| | At a Glance | Exit polls pointed to a nail-biting West Bengal contest with Mamata Banerjee's TMC and the BJP locked in a dead heat; while the BJP looks set for another win in Assam and Congress shows gains in Kerala. Bengal also recorded a massive turnout above 92% till 11pm amid sporadic violence in the second phase of polls. Charles III mixed wit with strategy, taking a humorous swipe at Donald Trump while urging strong Western alliances. Meanwhile, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the 594-km Ganga Expressway, set to slash Meerut–Prayagraj travel time. | |
| | 🗳️Exit Polls Hint Bengal Thriller, Congress Gains In Kerala & Rest As Usual |  | BJP & TMC Neck-And-Neck
- Exit polls showed West Bengal locked in a 145-145 dead heat between the TMC and the BJP in a 294-seat assembly.
- High turnout of around 90 percent across districts indicated intense voter mobilisation that could still swing the final outcome.
- Projections in Assam gave the BJP about 90 seats versus roughly 30 for the Congress, pointing to a third straight term.
Vijay's TVK To Surprise?
- Most polls predicted the DMK alliance retaining Tamil Nadu, but TVK could disrupt with projections ranging up to 98-120 seats in Axis My India's survey.
- Exit polls in Kerala show a tight race with the UDF at about 72 seats and the Left Democratic Front close behind at 63.
- The NDA is projected to retain Puducherry amid high turnout of nearly 89.83 percent and multi-cornered contests.
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| | 💥Ballot Bonanza At 91.66%, Bruised By Bursts Of Violence In Bengal |  | Record Turnout Marks Historic Polling Day
- West Bengal recorded a massive 91.66% voter turnout in phase 2, reflecting strong public participation.
- The combined turnout across both phases reached a record 92.47%, the highest since Independence.
- Women voters slightly outnumbered men, highlighting broad and enthusiastic engagement across the state.
Sporadic Violence & Tensions Reported
- Incidents of violence and vandalism were reported from areas like Chapra, Shantipur, Nimtala and Bhangar.
- A BJP polling agent was allegedly assaulted in Chapra, while a party office was vandalised in Shantipur.
- Authorities said complaints were addressed promptly and steps were taken to ensure free and fair polling.
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| | 🎭 Will TVK Have A 'Vijay' Moment In Tamil Nadu? All Eyes On Kejriwal-Style Break Or Kishor-Style Crash |  | Breakthrough Or Spoiler: Where Will TVK Be?
- As exit polls were released, most placed TVK in the 10–24 seat range, suggesting a notable debut but not a clear path to power.
- Pollsters like P-Marq and Matrize gave modest projections, while Peoples Pulse indicated stronger urban and youth traction.
- However, Axis My India projected a dramatic 98–120 seats for TVK, which would make Vijay a central force in Tamil Nadu politics.
Two extreme scenarios
- As per the predictions, Vijay’s party could act as a spoiler, potentially splitting votes and indirectly influencing the contest.
- Such a surge would mirror the rise of Arvind Kejriwal, but Tamil Nadu’s entrenched Dravidian politics makes such a leap structurally harder.
- If projections fail, TVK risks a trajectory similar to Prashant Kishor’s Bihar debut, where high visibility did not translate into electoral success.
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| | 👑When King Charles Trumped Donald With A 'Historic' Fact Drop |  | Royal Wit Meets Diplomacy
- King Charles III delivered a witty jab at a White House state dinner, telling Donald Trump that Americans “would be speaking French” without Britain.
- The remark came during a toast, referencing Trump’s earlier claim that Europe would be speaking German without US intervention.
- Charles flipped the argument humorously, highlighting Britain’s historical role while adding a light diplomatic edge to the exchange.
Visit Carries Strategic Message
- Charles urged the United States to stay engaged with allies, warning the relationship cannot depend solely on past achievements.
- He called for “unyielding resolve” in supporting Ukraine and maintaining global partnerships amid tensions linked to Iran.
- The King presented Trump with a historic submarine bell, symbolising shared history and signalling continued cooperation between both nations.
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| | 🛣️ Meerut-Prayagraj Travel Time Cut By Half: PM Inaugurates Landmark Ganga Expressway |  | Faster Routes, Wider Reach- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 594-km Ganga Expressway, Uttar Pradesh’s longest, marking a major infrastructure milestone.
- The six-lane corridor is expected to cut Meerut–Prayagraj travel time from 10–12 hours to roughly 6–7 hours.
- Seamless access from Delhi-NCR via the Delhi-Meerut Expressway and Bijoli link will significantly improve regional connectivity.
Scale, Cost And Strategic Features- Built at an estimated Rs 36,230 crore, the expressway supports speeds up to 120 kmph with provision for expansion.
- Spanning 12 districts and over 500 villages, it includes 21 interchanges, major river bridges and nine utility complexes.
- A 3.5-km emergency airstrip, toll-based PPP model, and proposed Haridwar extension add strategic and economic value.
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| | 🚫No More Mr Nice Guy? Trump Warns Iran To 'Get Smart Soon' |  | Trump Escalates Pressure On Iran
- Donald Trump criticised Iran’s negotiation approach and said it “doesn’t know how to sign a non-nuclear deal.”
- Trump further warned Tehran to “get smart soon” in a post on Truth Social.
- The US is preparing an extended blockade strategy targeting Iranian ports and maritime routes.
Iran Proposes Phased De-Escalation
- Iran proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz while deferring nuclear talks.
- Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said there is no internal consensus on US demands.
- The proposal focuses on extending the ceasefire or moving towards a permanent end to the conflict.
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| | 🚑Pay First, Clean Ambulance Later? Viral Video Sparks Outrage In MP |  | Family Allegedly Forced To Pay, Clean Ambulance
- Relatives of a critically injured accident victim were allegedly asked to pay money and clean an ambulance before shifting him for treatment in Katni, MP.
- A viral video showed a woman cleaning the ambulance while staff stood by inside hospital premises.
- The patient remained in serious condition as the family arranged transfer to another hospital.
Video Triggers Action, Staff Face Heat
- Authorities issued notices to the ambulance driver and in-charge seeking an explanation.
- The agency operating the ambulance service terminated the two operators involved after the incident surfaced.
- Officials launched an inquiry to determine how such misconduct occurred during emergency care.
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| | Raja Raghuvanshi Case: Bail For Sonam, Fresh Push For CBI Probe From Family |  | Bail Order Shocks Family
- A Meghalaya court granted bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi, accused in her husband Raja’s murder case.
- Raja’s family expressed shock over the decision and demanded a CBI probe into the investigation.
- Sonam had been in judicial custody for nearly 10 months in Shillong jail.
Family Alleges Lapses In Probe
- Raja’s brother said the family would challenge the bail order in the Meghalaya high court.
- He alleged gaps in investigation and said key case documents were not shared properly.
- Police had earlier filed a chargesheet naming Sonam and others in the murder conspiracy.
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| | 🦎Not On The Menu: Snack Turns Nightmare As Man Alleges Lizard Found In Paneer Roll |  | Disturbing Find In Snack- A 32-year-old cab driver alleged he found a lizard inside a paneer tikka roll bought from a bakery.
- Having skipped lunch earlier, he first ate cake before ordering the roll when chicken option was unavailable.
- After consuming part of the roll, he claimed he discovered the lizard and confronted bakery staff immediately.
Illness, Dispute And Probe
- The man vomited while checking the shop, was hospitalised, and later developed diarrhoea requiring observation for 24 hours.
- He alleged bakery staff denied responsibility, refused expenses, and suggested shifting him to another hospital they preferred.
- Police registered a negligence case, noting no photographic proof was produced, and said investigation remains ongoing.
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| | 🏏SRH Chase 244! Head, Klaasen Overshadow Rickelton's historic MI Ton In Run-Fest |  | SRH’s Blistering Chase
- Sunrisers Hyderabad chased down 244 in just 18.4 overs, sealing a six-wicket win with eight balls to spare, one of IPL’s highest successful chases.
- Travis Head (76 off 30) and Heinrich Klaasen (65 off 30) powered the carnage, capitalising on dropped chances.
- Jasprit Bumrah had a rare off day as SRH batters dominated from the outset.
Rickelton’s Knock in Vain
- Ryan Rickelton smashed an unbeaten 123 off 55, Mumbai Indians’ highest individual IPL score.
- Strong support from Will Jacks (46) and Hardik Pandya (31) helped Mumbai Indians post 243/5.
- Despite the massive total, missed chances and poor bowling cost MI the game.
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