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Kejriwal government to renew effort for inclusion of ‘Delhi’s Imperial Capital Cities’ in Unesco World Heritage City list

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9 years ago

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Kejriwal government to renew effort for inclusion of ‘Delhi’s Imperial Capital Cities’ in Unesco World Heritage City list

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Ahmedabad had recently become the first Indian city to get the UN body’s World Heritage tag stunning heritage activists, history buffs and the common people alike

Weeks after it lost out to Ahmedabad in its long struggle to get the Unesco World Heritage City tag, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government is now planning to renew its efforts to get the national capital bestowed with the honour. A revised dossier – Imperial Capital Cities – will once again be sent to the Union government with the request of pushing for the Heritage City tag for Delhi’s walled city of Shahjahanabad and the Lutyen’s zone.

Atishi Marlena, adviser to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia who also holds the portfolio of tourism, confirmed that the “Delhi government will write to the Union tourism minister (Mahesh Sharma), urging him that the Centre must push for Delhi’s nomination for a World Heritage City tag by the Unesco.”

“We will apply to get the prestigious tag for the Imperial Capital Cities of Shahjahanabad and Lutyen’s Delhi. There are 218 designated heritage sites in Delhi and the city-state has an important role in the history and heritage of India,” she added, while alleging that Delhi’s proposal for nomination to the list was withdrawn by the Narendra Modi-led Union government in 2015 because of their “political agenda”.

Delhi’s dossier for the heritage city status, which was prepared by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) in 2008 had been submitted to UNESCO in 2014, but in 2015, apparently just days before the UNESCO was about to make its final announcement, the Centre withdrew the proposal and submitted a fresh bid for Ahmedabad’s Walled City.

Union minister for tourism and culture, Mahesh Sharma, had then said that that the reason to withdraw Delhi’s nomination was that the tag of a Unesco World Heritage City would bring with it certain restrictions on urbanisation and development in order to conserve heritage structures in the national capital.

Thereafter, last month Ahmedabad became the first World Heritage City from India after the Unesco World Heritage Committee accepted it as India’s official entry at a meeting in Poland. Citing Ahmedabad’s architecture and syncretic traditions evidenced in the co-existence of Jain, Hindu and Muslim communities, 20 nations had supported the city’s entry to the select list.

“We have no problem with Ahmedabad being given the tag ahead of Delhi but withdrawal of Delhi’s nomination due to the Centre’s political agenda was not fair,” Marlena said.

Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party government and a large section of heritage enthusiasts in the national capital believe that the Union government moved the proposal for granting Ahmedabad the heritage city tag instead of Delhi because it is the largest and politically most significant city in Gujarat – Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state – and the BJP could capitalise on the honour for political gains during the Assembly polls due in the western state towards the end of this year.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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West Bengal Governor dissolves Assembly amid political transition 

Governor R N Ravi dissolved the West Bengal Assembly after the 2026 poll results, with the BJP securing a majority in the state elections.

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3 hours ago

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May 7, 2026

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The West Bengal Legislative Assembly was dissolved following the conclusion of the 2026 Assembly elections, in which the Bharatiya Janata Party secured a clear majority in the state.

Governor R N Ravi issued the order dissolving the Assembly as the state prepared for the transition of power after the election results. According to reports, the BJP won 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly, while the Trinamool Congress secured 80 seats.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee questioned the election outcome and alleged irregularities in the poll process, claiming the mandate had been “looted”.

The dissolution came as the tenure of the existing Assembly ended on May 7, 2026. The development has sparked political discussions over the formation of the next government in the state.

Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee held a meeting with newly elected Trinamool Congress MLAs in Kolkata and reportedly raised concerns over internal sabotage during the elections.

The BJP is expected to begin the formal process of government formation in West Bengal after its decisive victory in the Assembly polls.

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Eknath Shinde’s helicopter returns to Mumbai mid-flight due to bad weather

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s helicopter was forced to return to Mumbai after the pilot detected approaching storm conditions during a flight to Thane district.

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4 hours ago

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May 7, 2026

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Eknath_shinde (1)

A helicopter carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was forced to return to Mumbai on Thursday after encountering adverse weather conditions during a flight to Thane district.

According to officials, Shinde had departed from Mahalaxmi Racecourse in south Mumbai around 3.30 pm and was travelling to Murbad in Thane district to attend a wedding function related to a party worker’s family.

The helicopter reportedly reached the Airoli area in Navi Mumbai when the pilot noticed an approaching storm and informed the deputy chief minister about the deteriorating weather conditions. Following the alert, the flight was turned back as a precautionary measure.

The helicopter later landed safely at the Pawan Hans facility in Juhu, Mumbai. Officials said Shinde was accompanied by members of his staff, including personal assistant Prabhakar Kale, special executive officer Balsingh Rajput and media adviser Vinay Patrdukar.

The incident comes amid changing weather conditions and storm activity reported in parts of Maharashtra in recent days.

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Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant among 32 inducted in Bihar cabinet expansion

Nishant Kumar entered the Bihar cabinet for the first time as 32 ministers from NDA allies took oath in a major expansion of the state government.

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7 hours ago

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May 7, 2026

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Bihar government cabinet

A major cabinet expansion took place in Bihar on Thursday, with 32 leaders from the ruling NDA alliance inducted into the state government. Among the prominent names was Nishant Kumar, son of former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who entered the cabinet for the first time.

The expansion included representatives from all major NDA allies in the state. According to reports, the BJP secured 15 ministerial berths, while JD(U) got 13 positions. Two ministers were inducted from Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), while Hindustani Awam Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Morcha received one berth each.

The oath-taking ceremony was held in Patna in the presence of senior NDA leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Nishant Kumar’s induction comes weeks after he formally entered active politics. His entry into the Bihar cabinet is being viewed as a significant development for JD(U), which had long projected an anti-dynasty image under Nitish Kumar’s leadership.

The cabinet reshuffle follows Nitish Kumar’s move to the Rajya Sabha earlier this year and the formation of the government led by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.

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