Kerala polls 2021: UDF coming to power, 'Nyay' going to happen, says Rahul

Stay tuned for LIVE updates on Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam Assembly elections 2021

10:56 PM

BJP workers held for attacking TMC supporters, looting valuables in Memari: Police

Five BJP supporters were arrested in West Bengal's Purba Bardhaman district for allegedly vandalising a TMC office and attacking members of the ruling party, besides looting their houses, police said on Sunday.

 

The incident happened when BJP supporters were campaigning in Naohati village in the district's Memari police station area on Saturday afternoon with their candidate Bhismadeb Bhattacharya, police said.

9:03 PM

Centre using investigation agencies against non-BJP ruled states, says Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said that the central leadership has been using central investigation agencies to topple non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments.

 

Speaking at a public event in Kerala, the Congress leader said, "In every single government where BJP is not present, the PM Modi uses the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) to overthrow or attack the government."

 

"I want to understand why they are not doing that to Left Front. It is a mystery to me," he added.

8:43 PM

Amit Shah taking top-level meeting with senior officers on Bijapur encounter

8:22 PM

Assembly elections 2021: Campaign ends in Tamil Nadu, all eyes on polling

The high octane campaign for the April 6 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections ended on Sunday at 7 pm, with the stage now set for the polling on April 6 which will decide whether it will a hat-trick of terms for the AIADMK or the return of DMK after a decade in opposition.

 

As many as 3,998 candidates, including Chief Minister K Palaniswami, his deputy O Panneerselvam, DMK President MK Stalin, AMMK founder TTV Dhinakaran, actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan, Naam Tamizhar Katchi leader Seeman and BJP state unit chief L Murugan are in the fray.

 

Leaders, including Palaniswami and Stalin hit the campaign trail on the last day, even as they have been criss-crossing the state for hectic electioneering, the former in a bid to ensure a record third term, while the latter is keen to upset his rival's chances.

7:46 PM

Chhattisgarh naxal attack: HM Amit Shah holds high-level security meeting

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday held a high-level meeting to review the security situation in Chhattisgarh in the wake of the killing of 22 security personnel by Naxals in the state, officials said.

 

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Intelligence Bureau Director Arvind Kumar and senior officials of the home ministry and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) attended the meeting.

 

The home minister held a meeting to review the security situation in Chhattisgarh, a ministry official said. At least 22 security personnel were killed by Naxals in an encounter in Chhattisgarh on Saturday. While five bodies were recovered from the spot on Saturday, bodies of 17 others were recovered on Sunday.

7:05 PM

India and Kerala can no longer afford BJP: Rahul Gandhi at an election rally

7:05 PM

Election campaigning for the third phase of West Bengal Elections 2021 ends

Election campaigning for the third phase of West Bengal Elections 2021 ends

7:04 PM

Election campaigning for the third and last phase of the Assam election ends

Election campaigning for the third and last phase of the Assam election ends

6:37 PM

Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls: Case filed against Kamal Haasan for violating poll code

A case was filed against superstar-turned-politician and Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore on Sunday for violating the model code of conduct, officials said.

 

Independent candidate Palanikumar, who is contesting from Coimbatore South constituency where Kamal Haasan is fighting, complained to the police that stage actors dressed as Lord Rama and goddesses performed in front of the Ramar temple at Ramapuram in Coimbatore and that this was a violation of the poll code.

 

A case was registered under Sections 123(3) and 125 of the Representation of People Act. Kamal is engaged in a bitter four-cornered fight in Coimbatore South against BJP women's wing national President, Vanathi Srinivasan, Congress' Mayura Jayakumar and Challenger R. Doraisamy of the AMMK.

6:15 PM

Farmers try to gherao union minister Som Parkash in Hoshiarpur, cops foil attempt

Protesting farmers Sunday tried to gherao Union minister Som Parkash at the BJP office in Shastri Nagar here where he was present with senior leader Tikshan Sud and other party workers for a meeting, but the police thwarted their attempt, PTI reported.

 

The Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry had gone to the local BJP office to attend a party meeting. When the farmers protesting against the three central agriculture-related laws came to know that the union minister was present at the BJP officer, they headed there to gherao him, but were stopped at three points by the police.

6:00 PM

Veteran actress Shashikala dies at 88

Veteran Bollywood actress Shashikala is no more. She was 88. The actress passed away in her Mumbai residence on Sunday, although an official confirmation from her family is awaited.

 

5:50 PM

Farmers to protest in front of FCI offices across India tomorrow: Samyukta Kisan Morcha

Tomorrow, on April 5, Farmers will protest in front of FCI offices across the country by gherao. Marking this day as FCI Bachao Divas, a memorandum letter will be given in the name of the Minister of Consumer Affairs: Samyukta Kisan Morcha

5:26 PM

Waze case: NIA seizes documents suggesting 'bribes' paid to 'govt officials' month wise

The ongoing probe into the security scare outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani's house and the alleged murder of businessman Mansukh Hiran has led the NIA to documents that show some payments, suspected to be bribe money, being made to officials in the Mumbai Police and the administration, officials said here.

 

They said the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is scrutinising the documents unearthed during a raid Thursday on a club at Girgaum in South Mumbai to probe further the role of now-suspended police officer Sachin Waze, who is in the custody of the National Investigation Agency till April 7.

5:12 PM

Hooliganism in Bengal similar to what Kashmir witnessed: Adityanath targets Mamata govt

Comparing 'hooliganism' in Bengal with Jammu and what happened in Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said the "goons" of Trinamool Congress (TMC) will meet the same fate as goons of UP if BJP comes to power in West Bengal.

 

"The kind of hooliganism we are witnessing in Bengal, similar disruption used to happen in Kashmir. Today, in Kashmir, not terrorism but development is on the rise," said Yogi Adityanath while addressing a public meeting in Jangaipara.

 

He added that TMC's 'goons' will be on their knees after poll results. "With the formation of BJP govt in Bengal, goons of TMC will meet the same fate like the goons of UP. These goons will be on their knees after poll results. If Didi uses foul language, youths of Bengal will give her a befitting reply," the BJP leader said.

 

After a high-voltage battle between Banerjee and her former ministerial colleague Suvendu Adhikari, the next phase of the West Bengal elections will take place on April 6.

4:14 PM

Won't tolerate loss of lives of security men in Naxal attack, will give befitting reply: Amit Shah

Will not tolerate loss of lives of securitymen in Naxal attack,  befitting reply will be given at appropriate time: Home Minister Amit Shah at Sualkuchi

4:13 PM

Casualties from Naxal attack in Chhatisgarh yet to be ascertained, search operations on: Amit Shah

Casualties from Naxal attack in Chhatisgarh yet to be ascertained, search operations on: Amit Shah at Sualkuchi in Assam

4:12 PM

Now, youth of Bengal can also buy land, house in Jammu and Kashmir: Yogi Adityanath

4:12 PM

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath addressing election rally in West Bengal

4:06 PM

400 Naxals had ambushed security personnel with heavy gunfire in Chhattisgarh: Sources

A group of an estimated 400 Maoists had ambushed security personnel who were part of a large contingent deployed for a special operation, leading to the killing of at least 22 personnel and injuries to 30 others, PTI reported on Sunday.

 

They said the contingent of about 1,500 troops drawn from CRPF'S specialised jungle warfare unit CoBRA, some teams from its regular battalions, a unit of its Bastariya battalion, the Chhattisgarh Police affiliated District Reserve Guard (DRG) and others had launched a search and destroy operation along the border of Bijapur-Sukma district around noon after they got inputs of some Maoists presence in the area.

 

At least 400 Naxals, an officer said, led by the most wanted Maoist commander and leader of the so-called 'People's Liberation Guerrilla Army(PLGA) battalion no 1'-- Hidma-- and his associate Sujatha are suspected to be behind the Saturday ambush that took place in an area that is a strong-hold of the ultras due to the difficult terrain, large tracts of forests and less number of security forces camps.

 

The Maoists rained bullets from light machine guns (LMGs) and used low-intensity improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to mount the attack that went on till evening.

4:05 PM

Heavy rains trigger landslide, floods in Indonesia; 44 dead

Landslides and flash floods from torrential rains in eastern Indonesia killed at least 44 people and displaced thousands, a disaster relief agency said Sunday. Several others were still missing.

 

Mud tumbled down onto dozens of house in Lamenele village from the surrounding hills shortly after midnight on Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara province. Rescuers recovered 38 bodies and five injured, said Lenny Ola, who heads the local disaster agency.

 

The bodies of three people were found after being swept away by flash floods in Oyang Bayang village as 40 houses were destroyed, she said. Hundreds of people fled submerged homes, some of which were carried off by the floodwaters.

3:39 PM

Eight of top-10 most valued firms add cumulatively over Rs 1.2 trn in m-cap

Eight of the top-10 most valued companies together added Rs 1,28,503.47 crore in market valuation last week, with IT majors Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys leading from the front.

 

The valuation of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) jumped Rs 36,158.22 crore to reach Rs 11,71,082.67 crore, becoming the biggest gainer among the top-10 most valued companies. READ MORE...

2:55 PM

We salute sacrifices of 300 people who died during farmer's protest: Arvind Kejriwal

2:53 PM

Tamil Nadu Assembly elections: Congress hopes high, expects 18 seats

The Congress, which is relegated to a junior partner in the DMK-led front, is expecting to get a minimum of 15 seats and a maximum of 18 in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections to be held on April 6.

 

The polls to elect 234 new members of the Tamil Nadu Assembly will be held in a single phase on April 6 and the counting of votes will be done on May 2.

 

Although there were initial hiccups in the Congress-DMK alliance, even as the former wanted to contest, but the chemistry between them improved later in the run-up to the elections. READ MORE...

2:45 PM

'Factually incorrect': EC on Mamata's claims about presence of outsiders at Nandigram polling booth

In a strongly worded rejoinder to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Election Commission has rejected her claim about the presence of outsiders at a polling booth in Nandigram as "factually incorrect" and

 

"devoid of substance".

 

The EC sent the letter to Banerjee on Saturday in response to a complaint filed by her on April 1, when polling was held in Nandigram, alleging irregularities in the polling process.

 

In its point-by-point rejoinder, the EC said Banerjee's letter regarding booth capturing and the presence of outsiders at a polling booth in Boyal was "preceded by a massive coverage all over the country... which showed dozens of audio-visual shots of your being in this polling station and literally hurling an avalanche of allegations on some officials working with the government of West Bengal itself, paramilitary forces and eventually the Election Commission".

2:27 PM

BJP tries to create communal disturbance: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee at election rally

2:09 PM

Chhattisgarh: Bodies of 17 jawans recovered at encounter site, death toll rises to 22

Bodies of 17 of the 18 security personnel missing after an encounter with Naxals in Chhattisgarh were recovered from the site of the skirmish on Sunday, police said.

 

With this, the number of security personnel killed in the encounter has gone up to 22, police said.

 

Eighteen jawans were missing after five security personnel were killed and 30 others injured on Saturday in the fierce gun-battle with Naxals in a forest along the border between Bijapur and Sukma districts in Chhattisgarh, police earlier said.

2:04 PM

Is he god or superhuman: Mamata takes swipe at PM Modi for predicting BJP victory in assembly polls

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday wondered whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "god or a superhuman" to make claims of a BJP triumph in the assembly elections, six phases of which still remain.

 

At an election rally in Hooghly district, the TMC boss, without naming the Indian Secular Front or its founder Abbas Siddiqui, also said the BJP is giving money "to a person" to eat into minority votes.

 

"What do you (Modi) think of yourself, are you god or superhuman?" Banerjee said, referring to remarks by the PM at public meetings that he will attend the oath-taking ceremony of the BJP government in Bengal and request it to implement the PM Kisan Nidhi scheme as early as possible.

1:28 PM

Sukma encounter: Priyanka Gandhi condoles deaths

1:23 PM

Personal data of over 50 cr users leaked from 2019; issue fixed: Facebook

Hours after reports of alleged data leaks of 53 crores Facebook users started doing rounds on social media, the social networking site clarified that it was old data from 2019, and the issue has been fixed since them. "This is old data that was previously reported in 2019. We found and fixed this issue in August 2019," said a Facebook spokesperson. Notably, data of more than 53 crores Facebook users, including Indian users, were leaked in 2019, including email addresses and phone numbers. The data was allegedly uploaded on an online hackers forum on Saturday.

1:18 PM

Reliance-BP seek buyers for 5.5 mmscmd gas from KG-D6

Reliance Industries Ltd and its partner BP Plc of UK have sought bids for sale of 5.5 million standard cubic meters per day of additional natural gas that will be available for sale from their eastern offshore KG-D6 block. The e-auction is slated for April 23 and the gas supply will start from late April or early May, according to the tender document. Bidders will have to quote a price linked to Platts JKM (Japan Korea marker), the liquefied natural gas (LNG) benchmark price assessment for spot physical cargoes. The lowest bid that can be placed is JKM minus USD 0.3 per million British thermal unit. The highest acceptable bid would be JKM plus USD 2.01 per mmBtu.