Assembly Polls

Whether human right crusader Irom Sharmila Chanu's political party Peoples' Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) makes a mark in electoral battle will be known when the poll results will be out on March 11. But PRJA has already notched up one small victory over the BJP, and its face for Manipur polls - Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP - that was keen its star campaigner PM Modi holds his election rally at the historic Kangla Fort complex perhaps as a mark of symbolism in politics - has chucked its plan. Kangla Fort wasn't just home to the kings of Manipur, but is also seen as a sacred place in the Manipuri society.

The Election Commission has ordered the Centre to remove photographs of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministers from all government websites, insisting that all references to political leaders on official websites violated the model code of conduct. Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha has also been told to explain why the central government hadn't removed references to the politicians from its websites so far.

Ravi Singh Rawat expected to land a white-collar job once he graduated. But the student of economics who spoke fluent English, found jobs were not easy to come by. After three years of futile search, the 24-year-old opened a small motorcycle repair shop in Bareilly's Civil Lines. "I don't like doing this, but I have a family to feed. I had to do something," he said, staring at his grease-stained hands and dirty work clothes.

Polling was held in 73 assembly constituencies in western Uttar Pradesh on Saturday in the first of seven phases of what is billed as a semi-final before the 2019 national election. A turnout of 64.2 per cent was recorded, 3 per cent better than that registered in 2012 state elections. The pressure is on the BJP which swept the region in the 2014 national election, but now faces a test of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's notes ban, that resulted in a cash crunch seen to hit hardest the rural poor, who make up a big chunk of UP's voters. Opponents like Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party and partner Congress and Mayawati's BSP have spared no chance to attack the BJP on the impact of demonetisation. The BJP is also said to face some anger among the Jats of western UP who had voted en masse for it three years ago but now accuse the ruling party of not fulfilling promises it made then like reservation in government jobs for the community. UP has 403 seats and votes for all seven phases will be counted on March 11.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, whose Aam Aadmi Party or AAP is locked in a three-way battle with the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance in Punjab, today urged the people of the state to go out and vote for "honest politics."

North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) candidate Dasanglu Pul of BJP won the Hayuliang Assembly by-poll after defeating her lone rival Yompi Kri, an Independent candidate, by 942 votes.

Olympic bronze-medallist Sakshi Malik today sought to steer clear of the debate over allowing Pakistani players in India, but said that athletes have the right to compete against fellow rivals anywhere in the world.

Congress leader and former union minister in the UPA government V Narayanasamy will be the next chief minister of Puducherry, the party said today.

In a first in India's electoral history, the Election Commission today decided to rescind the notification and conduct polls afresh "in due course of time" to two Tamil Nadu Assembly seats following evidence of use of money to influence voters.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee will today take oath as Chief Minister of West Bengal for a second time at the gala swearing-in ceremony to be held at prestigious Red Road in Kolkata.

Mamata Banerjee was sworn in on Friday as West Bengal's chief minister for a second term, in the biggest oath ceremony Bengal has seen. Cheering from front row seats were political heavyweights like Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah on Thursday recommended to the Election Commission to conduct polls to Aravakurichi and Thanjavur constituencies before June 1.

Bangladesh has sent a special jamdani sari, 20 kg of hilsha fish and molasses for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee which will be presented to her by a senior minister at the swearing in ceremony on Friday.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and eight out of 11 members of his cabinet are crorepatis while one of them has criminal cases against him, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said on Wednesday.

Days after taking office as Tamil Nadu chief minister for the fourth term, J Jayalalithaa today inducted four more ministers, taking the tally to 32.