The Election Commission has directed political parties and candidates to seek pre-approval for ads across TV and digital platforms amid concerns over misinformation and AI misuse in campaigns

CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Business Standard

The state will go to the polls on April 9 in a single phase; counting will take place on May 4

Himanta Biswa Sarma, Himanta Biswa, Himanta

The BJP on Thursday released its first list of 88 candidates for the Assam assembly polls, including Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma from Jalukbari seat.
The party named former Congress leader Pradyut Bordoloi as its candidate from Dispur assembly seat. Bordoloi joined the BJP in the presence of Sarma and other party leaders here on Wednesday.
According to the list, Bhupen Kumar Borah, who also joined the BJP recently after leaving the Congress, will contest from Bihpura seat.
Madhavi Das will enter the fray from Birsing-Jarua, Jyotsana Kalita from Chamaria and Nilima Devi from Mangaldai.
The first list of candidates was finalised by the BJP's Central Election Committee at its meeting presided over by party president Nitin Nabin here on Wednesday evening.
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other members of the BJP poll body.
BJP Assam unit chief Dilip Saikia was also present at the meeting.

The party named former Congress leader Pradyut Bordoloi as its candidate from Dispur assembly seat

Press Trust of India

After Assam MP Pradyut Bordoloi joined the BJP, his son Prateek announced that he won't contest on a Congress ticket from Margherita in the upcoming assembly polls.
In a letter to Congress president and chairman of the Central Election Committee Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday, Prateek said he would continue to remain a party member.
Following his father's decision to join another party, it would not be appropriate for him to continue as a Congress candidate from Margherita, Prateek said in the letter, which was shared with reporters on Thursday.
"With utmost respect and a deep sense of responsibility towards the party, I wish to convey my decision to withdraw my candidacy from the Margherita Assembly Constituency," he said.
Prateek asserted that he will continue to work for the party in whatever capacity the leadership deems appropriate.
His father, a Congressman for over five decades, had resigned from the grand old party on Tuesday and joined the BJP the next day.

Congress, Congress flag

In a letter to Congress president and chairman of the Central Election Committee Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday, Prateek said he would continue to remain a party member

The BJP on Thursday released the second list of 39 candidates for the Kerala Assembly polls, fielding former state BJP president and former Mizoram governor Kummanam Rajasekharan from Aranmula seat.
The party named CC Mukandan as it's candidate from Nattila seat.
Deepak Puzhakkal will contest from Tanur seat and Aswinini ML from Kasaragod, according to the list released by the BJP.
Pathmasree M will contest from Manjeri constituency and Renu Suresh from Kongad seat.
BJP had earlier released the names of 47 candidates in its first list.

BJP Flag, BJP

Deepak Puzhakkal will contest from Tanur seat and Aswinini ML from Kasaragod, according to the list released by the BJP

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said he is confident that the BJP will return to power in Assam under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma with the "largest ever mandate".
Addressing the youth convention of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) here, Shah urged the people to give another mandate to the BJP and assured them that "every infiltrator will be sent out of India".
His comment comes on a day when the Election Commission (EC) announced that the Assam assembly elections would be held on April 9 and the counting on May 4.
"I am confident that the BJP will again form a government in Assam with the largest ever mandate and power of the youths," he said.
In the current 126-member assembly, the ruling BJP's strength is 64, while its allies AGP has nine MLAs, UPPL has seven, and the BPF has three members.
''The Congress gave shelter to infiltrators, but the BJP government is determined to identify each one of them and drive them out of the country," Shah

Guwahati: Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses the gathring during inauguration of Pragjyotishpur Medical College and Hospital, in Guwahati, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (PTI Photo)

In the current 126-member assembly, the ruling BJP's strength is 64, while its allies AGP has nine MLAs, UPPL has seven, and the BPF has three members

Elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu will be held in a single phase, while West Bengal will vote in two phases

The Election Commission will announce dates for assembly polls on Sunday evening.
Polls are due in West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry.
The poll authority has convened a press conference at 4 pm to announce the schedule.
The terms of these legislative assemblies are ending on different dates in May and June.
Final electoral rolls of the four states and the Union territory of Puducherry have been published as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voters' list.

ECI, election commission of india, election commission

Polls are due in West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry. The poll authority has convened a press conference at 4 pm to announce the schedule

PM Narendra Modi's two-day visit to Assam, his fourth to the state in the last four months, will feature the launch of projects worth around ₹47,600 crore across Kokrajhar, Guwahati and Silchar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Friday directed that all records related to the SIR of electoral rolls be preserved for five years and warned of strict disciplinary action against officials found responsible for errors or deliberate lapses, an official said.
At a meeting held virtually with district magistrates (DMs), electoral registration officers (EROs) and assistant electoral registration officers (AEROs) of Bengal, Kumar said decisions taken during the SIR process would remain stored in the commission's database for many years.
"These records will not remain for one or two years, but for several years. If any foreign national's name is found in the voter list in future, the officer concerned will face action," Kumar was quoted as saying.
In a stern message to the district election officers (DEOs), he cautioned that the poll panel would be empowered to initiate action even years later.
"Do not assume you can escape. Even after two years, the commission can proceed

Gyanesh Kumar, CEC

CEC warns of action even years later, orders five-year preservation of SIR records; DMs told to ensure strict document scrutiny by Feb 16 deadline

Olympian Vinesh Phogat on September 11, filed her nomination as a Congress candidate from Haryana's Julana assembly constituency. This comes after, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined the Congress.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah released BJP's manifesto for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections on September 6, 2024.

On September 4, Rahul Gandhi kickstarted the party's election campaign in Jammu and Kashmir, where  the  elections are scheduled to begin on September 18. Watch the video to know the details.

Vinesh Phogat on September 6 joined the Congress party ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections.

Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined the Congress party on September 6. This move came just hours after Phogat announced her resignation from her position at the Indian Railways.

Mercedes,Mercedes logo

Stating that Mercedes-Benz is leading the charge in luxury electric mobility, it said the company's Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) portfolio in country is witnessing steady growth and increased sales

Port, Trade

The FTA talks have yet to resume because the UK has not yet appointed its negotiating team, but the process is likely to be finalised soon

Google

Google's refusal to provide third-party access to Android Auto platform may be in breach of competition rules, Court Advocate General Laila Medina said

amazon

Such items are usually easy to post directly to customers abroad and less affected by import taxes than costlier products

Adani Enterprises, Adani group

Adani group's recent corporate filings show that as of March 31, 2024, domestic lenders had an exposure of Rs 88,100 crore to various Adani Group entities through long-term and working capital loans

SBI is using wealth banking to focus on a segment which is below affluent class but above the normal account holders

Meesho

This marks a 70 per cent increase from its seasonal hiring last year, according to a company statement

Rahul Gandhi, Rahul, Congress leader

In the 8-minute-long video, Rahul Gandhi doubles down on the Election Commission of India, adding that the punishment will be meted out to those who were involved in the scam

With polls due in late 2025, the JD(U) leader’s long record of alliance pivots could once again alter Bihar’s electoral landscape

Nitish Kumar, Nitish

From Lalu Prasad's RJD to BJP to RJD to BJP again and back, Nitish Kumar's shifting alliances have redrawn Bihar's political map more than once. Here's how and why he flipped

Trump fake certificate

An attempt was made to forge a residence certificate in Bihar's Samastipur in the name of US President Donald Trump. An FIR has been lodged

Elections, voting, Lok Sabha elections

The Supreme Court sought the Election Commission's reply on ADR plea alleging removal of key data from Bihar draft roll; the petitioner says absence of reason for deletion undermines transparency

Election Commission

Bihar Assembly Election 2025: Political parties and the general public still have time to submit their requests

Assembly Elections 2026: Check Here Latest Updates on Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Assembly Elections dates, News, schedule, polls and opinion on Business Standard.

Assembly Elections 2026: Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Assembly Elections 2026, Schedule, Legislative Results, polls | Business Standard

Assembly Election 2026

ECI orders prior approval for political ads ahead of Assembly elections

Assam Assembly polls: BJP releases list of candidates, allies get 37 seats

Assam elections: BJP releases names of 88 candidates in first list

Prateek Bordoloi won't contest on Cong ticket after father joins BJP

BJP releases second list of 39 candidates for Kerala Assembly elections

Confident that BJP will again form govt in Assam, says Amit Shah

Elections in Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala from Apr 9; result on May 4

Election Commission to announce assembly poll dates for five states today

PM Modi to launch ₹47,600 crore projects in Assam ahead of elections

Preserve SIR records for 5 years: CEC Gyanesh Kumar to Bengal officials

Election Multimedia

Assembly Elections 2026 Schedule

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Puducherry

Assam

West Bengal

Tamil Nadu