" and said it will serve as a single-window digital ecosystem connecting Booth Level Officers (BLOs), E ...Read More >
Budgam, Oct 20: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday accompanied National Conference Budgam Assembly by-election candidate Agha Syed Mehmood to the nomination filing. Speaking to the reporters outside the venue, J-K CM Omar Abdullah admitted that he never wanted to contest the election on two seats, one of which was the Budgam Assembly constituency, which he vacated later, necessitating a by-election. Omar Abdullah extended his complete faith in Agha Syed Mehmood for the bypoll, scheduled for November 11. "We hope Agha Mehmood will get a resounding win from here. Farooq ...Read More >
Budgam (J&K), Nov 14 (PTI) PDP's winning candidate from Budgam Aga Syed Muntazir on Friday said the bypoll verdict of the people is a protest against the ruling National Conference (NC) for not fulfilling its political and developmental promises. Muntazir won the Budgam assembly bypoll in Jammu and Kashmir, defeating ruling National Conference candidate Aga Syed Mehmood by a margin of nearly 4,500 votes. According to the data on the ECI website, Muntazir secured 21,576 votes against Mehmood's 17,098 at the end of the counting of votes. "This verdict is a protest against the NC for not fulfi ...Read More >
Puducherry [India], April 5 (ANI): Tamil Nadu & Puducherry Congress in-charge Girish Chodankar on Sunday said that Rahul Gandhi will release address a public rally on Monday at 11 AM. Speaking with ANI, he condemned the BJP for not addressing the statehood issue of Puducherry even after forming a government in the Union Territory and called their manifesto "fake." "Rahul Gandhi is addressing a public rally tomorrow at 11 AM and is going to release the manifesto... People of Puducherry are eagerly waiting for Rahul Gandhi's meeting... The BJP is famous for fake manifestos... The double-engine ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], April 7 (ANI): The Election Commission of India commenced the International Election Visitors' Programme (IEVP), 2026, for the forthcoming general elections to the legislative assemblies of Assam, Kerala and Puducherry in New Delhi today. According to the Election Commission, the programme was inaugurated by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners SS Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, at the India International Institute for Democracy and Election Man ...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 >
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday announced another major change in the electoral process, this time focusing on the counting of postal ballots. The move comes as part of the Commission's 30th initiative in the last six months to streamline voting and counting procedures, just months before the high stakes Bihar assembly elections. Currently, the counting of votes has two parallel components: postal ballots/Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballots (ETPBs) and Electronic Voting ...Read More >
Puducherry (Tamil Nadu) [India], March 31 (ANI): Days ahead of the upcoming Puducherry assembly polls, former Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief K Annamalai on Tuesday trained guns on the opposition INDIA bloc, saying that it "lacks unity". "This is a strange alliance that does not exist anywhere in the world. In Puducherry, Congress candidates have been fielded in places where alliance parties are contesting, violating the alliance dharma," Annamalai said while talking to reporters after attending a roadshow held in support of Puducherry BJP president VP Ramalingam. Also Read | P ...Read More >
Puducherry [India], April 4 (ANI): The Election Commission has directed administrative and police officials in the Union Territory of Puducherry to ensure the conduct of free, fair, and fearless Assembly elections scheduled for April 9, 2026. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Puducherry, in a high-level review, emphasised that all officers engaged in election duty are deemed to be on deputation to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and must discharge their duties with strict impartiality. Also Read | Gold Rate Today, April 4, 2026: Yellow Metal Slips 17% From Record High Despite War T ...Read More >
Puducherry [India], April 6 (ANI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged that the Puducherry government is "imposed from Delhi" and does not represent the will of its people. He also accused the BJP of failing to grant full statehood and fostering corruption in the Union Territory. Voting in Puducherry will take place on April 9. The counting of votes will be held on May 4, the ECI announced. The current term of the 30-member Legislative Assembly of the Union Territory is set to expire on June 15. Addressing an election rally in Lawspet, Congress leader said, "It is pretty clear th ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], April 7 (ANI): The Election Commission of India commenced the International Election Visitors' Programme (IEVP), 2026, for the forthcoming general elections to the legislative assemblies of Assam, Kerala and Puducherry in New Delhi today. According to the Election Commission, the programme was inaugurated by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners SS Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, at the India International Institute for Democracy and Election Management (IIDEM). CEC Gyanesh Kumar, in his inaugural address, said that the ECI takes elections in ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: In a significant step toward digital transformation, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has revamped its post-election data reporting process by introducing a streamlined, technology-driven system for generating Index Cards and Statistical Reports. The initiative, aimed at enhancing data accessibility and timeliness, replaces the earlier manual process that often delayed dissemination. Under the leadership of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, the new system leverages automation and data integration to enab ...Read More >
Pune: State Election Commission (SEC) will use the July 1, 2025, updated legislative assembly voters' list for the upcoming local body elections with chairperson Dinesh Waghmare directing district collectors and municipal commissioners to begin preparations based on the updated voter rolls during video conferences on Thursday and Friday.Elections are due for 29 municipal corporations, 290 nagar panchayats and parishads, 32 zilla parishads, and 336 panchayat samitis, as their terms have expired. "There is no separate voters' list for local body polls. The Election Commission of India (ECI)'s up ...Read More >
Mumbai: As per the directions of the Election Commission of India (ECI), the District Election Officers (DEOs) of all eight Assembly Constituencies going to bye-elections in the States of Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Telangana, Punjab, Mizoram, Odisha, and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have completed the first randomisation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) between October 9 and October 16, 2025. The randomisation was carried out using the EVM Management System (EMS) by the DEOs in the presence of representatives from recognised national ...Read More >
The meet aims to facilitate the exchange of best practices and reinforce cooperative federalism ShowQuick Read Summary is AI-generated, newsroom-reviewed * The Election Commission will hold a National Round Table Conference of State Election Commissioners on Tuesday * Chaired by CEC Gyanesh Kumar, the meet will focus on enhancing the integrity and efficiency of elections * Senior officials of the poll body will present key technical and operational initiatives Did our AI summary help? Let ...Read More >
Puducherry [India], April 6 (ANI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged widespread corruption in Puducherry, claiming that a "30 per cent commission" is being taken on government contracts and accusing the administration of functioning like a "commission agent." Addressing an election rally in Lawspet, Gandhi also raised concerns over governance and law and order in the Union Territory. Also Read | Kerala Lottery Result Today 3 PM Live, Bhagyathara BT-48 Lottery Result of 06.04.2026, Watch Lucky Draw Winner List. "Everybody knows that there is a 30 per cent commission taken on all ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): In response to the allegation made by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi regarding the Maharashtra election, the Election Commission described it as 'unsubstantiated allegations.' The ECI statement reads, 'Unsubstantiated allegations raised against the Electoral Rolls of Maharashtra are affront to the rule of law. The Election Commission had brought out all these facts in its reply to the INC on 24th December 2024 itself, which is available on ECI's website. It appears that all these facts are completely being ignored while raising such issues again and again...' The E ...Read More >
Puducherry [India], April 2 (ANI): Puducherry Police has tightened the security, setting up 35 checkposts to monitor the movement of persons and vehicles for the fair conduction of assembly polls. Speaking with ANI, R Kalaivanan, SSP, Puducherry, Law and Order, said, "Puducherry is having an election on the 9th of April, and for this, we have done all the preparatory measures. Around 35 checkposts have been established in Puducherry. We are strictly monitoring the movement of persons and vehicles." "Apart from this, we are also having flying squads; 3 flying squads in each assembly constitue ...Read More >
NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule is consulting experts on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) following Maharashtra's assembly poll results. The opposition questions EVM credibility after the Mahayuti coalition's significant win. Sule advocates for ballot papers, citing other countries' adoption, and will announce a final decision soon.NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule on Saturday said the opinion of experts is being sought over the "EVM issue" in the wake of the Maharashtra assembly polls' mandate as she b ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday announced that it would streamline its technology-driven system for generating Index Cards and various other post-election statistical reports. The new system will ensure faster reporting through automation and data integration. "This upgraded mechanism replaces the traditional manual methods, which were often time-consuming and prone to delays. By leveraging automation and data integration, the new system ensures faster reporting," the press note issued by the Election Commission read. Also Read | Delhi: Hig ...Read More >
India's International Train Links: These 5 Indian Stations Connect You To Another Country By Train Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused the BJP of securing a victory through large-scale electoral rigging in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections and alleged that the same would be repeated in the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls and then anywhere the BJP is losing. In a post on X, LoP Gandhi said that, Maharashtra assembly elections in 2024 were a blueprint for rigging democracy and listed out the alleged sequence through which it was done. "How to steal ...Read More >
India's International Train Links: These 5 Indian Stations Connect You To Another Country By Train The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday dismissed Rahul Gandhi's allegations that the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections were a blueprint for rigging democracy, stating that claims of "inflated voter turnout" and "fake voters" were "unsubstantiated". The EC added that raising such unsubstantiated allegations against the electoral rolls of Maharashtra is an "affront to the rule of law". Following Lok Sabha LoP remark, ECI said, "...unsubstantiated allegations raised against the Electoral Rolls ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 8 (ANI): BJP MP Gulam Ali Khatana, who was part of the all-party parliamentary delegation to Europe, said that during their recently conclued visit they successfully communicated India's development story and its resolute stand against terrorism, particularly emanating from Pakistan. Highlighting the delegation's key discussions during the tour, Khatana told ANI, 'We discussed how we dismantled the terrorism factory in Pakistan by responding... We also talked about tourism infrastructure, G20 Summit, and projects like the six-lane roads, bridges, solar initiatives, our ...Read More >
Kolkata, Jul 15 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday hailed the safe return of Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla from space, calling it a matter of national pride. Shukla, a 39-year-old Indian Air Force officer and test pilot, on Tuesday returned to the Earth after an 18-day stay at the International Space Station. Also Read | Will Samosa and Jalebi Display Cigarette-Style Health Warnings? PIB Fact Check Debunks Fake News, Says Health Ministry's Advisory Doesn't Mention Warning Labels on Indian Food Products. "Welcome home, Shubhanshu Shukla! We are r ...Read More >