Prime Minister Narendra Modi today bid farewell to retiring members of the Rajya Sabha, emphasising that political contribution never truly comes to an end. Addressing the House, Modi noted that while formal farewells are held every two years, the legacy of the Upper House continues.

Noting the importance of experience, PM Modi said that new members who join immediately have the opportunity to learn from colleagues who have been here for a long time.

Modi highlighted leaders such as HD Deve Gowda, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Sharad Pawar for their decades of parliamentary experience.

He said, “…HD Deve Gowda ji, Mallikarjun Kharge ji, Sharad Pawar ji are senior leaders who have spent more than half of their lives in parliamentary work. Newly elected MPs should learn from them…”

#WATCH | Delhi | Speaking in Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, “…H. D. Deve Gowda ji, Mallikarjun Kharge ji, Sharad Pawar ji are senior leaders who have spent more than half of their life in parliamentary work. Newly elected MPs should learn from them…”… pic.twitter.com/zsT7zunPgJ

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2026

PM highlights value of parliamentary tenure

The Prime Minister described a six-year term in the Rajya Sabha as both a significant opportunity to shape national policy and a deeply enriching personal journey. He said members enter the House with their own ideas and capabilities, which are further strengthened through experience and engagement over time.

“The opportunity to remain here for six years is significant not only for contributing to national life through policy-making but also as an invaluable experience that enriches one’s own life. When respected MPs come here with their thoughts, understanding, and capabilities, by the time they leave, these qualities multiply manifold through the power of experience…”

Delhi: PM Narendra Modi says, “The opportunity to remain here for six years is significant not only for contributing to national life through policy-making but also as an invaluable experience that enriches one’s own life. When respected MPs come here with their thoughts,… pic.twitter.com/OiTviwAuLM

— IANS (@ians_india) March 18, 2026

‘There is no full stop in politics’: PM Modi

The Prime Minister remarked, “In politics, there is no full stop,” signalling that public service extends well beyond a parliamentary term. Modi highlighted that discussions on a wide range of issues allow each member to play a distinct role, while also fostering mutual respect that transcends political differences.

He said, “…Discussions take place on various issues in the House, and every member plays a unique role in them. In moments like these, a common sense of respect is generated, rising above party lines. Some members who are taking leave today are doing so with the hope of returning again. Others are leaving with the experience they have gained here and will continue to contribute in meaningful ways to society and public life. To those who are leaving and may not return to this House, I would like to say that in politics there is no full stop.”

Delhi: PM Narendra Modi says, “…Some colleagues are bidding farewell from here to return again, some are taking the experience from here to contribute to social life. Those who are leaving but will not return, I want to tell them that there is no full stop in politics…” pic.twitter.com/5HXstArSaP

— IANS (@ians_india) March 18, 2026

‘Our Athawale ji is evergreen’

In a lighter moment, Modi remarked on the importance of humour in parliamentary proceedings, singling out Ramdas Athawale for his distinctive style.

“Athawale ji is evergreen,” the Prime Minister said, expressing confidence that his wit and satire would continue even after he departs from the House.

“Sometimes we used to hear that there is a lot of opportunity for humour and satire in the House. These days, perhaps it is gradually decreasing…But our Athawale ji is evergreen. Athawale ji is leaving but no one here will feel any shortcoming. I am fully confident that he will continue to serve satire and humour in abundance…”

Delhi: PM Narendra Modi says, “Our Athawale is leaving, but no one here will feel his absence. He will keep serving humour and wit; we are fully confident of that. Every two years, a big farewell takes place in this House. But such is the system that new members who come… pic.twitter.com/puA5kJGE23

— IANS (@ians_india) March 18, 2026

Leaders met departing members after session

Following the session, PM Modi and Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan met the retiring and recently retired Members of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) today. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Ministers, and other Members of Parliament were also present.

The death toll in the fire at a multi-storey building in Delhi’s Palam area rose to nine on Wednesday, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta ordering a magisterial probe into the incident.

The fire broke out in a cloth shop in Ram Market in the morning and quickly spread through the building, where both commercial activity and residential spaces were housed.

Police said information about the blaze was received at around 7.04 am, following which teams rushed to the spot. The building, located at WZ-124A in Ram Chowk Market, had a cloth and cosmetic showroom in the basement, ground and first floors, while the owner’s family lived on the upper floors.

Rescue operation and casualties

Several people were rescued and taken to nearby hospitals, but casualties were reported from multiple facilities.

At Manipal Hospital, eight people, including three minor girls aged 15, 6 and 3, were declared dead. The deceased were identified as Pravesh (33), Kamal (39), Ashu (35), Lado (70), and Himanshi (22), along with the three children.

At IGI Hospital, a woman identified as Deepika (around 28) was brought dead, while a man, Anil (around 32), and a two-year-old girl are undergoing treatment.

Another injured person, Sachin (29), was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital with about 25 per cent burn injuries.

A large-scale emergency response was launched, with around 20 fire tenders and 11 ambulances deployed. Teams from the Delhi Fire Service, police, BSES, Air Force Police and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were involved in the rescue and firefighting efforts.

The fire has since been brought under control after hours of operation, while cooling and search efforts continued.

Probe ordered, cause under investigation

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said she was “extremely distressed” by the incident and confirmed that a magisterial inquiry has been ordered.

Extremely distressed to learn about the unfortunate fire incident at a multi-story residential building at Palam.

As per the information received, 6 feared dead, few people still trapped inside the building. District Administration, Delhi Fire Service Department & Delhi Police…

— Rekha Gupta (@gupta_rekha) March 18, 2026

District administration, fire services and police teams were engaged in the rescue operation, she said, adding that she was praying for the safety of those affected.

A Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team has been called to examine the site. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

If you’ve filed a consumer complaint and are still waiting, you’re not alone. A new study by the India Justice Report (IJR) shows that a large number of cases in India’s consumer courts are dragging on for years.

Nearly 35 per cent of cases in state consumer commissions have been pending for over three years, even though the law says they should ideally be resolved within five months.

The report – Consumer Justice Report 2026: Assessing Capacity of Redressal Commissions in India – is based on data collected through Right to Information (RTI) replies and parliamentary responses. It points to a widening gap between legal timelines and actual delivery.

The bigger worry is that the pile-up is growing, not shrinking. Between 2020 and 2024, a part of the cases simply didn’t move. Out of 7.6 lakh complaints filed across the country, about 11 per cent remained unresolved. During the same time, the backlog kept building up, rising by 21 per cent to cross 5 lakh cases.

A big reason behind this slowdown is the lack of people to run the system. In 2025, only 18 out of 35 state commissions had a president, leaving half the top posts vacant. Member posts are also lying empty in large numbers, i.e. about 40 per cent are unfilled, and even basic staff support is thin, with roughly one in five positions vacant (20%).

On top of that, access to these forums is still uneven on the ground. There are only 685 district commissions for 775 districts across the country, despite a legal requirement to have one in each district.

Most complaints are linked to everyday sectors such as insurance (25.1%), housing (18.7%) and banking (8.7%), highlighting how delays directly affect consumers dealing with financial issues.

Some states far worse than others

The delays are not uniform. Some states are clearly struggling more than others.

Kerala stands out for the wrong reasons, as nearly eight out of ten cases there have been pending for more than three years (79.2%). Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand are not far behind, both with over 70 per cent long-pending cases (70.8% each).

In Uttar Pradesh (61.8%) and Uttarakhand (56.8%) too, more than half the cases have been stuck for years.

On the other hand, a few states show that quicker resolution is possible. Andhra Pradesh stands out for managing things relatively well, with fewer than 5 per cent of cases pending for over three years (4.8%). Sikkim (7.1%) and Himachal Pradesh (9.0%) also report relatively low delays.

But it’s not the same story everywhere. In states like Assam (47.2%), Madhya Pradesh (41.0%) and Haryana (35.6%), many cases are still stuck in limbo, i.e. not moving fast enough to bring relief, but not entirely frozen either.

Even where disposal rates look decent on paper, the backlog isn’t easing. Across the country, about 89 per cent of cases were disposed of between 2020 and 2024 (88.6%), and some states even cleared more cases than they received.

But that hasn’t been enough to stop the overall number of pending cases from rising, a sign that the system is still under strain.

Kolkata Fatafat Results (March 18): In the buzzing lanes of Kolkata, there’s a game that moves almost as fast as the city itself. Kolkata Fatafat, often called Kolkata FF, has become a daily routine for many players who wait eagerly for each round of results. With multiple draws in a single day, the excitement never really stops.

But before jumping into the numbers, here’s a clear and simple look at how the game works, today’s schedule, and what players should keep in mind.

Also Read: Party announces list of candidates, around 50 pc are women

What is Kolkata Fatafat?

Kolkata Fatafat is a lottery-style number guessing game. Players choose numbers and place bets, hoping their picks match the winning results. It is popular mainly in Kolkata and across West Bengal.

What makes it different from regular lotteries is its speed. Instead of one draw a day, Kolkata FF runs several rounds.

Today’s result (March 18, 2026): Kolkata Fatafat

The game follows a fixed daily schedule with eight rounds, also called “bazis.”

First round begins at 10:28 am. Results continue throughout the day. Final round ends at 9:00 pm.

Today’s results are as follows:

First round: 457-6

Second round: 279-8

Third round:

Fourth round:

Fifth round:

Sixth round:

Seventh round:

Eighth round:

How many chances do players get?

On a typical day like today, there are 8 rounds in total. Each round is independent, meaning players can try their luck multiple times.

This structure keeps the game engaging.

(The information above is based on publicly available online sources. This article does not promote or encourage participation in lottery or Teer-style games. Readers are advised to verify results through official channels and make informed decisions.)

An Iranian strike today targeted Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, where the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has been stationed for years. While there have been no casualties, the air assault caused damage to military infrastructure at the base.

Notably, over 100 Australian personnel are currently stationed at the base. It also hosts the British forces and a small contingent of United States military members.

The facility serves as a critical logistics, surveillance, training, and operational hub for Australian forces in the Middle East.

Statement on strikes on Al Minhad Air Base

On the morning of 18 March 2026 (AEDT), an Iranian strike impacted an area at the Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, where the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has a long‑standing presence.

No ADF personnel were injured in… pic.twitter.com/mNdcfOYgPx

— Defence Australia (@DefenceAust) March 18, 2026

PM confirms no Australians injured

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese issued a statement expressing relief that no Australian personnel were harmed, noting that the projectile struck near the base at approximately 9:15 am AEDT. However, the strike resulted in minor damage to an accommodation block and medical facility in the Australian section of the base.

When questioned on whether the base was being intentionally singled out, Albanese remarked that the “Iranian regime is engaging in random attacks right across the region.” The UAE has faced “heavy bombardment” throughout the current hostilities.

The Australian Government’s Department of Defence also confirmed that “no ADF personnel were injured in the incident, and all ADF personnel deployed to the Middle East are safe and accounted for.”

“Defence’s focus is on ensuring the safety and security of our people, and we will continue to revise force protection measures as the situation evolves,” the department stated.

Australia warns ‘Iran is no friend of Australia’

Responding to the incident, Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson issued a strong warning that the “attack on Australian facilities at Al Minhad is another reminder that the Islamic Republic regime in Iran is no friend of Australia.”

He also reaffirmed support for deploying surveillance assets such as the Boeing E-7A Wedgetail to assist regional partners, like the UAE.

Second Strike on the Base During Ongoing Conflict

This marks the second time Al Minhad Air Base has been targeted during the current conflict. A previous Iranian drone strike in the early days of hostilities did not result in damage to Australian facilities.

As tensions continue to escalate across the region, Australian authorities are under increasing pressure to ensure adequate resources and protection for deployed forces.

The Election Commission of India is likely to publish an additional voter list later this week, which will determine the fate of around 20 lakh voters whose verification process has already been completed, sources said.

According to officials, the upcoming list will specify which of these voters will remain on the electoral rolls and whose names will be deleted.

The move comes amid an ongoing large-scale verification exercise involving over 60.06 lakh individuals placed under the ‘under consideration’ category.

Judicial officers appointed by the Calcutta High Court are currently scrutinising the details of these voters.

Based on document verification, the officers will decide who qualifies as a legitimate voter and who does not.

Sources indicated that verification and disposal of records for more than 21 lakh voters had been completed as of Tuesday, with the first additional list expected to reflect the status of around 20 lakh of them.

A high-level meeting was held at the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday to review the progress and discuss the publication of the additional list.

The meeting was attended by Chief Justice Sujoy Paul, Chief Secretary Dushmanta Nariala, Home Secretary Sanghamitra Ghosh, Director General of Police Siddhanath Gupta, Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal, and Special Observer Subrata Gupta.

Sources said the additional list could be released on Friday or Saturday.

Voters whose names are excluded from the ‘under consideration’ list in the additional roll will have the option to appeal before a special tribunal under the judiciary.

In line with directions from the Supreme Court, preparations are underway for the formation of such tribunals.

A decision on the formation of these bodies is expected within the next two to three days, and the composition of the tribunals may also be finalised during this period.

The verification process is being conducted in response to discrepancies flagged in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) data, following Supreme Court directives.

Not only judicial officers from West Bengal, but also judges from Jharkhand and Odisha have been deployed for the exercise.

At present, a total of 705 judicial officers are engaged in resolving cases related to the ‘under consideration’ voters.

Sources further indicated that multiple additional voter lists may be published ahead of the elections as the verification process continues.

Judicial officers are expected to take a few more days to complete scrutiny of the remaining voters.

According to Election Commission sources, all voters who are cleared and included in the final lists before the last date of nomination filing will be eligible to cast their votes.

The West Bengal Assembly elections will be held in two phases on 23 April and 29 April.

The last date for filing nominations for the first phase is 4 April, while for the second phase it is 9 April.

Eligible voters finalised by these deadlines will be allowed to participate in the respective phases of polling.

Internal discord within the Communist Party of India (Marxist) surfaced publicly in Nadia’s Kaliganj on Tuesday after a section of party workers allegedly vandalised a local CPI-M office, protesting the selection of Sabina Yasmin as the party’s candidate for the forthcoming by-election.

The incident has exposed simmering dissatisfaction at the grassroots level, even as the Left leadership attempted to project unity following the announcement of candidates for the polls.

According to local sources, tensions escalated soon after the Left Front chairman, Biman Bose, on Monday announced the names of 192 Left candidates, introducing Sabina Yasmin as the nominee from Kaliganj. While declaring her candidature, Bose described her as “the mother of a martyr child,” referring to the death of nine-year-old Tamanna during post-election violence in 2025.

Tamanna had reportedly died after being hit by a bomb allegedly hurled from a victory procession taken out following the Kaliganj by-election results last year. The incident had triggered widespread outrage in the area and turned Yasmin into a prominent face of protest, as she repeatedly took to the streets demanding justice and punishment for those responsible.

The CPI-M’s decision to field Yasmin was seen by the party leadership as a politically symbolic move highlighting issues of violence and accountability. However, party insiders said a section of local workers expressed reservations over the candidature, claiming the selection overlooked organisational considerations and long-time party activists.

On Tuesday, the discontent reportedly spilled onto the streets when agitating workers gathered outside the party office and allegedly carried out vandalism, demanding an immediate change of candidate. Eyewitnesses said furniture and signboards were damaged during the protest, though no injuries were reported.

CPI-M district committee member SM Sadi downplayed the episode, stating that no major untoward incident had taken place. “There is some dissatisfaction among a section regarding the candidate. Such issues will be resolved internally through party discussions,” he said.

The development comes at a sensitive political moment in Kaliganj, where memories of last year’s violence remain fresh and electoral tensions are already high. Political observers believe the episode reflects the challenges facing the Left as it attempts to balance symbolic politics with organisational cohesion ahead of the polls.

With campaigning yet to gather full momentum, party leaders are now expected to focus on damage control to prevent internal disagreements from affecting electoral prospects in the constituency.

The Congress is likely to bank on veteran leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to regain lost ground in West Bengal, with strong indications that he may be fielded from the Baharampur Assembly constituency in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly Election 2026.

Chowdhury, who suffered a setback in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by losing his stronghold in Murshidabad, is now expected to make a return to state politics.

Sources suggest that the Congress high command is considering him as a key face in its strategy to revive the party’s prospects in the state. Although no official announcement has been made yet, party insiders indicated that it is only a matter of time before his candidature is formally announced. Baharampur, long considered his political bastion, is likely to witness a high-profile contest if he is fielded. Chowdhury’s political journey dates back to the early 1990s, when he contested from the Nabagram Assembly constituency in Murshidabad in 1991 and 1996 on a Congress ticket. While he lost his debut election, he emerged victorious in 1996. He later went on to become a Member of Parliament in 1999 and has since remained a prominent Congress figure in Bengal politics.

Speculation over his return to Assembly elections has been rife for several months. The anticipated decision to field him in 2026 is seen as a move to consolidate the party’s base in central Bengal, particularly in Murshidabad district. Meanwhile, the All India Congress Committee is likely to release its first list of around 100 candidates for the state in the coming days. Sources said the initial list will feature key contenders or “top players,” reflecting the party’s intent to project strong candidates early in the electoral battle.

Apart from Baharampur, candidates for constituencies in Malda, Hooghly and Purba Bardhaman are also expected to be announced in the first phase. Names doing the rounds include Isha Khan from Sujapur and Mausam Noor from Vaishnavnagar. State Congress president Shubhankar Sarkar is reportedly travelling to Delhi on Tuesday, fuelling speculation that the candidate list may be released late tonight or by Wednesday.

Newly-appointed Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Nand on Tuesday asserted that the force is “determined” to ensure free and fair polls in its jurisdiction during the West Bengal Assembly elections next month.

After the announcement of the Assembly poll schedule on Sunday, the Election Commission of India removed Kolkata Police Commissioner Supratim Sarkar on 16 March and appointed Nand in his place. The poll panel also shifted the state’s top bureaucratic and police brass, including the chief secretary and the DGP. Asked about the ECI’s repeated assurance of ensuring free and fair polls in the state, which has seen election-related violence in past elections, Nand said; “We are determined, this is our responsibility.”

Nand said that all steps will be taken in due course of time. Maintaining that it also depends on the top brass of the police force, he said, “As commissioner of police, I must provide the force with leadership, all required logistical support, protect them from any kind of undue pressure and strategic guidance.” The commissioner said that 30 companies of central forces have already been deployed in the Kolkata Police jurisdiction. Maintaining that there is “seamless coordination” between the central forces and the local police, the commissioner said that nodal officers are in place to ensure this.

“Meetings are taking place every day; it is a humungous exercise,” he said. Nand said that the system has been streamlined to ensure fast reaction to any kind of untoward incident in any place in the city. The new police Commissioner said that he would not fail in providing leadership, asserting, “This is a commitment to myself.” He said that the process of searches and raids for recovery and seizure of illegal arms and ammunition before the elections is going on as per norms.

The elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in two phases ~ on 23 and 29 April. Votes will be counted on 4 May.

Kunal Ghosh, journalist-turned-politician will contest from Beleghata Assembly seat.

Mr Ghosh has replaced the sitting MLA Paresh Pal. Mr Pal has not been keeping well for quite some time. Mr Ghosh is the spokesperson of the party and state general secretary. He was a Rajya Sabha member and had resigned after his name appeared in Sarada multi crore financial scam. Mr Ghosh started his career as a journalist and later joined politics. He is acting in a Bengali feature film Karpur directed by Arindam Sil.

Devdeep Purohit, a journalist, is contesting from Khardah in North 24 Parganas. The sitting MLA from Khardah and the state Agriculture minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay is contesting from Ballygunge Assembly seat. The MLA from Ballygunge Babul Supriyo has been nominated for the Rajya Sabha.

Shrreya Pandey is contesting from Manicktala. She replaced her mother Supti Pandey, the sitting MLA. She is the daughter of Sadhan Pandey, one of the founding members of Trinamul Congress. He died prematurely and his wife Supti Pandey had won the seat in by election.

Sandipan Saha has got nomination from Entally seat. He replaced his father Swarnakamal Saha, the sitting MLA. Mr Saha had expressed his inability to take part in the election, Sandipan Saha is the member, mayor in council ( education) of Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

Vijay Upadhayay will contest from Jorasanko Assembly seat. He has replaced Vivek Gupta.

Ratna Chatterjee will contest from Behala Paschim. Earlier in 2021, she was elected from Behala Purba. She replaced Partha Chatterjee. Subhasis Chakraborty will contest from Behala Purba. Subhasis Das has been nominated from Maheshtala Assembly seat. He replaced his father Dulal Das who had declined to contest in the election.

Seventy four MLAs have been dropped from the candidate’s list which was announced by Trinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee this afternoon. The dropped list is close to 33 per cent of the last time.

The party has given tickets to women candidates, who form 50 per cent of the total candidates, while there are around 95 candidates from the SC-ST community.

All the ministers in Mamata Banerjee cabinet have retained their nomination. Veteran party leader Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay will contest from Ballygunge Assembly seat. In 2021 he was elected from Khardah and became the agriculture minister. Saukat Molla will contest from Bhangar, In 2021 he was elected from Canning east seat.

Veteran party MLAs Paresh Pal, actor-turned-politician Chiranjit, Manoranjan Byapari, Nirmal Ghosh have been dropped.

In Mathabhanga (SC) seat Sablu Barman has replaced the sitting MLA Girindranath Barman. In Cooch Behar (Uttar) Partha Pratim Roy has replaced Benoy Krishna Barman, the sitting MLA.

Rajeev Tirkey will contest from Kumargram in Alipurduar while Birendra Bara will contest from Kalchini seat in Alipurduar. Both the candidates have replaced the sitting MLAs.

In Harishchandrapur in Malda, Md Matebur Rahman has replaced the sitting MLA Tajmul Hossain. Kabita Mondol has replaced veteran Trinamul Congress MLA Sabitra Mitra. Sabina Yeasmin will contest from Sujapur. Soham Chakraborty will be from Karimpur in Nadia replacing the sitting MLA Mr Bimalendu Sinha Roy. Avhinabha Bhattacharya will contest from Krishnagar Uttar Assembly seat.

In Noapara, Trinamul Chhatra Parishad president Trinankur Bhattacharya has been nominated. He replaced Manju Basu, the sitting MLA. Tirthankar Ghosh has been nominated from Panihati in North 24-Parganas. He replaced his father Nirmal Ghosh, the sitting MLA and chief whip of the party in the Assembly.

Amit Gupta will contest from Bhatpara replacing the sitting MLA Jitendra Shaw. Dr Nirmal Majhi will contest from Goghat in Hooghly district. Earlier, he had won from Uluberia North seat.

Debangshu Bhattacharya, head of Trinamul’s IT Cell will contest from Chuchura replacing the sitting MLA Asit Majumbar. Samir Chakrabarty will contest from Pandua. He had won from Taldangra in Bankura in the 2016 Assembly election. Shantiram Mahato who lost in 2021 from Balarampur by a slander margin has been nominated.

Former Trinamul Congress Rajya Sabha member Ritabrata Banerjee will contest from Uluberia East constituency.

In Uttarpara, Sirsanya Bandyopadhyay has replaced actor-turned-politician Kanchan Mullick. Mr Bandyopadhyay is the son of Trinamul’s Lok Sabha member Kalyan Bandyopadhyay.

Trinamul Congress has nominated four candidates who are below 31 years old. From 31 years to 40 years there are thirty eight candidates. There are eighty eight candidates, who are between 41 years and 50 years. There are 89 candidates between the ages 51 to 60 years. There are forty seven candidates aging between 61 to 70 years while 23 candidates are between 71 to 80 years of age. There are two candidates above 80 years.

Days after removing him from his post in a late-night administrative reshuffle following the announcement of the 2026 Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to appoint former West Bengal Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena as a poll observer in Tamil Nadu.

According to commission sources, Meena has been assigned to oversee polling in an Assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu.

His removal came shortly after the poll schedule was announced on Sunday, as part of a sweeping overhaul of the state’s top administrative and police leadership.

Within hours of the announcement, the ECI ordered the transfer of several senior officials.

In a late night development ~ hours after the announcement of polls on Sunday ~ Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty was replaced by Dushyant Nariala, while Sanghamitra Ghosh took charge as the new Home Secretary.

The commission also reshuffled key police positions, appointing new officers as Director General of Police, Kolkata Police Commissioner, and Additional Director General (Law and Order).

The move triggered a sharp political reaction in the state.

Reacting to the development of midnight transfers, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, strongly objecting to the abrupt transfers.

She described the late night action as a “midnight purge” and questioned the timing, asking how officials could be removed at 12.30 a.m.

In her letter, Banerjee alleged that the commission’s directives, issued immediately after the poll announcement, disrupted the administrative framework of the state.

Alleging that the state government was not consulted before removing key officials, the chief minister said that as per established convention, the ECI seeks a panel of three names from the state before making appointments or transfers to crucial posts during elections.

Calling the latest move “unilateral” and “arbitrary,” Banerjee raised concerns over the institutional credibility of the Election Commission, stressing that its reputation rests on neutrality, transparency and procedural fairness.

Interestingly enough, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari had earlier said that merely removing officials was not enough and that they should be sent outside the state.

Political observers believe that the commission’s decision to send Meena outside the state will only complicate the political atmosphere as it will give opportunity to the Opposition to say the commission was carrying out the directions from the BJP.

However, the developments have intensified tensions between the state administration and the Election Commission at the outset of the election process.

Tuesday was a busy day for the Trinamul Congress. Not only did the party announce their list of candidates for the Assembly elections, there were many new people joining the party, with a few of them also being given tickets. One of them was Babar Ali, recognised as the youngest headmaster in the world, a distinction highlighted by the BBC. Babar Ali’s journey is one of extraordinary determination. Through his initiative, Ananda Siksha Niketan, he has dedicated himself to educating and uplifting underprivileged children, said the party in its post.

“We are delighted to welcome Shri Babar Ali to the Trinamul Congress family. A recipient of several prestigious honours, including NDTV Indian of the Year and recognition in Forbes 30 Under 30 as a social entrepreneur, his work has earned admiration far beyond Bengal. His inspiring life story has found a place in state and NCERT textbooks, and his voice has reached global platforms through TEDx and programmes like Satyamev Jayate,” mentioned the X post of the TMC.

Md. Mufti Abdul Matin, fondly known as Matin Saheb, associated with 86 madrasas across North and South 24-Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, and Murshidabad, has long been committed to the cause of community and education, has joined the party. Joining alongside him is Shib Shankar Paul, a former first-class cricketer and a respected fast bowler who represented Bengal with distinction. Through the Shib Shankar Paul Cricket Academy across Kolkata, Tufanganj, and Cooch Behar, he continues to nurture young talent and contribute meaningfully to grassroots sports development.

The party also welcomed Dr Tanushree Hansda, Assistant Professor and head of the Bengali department at Heramba Chandra College, Kolkata. With over 15 years of teaching experience and active involvement in literary and social initiatives, including the All India Santali Writers’ Association and grassroots work across Bankura, Jhargram, and Purulia, she brings with her a rich blend of academic insight and social commitment.

All three joined the TMC in the presence of minister Chandrima Bhattacharya and MP Partha Bhowmick.

Also, Pabitra Kar, former BJP leader from Boyal-I Gram Panchayat under Nandigram-II Block in Purba Medinipur, joined the Trinamul today in the presence of national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

Dissatisfied with BJP’s anti-people stance, he has chosen to stand firmly beside Mamata Banerjee and work in the true spirit of Maa-Mati-Manush for the welfare of the people, said the TMC X post.

The Trinamul Congress (TMC) has fielded Siliguri Mayor Goutam Deb as its candidate for the Siliguri Assembly constituency, where he will face BJP nominee Dr Sankar Ghosh, the sitting MLA.

Party sources said the TMC will put in its full strength to regain the strategically important Siliguri seat, often described as the gateway to the northeast.

Mr Deb, a former minister in Mamata Banerjee’s Cabinet on two occasions, had earlier represented the Dabgram-Fulbari Assembly segment in Jalpaiguri district. He was defeated in 2021 by the BJP candidate and has since been working in Siliguri in preparation for contesting from this constituency.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also announced that the TMC has left three Hill seats to its ally, the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) led by Anit Thapa, under a seat-sharing agreement. The BGPM has already announced its candidates: sitting MLA Ruden Sada Lepcha from Kalimpong, senior Gorkha leader Amar Lama from Kurseong, and Bijoy Kumar Rai from Darjeeling.

In the Siliguri subdivision, the TMC has nominated Shankar Malakar ~ a former Congress leader who later joined the party ~ for the Matigara-Naxalbari Assembly segment. Malakar had earlier won this seat in 2011 and 2016. For the Dabgram-Fulbari constituency in Jalpaiguri district, the party has fielded Ranjan Seal Sharma, a veteran leader and councillor of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation.

The party has dropped four-time MLA Khageshwar Roy from the Rajganj Assembly segment and instead nominated noted athlete Swapna Barman. In Jalpaiguri district, sitting MLA Dr Nirmal Roy has been re-nominated from Dhupguri, while former minister Bulu Chik Baraik will contest from Malbazar.

In Cooch Behar district, North Bengal development minister Udayan Guha has been re-nominated from Dinhata, his sitting constituency. However, former minister Rabindranath Ghosh has been dropped. Party president Abhijit De Bhowmik and former MP Partha Pratim Roy have been nominated from Cooch Behar Uttar and Cooch Behar Dakshin respectively, while Shib Shankar Paul will contest from Tufanganj.

In Alipurduar district, Suman Kanjilal has been re-nominated from his seat along with other sitting MLAs in North Bengal.

In Malda district, the TMC has replaced a sitting MLA with former IPS officer Prasun Banerjee, who had earlier contested the Lok Sabha election from Malda Uttar. The party has also dropped former ministers Krishnendu Narayan Choudhury, fielding Asis Kundu from English Bazaar instead. Samar Mukherjee has been re-nominated from Ratua, while district president Abdul Rahim Boxi will contest from Malatipur. Party dropped another former Minister and sitting MLA Sabitri Mitra. But outgoing minister Sabina Yasmin has been asked to contest from Sujapur; she was earlier elected from Mothabari.

In North Dinajpur district, the party has re-nominated Hamidul Rahaman, Kanhailal Agarwal, Gulam Rabbani and Krishna Kalyani. In South Dinajpur, Arpita Ghosh will contest from Balurghat and Biplab Mitra from Harirampur, among other candidates.

If hype had a volume button, Ram Gopal Varma just smashed it to the maximum. The filmmaker has watched ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ before its release, and let’s just say, he didn’t hold back.

Taking to social media, RGV compared the film’s impact to classics like ‘Sholay’ and ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ but with a twist.

According to him, ‘Dhurandhar 2’ isn’t just on their level, it’s “100 times” bigger in terms of scale and effect. He claimed the film’s combined power of box office expectations, audience excitement, social influence, and audio-visual experience will make even the greatest films in history feel like “TV serials.”

After last nights watch of #Dhurandhar2 in terms of it’s sheer cumulative impact in every which way , whether on it’s expected collections , audience euphoria , social influences , cinematic grammar breaking , and above all the psychological audio visual impact , it will be a…

— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) March 18, 2026

“A new cinematic order has begun”

RGV didn’t stop at comparisons. He went a step further and declared that director Aditya Dhar has created the “birth of a new cinematic order.” In his words, everything that existed before this film could face “ruthless extinction.”

Also Read: Think ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ is long? Here are Hindi films that go way beyond

Yes, you read that right. According to RGV, this isn’t just a sequel. It’s a reset button for cinema itself. He even joked (or maybe not?) that the word “director” might soon start with Aditya Dhar’s name.

He said even legends like Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan should drop everything and watch ‘Dhurandhar 2’ on the first day, first show.

The film everyone’s waiting for

‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ is already one of the most anticipated films of the year. The sequel brings back Ranveer Singh as undercover Indian spy Jaskirat Singh Rangi. This time the story dives deeper into his transformation into Hamza Ali Mazari and his rise in Lyari, Karachi.

Alongside Ranveer, the film features powerful ensemble. Arjun Rampal plays Major Iqbal, while Sanjay Dutt appears as SP Chaudhary Aslam. R Madhavan takes on the role of Ajay Sanyal.

The cast also includes Sara Arjun, Danish Pandor, and Rakesh Bedi.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced a ₹500 increase in the monthly honorarium for registered Hindu priests (purohits) and Muslim prayer leaders (muezzins and imams) in the state, taking the total monthly allowance to ₹2,000.

The announcement was made on 15 March, shortly before the official declaration of the West Bengal Assembly election dates, and coincided with the release of dearness allowance (DA) arrears for state government employees.

The hike applies to registered priests and muezzins and imams who were already receiving a monthly allowance from the state government. In addition, the Chief Minister stated that all pending applications from priests and muezzins seeking inclusion in the financial support scheme have now been approved.

Pirzada Toha Siddique of Furfura Sharif, speaking to The Statesman, said: “We have long been expecting this enhancement of the honorarium for registered muezzins and imams. However, it is better late than never. This increase should not be misconstrued as appeasement of any particular community by the state government. As religious leaders, we have nothing to do with the political activities of any party, whether ruling or opposition. We therefore welcome the hike in an impartial manner.”

He added: “Political parties have their own way of functioning, and vote-bank politics may matter to them. However, for Furfura Sharif and religious leaders, our concern is overall development and special attention to deprived minority communities as a whole. We neither possess any affinity for nor disregard any political party. We stand for development, progress, communal harmony and a sense of brotherhood. At the same time, we can be very strict with anyone misusing religious sentiments for narrow political gains. We hold no ill feelings towards the ruling party; however, we are concerned about certain elements who have deviated from the party’s ideology of progress and development, and whose actions are harming society. People today are aware of their constitutional rights, and their informed decisions will uphold what is right and reject what is wrong.”

However, the timing of the announcement has been viewed by a section of observers as a pre-poll measure aimed at garnering support from religious functionaries, even as the state government emphasised its commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where all communities are respected.

The gossip mill is working overtime again. And this time, it’s all about the dreamy, timeless beauty of Madhubala. A biopic on the legendary star is officially in the pipeline, but if you believe every headline out there, the film is already cast, shot, and probably ready for release! Reality check? Not even close.

Let’s break down what’s actually happening behind the scenes of this much-talked-about project.

Bhansali’s dream project sparks frenzy

The moment it was revealed that Sanjay Leela Bhansali is producing film on Madhubala, excitement shot through the roof.

After all, Bhansali is known for turning stories into grand cinematic experiences. Naturally, fans and industry insiders began guessing who could step into the shoes of one of Indian cinema’s most iconic faces.

Soon, reports started flying in every direction. Some said Kiara Advani was locked, others claimed a new face was finalised. But here’s the twist: none of it was true.

Aneet Padda, Sai Pallavi, or no one yet?

The latest buzz suggested that Aneet Padda had bagged the role of Madhubala. Almost immediately after, another wave of reports claimed that Sai Pallavi was also being seriously considered for the film.

Fans began debating, comparing, and even fan-casting their favourites. But just when things started getting heated, someone from inside the team finally spoke up, and shut it all down.

Casting director calls out rumours

Casting director Mukesh Chhabra took to social media with a sarcastic post that quickly grabbed attention. Without naming anyone directly, he poked fun at the constant “finalised” casting news doing the rounds.

Oh wow, so Madhubala casting is already locked? Amazing. Meanwhile, I keep reading a new “final” name every day… so I guess I must be casting for the wrong Madhubala biopic—because we haven’t even started yet ❤️ #MadhubalaBiopic

— Mukesh Chhabra CSA (@CastingChhabra) March 18, 2026

In fact, his witty remark hinted that even he was surprised by how many “confirmed” names were being reported daily. Basically, while the internet is busy locking actors, the actual team hasn’t even begun auditions.

Bhansali wants a fresh face?

Despite the confusion, an industry insider shared an interesting detail. Reportedly, Bhansali is keen on casting a fresh face for the role. The idea is to find someone who can fully transform into Madhubala without carrying any strong existing screen image.

This is where Sai Pallavi’s name came up as one of the top considerations. Conversations did happen, but things didn’t move forward in her favour. As of now, no actor, established or newcomer, has been officially chosen.

The pressure of playing Madhubala

And honestly, can you blame them for taking their time?

Madhubala isn’t just another film character. She was a phenomenon. With career spanning over 70 films, most of them hits, she still remains one of the most loved stars in Indian cinema history.

Bringing her life to big screen is not just a film, it’s a responsibility.

So, next time you read that the “final” Madhubala has been found, take it with a pinch of salt.