In a significant political development, the Congress party has withdrawn its candidate from the upcoming Baramati Assembly by-election, effectively easing the path for Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister SunetraPawar.

The “Hasina factor” has officially entered the diplomatic halls of New Delhi. As the new BNP government in Dhaka seeks the return of its deposed leader to face a death sentence, India and Bangladesh are walking a tightrope between legal obligations and strategic partnership. While the extradition remains a complex legal hurdle, the agreement to ease visas and boost energy trade suggests that both nations are looking beyond the past to secure a stable future for the region.

The political battle in Assam has taken a dramatic turn just days before voting. After Congress leader Pawan Khera accused the Chief Minister’s wife of holding multiple foreign passports, the Assam Police responded with a raid on his Delhi residence. With “incriminating evidence” reportedly found and Khera currently in Hyderabad, the exchange of words between the BJP and Congress has reached a fever pitch, turning a passport row into a defining moment of the 2026 election campaign.

In a major legal turn, the Chhattisgarh High Court on April 2, 2026, sentenced Amit Jogi—son of the state’s first Chief Minister—to life imprisonment for the 2003 murder of NCP leader Ramavatar Jaggi. Overturning a 2007 acquittal, the court identified Jogi as the “mastermind” behind the conspiracy to eliminate his political rival. While the victim’s family hailed the verdict as a long-awaited triumph for truth, Jogi has already appealed to the Supreme Court, which is scheduled to hear the matter on April 20, 2026.

In a significant boost to India’s energy security, the Indian-flagged gas tanker Green Asha successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz on April 5, 2026, amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Carrying 20,000 tonnes of LPG, the vessel utilized a “Friendly Nation” protocol with Iran to ensure safe passage. With India relying on this region for 60% of its cooking gas, the successful transit—coordinated by the Indian government and monitored by the Navy—is crucial in preventing domestic fuel shortages.

Tension gripped parts of Malda district after a protest over alleged deletion of names from the voter list turned violent in the Kaliachak area, leading to a major law-and-order crisis and triggering a political as well as media controversy.According to official sources, the unrest began when a group of protesters gathered near a Block Development Office (BDO) demanding restoration of their names in the electoral rolls ahead of the ongoing election atmosphere.