June 27, 2026

Vamsikrishna

DHR invites applications for overseas fellowships: Check complete details here

DHR invites applications for overseas fellowships: Check complete details here

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

The Department of Health Research (DHR), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has opened applications for its Fellowship Abroad programme for the 2026-27 academic year.The fellowship scheme, offered under the Human Resource Development (HRD) programme, aims to help Indian researchers gain advanced training and exposure to the latest developments in health, biomedical and…

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‘Welcome to the Jungle’ day 1 box office prediction: The multi-starrer headlined by Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal and others expected to open at Rs 10-12 crore

‘Welcome to the Jungle’ day 1 box office prediction: The multi-starrer headlined by Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal and others expected to open at Rs 10-12 crore

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Akshay Kumar is back with comedy after a string of socially relevant film and fans have been waiting for it. His return to comedy happened with Priyadarshan’s ‘Bhooth Bangla’ and now the third installment of ‘Welcome’ is set to release this Friday. According to the advance bookings, one can expect the opening of ‘Welcome To…

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Slippery hands: Radha Yadav, Nandani, Yastika drop four catches in six overs as India’s fielding woes continue in T20 World Cup

Slippery hands: Radha Yadav, Nandani, Yastika drop four catches in six overs as India’s fielding woes continue in T20 World Cup

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Juairiya Ferdous of Bangladesh bats during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Group A match between India and Bangladesh at Old Trafford Cricket Ground on June 25, 2026 in Manchester, England. India’s fielding troubles continued in the crucial Women’s T20 World Cup clash against Bangladesh on Thursday, with the team putting down four catches inside…

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Air Canada flight swerves mid-air after pilot suffers seizure; passengers start ‘praying’

Air Canada flight swerves mid-air after pilot suffers seizure; passengers start ‘praying’

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Air Canada passengers instantly started praying as plane swerved repeatedly after pilot’s apparent seizure Panic spread through an Air Canada-operated flight after the aircraft began swerving in mid-air when its captain suffered a medical emergency. The frightened passengers started to pray as the plane was diverted for an emergency landing in Boston, reports the New…

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The revised fee structure was notified through the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026 that replaces Schedule IV of the Passports Rules, 1980 NEW DELHI: The Centre has announced an increase in passport and related travel document fees, with the revised rates set to come into effect from July 1, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The fee revision applies to fresh passports, passport reissues, replacement of lost or damaged passports, police clearance certificates and certain travel documents, affecting applicants in India and abroad.The revised fee structure was notified through the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, issued by the MEA on June 20 “under the powers conferred by Section 24 of the Passports Act, 1967,” the notification read. The amendment replaces Schedule IV of the Passports Rules, 1980, which specifies the fees payable for passport and travel document services.Here are the new rates as per the gazette notification:Applicants aged 15 years and above applying under the adult category for fresh and reissue:36-page passportNormal fee: Rs 2,500Tatkal fee: Rs 5,00060-page passport:Normal fee: Rs 3,500Tatkal fee: Rs 6,000Replacement of lost or damaged passports (Adult category)36-page passport:Normal fee: Rs 5,000Tatkal fee: Rs 7,50060-page passport:Normal fee: Rs 6,000Tatkal fee: Rs 8,500Applicants below 18 years of ageFresh passport/reissue (36 pages):Normal fee: Rs 1,750Tatkal fee: Rs 4,250Replacement of lost or damaged passport (36 pages):Normal fee: Rs 4,250Tatkal fee: Rs 6,750The government has also revised charges for other passport-related services.Fresh 36-page passport to cost Rs 2,500 under revised rules; Tatkal fee for passport to cost Rs 5,000The fee for the issuance of a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), Surrender Certificate, Global Entry Program verification, and other miscellaneous certificates based on the passport has been fixed at Rs 750 in India and abroad.For special travel documents, an Emergency Certificate will continue to be issued abroad at a fee of , while a Certificate of Identity will cost Rs 1,000 in India and abroad.The notification stated, “These rules may be called the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026.” It further said, “They shall come into force with effect from the 1st day of July, 2026.”According to the revised Schedule IV, passports issued to applicants under the adult category will continue to be valid for up to 10 years, while passports issued to minors will remain valid for five years or until the applicant attains the age of 18 years, whichever is earlier.The amended fee schedule will apply to passport applications submitted on or after July 1, marking the first major revision of passport service charges under the updated rules notified by the Centre.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIf Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID And Passport Aren’t Final Proofs, What Actually Makes You Indian?Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs Meet Lok Sabha Speaker, Stress Constitutional Process On Party ClaimsArmy Officers, 40 Troops Booked For Allegedly Storming J&K Police Station, Assaulting Cops | WatchNagrasu Gurdwara Standoff Ends Peacefully, But Questions Mount Over Police Handling Of OccupationStrait of Hormuz Is Open, Crude Is At ; So Why Is India Still Paying War Prices?India To Restart Tourist Visa Services For Bangladeshi Citizens From June 28Kolkata Warehouse Collapse: Death Toll Climbs To 11 As SIT Probe Begins, Five HeldRahul Gandhi Seeks Relief In Defamation Case, Says Statement Was Not About Kartikey SinghMumbai Local Train Murder: GRP Arrests Accused After Passenger Stabbed To Death During Door DisputeNEET Centre Claims Candidate Arrived 14 Minutes Late, Submits CCTV Footage to Back Decision123Photostories10 baby girl names that symbolise renewal and positivity in different languagesSuccess quote of the day by Kunal Shah: ‘There are no over-ambitious people; only dreamers with no plans’Psychology says women comfortable being alone often share these 8 powerful traitsPushy parenting does more harm than good: What it is and 5 signs you may be oneThis everyday habit before work could be quietly damaging your performanceInside Samay Raina’s luxurious Mumbai house: A massive living area, a streaming room and morePM Narendra Modi loves this iron-rich South Indian dish; here’s how you can make it at homeThe surprising history of alta: Why Indian women paint their feet blood-redReal Madrid star Vinícius Júnior’s ₹64 crore-worth mansion is packed with a private cinema, two swimming pools and a football trophy cabinetFrom ‘Wonder Woman’ to ‘The Marvels’: 7 female superhero movies to watch before ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’123Hot PicksCharles OliveiraKetan Agrawal MurderMike Vrabel ControversyAashna DoshiSujata Rout KarthikeyanED KelceNHL Trade RumorsNFL Trade RumorsAndy RoddickTop TrendingSundar PichaiVenezuela NewsRithuparna KSFIFA World Cup 2026Venezuela earthquake NewsMumba Local Train MurderMEA PassportNandani BosmiyaMK StalinMumbai Local Train News

The revised fee structure was notified through the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026 that replaces Schedule IV of the Passports Rules, 1980 NEW DELHI: The Centre has announced an increase in passport and related travel document fees, with the revised rates set to come into effect from July 1, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The fee revision applies to fresh passports, passport reissues, replacement of lost or damaged passports, police clearance certificates and certain travel documents, affecting applicants in India and abroad.The revised fee structure was notified through the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, issued by the MEA on June 20 “under the powers conferred by Section 24 of the Passports Act, 1967,” the notification read. The amendment replaces Schedule IV of the Passports Rules, 1980, which specifies the fees payable for passport and travel document services.Here are the new rates as per the gazette notification:Applicants aged 15 years and above applying under the adult category for fresh and reissue:36-page passportNormal fee: Rs 2,500Tatkal fee: Rs 5,00060-page passport:Normal fee: Rs 3,500Tatkal fee: Rs 6,000Replacement of lost or damaged passports (Adult category)36-page passport:Normal fee: Rs 5,000Tatkal fee: Rs 7,50060-page passport:Normal fee: Rs 6,000Tatkal fee: Rs 8,500Applicants below 18 years of ageFresh passport/reissue (36 pages):Normal fee: Rs 1,750Tatkal fee: Rs 4,250Replacement of lost or damaged passport (36 pages):Normal fee: Rs 4,250Tatkal fee: Rs 6,750The government has also revised charges for other passport-related services.Fresh 36-page passport to cost Rs 2,500 under revised rules; Tatkal fee for passport to cost Rs 5,000The fee for the issuance of a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), Surrender Certificate, Global Entry Program verification, and other miscellaneous certificates based on the passport has been fixed at Rs 750 in India and $40 abroad.For special travel documents, an Emergency Certificate will continue to be issued abroad at a fee of $15, while a Certificate of Identity will cost Rs 1,000 in India and $50 abroad.The notification stated, “These rules may be called the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026.” It further said, “They shall come into force with effect from the 1st day of July, 2026.”According to the revised Schedule IV, passports issued to applicants under the adult category will continue to be valid for up to 10 years, while passports issued to minors will remain valid for five years or until the applicant attains the age of 18 years, whichever is earlier.The amended fee schedule will apply to passport applications submitted on or after July 1, marking the first major revision of passport service charges under the updated rules notified by the Centre.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIf Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID And Passport Aren’t Final Proofs, What Actually Makes You Indian?Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs Meet Lok Sabha Speaker, Stress Constitutional Process On Party ClaimsArmy Officers, 40 Troops Booked For Allegedly Storming J&K Police Station, Assaulting Cops | WatchNagrasu Gurdwara Standoff Ends Peacefully, But Questions Mount Over Police Handling Of OccupationStrait of Hormuz Is Open, Crude Is At $75; So Why Is India Still Paying War Prices?India To Restart Tourist Visa Services For Bangladeshi Citizens From June 28Kolkata Warehouse Collapse: Death Toll Climbs To 11 As SIT Probe Begins, Five HeldRahul Gandhi Seeks Relief In Defamation Case, Says Statement Was Not About Kartikey SinghMumbai Local Train Murder: GRP Arrests Accused After Passenger Stabbed To Death During Door DisputeNEET Centre Claims Candidate Arrived 14 Minutes Late, Submits CCTV Footage to Back Decision123Photostories10 baby girl names that symbolise renewal and positivity in different languagesSuccess quote of the day by Kunal Shah: ‘There are no over-ambitious people; only dreamers with no plans’Psychology says women comfortable being alone often share these 8 powerful traitsPushy parenting does more harm than good: What it is and 5 signs you may be oneThis everyday habit before work could be quietly damaging your performanceInside Samay Raina’s luxurious Mumbai house: A massive living area, a streaming room and morePM Narendra Modi loves this iron-rich South Indian dish; here’s how you can make it at homeThe surprising history of alta: Why Indian women paint their feet blood-redReal Madrid star Vinícius Júnior’s ₹64 crore-worth mansion is packed with a private cinema, two swimming pools and a football trophy cabinetFrom ‘Wonder Woman’ to ‘The Marvels’: 7 female superhero movies to watch before ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’123Hot PicksCharles OliveiraKetan Agrawal MurderMike Vrabel ControversyAashna DoshiSujata Rout KarthikeyanED KelceNHL Trade RumorsNFL Trade RumorsAndy RoddickTop TrendingSundar PichaiVenezuela NewsRithuparna KSFIFA World Cup 2026Venezuela earthquake NewsMumba Local Train MurderMEA PassportNandani BosmiyaMK StalinMumbai Local Train News

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

The revised fee structure was notified through the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026 that replaces Schedule IV of the Passports Rules, 1980 NEW DELHI: The Centre has announced an increase in passport and related travel document fees, with the revised rates set to come into effect from July 1, according to a notification issued by the…

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‘Spat paan on Amitabh Bachchan’s shirt,’ Bindu says the actor thought of quitting Bollywood: ‘His films were flopping, Allahabad ka ticket wapas katwana padega’

‘Spat paan on Amitabh Bachchan’s shirt,’ Bindu says the actor thought of quitting Bollywood: ‘His films were flopping, Allahabad ka ticket wapas katwana padega’

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan is known for his larger-than-life aura on-screen and off-screen both. While he may come across as intimidating to many, he’s always shared a great rapport with most of his co-stars. He’s shared friendship with many people in the industry for decades. In a recent interview, veteran actress Bindu has shared memories…

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Saudi TV reporter killed in Yemen car bomb blast; government vows to track down perpetrators

Saudi TV reporter killed in Yemen car bomb blast; government vows to track down perpetrators

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya’s reporter A correspondent for Saudi Arabia’s Al Arabiya television was killed in Yemen after a bomb planted on his vehicle exploded in the eastern city of Mukalla, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing the broadcaster.Mohammed Aydah, a Yemeni journalist who reported for Al Arabiya and its sister channel Al Hadath, was killed…

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Under the new rules, no entity affiliated with AIIMS can use its name, logo, emblem or branding in any material without written permission. NEW DELHI: In a move aimed at protecting its brand image and safeguarding patient confidentiality, AIIMS Delhi has issued comprehensive social media guidelines barring students, resident doctors, employees and affiliated bodies from using the institute’s name, logo or official branding without prior approval.The office memorandum, issued this week and effective immediately, applies to undergraduate and postgraduate students, resident doctors, faculty members, researchers, administrative staff, student associations, departments and even third-party collaborators associated with the country’s premier medical institute.Under the new rules, no individual or organisation affiliated with AIIMS can use the institute’s name, logo, emblem or branding in any digital or print material without written permission from the concerned department. The restriction extends to event posters, banners, social media posts, blogs, videos, reels and social media handles that could create the impression of being official AIIMS accounts.The guidelines also prohibit disclosure of patient information, images or case details on social media, even if the patient is not identifiable. The document cites legal obligations under medical ethics regulations and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.AIIMS has also warned against sharing copyrighted material without authorisation, posting defamatory, obscene or hate content, or circulating confidential academic material such as examination papers and answer keys. Students and employees have been directed not to engage in plagiarism or academic dishonesty on social media platforms.For departments and student bodies operating official social media accounts, AIIMS has laid down a governance framework. Such accounts must be registered with the concerned department, provide details of administrators using institutional email IDs, appoint a media coordinator for content approval, and clearly state whether the content is student-generated or department-generated.The guidelines further direct account administrators to avoid political, religious or defamatory content, maintain a professional tone aligned with AIIMS values, and obtain special clearance before entering into sponsored content or brand collaborations.The institute said the guidelines have been framed to prevent reputational damage, legal complications and misuse of AIIMS branding while ensuring responsible use of social media by all those associated with the institution.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorAnuja JaiswalAnuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIf Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID And Passport Aren’t Final Proofs, What Actually Makes You Indian?Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs Meet Lok Sabha Speaker, Stress Constitutional Process On Party ClaimsArmy Officers, 40 Troops Booked For Allegedly Storming J&K Police Station, Assaulting Cops | WatchNagrasu Gurdwara Standoff Ends Peacefully, But Questions Mount Over Police Handling Of OccupationStrait of Hormuz Is Open, Crude Is At ; So Why Is India Still Paying War Prices?India To Restart Tourist Visa Services For Bangladeshi Citizens From June 28Kolkata Warehouse Collapse: Death Toll Climbs To 11 As SIT Probe Begins, Five HeldRahul Gandhi Seeks Relief In Defamation Case, Says Statement Was Not About Kartikey SinghMumbai Local Train Murder: GRP Arrests Accused After Passenger Stabbed To Death During Door DisputeNEET Centre Claims Candidate Arrived 14 Minutes Late, Submits CCTV Footage to Back Decision123Photostories10 baby girl names that symbolise renewal and positivity in different languagesSuccess quote of the day by Kunal Shah: ‘There are no over-ambitious people; only dreamers with no plans’Psychology says women comfortable being alone often share these 8 powerful traitsPushy parenting does more harm than good: What it is and 5 signs you may be oneThis everyday habit before work could be quietly damaging your performanceInside Samay Raina’s luxurious Mumbai house: A massive living area, a streaming room and morePM Narendra Modi loves this iron-rich South Indian dish; here’s how you can make it at homeThe surprising history of alta: Why Indian women paint their feet blood-redReal Madrid star Vinícius Júnior’s ₹64 crore-worth mansion is packed with a private cinema, two swimming pools and a football trophy cabinetFrom ‘Wonder Woman’ to ‘The Marvels’: 7 female superhero movies to watch before ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’123Hot PicksCharles OliveiraKetan Agrawal MurderMike Vrabel ControversyAashna DoshiSujata Rout KarthikeyanED KelceNHL Trade RumorsNFL Trade RumorsAndy RoddickTop TrendingSundar PichaiVenezuela NewsRithuparna KSFIFA World Cup 2026Venezuela earthquake NewsMumba Local Train MurderMEA PassportNandani BosmiyaMK StalinMumbai Local Train News

Under the new rules, no entity affiliated with AIIMS can use its name, logo, emblem or branding in any material without written permission. NEW DELHI: In a move aimed at protecting its brand image and safeguarding patient confidentiality, AIIMS Delhi has issued comprehensive social media guidelines barring students, resident doctors, employees and affiliated bodies from using the institute’s name, logo or official branding without prior approval.The office memorandum, issued this week and effective immediately, applies to undergraduate and postgraduate students, resident doctors, faculty members, researchers, administrative staff, student associations, departments and even third-party collaborators associated with the country’s premier medical institute.Under the new rules, no individual or organisation affiliated with AIIMS can use the institute’s name, logo, emblem or branding in any digital or print material without written permission from the concerned department. The restriction extends to event posters, banners, social media posts, blogs, videos, reels and social media handles that could create the impression of being official AIIMS accounts.The guidelines also prohibit disclosure of patient information, images or case details on social media, even if the patient is not identifiable. The document cites legal obligations under medical ethics regulations and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.AIIMS has also warned against sharing copyrighted material without authorisation, posting defamatory, obscene or hate content, or circulating confidential academic material such as examination papers and answer keys. Students and employees have been directed not to engage in plagiarism or academic dishonesty on social media platforms.For departments and student bodies operating official social media accounts, AIIMS has laid down a governance framework. Such accounts must be registered with the concerned department, provide details of administrators using institutional email IDs, appoint a media coordinator for content approval, and clearly state whether the content is student-generated or department-generated.The guidelines further direct account administrators to avoid political, religious or defamatory content, maintain a professional tone aligned with AIIMS values, and obtain special clearance before entering into sponsored content or brand collaborations.The institute said the guidelines have been framed to prevent reputational damage, legal complications and misuse of AIIMS branding while ensuring responsible use of social media by all those associated with the institution.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorAnuja JaiswalAnuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIf Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID And Passport Aren’t Final Proofs, What Actually Makes You Indian?Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs Meet Lok Sabha Speaker, Stress Constitutional Process On Party ClaimsArmy Officers, 40 Troops Booked For Allegedly Storming J&K Police Station, Assaulting Cops | WatchNagrasu Gurdwara Standoff Ends Peacefully, But Questions Mount Over Police Handling Of OccupationStrait of Hormuz Is Open, Crude Is At $75; So Why Is India Still Paying War Prices?India To Restart Tourist Visa Services For Bangladeshi Citizens From June 28Kolkata Warehouse Collapse: Death Toll Climbs To 11 As SIT Probe Begins, Five HeldRahul Gandhi Seeks Relief In Defamation Case, Says Statement Was Not About Kartikey SinghMumbai Local Train Murder: GRP Arrests Accused After Passenger Stabbed To Death During Door DisputeNEET Centre Claims Candidate Arrived 14 Minutes Late, Submits CCTV Footage to Back Decision123Photostories10 baby girl names that symbolise renewal and positivity in different languagesSuccess quote of the day by Kunal Shah: ‘There are no over-ambitious people; only dreamers with no plans’Psychology says women comfortable being alone often share these 8 powerful traitsPushy parenting does more harm than good: What it is and 5 signs you may be oneThis everyday habit before work could be quietly damaging your performanceInside Samay Raina’s luxurious Mumbai house: A massive living area, a streaming room and morePM Narendra Modi loves this iron-rich South Indian dish; here’s how you can make it at homeThe surprising history of alta: Why Indian women paint their feet blood-redReal Madrid star Vinícius Júnior’s ₹64 crore-worth mansion is packed with a private cinema, two swimming pools and a football trophy cabinetFrom ‘Wonder Woman’ to ‘The Marvels’: 7 female superhero movies to watch before ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’123Hot PicksCharles OliveiraKetan Agrawal MurderMike Vrabel ControversyAashna DoshiSujata Rout KarthikeyanED KelceNHL Trade RumorsNFL Trade RumorsAndy RoddickTop TrendingSundar PichaiVenezuela NewsRithuparna KSFIFA World Cup 2026Venezuela earthquake NewsMumba Local Train MurderMEA PassportNandani BosmiyaMK StalinMumbai Local Train News

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Under the new rules, no entity affiliated with AIIMS can use its name, logo, emblem or branding in any material without written permission. NEW DELHI: In a move aimed at protecting its brand image and safeguarding patient confidentiality, AIIMS Delhi has issued comprehensive social media guidelines barring students, resident doctors, employees and affiliated bodies from…

Read More
‘Dharman’ new poster unveils Rajinikanth’s deadly doctor avatar, shoot begins as ‘Ketta Paiyan Sir’ vibe takes over

‘Dharman’ new poster unveils Rajinikanth’s deadly doctor avatar, shoot begins as ‘Ketta Paiyan Sir’ vibe takes over

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

The makers of ‘Dharman’ unveiled a striking new poster featuring Rajinikanth while officially announcing the start of shooting. Released shortly after the title reveal and first-look launch, the poster showcases the Superstar in a stylish doctor avatar wearing sunglasses and carrying a blood-stained coat over his shoulder. Rajinikanth looks suave and dangerous, surrounded by surgical…

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Apple hikes iPad, Mac prices in India as AI-driven memory crunch bites; MacBook Pro cost jumps Rs 70,000

Apple hikes iPad, Mac prices in India as AI-driven memory crunch bites; MacBook Pro cost jumps Rs 70,000

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Apple has sharply increased prices across its Mac and iPad portfolio in India, citing an unprecedented surge in memory and storage component costs fuelled by the global artificial intelligence boom.The steepest increase has come in the MacBook Pro lineup. The base 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 chip and 16GB RAM, launched at Rs 1,69,900,…

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‘We’ve tried to do as much research as we can on him’: Lorcan Tucker stunned by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hype

‘We’ve tried to do as much research as we can on him’: Lorcan Tucker stunned by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hype

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: Ireland captain Lorcan Tucker has been left in awe of the anticipation surrounding India’s 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ahead of the upcoming T20I series, calling his rise “pretty incredible” for the modern professional era.“It’s pretty incredible for them to have a 15-year-old on their team,” Tucker said in…

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NTA releases GAT-B 2026 score card, rank card: Check link and steps to download

NTA releases GAT-B 2026 score card, rank card: Check link and steps to download

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has made the GAT-B 2026 score card and rank card available on its official website. Candidates can now access and download their results by logging in at the NTA GAT-B portal.The Graduate Aptitude Test-Biotechnology (GAT-B) is conducted for admission to Department of Biotechnology-supported postgraduate programmes in Biotechnology and allied fields…

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‘That stinker has not been here yet’: ‘Days of Our Lives’ star Deidre Hall reveals Ryan Gosling has not visited the set

‘That stinker has not been here yet’: ‘Days of Our Lives’ star Deidre Hall reveals Ryan Gosling has not visited the set

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Deidre Hall reveals Ryan Gosling has not visited the ‘Days of Our Lives’ set. Image Credits: Instagram Ryan Gosling, one of Hollywood’s esteemed actors, once hailed Deidre Hall as one of his on-screen inspirations, who influenced him toward the art. Three months after the revelation, the ‘Days of Our Lives’ actress revealed that the ‘Barbie’…

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Centre restores commercial LPG supplies, lifts curbs imposed during Middle east crisis

Centre restores commercial LPG supplies, lifts curbs imposed during Middle east crisis

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

NEW DELHI: The government on Thursday restored non-domestic packed LPG supplies to pre-Iran crisis levels and withdrew all sectoral restrictions.According to the ministry of petroleum and natural gas, the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) will now supply non-domestic packed LPG at normal levels, as seen before the crisis.“In a major relief to industrial and commercial LPG…

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Planning a Saudi trip? Brits can stay up to 180 days under new electronic travel permit from July

Planning a Saudi trip? Brits can stay up to 180 days under new electronic travel permit from July

Vamsikrishna01 mins mins

Saudi Arabia introduces electronic travel authorisation for UK citizens/Image: AI Representative Image British citizens travelling to Saudi Arabia will be able to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) from July 1, 2026, under a new entry system announced by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.The new service will be available to holders of all…

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Can BJP spring a Bengal-style surprise in Punjab? NEW DELHI: Mission 2027 in Punjab would mean different things to different stakeholders. For the ruling AAP, it is a do-or-die battle to retain the only state it governs. For the Congress, it is a fight to reclaim the political ground it lost in 2022. For the Shiromani Akali Dal, it is perhaps a fight for survival. And, finally, for the BJP, it is an attempt to add a new state to its kitty — an art it has almost perfected post-2014.Punjab is among the seven states where assembly polls are due in 2027, the other six are Goa, Gujarat, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Punjab remains a unique electoral challenge because it is the only state where the BJP has never been in power on its own.So, can the battle-ready and battle-hardened BJP spring a surprise in Punjab, like it did in West Bengal in 2026 or in Odisha in 2024? Well, this is what makes the 2027 assembly elections in Punjab such an interesting political battle.There are speculations that the assembly polls in Punjab could be advanced. Whether or not that happens, one thing is clear: all parties have already slipped into election mode.AAP’s civic poll boost and Mann’s 2027 pitchWhile the BJP has made an aggressive start to its campaign, the ruling AAP remains confident, helped by its strong performance in the recently-concluded civic polls.The AAP won 958 of the total 1,977 wards in the civic polls and was way ahead of all its rivals. The Congress, with 397 wards, was a distant second, followed by the Shiromani Akali Dal with 192 wards and the BJP with 172 wards. AAP swept Punjab civic polls with 958 wards; Congress trailed at 397, followed by SAD at 192 and BJP at 172.Chief minister Bhagwant Mann wasted no time in claiming that the scale of this victory reflected broad public satisfaction with his government’s welfare-oriented and development-focused policies. However, rivals alleged that the AAP government heavily misused official machinery to swing the results.Mann has also played a major welfare card to woo women of the state, who have played a decisive role in several elections across states. Starting July 1, eligible women in Punjab will receive direct financial assistance in their bank accounts — Rs 1,000 per month for women from general categories and Rs 1,500 per month for women from Scheduled Caste categories. The government has earmarked Rs 9,300 crore for the scheme. Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann confident of AAP’s winSacrilege video row: A sensitive test for MannBut before his doles turn into votes for AAP, Mann has to pass a sensitive test – a row over a sacrilege video involving him that has now turned into a full blown political controversy. The video, which purportedly shows a man resembling Mann involved in an objectionable act near the photographs of Sikh Gurus, has triggered a religious and political storm in the state. The Akal Takht, the supreme temporal seat of Sikhs, took a serious view of it and issued an edict against Mann on June 15. The Akal Takht declared Mann ‘Guru Dokhi’ (anti-Guru) and ‘Khalsa Panth Virodhi’ (anti-Khalsa panth) after the chief minister was accused of lying about the purported objectionable video that hurt Sikh sentiments. Opposition parties have sharpened their attack on Mann, but the chief minister has rejected the allegations saying the video was a politically motivated “deepfake” generated using artificial intelligence to defame him. He said political opponents are unable to challenge him politically, so they are trying to defame him on religious grounds. With the authenticity of the forensic report under question, the Gurugram Police is now probing CCTV footage of two Punjab Police officials visiting a hotel in Gurugram to allegedly arrange the “fabricated” forensic report of the controversial video. In Punjab, where questions of religion, identity and trust can quickly become politically explosive, the raging controversy has given the BJP and SAD an emotive issue to keep Mann and his government under pressure in the run-up to the polls.AAP’s internal churn and the Raghav Chadha factorAnd while Mann battles this controversy, the road ahead for the ruling AAP in Punjab remains riddled with challenges. The state has already seen the beginning of a churn ahead of next year’s vote. In a significant political realignment in April this year, seven Rajya Sabha AAP members left the party to join the BJP.Ironically, this coup was led by Raghav Chadha, who was once one of Kejriwal’s most trusted lieutenants and, more importantly, one of the main architects of AAP’s sweeping win in Punjab in 2022. The group of seven also included Sandeep Pathak, who, for the last 10 years, was a core strategist for AAP and was also the party’s co-incharge for Punjab from 2022. What AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said after big win in Punjab civic pollsThe high-profile mass defection surprised AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal and forced him to return to the drawing board to redraw his 2027 plans. After AAP’s loss in Delhi in February last year, Kejriwal had largely gone into hibernation, focusing on strategising for the Punjab battle.Meanwhile Mann played down the rebellion by labelling defectors as “leaders without popular base”, but at the same time he quickly went for a trust vote to secure his government and ensure that the AAP MLAs stayed with the party.While AAP may have managed to keep its MLAs intact for now, the party’s struggles are far from over. The MPs who quit the party levelled serious allegations. Harbhajan Singh accused AAP of selling Rajya Sabha seats. Some of its state leaders are now under the scanner of investigative agencies. Punjab industries minister and AAP leader Sanjeev Arora was arrested last month in connection with an alleged Rs 100-crore money-laundering and fake GST transactions case.The AAP would be wary of these moves, especially after the party’s Delhi experience where most of its top leaders, including Kejriwal, had to face investigative agencies in the run-up to elections. Whether or not this mass defection has weakened AAP only time will tell, but one thing it has done for sure — provided a glimpse of the BJP’s plans for Mission 2027 in Punjab.Punjab: The next big frontier for the BJPThe BJP is treating Punjab as its next big frontier, hoping to replicate the historic scripts it wrote in Odisha in 2024 and West Bengal in 2026 – when it dethroned long-standing governments in the two states.The saffron party has already given a strong, aggressive push to its campaign in Punjab and has declared that the countdown for the Bhagwant Singh Mann government’s exit has started.. BJP president Nitin Nabin, who recently concluded a three-day trip to the poll-bound state, cited the party’s victory in West Bengal to urge party workers to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to setting up a “double engine” government. Nabin also announced that the BJP is preparing to contest all 117 assembly seats on its own in the next year’s assembly elections – making its intentions clear. Punjab: The next big frontier for the BJPFor a very long time, the BJP in Punjab was happy playing second fiddle to its former ally — the Shiromani Akali Dal. Every time the SAD did well, the BJP gained. But once their alliance collapsed in September 2020 over the now-repealed farm laws, the BJP signalled its resolve to become the main player in the state.In 2022, the BJP contested the assembly elections alone and opened its gates for disgruntled Congress leaders, who were then caught in the power tussle between Captain Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu. Several top Congress leaders, including former chief minister Amarinder Singh and former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Kumar Jakhar, eventually joined the BJP.While the BJP could win only two seats in 2022, its solo contest then set the stage for the party’s future plans in the state. Kewal Singh Dhillon, the first Jat Sikh face to head the BJP in Punjab, has a challenge at hand. He is confident of the BJP forming its government in 2027. His appointment triggered a mini-storm in the BJP with Captain Amarinder Singh expressing concern amid reports that he was unhappy. But that seems to be settled for now, at least on the face of it.SAD’s survival battleFor the Shiromani Akali Dal, the journey since its September 2020 split with the BJP over the now-repealed farm laws has been downhill.For over two decades, the SAD-BJP alliance successfully combined rural Sikh votes with urban Hindu votes. Together, the two parties won elections in 1997, 2007 and 2012. But stripped of that alignment, the SAD is now fighting a battle to remain relevant. Bhagwant Mann on Punjab 2027The 2022 assembly elections saw the party hit a historic low, with most of its top leaders losing the electoral contest. The party that once ruled Punjab with the BJP was reduced to three seats with a vote share of 18.38%. In 2017, the SAD had won 15 seats despite a vote share of around 25% — which perhaps was the beginning of its decline.For a party that has ruled Punjab for decades, this electoral decline raises questions about its future. The party put up a disappointing show in the civic body polls, winning just 192 wards. However, with 51 independent councillors joining the party, its final strength went up to 243.The ongoing sacrilege video row gives the SAD an issue to reclaim some political space, especially among voters who see religious dignity as central to Punjab’s politics. But whether the party can convert that into a larger revival is another question.Congress vacuum: Main opposition without momentumMeanwhile, the Congress, which remains the main opposition party in Punjab, has shown little urgency to rebuild itself after the 2022 rout. The grand old party was reduced to 18 seats in 2022 from 77 in 2017, but has spent much of the last four years battling internal drift and leadership confusion.Its leaders are still caught in a game of one-upmanship to fill the leadership vacuum left by Captain Amarinder Singh’s exit. Amarinder was the undisputed leader of the Punjab Congress till the high command removed him ahead of the 2022 assembly elections. Charanjit Singh Channi, who gained in the fight between Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu in the run-up to 2022 and led the party as chief minister, has been largely out of action since the party’s humiliating defeat five years ago. In fact, Channi himself lost both the seats he had then contested.The Congress high command has, as it often does, avoided taking a clear decision on state leadership for a very long time. It was only last Sunday that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met five senior Punjab leaders and asked them to fight the upcoming assembly elections collectively, asserting that the party has a “very good chance” in the state. The party named Ajay Maken, Meenakshi Natarajan and Bhajan Lal Jatav as AICC observers to assess and submit a report on the current political scenario in the state. So, while the AAP and even the BJP are aggressively preparing for the elections next year, Congress leaders in the state are keeping their fingers crossed on who gets to lead the party. And that perhaps remains the party’s biggest problem as it gears up for the 2027 challenge. If the Congress plan was to wait silently and gain from anti-incumbency against AAP, the party may perhaps get its calculations wrong once again as the BJP has now actively entered the Punjab fray and will go all out to present itself as a more credible option.Can BJP spring a surprise in Punjab?Both the Congress and the AAP should not underestimate the BJP’s potential to spring a surprise. The saffron party has already done that in some states.In Odisha, the BJP had just six seats in 2009 with a vote share of 15%. In 2014, it went up to 10 and five years later, in 2019, it reached 23. However, between 2014 and 2019, the party’s vote share increased significantly by over 15 percentage points. With that base, in 2024, the BJP jumped to 78 seats in the assembly and dethroned Naveen Patnaik’s BJD. The Congress, which was the main opposition party till 2014, was relegated to third place by 2019. Now, let’s analyse West Bengal.The BJP could not win a single seat in the West Bengal assembly in 2011 and won only three in 2016. But in 2021, the BJP displaced both the Left and the Congress to win 77 seats with a vote share of nearly 38%. And five years later, it scripted history by displacing Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress and storming to power with over 200 seats. The BJP, with the kind of resources it has at its disposal at present and the amount of power it wields, has the potential to spring a surprise in Punjab. True, the party has never managed to get double-digit vote share in the state on its own and its best performance till now has only been 19 seats, which it won in 2007. But we have seen the BJP make huge electoral gains from similar situations in other states.Why Punjab will still be difficult for BJPPunjab, however, will not be easy. The BJP still has to overcome the legacy of the farm laws, its image as an urban party, the trust deficit in rural Punjab and the challenge of stitching together a social coalition that can compete with AAP’s welfare base, Congress’s traditional vote bank and SAD’s residual rural Sikh support.With key Congress and AAP leaders in its fold and with the process of SIR under way in the state, the BJP would perhaps be planning the final assault in Punjab.Whether or not the BJP manages to trump AAP next year, we will have to wait and see. But perhaps, one thing can be said with a certain amount of certainty: if the Congress does not get its act together in the state, it risks being pushed to the fringes of Punjab politics by the BJP.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorPriyanka MukherjeePriyanka Mukherjee is an Assistant News Editor at The Times of India, where deadlines rarely slow down. Often juggling breaking news, long-form explainers and the everyday chaos of the newsroom, she is usually managing stress, chasing clarity and trying to log off on time (rarely successful). She also cares deeply about stories around women’s rights and social change, while two very opinionated dogs make sure she never truly switches off.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNagrasu Gurdwara Standoff Ends Peacefully, But Questions Mount Over Police Handling Of OccupationStrait of Hormuz Is Open, Crude Is At ; So Why Is India Still Paying War Prices?India To Restart Tourist Visa Services For Bangladeshi Citizens From June 28Kolkata Warehouse Collapse: Death Toll Climbs To 11 As SIT Probe Begins, Five HeldRahul Gandhi Seeks Relief In Defamation Case, Says Statement Was Not About Kartikey SinghMumbai Local Train Murder: GRP Arrests Accused After Passenger Stabbed To Death During Door DisputeNEET Centre Claims Candidate Arrived 14 Minutes Late, Submits CCTV Footage to Back DecisionEmergency Added to NCERT Class 9 Curriculum, Described as a Major Democratic ChallengeKerala Government Faces Massive Backlash Over Proposed Tax Cut On Low-Alcohol Beverages30 India-Bound Vessels Cross Strait Of Hormuz As 26 More Await Safe Passage123Photostories10 baby girl names that symbolise renewal and positivity in different languagesSuccess quote of the day by Kunal Shah: ‘There are no over-ambitious people; only dreamers with no plans’Psychology says women comfortable being alone often share these 8 powerful traitsPushy parenting does more harm than good: What it is and 5 signs you may be oneThis everyday habit before work could be quietly damaging your performanceInside Samay Raina’s luxurious Mumbai house: A massive living area, a streaming room and morePM Narendra Modi loves this iron-rich South Indian dish; here’s how you can make it at homeThe surprising history of alta: Why Indian women paint their feet blood-redReal Madrid star Vinícius Júnior’s ₹64 crore-worth mansion is packed with a private cinema, two swimming pools and a football trophy cabinetFrom ‘Wonder Woman’ to ‘The Marvels’: 7 female superhero movies to watch before ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’123Hot PicksCharles OliveiraKetan Agrawal MurderMike Vrabel ControversyAashna DoshiSujata Rout KarthikeyanED KelceNHL Trade RumorsNFL Trade RumorsAndy RoddickTop TrendingSundar PichaiVenezuela NewsRithuparna KSFIFA World Cup 2026Venezuela earthquake NewsMumba Local Train MurderMEA PassportNandani BosmiyaMK StalinMumbai Local Train News

Can BJP spring a Bengal-style surprise in Punjab? NEW DELHI: Mission 2027 in Punjab would mean different things to different stakeholders. For the ruling AAP, it is a do-or-die battle to retain the only state it governs. For the Congress, it is a fight to reclaim the political ground it lost in 2022. For the Shiromani Akali Dal, it is perhaps a fight for survival. And, finally, for the BJP, it is an attempt to add a new state to its kitty — an art it has almost perfected post-2014.Punjab is among the seven states where assembly polls are due in 2027, the other six are Goa, Gujarat, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Punjab remains a unique electoral challenge because it is the only state where the BJP has never been in power on its own.So, can the battle-ready and battle-hardened BJP spring a surprise in Punjab, like it did in West Bengal in 2026 or in Odisha in 2024? Well, this is what makes the 2027 assembly elections in Punjab such an interesting political battle.There are speculations that the assembly polls in Punjab could be advanced. Whether or not that happens, one thing is clear: all parties have already slipped into election mode.AAP’s civic poll boost and Mann’s 2027 pitchWhile the BJP has made an aggressive start to its campaign, the ruling AAP remains confident, helped by its strong performance in the recently-concluded civic polls.The AAP won 958 of the total 1,977 wards in the civic polls and was way ahead of all its rivals. The Congress, with 397 wards, was a distant second, followed by the Shiromani Akali Dal with 192 wards and the BJP with 172 wards. AAP swept Punjab civic polls with 958 wards; Congress trailed at 397, followed by SAD at 192 and BJP at 172.Chief minister Bhagwant Mann wasted no time in claiming that the scale of this victory reflected broad public satisfaction with his government’s welfare-oriented and development-focused policies. However, rivals alleged that the AAP government heavily misused official machinery to swing the results.Mann has also played a major welfare card to woo women of the state, who have played a decisive role in several elections across states. Starting July 1, eligible women in Punjab will receive direct financial assistance in their bank accounts — Rs 1,000 per month for women from general categories and Rs 1,500 per month for women from Scheduled Caste categories. The government has earmarked Rs 9,300 crore for the scheme. Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann confident of AAP’s winSacrilege video row: A sensitive test for MannBut before his doles turn into votes for AAP, Mann has to pass a sensitive test – a row over a sacrilege video involving him that has now turned into a full blown political controversy. The video, which purportedly shows a man resembling Mann involved in an objectionable act near the photographs of Sikh Gurus, has triggered a religious and political storm in the state. The Akal Takht, the supreme temporal seat of Sikhs, took a serious view of it and issued an edict against Mann on June 15. The Akal Takht declared Mann ‘Guru Dokhi’ (anti-Guru) and ‘Khalsa Panth Virodhi’ (anti-Khalsa panth) after the chief minister was accused of lying about the purported objectionable video that hurt Sikh sentiments. Opposition parties have sharpened their attack on Mann, but the chief minister has rejected the allegations saying the video was a politically motivated “deepfake” generated using artificial intelligence to defame him. He said political opponents are unable to challenge him politically, so they are trying to defame him on religious grounds. With the authenticity of the forensic report under question, the Gurugram Police is now probing CCTV footage of two Punjab Police officials visiting a hotel in Gurugram to allegedly arrange the “fabricated” forensic report of the controversial video. In Punjab, where questions of religion, identity and trust can quickly become politically explosive, the raging controversy has given the BJP and SAD an emotive issue to keep Mann and his government under pressure in the run-up to the polls.AAP’s internal churn and the Raghav Chadha factorAnd while Mann battles this controversy, the road ahead for the ruling AAP in Punjab remains riddled with challenges. The state has already seen the beginning of a churn ahead of next year’s vote. In a significant political realignment in April this year, seven Rajya Sabha AAP members left the party to join the BJP.Ironically, this coup was led by Raghav Chadha, who was once one of Kejriwal’s most trusted lieutenants and, more importantly, one of the main architects of AAP’s sweeping win in Punjab in 2022. The group of seven also included Sandeep Pathak, who, for the last 10 years, was a core strategist for AAP and was also the party’s co-incharge for Punjab from 2022. What AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said after big win in Punjab civic pollsThe high-profile mass defection surprised AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal and forced him to return to the drawing board to redraw his 2027 plans. After AAP’s loss in Delhi in February last year, Kejriwal had largely gone into hibernation, focusing on strategising for the Punjab battle.Meanwhile Mann played down the rebellion by labelling defectors as “leaders without popular base”, but at the same time he quickly went for a trust vote to secure his government and ensure that the AAP MLAs stayed with the party.While AAP may have managed to keep its MLAs intact for now, the party’s struggles are far from over. The MPs who quit the party levelled serious allegations. Harbhajan Singh accused AAP of selling Rajya Sabha seats. Some of its state leaders are now under the scanner of investigative agencies. Punjab industries minister and AAP leader Sanjeev Arora was arrested last month in connection with an alleged Rs 100-crore money-laundering and fake GST transactions case.The AAP would be wary of these moves, especially after the party’s Delhi experience where most of its top leaders, including Kejriwal, had to face investigative agencies in the run-up to elections. Whether or not this mass defection has weakened AAP only time will tell, but one thing it has done for sure — provided a glimpse of the BJP’s plans for Mission 2027 in Punjab.Punjab: The next big frontier for the BJPThe BJP is treating Punjab as its next big frontier, hoping to replicate the historic scripts it wrote in Odisha in 2024 and West Bengal in 2026 – when it dethroned long-standing governments in the two states.The saffron party has already given a strong, aggressive push to its campaign in Punjab and has declared that the countdown for the Bhagwant Singh Mann government’s exit has started.. BJP president Nitin Nabin, who recently concluded a three-day trip to the poll-bound state, cited the party’s victory in West Bengal to urge party workers to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to setting up a “double engine” government. Nabin also announced that the BJP is preparing to contest all 117 assembly seats on its own in the next year’s assembly elections – making its intentions clear. Punjab: The next big frontier for the BJPFor a very long time, the BJP in Punjab was happy playing second fiddle to its former ally — the Shiromani Akali Dal. Every time the SAD did well, the BJP gained. But once their alliance collapsed in September 2020 over the now-repealed farm laws, the BJP signalled its resolve to become the main player in the state.In 2022, the BJP contested the assembly elections alone and opened its gates for disgruntled Congress leaders, who were then caught in the power tussle between Captain Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu. Several top Congress leaders, including former chief minister Amarinder Singh and former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Kumar Jakhar, eventually joined the BJP.While the BJP could win only two seats in 2022, its solo contest then set the stage for the party’s future plans in the state. Kewal Singh Dhillon, the first Jat Sikh face to head the BJP in Punjab, has a challenge at hand. He is confident of the BJP forming its government in 2027. His appointment triggered a mini-storm in the BJP with Captain Amarinder Singh expressing concern amid reports that he was unhappy. But that seems to be settled for now, at least on the face of it.SAD’s survival battleFor the Shiromani Akali Dal, the journey since its September 2020 split with the BJP over the now-repealed farm laws has been downhill.For over two decades, the SAD-BJP alliance successfully combined rural Sikh votes with urban Hindu votes. Together, the two parties won elections in 1997, 2007 and 2012. But stripped of that alignment, the SAD is now fighting a battle to remain relevant. Bhagwant Mann on Punjab 2027The 2022 assembly elections saw the party hit a historic low, with most of its top leaders losing the electoral contest. The party that once ruled Punjab with the BJP was reduced to three seats with a vote share of 18.38%. In 2017, the SAD had won 15 seats despite a vote share of around 25% — which perhaps was the beginning of its decline.For a party that has ruled Punjab for decades, this electoral decline raises questions about its future. The party put up a disappointing show in the civic body polls, winning just 192 wards. However, with 51 independent councillors joining the party, its final strength went up to 243.The ongoing sacrilege video row gives the SAD an issue to reclaim some political space, especially among voters who see religious dignity as central to Punjab’s politics. But whether the party can convert that into a larger revival is another question.Congress vacuum: Main opposition without momentumMeanwhile, the Congress, which remains the main opposition party in Punjab, has shown little urgency to rebuild itself after the 2022 rout. The grand old party was reduced to 18 seats in 2022 from 77 in 2017, but has spent much of the last four years battling internal drift and leadership confusion.Its leaders are still caught in a game of one-upmanship to fill the leadership vacuum left by Captain Amarinder Singh’s exit. Amarinder was the undisputed leader of the Punjab Congress till the high command removed him ahead of the 2022 assembly elections. Charanjit Singh Channi, who gained in the fight between Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu in the run-up to 2022 and led the party as chief minister, has been largely out of action since the party’s humiliating defeat five years ago. In fact, Channi himself lost both the seats he had then contested.The Congress high command has, as it often does, avoided taking a clear decision on state leadership for a very long time. It was only last Sunday that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met five senior Punjab leaders and asked them to fight the upcoming assembly elections collectively, asserting that the party has a “very good chance” in the state. The party named Ajay Maken, Meenakshi Natarajan and Bhajan Lal Jatav as AICC observers to assess and submit a report on the current political scenario in the state. So, while the AAP and even the BJP are aggressively preparing for the elections next year, Congress leaders in the state are keeping their fingers crossed on who gets to lead the party. And that perhaps remains the party’s biggest problem as it gears up for the 2027 challenge. If the Congress plan was to wait silently and gain from anti-incumbency against AAP, the party may perhaps get its calculations wrong once again as the BJP has now actively entered the Punjab fray and will go all out to present itself as a more credible option.Can BJP spring a surprise in Punjab?Both the Congress and the AAP should not underestimate the BJP’s potential to spring a surprise. The saffron party has already done that in some states.In Odisha, the BJP had just six seats in 2009 with a vote share of 15%. In 2014, it went up to 10 and five years later, in 2019, it reached 23. However, between 2014 and 2019, the party’s vote share increased significantly by over 15 percentage points. With that base, in 2024, the BJP jumped to 78 seats in the assembly and dethroned Naveen Patnaik’s BJD. The Congress, which was the main opposition party till 2014, was relegated to third place by 2019. Now, let’s analyse West Bengal.The BJP could not win a single seat in the West Bengal assembly in 2011 and won only three in 2016. But in 2021, the BJP displaced both the Left and the Congress to win 77 seats with a vote share of nearly 38%. And five years later, it scripted history by displacing Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress and storming to power with over 200 seats. The BJP, with the kind of resources it has at its disposal at present and the amount of power it wields, has the potential to spring a surprise in Punjab. True, the party has never managed to get double-digit vote share in the state on its own and its best performance till now has only been 19 seats, which it won in 2007. But we have seen the BJP make huge electoral gains from similar situations in other states.Why Punjab will still be difficult for BJPPunjab, however, will not be easy. The BJP still has to overcome the legacy of the farm laws, its image as an urban party, the trust deficit in rural Punjab and the challenge of stitching together a social coalition that can compete with AAP’s welfare base, Congress’s traditional vote bank and SAD’s residual rural Sikh support.With key Congress and AAP leaders in its fold and with the process of SIR under way in the state, the BJP would perhaps be planning the final assault in Punjab.Whether or not the BJP manages to trump AAP next year, we will have to wait and see. But perhaps, one thing can be said with a certain amount of certainty: if the Congress does not get its act together in the state, it risks being pushed to the fringes of Punjab politics by the BJP.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorPriyanka MukherjeePriyanka Mukherjee is an Assistant News Editor at The Times of India, where deadlines rarely slow down. Often juggling breaking news, long-form explainers and the everyday chaos of the newsroom, she is usually managing stress, chasing clarity and trying to log off on time (rarely successful). She also cares deeply about stories around women’s rights and social change, while two very opinionated dogs make sure she never truly switches off.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNagrasu Gurdwara Standoff Ends Peacefully, But Questions Mount Over Police Handling Of OccupationStrait of Hormuz Is Open, Crude Is At $75; So Why Is India Still Paying War Prices?India To Restart Tourist Visa Services For Bangladeshi Citizens From June 28Kolkata Warehouse Collapse: Death Toll Climbs To 11 As SIT Probe Begins, Five HeldRahul Gandhi Seeks Relief In Defamation Case, Says Statement Was Not About Kartikey SinghMumbai Local Train Murder: GRP Arrests Accused After Passenger Stabbed To Death During Door DisputeNEET Centre Claims Candidate Arrived 14 Minutes Late, Submits CCTV Footage to Back DecisionEmergency Added to NCERT Class 9 Curriculum, Described as a Major Democratic ChallengeKerala Government Faces Massive Backlash Over Proposed Tax Cut On Low-Alcohol Beverages30 India-Bound Vessels Cross Strait Of Hormuz As 26 More Await Safe Passage123Photostories10 baby girl names that symbolise renewal and positivity in different languagesSuccess quote of the day by Kunal Shah: ‘There are no over-ambitious people; only dreamers with no plans’Psychology says women comfortable being alone often share these 8 powerful traitsPushy parenting does more harm than good: What it is and 5 signs you may be oneThis everyday habit before work could be quietly damaging your performanceInside Samay Raina’s luxurious Mumbai house: A massive living area, a streaming room and morePM Narendra Modi loves this iron-rich South Indian dish; here’s how you can make it at homeThe surprising history of alta: Why Indian women paint their feet blood-redReal Madrid star Vinícius Júnior’s ₹64 crore-worth mansion is packed with a private cinema, two swimming pools and a football trophy cabinetFrom ‘Wonder Woman’ to ‘The Marvels’: 7 female superhero movies to watch before ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’123Hot PicksCharles OliveiraKetan Agrawal MurderMike Vrabel ControversyAashna DoshiSujata Rout KarthikeyanED KelceNHL Trade RumorsNFL Trade RumorsAndy RoddickTop TrendingSundar PichaiVenezuela NewsRithuparna KSFIFA World Cup 2026Venezuela earthquake NewsMumba Local Train MurderMEA PassportNandani BosmiyaMK StalinMumbai Local Train News

Vamsikrishna012 mins mins

Can BJP spring a Bengal-style surprise in Punjab? NEW DELHI: Mission 2027 in Punjab would mean different things to different stakeholders. For the ruling AAP, it is a do-or-die battle to retain the only state it governs. For the Congress, it is a fight to reclaim the political ground it lost in 2022. For the…

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