The Times of India

UCC is a proposal to have one common set of personal laws for all citizens in India, covering marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption, regardless of religion. It aims to ensure equality before law and promote national integration by replacing religion-based personal laws with a uniform legal framework. In the Bengal polls, where BJP strives to wrest power from three-time chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who fiercely opposes the UCC, the issue is expected to highly polarise the elections.

The BJP has released its West Bengal election manifesto, promising a 'Sonar Bangla' with key pledges like monthly financial aid for women and unemployed youth, and implementing the Seventh Pay Commission. Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized the current government's governance and assured a Bengali Chief Minister, emphasizing security, welfare, and economic growth.

Justice Yashwant Varma has resigned from his post following a cash recovery controversy and impeachment proceedings. Allegations of unaccounted cash surfaced after a fire at his residence, prompting a Supreme Court inquiry and subsequent parliamentary action. The judge had previously questioned the constitutionality of the inquiry process.

Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin took a Chennai Metro ride, engaging with commuters to seek support for his party ahead of the Assembly polls. He recalled his role in developing the metro project, highlighting its progress and future expansion plans. This public outreach is part of his intensified campaign efforts.

Ahead of West Bengal polls, Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM has ended its alliance with Humayun Kabir's party, citing concerns over remarks questioning Muslim integrity. AIMIM will now contest independently, aiming to provide a voice for marginalized communities. The move could influence constituencies with significant minority populations, potentially creating multi-cornered contests.

Delhi High Court has affirmed a trial court's decision labeling UK-based arms consultant Sanjay Bhandari a fugitive economic offender in a money laundering case. The court dismissed Bhandari's appeal, stating that a failed extradition attempt does not absolve him of Indian law violations. This ruling allows authorities to confiscate his assets.

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 choices.

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 share best practices.

A new international study reveals lunar water ice deposits in permanently shadowed regions are more stable than previously thought, with 74% of these areas unaffected by impacts. This finding is crucial for future manned lunar missions aiming to establish bases, as these regions offer promising targets for water ice exploration and utilization.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami chaired a high-level review meeting on Thursday at the Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Auditorium, Vishwakarma Bhawan, Secretariat, to assess preparations for the Char Dham Yatra-2026.

The Hindu Front for Justice informed the Madhya Pradesh High Court that ASI's scientific survey report supports their claim of a temple predating the mosque at the Bhojshala complex. Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain presented evidence, including inscriptions and idol remains, citing the ASI's findings. The court allowed highlighting relevant report portions amidst objections.

The Supreme Court expressed concern over sect-based temple restrictions, warning they could harm Hinduism and divide society. A nine-judge bench heard arguments on religious freedom versus state power to open temples, with judges questioning exclusions that might negatively impact the religion and its followers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi fiercely criticized West Bengal's TMC government, accusing it of normalizing violence and turning crude bomb-making into a cottage industry. He promised strict action against infiltrators and land grabbers if the BJP forms the government, highlighting the Bogtui massacre as a blot on humanity and questioning the TMC's respect for tribal communities.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued another warning to medical colleges regarding overcharging MBBS fees, particularly for the internship period. Despite past directives and regulatory powers, enforcement remains weak, with limited punitive action reported for violations like stipend irregularities. This pattern raises concerns about accountability in medical education.

As Kerala heads to the polls, the election narrative shifts from rallies to booth-level battles. The ruling LDF aims for a historic third term, while the UDF seeks to leverage local body momentum against anti-incumbency. The NDA is focused on converting key pockets into durable political footholds, making these 20 constituencies the state's pressure points.

Puducherry's assembly elections commenced today with an innovative touch as a robot named 'Nila' greeted voters. Approximately 9.5 lakh electors are choosing among 294 candidates across 30 constituencies. The main contenders are the NDA, led by Chief Minister N Rangasamy, and the Congress-DMK alliance. Key issues like statehood and unemployment are prominent, with counting set for May 4.

India is actively managing the impact of the West Asia conflict. The government is ensuring a steady supply of essential commodities like LPG, petrol, and diesel. Efforts are underway to support farmers with fertilizers. India has successfully evacuated a significant number of vessels from the Strait of Hormuz.

The RBI kept its policy rate at 5.25% for the second consecutive meeting, citing concerns over elevated crude oil prices and global uncertainties. Governor Malhotra expressed cautious optimism, assuring markets that temporary forex measures were aimed at curbing speculation and would be reviewed. The central bank also eased capital norms for banks to support credit growth.

Opposition leaders criticized the rejection of their impeachment notices against the Chief Election Commissioner, alleging it strangles the constitutional mechanism. Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that presiding officers exceeded their scope by conducting mini trials instead of a prima-facie assessment. The opposition vows to pursue legal avenues, asserting that democracy is impeached when accountability is adjourned.

Hyderabad's old city residents seeking voter list assistance encountered sanitation workers instead of trained officials. These workers, appointed due to staff shortages, lacked the necessary skills for the pre-SIR mapping exercise. They were equipped with smartphones to record voter details. Officials stated this is a temporary measure and replacements are expected soon.

The BJP has not nominated any Muslim candidates in the Bengal elections, a departure from previous polls despite a significant Muslim membership. Party leaders cited 'winnability' as the primary criterion for candidate selection, suggesting a disconnect between the BJP's platform and Muslim voting patterns. In contrast, Congress, TMC, and the Left Front have fielded a considerable number of Muslim candidates.

Bhowanipore constituency, the high-profile seat of Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, has seen its electorate shrink by nearly 25% after electoral roll revisions. Over 51,000 deletions occurred, with a significant portion of Muslims marked for adjudication and eventual deletion, raising concerns among researchers.

Congress leader Pawan Khera has sought anticipatory bail from the Telangana High Court. This follows a case filed by Guwahati police concerning his allegations against Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife. Khera claims the FIR copy hasn't been provided and the charges are invalid. Assam Police's pursuit has now extended to Hyderabad.