Top News

Kolkata: TMC chief Mamata Banerjee on Saturday claimed that the BJP has deployed its entire machinery to defeat her party in the West Bengal assembly elections, as almost the entire Union cabinet and CMs of NDA-ruled states are camping here.

Addressing an election rally at Uttarpara in Hooghly district, Banerjee accused the BJP of giving false promises to migrant workers from West Bengal employed outside the state.

“The BJP is desperate, with 50 helicopters flying into West Bengal as almost the entire Union cabinet, from the PM to home, railway and defence ministers, as well as CMs of 19 NDA-ruled states camping in a single state: West Bengal,” the chief minister said.

Banerjee urged the people to compare this with only three helicopters being used by the TMC to campaign across the state.

All the hype and sound and fury of the BJP will end in a whimper on May 4 when poll results will be out, she said.

“On top of this, we are seeing central forces wherever we are going. They are bringing in armoured vehicles which were not used where those were actually needed,” Banerjee said.

She attacked Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement that TMC-aided goons would be hanged upside down after the results.

“As a Union minister and a responsible leader, you cannot utter such words. You are speaking in the language of terror. I know no action will be taken against you. But, I have asked our men to videograph his speech and submit the same to the court,” the TMC supremo said.

She said Shah should be in Manipur, where over 260 people lost their lives, and thousands were homeless due to ethnic violence since May 2023, rather than being here.

“But, I am sure that he won’t go there out of fear,” Banerjee said, apparently referring to the BJP leader’s prolonged stay in West Bengal during this election season.

Banerjee claimed Shah held a meeting on Saturday morning with “a certain person from the central forces who had been sent to Nandigram to loot votes”.

Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP is seeking re-election from Nandigram. Adhikari, who defeated Banerjee from there in 2021, is also contesting from her constituency, Bhabanipur in Kolkata, this time.

“He (the same central force person) has been instructed to slow down the voting process at Bhabanipur. I don’t care. They can’t do anything to me,” she said.

Alleging that 400 people were brought from outside to Bhabanipur, she said, “I will ask everyone to keep a tab on every hotel and guest house to identify such people who are helping the BJP.”

Claiming that the BJP has no support base, the TMC supremo asserted that the opposition party hired agencies that are bringing people in trains to attend meetings.

“If 100 local people are present at a rally, there are 900 outsiders,” she said.

Banerjee claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has branded Bengalis as Bangladeshis.

“For you, Punjabis are Khalistanis and Muslims are Pakistanis. Who has given you the right to disrespect the people of the country? What is your own identity?” She asked.

“I know who had committed murders there and have been given shelter here. I kept quiet since you requested me. Don’t forget that,” she said without elaborating.

In a jibe at the PM, she said he went on a “scripted” boat ride on the Hooghly river in Kolkata on Friday, which was arranged by the Army.

“You said we have been peeved at your eating ‘jhalmuri’; but we know you had got it prepared at home and everything was scripted as the camera was put up already at the Jhargram shop,” she claimed.

About the return of migrant workers from outside Bengal to cast votes in the first phase polls on Thursday, Banerjee alleged that those were made to place their hands on their holy books according to faiths and asked to promise that they would vote only for the BJP, and then they would get free travel tickets.

“However, they were slapped with a Rs 2000 fine when they reached their destination,” she claimed.

Accusing the BJP of only plotting to divide people, she said these self-proclaimed Hindutva proponents filed a case in the court when the Jagannath Dham was being built in Digha.

“Several temples have been demolished in Varanasi. A Kali temple in Delhi has been demolished. They are destroying the Hindu religion and showing fake love. Don’t trust them,” she said.

The Bengal CM said that contrary to “false propaganda,” industries are coming up at a rapid pace at Singur and Dankuni.

“Six industrial corridors are coming up. In the Deucha-Pachami coal project, 1 lakh youths will get employed,” she said.

The TMC supremo said that the BJP is talking about implementing the 7th Pay Commission if voted to power, but “We have already implemented it.”

She said in the first phase of polls in 152 seats held on April 23, TMC will win 100 seats. The second leg will be held on April 29.

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/6jdEMGi

Meet the Galapagos Finch that drinks blood to survive

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/uiZcMbF

Saturday, 25 April 2026

AP liquor scam: ED raids 12 locations in Hyderabad and Tirupati

Emblem of the Indian Justice Department with national symbols and motto.

Hyderabad/New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday, April 24, conducted fresh searches in connection with its ongoing probe into the Andhra Pradesh liquor “scam”, which allegedly occurred under the previous YSRCP government in the state, officials said.

They said a dozen premises — 11 in Hyderabad and one in Tirupati — were raided under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED officials said those searched include former YSRCP MLA Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, his son Chevireddy Mohit Reddy (in Tirupati), former advisor to the YSRCP government and alleged scam kingpin Kasireddy Raja Sekhar Reddy and former head of AP State Beverages Corporation Ltd. (APSBCL) Vasudeva Reddy.

Former YSRCP Rajya Sabha MP Vijaysai Reddy, former bureaucrat Dhananjay Reddy, former government official Krishna Mohan Reddy and a private company executive, Balaji Govindappa, were also among those searched, they said.

Searches were also conducted at the offices of PLR Projects Pvt. Ltd., which is allegedly linked to YSRCP MP P V Midhun Reddy, and at the residence of a man named Booneti Chanakya, among others, they added.

The central probe agency registered a PMLA case in September 2025 to investigate the alleged scam, taking cognisance of an Andhra Pradesh Police SIT complaint.

The agency had conducted searches in this case earlier too.

It had said in a statement that after the 2019 assembly elections, the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government “monopolised” retail liquor outlets through government retail outlets (GROs) operated by the APSBCL.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/LKy6M4g

Midnight matches, money parked in cricket: Why Indian broadcasters are shying away from FIFA World Cup

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/RLO78si

Friday, 24 April 2026

India urges citizens not to travel to Iran, asks those there to leave

People with luggage waiting at airport, reflecting travel restrictions amid advisory.

Amid continuing tensions in the region, India has issued a fresh advisory urging its citizens not to travel to Iran and asking those already there to leave through designated land border routes amid continuing tensions in the region.

The Embassy of India in Tehran released the advisory on Thursday, April 23, following reports that some flight services between India and Iran may resume.

“In view of reports of commencement of some flights between India and Iran, and in continuation of earlier advisories, Indian citizens are strongly advised not to travel to Iran, whether by air or land,” the embassy said.

It added that airspace restrictions and operational uncertainties linked to regional tensions continue to disrupt international flight operations to and from Iran.

Advisory issued by the Indian Embassy in Tehran urging citizens not to travel to Iran. — Photo: @India_in_Iran/X

The embassy also reiterated that all Indian nationals currently in Iran should leave the country through designated land border routes while remaining in close coordination with embassy officials.

Indian citizens requiring assistance have been asked to contact emergency helplines: +989128109115, +989128109109, +989128109102 and +989932179359. Support is also available via email at cons.tehran@mea.gov.in.

Latest updates here

Israel says two armed individuals killed in southern Lebanon

The Israeli military said on Thursday that it killed two armed individuals in the Aainata area of southern Lebanon after identifying them approaching soldiers and posing what it described as an “immediate threat”.

The military said the two individuals moved towards Israeli troops operating in the area before forces opened fire.

It was not immediately clear whether the incident was linked to strikes reported earlier in nearby areas by Lebanon’s health ministry.

Israel says Hezbollah command centre found under shop in Lebanon

The Israeli military said it had uncovered an underground Hezbollah facility in southern Lebanon beneath a civilian site.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, the command centre was located about 25 metres below a clothing store in the town of Khiam.

Troops operating in the tunnel reportedly found weapons and several rooms that were allegedly used by Hezbollah to manage combat operations.

Israel says ready to resume war against Iran

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said the country is prepared to resume its war against Iran but is awaiting approval from the United States before launching major strikes.

Speaking after a security assessment, Katz said Israeli forces were fully prepared for both offensive and defensive operations.

“Israel is prepared to renew the war against Iran. The IDF is ready in defence and offence, and the targets are marked,” he said.

Katz added that Israel was seeking a “green light” from Washington to expand attacks, including strikes on Iran’s leadership and key infrastructure.

US seizes tanker linked to Iranian smuggling in Indian Ocean

The United States (US) has taken control of another oil tanker linked to Iranian smuggling in the Indian Ocean, according to officials.

Iran claims military strength in Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejehi said on X that the country’s armed forces were demonstrating strength in the Strait of Hormuz.

He referred to what he described as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ “mosquito fleet” of speedboats and underwater drones, and also mentioned action involving three ships in the strategic waterway.

Ejehi said the force was positioned near Faror Island and ready to confront what he called American aggressor warships. He described the military display as “a source of pride” and warned against the continued US naval presence.

ناوگان زنبوری سپاه با قایق‌های تندرو و شهپادها، از غارهای دریایی جزیره فارور، انتظار ناوهای متجاوز آمریکایی را می‌کشند تا با اشباع پدافندی، دمار از روزگار متجاوزین درآورند.
— غلامحسین محسنی اژه‌ای (@ejei_org) April 23, 2026

Trump orders US Navy to ‘shoot, kill’ small boats laying mines in Hormuz

Trump said he had ordered the United States Navy to “shoot and kill” any Iranian boat laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a move that could threaten the fragile ceasefire between the two countries.

Trump also said on Thursday that the US military would intensify efforts to remove explosives from the strategic waterway.

“I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat… that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. There is to be no hesitation,” Trump wrote in a social media post.

He added that US mine-clearing vessels were operating in the area and ordered the activity to continue “at a tripled-up level”.

Screenshot of Donald Trump post claiming US control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump claims US controls Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald J Trump added to tensions after claiming the United States had “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz.

In a social media post, Trump said no ship could enter or leave the strategic waterway without approval from the US Navy and claimed it was “sealed up tight” until Iran agrees to a deal.

Screenshot of Donald Trump post threatening action against boats in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important shipping routes, carrying a significant share of global oil and gas supplies. Any disruption in the area can affect international markets and maritime trade.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/uo9AyT0

CBI books former CEO, commercial head of Chandigarh airport in extortion, corruption case

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/7q9gELc

‘I was in disbelief’: Kritika Kamra on Gaurav Kapur’s rare emotional breakdown and why she ignored societal pressure to marry at 37

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/VUBE8uG

Thursday, 23 April 2026

Museum of Jain heritage opens to public in Gujarat

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/Bbsku0P

‘Without telling anyone, he clipped himself’: Anurag Kashyap recalls the extreme lengths Ranveer Singh went to for Lootera climax; expert on fine line between dedication and risk

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/G2sl7S5

Integrate resilience in infra projects at design stage & not only after disaster: DEA Secretary

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/XuQaHrJ

IRS officer daughter murder: Accused changed clothes after crime, caught in CCTV

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/juH2VqE

Wednesday, 22 April 2026

Motor accident victims entitled to high-quality prosthetic limb: SC

View of the Supreme Court of India with lush green lawn and trees in front.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday, April 21, ruled that motor accident victims are entitled to high-quality prosthetic limb that is integral to their lives, saying that for amputees, such artificial limbs get them “closest to the life experienced” before the onset of disability.

A bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan said a prosthetic limb is not merely a medical device but an indispensable part of an amputee’s self-belief and empowerment.

Referring to a legal maxim ‘restitutio in integrum’ (restoration to original condition), the top court said, “For amputees, a prosthetic limb would get them closest to the life experienced, before the onset of their disability. The device, apart from empowering them, is integral to their life, giving them confidence and self-belief. The appliance is so personal to the individual that its indispensability can only be better appreciated by the person disabled.”

Justice Viswanathan, writing the judgement, quoted British judge Lord Brooke who had said, “Those of us who have not had the misfortune of losing an arm may have more difficulty in appreciating the view of the joint experts when they said how personal this kind of appliance is to a disabled…”.

The verdict came on an appeal filed by Prahlad Sahai, a driver who lost his right leg below the knee after his motorcycle was hit by a Haryana Roadways bus in 2007.

While the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) originally awarded him Rs 8.73 lakh and the Rajasthan High Court later enhanced it to Rs 13.02 lakh, the top court found these amounts insufficient.

The apex court has now ordered the insurance company to pay an additional Rs 36.20 lakh, effectively taking his total compensation to nearly Rs 50 lakh.

The verdict rejected the submission of the insurance firm that victims should only be compensated based on government notifications.

“We have no hesitation in rejecting the rates prescribed in the government notification relied upon by the insurance company which, in any event, are abysmally low,” the bench said.

“If the treatment claimed is reasonable, there is no answer for the defendant to point to cheaper options,” the bench noted, adding that victims are entitled to choose private centres that provide devices suited to their personal needs.

It said a prosthetic limb is assumed to have a life span of only five years and for compensation purposes, a victim’s life expectancy should be assumed to be 70 years.

The bench awarded Rs 3 lakh per limb for seven replacement cycles (covering 38 years), totalling Rs 21 lakh, plus an additional Rs 5 lakh for maintenance.

The bench took a compassionate view of Sahai’s occupation as a driver.

Even though Sahai could not produce documentary evidence of his Rs 6,000 monthly salary, the bench accepted his claim, noting that such evidence cannot be expected from those employed in that “strata of income”.

The bench further computed his functional disability at 100 per cent, saying that an amputee cannot drive heavy vehicles.

The bench directed the insurance company to pay Rs 26 lakh for prosthetic limbs and maintenance.

It awarded Rs 8,02,368 enhancement for loss of future income besides Rs 2 lakh as litigation costs. It also awarded a sum of Rs 18,000 for loss of income during treatment.

The total additional sum of Rs 36,20,350 has to be paid within four weeks and failure to do so will attract an interest rate of 9 per cent per annum.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/DldSFjO

Gujarat High Court sets aside Rs 146.79 lakh bill to RIL for ‘unpaid water charges’

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/bldqO3w

Tuesday, 21 April 2026

Is this the game? ‘Yes’, says Hardik after MI ends losing streak

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/UHKyqbu

‘Petitioner casting aspersions’: Why Allahabad High Court judge recuses from Rahul Gandhi ‘dual citizenship’ case

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/LtZwcNV

Trump’s ultimatum: ‘Lots of bombs’ to fall on Iran if Wednesday deadline missed

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/s1pHfP2

‘I get scolded by wife and daughter’: Manoj Bajpayee once admitted to being too focused on work; how passion can blur line between career and family

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/hJnugNj

Monday, 20 April 2026

Aronyak Ghosh finally becomes India’s 95th GM, four years after his first norm

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/8KoAI1F

IPL 2026: Chakaravarthy battles two fractures to fashion KKR’s first win

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/BN1RiX0

Ambedkar statue vandalised in Ghaziabad, triggers protest; suspects detained

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/EZ71qS4

Does marriage prevent cancer? Who benefits most?

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/D9Lb4rh

Sunday, 19 April 2026

Singer with over 13 lakh YouTube subscribers arrested in Nuh for promoting gun culture on social media: Police

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/V1g3nHp

Saturday, 18 April 2026

‘You are actually going to make it worse’: Nutritionist says intermittent fasting is not a ‘stopgap’ arrangement to lose 5kgs

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/O0upzIC

Friday, 17 April 2026

Why snakes eat their own kind

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/edES24X

Thursday, 16 April 2026

Baramati bypoll: Rohit Pawar campaigns for Sunetra, urges 100% voters turnout to honour Ajit’s work

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/gd4EbFM

Wednesday, 15 April 2026

Fake notes worth Rs 94K seized from Hyderabad man after bank flags deposit

Person with face covered behind a desk with seized counterfeit currency notes, related to counterfeit cur.

Hyderabad: A 33-year-old butcher from Chandrayangutta was arrested for allegedly circulating counterfeit currency, police said on Tuesday, April 14. The man was caught after a bank alerted the authorities of the fake notes found in their Cash Recycler Machine (CRM).

According to the police, the accused, Ahmed Pasha, had obtained the fake Rs 500 notes worth Rs 94,000 from an unknown person on social media. He had collected counterfeit currency at Shadnagar and intended to circulate it as genuine currency.

On March 27, Pasha went to Kotak Mahindra Bank in Malakpet and deposited 10 notes into his account. The bank detected these notes on April 7 in their Cash Recycler Machine (CRM).

After confirming the notes as fake through a UV lamp, a note sorting machine, and other security features, the bank lodged a complaint with the police.

Accordingly, a case was registered under section 179 (usage, sale, or trafficking of forged or counterfeit currency notes) and section 318(4) (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Chaderghat police station.

Investigation revealed that the man who supplied the currency to Pasha is operating from Gujarat. Efforts are underway to trace and apprehend him.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/pmnbHJA

Heart specialist shares case of 37-year-old man who, despite running 5 km every day, eating no junk, needed two stents: ‘If your father/uncle had…’

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/6PlLd0M

Why AFI wants to vet athletes’ contracts with sponsors

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/aApQSBP

Tuesday, 14 April 2026

Bandi Sanjay rejects Telangana CM’s ‘hybrid model’ proposal for delimitation

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay rubbishes Telangana CM A Revanth Reddy's 'Hybrid Model' suggestion on increasing number of Lok Sabha seats.

Hyderabad: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay has termed Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s “hybrid model” for increasing the Lok Sabha seats as part of the delimitation process as “unconstitutional.”

Bandi rubbished Revanth Reddy’s suggestion that the Centre could increase 50 per cent of the increased seats in Lok Sabha for each state as pro-rata, and the rest of the 50 per cent increased seats based on the states’ Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).

“Hyderabad is the maximum contributor to the state’s GSDP. Does that mean the number of Lok Sabha segments in Hyderabad should be increased? What about economically backward areas like the undivided Mahabubnagar and Adilabad districts?” he asked.

“By sending funds to the Congress high command, has he become so ingrained in it that he is trying to weave stories on that line?” he quipped.

Observing that the Congress was trying to weaken the constitution drafted by Babasaheb Dr BR Ambedkar, Bandi Sanjay felt that Ambedkar would have banned the Congress in India had he still been alive.

On Revanth Reddy’s claims about Congress’s support for 33 per cent women’s reservations in the legislative bodies, he questioned why the Congress failed to implement the same for half a century.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats on a pro-rata basis by 50 per cent of the existing number of seats, to involve all the states in the development.

He condemned Congress’s “divisive politics” and hoped the chief minister would speak with respect for the constitution.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/tUpFlsr

Judge dismisses Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against WSJ, Murdoch over reporting on ties to Epstein

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/beu6Ilv

Shenaz Treasury shares a 5-minute DIY facelift massage she learnt from a professional: ‘Bye-bye wrinkles’

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/XYGxTK6

Pune airport gets 15 new slots; new routes to Tirupati, Mangaluru from May

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/DG1z5U0

Monday, 13 April 2026

BJP ‘struck Rs 1,000-crore deal’ to unseat TMC: Bengal CM

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday alleged the BJP has “struck a Rs 1,000-crore deal” to unseat the Trinamool Congress from power in the state.

She made the claims while ostensibly referring to a now-viral video in which Aam Janata Unnayan Party chief Humayun Kabir was purportedly heard saying he was in touch with BJP leaders to unseat her from power, and receiving Rs 200 crore as an advance to a Rs 1,000-crore deal to split the minority votes.

However, PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.

Addressing a rally in Bankura’s Onda, Banerjee said that while some leaders were dismissing the video as AI-generated, “the person seen in the clip had himself acknowledged its authenticity”.

“If it is AI-generated, then why is the person concerned admitting to it? Why are you suddenly defending him?” the TMC supremo posed.

Her remarks come a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at a rally in Murshidabad’s Jangipur, alleged the TMC had resorted to creating fake videos using AI, sensing defeat in the upcoming elections.

Hitting back, Banerjee said, “They have struck a Rs 1,000-crore deal to unseat the TMC from power in West Bengal.”

The controversy deepened after Kabir gave conflicting statements about the video. He initially claimed it was AI-generated, only to later say that only a portion of a longer video had been circulated without any context, and the full clip would be released soon.

Banerjee also accused the BJP of attempting to polarise voters along religious lines. “They are misleading both Hindus and Muslims. Their character changes like a chameleon,” she said.

Addressing poll rallies at Paschim Bardhaman’s Asansol, Bankura district’s Chhatna and Onda and in Purba Bardhaman’s Khandagosh, the TMC supremo said, “The BJP is threatening our candidates, including ministers, seeking their support if it falls short of the majority mark after the polls.”

The majority mark in the West Bengal Assembly is 148. The BJP won 77 seats in the 2021 polls.

Stepping up her attack, Banerjee alleged the BJP was conspiring to curtail people’s rights and warned that it might carry out delimitation and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise in the future.

Referring to the NRC exercise in Assam, she claimed that lakhs of names were deleted in the northeastern state and warned that a similar process might be carried out in Bengal if the BJP wins.

“To protect your rights, there is no alternative but to vote for the TMC,” she asserted.

“Take my words, the BJP is planning to bring in a delimitation exercise to divide West Bengal into three parts. Then, I do not know, it may merge parts of West Bengal with Bihar or Odisha, and torture Bengalis there,” she said.

Banerjee also alleged that central forces deployed in the state for the upcoming polls were “disrespecting” women in the name of conducting searches. Any misconduct by central forces should be met with immediate FIRs, she told the gathering.

Her comments came against the backdrop of actor Sreemoyee Chattoraj, the wife of outgoing TMC MLA Kanchan Mallick, taking to social media to allege that she was harassed by the central forces at a checkpost in Kolkata, rummaging through her personal belongings, including undergarments and sanitary napkins.

The chief minister also claimed that she was denied permission to hold a rally despite the venue being available, while quick clearance was given for PM Modi’s meeting.

She also accused the BJP of bribing voters before elections, and called the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls the “country’s biggest scam” in recent times.

“The SIR is the biggest scam the country has seen in recent times. Everyone in the world knows that your government will topple in 2026. We will then scrap all the anti-people laws brought in by your government,” she added.

“The BJP bribes voters before the elections. But they forget their promises soon after the polling is over. That was seen in the Bihar elections,” Banerjee said.

She also questioned the BJP’s poll promise of filling up vacancies in the state government departments, asking, “What happened to his (Modi) promise of providing two crore jobs to youths?”

The TMC chief further alleged the BJP would try to manipulate the polling process to win the election and urged people to remain alert and keep a tab on the voting machines.

Banerjee also alleged a “major conspiracy” by the BJP in the poll-bound state and claimed an “operation” would begin from midnight, without elaborating much about the matter.

She warned people that there might be attempts to influence voting and counting processes.

“Be alert about the voting machines. They are planning slow voting and slow counting. At first, they will show BJP is winning, but do not believe such claims. We will foil all their plans and win. No force can defeat us,” she said, expressing confidence that her party would retain power.

Banerjee also advised people to remain cautious about food and drinks while attending political events.

Her advice came in the wake of an incident in Jhargram where at least 16 people, while returning from a political rally, reportedly fell ill after allegedly consuming pesticide, mistaking it for ORS. Several of them, belonging to the Shabar community, were hospitalised, including a local TMC booth president.

“Be careful about what you eat, especially during elections. Do not consume anything given by strangers. Always check before eating,” she said at another rally in Chatna.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/pgnsX0K

US-Iran truce talks fail: Markets brace for volatility, ceasefire rally gains at risk

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/2iwgzbZ

Saturday, 11 April 2026

Maharashtra orders fresh student enrolment verification in govt school

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/q5enrGu