Bundelkhand region in UP, including Jhansi, sees improvements with projects like Har Ghar Nal, defense corridor, and BIDA. Political dynamics involve BJP, SP-Congress alliance, and issues like unemployment and development. The region has four LS seats and faces murmurs of anti-incumbency. The SP-Congress alliance aims to challenge the BJP stronghold by uniting caste groups.
Water crisis in Bundelkhand region emphasized in political rallies, discussions on Ken-Betwa riverlinking project, Modi government's involvement, benefits for Bundelkhand region of MP and UP, concerns raised by farmers like Prem Kishan
Tanuj Punia, INDIA bloc candidate from Barabanki, prioritizes survival over the Ram Temple. In an interview with TOI, he contrasts his corporate background with politics, highlighting accountability differences. Despite past election losses, he remains motivated by voter support and focuses on local issues like peppermint farming and education in Barabanki.
BJP's Anurag Sharma in Jhansi faces challenge from INDIA bloc's Pradeep Jain Aditya. Sharma, backed by PM Narendra Modi's popularity, confident due to party's micromanagement of elections. He criticizes INID alliance, highlighting SP and Congress' limited constituency-based approach. Sharma emphasizes development in Bundelkhand, including free ration scheme and industrial projects.
Congress's candidate Pradeep Jain Aditya campaigns in Jhansi, advocating for a separate Bundelkhand state and addressing economic challenges, job scarcity, and industrial development issues in the region.
Sharad Pawar responds to PM Modi's criticism over farmers' issues, highlighting past assistance to Modi during an agricultural crisis in Gujarat. Modi, as Gujarat CM, sought Pawar's help and guidance, leading to a visit to Israel to study farming techniques.
Twelve persons, including Monojit Mondal, Samar Mridha, Chandan Sahani, Asit Saha, Atul Mandal, Sabidul Sk, Priyanka Singha, Nyan Roy, Sumitra Mandal, Suitara Biwi, Pankaj Mandal, and a Budhia woman, were killed and five wounded by lightning during a thunderstorm in Malda and Murshidabad, West Bengal. Disaster management personnel were deployed to rescue the wounded victims.
Bhavesh Bhinde, director of the company behind the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse, was arrested in Udaipur. Show-cause notice issued to IPS officer Quaiser Khalid. Bhinde fled to Lonavala and Thane after the incident.
Ego Media's hoardings on railway land in Dadar East exceed BMC's size limits, prompting a notice from Ashwini Joshi. BMC's policy restricts hoarding sizes and specifies limits for different structures.
In 2023, Schengen countries, including India, faced a 44% surge in visa applications, reaching 9.7 lakh. India ranked second in application increase after China, followed by Morocco. The war on Ukraine affected travel plans, and VFS Global faced criticism for visa appointment unavailability.
Renowned Hindi writer Malti Joshi, who received the Padma Shri in 2018, passed away at 90 after battling esophagus cancer. She was known for works like Kokh Ka Darp, Outsider, Aastha Ke Aayam, and Problem Child. Her story 'Culture' was filmed by Gulzar for the TV serial Kirdaar.
In a big decision, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed that all VIP darshans to Char Dham Yatra be postponed till May 31. The decision comes as an unprecedented number of pilgrims visit Char Dham this year. More than one lakh devotees reached Kedarnath since it opened on May 10. So far, over 27 lakh devotees have visited Char Dham.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday took a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, saying the 'shehzadas' will leave the country for summer vacation "khatakhat khatakhat' (Hindi colloquial for being quick) the day parliamentary results are announced. He said the 'shehzadas' born in palaces are neither used to hard work nor capable of bringing results.
Addressing a rally in Bengal's Tamluk, the TMC chief said, «At all India level, some people have misunderstood my statement yesterday. I am very much part of the INDIA alliance. The INDIA alliance was my brainchild. We are together at the national level and will continue to be together,» she said.
Hitting out at the INDIA alliance for not announcing its PM candidate, home minister Amit Shah on Thursday said «the country needs a strong PM, not one on yearly-basis». The home minister was addressing an election rally in Bihar's Madhubani. The home minister also hit out at the alliance leaders for its recent remarks on Pakistan.
The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Union of India to deport 17 foreigners languishing in a Assam detention centre, noting there is no offence registered against them. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan noted a report submitted by the State Legal Services Authority which stated that there are 17 declared foreigners detained in the detention centre in Assam. «We are of the view that Union of India must take immediate steps for deporting these 17 foreigners as there is no offence registered against them,» the bench said.
NIA attaches properties of Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist Sartaj Ahmed Mantoo in Kashmir under UA (P) Act, 1967, arrested in 2020 with arms, facing trial for terror activities, linked to JeM led by Maulana Masood Azhar, part of NIA crackdown in Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistani lawmaker Syed Mustafa Kamal drew a comparison between India's achievements and the precarious situation in Karachi, by mentioning India's moon landing mission. The Muttahida Quami Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) leader said that while India is landing on the moon, Karachi is making news of children being killed by falling in open gutters. He further highlighted the lack of fresh water in Karachi. The MQM-P leader also said citing a report that there are 70 lakh children in Karachi and over 2.6 crore children in Pakistan, who are not able to go to schools.