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Assam EVM Row: Election Commission suspends 4 poll officials, orders repolling in booth

The incident had led to violence in Karimganj district where the seat is located. The car, Mahindra Bolero, belonged to the wife of Krishnendu Paul.

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EVM

The Election Commission on Friday announced re-election in one polling station of Assam’s Ratabari seat and suspended four poll officials, hours after a video surfaced, alleging that an electronic voting machine (EVM) was being transported in the car of a BJP candidate Krishnendu Paul. Assam went through the second phase of polling on Thursday, recording over 77 per cent of voter turnout.

However, the preliminary report sent by the District Election Officer said the poll officials were initially unaware that the vehicle in which they were travelling belonged to the BJP MLA.

The incident had led to violence in Karimganj district where the seat is located. The car, Mahindra Bolero, belonged to the wife of Krishnendu Paul.

The video was tweeted out by senior Assam-based journalist Atanu Bhuyan, who also reported that the situation is tense in Patharkandi because of this incident.

https://twitter.com/atanubhuyan/status/1377684745023221765

The incident occurred at around 9pm, when the vehicle assigned by the election commission to polling officials posted to centre number 149 at Ratabari’s Indira MV School broke down while heading towards the strong room. The presiding officer of the voting centre contacted the sector officer for a replacement but failed to establish the communication and took lift in a private car without checking it’s ownership.

Later, Krishnendu Paul’s electoral affidavit found in the car confirmed that his wife, Madhumita Paul, owned the vehicle (registration number: AS10B0022).

The opposition leaders cited the incident to allege malpractices including EVM capturing by the ruling BJP. The Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said the only way the BJP can win Assam is by looting and capturing EVMs.

Meanwhile, dubbing the BJP a serial offender in such cases, Congress’s UP General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, in a series of tweets, sought a serious re-evaluation of the use of EVMs by all national parties. She took a sarcastic dig at the BJP saying, every time the videos of private vehicles caught transporting EVMs surface, the vehicles usually belong to BJP candidates or their associates.

Read Also: India records 81,466 new Covid cases with 469 deaths in last 24 hours, highest single-day spike

The final phase of polling in Assam is scheduled to be held on April 6 and the results will be declared on May 2.

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Congress, BJP attack Bhagwant Mann over remarks on Punjab blasts

Congress and BJP have jointly criticised Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann after he linked recent blasts near defence sites to political motives, triggering a controversy.

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Bhagwant Mann

A political row has erupted in Punjab after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann linked recent blast incidents to political motives, drawing sharp criticism from both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The controversy follows two low-intensity explosions reported within a short span of time — one near the Border Security Force (BSF) headquarters in Jalandhar and another close to an army cantonment area in Amritsar. The incidents raised concerns over security, particularly given the sensitive nature of the locations.

In response, Mann suggested that the blasts could be part of a larger political strategy. His remarks triggered a strong backlash, with opposition parties accusing him of politicising a serious security issue.

Leaders from the Congress criticised the Chief Minister’s statement, calling it inappropriate and alleging that such comments undermine the gravity of the situation. They stressed that matters related to national security should be handled with caution and responsibility.

The BJP also joined the criticism, questioning the basis of Mann’s claims and urging the state government to focus on investigation and law enforcement instead of making political allegations.

The developments have led to an unusual moment where both Congress and BJP appear aligned in their criticism of the Aam Aadmi Party-led government in the state.

Meanwhile, the blasts themselves have intensified concerns over safety in border regions, with authorities continuing their investigation into the incidents. No casualties were reported, but the proximity to defence establishments has made the issue particularly sensitive.

The episode has further escalated political tensions in the state, with security and accountability emerging as key points of debate.

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Himanta Biswa Sarma resigns as Assam chief minister, oath ceremony likely after May 11

Himanta Biswa Sarma resigns as Assam Chief Minister after BJP-led NDA’s victory. He will continue as caretaker CM until the new government is sworn in after May 11.

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Himanta sharma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma resigned from his post on Wednesday, paving the way for the formation of a new government after the BJP-led NDA secured a decisive victory in the 2026 Assembly elections.

Sarma submitted his resignation to Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at Lok Bhawan in Guwahati. The Governor accepted the resignation and asked him to continue as the caretaker Chief Minister until the new government takes charge.

The resignation comes after the NDA’s strong electoral performance, where the alliance won a clear majority in the 126-member Assembly, ensuring its return to power for another term.

Oath ceremony expected after May 11

Speaking to reporters after submitting his resignation, Sarma said the swearing-in ceremony for the new government is likely to be held after May 11.

He indicated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to attend the ceremony but is unavailable until May 11, which has influenced the tentative schedule.

Decision on next chief minister soon

Sources suggest that central observers, including senior BJP leaders, are expected to arrive shortly to oversee the selection of the legislature party leader. The newly elected MLAs will then decide on the next Chief Minister.

Despite the formal resignation, party sources indicate that Sarma is likely to continue in the role for another term, given the BJP’s strong mandate in the state.

The move marks the beginning of the government formation process in Assam following the election results declared earlier this week.

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Rahul Gandhi and Vijay alliance took shape through backchannel talks, early signals from Congress leaders

Congress outreach and political calculations led to Rahul Gandhi and Vijay coming together after the Tamil Nadu 2026 election results.

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The coming together of Rahul Gandhi and actor-politician Vijay in Tamil Nadu after the 2026 Assembly elections was not sudden, but the result of behind-the-scenes political manoeuvring and early signals within the Congress.

According to media reports, some leaders in the Tamil Nadu Congress had already sensed the scale of Vijay’s surge during the campaign, anticipating what was later described as a “wave” in favour of his party.

After the results, where Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerged as the single largest party but fell short of a majority, communication channels between the Congress leadership and Vijay quickly became active.

A key moment in this evolving political equation was a phone call from Rahul Gandhi to Vijay, congratulating him on the party’s strong performance. The conversation was seen as more than a courtesy, signalling the possibility of cooperation at a time when government formation required additional support.

Reports indicate that discussions within Congress weighed the political benefits of supporting Vijay, especially given the shifting dynamics in the state where traditional dominance by major Dravidian parties has been challenged.

With TVK needing allies to cross the majority mark, Congress emerged as a potential partner, leading to a broader political realignment in the state. This development also triggered tensions within opposition alliances, highlighting the strategic importance of the decision.

The evolving partnership reflects a mix of electoral pragmatism and changing voter sentiment, particularly the growing influence of younger voters, which leaders acknowledged as a key factor in the election outcome.

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