Senthil Kumar

DMK's R Senthil Kumar has secured victory in the Bahour constituency, defeating T Thiagarajan by 2397 votes in the 2026 assembly elections. This agrarian region in southern Puducherry witnessed a remarkable 93.99% voter turnout by 7 pm. Bahour's electoral landscape has seen shifting loyalties, with Kumar's win marking a continuation of this trend.

The assaulted man has been identified as Suresh Kumar, 47, of Denishpet, who contested in the Omalur constituency as an independent candidate in the April 23 assembly election with the support of the Ramadoss faction of PMK.

In a bold move to rejuvenate the struggling sugar industry, Bihar's government has drastically reduced the Regional Development Council's commission by 90%, lowering it from 1.80% to a mere 0.2% of the cane price. This strategic decision aims to improve the financial health of sugar mills while ensuring that farmers' interests remain protected.

Early vote counting trends in Tamil Nadu show a strong debut for actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), emerging as the single largest party ahead of DMK and AIADMK. TVK leader Vijay is leading in Tiruchirappalli East, with the new party confident of forming the government independently.

Early trends show the NDA, led by AINRC, is set to retain power in Puducherry. Chief Minister N Rangasamy secured the Thattanchavady seat, a key victory. The Congress-DMK alliance struggles, indicating a fragmented opposition. The NDA's organizational strength and voter outreach appear to have secured them another term, promising continuity in governance.

Director SS Rajamouli revealed the challenging filming of Jr NTR's iconic Bheem introduction in 'RRR'. A parkour artist, pushed to his limits by NTR's incredible speed, operated the camera for the continuous jungle run. Rajamouli also lauded the lead actors' dedication to performing their own stunts, calling their performances the best of his career.

A dispute over chicken curry led to a fatal assault in Palakkad, where a 45-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death by his nephew. The accused, Prabhakaran, is on the run and suspected to have fled to Tamil Nadu after the incident. Police have registered a murder case and are investigating.

Extreme heat and gusty winds in Tamil Nadu's Mettur have caused a glut of unripe, lower-quality bananas in Bengaluru markets, leading to a significant price crash. Yelakki bananas have dropped from Rs 60-65 to Rs 15-40 per kg, while robusta variety fell from Rs 20-25 to Rs 7-10 per kg.

Tamil Nadu's 2026 elections see a surge of namesake candidates, with over 100 constituencies featuring individuals mirroring prominent contenders. This tactic, aimed at confusing voters, has been observed in key races, impacting close contests. While the Election Commission now includes candidate photographs on EVMs, experts believe more robust measures are needed to curb this electoral manipulation and ensure fair play.

As elections approach, political campaigns are transcending religious and caste boundaries. Leaders from various parties are seen participating in religious ceremonies across different faiths and visiting community memorials. This strategic shift aims to consolidate a significant minority vote and appeal to all segments of the electorate.

In a bold move ahead of the elections, DMK has rolled out its roster of 164 candidates, blending experienced stalwarts with more than 60 fresh entrants eager to make their mark. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin championed the 'mega mega alliance' during the campaign kickoff, setting sights on the western region.

Malayalam television welcomes 'Valyettan,' a new serial featuring Jayakrishnan and Veena. The story centers on a devoted elder brother caring for his four sisters, with hints of a blossoming childhood romance between the lead pair. This show, a remake of the Tamil series 'Anna,' will premiere soon.