LIVE: Will defeat Mamata, lotus to bloom in Nandigram, says BJP's Suvendu

West Bengal election 2021 LIVE: There'll be only public and PM Modi, who is the biggest celebrity. We'll welcome those coming in public, including Mithun, says BJP. Stay tuned for Latest LIVE news

6:41 PM

Latest LIVE: BJP's Suvendu Adhikari to fight Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram seat

Suvendu Adhikari to contest West Bengal Assembly election from Nandigram seat, announces BJP General Secretary Arun Singh

6:35 PM

West Bengal Polls: BJP's Central Election Committee approves candidates for 57 seats

6:14 PM

Oppn questions probe into death of 'owner' of vehicle found near Ambani's house

A day after the purported owner of the vehicle with explosives parked near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's house was found dead, the opposition BJP said on Saturday that it appeared to be a murder and questioned the investigation by police.

 

Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut said the Sena-led Maharashtra government should not be put in the dock over the death of a prime witness, but finding out the truth was imporant for the coalition government's image.

 

Mansukh Hiren (46), who the police had said was the owner of the stolen Scorpio with gelatin sticks parked near Ambani's residence in south Mumbai on February 25, was found dead in a creek in neighbouring Thane on Friday morning.

5:51 PM

Senate works through night with virus aid on path to passage

The Senate worked through the night and past sunrise Saturday on Democrats' showpiece $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill after a deal between leaders and moderate Sen. Joe Manchin on emergency jobless benefits broke a logjam that had stalled the package.

 

The compromise, announced by Manchin, D-W.Va., and a Democratic aide late Friday and backed by President Joe Biden, cleared the way for the Senate to begin a marathon series of votes on amendments before eventual approval of the sweeping legislation.

 

The bill then would return to the House, which was expected to give it final congressional approval and send it to Biden to sign.

5:47 PM

Malaysia's AirAsia Group plans air taxi, drone delivery service

Malaysia's AirAsia Group Bhd plans to launch an air taxi service and the country's first drone delivery service as the budget carrier seeks to diversify amid the coronavirus pandemic, the company's CEO said on Saturday.

 

As part of the group's diversification push, it also aims to launch a ride-hailing service next month as COVID-19 continues to hit air travel.

 

"The air taxi will have a pilot and four seats. At the moment, we have our team working on this upcoming service by AirAsia," Chief Executive Tony Fernandes said at the Youth Economic Forum 2021, state news agency Bernama reported on Saturday.

5:37 PM

Latest LIVE: Dinesh Trivedi betrayed people of Bengal, says TMC

He is ungrateful and backstabbed the party; betrayed people of the state: TMC on Dinesh Trivedi joining BJP ahead of West Bengal Polls

5:32 PM

Assam polls: Sushmita Dev annoyed with seat allocation, Congress denies rumours of her resignation

Congress leader and former Member of Parliament Sushmita Dev has been left annoyed with the seat-sharing method employed in the party's alliance with All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) in Assam ahead of the assembly polls.

 

According to sources, Sushmita, who is the president of the All India Mahila Congress (AIMC), is upset with the seat allocation to AIUDF in Silchar, her own constituency and also about the selection of candidates in Silchar.

 

She has also expressed her objection regarding the consideration of an ex-MLA from one of the assembly seats. Sushmita also approached Congress state in-charge Bhawar Jitendra Singh over the issue, as per sources.

 

However, the process of candidate finalisation is still underway by the Central Election Committee for the first two phases of the assembly polls to be held from March 27 to April 6.

5:07 PM

Latest LIVE: Mamata Banerjee to protest against rising LPG cylinder prices

5:05 PM

Akhil Gogoi to contest Assam polls from Sibsagar

Jailed activist Akhil Gogoi will contest the upcoming elections in Assam from Sibsagar as a candidate of his newly-floated Raijor Dal.

 

Announcing the list of 17 candidates that the party fielded in the first two phases, Raijor Dal working president Bhasco De Saikia said that Gogoi, the party's president, will contest from the Sibsagar constituency in Upper Assam.

 

In the first phase, the party will contest in 12 seats but is yet to announce the candidate for one seat, and in the second phase, it has put up candidates in six constituencies.

5:05 PM

Myanmar writes to Mizoram govt, seeks handover of 8 cops who fled coup-hit country

Myanmar has requested the administration in Mizoram to send back eight policemen, who have apparently crossed over to the northeastern state to take refuge, following last month's military coup in the neighbouring country, an official here said.

 

Mizoram shares a 510-km-long porous border with Myanmar, where mass demonstrations are being held in protest against the declaration of a year-long emergency by the country's armed forces.

4:37 PM

Shibpur MLA Jatu Lahiri quits TMC after getting dropped from candidate list

Shibpur MLA Jatu Lahiri quits TMC after being dropped from its candidate list for West Bengal Polls, according to PTI

3:54 PM

Ahmedabad Test: India beat England in 4th Test by an innings and 25 runs to clinch series

3:38 PM

Bhopal MP Pragya Singh Thakur taken to Kokilaben hospital after breathing complaints

3:24 PM

IPL 2021 to start on April 9, final on May 30 subject to GC approval

The 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is likely to be played from April 9 to May 30 subject to the approval of the Governing Council (GC), according to ANI. In another development, while the date of the all-important GC meeting to decide on the venues for the 14th edition of the league is yet to be finalised, it is most likely to be held next week, ANI reported.

Speaking to ANI, a GC member on conditions of anonymity said while the final approval will be given in the GC meeting, the league is expected to start on April 9 and a call on the venues will be taken next week. "We haven't yet decided on the day of the GC to decide on the venues, but the meeting will take place next week. As per the proposal, the IPL will get underway from April 9 and the final will be played on May 30," the GC member said as per ANI.

 

3:16 PM

BJP nominates Pon Radhakrishnan as its candidate for Kanyakumari constituency

BJP nominates Pon Radhakrishnan as its candidate for bypoll to Kanyakumari Lok Sabha constituency in TamilNadu