India News: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's massive roadshow in Assam ahead of filing nomination for Assembly polls

The Congress on Friday announced its fourth list of seven candidates for the April 9 Assam assembly elections, leaving 11 seats for its ally, Raijor Dal. With this release, the party has declared a total of 94 candidates, reserving 11 seats for Raijor Dal and 15 for other allies.

The Central Election Committee of the Congress finalised the selections for the 126-member Assam Legislative Assembly. Read more

With just over a month to go for the Assembly poll in Tamil Nadu, hectic parleys among the constituents of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is shifting to New Delhi with AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami travelling to the national capital to hold negotiations with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, signifying key role that the BJP has assumed in Tamil Nadu, where the party is yet to be 'electorally significant'. Read more

The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday expressed deep condolences following the death of an Indian national in Riyadh, as the government continues to coordinate the repatriation of citizens caught in the escalating West Asia conflict.

The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia confirmed the fatality following recent security incidents in the Saudi capital on March 18. In an official statement, the diplomatic mission of India in Saudi Arabia, "The Embassy of India expresses its deepest condolences on the tragic demise of an Indian national in Riyadh due to recent events on March 18th."

Addressing an inter-ministerial briefing in the national capital New Delhi, additional secretary in the gulf division at the Ministry of External Affairs, Aseem Mahajan, confirmed the latest casualty. "Late last night, we received information regarding the tragic demise of an Indian national during an attack in Riyadh on 18th March. We express our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. Our mission in Riyadh is in touch with the family and is coordinating closely with the local authorities for the early return of mortal remains to India," Mahajan stated.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma filed nomination papers on Friday, seeking re-election from the Jalukbari constituency for the sixth term in a row.

Sarma was accompanied by his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, son Nandil Biswa Sarma, BJP's Gauhati Lok Sabha MP Bijuli Kalita Medhi and Guwahati Mayor Mrigen Sarania.

Assam CM and BJP candidate Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma filed his nomination papers from the Jalukbari constituency on Friday. Speaking to reporters, the Assam CM said, "We have requested the Prime Minister for four rallies, the Home Minister for six to eight rallies (ahead of upcoming Assam Assembly elections). We have also requested Nitin Nabin as well as JP Nadda to visit Assam during the election...I think this time the voters are less because of delimitation, but having said so, we will have a better result than last time."

A team of the flying squad Team deployed for election surveillance and enforcement operations in West Bengal recovered Rs 25 lakhs in cash from a car in the jurisdiction of ECO park police station in Kolkata.

TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee has filed a petition in the Calcutta High Court against the resuffle of IAS and IPS officers ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections.

Leader of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) TTV Dhinakaran leaves Chennai to meet Amit Shah in Delhi for seat-sharing talks.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma participated in a massive roadshow ahead of filing his nominations for the Assembly polls.

With Assembly elections to five states due next month, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said it is impossible to defeat Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal and that is the reason why BJP has taken complete control of the state. Reacting to the administrative reshuffle in Bengal ahead of the Assembly elections, Raut said, "You (BJP) cannot defeat Mamata Banerjee. Defeating Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal is not just difficult, it's impossible. The entire BJP knows this... That's why they have taken complete control over West Bengal... Why don't these transfers and postings happen in other states?...We are all with her, and once again, Mamata Banerjee will be victorious in West Bengal."

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin arrived at the DMK headquarters to interview the candidates who have expressed interest in contesting the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

West Bengal Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's brother Dibyendu will fight the Assembly elections from Egra assembly constituency in Purba Medinipur district. On his candidature for the upcoming polls, Dibyendu Adhikari said, "This election is to remove the current Bengal government and to establish a Sanatan government in Bengal for which we are united. Our national president is a young man who comes from Bihar; under his leadership and under PM Modi's leadership, we will form a double-engine government and win the election with a very large majority. We will defeat Mamata Banerjee in the elections from Bhabanipur and Nandigram and establish a Sanatan government in Bengal."

AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami was in Delhi for the seat-sharing talks with the BJP, with whom the party is aligning for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Before returning to Chennai, Palaniswami said, "Discussions on seat-sharing are progressing smoothly among the parties in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu. An official announcement detailing the constituencies allocated to each party will be made within four days. No talks have been held with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam."

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and several prominent candidates of both the ruling BJP and opposition parties like the Congress will file their nomination papers on Friday for the assembly polls.