Brisk polling much on the line of the other phases was recorded in the fifth phase of polling in West Bengal where 45 constituencies across six districts including Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Aklimpong, Nadia, North 24 Parganas and East Burdwan are going for the polls on Saturday. Altogether 1,13,73,307 voters will exercise their franchise in 15,789 polling stations spread across six districts. ....

India has reported 2,34,692 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours, the highest single-day spike ever, pushing the country's overall Covid tally to 1,45,26,609, according to the Health Ministry data released on Saturday. ....

The Niranjan Akhada has announced curtailing the ongoing Kumbh Mela on April 17, almost two weeks ahead of schedule, after several senior BJP leaders in Uttarakhand held discussion with the Akhadas to convince them to end it amid surge in Covid-19 cases and concerns of violation of Covid protocols, a senior party leader said. ....

Soaring above the 60K range, Maharashtra on Friday recorded a new high of 63,729 infections and the second highest death toll of 398, with the state jumping past the 37-L mark, health officials said. ....

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday announced that he has tested positive for Covid-19. ....

Speaking in support of a woman SPO (special police officer), whose services were terminated for allegedly glorifying terrorism, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said on Friday that the officer has been slapped with UAPA for raising legitimate questions. ....

Even after being infected with coronavirus, Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is reviewing the Covid-19 situation in the state every day. ....

Karnataka Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa on Friday tested Covid positive and got himself admitted to a hospital. ....

Akali Dal MP and former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Friday tested Covid-19 positive. Earlier, her husband Sukhbir Badal had contacted the virus. ....

Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's dream of taking Kerala to the development status of the Nordic countries is yet to materialise, had it been so, then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan would have been subjected to a heavy fine, similar to what happened to the Prime Minister of Norway, Erna Solberg. ....

In a major development, the Haj Committee of India (HCI) has said that no Indian Muslims shall be allowed to go for the annual Haj pilgrimage unless they have taken the two vaccine doses. ....

India reported 2,17,353 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the biggest single-day spike ever, taking the overall tally to 14,291,917 cases on Friday, according to the Health Ministry data. ....

In a major step to ramp up vaccine production amid the Covid-19 second wave, the Centre has approved production of Corona vaccines from the Maharashtra government-owned Haffkine Institute in Mumbai. ....

A Block Development Council (BDC) candidate Rakesh Babu, 60, was allegedly stabbed to death ahead of the Panchayat elections, scheduled to be held in Mainpuri on April 19. ....

Former Director of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Ranjit Sinha passed away on Friday morning, sources said. ....

As Maharashtra bears the brunt of the second wave of Covid-19 sweeping India, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare the pandemic a "natural calamity". ....

After Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Election Commission on Thursday barred West Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh from campaigning for 24 hours, charging him with making "provocative" public statements that can "seriously incite" emotions and lead to "breakdown" of law and order affecting the Assembly election process in the state. ....

The Yogi Adityanath government has ordered sanitisation of all the mandi sites, cold storages and warehouses in order to check the Covid spread in the rural areas across Uttar Pradesh. ....

Keeping in view the alarming situation in Bihar due to Covid 19, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP National President J.P. Nadda to release state health minister Mangal Pandey from the West Bengal poll campaign. ....

The daughter of jailed former BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar, has put out a video statement, questioning the 'injustice' done to her mother Sangeeta Senger. ....