With sitting MP Harsh Vardhan's name not figuring from his Chandni Chowk constituency in the list of candidates announced by the BJP for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, he announced bowing out of active politics. In the first list of 195 candidates declared by the BJP, Praveen Khandelwal has been fielded from Chandni Chowk, a seat which Vardhan holds at present.
Bhojpuri singer-actor Pawan Singh withdrew his name from the Lok Sabha poll contest from Asansol seat in Bengal, a day after the BJP named him as its candidate from the constituency currently represented by Trinamul Congress's Shatrughan Sinha. In a post on X, Singh thanked the BJP leadership for his candidature but added that he will not be able to contest from Asansol "due to some reason".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Union Council of Ministers in what is likely to be the last such exercise during the second term of his government. The prime minister has been holding meetings of the entire Council of Ministers from time to time to discuss key policy and governance issues but this meeting has assumed political significance in view of the Lok Sabha elections, expected to be held in April-May.
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File ImageA six-member fact-finding team of an NGO went to some villages in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali, which has been witness to widespread protests over allegations of sexual atrocities and land grab by local TMC leaders. The high court had last week permitted six persons as constituents of the fact-finding team to visit Sandeshkhali today.
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File ImageCBI 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, officials said. On August 3 last year, a mob looted more than 300 weapons and 19,800 rounds of ammunition from two rooms of the 2nd Indian Reserve Battalion headquarters at Naranseina in Bishnupur.
Pakistan's newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif raked up the Kashmir issue in his maiden address but pledged to improve ties with all leading nations, including the country's neighbours. He pledged to build and improve ties with all leading nations, including neighbours.
Even as the Trinamul Congress has decided to contest all 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal, the Congress on Sunday said doors are still open for an alliance with the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC for the upcoming general polls. On the rally to be held in Bihar capital Patna, Ramesh said it is a joint Opposition rally and coming after the Prime Minister went there on March 2.
Congress leader V D Satheesan sought a CBI probe into the recent death of a student at Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Wayanad. The leader of the Opposition in the assembly also alleged that senior CPI(M) leaders of the district had threatened the investigating officers.
Two-time finalists India jumped to the top of the World Test Championship standings, replacing New Zealand in the latest rankings issued. With five wins, two losses and one draw, India have 62 points in 8 matches, while the Black Caps have 36 from five matches (three wins, two losses) and have a point-percentage of 60.00.
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File ImageA police constable and a Naxalite were killed in an encounter in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district on Sunday, a senior police official said. The operation was launched based on a specific input about the presence of Naxalites in the Hidur forest.
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File ImageIsrael's military has completed a preliminary review of civilian deaths at a Gaza aid convoy last week, which determined that forces did not strike the convoy and that most Palestinians died in a stampede, a military spokesperson said. Pressure has mounted on Israel over the deaths of dozens of Palestinians during a confused incident in the Gaza Strip on February 29 in which crowds surrounded a convoy of aid trucks and soldiers opened fire, with several countries backing a U.N. call for an inquiry.