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AAP dominates Punjab zila parishad polls, leads in most panchayat samiti zones

AAP has won 201 out of 317 declared zila parishad zones in Punjab so far and is leading in a majority of panchayat samiti seats, with counting still underway.

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Punjab Zila Parishad Polls

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has recorded a strong performance in the Punjab zila parishad elections and is leading in the majority of panchayat samiti zones, as per results declared so far on Thursday. The counting process is still underway and complete results are awaited, officials said.

Polling for the rural local bodies was held on December 14 to elect representatives across 347 zones of 22 zila parishads and 2,838 zones of 153 panchayat samitis in the state.

AAP secures clear edge in zila parishads

According to the available results, outcomes have been declared for 317 zila parishad zones so far. Of these, the AAP has won 201 zones, placing it well ahead of other parties.

The Congress emerged second with victories in 60 zones, followed by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) with 39 zones. The BJP won four zones, the BSP secured three, while independents claimed 10 zones.

District-wise data shows that the AAP won 22 zones in Hoshiarpur, 19 each in Amritsar and Patiala, 17 each in Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur, and 15 zones in Sangrur. The Congress registered its best performances in Gurdaspur and Ludhiana with eight zones each, followed by Jalandhar with seven zones. The SAD performed strongly in Bathinda with 13 zones, while the BJP managed to win four zones in Pathankot.

AAP leads in panchayat samiti results

In the panchayat samiti elections, trends declared so far indicate that the AAP is leading in a majority of zones. However, officials clarified that counting is ongoing and the final picture will be clear only after all ballot papers are tallied.

Kejriwal, Mann reject opposition allegations

Reacting to the trends, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal said the party’s performance reflected strong rural support for the Bhagwant Mann government’s work. Addressing the media in Mohali along with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Kejriwal dismissed allegations of irregularities raised by opposition parties.

He said the elections were conducted in a fair and free manner and claimed that the results so far showed a clear wave in favour of the AAP in rural Punjab. Kejriwal stated that nearly 70 per cent of the zila parishad and panchayat samiti seats had gone in favour of the party.

Congress, SAD question poll conduct

The Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal, however, accused the ruling party of misusing official machinery. Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring alleged that the AAP had “stolen” the rural mandate and claimed that the results did not reflect genuine public support.

Opposition parties had earlier also accused the AAP government of high-handedness during the polling process, allegations that the ruling party has strongly denied.

India News

Silver breaches Rs 4 lakh per kg on MCX, gold hits record Rs 1.8 lakh

Silver prices hit an all-time high above Rs 4 lakh per kilogram on MCX, while gold surged to a record Rs 1.8 lakh per 10 grams, supported by strong global markets.

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Silver prices

Silver prices surged to a historic high in futures trade on Thursday, crossing the Rs 4 lakh per kilogram mark on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), while gold also touched a lifetime high, driven by strong investor demand and firm trends in global markets.

On the MCX, silver futures for March delivery jumped Rs 22,090, or 5.73 per cent, to hit an all-time high of Rs 4,07,456 per kilogram during the session.

Gold futures also saw heavy buying interest. The yellow metal for February delivery surged Rs 14,586, or 8.8 per cent, to touch a new peak of Rs 1,80,501 per 10 grams on the domestic exchange.

Global markets support bullion rally

In the international market, gold futures on the Comex crossed the USD 5,600 per ounce level for the first time. The April delivery contract rose USD 286.6, or 5.4 per cent, to scale a fresh record high of USD 5,626.8 per ounce.

Silver futures on the Comex also advanced sharply, touching a new lifetime high of USD 119.51 per ounce in overseas trade.

Demand, weak dollar and safe-haven buying lift prices

Analysts attributed the sharp rise in silver prices to strong industrial demand and a weaker US dollar, noting that silver has been outperforming gold in recent trading sessions.

They also said continued safe-haven buying amid economic uncertainties and rising geopolitical tensions has supported the sustained rally in precious metal prices globally.

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India News

Budget Session 2026 live updates: PM Modi to address media, Nirmala Sitharaman to table Economic Survey today

PM Modi is expected to address the media on Day 2 of the Budget Session 2026, while Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Economic Survey 2025–26 in the Lok Sabha.

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PM Modi

The second day of the Budget Session of Parliament is set to see key developments, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi likely to address the media at Parliament House on Wednesday morning.

The Prime Minister is expected to speak around 10:15 am, ahead of the presentation of the Economic Survey of India 2025–26 in the Lok Sabha later in the day.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to table the Economic Survey at 12 pm in the Lower House. The document provides an overview of the state of the Indian economy, key macroeconomic indicators for the 2025–26 financial year, and an outlook for the coming fiscal.

Prepared by the Economic Division of the Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance, the Economic Survey is formulated under the supervision of the Chief Economic Adviser. It serves as an important reference document ahead of the Union Budget, offering insights into growth trends, sectoral performance, and broader economic challenges and opportunities.

Before the tabling of the Economic Survey, the Lok Sabha will take up Question Hour from 11 am to 12 pm.

The Budget Session, which began on Tuesday, is expected to witness discussions on economic priorities, fiscal strategy, and policy direction in the days leading up to the presentation of the Union Budget 2026.

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Ajit Pawar plane crash updates: Last rites today in Baramati with state honours

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will be cremated today in Baramati with full state honours following his death in a plane crash.

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Ajit Pawar plane crash

Maharashtra will bid its final farewell to Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar on Thursday, with his last rites scheduled to be held at 11 am in Baramati. The state government has announced full state honours for the senior leader, who died in a plane crash on Wednesday morning.

Ajit Pawar, widely known as ‘Dada’, was travelling to Baramati when the aircraft crashed during a landing attempt. The incident took place in poor visibility conditions, according to preliminary information shared by authorities.

The aircraft was carrying five people, including Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer Vidip Jadhav, flight attendant Pinky Mali, Pilot-in-Command Sumit Kapur and Second-in-Command Shambhavi Pathak. All five lost their lives in the crash.

Senior political leaders have begun arriving in Baramati to attend the funeral. NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar reached the Vidya Pratishthan grounds ahead of the last rites, while Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray also arrived in the town to pay his respects. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to attend the funeral.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said a transparent investigation would be conducted into the crash. He stated that preliminary inputs suggest visibility was poor at the time of landing, which took place around 8:48 am.

The tragedy has left a deep void in Maharashtra’s political landscape. Ajit Pawar, 66, was among the state’s most experienced leaders and had served multiple terms as Finance Minister, known for his fast-paced administrative style and firm grip over state finances.

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