According to the latest figures from the Election Commission, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is leading in 217 seats out of 288, almost halfway through the counting process. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi appears to be struggling, with only 50 seats in their favor. BJP leader Kalidas Kolambkar from Wadala has already been declared as the winner in the first result announced. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived at BJP headquarters to celebrate the party's victory, with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari expressing confidence in their ability to form a government. BJP leader Pankaja Munde stated that the public's rejection of fake narratives and acceptance of the politics of development has led to a significant victory for the Mahayuti alliance.
Ahead of the Assembly elections, BJP leader Vinod Tawde faced opposition from Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) activists who claimed he was distributing money at a hotel in Virar, Palghar. The BVA legislator Kshitij Thakur led the protesters and demanded Tawde's arrest, insisting he stay confined to the hotel until the polls concluded. The incident adds fuel to the already intense political atmosphere in Maharashtra.
The recent decision by the Andhra Pradesh High Court to restore the membership of MLC Indukuri Raghu Raju has cast doubt over the upcoming MLC election in Vizianagaram. The disqualification of Raju, who belongs to the YSR Congress Party, was due to allegations of anti-party activities. While the ruling party has named a new candidate for the election, the opposition TDP is yet to announce its candidate. With just weeks to go before the election, the district election machinery is in a state of confusion as to whether there will be an election at all.
Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur hosted a samosa party with BJP workers, in what many saw as a playful jab at the ongoing controversy surrounding current Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. The issue emerged after reports of missing samosas at a function attended by Sukhu at the CID headquarters, leading to speculation about an investigation. However, the CID Director General clarified that it was not a formal inquiry but merely an internal discussion. This has resulted in a war of words between the Congress government and the BJP, with the opposition accusing the government of having misplaced priorities.
The German government is on the brink of collapse after Chancellor Olaf Scholz fired Finance Minister Christian Lindner due to a lack of trust and conflicting interests. Scholz announced plans to call for a vote of confidence in his government, citing tensions within the current "traffic light" coalition. With the government now lacking a majority in parliament, Scholz intends to work with opposition leader Friedrich Merz on addressing economic and defense issues before potential elections in March. The internal turmoil comes at a critical time as Germany grapples with economic challenges and the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Actor Vijay's much-awaited political party Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam is expected to make its debut at a public conference in Villupuram. While the actor has been projected as a strong opposition to the ruling DMK, speculations are rife that his party will continue to uphold Tamil Nadu's Dravidian ideology, drawing inspiration from leaders like EV Ramasamy 'Periyar' and B R Ambedkar. The event is closely watched by political parties and observers, who believe that Vijay's party may fill the void left by AIADMK after the demise of Jayalalithaa. With the actor likely to take on the DMK and BJP on key issues such as drug addiction and NEET, the political landscape in Tamil Nadu is set for a major shift.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar responds to criticism from Opposition parties and citizens for the state government's handling of the heavy rain in Bengaluru, stating that it is impossible to control nature. He also announces a holiday for schools as a precautionary measure and plans to hold meetings with officials to survey the situation. Meanwhile, Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan urges the state government to take action to improve infrastructure and disaster management in light of the city's ongoing rainfall.
Jagmeet Singh's New Democratic Party has announced its withdrawal of support from Trudeau's government, leaving him reliant on opposition lawmakers to stay in power. This move has been linked to Singh's frustrations with Trudeau's handling of certain issues, particularly high prices at grocery stores, and could potentially lead to a new election if confidence votes don't go in Trudeau's favor. The next key moment will be the budget update later this year, which could be a make or break for Trudeau's government.
Joe Root, the captain of England's cricket team, has become the highest century-maker for England after scoring his 34th Test hundred on the second day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's. He surpassed the previous record of 33 centuries held by Alastair Cook. Root's outstanding performance has earned him praise from cricketing legends, with former captain Michael Vaughan declaring him as the country's "greatest" batter. Vaughan credits Root's success to his impeccable technique and ability to score runs with ease, forcing the opposition to have four fielders behind square on the off side.
With the County Championship back in action, all eyes are on the live scoreboards to keep up with the updates. However, the recent rain showers have caused a delay in the match between Lancashire and Surrey. As the covers come on and off at Old Trafford, the frustrating weather has once again become a topic of discussion for cricket fans. While the quality of opposition may have played a role in the lack of competitiveness this Test summer, it also raises concerns about the future of cricket in different formats and calls for necessary changes to be made.