BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde Sends Defamation Notice To Kharge, Supriya Sule | LIVE

The opposition Biju Janata Dal in Odisha on Friday decided to "strongly oppose" the Waqf Amendment Bill if it was tabled in the Winter Session of Parliament, which would commence on November 25.The decision was taken at a meeting of the BJD's parliamentary party, chaired by its president Naveen Patnaik here.

Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Kedar Dighe, who contested against Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in the Kopri-Pachpakhadi assembly seat in Thane, on Friday alleged irregularities in the post voting process, including storing EVMs in the observation room instead of the strong room.

Rajya Sabha MP from Mizoram K Vanlalvena on Friday pitched for the creation of "separate administrative units" for Meiteis and Kuki-Zos to end the ethnic conflict in Manipur.Vanlalvena, a leader of BJP ally Mizo National Front (MNF), also called for the removal of the N Biren Singh government and the imposition of President's Rule in Manipur as the "the first and immediate step" to contain the violence that has claimed over 250 lives since May last year.

A high-level meeting chaired by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday decided to appoint a judicial commission to identify the ownership of the disputed land in Munambam in the state's Ernakulam district.Opposition Congress criticised the government’s decision, with Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan stating it was a denial of justice to the poor in Munambam.            

Former Kerala High Court Acting Chief Justice CN Ramachandran Nair will head the commission, Law Minister P Rajeev announced after the meeting.

 The Congress on Friday held a meeting with all its Maharashtra assembly poll candidates on the eve of counting of votes.A Congress leader said the Zoom meeting was held by the party's Maharashtra in charge Ramesh Chennithala.The Congress, which is part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, had fielded 103 candidates for the November 20 polls.

Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay is scheduled to undertake a three-day visit to India starting Sunday, the Ministry of External Affairs has said.The MEA shared a brief itinerary of his upcoming visit on Friday.Bhutanese Prime Minister Tobgay had visited India in March, his first foreign trip after assuming the charge of the top office in January.

In a relief to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Himachal Pradesh government, the Supreme Court on Friday stayed the initiation of disqualification proceedings against six MLAs who were appointed as chief parliamentary secretaries in 2023. 

A bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar stayed the findings of the Himachal Pradesh High Court that held as illegal and unconstitutional the protection from disqualification granted to the MLAs for being chosen as chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) and parliamentary secretary (PS) under a state law and cleared the way for initiation of disqualification proceedings as MLAs for holding office of profit.

 The Maha Vikas Aghadi will win 160-165 seats in the Maharashtra assembly polls and the chief minister will be chosen within 12 hours of the results being declared, senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar said on Friday.Polls to the 288-member assembly took place on Wednesday, while results will be declared on Saturday.

The Telangana government's caste survey has reached 87 per cent of the households, covering over 1.01 crore out of the state’s total 1.16 crore households, official sources said on Friday.Two districts, Jangaon and Mulugu, have achieved 100 per cent coverage, while the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area lags with only 65 per cent completion.

The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday approved proposals to hold grand roadshows in the country and abroad for the upcoming Mahakumbh in Prayagraj.A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath here on Friday. 

The state government said in a statement that many important proposals were approved in the cabinet meeting including to organise grand roadshows in all big cities of the country and abroad for Mahakumbh-2025 and purchasing 220 vehicles for the Mahakumbh.

The Karnataka High Court on Friday dismissed the anticipatory bail application filed by former JD (S) MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing allegations of rape and sexual assault, in connection with a fourth case registered against him.      

The fourth case was registered against Revanna, accusing him of sexual harassment,  on June 12 at cyber crime police station of CID in Bengaluru.

A man was arrested on Friday from Maharashtra's Akola district in connection with the Baba Siddique murder case, an official said.The NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister was shot at on October 12 near his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique's office in Nirmal Nagar area in Bandra East. He died some time later at a nearby hospital.

The Central Pollution Control Board has said the feasibility of cloud seeding as an emergency measure to battle winter pollution in northern India will be limited, citing insufficient moisture and reliance on pre-existing clouds, an RTI query has revealed. The CPCB shared its observations on a cloud seeding proposal by IIT Kanpur, which aims to combat Delhi's severe air pollution crisis through artificial rainfall.

A court here on Friday stayed the proceedings in a criminal defamation case against Delhi Chief Minister Atishi. Special Judge Vishal Gogne stayed till further orders the proceedings before a magisterial court, which had summoned Atishi on a complaint filed by a BJP leader accusing her of defaming him.

A day before the assembly poll results, the Congress on Friday appointed observers for Maharashtra and Jharkhand to oversee the post-election scenarios. 

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge deputed Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel and G Parameshwara as AICC observers to Maharashtra and Jharkhand with immediate effect, a party statement said.

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president YS Sharmila on Friday accused her brother and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy of giving the state as a "blank cheque" to the Adani Group and allegedly turning it into "Adani Pradesh".

Sharmila's comments come in the wake of Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani being charged by the US Department of Justice over his role in a years-long scheme to pay USD 250 million bribe to Indian officials in exchange for favourable solar power contracts, an allegation refuted by the Indian conglomerate.

Those Congress candidates who will register victory in Maharashtra polls will likely be shifted to neighboring Karnataka, sources told Republic. 

Confident of an MVA win in Maharashtra, Congress general secretary Sachin Pilot on Friday said there would not be any issue among alliance constituents in deciding on the CM post after getting a majority and it would not take more than a day to "figure out who will get what position".

 Senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat on Friday said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Congress, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) and Shiv Sena (UBT), will form the next government in Maharashtra. 

Speaking ahead of the counting of votes in the Maharashtra assembly elections on Saturday, Thorat, who is the Congress’ frontrunner for the CM’s post, said, “We (MVA) won’t have any difficulty in definitely and easily forming the next government in the state.” Thorat, who met Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and NCP(SP) leader Sharad Pawar in Mumbai, told reporters, “Our numbers will be so good that we won’t even have to look for the numbers from outside the MVA coalition."

Gold prices surged Rs 1,100 to hit a two-week high of Rs 80,400 per 10 grams in the national capital on Friday due to persistent buying by jewellers and retailers during the ongoing wedding season, according to the All India Sarafa Association. On Thursday, the precious metal of 99.9 per cent purity finished at Rs 79,300 per 10 grams.

The Calcutta High Court on Friday ordered an interim stay on demolition of alleged illegal constructions at the seaside resort town of Mandarmoni in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district.Petitioner Mandarmoni Hoteliers' Association stated that a notice dated November 11 was issued by the chairman of West Bengal State Coastal Zone Management Authority (WBCZMA) and district magistrate of Purba Medinipur to demolish and clean the illegal constructions by November 20 by hotels, resorts and homestays at Mandarmoni in terms of the order of National Green Tribunal (NGT) of May, 2022.

BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde has sent a defamation notice to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha's Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and NCP (SCP) leader Supriya Sule over the remarks made by them against the BJP leader in the alleged cash-for-votes row. 

The rupee recovered from its all-time low level and appreciated 6 paise to close at 84.44 (provisional) against the US dollar on Friday, supported by positive domestic equities. Forex traders said the rupee is trading in a narrow range as the US dollar strengthened in the overseas market and Brent oil continued to move up as fighting between Ukraine and Russia continued to gain investors' attention.

Indore city in Madhya Pradesh will host the 41st plenary meeting of the Eurasian Group, which has nine countries including India as its members, from November 25 to 29, a senior official said on Friday.Indore Divisional Commissioner (Revenue) Deepak Singh said the five-day meeting of 'The Eurasian Group on combating money laundering and financing of terrorism (EAG)' will be attended by around 200 delegates, including representatives of the member countries of the regional organisation.

Justice D Krishnakumar was sworn in as the eighth Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur on Friday, officials said. Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya administered the oath of office to the new Chief Justice in the swearing-in ceremony in Raj Bhavan in Imphal.He was appointed the Chief Justice of the high court on Wednesday within 48 hours of the Supreme Court Collegium making the recommendation.

 The Centre has released the first instalment of the 15th Finance Commission grants for FY 2024-25 to the rural local bodies (RLBs) in Karnataka, the Union Panchayati Raj Ministry said in a statement.The funds are meant for all the 5,949 eligible gram panchayats in the state, it added.

A policeman was injured in Bihar's Araria district after miscreants and locals allegedly attacked him during a raid, officials said on Friday.

The incident happened late on Thursday night.

The Kerala High Court on Friday criticised the ruling LDF and the opposition UDF in the state for their dawn-to-dusk hartal in landslide-hit Wayanad two days ago, saying that it was "irresponsible". A division bench of justices A K Jayasankaran Nambiar and K V Jayakumar expressed displeasure over the hartal held in Wayanad on November 19 and termed it as "unacceptable".

Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis in touch with many independent candidates ahead of counting of votes in Maharashtra

Many sitting MLAs are also in touch with fadnavis. 

MNS leader Bala Nandgaokar met Devendra Fadnavis at Sagar bungalow in Mumbai

The Supreme Court on Friday sought the response of the Gyanvapi Masjid Committee on an application filed by some Hindu worshippers seeking an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey of the sealed area of the mosque, where a "Shivlinga" was claimed to have been found in Varanasi.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi constituents have decided to house all its newly-elected MLAs together in Mumbai after the Maharashtra election results, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said on Friday, a move aimed at preventing poaching ahead of government formation.

Ten Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Friday, a senior police official said.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai hailed security forces and said the era of peace and progress has returned to the Bastar region, which includes Sukma.

Three persons, including two women, were killed and nine others hospitalised following a gas leak after a blast in a reactor at a fertiliser plant in Maharashtra’s Sangli district, an official said on Friday.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Wat Si Saket - a Buddhist temple, in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

A three-tier security arrangement has been put in place for the counting of votes cast in the bypolls to seven assembly seats in Rajasthan, an official said on Friday.

Voting for the bypolls to Jhunjhunu, Ramgarh, Dausa, Deoli-Uniara, Khinvsar, Salumbar and Chaurasi Assembly segments was held on November 13. The results will be declared on Saturday.

10 maoists killed in encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma

Srinagar experienced the coldest night of the season so far as most parts of Kashmir reeled under sub-zero temperatures, officials said on Friday.

The city recorded a low of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius, a drop from the previous night's minus 0.4 degrees Celsius. The night temperature was 1.3 degrees Celsius, below the normal for this time of year.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held meetings with the Japanese Defence Minister, General Nakatani and the Defence Secretary of the Philippines, Gilberto Teodoro in Laos.

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi chief Prakash Ambedkar said on Friday that if his party gets the required numbers in the Maharashtra assembly polls, it will choose the side that can form the government.

 As Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh gears up for the festivities of Mahakumbh Mela 2025, AI-based technology would be used for crowd management for convenience of devotees, SSP Mahakumbh Mela said.

A thick layer of smog engulfed the national capital on Friday while the air quality index in Delhi remained in the 'very poor' category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
At 7 am on Friday, the CPCB recorded Delhi's AQI at 371, which placed it in the 'very poor' category.  

A day after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dismissed a Canadian media report highlighting PM Modi's role in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canada has issued a statement denying any role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in its ‘internal matters’. This statement comes amid the ongoing India-Canada Row over diplomatic issues.

 A thick layer of smog covers the National Capital as the Air Quality Index in several areas continues to remain in the 'Very Poor' category as per the CPCB. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his three-nation tour, departing from Georgetown, Guyana, on Thursday (local time) for Delhi.

President-elect Donald Trump has selected Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his nominee for Attorney General of the US.

The fresh nomination for the powerful position came hours after former Congressman Matt Gaetz announced on Thursday his decision to withdraw from the nomination process for the post.

 A tremor of 3.6 magnitude hit Manipur's Bishnupur district on Thursday morning, the National Center for Seismology said.
According to the National Center for Seismology, the tremor was recorded at around 4.42 AM and was centred around the Bishnupur region at a depth of 10 km.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has left for home after wrapping up his "warm and productive" visit to Guyana during which he co-chaired the India-Caribbean Community Summit, held bilateral talks and interacted with the Indian community.

He was here on the final leg of his five-day and three-nation visit to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin on the sidelines of the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in Vientiane, Lao PDR, on November 21, according to a release from the Ministry of Defence.

In an effort to curb pollution levels, the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) carried out night cleaning and sweeping of roads at several locations in the national capital early Friday morning.
Vice Chairman of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kuljeet Singh Chahal was present during the cleaning drive and stated that the initiative aims to achieve a "garbage-free NDMC."