Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday lampooned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his claims of an increase in the prices of petrol and diesel, saying that it indeed was the case, but in neighbouring Pakistan.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the country has bucked international trends of fuel shortage, work from home orders and "skyrocketing prices," and the government has ensured availability of petroleum products amidst the West Asia conflict, he said.
Addressing a poll rally here ahead of the April 9 Assembly elections, the senior BJP leader promised to make all efforts to ensure a developed Puducherry if the NDA is given a two-thirds majority.
The ruling AINRC-BJP combine is seeking a successive term in the coming polls.
Shah said Rahul Gandhi, at a recent public meeting in this union territory, had said that "due to the Gulf war, petrol prices have gone up in India.
"He is right. Petrol costs Rs 458, while diesel has gone up to Rs 520. But Rahul... that has 

Amit Shah, Home Minister

Shah said Rahul Gandhi, at a recent public meeting in this union territory, had said that "due to the Gulf war, petrol prices have gone up in India

Press Trust of India

EC announces April polling for five states and Puducherry, with Bengal voting in two phases and results scheduled for May 4

polls, elections, voters, votes

Business Standard

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

CEC Gyanesh Kumar

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

The stage is all set for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate a series of government initiatives in Tamil Nadu's Madurai and Puducherry on Sunday.
He would also visit the Arulmigu Subramanyaswamy temple in Tirupparankundram, Madurai, in the evening and offer prayers.
The Prime Minister, who arrived here on Saturday night, was received by Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, Union Minister L Murugan, state Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, BJP state president Nainar Nagendran, senior leader Tamilisai Soundararajan and other functionaries at the airport. He later left for the Lok Bhavan here for a night's halt.
During his visit to Puducherry, the PM will inaugurate, dedicate to the nation, and lay the foundation stone for development projects worth over Rs 2,700 crore. These projects are aimed at strengthening infrastructure, urban services, industrial development, education, healthcare, and sustainable growth.
In Madurai, he will ..

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India

Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy presented him with a shawl, a silver idol of Lord Murugan, a silver spear (Vel) and a Thanjavur painting to the Prime Minister

The Election Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, will visit Tamil Nadu and Puducherry from February 25 to 27 to assess poll preparedness in the state and the Union territory where assembly elections are likely to be held in April.
Besides Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, assembly polls are due in Assam, Kerala and West Bengal.
The Election Commission (EC) visited Assam this week to assess poll preparedness. CEC Kumar told reporters in Guwahati that the EC would finalise the poll schedule for the northeastern state keeping in mind the festival of Bihu, which falls on April 14.
It is usual for the EC to visit states where polls are due before announcing the election schedule.
The terms of the five assemblies end on different dates in May and June.
While the five-year term of the Puducherry Assembly ends on June 15, the terms of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal assemblies end on May 20, 23, 10 and 7, respectively.
Last time, assembly polls in West

Besides Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, assembly polls are due in Assam, Kerala and West Bengal

Nine states and three Union territories have missed the original deadline to publish their final electoral rolls as part of the ongoing special intensive revision of voters' list.
However, the Union territories of Lakshdweep and Puducherry came out with their final rolls on Saturday as part of the Election Commission's ambitious phase two of voters' list cleanup exercise.
According to Puducherry's chief electoral officer, the Union territory has 9,44,211 electors in the final voters' list.
Lakshadweep has 57,607 electors according to the final voters' list.
Announced on October 27 last year, the phase two of the special intensive revision covers a combined electorate of nearly 51 crore in these states and Union Territories.
The exercise was to conclude on February 7 with the publication of final electoral rolls.
While the deadline was missed, Lakshdweep and Puducherry on Saturday came out with their respective electoral rolls.
Rajasthan too was to come up with its final rolls on

Election commission, voting, SIR

According to Puducherry's chief electoral officer, the Union territory has 9,44,211 electors in the final voters' list

Puducherry police on Tuesday denied permission for actor-politician Vijay's roadshow slated for December 5 in the union territory.
Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party had sought permission to conduct a roadshow from Kalapet to Kannaiakoil and also for Vijay to address a public meeting near Sonnampalayam water tank.
However, after the police declined to permit the roadshow, TVK general secretaries B Anand and Aadhav Arjuna met senior police officials here on December 1 and requested for the permission.
"We have recommended that an open-ground public meeting be held instead of a roadshow. We did not recommend the roadshow," Puducherry DIG Sathya Sundaram told reporters.
Vijay's political rallies came to an abrupt halt in Tamil Nadu following the tragic stampede in Karur that claimed 41 lives and left over 60 injured.

Vijay, TVK

However, after the police declined to permit the roadshow, TVK general secretaries B Anand and Aadhav Arjuna met senior police officials here on December 1 and requested for the permission

EC to announce schedule for Assam separately

Gyanesh Kumar, CEC

Puducherry Elections 2026 Updates: Get the latest news on Puducherry Assembly polls, opinion poll trends, key candidates, party-wise seat predictions, and real-time political developments. Stay updated with all major highlights on Business Standard.

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