In a game of “This or That” shared by Royal Challengers Bengaluru on social media, Virat Kohli picked his former teammate Chris Gayle ahead of Rohit Sharma as the best opener in T20 cricket.

During the challenge, Kohli was given two players at a time and asked to choose one. The comparisons began with Adam Gilchrist and Sunil Narine, with Kohli opting for the former.

When Gilchrist was compared with Travis Head, Kohli chose the Australian opener, considering performances specifically in the T20 format. However, when Head was placed against Virender Sehwag, Kohli switched his pick to the former India opener.

Kohli continued backing Sehwag even when the comparisons included legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar. The final choice eventually came down to Rohit Sharma and Chris Gayle. After pausing briefly, Kohli picked Gayle as the best opener in the shortest format of the game.

Best T20 opener according to Virat Kohli?

Watch This or That ft. Virat, on Emmvee presents RCB Shorts. #PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB pic.twitter.com/JlEGDcwcYm

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) March 15, 2026

Gayle remains one of the most dominant batters in T20 history. The former West Indies cricket team opener holds the record for the most runs in T20 cricket, scoring 14,562 runs in 455 innings across formats. He also enjoyed a prolific career in the Indian Premier League, scoring 4,965 runs in 142 matches.

The Caribbean star also holds the record for the highest individual score in IPL history — an unbeaten 175 for RCB against Pune Warriors India in 2013.

Rohit Sharma, meanwhile, has scored 4,231 runs in 159 T20Is and 7,046 runs in 272 IPL matches, making him one of the most successful batters in the format.

Kohli will next be seen in action for RCB when the defending champions begin their campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening match of IPL 2026 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28.

The main Opposition Congress party on Sunday alleged that the BJP
government of Uttarakhand thwarted the democratic values and
traditional norms of the parliamentary procedure in the four-day
budget session 2026-27 concluded on March 13 at Bhararisain in
Gairsain.

The party alleged in its post-budget session media briefing in
Dehradun that the Pushkar Singh Dhami government did not follow the
tradition of presenting budget in the house and threw the democratic
values in the bay this budget session held at Bhararisain in Gairsain
from March 9 to March 13. Leader of the Opposition in the state
assembly Yashpal said, “Presenting the budget on the same day as the
Governor’s address to the house was contrary to established
parliamentary traditions across the country.”

Arya alleged during the recently-concluded budget session of the state
assembly at Gairsain, the government thwarted all democratic norms in
running the house. “Apart from tabling the budget on the same day as
the Governor’s address, the Dhami government did not even bother to
ensure the presence of ruling party MLAs in the house. There was
extremely low attendance of ministers and BJP MLAs during the budget
discussion. There was a clear lack of accountability on the part of
the government towards the people of Uttarakhand. It appeared as if
the Gairsain assembly session was mere a formality,” said Arya.

He further accused the government of avoiding discussions in the house
on critical issues, such as unemployment, inflation, and migration.
The Congress legislator alleged “the Dhami government was focused
solely on pushing their own agenda in the Bharadisain assembly
session.” “Grant’s-in-Aid and the budget were passed with the least
strength of the treasury benches in the house. Government’s conduct in
the house was nothing but a show of arrogance owing to its numbers in
the house. There was complete disregard to the democratic values in
the house” said Senior Congress MLA and former PCC president Pritam
Singh.

Arya, on the other hand, leveled a serious charge that the government
“is preparing to dole out valuable government lands owned mainly by
the state Irrigation Department at Vikasnagar, Mussoorie and Yamuna
Colony into private hands.” The Opposition MLAs claimed that as the
Dhami government patted its back for presenting ₹1.11-lakh crore
budget for financial years 2026-27, state’s debt burden has escalated
to around ₹1.08 lakh crore.

Amidst the ongoing Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) crisis in the country arising from the conflict in West Asia, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav on Sunday accused Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of indulging in “irresponsible politics” over the issue.

The MP CM made the remark while addressing a tribal conference in the tribal-dominated Nepanagar area of Burhanpur district.

Dr Yadav noted that despite the fact that oil installations were getting destroyed in the fierce war in West Asia, the Congress was indulging in baseless politics over the cooking gas issue at such a difficult time.

The Chief Minister reiterated that there was no shortage of domestic or commercial cooking gas in either MP or across India.

“Only the Congress leaders are staging protests over the cooking gas issue,” he added.

Dr Yadav said that India depends on other countries for oil and gas.

“Yet, Rahul Gandhi is indulging in irresponsible politics over the issue. He keeps making a mockery of democracy,” Dr Yadav said.

“Whenever challenges arise in India, he is himself abroad and later says he does not get time to speak in the Lok Sabha,” the MP CM quipped.

During the tribal conference, the Chief Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for development works worth Rs 363 crore in Burhanpur district.

He also announced the restoration of the Asirgarh Fort in collaboration with the Archaeological Department and the development of tourism facilities at the site.

Investigators probing the February air ambulance crash in Jharkhand’s
Chatra district received a fresh lead on Sunday after a part of the
aircraft’s engine was discovered in a forest area nearly three weeks
after the accident.

Villagers collecting mahua flowers in the Kasiyatu–Karmatand forest
under Simaria police station spotted the metallic aircraft component
and alerted the local authorities.

Police teams rushed to the site and recovered the engine part, which
was found around one kilometre away from the main crash site.

The air ambulance had crashed in the same forested region on 23
February, killing seven people, including the pilot.

Officials said while the main wreckage was recovered soon after the
crash, some aircraft components had remained untraceable in the dense
forest terrain.

Simaria police station officer-in-charge Surya Pratap Singh said the
recovered engine component has been secured and investigators have
been informed. “The engine part has been taken into custody and will
be examined by the investigation team,” he said, adding that the
recovery could help determine the cause of the crash.

Authorities believe that examination of the engine component may
provide important clues about whether a technical failure contributed
to the accident.

Teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli claimed his maiden Formula One victory with an impressive performance at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, finishing ahead of teammate George Russell while Lewis Hamilton celebrated his first podium for Scuderia Ferrari in Shanghai.

The 19-year-old Italian, who became the youngest pole sitter in Formula One history during qualifying, briefly lost the lead at the start when Hamilton surged ahead from third on the grid. Antonelli, however, quickly regained control before the end of the second lap and never looked back.

Driving confidently throughout the race, Antonelli maintained a steady gap to the chasing pack. He had a brief scare with four laps remaining after running deep at the Turn 14 hairpin but recovered quickly and crossed the finish line 5.5 seconds ahead of Russell. The victory made him the second-youngest race winner in the history of Formula One.

Russell secured second place after recovering from a difficult phase following a safety car restart. The Mercedes driver initially dropped behind the Ferraris but fought back through the field to secure crucial points, allowing him to maintain the lead in the Drivers’ Championship.

Hamilton completed the podium in third, marking his first Grand Prix podium since joining Ferrari. The seven-time world champion was involved in an intense battle with teammate Charles Leclerc, with the pair exchanging positions multiple times before Hamilton eventually pulled clear. Leclerc finished fourth.

Ollie Bearman delivered an impressive drive to finish fifth for Haas F1 Team. He took avoiding action on the opening lap after Isack Hadjar spun at Turn 13. Pierre Gasly finished sixth for Alpine F1 Team, followed by Liam Lawson and Hadjar.

Carlos Sainz Jr. finished ninth, earning Williams Racing’s first points of the season, while Franco Colapinto secured 10th place for Alpine.

The race also saw its share of drama. A safety car was deployed after Lance Stroll stopped his Aston Martin F1 team car on track, while reigning champion Max Verstappen retired with a technical issue while running sixth for Red Bull Racing.

It was a disappointing day for McLaren, as both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri failed to start due to separate electrical problems. Meanwhile, Gabriel Bortoleto and Alexander Albon were also unable to take the start because of car issues.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday announced the
schedule for Assembly elections in four states — West Bengal, Tamil
Nadu, Assam, and Kerala — and the Union Territory of Puducherry,
assuring “inducement-free and violence-free” polls while stressing the
importance of “pure electoral rolls”. Describing them as the bedrock
of any democracy, Kumar said the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of
electoral rolls conducted under Article 326 of the Constitution
ensures that no eligible voter is excluded and no ineligible person is
included.

“The Election Commission of India is constitutionally bound by Article
326 to include electors above 18 years of age who are citizens of
India and ordinarily resident in the concerned assembly constituency.
The Commission undertakes this responsibility through the Special
Intensive Revision. With regard to political statements made by
leaders or parties, the Commission does not wish to engage in such
dialogues,” he said, addressing the media.

West Bengal will go to the polls in two phases, on April 23 and April
29. The other states and the Union Territory will have single-phase
elections. Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry will vote on April 9, and
Tamil Nadu on April 23. Kumar said the counting of votes for all 824
seats across four states and one Union Territory will be on May 4. As
many as 17.4 crore voters are eligible to participate to elect 824
MLAs at 2.19 lakh polling stations in these four states and one UT.

Kumar said clear directions had been issued to enforcement agencies to
ensure that the elections are conducted in a free, fair and peaceful
manner. District collectors and superintendents of police have been
instructed to act with complete impartiality and strictly enforce the
rule of law. Election observers will visit the poll-bound states, and
their details will be made public. Authorities have also been directed
to monitor social media closely to curb the spread of fake news and
take necessary action where required.

Regarding the decision to conduct the West Bengal election in just two
phases — down from eight phases in 2021 — Kumar said the Commission
held detailed deliberations before finalising the schedule. “In our
considered opinion, it was necessary to reduce the number of phases to
a level that is administratively feasible and convenient for voters
and officials,” he said.

On the issue of police officers allegedly involved in violence during
previous elections, the CEC said the Commission had sought details and
would take action in accordance with the law.

Regarding the supplementary electoral list, Kumar said that, in
accordance with Supreme Court directions, judicial officers working
under the supervision of the Calcutta High Court would prepare the
list. Names included in the supplementary list would be added to the
existing electoral rolls as and when they are finalised.

While for the BJP, the contests are an opportunity to consolidate
power in Assam and expand further beyond the Hindi heartland, for
opposition parties, these elections are a do-or-die.

For the INDIA bloc, the stakes are the highest given that two key
players — the TMC and the DMK — are in power in West Bengal and Tamil
Nadu, respectively. The states have sent a significant number of MPs
to the Lok Sabha and the results can influence the future trajectory
of the Opposition alliance. The elections will be specifically watched
for the three opposition chief ministers — Mamata Banerjee in West
Bengal, M K Stalin in Tamil Nadu and Pinarayi Vijyan in Kerala. In
Tamil Nadu, it is also an important contest for Edappadi K
Palaniswami-led AIADMK which is in alliance with the BJP.

As regards policy decisions announced by state governments just before
the Model Code of Conduct came into effect, Kumar said in a democratic
system, governments are free to take policy decisions in their wisdom,
however, once the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is in force, any
decision that could influence the electoral outcome or serve as
inducement to voters is prohibited. “The Election Commission will not
tolerate political violence or inducements to influence voters and
will take the strictest action against those responsible,” he said.

By-elections in Goa, Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra will also be
held alongside.

‎The Election Commission of India on Sunday announced the schedule for Assembly elections in five regions, with West Bengal set to vote in two phases on April 23 and April 29, while Assam, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry will go to the polls on April 9, and Tamil Nadu on April 23. Counting of votes for all four states and Puducherry will take place on May 4.

‎Announcing the schedule at a press conference in New Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said the Commission had completed extensive consultations with state governments, administrative authorities and security agencies before finalising the poll calendar. “We are fully prepared to conduct free, fair and peaceful elections across these states and the Union Territory. All necessary arrangements have been made in consultation with state authorities and security agencies,” Kumar said.

‎Among the states going to the polls, West Bengal — with 294 Assembly seats — will vote in two phases. Polling for 152 constituencies will take place in the first phase on April 23, while the remaining 142 constituencies will vote in the second phase on April 29. The notification for the first phase will be issued on March 30, and the last date for filing nominations will be April 6. Scrutiny of nominations will be conducted on April 7, and candidates will be able to withdraw their candidature until April 9.

‎For the second phase in West Bengal, the notification will be issued on April 2, with April 9 as the last date for filing nominations. Scrutiny will take place on April 10, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature will be April 13.

‎Polling in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry will be held in a single phase on April 9. In all three regions, the election process will begin with the issuance of notification on March 16. The last date for filing nominations will be March 23, scrutiny will be conducted on March 24, and the deadline for withdrawal of candidature will be March 26.

‎Tamil Nadu will vote on April 23. The notification for the election will be issued on March 30, while the last date for filing nominations will be April 6. Scrutiny will take place on April 7, and candidates will be able to withdraw their nominations until April 9.

‎Kumar said the Model Code of Conduct came into force immediately in all the poll-bound states and the Union Territory following the announcement of the election schedule. “The Model Code of Conduct is effective from this moment. We expect all political parties and candidates to adhere strictly to the guidelines to maintain the integrity of the democratic process,” he said.

‎The Chief Election Commissioner said elaborate arrangements had been made to ensure peaceful polling, including the deployment of central armed police forces and enhanced monitoring of campaign expenditure. “Security arrangements have been carefully planned. Adequate deployment of central forces will be ensured wherever necessary to maintain law and order,” Kumar said.

‎He added that the Commission would focus on increasing voter participation, particularly among young voters and women. “Our focus is on ensuring maximum voter participation while maintaining the highest standards of electoral integrity,” he said, adding that technology-driven monitoring systems and voter facilitation measures would be widely used during the election process.

‎The Assembly elections are being closely watched as a significant political contest across several regions. In West Bengal, one of the key battlegrounds, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be seeking another term for the All India Trinamool Congress government while facing a determined challenge from the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has expanded its organisational presence in the state in recent years.

‎Political observers expect a high-intensity campaign in the state, with both parties likely to deploy senior leaders and conduct extensive outreach across constituencies. The BJP has been working to consolidate its support after emerging as the principal opposition force in the previous Assembly election, while the Trinamool Congress is aiming to retain its dominance.

‎In Assam, the BJP will attempt to retain power in the northeastern state where it first formed a government in 2016. In Kerala, the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front is expected to face a challenge from the Congress-led United Democratic Front, continuing the state’s long-standing bipolar contest.

‎Tamil Nadu’s election is expected to revolve around regional parties and their alliances, which traditionally dominate the state’s political landscape. Puducherry will also witness a competitive contest among regional and national parties for control of the Union Territory’s legislative assembly.

‎With the schedule now announced, political parties are expected to intensify campaign activities across the five regions, setting the stage for weeks of vigorous political mobilisation ahead of the April polling dates.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has vowed to “pursue and kill” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him a “child-killing criminal”.

In a statement, the IRGC’s public relations department said, “The unknown fate of the Zionist criminal prime minister and the possibility of his death or his escape, along with his family, from the occupied territories reveal a crisis and the faltering situation of the Zionists.”

The IRGC declared, “If the child killer is still alive, we will strongly keep chasing and killing him.”

The remarks came after Netanyahu issued an indirect threat to Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. Mujtaba is the son of former Iranian Supreme Leader, late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the US-Israeli strikes on February 28.

“I wouldn’t issue life insurance policies on any of the leaders of the terrorist organization,” Netanyahu said when asked if Israel would target the new Iranian leader.

He further added, “I don’t intend ​to provide an exact report here about what we are planning or what we are going ​to do.”

Earlier today, Israel’s Foreign Ministry shared a video showing a stark message aimed at Iran’s new leadership: “Khamenei 2.0: New generation, same terror regime, still evil.”

The message, displayed on a massive LED screen in Times Square in New York, was highlighted in a social media post by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which said the display was intended to underline that Iran’s leadership transition does not signal a change in the regime’s nature.

“In Times Square, the message is clear: The face may slightly change, the Iranian terror regime does not,” the ministry wrote in its post accompanying the video.

The Centre on Sunday announced that it has taken several steps to
ensure stable availability of petroleum products and LPG across the
country in the wake of the West Asia crisis and advised citizens not
to panic.

‘’The government remains committed to maintaining adequate LPG
availability for households and essential sectors,’’ said an official
press note released on behalf of the Inter-ministerial committee
dealing with the situation arising from the conflict in West Asia. It
said necessary arrangements are in place to maintain regular supply
and distribution.

The government said all refineries are operating at high capacity and
maintaining adequate crude oil inventories. ‘’Our country remains
self-sufficient in the production of petrol and diesel and no imports
of petrol and diesel are required to meet domestic demand,’’ it added.

The press note said no cases of fuel dry-outs have been reported at
retail outlets by Oil Marketing Companies, and supplies of petrol and
diesel continue to be maintained regularly. ‘’Citizens are advised not
to resort to panic buying as adequate stocks of petrol and diesel are
available across the country,’’ it added.

Regarding natural gas, the Centre said priority sectors continue to
receive protected gas supplies, including 100% supply to PNG and CNG,
while supplies to industrial and commercial consumers are being
regulated at about 80%.

Commercial LPG consumers in major cities and urban areas are being
encouraged to opt for PNG connections and may apply through email,
letter or the customer portal of City Gas Distribution (CGD)
companies.

The government said LPG supply continues to be monitored in view of
the prevailing geopolitical situation. LPG bookings have shown a
decline, with about 77 lakh bookings recorded yesterday compared to
88.8 lakh bookings on 13 March. Online LPG cylinder bookings have
increased from 84% to about 87%.

It said several States and UTs including Bihar, Delhi, Haryana and
Rajasthan have issued orders for allocation of non-domestic LPG in
line with Government guidelines. Commercial LPG cylinders have been
placed at the disposal of state governments for priority distribution
and are now available to consumers in 30 States and UTs.

The government said state governments and UTs continue to play an
important role in monitoring the supply of essential commodities
including petrol, diesel and LPG.

It said state governments are undertaking enforcement measures to
prevent hoarding and black marketing of petrol, diesel and LPG.

The government said it continues to prioritise the interests of
domestic consumers and ensure uninterrupted LPG supply, particularly
for households and priority sectors such as hospitals and educational
institutions. Domestic LPG production from refineries has been
maximised and several supply and demand-side measures have been
implemented.

It said appropriate measures are in place to ensure the safety of
Indian vessels and seafarers operating in the region. Coordination
with shipping authorities and industry stakeholders is being
maintained to support smooth maritime operations. All Indian seafarers
in the region are safe and no shipping incident involving Indian
seafarers has been reported in the past 24 hours.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday announced the complete schedule for high-stakes Assembly elections 2026 in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal, and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

According to the schedule announced by the ECI, Kerala or Keralam, a Left-ruled South Indian state, will go to the polls on April 9 along with Puducherry and Assam. The counting of votes will take place on May 4, and the results are also likely to be announced the same day.

The gazette notification will be issued on March 16, with the last date for filing nominations on March 23, scrutiny on March 24, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature on March 26. The entire election process shall be completed before May 6.

The current term of the 140-member strong Kerala Legislative Assembly is set to end on May 23.

Puducherry Assembly Elections 2026 complete poll schedule

The Assembly Elections in the Union Territory of Puducherry will be held on April 9, and the results are likely to be announced on May 4, the day of the counting. The date of notification and the last date of filing are the same as the Kerala elections.

According to the ECI, some 17.4 crore voters will be eligible to cast their votes at 2.19 lakh polling stations across West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry.

More than 25 lakh election officials will be on duty to ensure free and fair elections across the four states and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

A day before voting for the Rajya Sabha elections, political activity
in Bihar has reached a fever pitch. Meetings after meetings are being
held within the NDA. On the other hand, the Mahagathbandhan (Grand
Alliance) is also making every possible effort to ensure victory in
the election.

In the poll, the NDA fielded five candidates. These include Chief
Minister Nitish Kumar, BJP national president Nitin Naveen, RLM chief
Upendra Kushwaha, Union minister Ramnath Thakur, and BJP leader
Shivesh Ram. The RJD, meanwhile, has fielded Amarendra Dhari Singh as
its candidate.

With six candidates contesting for five seats, the election has become
highly interesting to watch.

In terms of numbers, the NDA claims to be in a strong position.
However, behind-the-scenes bargaining and a series of meetings have
triggered considerable anxiety in political circles.

RJD candidate Amarendra Dhari Singh requires six votes to win. The
Mahagathbandhan currently has 35 MLAs. To secure victory, it needs the
support of five AIMIM MLAs and one BSP MLA.

On the other hand, despite falling short of three MLAs needed to
secure the fifth seat, NDA leaders maintain that the alliance has the
numbers and that all its candidates will win comfortably.

Meanwhile, JD(U) MLA Ratnesh Sada has intensified the political buzz
by stating that BJP leader Shivesh Ram is the fifth candidate from the
NDA, Upendra Kushwaha.

Following this statement, questions have once again arisen over why
there is so much confusion within the NDA regarding the fifth
candidate and how the discussion shifted from Upendra Kushwaha to
Shivesh Ram.

Political observers had earlier believed that the NDA might project
Upendra Kushwaha as the fifth candidate. It was speculated that
Kushwaha might use his proximity to the AIMIM to secure the support of
its five MLAs.

However, Ratnesh Sada’s statement suggests that the political
equations may have changed.

The notable aspect of the current developments is that Asaduddin
Owaisi’s party, AIMIM, appears to be at the centre of the political
churn.

Political circles are abuzz with AIMIM state president Akhtarul Iman’s
reported demand for a share in the Legislative Council in exchange for
the party’s support to the RJD.

The challenge for Tejashwi is that if he yields, AIMIM’s influence
could grow in Bihar. If he does not, defeat in the Rajya Sabha
election could become inevitable.

Political analysts believe that the unfolding developments could serve
as a warning sign for Tejashwi Yadav’s RJD.

The combined market valuation of the top 10 domestic firms eroded sharply by Rs 4.48 lakh crore last week. Major banks, including the State Bank of India and HDFC Bank, took the biggest hit.

The market valuation of the State Bank of India tumbled Rs 89,306.22 crore to Rs 9,66,261.05 crore, while HDFC Bank faced an erosion of Rs 61,715.32 crore to Rs 12,57,391.76 crore.

The valuation of Bajaj Finance dived Rs 59,082.49 crore to Rs 5,32,053.54 crore while the market capitalisation of ICICI Bank dropped by Rs 42,205.04 crore to Rs 8,97,844.78 crore.

The mcap of LIC diminished by Rs 31,245.49 crore to Rs 4,88,985.57 crore.

The valuation of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) tanked Rs 53,312.52 crore to Rs 8,72,067.63 crore, and that of Infosys declined by Rs 24,230.96 crore to Rs 5,06,315.58 crore.

Hindustan Unilever’s mcap dipped by Rs 15,401.57 crore to Rs 5,07,640.94 crore, while Reliance Industries saw its valuation fall by Rs 33,289.88 crore to Rs 18,68,293.17 crore.

In a rank-wise analysis, Reliance Industries remained the most valued domestic firm, followed by HDFC Bank, Bharti Airtel, State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, TCS, Bajaj Finance, Hindustan Unilever, Infosys and LIC.

On Friday, the bears were leading as the Nifty was dragged below 23,150 intraday amid broad-based selling.

At close, the Sensex was down 1,470.50 points or 1.93% at 74,563.92, and the Nifty was down 488.05 points or 2.06% at 23,151.10. During the week, both indices declined over 5%, recording their biggest weekly fall in more than a year.

The Elections Commission of India on Sunday announced the dates for the high-stakes Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. The South Indian state will vote in a single phase on April 23, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4. The results are also likely to be announced on the same day. The South Indian state has 234 seats.

Below is the complete schedule of Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026

According to the Election Commission of India, the gazette notification for the first phase will be issued on March 30, with the last date for filing nominations on April 6, scrutiny on April 7, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature on April 9.

The counting of votes will take place on May 4 with three other states – Assam, West Bengal, and Kerala – and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar said that 17.4 crore voters will be eligible to cast their votes at 2.19 lakh polling stations across West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry.

More than 25 lakh election officials will be on duty to ensure free and fair elections across the four states and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

A major robbery has been reported at the Kavadiyar Palace in Thiruvananthapuram, the official residence of the Travancore royal family, with gold worth Rs 2 crore reportedly stolen.

The theft was reported by Aswathi Thirunal Gowri Lakshmibai, a senior member of the palace, who filed a complaint at the Peroorkada police station.

According to the complaint, around 12 pieces of antique jewellery that had been traditionally handed down in the royal family are missing. The stolen items include gold chains, rings, bangles and anklets, some studded with diamonds and other precious stones. Among the missing ornaments is also a locket engraved with the image of Padmanabha Swamy.

The robbery is believed to have occurred between October and November 2025. The loss was discovered when a family member opened a cupboard before a trip to Bengaluru. A subsequent search of the palace did not locate the jewellery.

The palace explained that the loss was known in November, but the complaint was delayed as it was initially hoped that the items would be found inside the palace. The complaint was filed with the police after the search proved futile.

The Kerala Police have registered a case under Section 305 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for theft and initiated an investigation. A special team is reviewing CCTV footage and questioning palace employees as part of the probe.

A heavily armed Pakistani terrorist was killed on Sunday in a gunfight with troops of the Kashmir-based Chinar Corps of the Indian Army, who foiled an infiltration bid in the Uri sector.

The Chinar Corps said, “Based on a specific intelligence input provided by the J&K Police regarding an infiltration attempt, a joint operation was launched on the intervening night of 14-15 March in the Buchhar area of the Uri sector.”

“Alert troops spotted suspicious movement of a terrorist in the thicket. The ambush was readjusted, and the terrorist was challenged, resulting in the terrorist opening indiscriminate fire. In the contact, a Pakistani terrorist was eliminated. Warlike stores, including an AK rifle, pistols and large quantities of ammunition, have been recovered,” the Chinar Corps said.

The operation was continuing.

With election dates announced on Sunday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is heading into one of its toughest rounds of Assembly elections, facing entrenched regional players in three Opposition-ruled states and one state governed by an ally. Entering the contests from varied political positions, the party hopes to consolidate power in Assam and Puducherry while mounting strong challenges against the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala.

The saffron party is expected to release its much-anticipated list of candidates this week. Sources indicate that nominees for Kerala and parts of West Bengal have already been finalised, while candidates for Assam, Tamil Nadu and the remaining constituencies in West Bengal will be decided during meetings scheduled in the coming days.

The final lists, cleared by the party’s top decision-making body for the four states and the Union Territory of Puducherry, are likely to be announced soon.

“The central leadership has been holding consultations and internal discussions as part of its preparations, with a focus on prioritising proven performers and dedicated workers over newcomers, particularly in West Bengal,” sources said, pointing to the intense regional contests ahead.

Kerala is viewed by the BJP as its “final frontier”. The southern state has long witnessed a bipolar political contest between the LDF and the United Democratic Front (UDF), a dynamic the BJP hopes to alter. In 2021, the LDF retained power with an increased seat tally, marking one of the rare instances of an alliance securing consecutive terms in the state. Banking on issues such as the Sabarimala row, development concerns and anti-incumbency against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the BJP is focusing on strengthening its presence in urban pockets. Recent gains in local body elections have also boosted the party’s morale.

In West Bengal, the BJP secured 77 seats in the 2021 Assembly elections but has since struggled to maintain momentum amid the continued dominance of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the TMC. The party is looking to leverage Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s connect with voters, infrastructure development initiatives and issues such as alleged corruption and illegal migration. However, it faces a formidable organisational challenge from the TMC at the grassroots level.

Meanwhile, in Tamil Nadu, the BJP is aiming to secure a stronger foothold in a state dominated by Dravidian politics, where it failed to win any seats in 2021. It is seeking to take on the ruling DMK-Congress alliance through its partnership with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), while highlighting Hindutva themes and anti-corruption campaigns.

The BJP may find relatively stronger ground in Assam, where it has been in power under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The party has focused on governance, infrastructure expansion and a firm campaign against illegal infiltration from neighbouring countries. Identifying and deporting undocumented immigrants, along with safeguarding indigenous identity, remains a key political plank for the party in the state.