LIVE: Council of ministers brainstorms over 'Viksit Bharat 2047' plan

From former Health Minister Harsh Vardhan announcing retirement from politics to CBI filing charge sheet against 7 in Manipur in armoury loot case, catch all the updates here

9:53 PM

Lok Sabha elections: BJP seeks to woo farmers, poor under GYAN campaign in UP, increase vote count

The BJP in Uttar Pradesh will be seeking to increase its vote count through its campaign GYAN Ghareeb, Youth, Annadata, Nari by taking its work among the young, poor and farmers, and women. The campaign has been forged in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to party workers in the state to increase the vote count in each booth by 370 votes a cue to remind people that it was the BJP government which enabled the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. Modi had earlier in February claimed that BJP will cross the 400-mark in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

9:18 PM

Lok Sabha elections: AIADMK slams BJP for 'hijacking' its icons MGR, Jayalalithaa

Tamil Nadu's main opposition AIADMK on Sunday condemned the BJP for its "cheap politics" of "appropriating" its late leaders, M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa. When asked about the reported use of images of MGR and Jayalalithaa by the Puducherry unit of the BJP in its campaign on social media, senior AIADMK leader D Jayakumar said his party leaders in the union territory have already condemned it. Appropriation of AIADMK stalwarts is "cheap politics and this is condemnable", he told reporters.

8:21 PM

Lok Sabha elections: Ex-Gujarat Dy CM Nitin Patel opts out of race for Mehsana Lok Sabha constituency

Former Gujarat deputy chief minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Patel on Sunday said he has withdrawn his claim to contest from Mehsana Lok Sabha seat. Patel didn't assign any reason for this decision, which he announced on social media, even as the BJP is yet to officially announce the contestant from Mehsana. In a post on social media, Patel said he had staked a claim for Mehsana seat and requested the party to field him as its nominee.

7:49 PM

Lok Sabha elections: Centre govt suffering from 'anti-Punjab' syndrome, says Arvind Kejriwal

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday alleged that the Centre is suffering from "anti-Punjab" syndrome and asked the people to punish it in the coming Lok Sabha polls. He also appealed to the people of Punjab to make his party victorious on all 13 seats.

6:50 PM

Delhi Chalo protest: Farmers plan to march to Delhi on Wednesday as demands for higher crop prices

Farmers plan to march to the capital New Delhi on Wednesday as they push their demands for higher crop prices, a protest leader said, after several rounds of failed talks. Farm union leaders are seeking guarantees of state support or a minimum purchase price for farmers' produce. "On March 6, farmers will come to Delhi from all over the country by train, bus and air," protest leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal told reporters.

6:27 PM

BJP's Asansol candidate Pawan Singh steps aside from Lok Sabha contest, TMC mocks decision

Bhojpuri singer-actor Pawan Singh withdrew from the Lok Sabha poll contest from the Asansol seat in West Bengal on Sunday, a day after the BJP named him as its candidate from the constituency currently represented by the TMC's Shatrughan Sinha. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) was quick to mock the BJP by saying it surrendered the seat even before the commencement of the election campaign. In a post on X, Singh thanked the BJP leadership for his candidature but added that he would not be able to contest from Asansol "due to some reason".

5:59 PM

Pakistan's new PM Shehbaz Sharif vows to revive ailing economy; to secure G20 membership by 2030

Pakistan's newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday vowed to do a "deep surgery" and bring changes in the system to bring the cash-strapped country out of the alarming debt crisis and secure G20 membership by 2030. Shehbaz, who was the consensus candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), became the Prime Minister on Sunday for a second time after receiving 201 votes in the 336-member Parliament.

5:00 PM

Congress defectors are beneficiaries of 'washing machine': Jairam Ramesh

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Sunday used the "washing machine" analogy to target the leaders who have quit the Grand Old Party and joined the ruling BJP, a remark coming amid allegations that the turncoats get protection in pending cases. Ramesh also said Rahul Gandhi has talked about five "nyay" guarantees targeting farmers, youth, women, and labourers during the last 50 days of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.

3:36 PM

Shehbaz Sharif becomes Pakistan's Prime Minister for a second time

Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday became the prime minister of Pakistan for a second time to lead a coalition government after he comfortably won a majority in the newly-elected Parliament amidst sloganeering by the Opposition. Shehbaz, 72, who was the consensus candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), received 201 votes, 32 more than what was required to become leader of the House in the 336-member Parliament. Shehbaz's challenger Omar Ayub Khan of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) secured 92 votes.

2:41 PM

Shehbaz Sharif becomes Pakistan's Prime Minister for a second time

Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday became the prime minister of Pakistan for a second time to lead a coalition government after he comfortably won a majority in the newly-elected Parliament.

Shehbaz, 72, who was the consensus candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), received 201 votes in the 336-member house.

2:16 PM

Former Health Minister Harsh Vardhan retires from politics

Harsh Vardhan, former health minister announces retirement from politics just months ahead of Lok Sabha polls. Taking to X, he wrote, "After over thirty years of a glorious electoral career, during which I won all the five assembly and two parliamentary elections that I fought with exemplary margins, and held a multitude of prestigious positions in the party organisation and the governments at the state and centre I finally bow out to return to my roots"

 

"Service to mankind was my motto when I joined MBBS in GSVM Medical College, Kanpur fifty years back with a desire to help the poor and needy. A swayamsewak at heart, I have always been an ardent admirer of Deen Dayal Upadhyay ji’s Antodaya philosophy of striving to serve the last man in the queue. It was at the insistence of the then RSS leadership that I jumped into the electoral fray. They could convince me only because for me politics meant opportunity to fight our three main enemies - poverty, disease and ignorance", he further wrote. 

1:53 PM

J&K L-G Sinha hands over appointment letters, allotment orders of land measuring one Kanal each

Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha handed over appointment letters and allotment orders of land measuring one Kanal each, to the Next of Kin (NoK) of three civilians who had lost their lives in Poonch. He assured them of all possible support from the J&K Administration.

 

1:37 PM

Pakistan to take up resolution seeking permanent ban on social media sites

Amidst serious concerns over the continued disruption of the social media platform X in Pakistan for over a fortnight now, a member of the Senate has demanded a permanent ban on all social media due to its negative impact on the younger generation.

Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi, who was recently expelled by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) after he moved a resolution seeking the delaying of the February 8 polls, in the resolution called for a complete ban on all social media platforms, deeming them detrimental to the future of the young generation, Dawn News reported.

12:48 PM

PM Modi to inaugurate Howrah Maidan-Esplanade, two other sections of Kolkata Metro next week

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will next week inaugurate the much-awaited Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section of the Kolkata Metro, a government release said on Sunday.

 

The PM will also inaugurate the Kavi Subhash-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay and the Taratala-Majerhat metro sections, it said. Modi is scheduled to visit Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar from March 4-6, the release said.

12:29 PM

Spending on paan, tobacco, intoxicants increased in last one decade: Govt survey

Consumption of paan, tobacco and other intoxicants has increased with people spending a bigger portion of their income on such products in the last 10 years, according to a survey.

The Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2022-23, released last week, revealed that the expenditure on paan, tobacco and intoxicants as a portion of total household spending has increased in rural as well as urban areas.

11:58 AM

Cop, Naxalite killed in encounter in Chhattsigarh's Kanker district

A police constable and a Naxalite were killed in an encounter in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district on Sunday, a senior police official said.

The gunfight took place in a forest near Hidur village under Chhotebethiya police station when a joint team of security personnel was out on anti-Naxal operation, he said.

The operation was launched based on a specific input about the presence of Naxalites in the Hidur forest, the official said.

11:37 AM

Jammu-Srinagar highway remains blocked amid heavy rain, stranded passengers rescued

NHAI authorities on Sunday morning stepped up efforts to resume traffic movement on Jammu-Srinagar national highway following improvement in weather, officials said.

As the 270-km highway, the only all weather link connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country, remained shut for a second day, police shifted a large number of stranded passengers, including over 200 tourists to safer places in Ramban district, they said.

11:23 AM

CBI files charge sheet in Manipur against 7 accused in connection with armoury loot case

Officials said that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a charge sheet against seven accused in connection with the looting of arms and ammunition from the Bishnupur police armoury during the Manipur ethnic violence last year. The agency recently filed its charge sheet before the court of chief judicial magistrate in Kamrup (Metro) in Assam's Guwahati.

11:17 AM

Nagaland aims to administer polio drops to 155,000 infants

The Nagaland government on Sunday launched a campaign, aiming to administer polio drops to over 155,000 lakh infants.

Principal Director of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Ritu Thurr, symbolically administered two polio drops to an infant at Seikhazou Urban Public Health Centre, marking the launch of the programme across 1,550 booths in the state.

"The main goal of the programme is to provide all infants and pregnant women protection from vaccine-preventable diseases. Nagaland is targeting around 155,550 beneficiaries in the age group of 0-5 years," he said.

10:55 AM

Here's what Rahul Gandhi had to say on India's unemployment during Bharat Jodo Yatra

"Today, there is maximum unemployment in the country in the last 40 years. India has double the unemployment as compared to Pakistan. We have more unemployed youth than Bangladesh and Bhutan because Narendra Modi has finished small businesses by demonetization and implementing GST...", says Rahul Gandhi in Madhya Pradesh

10:35 AM

Woman, 3 daughters killed in house collapse after heavy rains in J-K's Reasi

A woman and her three daughters, aged between two and five, were killed after their 'kutcha' house collapsed in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district, officials said on Sunday.

Moderate to heavy rains lashed several parts of Jammu and Kashmir on March 1 and 2. Dozens of structures including residential houses were also damaged by strong winds and hailstorm in different parts of Jammu region.

10:26 AM

World Wildlife Day: PM Modi hails those supporting wildlife conservation efforts

On the occasion of World Wildlife Day on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded those at the forefront of sustainable practices and supporting wildlife conservation efforts.

United Nations World Wildlife Day (WWD) is celebrated every year on March 3. Every year on this day, the unique roles and contributions of wildlife to people's lives and the planet are recognised.

10:02 AM

Here's what BJP leader Hema Malini had to say on her candidature from Mathura constituency

BJP leader Hema Malini comments on her candidature from the Mathura constituency for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. She states, "I wanted to do a lot of things here. I have done many things in the first five years and even better during my second term. This is the third time and I have to do much bigger work now... I would like to thank PM Modi, National President JP Nadda, HM Amit Shah and UP CM Yogi Adityanath..."

9:45 AM

"People have PM Modi in their hearts": BJP's Manoj Tiwari after being renominated for Lok Sabha polls

After the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) repeated the candidature of Manoj Tiwari from North-East Delhi's Lok Sabha seat, the famous Bhojpuri singer-actor on Saturday expressed his gratitude to the party leadership and said that the people of this country have Prime Minister Narendra Modi in their hearts.

"The people of this country have Prime Minister Modi in their hearts, and no one has any doubt about his hat-trick... I want to thank the party for trusting me. This time we have to increase the vote share," BJP MP Manish Tiwari said.

9:22 AM

Had govt brought law guaranteeing MSP, farmers wouldn't be protesting again: Bhupinder Hooda

Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda has said that farmers would not have been on a warpath with the government again had it brought a fourth law, alongside the three contentious agro-marketing legislations that were eventually repealed in 2021, to make buying farm produce below their MSPs an offence.

The three 2020 laws that the government had said were essential for farm sector reforms were repealed in November 2021 after a prolonged farmers' protest spearheaded by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha. The agitating farmers were also demanding a law to guarantee a minimum price for crops, but the government did not agree to this.

8:57 AM

Lok Sabha polls: Seat sharing talks a cliffhanger after splits and realignments in Maharashtra

The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)-led ruling alliance and the opposition bloc are united in their belief that winnability is the only formula for seat-sharing in Maharashtra, which sends the second highest number of 48 MPs to the Lok Sabha after 80 from Uttar Pradesh.

 

Maharashtra, the country's most industrialised state and its premier FDI magnet, however, has seen a political churn since 2019, with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena breaking its long-time alliance with the BJP, and then suffering a split, just like the Sharad Pawar-founded Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

8:39 AM

Lok Sabha elections: Former MP CM Chouhan claims BJP will win all 29 seats in state

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday claimed that in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) will win all 29 constituencies in the state. Singh, who is nominated from Vidisha seat, further added, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in the heart of the people of Madhya Pradesh. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will win all 29 seats. We all will contest jointly," he told reporters at his residence.

8:38 AM

Donald Trump wins Missouri, Idaho caucuses; sweeps Michigan GOP convention

Ahead of the United States Presidential elections, which are scheduled to be held in November this year, former President Donald Trump is continuing with his march toward GOP nomination. Trump won Idaho and Missouri caucuses and has swept the delegate haul at a party convention in Michigan. On Saturday, he earned every delegate at stake, which brought his count to 244 as compared to 24 for Nikki Haley, the former United Nations Ambassador.

 

8:37 AM

Jharkhand CM Champai Soren alleges BJP will uproot tribals from forest land if not defeated

On Saturday, Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren claimed that if the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) will not be defeated in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, it will loot tribal lands and uproot the people from forests and coal-bearing areas. He further stated that the BJP-led government at the Centre tried to amend various laws that protect tribal rights, however, the coalition government in the state will protest against such attempts.