BJP candidates, Pravesh Wahi and Monika Pant, for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor, respectively, on Thursday filed their nominations for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) mayoral elections at the civic centre.

Along with the mayoral candidates, the BJP had announced the names of the two members, Jai Bhagwan Yadav and Manish Chadha, for the Standing Committee of the MCD. Wahi represents the Rohini E ward, while Monika Pant represents the Anand Vihar ward of the municipal corporation.

Both the candidates expressed gratitude to the party’s leadership and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and the state unit chief of the party Virendra Sachdeva for reposing faith in them and expressed confidence that work will be done with full commitment for the progress of the national capital.

Speaking to reporters after filing their nominations, he said a lot of work has to be done in the city for the public amenities to improve services. In coordination with the Delhi government, the MCD will work on enhancing the beauty and overall development of the city.
Earlier in the day, according to a statement issued by the state unit of the BJP, the names of the candidates had been announced as per the instructions of the BJP national president.
The party had named Pravesh Wahi as its Mayoral election candidate, while he is concurrently serving as the Leader of the House.

Jai Bhagwan Yadav has been named by the party leadership for the Standing Committee Member and the leader of the House, while the other candidate for the standing committee member is Manish Chaddha.

The polls for the said positions have been scheduled for April 29, while the civic body had opened nominations for all posts, with candidates required to file papers by April 23, 5 pm.

Meanwhile, taking to social media platform X, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta congratulated Pravesh Wahi and Monika Pant on being declared as candidates by the party for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor elections in the civic body. She expressed the hope that by embracing BJP’s vision and the mantra of Antyodaya, experience of the leaders and diligence will take Delhi’s development to new heights.

“Through all your efforts, the municipal administration will succeed in fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of Delhi’s residents,” Gupta added.

The Supreme Court has stayed proceedings against a Uttar Pradesh police officer — accused of rioting, causing hurt and breach of peace — noting that not a single prosecution witness has been examined in the last 35 years in the case registered way back in 1989 at Prayagraj.

Issuing notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and staying further proceedings, a Bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Vijay Bishnoi on Monday, April 20, said, “In the facts and circumstances of this case and more particularly, having regard to the fact that almost 35 years have lapsed, we are inclined to quash the proceedings on this ground alone.”

However, the Court chose to hear the Uttar Pradesh government before passing any final order. “However, before proceeding further to pass any order, we would like to hear the State(s),” the Court said, issuing notice and posting the matter for further hearing on April 29, 2026. The Court also impleaded the State of Uttarakhand through its Principal Secretary, Home Department, as a respondent.

The Court also noted that there were five accused in the case. Two of them passed away during the course of the proceedings, while two others were acquitted as no prosecution witness was produced against them for the recording of oral evidence.

“We are informed that in all, five accused came to be charge-sheeted, including the present petitioner. Out of five, two co-accused passed away and the other two co-accused have already been acquitted on the ground that the prosecution failed to produce any of the prosecution witnesses for the purpose of recording of oral evidence,” the Court noted in its order.

The petitioner police officer has approached the Supreme Court against the February 23, 2026 order of Allahabad High Court rejecting his plea for stay and quashing of the criminal proceedings.

The petitioner, police officer Kailash Chandra Kapri, is facing trial for offences punishable under Sections 147, 323 and 504 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 120 of the Railway Act. The case was registered in 1989 with GRP Rambagh Police Station, District Allahabad, and is pending before the Court of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (Railway), Prayagraj.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) produced a dominant all-round performance to register a thumping 103-run win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in Match 33 of IPL 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

After posting a strong 207/6, powered by a brilliant unbeaten century from Sanju Samson, CSK’s spinners delivered a historic bowling performance to dismantle MI for just 104 in 19 overs.

Samson Samson’s brilliance powers CSK past 200

Asked to bat first, CSK got off to a flying start as Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad added quick runs inside the powerplay. Although Gaikwad fell early for 22, Samson continued to dominate the MI attack with fluent stroke play.

Sarfaraz Khan added quick runs, while Dewald Brevis and Jamie Overton provided late momentum, but it was Samson who anchored the innings from start to finish. He brought up a superb unbeaten 101 off 54 balls, smashing 10 fours and 6 sixes to push CSK past the 200-mark.

For MI, AM Ghazanfar and Ashwani Kumar picked up two wickets each but struggled to contain the flow of runs.

MI collapse under spin pressure

In reply, MI’s chase of 208 never got going as they suffered an early collapse. Akeal Hosein and Mukesh Choudhary ripped through the top order, leaving MI reeling at 11/3 inside three overs.

Tilak Varma (37) and Suryakumar Yadav (35) attempted a recovery with a 50-run stand, but the pressure kept building as the required rate climbed sharply.

The turning point came when CSK’s spin attack took full control. Akeal Hosein delivered a sensational spell of 4/17, while Noor Ahmad struck twice in quick succession to remove Hardik Pandya and Sherfane Rutherford, breaking MI’s resistance completely.

From 84/3, MI collapsed dramatically to 87/7, eventually being bowled out for 104 in 19 overs.

CSK’s spin unit dominated the match, taking 9 wickets in total, the most by any team in a single IPL match at Wankhede. Hosein led the charge with a match-defining spell, while Noor Ahmad and Anshul Kamboj provided crucial support.

Playing XIs

Mumbai Indians (MI):
Hardik Pandya (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Sherfane Rutherford, Mitchell Santner, Jasprit Bumrah, Krish Bhagat, AM Ghazanfar, Ashwani Kumar
Impact options: Will Jacks, Raj Angad Bawa, Shardul Thakur, Danish Malewar, Mayank Rawat

Chennai Super Kings (CSK):
Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma (wk), Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Mukesh Choudhary
Impact options: Matthew Short, Matt Henry, Akeal Hosein, Urvil Patel, Prashant Veer

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday informed that ten Indian ships have safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz in the last few weeks while 14 Indian vessels are still present in the Persian Gulf.

Addressing his weekly media briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “Ten Indian Vessels have exited the Strait of Hormuz safely in the last few weeks, while 14 Indian ships are still in the Persian Gulf.”

In response to another media query on the West Asia situation, Jaiswal said as far as West Asia is concerned, India’s policy regarding the ongoing situation is very clear, “India has always been in favour of peace”. “Any step that is being taken, or will be taken, towards peace initiatives has our support. We have consistently maintained that any issue, conflict, or difference should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. This remains our position, and this is India’s stance at present,” the MEA spokesperson added.

During the briefing, the MEA spokesperson also mentioned that India and the US are engaged in the ongoing discussions to finalise a comprehensive trade agreement aimed at benefiting both countries. “A team from India went to Washington DC for negotiations on the bilateral trade agreement. These engagements are ongoing and constructive. Both sides are working towards a balanced, mutually beneficial and forward-looking trade agreement, taking into account each other’s concerns and priorities, and to reach a trade target of US $500 billion by 2030,” he said.

India has also welcomed Japan’s decision to review its long-standing framework governing the transfer of defence equipment and technology, describing it as a positive step that could further strengthen bilateral security cooperation. The MEA spokesperson said, “India welcomes Japan’s review of the three principles on the transfer of defence equipment and technology. Defence and security cooperation form an important pillar of the India-Japan special strategic and global partnership.”

He emphasised that both India and Japan have consistently worked to deepen collaboration under their shared strategic vision.

“As part of the Joint Declaration on security cooperation between India and Japan, both sides have committed to increasing practical cooperation in the interest of their national security and continuing economic dynamism,” he added.

He further highlighted that the evolving framework would support enhanced technological and industrial collaboration, including between government entities and private sector stakeholders, particularly in sectors critical to national security and resilience. “This includes promotion and facilitation of technological and industrial collaboration between the government entities and private sector stakeholders for resilience in sectors critical to national security,” Jaiswal said.

The remarks come after Japan, on April 21, announced amendments to its “Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology” and the associated implementation guidelines.

In a year when millions of students across Uttar Pradesh waited anxiously for their results, it was a quiet village story that stole the spotlight. From the fields of Sitapur to the top of the state merit list, two daughters of farmers have emerged as the face of academic excellence, turning a routine results day into a moment of pride and inspiration.

The 2026 results declared by the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad saw Kashish Verma and Shikha Verma, both from rural Sitapur, secure the top ranks in Class 10 and Class 12, respectively. Studying at the same school and raised in farming households, their achievements have stunned the state and drawn attention to the growing academic strength of rural students, especially girls.

Kashish Verma topped the High School (Class 10) examination with 97.83 per cent, sharing the first rank with Anshika Verma of Barabanki, who also scored 97.83 per cent. In the Intermediate (Class 12) examination, Shikha Verma secured the top position with 97.60 per cent marks, completing a rare double feat for Sitapur district.

Both toppers are students of Baburam Savitri Devi School in Bilauli Bazar, Mahmudabad. Coming from modest agrarian families, their success underscores a story of discipline and determination amid limited resources.

Notably, girls once again led the merit lists this year, maintaining their strong run in the state board exams. The overall pass rate was recorded at 90.42 per cent for Class 10 and 80.38 per cent for Class 12.

The board conducted the examinations between February 18 and March 12 across 8,033 centres spanning all 75 districts. Evaluation of answer sheets took place from March 18 to April 4 at 254 centres, involving nearly 56,000 teachers. Around 2.75 crore answer copies were assessed within just 15 working days, reflecting the scale and efficiency of the process.

According to board secretary Bhagwati Singh, the toppers’ list was released alongside the results, and meritorious students will be honoured by the state government.

This year, approximately 26.02 lakh students appeared for the High School exams, while 24.91 lakh candidates took the Intermediate exams, making it one of the largest school examination systems in the country.

Students can check their results through the official UP Board website, DigiLocker, and SMS services.

But beyond numbers and percentages, it is the story from Sitapur that will be remembered, a reminder that talent thrives everywhere, even in the most unassuming corners of the state.

Eleven persons were killed in two separate accidents in Garhwal Himalayas since Wednesday night. Eight deaths took place on Thursday afternoon as the vehicle they were travelling in fell into a 300 metres gorge in Tehri Garhwal.

According to District Disaster Management Authority officials, an accident took place near Nail on Chamba-Koti Colony Road as the driver apparently lost his control over the vehicle with 10 persons on board. Eight of them died at the accident site while two survivors were taken for medical treatment in District Hospital Tehri. The injured were identified as Uttam, 30, and Ankit, 22, who were undergoing medical aid.

According to the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF), all the deceased belonged to the Ghansali block in district Tehri. They were returning from Rishikesh after conducting last rites of a family member when the tragedy occurred.

Confirming the deaths, District Disaster Management Officer Brijesh Bhatt said all eight deceased were killed at the accident site while two others were rushed to the hospital.

This was the second accident in the high altitude Garhwal Himalayas in the last 24 hours killing 11 persons since Wednesday night. Three victims, including the vehicle driver, died on the spot on Wednesday night when their car fell into a 250 meters deep gorge at Bhiri area of Rudraprayag district as the victims were travelling to their village. According to SDRF

Expressing his concern on the accident, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, “News of the vehicular accident on the Nail-Koti Colony Road at Chamba in Tehri Garhwal was deeply saddening. I pray to God to grant the departed souls peace and give the bereaved families strength to bear this immense loss.”

Dhami further said, “Directions have been issued to the district administration to ensure proper treatment for the injured victims. I pray from Baba Kedar for speedy recovery of the injured.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, known for his strong social media presence and mass appeal, has once again demonstrated his influence in promoting regional culture. During his ongoing election campaign in West Bengal, traditional street foods such as jhal muri (spicy puffed rice snack) from Jhargram and bhabra bhaja (a chickpea flour fritter) from Purulia, have witnessed a sharp surge in popularity.

Jhal muri has reportedly crossed 10 crore searches on Google, while food enthusiasts from across the country are actively looking up bhabra bhaja.

While addressing a rally in Purulia on 19 April, the Prime Minister said that people in the district would celebrate victory on 4 May by eating bhabra bhaja, calling it a traditional delicacy of the region. Later that day, after campaigning in Jhargram, he stopped at a local stall near Jhargram Raj College More, where he had jhal muri, paid Rs 10 and briefly interacted with the vendor.

The incident has transformed the life of Vikram Kumar Shaw, the vendor, who has since become an overnight sensation. Hundreds of YouTubers have visited his modest stall to capture videos and interviews, while his name and shop have been widely searched online. Shaw, originally from Gaya in Bihar, has been receiving thousands of phone calls from across the country, with people enquiring about his interaction with the Prime Minister and the secret spices in his recipe. Overwhelmed by the sudden attention, he has stopped answering calls, while his elderly parents and wife now assist him at the stall to manage the increasing crowds.

Social media platforms have also seen a surge of interest. One user on X wrote that many people were previously unaware of bhabra bhaja due to the region’s neglect, but the Prime Minister’s mention has brought it into the spotlight. Another user said that such speeches are helping people learn more about the heritage and traditions of West Bengal.

The renewed attention has also benefited local businesses. Suman Mahato, who runs a shop at Goshala More in Purulia, said that sales have increased significantly over the past two days, along with a rise in enquiries from other states. He is now considering expanding his business through online sales to meet growing demand.

Describing the snack, Mahato said bhabra bhaja is made primarily of besan (chickpea flour), kalo jeera (black cumin), salt and other basic ingredients, resulting in a soft, fluffy fritter with a distinct fried flavour.

The growing interest has drawn reactions from across the country and even abroad. Sumanta Biswas, a former student of zilla school now settled in Dublin, said he fondly remembers having the snack during his school days and misses the street food culture of Bengal.

Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato, MP of Purulia, said the district is grateful for the attention the traditional snack has received. He added that with proper packaging, preservation and authentic preparation, Bhabra Bhaja has the potential to emerge as a global culinary product.

In the wake of the fireworks blast that claimed 14 lives at Mundathicode, this year’s Thrissur Pooram will proceed without its iconic pyrotechnic displays. Additionally, the celebrated ‘Kudamattam’ ceremony is set to be significantly reduced in scale.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting held at the Thrissur Collectorate on Thursday, attended by State Ministers, Union Minister Suresh Gopi, and representatives from the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady Devaswoms

As per the decision taken in the meeting, the festival’s ritual components would proceed as scheduled. The fireworks, both the Sample Vedikkettu, scheduled for April 24 and the main fireworks display (early hours of April 27) – key elements of the Pooram, would not be held; as a symbolic gesture, only the symbolic Kathina (loud ritualistic crackers) would be burst. The customary fireworks following the Pakalpooram have also been called off.

Kudamattam, the ceremonial exchange of decorated umbrellas involving caparisoned elephants, which usually lasts over an hour, will be limited to just 15 minutes. Instead of the typical 50 sets of umbrellas, only about 5 to 10 sets will be displayed. However, the Ilanjithara Melam, the traditional percussion ensemble, will be conducted as usual, to maintain the ritualistic core. Thrissur Pooram is scheduled to be held on April 26.
Fourteen people were killed and over 40 injured on Tuesday in a powerful explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit at Mundathikode near Thrissur in Kerala. The accident occurred during preparations for the fireworks display at the Thrissur Pooram to be held on Sunday.
At present, 12 people are under treatment at the Medical College Hospital in Thrissur. Four of them are under critical care. The government said it will bear the treatment expenses of the injured persons for six months. Beyond that, expenses in empanelled private hospitals will be covered based on the recommendation of a medical board. Even after 24 hours, there is no clarity on the exact number of victims, with searches carried out at the blast site with the help of K9 Squad’s cadaver dogs recovering more body parts on Wednesday.

As of now, eight of the 14 deceased have been identified and their bodies released to relatives after postmortem, District Collector Sikha Surendran said. The unidentified body parts recovered from the site would be preserved at the MCH’s mortuary, she said.

The BJP has declared the names of its candidates contesting the elections for the posts of Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Standing Committee Members in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

In a statement, the party said the names of the candidates were announced in accordance with the instructions of the BJP national president.

The BJP has named Pravesh Wahi as its mayoral candidate, while Monika Pant has been nominated for the Deputy Mayor’s post. Wahi is concurrently serving as the Leader of the House.

The party has also nominated Jai Bhagwan Yadav and Manish Chaddha as candidates for the Standing Committee. The polls for these positions are scheduled for April 29.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, in a post on X, congratulated Pravesh Wahi and Monika Pant on being declared candidates for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor elections in the civic body.

Gupta expressed hope that by embracing the BJP’s vision and the mantra of Antyodaya, the leaders’ experience and diligence will take Delhi’s development to new heights.

“Through your efforts, the municipal administration will succeed in fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of Delhi’s residents,” she added.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav on Thursday compared the opposition Congress to the ‘Kauravas’ of the Mahabharata and criticised the party for its negative attitude towards women’s welfare and empowerment, in light of the recent fall of the bill proposing amendments to the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ in the Lok Sabha.

Addressing an inaugural function for a new Government ‘Sandipani School’ at Nariyavali in Sagar district, the CM noted that just as the Kauravas always opposed anything good in that era, the Congress is playing a similar role today.

Dr Yadav emphasised that PM Narendra Modi always prioritises the welfare of all, especially women, and that the Centre made all possible efforts to ensure women’s empowerment. However, he alleged that, like the ‘Kauravas’, the Congress also did not support such a positive initiative.

The MP CM further claimed that in the past as well, Rahul Gandhi’s father, former PM Rajiv Gandhi, had not allowed the proposed allowance for Muslim women in the ‘Triple Talaq’ matter.

The MP CM averred that women across the country would give a befitting reply to the Congress at the appropriate time. He also asserted that the government remains committed to women’s empowerment and will continue its efforts to provide 33 per cent reservation to women.

Lauding the ‘Sandipani Schools’, the MP CM pointed out that they are not just excellent educational institutions but also symbols of the friendship between Lord Krishna and Sudama.

On the occasion, the CM also dedicated 75 different welfare and development works worth Rs 63.41 crore to the region.

In a campaign speech that blended political messaging with local cultural symbolism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday invoked Bengal’s iconic street snack jhal muri to sharpen his attack on the ruling Trinamul Congress (TMC), using a widely discussed campaign moment to underscore his party’s claim of an impending electoral shift.

Addressing a rally in Krishnagar amid the first phase of Assembly polling, Mr Modi referred to his recent stop in Jhargram where he was seen pausing to enjoy jhal muri, a gesture that quickly gained traction across political circles and drew jibes from opposition parties. Turning the episode into a rhetorical flourish, the Prime Minister said the snack had already delivered a “stinging shock” to the TMC.

“We have observed in the past that wherever the country has witnessed a massive voter turnout, the BJP has achieved a resounding victory,” he said, linking the ongoing polling in West Bengal to what he described as a broader national trend favouring the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Projecting confidence ahead of the results, Mr Modi declared that 4 May would mark the beginning of BJP’s victory celebrations in the state. “Sweets will be distributed, and jhal muri will be handed out too,” he said, before adding with a characteristic flourish: “Jhal muri maine khaayi lekin jhal TMC ko lagi hai” (I ate the snack, but the sting was felt by the TMC).

The remark drew loud cheers from the crowd and formed part of a broader attempt by the Prime Minister to frame the election as a contest between “fear and trust,” with high voter turnout, he argued, signalling a decisive public mandate for change.

Political observers note that the appropriation of a local cultural symbol such as jhal muri reflects the BJP’s effort to localise its campaign narrative in Bengal, even as it continues to mount an aggressive critique of the TMC’s governance record.

With polling underway and campaigning intensifying, Mr Modi’s speech underscored the BJP’s strategy of combining sharp political attacks with symbolic gestures aimed at resonating with regional identity, turning even a roadside snack into a campaign metaphor for electoral momentum.

In a major breakthrough amid the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state, as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Amritsar Commissionerate Police have busted a cross-border drug and arms smuggling module with the arrest of three accused.

The police have recovered 915 grams of ICE (methamphetamine) and five sophisticated pistols from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, here on Thursday.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukha (21), Sola Singh alias Sonu (29), and Karan Singh (22), all residents of village Sahanke in Ferozepur. The recovered weapons include two 9mm Glock pistols and three .30 bore pistols, along with two live cartridges.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused were in contact with Pakistan-based smugglers through social media platforms and were receiving contraband via drones from across the border. The accused were acting as local handlers for the distribution of drugs and illegal arms, he added.

He further stated that investigations are underway to trace both forward and backward linkages in order to dismantle the entire network.

Sharing operational details, Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, said that in a targeted operation based on specific intelligence inputs, police teams arrested the suspects—Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukha, Sola Singh alias Sonu, and Karan Singh.

During the operation, one .30 bore pistol was initially recovered. Subsequently, based on their disclosure, 915 grams of ICE and four additional pistols were recovered from their possession.

The CP further said that the probe has revealed that consignments of drugs and weapons were dropped in densely forested areas of the Ferozepur sector. The accused would retrieve these consignments from such locations and supply them to different areas.

An FIR has been registered in the case under Section 22-C of the NDPS Act and Sections 25 (6, 7(iii), and 8) of the Arms Act at Police Station Gate Hakima in Amritsar.

The Indian stock market declined on Thursday, tracking a surge in crude oil prices, foreign fund outflows and weak cues from Asian markets.

At the close, the Sensex settled 852.49 points, or 1.09 per cent, lower at 77,664, while the broader Nifty declined 205.05 points, or 0.84 per cent, to 24,173.05. The Nifty Smallcap100 and Nifty Midcap100 indices traded flat.

The cumulative market capitalisation of BSE-listed firms dropped to slightly above Rs 466 lakh crore from more than Rs 469 lakh crore.

Among the sectors, 12 of the 16 major sectoral indices were in the red. Auto stocks declined 1.3 per cent and were among the top losers. Financial heavyweights also slipped 0.8 per cent. Pharma stocks rose 2.3 per cent on growth expectations.

Nifty PSU Bank index crashed 2.19%, while the Private Bank index dropped 1.31%. The Nifty Bank index suffered a loss of 1.43%, and the Financial Services index declined 1.42%.

ICICI Bank fell 1.6 per cent, and HDFC Bank was down 0.8 per cent.

The Indian rupee extended its losses for the fourth consecutive session, slipping 34 paise to 94.12 against the US dollar.

On the Nifty, the top losers were Trent, M&M, Shriram Finance, SBI Life Insurance, and Tech Mahindra. Gainers included Dr Reddy’s Labs, Cipla, Jio Financial, Adani Enterprises, and Apollo Hospitals.

Around 140 stocks touched their 52-week highs on the BSE. These included GE Vernova TD, Welspun Corp, Glenmark Pharma, Data Patterns, Hitachi Energy, Himadri Speciality Chemical, Lupin, Torrent Power, Chennai Petroleum Corporation, Schneider Infra, Granules India, NALCO, Aurobindo Pharma, Adani Green Energy, Timken, HEG, JSW Energy, CG Power, Siemens, Lloyds Metals, among others.

In stock-specific action, Jio Financial Services gained 4% after signing an agreement with Allianz Group, while L&T Technology Services slipped nearly 3%.

Tech Mahindra’s stock fell as much as 2.5%, and SBI Life Insurance fell 3%.

Brent Crude prices rose 2% to trade levels beyond $103 a barrel amid a fresh escalation of tensions between the US and Iran.

Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday slammed Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee for his remarks on Union home minister Amit Shah after a rally in the state.

In a social media post, Pradhan termed Banerjee’s statement an “empty threat”. He wrote: “Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah ji has spoken of democracy, security and accountable governance. The response from Mr. Abhishek Banerjee has been yet another empty threat delivered in full public view. Bengal deserves political discourse, not intimidation; leadership, not political muscle-flexing.”

Accusing the Trinamul Congress of engaging in politics of intimidation, Pradhan said such language only exposes the growing desperation within the Trinamul leadership. “When an election campaign is answered with intimidation and street-level provocation, it confirms exactly what the people of West Bengal have endured for years under this regime,” he said.

The Union minister further expressed belief that this will strengthen the people’s resolve in the state. “The people of Bengal are watching closely, and every such statement only strengthens their resolve to reject the politics of fear and stand firmly for democratic change.”

India’s private sector activity gathered momentum at the start of the new financial year, with the HSBC Flash India Composite PMI Output Index rising to 58.3 in April from 57.0 in March, according to data compiled by S&P Global.

The latest reading signalled a sharp expansion in overall business activity and remained well above the long-run average, indicating sustained economic resilience. The rebound follows a moderation in March, when growth was impacted by disruptions linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict.

The upturn in April was largely driven by the manufacturing sector, which recorded stronger gains in both output and new orders compared to services. The flash manufacturing PMI climbed to 55.9 in April from 53.9 in March, reflecting improved demand conditions and increased production.

The services sector also continued to expand, albeit at a relatively slower pace. The services PMI stood at 57.9, marginally higher than 57.5 in the previous month.

A PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion in activity, while a print below 50 signals contraction.

The acceleration in business activity was supported by a combination of factors, including better demand conditions, rising inflows of new work, capacity expansion and higher investments in technology.

Firms reported stronger growth in new orders, suggesting that demand momentum remained intact despite global uncertainties.

Employment across the private sector rose at the fastest pace in ten months, as companies ramped up hiring to meet increasing business requirements and support expansion plans.

The hiring push also reflected positive business sentiment, with firms expressing optimism about output growth over the next 12 months. This confidence was underpinned by ongoing marketing efforts, a pipeline of pending project approvals and rising client enquiries.

However, overall sentiment eased slightly from March levels, even as it remained the second-highest in nearly 18 months.

Despite the growth momentum, companies continued to face elevated input cost pressures in April. Firms reported higher expenses on fuel, gas, oil and a range of raw materials, including chemicals, food items, jute, leather, metals and rubber. Transportation costs also remained high, with some firms citing gas shortages as a contributing factor.

Although input cost inflation softened from March, it remained the second-highest level seen in nearly three years, highlighting persistent cost-side challenges.

Businesses partially passed on these higher costs to customers by increasing output prices. However, the pace of increase in selling prices remained lower than the rise in input costs, indicating margin pressures for firms.

Overall, the April PMI data points to a strong start to FY27 for India’s private sector, with robust demand, improving output and rising employment. However, elevated cost pressures and global uncertainties—particularly those linked to geopolitical tensions—continue to pose risks to the growth outlook.

The outbreak of fire in the HPCL-Rajasthan oil refinery in Pachpadra on Monday has brought a flashpoint in the ongoing war of words between Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and his predecessor Ashok Gehlot with the former accusing the latter of scams and irregularities in the acquisition of land for the refinery and related affairs.

While addressing a function held to unveil the statue of Lt General Sagat Singh Rathore in Churu city on Wednesday evening, Chief Minister Sharma kept on verbal assault against the grand old party’s leadership and previous regimes led by them.

Reiterating his criticism of his arch rivals, Sharma made a volley of potshots on usual contentious issues like Women Reservation Bill, Yamuna Water Agreement, ERCP and the Opposition’s stance on the Operation Sindoor and surgical strikes.

Besides the usual charges, the Chief Minister added two more issues to his tirade by levelling charges of scams in land deals and other irregularities in the Pachpadra refinery area and affairs related to the mega project.

“Congress Ke logon Ne Refinery Mein Kai Tareh Ke Ghotale Aur Jameenon Ke Ghotale Kiye Hein. Enme Congress Ke Log Kaise Kaam Kar Rahe Thhe ?(Congress cadres committed several scams in land deals and other sorts of irregularities in refinery area and activities. How (& why) they were working, how did they get a chance ? “Purva CM Ashok Gehlot Ko Enka Hisab Dena Chahiye” (Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot should give an explanation on it).

He also charged the Congress leadership with committing scams in the defence procurement deals under their previous regimes. They overlooked the needs of the Army and interest of soldiers.

The Chief Minister’s accusations attracted an instant rejoinder by ex-CM Gehlot who had written a post on social media within hours last evening itself. Gehlot held that Chief Minister’s utterances was merely an attempt to divert people’s attention from the unfortunate incident of fire in refinery a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Pachpadra to inaugurate the plant.

The incident of fire was the outcome of a hastily planned event of inauguration, which forced authorities to postpone the PM’s visit. The fresh volley of allegations is bid to hide this failure in due management and handling of the situation.

Gehlot said, “If Congress people have really committed scams, why didn’t they take due action under their 12 year regime at the Centre and more than 2-year rule in the state.”

Rajasthan Parliamentary Affairs Minister Joga Ram Patel too was equally quick in refuting former Chief Minister’s assertions. In a statement late last night Patel said, “Gehlot should talk on facts, he should not mislead people.”

He said the delay in the mega project was due to lack of planning, vision and roadmap for the implementation by the erstwhile Congress. The then government made only hollow announcements, the actual work on the ground started only after initiatives by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018.

About the scams, Patel said, “Land scams in the refinery area were well known, people know about it”.

West Bengal saw unprecedented participation of voters in the first phase of the Assembly Elections held on Thursday. According to the Election Commission of India’s provisional data, Bengal recorded 91.83 per cent of voter turnout till 5 pm. The turnout numbers are provisional and could be updated.

Following the conclusion of the voting, Chief Election Commissioner of India, Gyanesh Kumar, announced that both Tamil Nadu and West Bengal recorded the highest voter turnout since India’s Independence.

Coochbehar recorded a voter turnout of 92.07 per cent, Alipurduar 88.74 per cent, Jalpaiguri 91.2 per cent, Kalimpong 81.98 per cent, Darjeeling 86.49 per cent, Uttar Dinajpur 89.74 per cent, and Dakshin Dinajpur 93.12 per cent.

Other districts also saw strong participation of voters, with Malda recording a turnout of 56 per cent, Murshidabad 91.36 per cent, Purbo Medinipur 88.55 per cent, Paschim Medinipur 90.7 per cent, Jhargram 90.53 per cent, Purulia 87.35 per cent, Bankura 89.91 per cent, Paschim Bardhaman 86.89 per cent and Birbhum 91.55 per cent.

Contrary to the past trends of low voter turnout between 1 P.M. and 3 P.M. in the last few elections, a high voting rate continued during that time frame in the first phase of the Assembly polls in West Bengal on Thursday, with the polling percentage increasing to 78.77 at 3 P.M from 62.18 per cent till 1 P.M.

This means that during the two hours between 1 P.M. and 3 P.M. on Thursday, the percentage point increase in polling in the 152 Assembly constituencies was 16.59, which the poll observers feel is quite unusual, especially because of the scorching summer heat and humidity in West Bengal during that period.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the average polling percentage in the seven phases of polls in West Bengal was 63.92 per cent.

The polling process will officially conclude at 6 P.M. Political observers feel that if the current trend of high polling rate continues for the remaining three hours, the final polling percentage will surely be well above 90 per cent, a figure which was never witnessed in the last few years.