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BJP’s Rakesh Singh, facing 91 cases including the Vidyasagar statue vandalism, filed his nomination for the Kolkata Port seat. Released on interim bail to contest polls, Singh, who spent five-and-a-half months in jail, carried a portrait of Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar, asserting his innocence and vowing to campaign across the constituency.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Trinamool Congress of failing to boost fish production in Bengal, a state known for its love of ‘maachh-bhaat’. He highlighted BJP’s focus on fisheries development and contrasted TMC’s alleged governance of fear with BJP’s trust-building. Mamata Banerjee retorted, asserting Bengal’s self-sufficiency in fish and questioning BJP’s stance on dietary

Murshidabad’s Shamsherganj and Lalgola constituencies saw the highest voter deletions post-adjudication, with 74,775 and 55,420 names removed respectively. This comes amidst a larger purge of 27 lakh voters across Bengal, sparking concerns and protests, particularly in Muslim-dominant and Matua-dominated areas. Electoral rolls for the second phase have been frozen, with a court review pending.

Congress insists on the Sriperumbudur seat, the memorial site of Rajiv Gandhi. K Selvaperunthagai, the incumbent MLA, is seeking reelection. However, his campaign faces challenges as constituents express dissatisfaction with his limited visits. He acknowledges the difficulty in frequent constituency visits due to his role as TNCC chief.

Bengal’s electoral rolls are in disarray as long-time voters, including a 97-year-old Partition refugee and a retired teacher, find their names struck off. Families are battling bureaucratic hurdles and stress, with one man dying in a tribunal queue. The process has left many disenfranchised, sparking protests and accusations of political manipulation.

Record voter turnouts were recorded in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry, with officials hailing it as a validation of electoral roll revisions and a sign of public trust. Assam and Puducherry achieved all-time highs, while Kerala saw its best turnout since 1987. Muslim-majority seats in Assam saw a significant surge in participation.

Congress Working Committee will convene Friday to deliberate on the women’s reservation law amendments, following DMK chief M.K. Stalin’s sharp critique. Concerns are raised that a “proportionate increase” in Lok Sabha seats could disadvantage southern and smaller states, benefiting northern ones. The timing of the BJP’s proposal amid assembly elections also faces scrutiny.

India is bolstering its engagement with the Gulf as a fragile ceasefire takes hold in West Asia. Union Minister S. Jaishankar is visiting the UAE to deepen strategic ties, while Minister Hardeep Singh Puri is in Qatar to secure vital energy supplies.

In a significant political maneuver, the Congress party withdrew its candidate from the Baramati bye-election just before the nomination deadline. This decision, influenced by appeals from the Pawar family and Mahayuti partners, ensures Sunetra Pawar faces no major opposition. The bypoll was necessitated by the tragic passing of Ajit Pawar.

An Indian Army special forces contingent has arrived in Egypt for the fourth edition of the joint exercise ‘Cyclone-IV’. This collaboration, running from April 9-17, aims to bolster military ties and enhance joint mission planning. Twenty-five Indian soldiers will train alongside Egyptian counterparts, focusing on special operational tactics in desert environments to improve interoperability and