World

NEW DELHI: On paper, the 2026 assembly elections are straightforward: five regions, 824 seats, and a familiar roster of parties battling for power. West Bengal (294 seats), Tamil Nadu (234), Kerala (140), Assam (126), and Puducherry (30) together form a significant, but not unprecedented, electoral exercise.Yet, this is not a routine election cycle.The timing gives…

Amid the unendurable, inside hospital wards, in the rubble after a calamity, or in the quiet devastation of personal loss, dark, absurd jokes bubble up like twisted lifelines.“We can either laugh in the face of death or die trying not to,” wrote novelist James Grippando. It’s morbid, it’s wrong, yet it cuts through the horror,…

NEW DELHI: For decades, politics in Tamil Nadu has revolved around two Dravidian giants — DMK and AIADMK.Election after election, new entrants have tried to break this duopoly, but most have struggled to make a lasting impact.In the 2026 assembly elections, the bipolar contest was disrupted by a high-profile cinematic entry, as actor-turned-politician Vijay Thalapathy…

The political battle for Tamil Nadu will enter its decisive stage with the counting of votes on Monday, as attention turns to whether DMK retains its grip on power, whether AIADMK mounts a strong comeback, or TVK manages to alter the state’s traditional equation.However, beyond individual contests, this election is being closely tracked for how…

NEW DELHI: Assam assembly elections concluded in one phase on April 9, recording a turnout of over 85%, one of the highest in recent years. In a crucial contest in Assam, the Bharatiya Janata Party, under chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, is seeking a third straight term. Meanwhile, the Congress has mounted a determined effort…

NEW DELHI: The political battle for Assam will enter its decisive stage with the counting of votes on Monday, determining whether the BJP-led NDA secures a third consecutive term or the Congress stages a comeback after a high-voltage campaign centred on identity politics, welfare delivery and regional aspirations.A total of 722 candidates are in the…