RESULTS TABLE – Congress leads BJP in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, MP

Early election leads indicate a slight edge for the Congress in elections to five states, with the party leading in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.  Please refer to the table to see the updated results. STATE SEATS BJP CONG TRS/MSF MP 230 108 111 0 RJ 199 77 98 0 CG 90 21 63 0 […]

Modi govt schemes well-regarded in rural areas-Phillip Capital

Broking firm Phillip Capital said it saw “good execution” and “very positive feedback” on central government policies announced by Modi government over the last four years in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, and said a close fight — regardless of the outcome — would not have a significant impact on the stock markets. “We keep hearing […]

BJP suspends protests at Sabarimala as pilgrims stay away

The Kerala unit of the BJP has decided to suspend its ongoing protests and demonstrations at Sabarimala temple, even as these seem to have resulted in an unusual decline in the number of pilgrims who undertook the annual pilgrimage this year. As part of the decision, Yuva Morcha, the youth front of the BJP, canceled […]

Kerala minister sees Sangh ploy behind Trupti Desai’s visit

Kadakampally Surendran, the Kerala minister in charge of Devaswom affairs, called the move by Hindu groups to confine Trupti Desai to the Cochin Airport ‘barbaric’ and wondered if it was part of a conspiracy by the Sangh Parivar. He said Desai is close to both the BJP and the Congress in Maharashtra, and that it […]

Fadnavis confirms Marathas to get reservation on Dec 1

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has dropped a hint that the Maratha community will get reservation in jobs and education on December 1. Speaking at a rally today, Fadnavis said that people who are preparing for demonstrations to demand reservations for the community should instead prepare for celebrations on Dec 1. “Some say we will […]

Kerala Govt says status quo will be maintained, after SC agrees to re-examine Sabarimala order

Supreme Court of India of India has agreed to hear the Sabarimala age-restriction matter once again, prompting the Kerala law minister to say that the state government will maintain status quo at the site. It will take up the matter on January 22, after the current pilgrimage season, for detailed hearing. It is not yet […]

Leaked tape shows Kerala BJP chief taking credit for Sabarimala protests

Kerala BJP state president Sreedharan Pillai has been shown bragging in a leaked video that the recent agitation by Ayyappa devotees in the temple courtyard was set off by a BJP worker, and that he considers the issue the ‘golden opportunity’ that the party has been waiting for in Kerala. Speaking at a convention of […]

Hindus feel insulted by SC stand on Ram Temple hearing – RSS

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological mentor of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, today came out strongly against the Supreme Court’s decision four days ago not to conduct an expedited hearing into the Ram Temple-Babri Masjid issue. Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had resisted pressure from pro-temple activists on Tuesday to complete the hearing before general elections […]

ND Tiwari passes at 92

ND Tiwari, the veteran Congress leader from Uttar Pradesh, has passed away at age 92. He has been the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh thrice. He was also the chief minister of Uttarakhand. Tiwari has been surrounded by scandals, especially in his later years. He is also reported to have been party to the decision […]

Riot-like conditions at Sabarimala as devotees exchange stones with police

Riot-like conditions prevailed in Nilakkal and surrounding areas as thousands of Ayyappa devotees and Kerala Police engaged in pitched battle involving stone throwing and lathi charges. The situation worsened after the police moved early morning to dismantle the local pandals put up by devotees, who had used the camp to conduct vehicle checking yesterday. Women […]

Supreme Court agrees to hear plea on ‘liberating’ temples from Kerala govt

The Supreme Court today agreed to hear the petition filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy against continued control and oversight of temples by the state government of Kerala. Unlike in other places, the control of temples in Kerala — which used to rest with the kings before independence — was directly transferred to the newly […]