Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik on Thursday suspended two party MLAs—Arvind Mohapatra from Patkura and Sanatan Mahakud from Champua—for attending BJP-led programmes without prior permission from the party. The decision was taken at the BJD headquarters in Bhubaneswar and is being seen as a strong signal to enforce organisational discipline in the…
Bhubaneswar: Exit polls for the 227-ward Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) indicate a clear edge for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, projecting between 131 and 151 seats—well above the 114 required for a simple majority. If borne out by the final results due on Friday, the mandate would pave the way for Mumbai’s first BJP mayor. According…
Bhubaneswar: Indian authorities on January 9, 2026, enforced a comprehensive ban on the sale and delivery of non-vegetarian food and liquor within a 15-kilometre radius of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, citing concerns over religious sentiments and public order. The directive explicitly applies to online food delivery platforms such as Zomato and Swiggy, in…
Bhubaneswar: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is planning a major redesign of the Aadhaar card aimed at significantly enhancing user privacy and data security. The new Aadhaar format, expected to be rolled out from December, will feature only the cardholder’s photograph and a Quick Response (QR) code, with all printed personal details removed….
Bhubaneswar: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has introduced a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to streamline protocol darshan and reinforce discipline within the sacred temple premises, following a recent controversy linked to protocol arrangements. Under the revised SOP, the entire responsibility for managing protocol guests will rest with the SJTA, aimed at ensuring better…
Bhubaneswar: Political tensions in West Bengal intensified on January 10 after a clash broke out near Chandrakona Road in Paschim Medinipur involving the convoy of Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, triggering a late-night standoff at a local police station and sharp exchanges between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The incident occurred around 8:20…
Bhubaneswar: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Saturday cautioned that India’s historical decline stemmed not from aggression but from a failure to adequately safeguard its security, urging young leaders to remain constantly vigilant to protect the nation’s sovereignty and future. Speaking at the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue at Bharat Mandapam, Doval addressed over 3,000…
Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Somnath Temple marked the commencement of Somnath Swabhiman Parv, a four-day celebration from January 8 to 11, commemorating 1,000 years since the first desecration of the sacred shrine in 1026 and honouring its extraordinary history of 17 reconstructions despite repeated invasions. The Prime Minister participated in a…
Bhubaneswar: The Enforcement Directorate’s raids at the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) office in Kolkata have triggered a sharp political escalation in West Bengal, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launching a direct attack on the Centre and the BJP. The development comes at a time when the state is slowly moving into campaign mode ahead…
Bhubaneswar: The killing of Mani Chakraborty, a Hindu grocery trader in Narsingdi, is not merely another entry in Bangladesh’s crime statistics. It is the sixth fatal attack on Hindu men in less than three weeks, and together these killings form a troubling pattern that speaks less about individual acts of violence and more about a…