Assembly Election highlights: PM Modi speaks in Assam, Rajnath Singh holds campaign in Kerala, and more

The Left Front connected Wednesday announced it reached a seat-sharing statement with the ISF and CPI(ML) Liberation to contention the West Bengal Assembly elections.

As per the seat-sharing statement reached among these outfits, the ISF volition contention 30 seats and CPI(ML) Liberation volition tract candidates successful 8 Assembly constituencies, Left Front president Biman Bose said successful a statement.

He said the Left Front volition tract candidates successful 252 of the 294 seats successful the State, with the CPI(M) contesting 195 seats, All India Forward Bloc 23, CPI and RSP 16 each, and RCPI and Marxist Forward Bloc 1 each. 

The announcement follows extended deliberations among the Left Front, ISF and CPI(ML) Liberation regarding spot sharing.

-PTI

The TMC connected Wednesday alleged large-scale discrepancies successful elector enrolment successful West Bengal, claiming aggregate instances of duplicate and fraudulent entries successful the electoral rolls during the ongoing work of supplementary lists.

In a practice to the bureau of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), the enactment flagged alleged irregularities successful enumeration forms and Form 6 submissions, utilized for including names successful the elector list.

Senior TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien told reporters that respective residents of Bihar person been enrolled successful West Bengal’s elector database contempt reportedly having voted successful the assembly polls successful the neighbouring authorities past year.

“We person drawn the urgent involution of the CEO, demanding that these anomalies beryllium rectified immediately. We are appalled astatine the relation of the Chief Election Commissioner, who has failed to reply to a azygous connection from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee astir aggregate discrepancies and irregularities successful the Special Intensive Revision workout of electoral rolls,” Mr. O’Brien said. 

-PTI

AIADMK main Edapapdi K. Palaniswami connected Wednesday condemned DMK apical person and Chief Minister MK Stalin for dubbing him a ‘Sanghi,’ and rejected it arsenic a defamatory notation targeting him.

Addressing a mega predetermination rally here, Mr. Palaniswami castigated Mr. Stalin for alleging the AIADMK had “bloodstains of those killed successful protests opposing CAA”, and rejected that accusation.

Mr. Palaniswami showed an old, undated photograph of precocious leaders M. Karunanidhi and Murasoli Maran alongside the past Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and asked if the 2 precocious leaders --Karunanidhi and Maran-- were ‘Sanghi’ leaders. 

-PTI

Actor-turned-politician and TVK main Vijay is acceptable to record his information papers for the Tiruchirappalli (East) assembly constituency connected April 2, mounting the signifier for a high-profile electoral contention successful cardinal Tamil Nadu.

Mr. Vijay, who is contesting from 2 seats successful the upcoming April 23 Assembly elections -- the different being Perambur successful Chennai -- volition taxable his papers to Returning Officer Muthu Murugesa Pandiyan astatine the Ariyamangalam Zonal Office of the Trichy Corporation astir 12.30 p.m. connected April 2, said TVK officials.

Post-nomination, the TVK main is scheduled to footwear disconnected his run successful the city, Aadhav Arjuna General Secretary of Election Campaign Management, TVK, told reporters present connected Wednesday, pursuing a gathering with the Chief Electoral Officer. 

-PTI

AIMIM main Asaduddin Owaisi connected Wednesday alleged that the ruling TMC and different parties utilized Muslims of West Bengal for votes but did thing for the community’s development.

Mr. Owaisi, portion addressing a canvass rally astatine Naoda successful Murshidabad territory successful enactment of candidates of Humayun Kabir-led Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP), besides claimed that successful the past 50 years, members of the Muslim assemblage had voted for the Congress, Left Front and the TMC, but their information did not improve. 

“For the involvement of Muslims successful West Bengal getting greater practice successful governmental decision-making, and for their existent development, we person joined hands with Kabir. Together, we volition springiness a jolt to Mamata Banerjee and her party,” helium asserted.

“The clip has travel to elite leaders from the Muslim community, who tin guarantee your economical development,” Mr. Owaisi said.

“Muslims signifier astir 30% of the colonisation here. But however galore Muslims are successful authorities authorities jobs? Around 7 per cent. The clip has travel to halt the exploitation of Muslims. To guarantee that, elite leaders from yourselves who tin lone guarantee our economical improvement portion pursuing the secular, inclusive tone of India which is being violated by some BJP and TMC,” helium told a ample gathering. 

-PTI

The DMK officially launched its run anthem, ‘Stalin Thodarattum, Tamil Nadu Vellattum’ (Let Stalin Continue, Let Tamil Nadu Win) connected Wednesday, up of the April 23 Assembly elections.

Released by the party’s IT wing, the high-energy way serves arsenic a integer spearhead for Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s re-election bid.

The opus highlights the “Dravidian Model” of governance, focusing connected grassroots mobilisation and flagship payment schemes. It heavy features the party’s caller “superstar manifesto” promises, including the ₹8,000 appliance coupon for homemakers. The anthem, aimed astatine energising cadres, is rapidly gaining traction connected societal media. 

-PTI

Unlike AIADMK’s Palaniswami, my acquisition is not to beryllium cowed down to intimidation, says Deputy CM Udhayanidhi during a canvass run successful Ambur. I basal up with dignity, and I don’t person acquisition of visiting Delhi, and changing cars helium adds. 

“DMK ever stood with minorities. The enactment is their guardian,” Mr. Stalin said connected Wednesday. 

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy connected Wednesday launched a crisp onslaught connected Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, utilizing a fashionable Malayalam movie dialog during a UDF run roadshow successful Nemom constituency up of the April 9 Assembly polls.

Addressing enactment workers, Mr. Reddy invoked the celebrated enactment “Nee po mone Dinesha” from the Mohanlal-starrer Malayalam blockbuster “ Narasimham”, drafting large cheers from the crowd. 

Adapting the dialog to people Vijayan, helium said “Nee po mone Vijaya”, and alleged that the Chief Minister’s “time is over”, and his “expiry day has passed”.

“Your clip is over. Your expiry day is over. You don’t person immoderate clip to continue. Now, the UDF’s clip has come,” Mr. Reddy said during the roadshow.

-PTI

Violence broke retired astatine the West Bengal Pradesh Congress office present connected Wednesday during protests implicit campaigner enactment for the Assembly elections, leaving astatine slightest 1 enactment idiosyncratic injured, constabulary said.

It each started aft agitated enactment workers staged a objection demanding the cancellation of “outsider” candidates, which soon escalated into clashes betwixt rival factions.

Their main grievance centred astir the information of Rohan Mitra, lad of erstwhile enactment president Somen Mitra, from Ballygunge Assembly constituency. The protestors claimed that Zayed Hossain had earlier been assured the summons for the seat, but was aboriginal denied.

The agitating workers besides alleged that the authorities Congress enactment had “sold tickets” for the Assembly elections, adjacent arsenic posters carrying the complaint were enactment up astatine the enactment headquarters. 

-PTI

Speaking during a canvass run successful Kerala, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh connected Wednesday says LDF and UDF person been betraying the radical of Kerala. 

Speaking successful Paravur, Mr. Singh says some LDF and UDF person divided nine and ‘destroyed’ Kerala’s system portion not not fulfilling their promises. “LDF and UDF are the aforesaid successful corruption and appeasement,” the Defence Minister alleges. 

“A household subordinate of Kerala CM is accused of ‘money laundering’ successful a lawsuit connected with CMRL. God is not unafraid successful God’s ain state due to the fact that the LDF betrayed Lord Ayyappa for a fewer pieces of gold,” helium adds. 

A consciousness of commotion prevailed astatine the predetermination bureau successful the Erode (East) Assembly constituency arsenic much than 100 persons turned up simultaneously to acquisition information forms.

The crowd, comprising members of the Sengunthar Mudaliar community, gathered nether the banner of the Sengunthar Mudaliar Association. They said that each of them were readying to record nominations successful the constituency. - The Hindu Bureau

A full of 611 complaints were received astatine the territory power centre and 28 done cVigil app since the Model Code of Conduct came into unit successful Cuddalore district. All the complaints received till day had been acted upon and resolved.

According to officials, complaints received astatine the district-level power country functioning from the Collectorate are instantly forwarded to flying squads and static surveillance teams successful the respective Assembly constituencies. - The Hindu Bureau

Kolkata: AIMIM main Asaduddin Owaisi alleged that the ruling Trinamool Congress and different parties utilized Muslims for votes successful West Bengal, but did thing for the community’s development.

Mr. Owaisi, addressing a canvass rally astatine Naowda successful enactment of candidates of Humayun Kabir-led AJUP, besides claimed that successful the past 50 years, members of the Muslim assemblage had voted for the Congress, Left Front and the TMC, but their information did not improve.

“For the involvement of Muslims successful West Bengal getting greater practice successful governmental determination making, and for their existent development, we person joined hands with Kabir. Together, we volition springiness a jolt to Mamata Banerjee and her party,” helium asserted. “The clip has travel to elite leaders from the Muslim community, who tin guarantee your economical development,” Mr. Owaisi said. - PTI

Kannur: BJP nationalist president Nitin Nabin held a roadshow successful the Mattannur Assembly constituency, expressing assurance that the enactment volition unafraid a beardown mandate successful the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections.

Nitin Nabin said, “This clip BJP volition get a precise bully effect from the nationalist of Keralam. From 2% to 20% nether the enactment of Narendra Modi, we are precise assured that this clip Lotus volition springiness a clear-cut mandate for the State Assembly election.”

The BJP main highlighted that the enactment aims to supply an alternate to the existing LDF and UDF governments, focussing connected development, employment for youth, and payment programmes. 

“The mode the LDF and the UDF person been playing a match-fixing crippled with the public, we volition exposure them. Both person ruled for 70 years and person focussed lone connected their families, not the people. This time, the BJP volition supply a genuine alternate government. We volition enactment for the payment of the people, development, infrastructure, growth, and employment for the youth.” - ANI

Thiruvananthapuram: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said that voting for the Left Democratic Front (LDF) oregon Pinarayi Vijayan would yet payment PM Narendra Modi successful Delhi.

While campaigning for UDF campaigner K.S. Sabarinadhan successful Nemom Assembly constituency, helium urged voters to take the United Democratic Front (UDF) to guarantee the State’s development, concern growth, and occupation creation.

“If UDF wins successful Keralam, the authorities is going to employment payment and development... Now, the radical indispensable determine who is going to make the State, industries and get investments from different States to Keralam... I americium present to enactment Keralam,” helium said. - ANI

Guwahati: Congress person Pawan Khera, reacting to the BJP’s canvass committedness to instrumentality a Uniform Civil Code successful Assam, alleged that the ruling enactment was attempting to divert nationalist attraction from cardinal governance issues.

The Congress person accused the BJP of engaging successful polarisation tactics up of elections. “They volition effort to rise specified issues truthful that the voters’ attraction gets diverted from the existent lies of the BJP government, and they get misled. Let them effort to polarise. The radical of Assam volition ne'er get polarised,” helium said.

Mr. Khera besides claimed that specified promises are aimed astatine deflecting scrutiny from the government’s performance. “They are conscionable trying to rise incorrect issues truthful that determination is nary speech astir their ain shortcomings, their ain corruption, and their ain misdeeds,” helium added. - ANI

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee alleged that recently appointed officials by the Election Commission were entrusted to cull nominations of her enactment candidates and urged them to beryllium cautious portion filing their nominations.

Addressing a canvass rally astatine Nanoor successful Birbhum territory of West Bengal, Ms. Banerjee besides lashed retired astatine the BJP for allegedly misusing Central agencies for its governmental benefit.

“Everything has been changed; it’s a caller setup here. The recently appointed officers by the EC are entrusted to cull your nomination; truthful beryllium cautious portion filing your nominations,” Ms. Banerjee said astatine the rally. The Chief Minister besides urged people, particularly women, not to ballot for the BJP.

“They (BJP) are anti-women, that’s wherefore their names are being deleted successful SIR citing logical discrepancy,” she said. - PTI

Tirupattur: Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin connected Wednesday (April 1, 2026) said the BJP’s “conspiracies” volition beryllium defeated and the T.N. squad volition guarantee a triumph successful the April 23 election.

Campaigning for the enactment candidates successful Natrampalli and Vaniyambadi successful the Tirupattur district, helium said the BJP was alert that it cannot triumph astatine the hustings and truthful was readying to marque an introduction done the polls.

“We volition decision the conspiracies of the BJP which wants to regularisation Tamil Nadu from Delhi with aged and caller slaves, successful the 2026 Assembly elections. Let america enactment tirelessly and guarantee that the Tamil Nadu squad wins and usher successful the Dravidian exemplary 2.0. regime,” Mr. Udhayanidhi said and exuded assurance that the DMK-led confederation volition win.

- PTI

Gogamukh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged that the Congress, if it comes to powerfulness successful Assam, volition bring successful a instrumentality to support infiltrators, which the BJP and its allies volition not allow.

Addressing a canvass rally astatine Gogamukh successful Dhemaji district, Modi said the Congress’ purpose is to “turn the bulk assemblage into a number and make a imperishable ballot slope of infiltrators’’.

“Congress leaders are openly saying that they volition bring successful a caller instrumentality successful Assam to support infiltrators and are openly supporting them,” the PM alleged. He besides accused the expansive aged enactment of “trying to disagreement the state arsenic the Muslim League did during Partition”.

“The Congress person besides stabbed the Constitution prepared by Babasaheb Ambedkar,” Mr. Modi said. The Prime Minister said if the BJP returns to power, it volition “implement the Uniform Civil Code and safeguard tribals nether the Sixth docket to support Assam’s identity”. - PTI

Gogamukh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the improvement of Assam nether the BJP authorities and described the erstwhile 10 years arsenic an “era of work and bully governance.” 

Addressing a nationalist rally successful Assam’s Gogamukh, the Prime Minister expressed assurance of achieving “hattrick” of triumph successful State. Meanwhile, successful an indirect jibe astatine LoP Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, helium stressed that the upcoming predetermination volition people “century of defeats for Congress’ self-proclaimed prince.”

“Under the enactment of Shri Sarbananda Sonowal first, and past nether the guidance of Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam has witnessed a caller epoch of work and bully governance successful the past 10 years. These Assam elections are the predetermination to physique a developed Assam for a developed India. This time, a hat-trick for the BJP-NDA authorities is certain. And a hat-trick of decision for Congress is besides certain. And a period of decision for Congress’s self-proclaimed prince is besides connected the cards,” said PM Modi. - ANI

Jolarpettai: Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin appealed to the radical to decimate the Opposition AIADMK successful the ensuing Assembly predetermination and besides guarantee that its state the BJP doesn’t triumph astatine the hustings.

Stating that the “fascist BJP” does not person the people’s authorisation to participate Tamil Nadu, helium said the saffron enactment cannot triumph astatine the hustings. Campaigning for the DMK astatine Jolarpettai, astir 215 km from Chennai, the party’s younker helping caput urged the radical to render a full rout to AIADMK successful the State.

He said the DMK was capable to attack the radical arsenic it has kept up its promises made successful the 2021 Assembly predetermination and is assured of delivering much erstwhile the enactment gets a 2nd successive term. - PTI

Teams progressive successful the enforcement of Model Code of Conduct for the April 9 Assembly elections successful Puducherry person apprehended 5 persons and seized from their possession astir ₹ 66,000 during surveillance utilizing drone exertion for checking the misuse of wealth powerfulness successful polls successful the Union Territory. 

Flying squad members deployed astatine Mannadipet constituency apprehended 3 persons, Thirumaran, Silambarasan, Chakravarthy and seized from their possession ₹ 55,000. Another squad deployed astatine Mangalam constituency took into custody P. Rajendran and P. Suresh and seized from their possession astir ₹ 11,000. The accused and seized magnitude person been handed implicit to the acrophobic constabulary stations for further proceeding with the case, Chief Electoral Officer P. Jawahar said successful a release. - The Hindu Bureau

Tiruchirappalli: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M.K. Stalin, who is contesting the upcoming Assembly elections from the Kolathur constituency, held a large predetermination run successful Tiruchirappalli territory connected Wednesday (April 1, 2026), addressing a ample nationalist gathering and introducing enactment candidates for the 9 Assembly segments successful the district.

He said, “There are nary caste clashes successful Tamil Nadu, nary communal riots similar successful BJP-ruled States, nary mob unit similar successful Uttar Pradesh, and nary continuous unrest similar successful Manipur. We person besides thwarted the conspiracies of the BJP to make specified situations here. It is due to the fact that of the peaceful situation and effectual governance nether our regularisation that investments are steadily flowing into Tamil Nadu. We person released a elaborate enactment program and predetermination manifesto to enactment this. All the announcements I person made volition beryllium fulfilled successful the coming days.”

CM Stalin besides claimed, “Tamil Nadu has nary caste oregon communal unit similar different States. We ensured peace, which is wherefore investments are coming. We person released our plans, and each promises volition beryllium fulfilled soon.” - ANI

Siliguri: BJP Siliguri MLA and campaigner Dr. Sankar Ghosh powerfully refuted West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s assertion that radical would beryllium restricted from consuming fish, meat, oregon eggs if the BJP comes to power, asserting that specified statements are misleading and against taste realities.

Responding to Ms. Banerjee’s remarks, Mr. Ghosh said, “Didi, I entreaty to you to travel to my house, we volition person food together. You volition besides bask it. But these mendacious statements being made... saying food is not eaten... this is not right.” He further emphasised that nutrient habits are profoundly rooted successful civilization and cannot beryllium dictated by immoderate governmental party. 

“People from Bengal and Bihar volition devour food and nutrient - this cannot beryllium controlled by immoderate governmental enactment due to the fact that it is portion of our culture. Ignoring civilization successful this mode and spreading mendacious statements to make fearfulness among radical is wrong,” helium said. - ANI

Tiruvarur: Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched his run for the April 23 Assembly polls and slammed AIADMK main Edappadi K. Palaniswami arsenic a person with nary semipermanent imaginativeness oregon knowing astir anything. He dubbed the NDA arsenic “anti-Tamil and opportunistic alliance”.

Formally introducing candidates of his enactment and that of allies from Tiruvarur portion and seeking enactment for them, the DMK main claimed determination were galore examples to amusement the intelligence capableness of the Leader of Opposition Palaniswami. He claimed that that the erstwhile CM lacks knowing astir thing and has nary foresight oregon semipermanent imaginativeness and helium is demonstrating it.

CM Stalin said NDA has lone 1 nonsubjective and it is to hinder Tamil Nadu’s improvement and it aims astatine “destroying” the improvement brought astir by the Dravidian model. - PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to code 2 nationalist meetings successful Assam connected Wednesday (April 1) arsenic portion of the BJP’s ongoing Assembly predetermination campaign.

According to the itinerary, Mr. Modi volition archetypal code a rally astatine Gogamukh successful Dhemaji astir 11 a.m. earlier proceeding to Biswanath district, wherever helium is expected to talk astatine a nationalist gathering astatine 1 p.m.

Senior BJP leaders and authorities ministers are apt to beryllium contiguous astatine some venues, enactment sources said.

-PTI

The diminution of the ember economy, amerciable mining, and individuality authorities are expected to signifier the electoral conflict successful Asansol Dakshin, 1 of the astir intimately watched assembly constituencies successful the 2026 West Bengal polls.

Part of the Asansol Lok Sabha constituency successful Paschim Bardhaman district, the urban-industrial spot located successful the Raniganj ember loop reflects the structural modulation of eastbound India’s aged mining towns, wherever concern slowdown, informal ember networks and demographic shifts are influencing governmental narratives.

The BJP, which wrested the spot from the TMC successful 2021, is attempting to clasp it done a premix of Hindutva mobilisation and governance issues linked to the ember economy.

The ruling TMC is seeking to regain mislaid crushed by rebuilding its accepted Bengali-minority enactment basal and highlighting the assorted societal payment schemes of the authorities government.

-PTI

Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar connected Tuesday (March 31) condemned the onslaught connected Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) workers extracurricular the Election Commissioner’s bureau by Trinamool Congress (TMC) enactment workers, calling TMC “the look of violence.”

Speaking to the reporters, Mr. Mazumdar emphasised the request for a strict instrumentality and bid concern successful presumption of the Assembly elections.

“The TMC’s desperation is increasing time by day. Today, our workers were lasting earlier the Election Commission. They were attacked by TMC goons. This is the existent look of the Trinamool Congress, the look of violence. Therefore, to guarantee the elections are escaped and fair, strict restrictions and rigorous enforcement of instrumentality and bid are essential. Otherwise, it volition beryllium intolerable for the Election Commission to behaviour escaped and just elections here,” helium said.

-ANI

Ahead of the high-stakes West Bengal Assembly polls, Residents of Narayangarh, West Bengal, nether the Paschim Medinipur district, person raised concerns astir alleged deficiency of infrastructure, including all-weather roads, cleanable drinking water, and functional healthcare facilities and neglect from the authorities.

A nonmigratory Bhim Debnath stated that casual accces of drinking water, well-built homes are not disposable successful the area. “There is simply a terrible drinking h2o situation here. We person to question 12km conscionable to fetch water... Our homes are made of mud... We deficiency due roads. There isn’t adjacent a infirmary nearby...Our MLA hasn’t travel to conscionable us. We privation change,” helium said.

Another resident, Raipada Devrat, besides flagged issues successful the healthcare system. “There is nary hospital. We person to question acold to Kharagpur oregon Midnapore, wherever doctors complaint Rs 200-500, but we are poor... The roads are successful mediocre condition. We don’t adjacent person due housing,” helium said.

-ANI

At Mudikkarai, a tiny junction astir six km from Perumbavoor town, United Democratic Front (UDF) campaigner Manoj Moothedan addressed a tiny assemblage of mostly his supporters astir 9 a.m. connected Tuesday. The prime of determination to commencement his roadworthy amusement seemed strategic.

“I americium blessed to motorboat my run from here. I person a batch of friends and relatives astatine Mudikkarai. But much than that, I americium each the much blessed to basal connected this precise road, which was 1 of the earliest projects I worked connected erstwhile I was a territory panchayat member,” Mr. Moothedan said, going connected to database a acceptable of projects helium claimed to person initiated successful and astir Kuruppampady junction.

BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) campaigner Anoop Antony from the Thiruvalla constituency for the 2026 Keralam Legislative Assembly elections connected Tuesday (March 31) expressed assurance successful the party’s maturation and prospects.

“BJP successful Kerala mhas ever grown... In 2011, we were little than 10%; today, we person reached 20%. BJP is the lone enactment which has grown successful the past 10 years. In these elections, the BJP is expecting a immense victory, conscionable similar the past Lok Sabha elections and the caller Trivandrum Municipal Corporation elections. This predetermination is going to beryllium a landmark for Kerala’s politics... People person been fed up with some the UDF and the LDF... They are looking for a change,” helium said, portion talking to ANI.

He filed his information papers for the Thiruvalla Assembly constituency astatine the Sub-Collector’s bureau connected March 21, up of the 2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly elections.

-ANI

With respective salient legislators accused of intersexual unit contesting and campaigning successful the upcoming polls, questions are being raised astir the seriousness with which governmental parties attack the issue, according to women leaders. Critics reason that women’s issues are reduced to governmental tools and alternatively than being treated arsenic a superior argumentation priority, concerns astir their information are often weaponised for smear campaigns and selectively amplified during elections.

Recently a question of intersexual battle allegations were raised against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil. The Congress had suspended the MLA from its superior rank pursuing the allegations.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has the astir crorepati candidates — 88% of the 90 fielded — for the April 9 Assam Assembly polls, but nary of them is among the wealthiest apical five, a study by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Assam Election Watch has revealed.

The study was prepared aft analysing the transgression background, financial, education, gender, and different details of 722 candidates, 258 of whom are contesting independently.

BJP’s predetermination in-charge for Tamil Nadu and Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said connected Tuesday that Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C. Joseph Vijay had nary knowing of the radical of Tamil Nadu, their culture, and politics.

Speaking to reporters astatine the Chennai airport, Mr. Goyal said galore movie stars had travel [into politics] successful the past and the radical of Tamil Nadu had rejected them. “MGR [M.G. Ramachandran] and Jayalalithaa ji were experienced politicians, and aft galore years of serving the people, they became Chief Ministers. I deliberation helium [Mr. Vijay] is surviving successful a dream. He is precise fashionable among his fans. But that popularity volition not effect successful votes, arsenic we saw successful the lawsuit of Vijayakant and Kamal Haasan.”

Congress MP K. Suresh connected Wednesday (April 1, 2026) powerfully opposed the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) Amendment Bill, terming it anti-democratic and anti-constitutional, portion asserting that it adversely affects number organisations engaged successful societal payment activities.

Speaking to ANI, helium said, “We are going to reason the FCRA Amendment Bill. It is wholly against the number community. So, the number organisations instrumentality fiscal assistance from assorted agencies abroad. They are utilising that wealth for the payment of the marginalised radical and besides for hospitals, schools, and orphanages. If this Bill is passed, their assistance volition beryllium stopped. That is wherefore the number organisations reason this Bill. Opposition parties are besides against this Bill. So, the FCRA Bill is anti-democratic and besides anti-constitutional. So, this volition beryllium taken up contiguous successful the House. We volition reason it bony and nail.”

-ANI

An Asian Games golden medal-winning jock and a erstwhile first-class cricketer who represented Bengal successful the Ranji Trophy are the Trinamool Congress candidates taking connected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominees successful northbound Bengal.

Swapna Barman, the archetypal Indian heptathlete to triumph an Asian Games golden successful 2018 is the Trinamool campaigner from Rajganj Assembly spot successful the State’s Jalpaiguri district. On Monday, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) authorities formally accepted her resignation and issued her a clearance missive to contention the West Bengal polls.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan connected Tuesday clarified that helium intended to prosecute successful a Facebook statement with the Leader of the Opposition, V.D Satheesan, alternatively than a face-to-face treatment arsenic suggested by sections of the media. Mr Vijayan’s connection signalled an anticlimactic extremity to speculation that a US presidential-style statement betwixt Mr. Vijayan and Mr. Satheesan was imminent. 

Mr Vijayan’s Facebook station connected Monday, successful which that helium was acceptable for a debate, had led the media to hypothesise that a televised, head-to-head brushwood betwixt the 2 leaders would beryllium a cardinal item of the Assembly predetermination campaign. However, Mr. Vijayan had listed his government’s achievements successful a study paper format and did not situation immoderate idiosyncratic oregon enactment by name. 

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin volition run successful Coimbatore connected April 2 for candidates contesting successful the 7 Assembly constituencies successful the district, said V. Senthilbalaji, the DMK campaigner for Coimbatore South.

Launching his run connected Tuesday evening, helium said helium was acquainted with Coimbatore arsenic helium had implemented respective schemes of the authorities present successful the past 4 years. “People person religion successful the Chief Minister and the government. The AIADMK won seats successful Coimbatore successful 2021 with constrictive margins. We lone had to acceptable it right. We did that for the section assemblage elections and Parliamentary predetermination and volition triumph successful the Assembly elections too,” helium said.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly predetermination 2026 manifesto released by the State portion of the Communist Party of India successful Chennai connected Tuesday (March 31, 2026) accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of threatening governmental parties and forcing alliances up of the polls.

M. Veerapandian, State caput of the party, who released the manifesto, said that adjacent though the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) was reiterating that a authorities would beryllium formed nether its leadership, the BJP was asserting that the NDA would signifier the government. “The AIADMK has fixed up each its ideological moorings and merged itself with the BJP,” helium alleged.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) connected Tuesday (March 31, 2026) released its manifesto for the April 9 Assam Assembly elections, promising to enactment towards implementing the Uniform Civil Code, protecting the land, heritage, and dignity of indigenous people, and pushing its improvement agenda.

Releasing the 31-point “Sankalp Patra” astatine the party’s State office successful Guwahati, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted what she described arsenic Assam’s transformative alteration implicit the past 10 years, which, she said, had fuelled economical maturation of the State and the remainder of the northeastern region.