Tensions are rising in India's West Bengal state ahead of elections scheduled for late April, with the ruling Trinamool Congress party accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP of attempting to manipulate voter lists. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to the Chief Election Commissioner alleging a "grave conspiracy," claiming BJP agents had submitted thousands of fraudulent applications to add non-residents to the electoral rolls. She specifically highlighted the Muslim-majority Murshidabad district, which saw significant voter deductions after a recent cleanup exercise.
In corporate news, India's largest airline IndiGo appointed former British Airways CEO William Walsh as its new Chief Executive Officer, pending security clearance from aviation authorities. The move comes as the carrier grapples with fuel price hikes exacerbated by the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran, leading to newly introduced surcharges on domestic and international flights. The company is reportedly lobbying the government to reduce fuel taxes.
Indian tennis legend Leander Paes joined the BJP in a political coup seen as a setback for West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress. The 53-year-old athlete, who had briefly aligned with Trinamool in 2021 but never contested elections, stated his new "game" is for "the country and its youth." His defection underscores the high-stakes battle in West Bengal, where the BJP has yet to secure victory despite recent gains.
The Indian government is set to launch its decennial census on April 1, a mammoth year-long exercise involving over 3 million officials. For the first time, citizens will have a 15-day window for online self-enumeration before door-to-door data collection begins. The census will include caste data—a contentious issue in India's social and political landscape—with proponents arguing it's essential for equitable welfare schemes, while critics deem it regressive.
A stampede at the Sheetala Mata temple in Bihar state killed at least eight women, highlighting recurring safety failures at religious gatherings in India, which claim over 100 lives annually. Prime Minister Modi expressed condolences and announced compensation for victims' families. Separately, Delhi police arrested a man for smuggling illicit alcohol into the capital using camels, seizing two animals and nearly 2,000 liquor pouches.
France's Eutelsat satellite operator is in talks with the Indian Space Research Organisation for future satellite launches, as Paris and New Delhi deepen defense and space cooperation. Eutelsat's CEO emphasized India's strategic market importance, noting discussions during a recent diplomatic visit. Meanwhile, Iran accused the US and Israel of a "war crime" for allegedly striking an Iranian civilian aircraft carrying humanitarian aid from India, though Washington has not commented and Delhi remains silent.
These developments unfold against a backdrop of electoral preparations in five Indian regions, with Modi's BJP seeking to expand its influence. The census delay since 2021, partly due to the pandemic, adds to the administrative challenges, while international incidents like the Iran plane strike complicate India's balancing act in global geopolitics.
Source: www.dw.com