New Delhi: As Puducherry gears up for the upcoming assembly elections, several key constituencies in the Union Territory (UT) will witness high-profile battles involving the outgoing chief minister, former chief ministers, UT party chiefs and political successors.The Puducherry Legislative Assembly has 33 members and 30 elected seats. The remaining three MLAs are nominated by the Centre.
previous elections
Voting will be held in phases on April 9. Counting of votes is scheduled to take place on May 4, with Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal also counting at the same time.
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Annamalai skips contest, expresses ‘extreme displeasure’ over NDA seat-sharing in Tamil Nadu
Key Battle of Pondicherry
Tatanchavardi: Focus on outgoing chief minister N Rangasamycurrent MP. The AINRC founder and chairman will face off against former chief minister and current Lok Sabha member V Vaithilingam, making this election the most high-profile contest.
Tatan Chawadi conflict
Raj Bhawan: NDA candidate and Puducherry BJP president VP Ramalingam will take on DMK’s Vignesh Kannan, son of former Puducherry minister P Kannan. The DMK is contesting in alliance with the Congress.
key battles
Legal Speight: AINRC leader VP Sivakolundhu will be challenged by V Saminathan, the former Puducherry BJP president of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) representing actor-politician Vijay. Sivakorundu previously held the position of Speaker of Parliament as a Member of Parliament.Mahe and Yanhem: Among the 30 parliamentary constituencies, Mahe and Yannhem are uniquely located. Mahe is completely surrounded by the state of Kerala, while Yanam is surrounded by the state of Andhra Pradesh. In Mahe, the BJP’s A Dineshan faces the Congress’s Ramesh Parambath. Yanam will see AINRC’s Malladi Krishna Rao contesting against Congress’ Gollapalli Srinivas Ashok.
alliance
The ruling National Democratic Alliance in Puducherry consists of AINRC, BJP, AIADMK and the newly formed Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi (led by businessman Jose Charles Martin). CM Rangasamy’s party will contest 16 seats while the BJP will contest 14 constituencies. The saffron party allotted two seats each to the AIADMK and Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK) from its share.
candidates for pondicherry dynasty
Meanwhile, the Congress will select candidates in 16 constituencies and the remaining seats will be allotted to the DMK.
New Delhi: The IPL 2026 is about to begin with the opening match between defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad taking place at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. RCB will be led by Rajat Patidar while Ishan Kishan will captain SRH.RCB will also wear black armbands during the match against SRH as a tribute to the fans who tragically lost their lives in the off-field stampede after the team’s historic title win last year.
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RCB’s big changes ahead of IPL: New rules, tributes and lineup updates
A statement from RCB said, “Royal Challengers Bangalore will pay tribute to the 11 members of the RCB family who tragically lost their lives in the unfortunate incident on June 4.”“As a sign of respect, players will wear practice jerseys with the number 11 on them during warm-ups and black armbands during games.”“In lasting remembrance, 11 seats of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will remain vacant as a permanent tribute to the fans whose unwavering support will always be a part of the RCB family,” the statement concluded.During victory celebrations last year, a stampede broke out outside the stadium, killing 11 people and injuring many others.“Koli is very hungry”Virat Kohli Coach Andy Flower says he is hungry and at the “peak of his powers” as his IPL side RCB begin their title defense.Former captain Kohli has retired from Test matches and T20 internationals and has now only played 50-plus games for India.“Virat is in very good spirits,” Flower told reporters.“He was happy with himself but still very hungry and watching him hit the ball in training he saw the peak of his power.”“Of course it’s professionally satisfying for everyone, but it was a very exciting time at the end of last season for a variety of reasons,” Flower told reporters.“It’s done again, so it’s time to move on.”
The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) has a reputation for developing world-class leaders. Four of its most successful alumni moved to the United States and reached the absolute pinnacle of their fields. From leading global financial institutions to leading Ivy League universities, these graduates are redefining international leadership.
IIM-A alumni Ajay Banga (left) and Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon (right). (World Bank, Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon)
Ajay Banga
Ajay Banga is President of the World Bank Group. He becomes the first Indian-born executive to hold the position in the bank’s history, commencing his five-year term on June 2, 2023.
Prior to joining the World Bank, he served as Vice Chairman of General Atlantic and previously served as President and CEO of Mastercard. He served as President of the International Chamber of Commerce (2020-2022) and has served on the boards of directors of the American Red Cross, Kraft Foods, and The Dow Company. He is also a co-founder of the Cyber Readiness Institute, according to a company profile.
he received Padma Shri In 2016, he was honored by the President of India. In addition, he was awarded the Singapore Public Service Star Award and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2022.
In 2015, the IIM Ahmedabad alumnus visited his alma mater as the chief guest along with his wife Ritu Banga at the institute’s 50th convocation ceremony and established scholarships named “Ajay Banga Industry Scholarship” and “Ritu Banga Industry Scholarship”.
The Student Yearbook 1980-81 described him as: “A warm-hearted man with a hearty laugh and, no doubt, a voracious appetite. A steady, sensible, funny man who combines work with pleasure with the right amount of seriousness and ‘pace.'” Always be prepared with a second helping of ice cream and other goodies in life, some of which Gujarat cannot provide in the required quantities, despite having military camps. His academic foundation is solid, and his classroom CP delivers speeches with the piercing decibel voice of a corporate prophet. Toole and the Beatles sang from a stolen DJ speaker that was cleverly hidden in a corner of his room. He was always ready to help, whether it was with finances or rail bookings, and his boisterous laughter and deep animal calls echoed off the walls of D-5 every day. One of those pillars of indifference in good times and bad. All in all, he is a man for all seasons and no doubt the “seasons” will prove it! “
Srikanth Datar
He became the eleventh dean of Harvard Business School (HBS). While on the faculty, “he served as senior associate dean for university affairs (including faculty chair of the Harvard Innovation Lab), research, executive education, faculty development, and faculty recruitment.“
““Srikant Datar is an innovative educator, distinguished scholar, and experienced academic leader,” then-Harvard President Larry Bacow said of Datar when announcing the 2020 appointment. Datar joined the Harvard Business School faculty in 1996. Since 2015, he has also served as Chair of the Harvard Innovation Lab (i-lab).
While studying at IIM-A, he served as Coordinator, Student Affairs Committee (1977-78). He also received the Outstanding Overall Performance Award. In an interview with IIM-A, he shared how he applied to the institution after completing his chartered accountancy qualification.
In a 2018 interview, he reflected on his time as a student, saying, “It was a completely unbelievable experience.” He also mentioned his professors who made his life better.
Datar attended the PGP program at IIM Ahmedabad from 1976 to 1978. He has said that his time at the academy was “the most memorable”. He also said, “Without IIM Ahmedabad, I don’t think I would have had the opportunities that I have now.”
Raghu Sundaram
According to the official website of the New York University Stern School of Business, Raghu Sundaram is the senior vice president and chief global officer of New York University and the honorary dean of the Stern School of Business.
He also served as dean of New York University’s Stern School of Business from 2018 to 2024. Additionally, he served as Associate Dean for MBA Programs and Online Learning from 2016 to 2017. Before joining NYU Stern School of Business in 1996, he served as a faculty member at the University of Rochester.
according to his LinkedInIn 1984, he completed his MBA degree and graduated from IIM-A. In addition to his PG degree, he holds a BA in Economics from the University of Madras. In addition, he holds master’s and doctoral degrees in economics from Cornell University.
Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon
Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon is a two-time Grammy nominee and first-time winner at the 67th annual Grammy Awards. After completing her education at Madras Christian College, she pursued postgraduate studies (PGP) at IIM-A in 1975. Last month, she promised $Rs 100 crore will be provided to IIM-A to establish an Institute of Artificial Intelligence.
She started her career as Finance Director at Citibank India. After three years there, she spent eleven years as a partner at McKinsey & Company. In 2009, she established the Krishnamurthy Tandon Foundation in New York.
She is a trustee of New York University. She is a past chair and current member of the Board of Trustees of the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, chair of the NYU President’s Global Council, and a trustee of NYU Langone Health.
New Delhi: BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan on Saturday attacked the Tamil Nadu Congress, claiming the party faced “serious divisions” after MP Jothimani publicly expressed concerns over the lack of transparency in constituency selection ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.In a post on X, Kesavan said these developments reflected the larger pattern within the party and also targeted the DMK-Congress alliance in the state.“Rahul Gandhi’s Congress is a deeply divided House and is in complete disarray in Tamil Nadu. Their TN party MPs are now openly attacking the Congress leadership for lack of transparency. There is a pattern. Rahul Gandhi’s point man in the Bihar elections has been criticized by Congress workers for allegedly selling tickets. This is why the compromised Congress has lost credibility among people across the country. The opportunistic DMK-Congress alliance is in tatters and the tyranny of the disastrous DMK government, one of the worst in the history of Tamil Nadu, will be roundly rejected by the people in the coming elections,” the BJP leader wrote.Kesavan’s remarks came after Jyotimani publicly questioned the Congress party’s constituency selection process, claiming that the decisions were taken in a “highly secretive manner” and the party’s welfare was compromised.“There is absolutely no transparency in the Congress party’s constituency selection. Our view that constituency selection should be done after transparency and extensive discussion is not accepted by responsible leaders. Everything is done in a highly secretive manner. The welfare of the Congress party is completely compromised. It is heartbreaking to see that some people who did not even bother to pluck a feather out of the decades of hard work of genuine Congress workers like us working for the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee are now betraying it,” Jothimani wrote on X.She also warned that the party may face dire consequences in Tamil Nadu if the same approach is adopted in the candidate selection process.“In the face of this terrible situation, we cannot remain silent without raising questions. The party is more than the responsible leader, the national president and the leader of the legislative party. The party is made up of the emotions and labor of thousands of workers. We can discuss this in detail once the list is announced.” If the selection of candidates follows the same pitch, no one can save the Congress party in Tamil Nadu.“The political developments come as the DMK alliance continues to gear up for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.Dravida Munnetra Kazagam (DMK) has announced that its ‘rising sun’ symbol will be contested in nearly 175 constituencies in the state.The DMK alliance has so far allotted seats to nine parties, including Congress (28), MDMK (4), IUML (2), MMK (2), KMDK (2), CPI (5), CPM (5), VCK (8) and DMDK (10). A total of 66 seats have been allotted to allies, out of which 7 seats are contested under the DMK symbol.With the remaining allocation, the DMK is expected to contest directly in 168 seats while alliance candidates will also contest in 7 seats under the ‘rising sun’ symbol, taking the total number of seats under the DMK symbol to 175.Tamil Nadu will go to polls in phases on April 23 and counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
Swiss food brand Nestlé has reported the theft of a large shipment of its popular Kit Kat chocolate bars in Europe, warning the incident could disrupt supplies ahead of the Easter season.The company confirmed in a statement that a truck carrying 413,793 units of its newly launched chocolate range was stolen while in transit. According to AFP, the shipment, weighing about 12 tons, went missing last week during transportation between production and distribution points. According to the company, the truck had traveled from central Italy to Poland, with plans to distribute products to several European countries along the way. However, the exact location where the theft took place has not been revealed and the vehicle and its cargo remain untraceable.A spokesman for the brand, referring to its famous slogan, said the company has always encouraged consumers to “take a break” from KitKat, but added that in this case, “the thieves appear to have taken that message too literally.”“We have been encouraging people to give up KitKat chocolate. But thieves appear to have taken this message too literally and stole more than 12 tonnes of our chocolate,” the spokesman said.Nestlé warned the theft could lead to temporary shortages of Kit Kat bars in stores, especially in the run-up to Easter when demand typically rises. The company also warned that stolen products could find their way into unofficial or unauthorized sales channels across European markets.An investigation into the incident is currently underway in coordination with local authorities and supply chain partners. Nestlé said it was working to track the missing shipments using unique batch codes printed on each chocolate bar. If discovered, the system will prompt the user with instructions to alert the company so further action can be taken.“If a match is found, the scanner will receive clear instructions on how to alert KitKat, which will then share the evidence appropriately,” the company said.The brand urges retailers and consumers to remain cautious and continue efforts to recover stolen goods and prevent them from circulating in the market.
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Bharatiya Janata Party’s ‘charge sheet’ against the BJP released on Saturday Trinamool Congress (TMC)-led West Bengal government is about to hold assembly elections in the state.Addressing a press conference in Kolkata, Shah stressed that the upcoming elections will be a choice between “fear and trust”. He was joined by Bharatiya Janata Party president Samik Bhattacharya, a member of the Lok Sabha, and Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly.He criticized the chief minister and TMC top leader Mamata Banerjeeaccusing her of “fuelling a politics of lies, violence and corruption over the past 15 years.”“Bengal has to choose between fear and trust. The politics of fear and corruption has been going on for the past 15 years. Mamata Banerjee has created a new way of politics by using lies and violence to drive her politics forward. The TMC came to power on the basis of lies, fear and violence. But the BJP has been fighting it since 2011 and I am confident that this time the BJP will form the government,” Shah told reporters.He continued, “In today’s press conference, we have presented a charge sheet against the 15-year rule of the TMC government. This charge sheet has been brought on behalf of the people of Bengal and this is expressed by the BJP. At some point, the people of Bengal will have to decide whether to choose fear or trust in the upcoming elections.”The senior BJP leader also praised Suvendu Adhikari for his extensive visits to the state to address key issues.“The elections have been announced. All BJP workers, under the leadership of our country’s President, have stepped into Bengal determined to form a BJP government. This election in Bengal is also very important for national security.” The security of the entire eastern region is closely related to Bangladesh. After the formation of the BJP government in Assam, infiltration has almost ended. Now, there is only one route left for infiltrators to enter the entire country and that is Bangladesh,” he explained.Shah added: “Our Leader of Opposition Shri Suvendu Adhikari ji also toured the entire Bengal before the elections to bring before everyone the prevailing chaos, anarchy, economic woes and especially the problem of infiltration in Bengal.”He further criticized the TMC for failing to deliver on its ‘Sonar Bangla’ promise, turning the state into a hub of criminal gangs and stifling industrial growth, describing it as an “industrial graveyard”.The state will hold elections in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with the two-phase counting scheduled for May 4. Elections will be held in 152 constituencies in the first phase and the remaining 142 seats will go to polls in the second phase.(with ANI input)
A month into the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran, there are few signs of easing, with military operations continuing on multiple fronts and diplomatic efforts making limited progress.
Thick smoke billows from the air after the United States and Israel launched military attacks on Tehran, Iran. (Associated Press)
One of the key reasons conflicts persist is a lack of consistency in end goals. According to BBC News, the President of the United States Donald Trump Different goals have been stated: from containing Iran’s nuclear program to promoting political change in Tehran.
IranHowever, the United States has refused to make concessions on key issues such as its missile program and regional alliances. As the BBC noted, Tehran wants the war to end quickly but “at any cost,” especially if it involves giving in to U.S. demands.
Meanwhile, Israel is focusing on dismantling Iran’s missile capabilities and limiting what it sees as existential threats, thereby reducing the likelihood of a ceasefire.
Earlier this year, indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran made some progress, particularly on the nuclear issue. However, negotiations have stalled because Iran is unwilling to discuss its ballistic missile program or its support for regional proxy groups, according to BBC News.
The New Humanitarian also reports that while back-channel communication may be ongoing, it may be through e.g. Pakistan. The status of any meaningful negotiations remains unclear.
No agreement could be reached on core issues, and no breakthrough could be achieved through diplomatic channels.
How does continued military escalation sustain the conflict?
Fighting continues in the region, with Iran continuing its missile and drone attacks on Israel and Gulf states.
The attacks have spread beyond Israel, with incidents also taking place in places like Abu Dhabi, The New Humanitarian reported.
Israel has also expanded its military operations, including plans to establish a “defensive buffer zone” in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has further inflamed the conflict by vowing to continue fighting “without limits.”
Meanwhile, there are reports that the United States is considering sending additional troops to the region.
What role do regional tensions and alliances play?
The conflict has attracted multiple regional actors, complicating efforts to contain it. Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have expressed concerns about attacks linked to Iranian-backed forces, The New Humanitarian reported.
Iran also warned that commercial websites linked to U.S. interests could be targeted, raising concerns about further escalation.
Why isn’t there a clear exit strategy yet?
According to the New Humanitarian, Iranian authorities reported at least 1,900 deaths in the previous four weeks. Despite mounting casualties, none of the major political parties appear ready to back down.
The United States is under pressure to demonstrate results, Iran seeks to show resilience and Israel aims to weaken its adversaries’ military capabilities.
Since both sides pursue different outcomes, the necessary conditions to end the war still do not exist.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Donald Trump (left) and Elon Musk (right) (Photo/Agency)
New Delhi: Congress on Saturday savaged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent phone call with US President Donald Trump, following reports that Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk was also on the call.Opposition parties have raised questions about transparency and decorum, claiming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government failed to disclose key details about the interactions, particularly a private businessman who was reportedly involved in high-level diplomatic exchanges.
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Report says Elon Musk joins talks as West Asia crisis intensifies, PM Modi’s call with Trump high risk
The controversy stems from a New York Times report that said Musk was part of a conversation between the two leaders. The call reportedly focused on the evolving crisis in West Asia and the need to ensure stability in the region.In response to the report, Congress questioned the appropriateness of private attendance at discussions between the two heads of state, especially in a sensitive geopolitical situation.In a post onThe party also questioned why the Indian government did not officially disclose Musk’s attendance.“Why did the Modi government not disclose Musk’s existence? Why did we learn about it from another country and not our own government?” the Congress said.“Trump spoke to leaders of different countries during the war but no businessman participated in any of the calls. Why is this happening only to Modi?” the party added.Congress further noted that the White House called the conversation “productive” and questioned the nature of the outcome.“The White House said the talks were productive. But productive for whom?” the person involved asked.The opposition called for clarification, saying the country “deserves a clear answer”, especially given the seriousness of the situation in West Asia.The company also viewed the issue as one of diplomatic courtesy and said the call came at a time when tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran require “diplomatic seriousness, not corporate presence.”Elon Musk’s involvement in the call was confirmed by U.S. officials, the New York Times reported, making it an unusual example of a private citizen participating in a high-level diplomatic discussion.The report emphasized that the dialogue between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump took place on March 24 and focused on the crisis in West Asia, especially the need to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remains open and safe. In an official statement issued after the call, Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s support for de-escalation and dialogue. He stressed that ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is crucial to global economic stability and energy security.India has also been actively engaging with key stakeholders, including Iran and the United States, to safeguard its strategic and economic interests in the region.
Tiger Woods. This legendary golfer is Arrested on suspicion of drunk driving Friday after he was involved in a car crash in Florida. A post has since gone viral purporting to show the president Donald Trump Call for Woods’ pardon on The Truth Society.
Donald Trump addressed Tiger Woods’ car crash after arriving in Miami. (X/@JB_Conley)
“I was just told Tiger WoodsA great golfer, and even a great American, was involved in a minor fender bender today and due to a misunderstanding he was charged with a horrific DUI. This happened when he was trying to return to professional golf. Honestly, everyone deserves a second chance, but Tiger never got one. That’s why I’m calling on Governor Ron DeSantis to pardon Tiger immediately and completely so he can focus on the Masters and help make golf great again! ” the alleged post reads.
It was shared widely on social media. One account shared it on X and wrote “Awesome.” As of this writing, the post has been viewed over 1 million times.
Did Trump make a “Truth Society” post about Tiger Woods?
Despite the reach of the post, Trump did not actually call for Woods’ pardon on The Truth Society. His posts touch on Chuck Schumer and the filibuster, as well as the war with Iran. Trump did not mention Woods in any of his Truth Society posts today, which is what the fabricated dates of the posts indicate.
Grok also fact-checked this claim and wrote “No, this is not an actual post from Trump. This is a satirical meme created by Tiger Woods yesterday after his DUI arrest after a rollover crash in Florida. Trump expressed sympathy for Woods but did not ask DeSantis for any pardon or post this content.”
While Trump did not publish a post on The Truth Society seeking to pardon Woods, the president did address the crash. Trump was asked about the incident as he arrived in Miami to speak at the Future Investment Initiative Priorities Summit.
He said: “I feel bad. He had some difficulties. There was an accident, that’s all I know. He’s a very close friend of mine. He’s a great guy, a great guy. But there were some difficulties.” When asked if Woods was injured, Trump continued, “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Woods was driving the Land Rover at high speed on a two-lane road near his home when the accident occurred. The accident occurred when Woods was trying to pass a truck towing a trailer. According to officials, Woods showed signs of injury when he arrived on scene. This resulted in a DUI investigation. A breathalyzer test was performed after Woods was brought in, but the results confirmed there was no alcohol in his system.
Woods was charged with driving under the influence (DUI), property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test and was booked into the Martin County Jail.
NEW DELHI: The Petroleum Ministry on Friday increased commercial LPG allocation to states by 20% to meet the additional demand of industrial units such as steel, automobile, textile and chemicals.With this increase, total commercial LPG allocations now reach 70% of pre-conflict levels.
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Center pushes Papua New Guinea: Where pipelines exist, LPG supplies may stop
In a letter to chief secretaries of states and union territories, Petroleum Minister Neeraj Mittal said that only those industrial units that have registered with the Oil Marketing Corporation, declared an end to the use of gas cylinders and have signed up to join the pipeline gas network will be eligible for additional quota of LPG. Certain industrial units may be exempted from such requirements if they use LPG for special purposes that cannot be replaced by natural gas, he added.“Additional allocations should be allocated on a priority basis to labor-intensive industries such as steel, automobiles, textiles, dyes, chemicals and plastics, and to support other important sectors. Among them, priority should be given to processing industries or industries that require LPG for special heating and cannot be replaced by natural gas,” Mittal said in the letter.When the conflict began, the Center temporarily stopped the supply of commercial LPG cylinders, after which it allocated 20% of the average monthly demand and left it to states and union territories to decide on priorities. Later, it added up to 10 per cent additional quota for states that allowed city gas distribution companies to reform and streamline their operations to expand piped gas networks, followed by an additional 20 per cent quota for allotment to the hotel industry.Mittal said some states have already made full or partial reforms to get additional quota of up to 10% and urged others to take advantage of this quota at the earliest.
