Bengal Poll Results LIVE Updates: TMC poised to sweep Bengal rural polls, bags over half of 63,000 gram panchayat seats

15:15 (IST)

West Bengal Panchayat Poll Result LIVE Updates

TMC poised to sweep Bengal rural polls, bags over half of 63,000 gram panchayat seats

The governing Trinamool Congress appeared ready to sweep the rural votes in Bengal on Wednesday, as the overnight ballot count gave it an insurmountable lead in results revealed so far by the State Election Commission.

According to the SEC as of 1pm on Wednesday, the TMC had won 34,694 gramme panchayat seats and was ahead in 677 others. Its nearest challenger, the BJP, has won 9,656 seats and now leads in 166. Elections are being held for 63,229 gramme panchayat seats in total.

The CPI(M) has received 2,926 votes and holds the majority in 86 seats. The Congress won 2,528 seats and currently holds a 65-seat majority.

14:59 (IST)

West Bengal Panchayat Polls LIVE Updates

Mamata's politics uglier than the politics of Left, says Ravi Shankar Prasad

Ravi Shankar Prasad, chief of BJP's fact-finding team, said that Mamata Banerjee's politics has become uglier than the politics of the Left parties.

“Why have your politics become full of atrocities? We need an answer. Court has to intervene during every election in the state", he stated.

14:56 (IST)

Madhya Pradesh LIVE Updates

Cong, BJP spar over announcements made by CM Chavan

The Congress labelled Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan an "Automatic Ghoshna Machine" on Wednesday after the state government announced in the Assembly that he has made 2,715 announcements during his present tenure.

The Congress' remark sparked a debate with the ruling BJP.

According to a state BJP leader, the Congress issued the Garibi Hatao' (remove poverty) demand five decades ago, but poverty really worsened throughout their tenure.

The administration released the numbers in response to an inquiry from Ramchandra Dangi, the Congress MLA from Biaora in Rajgarh district.

14:13 (IST)

Delhi Flood Warning LIVE Updates

Raging Yamuna crosses 45-year record in Delhi, section 144 imposed

As a precautionary step, the Delhi Police have implemented Section 144 CrPC in flood-prone parts of the national capital after the Yamuna river surged to 207.25 metres, the most in 45 years.

According to the Central Water Commission's (CWC) flood-monitoring webpage, the water level at the Old Railway Bridge surpassed the 207-metre threshold around 4 a.m. on Wednesday, the first time since 2013.

The Yamuna water level has risen rapidly in Delhi during the previous three days.  It jumped from 203.14 metres at 11 a.m. on Sunday to 205.4 metres at 5 p.m. on Monday, breaking the danger level of 205.33 metres 18 hours sooner than predicted.

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14:07 (IST)

Delhi Flood Warning LIVE Updates

Yamuna level at all-time high, Arvind Kejriwal calls emergency meet

The Yamuna's water level in Delhi has reached an all-time high, owing to the monsoon's wrath across northern India. Rising water levels have caused flooding in some riverfront communities. The river is presently running at 207.55 metres after breaking the 45-year-old record of 207.49 metres.

Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister, has convened an emergency meeting. He had stated that the Delhi administration is prepared to deal with any circumstance generated by the monsoon fury. As a preventive step, the Delhi Police has restricted public gathering in flood-prone areas.

The swelling river has inundated houses and stores, causing locals great suffering. Many of the adjacent residents have now relocated to the terrace with their things, powerless as the water level rises.

14:03 (IST)

Himachal Pradesh LIVE Updates

2,000 tourists stranded in Kasol evacuated, says Himachal CM Sukhu

As many as 2,000 tourists who were stuck in the Kasol area of Kullu district due to heavy rains have been successfully evacuated, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Wednesday.

The KulluManali route reopened Tuesday evening, with around 2,200 cars passing via Kullu. Officials claimed there was no cell coverage in numerous regions of Manali and its surroundings for the previous two days, preventing tourists from contacting their family.

According to a local resident, the Kullu-Manali road has reopened on the left bank of Manali, but the road to the south has been swept away, and the bulk of visitors have departed the area.  

"Over 2,000 stranded individuals in Kasol have been successfully evacuated as of now. Our teams are working tirelessly to clear the Dunkhara landslide on the Kasol-Bhuntar road. District administration is on-site coordinating relief efforts. 2200+ vehicles have safely passed through Kullu, receiving food support at Ramshilla Chowk. I personally oversee the situation and remain committed to overcoming these challenges. Stay strong, Himachal Pradesh!," Sukhu said in a tweet.

13:34 (IST)

Bengal Rural Polls LIVE Updates

Will visit violence-hit areas, says BJP fact-finding team

A BJP fact-finding team that landed in West Bengal on Wednesday said it will tour poll-related districts and interact with victims to assess the situation on the ground.

The four-member delegation, led by former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, is to visit regions in north and south Bengal.

Violence and killings during rural elections are too common. So many people have been slain; why has this election resulted in so many deaths? We will travel to the conflict-torn districts of North and South Bengal. We will later submit our report to our national president, JP Nadda, Prasad said at the airport.

The team also comprises Satyapal Singh, Rajdeep Roy, Rekha Verma, and Prasad. 

13:14 (IST)

India Monsoons LIVE Updates

As rain fury continues in North India, did weather department's forecasting fail?

North India, particularly Himachal Pradesh and India’s capital, Delhi, is having a very wet day - heavy rain has wreaked havoc, with some sources putting the death toll in the region at 100.

On Monday, Delhi received 153 mm of rain, the most in a single July day in 40 years, resulting in saturated roads, flooded residences, and the Yamuna River rising to unsafe levels. Till now, the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh has received four times the typical amount of rainfall for July, resulting in landslides, additional deaths, and a scene of chaos and damage.

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12:57 (IST)

PM Modi LIVE Updates

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit France, UAE this week

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will go to France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from July 13 to 15, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

PM Modi will be the Guest of Honour at France's Bastille Day Parade on July 14, in which the tri-services of the Indian armed forces contingent will take part. Furthermore, three Rafale jets are taking part.

The Prime Minister will conduct official meetings with President Emmanuel Macron during his July 13-14 visit to France.

In commemoration of the Prime Minister, President Macron will host a State Banquet as well as a private supper. The Prime Minister will also meet with the French Prime Minister, the Presidents of the Senate and the National Assembly. According to the release, he will meet individually with the Indian diaspora in France, CEOs of Indian and French firms, and significant French individuals.

12:25 (IST)

Karnataka LIVE Updates

Karnataka CM, DCM and slew of leaders stage 'silent protest' against Rahul Gandhi disqualification

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar, along with a slew of ministers, legislators and top Congress leaders from the state, staged a "silent protest" here on Wednesday against Rahul Gandhi's exclusion from Parliament and the "politics of vendetta" unleashed by the Centre.

This comes only days after the party announced that it would petition the Supreme Court after the Gujarat High Court declined to suspend Gandhi's conviction in a defamation case in 2019 for his "Modi surname remarks."

Protesters wrapped a black ribbon over their mouths to symbolise that freedom of expression was under threat and that anyone speaking out against the Central authority would suffer repercussions.

Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar and others held placards at the Freedom Park here with the photograph of Rahul Gandhi and a message that the "roar of the truth must prevail".

12:07 (IST)

Delhi Flood Warning LIVE Updates

Man dies of electrocution after water entered slums near River Yamuna 

After water invaded slums along River Yamuna, a man died of electrocution. On Wednesday, the Yamuna's water levels rose even higher as they approached the record flood level (207.49 metres) at the Old Railway Bridge. At 8 a.m., the water was 207.25 metres near Delhi's Old Bridge.

12:01 (IST)

Delhi High Court LIVE Updates

2020 Delhi riots: HC grants bail to former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain in 5 cases

On Wednesday, the Delhi High Court granted bail to former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain in five instances relating to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots.

On February 24, 2020, communal confrontations erupted in northeast Delhi as violence between supporters of the citizenship bill and demonstrators spiralled out of hand, killing at least 53 people and injuring hundreds more.

"Bail granted subject to conditions in all 5 FIRs," Justice Anish Dayal stated on Wednesday while delivering his decision on Hussain's bail applications in the cases.

The allegations against the former councilman concern suspected rioting during the February 2020 riots.

11:33 (IST)

ISRO Chandrayaan LIVE Updates

ISRO gears up for third lunar mission as India eyes to achieve rare feat

Four years after breaking many hearts, ISRO's Chandrayaan is preparing to launch its third mission to the moon on Friday in a bid to join the rare club of nations that have completed lunar missions with a gentle landing.

As the Indian Space Research Organisation prepares for the greatly anticipated launch from this spaceport on July 14, a 'fat boy' LVM3-M4 rocket will deliver Chandrayaan-3 as part of the country's ambitious moon quest. The gentle landing on the surface of the moon is scheduled for late August.

Chandrayaan-2 failed to achieve the desired soft landing on the moon surface in 2019, leaving the ISRO team dejected. Images of an emotional then ISRO chief K Sivan being consoled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was here to achieve the rare feat, remains vivid in the memory of many.

11:23 (IST)

Himachal Pradesh LIVE Updates

Incessant rain, flash floods ravage Manali

In Himachal Pradesh's Manali, constant rain has created flash floods and landslides, causing major damage.

The flash floods, according to Himachal Pradesh Minister Jagat Singh Negi, have damaged the national highway and interrupted water and electricity supplies.

"The Manali Vidhansabha constituency has suffered significant damage due to flash floods. Houses, land, and gardens have been destroyed, and the national highway is damaged due to flash floods. The link road adjacent to the bridge is also badly damaged. There is no net connectivity, electricity and water. We have made arrangements to provide food to the stranded tourists," Negi said.

11:17 (IST)

Maharashtra LIVE Updates

RTO drive finds 30 per cent of over 14,000 buses flouting rules

According to the transport department, over 30 per cent of the more than 14,000 private buses assessed by regional transport offices (RTOs) in Maharashtra during a special campaign were found to be breaking norms.

According to a government announcement issued on Tuesday, RTOs checked 14,161 private buses as part of the special campaign that took place between May 15 and June 30.

It added that 4,277 of these cars, or roughly 30 per cent, were found to be in violation of laws and regulations, and that some of them had crimes lodged against them. 

11:12 (IST)

Google Doodle LIVE Updates

Google Doodle celebrates India's premier street food pani puri

Today, Google is honouring India's most popular street snack, 'pani puri,' with a unique interactive game Doodle.

In the game, users will be able to assist a street seller in fulfilling pani puri orders by assisting them in selecting from several pani puri tastes to fit the flavour and quantity requirements of each client.

Google introduced the new pani puri game Doodle by terming pani puri as a “popular South Asian Street food made of crispy shell stuffed with potatoes, chickpeas, spices, or chilis and flavoured waters."

11:09 (IST)

Equity Market LIVE Updates

Equity markets climb in early trade on foreign fund inflows

Benchmark market indexes rose for the third day in a row on Wednesday, powered by continued foreign capital inflows and buying in Reliance Industries.

The rally in US markets on Tuesday also helped equities indexes extend their winning streak.

In early trade, the 30-share BSE Sensex rose 193.8 points to 65,811.64. The NSE Nifty gained 68.3 points, reaching 19,507.70.

Reliance Industries, Titan, Bajaj Finance, Kotak Mahindra Bank, NTPC, ITC, and State Bank of India were among the biggest gainers on the Sensex.

The top laggards were IndusInd Bank, Mahindra & Mahindra, UltraTech Cement, HCL Technologies, Infosys, and Asian Paints.

According to market statistics, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) extended their buying spree on Tuesday, purchasing stocks worth Rs 1,197.38 crore.

10:29 (IST)

Bengal Rural Polls  LIVE Updates

Why Mamata Banerjee’s TMC win in Bengal panchayat polls is crucial ahead of 2024

“The Trinamool Congress (TMC) resides in hearts of people,” said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after her party established a commanding lead in the West Bengal panchayat elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is now established as the main Opposition party in the state, was a distant second position, with the Left-Congress alliance behind it at third.

These elections saw widespread violence, deaths, and instances of “loot of votes”. The BJP blamed the TMC for the violence with Suvendu Adhikari even saying that “It is not an actual reflection of people’s mandate.”

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10:27 (IST)

Bengal Rural Polls  LIVE Updates

BGPM becomes dominant political force in Darjeeling hills

The Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) emerged as the most powerful political party in West Bengal's northern hills, with its members gaining a huge number of panchayat seats in the rural elections in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts.

On July 8, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), a semi-autonomous body already controlled by the BGPM, held two-tier panchayat elections, as opposed to three-tier votes in the rest of the state.

According to the most recent district administration results, the BGPM, led by GTA chief executive Anit Thapa, won 349 of the 598 seats in Darjeeling's 70 gramme panchayats.

09:54 (IST)

Bengal Rural Polls  LIVE Updates

ISF, police clash in Bhangore, top cop among several injured

Several police officers and supporters of the Indian Secular Front (ISF) were hurt in a scuffle outside a venue where ballots for rural polls were being counted in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district on Wednesday, authorities said.

According to a senior official, the incident occurred late Tuesday night when members of the ISF reportedly threw explosives outside the counting facility in Bhangore, and police were forced to baton charge.

To disperse the throng, police shot a few rounds of rubber bullets and threw tear gas shells, he added.

"A senior IPS officer, his bodyguard and several other policemen as well as a few alleged members of the ISF were injured in the clash," he told PTI.

A few people have been detained from the spot for their alleged involvement in the incident, the officer said.

09:42 (IST)

BJP LIVE Updates

Nadda to chair BJP meeting on Lok Sabha and assembly polls

BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda will chair a strategy meeting of party leaders here on Wednesday on the assembly polls later this year and the Lok Sabha elections next year.

Party sources said it will be a meeting of leaders associated with the BJP's 'Lok Sabha Pravas' programme, an exercise aimed at boosting its prospects in nearly 160 Lok Sabha seats, most of which it had lost in 2019.

Besides the party's office-bearers, several Union ministers have also been drafted in the exercise.

The deliberations will also focus on the preparations underway for the Lok Sabha polls as well as the assembly elections, a BJP leader said.

Assembly polls in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana are due later this year.

09:21 (IST)

West Bengal Panchayat Results LIVE Updates

TMC bags over 34,000 gram panchayat seats

According to the SEC as of 8 a.m. on Wednesday, the ruling TMC had gained 34,359 gramme panchayat seats and was ahead in 752.

Its nearest challenger, the BJP, has won 9,545 seats and leads in 180. Elections are being held for 63,229 gramme panchayat seats in total.

The CPI(M) has gained 2,885 seats and now holds a 96-seat majority. The Congress gained 2,498 seats and currently holds a 72-seat majority.

09:13 (IST)

India-US LIVE Updates

‘Never acceptable...’: Congressman Shri Thanedar on attack on Indian Consulate

On Tuesday (local time), Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar criticised the assaults on the Indian Embassy and labelled the recent attacks on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco "unacceptable."

Thanedar said ANI in an exclusive interview that the US must firmly denounce such actions and preserve democratic institutions. Last weekend, Sikh separatists attempted to set fire to the embassy, but there was no substantial damage or casualties, and authorities were investigating. Sikh separatists in India have long wanted an independent Sikh country known as Khalistan.

08:30 (IST)

India-UK Space Collaboration LIVE Updates

India and UK to connect their space clusters: UK science minister

India and the United Kingdom are expanding their space collaboration, beginning with the Leicester space park, according to UK Minister for Science, Research and Innovation George Freeman.

He also stated that India and the United Kingdom are exploring ways to better exploit Lower Earth Observation orbits and the control of satellite communications.

According to Freeman, both countries are eager to collaborate in the realm of nuclear energy, particularly on nuclear fission and fusion.

08:28 (IST)

Uttarakhand LIVE Updates

Maha ruling coalition will win more than 200 Assembly, 45-plus LS seats: Minister Samant

Uday Samant, Maharashtra Industries Minister and Shiv Sena leader, stated Tuesday night that members of the ruling coalition will win more than 200 Assembly seats and up to 45 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra in the next elections.

He emphasised that the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha elections in 2024 will be held under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

"With able leaders heading to the 'Mahayuti' (grand alliance), we are sure of getting a good number of seats. The Mahayuti will win more than 200 Assembly seats (out of total 288) and over 45 Lok Sabha seats (out of total 48) next year, he told reporters here.

07:53 (IST)

Uttarakhand LIVE Updates

Uttarakhand: Kedarnath Dham Yatra stopped due to heavy rains

The Kedarnath Yatra has been halted in Uttarakhand's Sonprayag and Gaurikund owing to severe rains, authorities said on Wednesday.

Due to the ongoing poor weather, the district government stopped travellers at Sonprayag and Gaurikund for their safety.

Rain has caused debris on four state roads and ten link roads. The Mandakini and Alaknanda rivers are in flood due to heavy rainfall, according to authorities.

On Monday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange signal for July 12 due to heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand. 

07:51 (IST)

Punjab LIVE Updates

Punjab's anti-gangster task force arrests key Bishnoi gang member

According to an official, Punjab's anti-gangster task team nabbed a major associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang with a handgun and some live cartridges on him on Tuesday.

"In a major breakthrough, AGTF-Punjab has arrested Randhir Singh @ Commando @ Fauji, key associate of Lawrence Bishnoi Gang," Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said in a tweet on Tuesday.

The accused has a criminal history with a number of cases registered against him in Punjab and Haryana, he said.

07:32 (IST)

Opposition Unity Meet LIVE Updates

Top leaders from 24 parties to attend 2nd Opposition Unity meet in Bengaluru

Top leaders from at least 24 political parties are expected to attend the second Opposition unity summit, which Congress is organising in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on July 17-18.

According to reports, eight new parties have joined the Opposition parties in their attempts to present a united front against the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"After last month's mega Opposition meet in Bihar’s Patna, top leaders of as many as 24 political parties will be attending the second meeting which is going to take place in Karnataka's Bengaluru," sources said.