With campaigning for the elections to the nagar parishads and nagar panchayats ending at 10:00 PM tonight, and voting scheduled for December 2, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appealed to the State Election Commission to reconsider the revised election schedule issued on November 29.

The revised schedule calls for a re-election for approximately 24 posts of Nagar Parishad chiefs and 204 posts of members across various Nagar Parishads and Nagar Panchayats in the state.

The State BJP chief, Ravindra Chavan, in his letter to the SEC, has objected to the blanket implementation of this order, arguing that the decision to postpone the elections at the final stage of campaigning and one day before polling is inappropriate.

Today, an unusual sense of unrest pervades the country regarding elections. People are raising questions, discussing, and openly expressing their doubts. This is no small matter—when the public, who are the true owners of democracy, begin to lose faith in their own electoral system, it suggests the problem is profound. Amidst this scenario, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann recently made a statement that resonated deeply with the people. Addressing the doubts surrounding the electoral process and the SIR (Systematic Improvement of Representation/Registration/etc. - based on context, likely an election related system or process), he voiced the sentiment of millions of Indians: "Why should the public provide the proof? The Election Commission should provide the answer."

Reiterating its commitment to securing and strengthening the future of Punjab's youth, the Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has taken a revolutionary and historic step. With the launch of the "Young Scientists Travel Assistance Scheme," the government has opened the doors to global platforms for the state's talented scientists and researchers. This visionary initiative is injecting new energy into the field of science and technology in Punjab, clearly demonstrating a strong desire to give the state's youth international recognition.

As the Winter Session of Parliament witnessed heated exchanges over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday said that raising public concerns in Parliament cannot be termed as “drama”.

Responding to remarks made during the session, she said urgent matters such as pollution and the SIR exercise are crucial for democracy and must be discussed openly in Parliament.

Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament, Priyanka Gandhi said, “Urgent issues like pollution, the SIR process, and other matters are extremely important for democracy. Whether it is the election situation or the SIR, these are major issues. What is Parliament for if not to discuss them? Let the government allow a discussion. Speaking about issues or raising questions is not drama.”

Around 30 lakh names of deceased, untraceable and duplicate voters will be deleted from the electoral rolls by the Election Commission of India (ECI), according to the trend of the enumeration forms digitisation during SIR in West Bengal.

As per the commission's observation, of the estimated 30 lakhs of deleted names, around 16 lakhs are deceased voters, and the rest are untraceable voters, duplicate voters, or voters who have permanently shifted to other states.

However, sources in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, pointed out that this estimate is based only on the percentage of digitisation of the enumeration forms completed so far, and the estimated number on this count might increase further after digitisation is fully completed.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Friday that he was not aware of the demolition drive carried out by Jammu Development Authority (JDA) during which the house of a journalist was demolished.

Asked about the alleged selective demolition of the house of the local journalist in Jammu, the Chief Minister said, "It was not brought to our attention that they were going to do this, nor were we consulted."

Claiming that officers carrying out these demolitions are posted by Raj Bhawan, he said, "They have not taken the minister concerned into confidence. This is a large conspiracy to defame and humiliate the elected government."

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday reported significant progress in Phase II of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2025 of electoral rolls, with 99.43 per cent of Enumeration Forms (EFs) already distributed across 12 states and Union Territories.

According to the Daily Bulletin, the nationwide EF distribution has reached 99.43 per cent, reflecting strong field mobilisation by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and participation from Booth Level Agents (BLAs).

During the ongoing enumeration phase, which runs from November 4 to December 4 -- a total of 50.68 crore EFs have already been distributed out of the eligible 50.97 crore electors.

Digitisation of EFs is also picking up, with 37.77 crore forms digitised so far, marking an overall digitisation rate of 74.10 per cent.

Under the Chief Minister's Women Employment Scheme, financial assistance of Rs 10,000 each was transferred to the bank accounts of 10 lakh women in Bihar on Friday.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar participated in the event and released the funds directly through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

A special programme was organised at the Chief Minister's residence, attended by Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, senior officials, and representatives from various departments.

According to officials, the beneficiaries include around 9.5 lakh rural women and 50,000 urban women.

Contractual employees of the state-owned Punjab Roadways, Punbus and Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) went on strike on Friday after police picked up several union leaders, protesting the opening of tenders under the Kilometre Scheme, leaving commuters across the state stranded as over 3,000 buses stayed off roads.

People, especially women, faced inconvenience across the strike by contractual employees on all 27 depots of both the roadways.

The travel of women is free in the state roadways buses. There were reports of a scuffle between the police and the strikers in Patiala and Sangrur towns.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday batted for strategic tie up with Japan in key sectors of advanced manufacturing, mobility, electronics, food processing, renewable energy, and global services.

The Chief Minister, accompanied by Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora, virtually held a detailed deliberation with a high level delegation of Japan comprising representatives of the Embassy of Japan, JETRO, JCCII, and over 25 leading Japanese companies operating across India such as Panasonic, Sumitomo, Nippon, NEC, Toyota and others.

The interaction formed a key part of Punjab’s international outreach in the run-up to the 6th Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit scheduled from March 13-15, 2026 at the Indian School of Business (ISB), Mohali. Invest Punjab showcased the state’s economic landscape and the unique Invest Punjab unified regulatory model, which integrates powers of multiple departments under a single authority.

Names of the electorate in the Assembly constituencies in and around Kolkata are not matching with the voter list of 2002, sources in the office of Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal said.

Currently, digitisation of the enumeration forms for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) collected from voters was underway.

The sources said that till Wednesday afternoon, 26 lakh voters have been identified whose names or their parents' names do not match the voter list of 2002.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday reported significant progress in Phase II of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2025 of electoral rolls, with 99.25 per cent of Enumeration Forms (EFs) already distributed across 12 states and Union Territories.

According to the Daily Bulletin issued at 3 p.m., the nationwide EF distribution has reached 99.25 per cent, reflecting strong field mobilisation by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and participation from Booth Level Agents (BLAs).

During the ongoing enumeration phase, which runs from November 4 to December 4 -- a total of 50.59 crore EFs have already been distributed out of the eligible 50.97 crore electors.

Digitisation of EFs is also picking up, with 32.23 crore forms digitised so far, marking an overall digitisation rate of 63.23 per cent.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Punjab President Mr. Aman Arora, today took exception to the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi for their "deliberate and telling absence" from the recently concluded month-long 'Shahidi Samaroh' in Punjab to commemorate the 350th Martyrdom Day of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji.

While addressing a press conference here at Punjab Bhawan on Wednesday, Mr. Aman Arora expressed deep disappointment and dismay, stating that the BJP's leadership, despite personal invitations, displayed a "blatant disregard" for the sacrifice of the Ninth Sikh Guru, who laid down His life to protect the fundamental rights and religious freedom of Hindus.

Mr. Aman Arora said that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government had conceived the commemorative events as a totally non-political to educate future generations about the unparalleled sacrifice of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji.

On the historic occasion of Constitution Day, Aam Aadmi Party Punjab President Shri Aman Arora extended his warmest greetings to the people of India and also marked the day with a special message celebrating AAP’s Foundation Day.

Aman Arora said that thirteen years ago, Arvind Kejriwal began a movement that has today grown into a powerful institution dedicated to clean, transparent and people-centric governance. He recalled how Kejriwal took upon himself the monumental mission of ending corruption, dismantling high-handed systems, and establishing a governance model rooted in honesty and public service.

Arora stated, “What began as a struggle led by Arvind Kejriwal has today transformed into a national force. AAP reached the status of a national party in record time and earned the privilege of forming governments in two states. These achievements reflect the commitment, sacrifice and collective effort of our party leadership, volunteers and supporters.”

Another historic initiative has taken place on Punjab's sacred land. The Man government has made a big decision to make e-rickshaw and bus services completely free in Anandpur Sahib, Amritsar, and Talwandi Sabo. This decision is like a blessing for the millions of pilgrims who come daily to bow at the Gurudwara Sahib. This step is not just to make travel easier but also reflects Punjab government's dedication to public service and respect for the sanctity of the Guru's house.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann made a major announcement on Tuesday from the holy land of Shri Anandpur Sahib. He declared that free transport service will soon start in the three cities recently declared as "holy cities" by the Punjab Assembly — Shri Amritsar Sahib, Shri Anandpur Sahib, and Talwandi Sabo. This plan includes free mini-buses and e-rickshaws for the convenience of pilgrims and residents.

The aim of this service is to ensure easy and hassle-free travel in these historic and religious cities, especially at major religious sites and places frequently visited by devotees. Mann said this step is part of the government's promise to improve access to spiritually important cities, make travel easier for pilgrims, and provide better public facilities.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday marked the party’s Foundation Day with a message of gratitude to supporters and volunteers, saying the party was built on the belief that “politics can also be done with honesty.”

In a post on X, Kejriwal thanked millions of party workers and citizens who have backed the AAP’s journey since its inception.

“On the foundation day of the Aam Aadmi Party, a heartfelt salute to the millions of companions across the country, all volunteers, and every common man who believed that politics can also be done with honesty,” he wrote.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday reported significant progress in Phase II of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2025 of electoral rolls, with 99.16 per cent of Enumeration Forms (EFs) already distributed across 12 states and Union Territories.

According to the Daily Bulletin issued at 3 p.m., the nationwide EF distribution has reached 99.16 per cent, reflecting strong field mobilisation by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and participation from Booth Level Agents (BLAs).

The Election Commission of India (ECI) had forwarded a letter to West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress Chairperson, Mamata Banerjee, giving nod for a meeting with a party delegation to discuss various issues, including the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) by the commission in the state.

The letter from ECI’s Secretary Ashwani Kumar Mohal was addressed to Banerjee as the party chief and was dispatched to her official residence at Harish Chatterjee Street in south Kolkata.

In the letter, the commission has fixed 11 a.m. on November 28 as the time and date of the meeting with the Trinamool delegation. The letter from the commission was a reply to an earlier letter from the leader of Trinamool’s Parliamentary Party in the Rajya Sabha, Derek O'Brien, requesting a meeting of the party delegation with the top ECI officials.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday joined the "sangat" to pray for the progress of the state and prosperity of Punjabis.

Both the leaders took part in the 'ardas' performed after the 'bhog' of Sri Akhand Path Sahib to commemorate the 350th martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur and legendary Sikh martyrs Bhai Mati Das-ji, Bhai Sati Dass-ji and Bhai Dayala-ji at Gurdwara Baba Budha Dal Chauni here.

They joined the large congregation to express gratitude to the Guru and prayed for the welfare of all.

Both the leaders said that it was a matter of great honour for them to have the opportunity to serve during the events to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister and Kejriwal said that Sikhism propagated the true model of socialism and secularism in the world.

With just two weeks left for Kerala local body elections, major political fronts have intensified their campaigns, even as rebel candidates emerge as a significant challenge.

Kerala will have a two-phase polling: The first on December 9 and the second phase two days later, with results on December 13.

While excitement builds at the grassroots, parties are grappling with internal dissent, particularly in Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam districts, where the rebel presence is most prominent.

The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) is banking on its development projects and welfare schemes, confident that these will resonate with voters despite the Opposition fanning the flames over the Sabarimala gold heist controversy.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has reported significant progress in Phase II of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2025, with 99.07 per cent of the distribution of Enumeration Forms (EFs) across 12 states and Union Territories.

According to the Daily Bulletin issued at 3 p.m. on Monday, the nationwide EF distribution has reached 99.07 per cent, reflecting strong field mobilisation by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and participation from Booth Level Agents (BLAs).

During the ongoing enumeration phase, which runs from November 4 to December 4 -- a total of 50.50 crore EFs have already been distributed out of the eligible 50.97 crore electors.

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday administered the oath of office to Justice Surya Kant as the Chief Justice of India (CJI) in a swearing-in ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the national Capital. In a significant departure from recent tradition, CJI Kant took the oath in Hindi, taking the name of God.

The ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Union ministers, Haryana Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini, judges of the Supreme Court, and Chief Justices and judges from Bhutan, Kenya, Malaysia, Brazil, Mauritius, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Justice Kant, the 53rd CJI, will have a tenure of about 14 months, and he will demit office on February 9, 2027.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced the construction of 133 houses by the NGO Human Resource Development Society (HRDS) for families in Poonch district, whose homes had been hit by Pakistani shells, during the recent escalation of tension between India and Pakistan.

LG Sinha on Friday during his visit to Poonch, announced that the NGO will construct 133 houses at a cost of Rs. 1 million each, within six months.

These houses are aimed at rehabilitating families affected by Pakistani shelling, ensuring they receive timely support and secure living conditions.

Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, on Friday, administered the oath to two newly elected MLAs here.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA-elect Devyani Rana and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA-elect Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi were sworn in as members of the 90-member Legislative Assembly by the Speaker at 11 a.m.

Devyani Rana of the BJP defeated her nearest rival, Harsh Dev Singh of the J&K National Panthers Party (JKNPP), by a margin of over 21,000 votes in the Nagrota Assembly constituency bypoll.

Punjab Vidhan Sabha will hold its 10th Special session on the occasion of 350th Shaheedi Gurpurab at Sri Anandpur Sahib on November 24, 2025.

As per notification issued in this regard, session will be held at Bhai Jaita ji memorial at 1.00 PM.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended best wishes to all the Bihar Ministers, including Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, who were sworn in on Thursday.

Nitish Kumar was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar on Thursday, with Governor Arif Mohammad Khan administering the oath of office and secrecy at Patna's historic Gandhi Maidan.

Several ministers were also administered the oath alongside Nitish Kumar, including Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Mangal Pandey, Dilip Jaiswal, Shravan Kumar, and Bijendra Yadav.

The Prime Minister congratulated all newly sworn-in ministers after the ceremony.

With West Bengal gearing up for next year’s crucial Assembly elections, training for checking electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) units will begin on Friday.

Engineers from the Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) will conduct the sessions, which will be attended by EVM and warehouse officers from all districts of the state.

The four-member central team of the Election Commission of India (ECI), which is currently on a four-day visit to West Bengal to review the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR), is also expected to attend the first day of the training session on Friday.

To complete the digitisation of the enumeration form for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal by the month-end, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has set a target for the daily digitisation of the forms for the booth-level officers.

Under this target, each BLO will have to upload 150 enumeration forms collected by him or her from the voters in the special app provided by the ECI to them. The daily target for each BLO had been fixed keeping in mind the ECI's earlier target to complete the digitisation process by the end of November, an insider from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, said.

The total number of BLOs appointed for the revision process is 80,681.

Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said on Thursday that numerous ancient religious and historical sites in the union territory have been restored.

“We are building an edifice of Aatmanirbhar J&K on the foundation of dedication and sacrifices of our police personnel, soldiers, farmers, youth and women. We should take a pledge today not to let their hard work and sacrifices go to waste. We must resolve to convert their dreams into reality,” L-G Manoj Sinha said.

He was speaking at the foundation day of Purmandal-Utterbehni Teerth Seva Nyas, at Purmandal in Samba district.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 21st instalment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana on November 19, celebrated as PM-Kisan Utsav Diwas.

On this occasion, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma will participate in the state-level event to be held at the State Agricultural Management Institute, Durgapura. Similar programmes will be organised across all districts.

Since the launch of the scheme, 20 instalments have already been disbursed, benefitting farmers across Rajasthan.

A total of Rs 25,142 crore has been transferred directly to the bank accounts of the state's farmers under the scheme so far.

Punjab Power Minister Sanjeev Arora on Tuesday announced that the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) will now release electricity connections without a no-objection certificate (NOC) after applicants furnish a mandatory undertaking.

The step, he said, reflected the government’s commitment to providing basic amenities to residents without delay, while ensuring adherence to legal processes.

Arora said earlier applicants were required to submit approvals such as NOC, regularisation certificate or sanctioned building plan issued by local authorities before obtaining a power connection.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday reported significant progress in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Phase II, with 98.54 per cent of Enumeration Forms (EFs) already distributed across 12 States and Union Territories.

The update was shared in the Commission’s 3:00 PM Daily Bulletin for November 18, marking a key milestone in the revision exercise scheduled from 4 November to 4 December 2025.

According to the bulletin, a total of 50.25 crore EFs have been distributed out of the total electors of 50.97 crore.

 Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday visited the families of those killed and also those injured in the Nowgam police station blast and said the people deserve clear answers about the circumstances that led to the accidental explosion.

Office of the J&K CM said on X, “Today morning, the Chief Minister visited the families of those who lost their loved ones in the Nowgam Police Station accidental explosion. He offered heartfelt condolences, prayed for Jannah for the departed souls and assured every possible support from the Government in this hour of grief.

“Chief Minister also visited the injured at a local hospital in Nowgam today morning. He reviewed their treatment and interacted with Doctors and attendants. He directed for the best possible medical care, reaffirming that the wellbeing of the injured remains immediate priority," the post further mentioned.

A four-member central team of the Election Commission of India (ECI) is arriving in Kolkata on Tuesday for a four-day visit to review the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state, which started on November 4.

This is the second West Bengal visit of the central ECI team during the current month to review the revision exercise, which indicates that the poll panel's special focus was on the progress of SIR in the state.

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav has been elected as the Leader of Opposition for the Bihar Legislative Assembly.

Tejashwi Yadav, who yet again emerged victorious from the Raghopur constituency, has been selected as the LoP for the second time following Mahagathbandhan's disastrous performance in the Bihar Assembly election, in which the alliance secured only 35 seats, with RJD winning 25 of them.