In a dramatic development, the Bombay High Court’s Goa bench on April 8, 2026, cancelled the Ponda Assembly by-election just hours before voting was scheduled to begin. The decision has sparked political controversy and raised questions about the timing of the Election Commission’s notification.
Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla rejected notices moved by the Opposition MPs seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, holding that the Opposition failed to provide proof and the allegations levelled against him do not establish a prima facie case of “misbehaviour” as required under the Constitution.
In a significant move aimed at safeguarding individual liberty, the government of Karnataka has introduced the Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Crimes in the Name of Honour and Tradition Bill, 2026. The proposed legislation seeks to protect consenting adults from family or community interference, particularly in cases of inter-caste and interfaith relationships.
In a dramatic escalation of political hostilities ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has alleged a “Pakistan-linked” conspiracy behind recent corruption charges leveled against his wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma.
In its first verdict, an appellate tribunal has recognised a Congress-nominated candidate from Farakka in Murshidabad district as a legal voter, just 17 days before the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections scheduled on 23 April. The second phase will be held on 29 April.
A fresh political controversy erupted after the Indian National Congress alleged that the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma possesses three foreign passports, triggering a sharp exchange between the ruling BJP and the opposition ahead of key political developments.The allegations were raised by Congress leader Pawan Khera, who claimed that Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, the Chief Minister’s wife, holds passports from multiple countries, including the UAE, Antigua and Barbuda, and Egypt. The Congress further alleged that she may have undisclosed foreign assets, including properties in Dubai, and demanded a thorough investigation into the matter.
Violence erupted at Bidhan Bhavan, the headquarters of the Indian National Congress in West Bengal, on Wednesday following intense protests over the distribution of party tickets ahead of the Assembly elections, exposing deep divisions within the state unit.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had a heated exchange in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday after the opposition demanded a discussion on the West Asia conflict that has led to a spike in oil and LPG cylinder prices.
The Telangana government has passed the Telangana Platform-Based Gig Workers Welfare Bill, 2026, marking a major step toward regulating the state’s growing gig economy and improving working conditions for app-based workers.
The law aims to provide social security and legal protection
