THE HEADLINES:
- Senior BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses multiple election rallies in West Bengal; Says safety, dignity and prosperity of women among his party’s top priorities.
- Campaigning also picks up in Tamil Nadu, with several top leaders addressing rallies across the state.
- 21 people killed in a blast at firecracker factory in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu.
- Overseas citizens of India, scheme to be extended upto sixth generation of Indian community in Sri Lanka.
- President of South Korea Lee Jae Myung arrives in New Delhi on a three-day Visit.
- US President Donald Trump says, American delegation to reach Islamabad tomorrow for second round of negotiations with Iran.
- In Women’s Cricket, South Africa beat India by 8 wickets in second T20 International in Durban.
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Campaigning for assembly polls has intensified in West Bengal with senior leaders of various political parties conducting a series of rallies and roadshows in the final days leading up to polling.
Senior BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed multiple rallies at Jhargram, Purulia and Bishnupur districts in the state today. Mr Modi asserted that a double-engine BJP government in West Bengal will deliver double benefits to the women of the state. He stated that safety, dignity and prosperity of women are his party’s top priorities. He accused the Trinamool Congress of thwarting the entry of more women in legislative bodies, in collusion with the Congress.
BJP leader and Union Minister JP Nadda conducted a road show in Jalpaiguri district. Party leader and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha held road shows at Jiyaganj and Kandi in Murshidabad district.
TMC President and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held public meetings at Hooghly district’s Tarakeswar and Kalna in Purba Bardhaman district. She later held a road show in Bardhaman. Ms Banerjee alleged that if BJP comes to power in the state, it will take away all the welfare benefits introduced by the TMC government. She accused the BJP-led government in the Centre of linking the delimitation bill with the women’s quota legislation tabled in the Lok Sabha. The TMC Chief alleged that if the women’s reservation bill was passed in September 2023, why the central government did not implement it.
The Congress, Left, and other parties are also actively campaigning across West Bengal. Leaders are employing a range of strategies, including small public meetings, door-to-door outreach, and direct interactions with local residents, to connect with and win the support of voters.
Polling in West Bengal will be held in two phases, on 23rd and 29th of this month.
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In Tamil Nadu, as polling day approaches, star campaigners are intensifying their efforts to reach out to voters across the state through rallies and roadshows.
Senior BJP leaders and Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh are on a whirlwind campaign tour in the state. Mr Shah addressed a massive rally at Mylapore in Chennai and held a roadshow at Erode. He criticized the Congress and DMK for voting against the Women’s Reservation amendment bill in the Lok Sabha. Mr Shah also expressed confidence of National Democratic Alliance forming government in the state under the leadership of AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami. He hit out at ruling DMK for dynastic politics, alleged corruption and law and order issues.
Addressing a poll rally in Tenkasi district, Senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh said the government is determined to implement the amendment bill regarding the Women’s Reservation Act and no power in the world can stop them.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge held public meeting in Hosur. He said, Opposition opposed the proposed delimitation exercise as it was aimed at dividing votes of Opposition parties and ruling.
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Election-related activities are gathering pace across Tamil Nadu ahead of the single-phase polling scheduled for the 23rd of this month. In our ongoing series on constituency profiles, today, we take a closer look at the Virudhunagar Assembly constituency which is located in the Virudhunagar district and is an important electoral segment in the region. Virudhunagar also holds historical significance as the birthplace of the great leader K. Kamaraj. We have a report:
“The district has Rajapalayam, Srivilliputhur, Sattur, Sivakasi, Virudhunagar, Aruppukottai and Tiruchuzhi Assembly constituencies. The Total electorate in the district is 14 lakh 97 thousand 417 voters, Virudhunagar Assembly constituency has 1 lakh 98 thousand 616 voters. The constituency was formed in 1962 DMK won four times ADMK won twice, DMDK, MDMK, ,SCS ,JANATA- party,Congress, and Tamil Maanila congress won once each. ARR Srinivasan from the DMK is the present incumbent. Vijay Prabhakaran, the son of the founder of the party, Late Vijyakant is contesting for the Assembly for the first time. He already was defeated in the Parliament elections in 2024. Against him is V.G.Ganesan of the AIADMK. It is a two cornered contest in the constituency. Joy, AKASHVANI NEWS, Chennai.”
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The Supreme Court has issued a series of pan-India guidelines to enhance road safety, observing that expressways must not become corridors of danger due to administrative lapses or infrastructure gaps. A bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and A S Chandurkar noted that national highways account for only about two percent of India’s total road network but nearly 30 percent of road fatalities. It ordered that no heavy or commercial vehicle shall park or stop on any national highway carriageway or paved shoulder, except at designated bays or authorised wayside facilities.
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In Tamil Nadu, 21 people are reported to have been killed following a blast at a fire cracker factory at V. Muthulingapuram in Virudhunagar district this afternoon. Six Seriously injured people have been rushed to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment. The incident occurred when labourers were shifting inflammable chemical materials inside the factory. A total of 30 workers were present in the unit at the time of the explosion. Further details are awaited.
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President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed grief at the loss of lives in an explosion at a firecracker factory in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu.
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Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan today announced a series of measures aimed at strengthening ties with the Indian-origin Tamil community in Sri Lanka, focusing on welfare initiatives and cultural linkages. The Vice President made the announcement while addressing the members of the Indian community, in Colombo. A key announcement was the extension of the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) scheme up to the sixth generation, along with simplified documentation norms. The move is expected to improve access to education and economic opportunities in India.
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External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met President of South Korea Lee Jae Myung in New Delhi today. In a social media post, Dr S Jaishankar lauded the South Korean President’s commitment to deepen bilateral relations across multiple domains. He also expressed confidence that his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow will further strengthen both the countries special strategic Partnership.
President of South Korea Lee Jae Myung arrived in New Delhi this evening on a three day visit to India. He was received by Union Minister Harsh Malhotra. He is accompanied by First Lady Kim Hea Kyung and a high-level delegation comprising Ministers, senior officials and business leaders. This is President Lee’s first visit to India.
External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that during his visit, President Lee Jae Myung will hold discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on strengthening bilateral cooperation across a wide spectrum of areas.
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US President Donald Trump today said that US representatives are traveling to Islamabad in Pakistan for negotiations with Iran. He said that the US delegation will arrive by tomorrow night. The White House has said Vice President JD Vance, who led the first round of face-to-face talks last weekend, would lead the delegation to Pakistan with envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The talks are scheduled to be held on Tuesday. In an interview with American television news channel, President Trump said if they don’t reach a deal, then he is going to take out Iran bridges and their power plants. He went on to say that Iran has agreed to much of the deal already.
Earlier, in a social media post, President Trump, on the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, claimed that it was Iran on the losing end with the closure causing a loss of 500 US million dollars per day to the country while claiming that the United States loses nothing.
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The government today said that domestic LPG cylinder deliveries remain normal against bookings, with more than 53.5 lakh cylinders delivered yesterday. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said over 39 thousand PNG consumers have surrendered their LPG connections through the MYPNGD.in website.
The Ministry added that the average auto LPG sales by public sector oil marketing companies in April has reached 305 metric tonnes per day. It said the supply of petroleum products and LPG is being ensured across the country, with no shortages reported at LPG distributorships.
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Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw today said Odisha is entering a new phase of industrial and technological growth, backed by strong policy support and rising investments. Mr Vaishnaw was speaking after laying the foundation stone for India’s first advanced 3D glass substrate packaging facility at Info Valley in Bhubaneswar.
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In Women’s Cricket, hosts South Africa defeated India by eight wickets in the second T20 International of the five-match series at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban this evening.
Chasing a target of 148 runs, South Africa achieved the target in 17.1 overs, with openers Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus scoring impressive half-centuries.
Earlier, India, after being put in to bat, were bowled out for 147 runs in their allotted 20 overs. Shafali Verma top-scored with 57, while Anushka Sharma contributed 28 runs. South Africa had won the toss and elected to field.
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In IPL Cricket, Hosts Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Rajasthan Royals by four wickets in the league match at Eden Gardens this evening to register their first win of the tournament this season. Chasing a modest target of 156 runs, Kolkata Knight Riders overhauled the score in 19.4 overs with the help of an unbeaten 53 run knock from Rinku Singh.
The other match between Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants is underway in in Chandigarh. Put in to bat, Punjab Kings were 238 for 5 in 18.4 overs, when reports last came in. Earlier, Lucknow Super Giants won the toss and elected to bowl.
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The portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri Dhams in Uttarakhand were opened for devotees today amid Vedic chants and religious fervour on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. Thousands of devotees witnessed the ceremonial opening.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami offered prayers on the occasion. With the opening of both shrines, the annual Char Dham Yatra in the state has formally begun.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- Senior BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses multiple election rallies in West Bengal; Says safety, dignity and prosperity of women among his party’s top priorities.
- Campaigning also picks up in Tamil Nadu, with several top leaders addressing rallies across the state.
- 21 people killed in a blast at firecracker factory in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu.
- Overseas citizens of India, scheme to be extended upto sixth generation of Indian community in Sri Lanka.
- President of South Korea Lee Jae Myung arrives in New Delhi on a three-day Visit.
- US President Donald Trump says, American delegation to reach Islamabad tomorrow for second round of negotiations with Iran.
- In Women’s Cricket, South Africa beat India by 8 wickets in second T20 International in Durban.
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