April 1, 2026

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha on Thursday witnessed a fiery showdown after the leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi was cut short during his speech for targeting oil and petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri over the alleged appearance of his name in the Epstein files.While speaking on the energy crisis due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, Rahul questioned why New Delhi would allow any external power to influence its energy relationships, particularly regarding purchases from Russia.“The foundation of every single nation is its energy security. Allowing the United States to decide who we buy oil from, who we buy gas from, and whether we can buy oil from Russia or not,” Rahul said.Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Saudi intercepts drone headed to Shaybah oil field; Israeli strikes 10 Hezbollah targets in Beirut’Legitimate targets’: Iran issues warning to US tech firms including Google, Amazon, Microsoft, NvidiaSafe Passage For Indian Vessels: Iran clears Indian-flagged ships in Hormuz; US, Europe, Israel face curbs“Our relationship with different oil suppliers can be decided by us. This is what has been bartered. Why would a nation the size of India allow any other nation, the President of another nation, to give us permission to buy Russian oil or to decide who our relationships are with,” he added.During his speech, Rahul also levelled allegations against Puri. Soon, Speaker Om Birla interjected and asked the LoP to stick to the issue on which he had served his notice.“I have a copy of the notice given by the Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi regarding the gas shortage in the country, and I allowed him to speak on that subject. However, despite being a responsible leader of the opposition, discussing other issues without notice is not within the procedures and rules of Parliament,” Birla said.“I am urging you again, and Parliament will not function this way. Parliament will function according to rules and procedures,” he added.This comes days after the opposition accused the Chair of denying speaking time to Rahul in the first part of the Budget session.This led the opposition to move a no-confidence motion against Birla. The move was, however, defeated by a voice vote amid protests and sloganeering by opposition members.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 MediaVideos“Energy Security Compromised”: Rahul Gandhi Sounds Alarm In Parliament’India’s Fuel Supply Stable’: Hardeep Singh Puri Rejects LPG Shortage, Oil Crisis Fears In Lok Sabha’I Heard A Cracker Sound…’: Farooq Abdullah Opens Up About Assassination AttemptRahul Gandhi Warns Of Fuel Crisis Amid Middle East Conflict, BJP MP Dubey Hits Back With Soros JibeAmid US-Iran War, First Crude Tanker Shenlong Safely Reaches Mumbai Port Through Strait Of HormuzIndian Ship Safety To Energy Crisis: MEA Reveals Details On Talks Between Jaishankar And Iran FM’Farooq’s Killing Intention Of Govt?’: Kharge Asks In Parl; Nadda Hits Back, Slams ‘Politics’Mahakumbh Girl Monalisa Marries Farman Khan In Kerala, Rejects Love Jihad Charges Amid Family RowIran Breaks Silence After Reports Claim Tehran Allowed Indian Oil Tanker Through Strait Of Hormuz’I Have Always Tried To…’: LS Speaker Om Birla’s First Remarks After No-Confidence Motion Fails123Photostories9 effective ways to fix excess salt in curries and sabziWhatsApp launches parent-managed accounts for pre-teens: Step-by-step guide to control contacts, privacy, and group access safely8 rattlesnake facts that explain how these venomous snakes hunt, strike and surviveMemory loss in your 40s may signal early-onset Dementia: Doctors explain symptoms, causes, and prevention tips6 common rental scams and how to avoid themHow to make Bread Paneer Pakoda for evening snacking with chaiThrowback Thursday: The story behind Hansika Motwani’s 18th-century Mughal art–inspired wedding lehenga that still feels royalFrom panic buying to empty shelves: Nationwide LPG supply fears trigger chaosRihanna, Harry Styles, Lady Gaga and others; Meet the singers who turned actors“Sir” Ravindra Jadeja’s Ahmedabad house worth ₹8 crore even has space for his beloved horses123Hot PicksStrait of Hormuz naval minesChina Yj-12 missileUCC gender biasCovid vaccine compensation policyIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingCardi BIPL Teams Match ScheduleThe RockMumbai TemperatureLPG Shortage in MumbaiMadhya Pradesh Student RapeIransoleimani class warshipsIran US WarReliance Oil Refinery in USMiddle East War

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha on Thursday witnessed a fiery showdown after the leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi was cut short during his speech for targeting oil and petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri over the alleged appearance of his name in the Epstein files.While speaking on the energy crisis due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, Rahul questioned why New Delhi would allow any external power to influence its energy relationships, particularly regarding purchases from Russia.“The foundation of every single nation is its energy security. Allowing the United States to decide who we buy oil from, who we buy gas from, and whether we can buy oil from Russia or not,” Rahul said.Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Saudi intercepts drone headed to Shaybah oil field; Israeli strikes 10 Hezbollah targets in Beirut’Legitimate targets’: Iran issues warning to US tech firms including Google, Amazon, Microsoft, NvidiaSafe Passage For Indian Vessels: Iran clears Indian-flagged ships in Hormuz; US, Europe, Israel face curbs“Our relationship with different oil suppliers can be decided by us. This is what has been bartered. Why would a nation the size of India allow any other nation, the President of another nation, to give us permission to buy Russian oil or to decide who our relationships are with,” he added.During his speech, Rahul also levelled allegations against Puri. Soon, Speaker Om Birla interjected and asked the LoP to stick to the issue on which he had served his notice.“I have a copy of the notice given by the Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi regarding the gas shortage in the country, and I allowed him to speak on that subject. However, despite being a responsible leader of the opposition, discussing other issues without notice is not within the procedures and rules of Parliament,” Birla said.“I am urging you again, and Parliament will not function this way. Parliament will function according to rules and procedures,” he added.This comes days after the opposition accused the Chair of denying speaking time to Rahul in the first part of the Budget session.This led the opposition to move a no-confidence motion against Birla. The move was, however, defeated by a voice vote amid protests and sloganeering by opposition members.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 MediaVideos“Energy Security Compromised”: Rahul Gandhi Sounds Alarm In Parliament’India’s Fuel Supply Stable’: Hardeep Singh Puri Rejects LPG Shortage, Oil Crisis Fears In Lok Sabha’I Heard A Cracker Sound…’: Farooq Abdullah Opens Up About Assassination AttemptRahul Gandhi Warns Of Fuel Crisis Amid Middle East Conflict, BJP MP Dubey Hits Back With Soros JibeAmid US-Iran War, First Crude Tanker Shenlong Safely Reaches Mumbai Port Through Strait Of HormuzIndian Ship Safety To Energy Crisis: MEA Reveals Details On Talks Between Jaishankar And Iran FM’Farooq’s Killing Intention Of Govt?’: Kharge Asks In Parl; Nadda Hits Back, Slams ‘Politics’Mahakumbh Girl Monalisa Marries Farman Khan In Kerala, Rejects Love Jihad Charges Amid Family RowIran Breaks Silence After Reports Claim Tehran Allowed Indian Oil Tanker Through Strait Of Hormuz’I Have Always Tried To…’: LS Speaker Om Birla’s First Remarks After No-Confidence Motion Fails123Photostories9 effective ways to fix excess salt in curries and sabziWhatsApp launches parent-managed accounts for pre-teens: Step-by-step guide to control contacts, privacy, and group access safely8 rattlesnake facts that explain how these venomous snakes hunt, strike and surviveMemory loss in your 40s may signal early-onset Dementia: Doctors explain symptoms, causes, and prevention tips6 common rental scams and how to avoid themHow to make Bread Paneer Pakoda for evening snacking with chaiThrowback Thursday: The story behind Hansika Motwani’s 18th-century Mughal art–inspired wedding lehenga that still feels royalFrom panic buying to empty shelves: Nationwide LPG supply fears trigger chaosRihanna, Harry Styles, Lady Gaga and others; Meet the singers who turned actors“Sir” Ravindra Jadeja’s Ahmedabad house worth ₹8 crore even has space for his beloved horses123Hot PicksStrait of Hormuz naval minesChina Yj-12 missileUCC gender biasCovid vaccine compensation policyIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingCardi BIPL Teams Match ScheduleThe RockMumbai TemperatureLPG Shortage in MumbaiMadhya Pradesh Student RapeIransoleimani class warshipsIran US WarReliance Oil Refinery in USMiddle East War


Lok Sabha showdown continues: Speaker stops Rahul Gandhi mid-speech after his remark on Hardeep Puri

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha on Thursday witnessed a fiery showdown after the leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi was cut short during his speech for targeting oil and petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri over the alleged appearance of his name in the Epstein files.While speaking on the energy crisis due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, Rahul questioned why New Delhi would allow any external power to influence its energy relationships, particularly regarding purchases from Russia.“The foundation of every single nation is its energy security. Allowing the United States to decide who we buy oil from, who we buy gas from, and whether we can buy oil from Russia or not,” Rahul said.“Our relationship with different oil suppliers can be decided by us. This is what has been bartered. Why would a nation the size of India allow any other nation, the President of another nation, to give us permission to buy Russian oil or to decide who our relationships are with,” he added.During his speech, Rahul also levelled allegations against Puri. Soon, Speaker Om Birla interjected and asked the LoP to stick to the issue on which he had served his notice.“I have a copy of the notice given by the Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi regarding the gas shortage in the country, and I allowed him to speak on that subject. However, despite being a responsible leader of the opposition, discussing other issues without notice is not within the procedures and rules of Parliament,” Birla said.“I am urging you again, and Parliament will not function this way. Parliament will function according to rules and procedures,” he added.This comes days after the opposition accused the Chair of denying speaking time to Rahul in the first part of the Budget session.This led the opposition to move a no-confidence motion against Birla. The move was, however, defeated by a voice vote amid protests and sloganeering by opposition members.



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NEW DELHI: Congress leader Priyanka Vadra on Wednesday took a swipe on the BJP-led central and state government in Assam, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of running a “government of double-slavery.”Addressing a rally in Nazira, Priyanka targeted the BJP’s central campaign pitch, saying it had failed to deliver on its promises. “They had spoken of a double-engine government. Didn’t they say so in the last election? Modi ji used to come and say that now they will run a double-engine government. But they have run a government of double-slavery. Modi ji has become a slave to America and because of his policies today the entire country is in crisis. And Hemanta ji is Modi ji’s slave. And on top of that, they want this government of double-slavery to make the people of this beautiful and self-respecting state of Assam slaves, keep them suppressed,” she said.Priyanka urged voters to reject what she described as politics driven by fear and self-interest. “They only work for you when they see some benefit in it for themselves. This has not been the tradition of this country. Even today, we want a government in Assam which doesn’t scare you, doesn’t threaten you, doesn’t serve its own selfish interests, but serves you, works honestly for you, advances and strengthens your culture and your civilisation,” she added.She further alleged that the BJP government in Assam was functioning through intimidation and corruption, claiming that public resources were being misused. “It is not just that one leader is prospering. The biggest thing that happens due to corruption is that your money is snatched away. This money is meant to be used for you—schools, hospitals, roads, taps—but instead it is being used to build palaces and enrich families,” she said.Targeting the state leadership, Priyanka claimed that “only one family is looting everything in Assam,” while ordinary citizens continue to struggle. She also accused the BJP of failing to fulfil key promises, including raising wages for tea garden workers and granting Scheduled Tribe status to several communities. “Various tribal communities have been demanding ST status for years. The BJP had promised to accord ST status to them, but they failed to give it,” she said.Raising concerns about governance, she alleged that people were being coerced into attending rallies. “PM Modi and CM Himanta are ruling the country and state with fear and threats. Our fight is against that fear, and for protecting Assam’s culture and civilisation,” she said.Highlighting Congress’ promises, Priyanka outlined welfare measures her party would implement if voted to power. “If you want such an Assam, then choose the Congress government. Our first guarantee is that for women, if you want to start some small work or business, you will be given Rs 50,000. Whatever scheme we bring for women, its cash will be transferred directly to the bank accounts of women,” she said.She also promised expanded healthcare support. “You will get health insurance up to Rs 25 lakh. The government will provide free treatment up to Rs 25 lakh for whatever disease you have. Our government has already shown this in Rajasthan,” she said.Priyanka also raised the issue of justice for Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, asserting that it was a legitimate public concern. “The Congress government wants Zubeen Garg ji to get justice. Within 100 days, as soon as our government is formed, we will get him justice. Today, all local ‘Bhumiputras’ have received temporary land deeds. We will give permanent deeds instead of temporary ones to 10 lakh local sons of the soil,” she said.Rejecting accusations of politicising the issue, she said, “I honestly don’t believe that such things should be politicised. But I think that when there is a demand among the public that somebody who they revered and respected is not getting justice, then, as politicians, isn’t it our duty to say that yes, we are going to make every effort to give justice? How is that politicisation?”Calling for a political change, she urged voters to envision a “new Assam.” “Raise your heads, puff out your chests, and make up your mind that with the new government, a new Assam will come. Your Assam, that Assam which was Zubeen Garg ji’s dream, that Assam which is in your hearts, that Assam which is everyone’s dream, in which your children’s future becomes bright, in which this corruption stops,” she said. Congress is anti-development: PM ModiMeanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also mounted a strong counterattack on Congress during his rallies in the state. Addressing a gathering in Biswanath, he accused the party of being “the root cause” of corruption in independent India. “The entire country knows that Congress is anti-development and has been the root of corruption in independent India. In Assam, Congress committed acts that the people are well aware of. Congress has played with Assam’s identity, pride, and security. Since independence, it compromised Assamese identity for the sake of power and repeatedly neglected Assam’s interests,” he said.He further alleged that Congress had encouraged illegal infiltration for political gains. “They (Congress) have compromised with Assam’s ‘aatma’ (soul), ‘shaan’ (pride), ‘pehchan’ (identity) and ‘suraksha’ (security),” Modi said, adding that the BJP government had taken steps to remove encroachments and protect local identity.The Prime Minister also reiterated the BJP’s governance record, stating that the party’s “double-engine government” had ushered in development and stability. “The BJP’s 10-year rule heralded a new dawn of ‘seva’ (service) and ‘sushasan’ (good governance) in Assam,” he said.Modi further promised key policy measures if the BJP returns to power, including implementation of the Uniform Civil Code and protection of tribal rights under the Sixth Schedule. He also expressed confidence in securing a third consecutive term in the state.The political exchange comes as Assam heads into a high-stakes assembly election, with polling for all 126 constituencies scheduled for April 9 and counting set for May 4. The contest is expected to be a direct fight between the ruling BJP-led NDA and the Congress, with both sides intensifying their campaigns and sharpening their attacks in the final stretch.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 MediaVideosINS Malwan Delivered To Indian Navy, Strengthens India’s Coastal Anti-Submarine Warfare’Where Was Your PM?’ Mallikarjun Kharge Attacks Modi Govt, Sparks War Of Words With Kiren RijijuMassive Opposition Protests Forces Modi Govt To Pause Foreign Contribution (FCRA) Bill In Lok SabhaRussian Envoy Rejects US Pressure On India Oil Trade, Backs Delhi’s Independent Foreign Policy StandDonald Trump Backs US-India Ties, Says Sergio Gor, But Hormuz Risk Puts India In Strategic DilemmaIran War Impact Hits India: Commercial LPG Prices Rise, Airfares Set To Surge As Fuel Costs DoubleIndia Conducts Ex Dweep Shakti, Tri-Service Drill To Boost Coastal And Island DefenceHow An Indian LPG Tanker Took An Unusual Route To Escape Strait Of HormuzTrump Ready To End Iran War Despite Hormuz Blockade?; Iran’s Oil Revenues Soar Thanks To Trump’s War’India’s Silence Helpful To US, Israel And Gulf States’: Former Deputy NSA Pankaj Saran On Iran War123PhotostoriesAhmedabad’s Billionaire Streets: Inside the city’s most expensive real estate hotspots in 20266 traditional Indian snacks that beat packaged foods every timeYour bones may be weakening earlier than you think: Everyday habits that damage bone strength, and simple steps to build stronger bones nowPink Full Moon: 7 signs the universe is preparing you for a major life shift6 delicious flatbreads to try instead of regular pizzaNarayan Murthy and Sudha Murty’s ₹50 crore Bengaluru home at UB City is all about simplicity and classFrom Rob Reiner to Heath Ledger: Hollywood actors who tragically lost their lives8 quick and easy Good Friday long weekend trips from MumbaiMumbai’s iconic dabbawalas suspend services for 6 days: 7 meals you can prepare at home without gas stove, induction, or microwaveIMD’s summer outlook: Heatwave likely in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana; Maharashtra spared extreme heat123Hot PicksIncome Tax Changes from April 1stPost office small savings schemesNASA Artemis IIAmazon treeIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingNeeraj ChopraSjoerd MarijneSam KonstasVaibhav SooryavanshiChennai Super KingsIPL 2026Adam ZampaLSG vs DC Match PreviewCooper ConnollyIPL Match Today

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Priyanka Vadra on Wednesday took a swipe on the BJP-led central and state government in Assam, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of running a “government of double-slavery.”Addressing a rally in Nazira, Priyanka targeted the BJP’s central campaign pitch, saying it had failed to deliver on its promises. “They had spoken of a double-engine government. Didn’t they say so in the last election? Modi ji used to come and say that now they will run a double-engine government. But they have run a government of double-slavery. Modi ji has become a slave to America and because of his policies today the entire country is in crisis. And Hemanta ji is Modi ji’s slave. And on top of that, they want this government of double-slavery to make the people of this beautiful and self-respecting state of Assam slaves, keep them suppressed,” she said.Priyanka urged voters to reject what she described as politics driven by fear and self-interest. “They only work for you when they see some benefit in it for themselves. This has not been the tradition of this country. Even today, we want a government in Assam which doesn’t scare you, doesn’t threaten you, doesn’t serve its own selfish interests, but serves you, works honestly for you, advances and strengthens your culture and your civilisation,” she added.She further alleged that the BJP government in Assam was functioning through intimidation and corruption, claiming that public resources were being misused. “It is not just that one leader is prospering. The biggest thing that happens due to corruption is that your money is snatched away. This money is meant to be used for you—schools, hospitals, roads, taps—but instead it is being used to build palaces and enrich families,” she said.Targeting the state leadership, Priyanka claimed that “only one family is looting everything in Assam,” while ordinary citizens continue to struggle. She also accused the BJP of failing to fulfil key promises, including raising wages for tea garden workers and granting Scheduled Tribe status to several communities. “Various tribal communities have been demanding ST status for years. The BJP had promised to accord ST status to them, but they failed to give it,” she said.Raising concerns about governance, she alleged that people were being coerced into attending rallies. “PM Modi and CM Himanta are ruling the country and state with fear and threats. Our fight is against that fear, and for protecting Assam’s culture and civilisation,” she said.Highlighting Congress’ promises, Priyanka outlined welfare measures her party would implement if voted to power. “If you want such an Assam, then choose the Congress government. Our first guarantee is that for women, if you want to start some small work or business, you will be given Rs 50,000. Whatever scheme we bring for women, its cash will be transferred directly to the bank accounts of women,” she said.She also promised expanded healthcare support. “You will get health insurance up to Rs 25 lakh. The government will provide free treatment up to Rs 25 lakh for whatever disease you have. Our government has already shown this in Rajasthan,” she said.Priyanka also raised the issue of justice for Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, asserting that it was a legitimate public concern. “The Congress government wants Zubeen Garg ji to get justice. Within 100 days, as soon as our government is formed, we will get him justice. Today, all local ‘Bhumiputras’ have received temporary land deeds. We will give permanent deeds instead of temporary ones to 10 lakh local sons of the soil,” she said.Rejecting accusations of politicising the issue, she said, “I honestly don’t believe that such things should be politicised. But I think that when there is a demand among the public that somebody who they revered and respected is not getting justice, then, as politicians, isn’t it our duty to say that yes, we are going to make every effort to give justice? How is that politicisation?”Calling for a political change, she urged voters to envision a “new Assam.” “Raise your heads, puff out your chests, and make up your mind that with the new government, a new Assam will come. Your Assam, that Assam which was Zubeen Garg ji’s dream, that Assam which is in your hearts, that Assam which is everyone’s dream, in which your children’s future becomes bright, in which this corruption stops,” she said. Congress is anti-development: PM ModiMeanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also mounted a strong counterattack on Congress during his rallies in the state. Addressing a gathering in Biswanath, he accused the party of being “the root cause” of corruption in independent India. “The entire country knows that Congress is anti-development and has been the root of corruption in independent India. In Assam, Congress committed acts that the people are well aware of. Congress has played with Assam’s identity, pride, and security. Since independence, it compromised Assamese identity for the sake of power and repeatedly neglected Assam’s interests,” he said.He further alleged that Congress had encouraged illegal infiltration for political gains. “They (Congress) have compromised with Assam’s ‘aatma’ (soul), ‘shaan’ (pride), ‘pehchan’ (identity) and ‘suraksha’ (security),” Modi said, adding that the BJP government had taken steps to remove encroachments and protect local identity.The Prime Minister also reiterated the BJP’s governance record, stating that the party’s “double-engine government” had ushered in development and stability. “The BJP’s 10-year rule heralded a new dawn of ‘seva’ (service) and ‘sushasan’ (good governance) in Assam,” he said.Modi further promised key policy measures if the BJP returns to power, including implementation of the Uniform Civil Code and protection of tribal rights under the Sixth Schedule. He also expressed confidence in securing a third consecutive term in the state.The political exchange comes as Assam heads into a high-stakes assembly election, with polling for all 126 constituencies scheduled for April 9 and counting set for May 4. The contest is expected to be a direct fight between the ruling BJP-led NDA and the Congress, with both sides intensifying their campaigns and sharpening their attacks in the final stretch.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 MediaVideosINS Malwan Delivered To Indian Navy, Strengthens India’s Coastal Anti-Submarine Warfare’Where Was Your PM?’ Mallikarjun Kharge Attacks Modi Govt, Sparks War Of Words With Kiren RijijuMassive Opposition Protests Forces Modi Govt To Pause Foreign Contribution (FCRA) Bill In Lok SabhaRussian Envoy Rejects US Pressure On India Oil Trade, Backs Delhi’s Independent Foreign Policy StandDonald Trump Backs US-India Ties, Says Sergio Gor, But Hormuz Risk Puts India In Strategic DilemmaIran War Impact Hits India: Commercial LPG Prices Rise, Airfares Set To Surge As Fuel Costs DoubleIndia Conducts Ex Dweep Shakti, Tri-Service Drill To Boost Coastal And Island DefenceHow An Indian LPG Tanker Took An Unusual Route To Escape Strait Of HormuzTrump Ready To End Iran War Despite Hormuz Blockade?; Iran’s Oil Revenues Soar Thanks To Trump’s War’India’s Silence Helpful To US, Israel And Gulf States’: Former Deputy NSA Pankaj Saran On Iran War123PhotostoriesAhmedabad’s Billionaire Streets: Inside the city’s most expensive real estate hotspots in 20266 traditional Indian snacks that beat packaged foods every timeYour bones may be weakening earlier than you think: Everyday habits that damage bone strength, and simple steps to build stronger bones nowPink Full Moon: 7 signs the universe is preparing you for a major life shift6 delicious flatbreads to try instead of regular pizzaNarayan Murthy and Sudha Murty’s ₹50 crore Bengaluru home at UB City is all about simplicity and classFrom Rob Reiner to Heath Ledger: Hollywood actors who tragically lost their lives8 quick and easy Good Friday long weekend trips from MumbaiMumbai’s iconic dabbawalas suspend services for 6 days: 7 meals you can prepare at home without gas stove, induction, or microwaveIMD’s summer outlook: Heatwave likely in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana; Maharashtra spared extreme heat123Hot PicksIncome Tax Changes from April 1stPost office small savings schemesNASA Artemis IIAmazon treeIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingNeeraj ChopraSjoerd MarijneSam KonstasVaibhav SooryavanshiChennai Super KingsIPL 2026Adam ZampaLSG vs DC Match PreviewCooper ConnollyIPL Match Today

Vamsikrishna 0
There is a moment near the end of Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut where a waltz plays over scenes of uneasy beauty. The piece is Shostakovich’s Waltz No. 2, composed in the mid-1950s for a Soviet film, later misattributed to a different suite entirely, and now among the most recognised orchestral pieces in the world precisely because of what it does to a room. It does not comfort. It unsettles, elegantly. It was the first music audiences heard as they walked into Tesseract: The Geometry of Truth, and the choice said something about what the evening intended to be.Tesseract’s musical direction was not incidental. Across eleven pieces, spanning Soviet orchestral music, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Queen, and three of Hans Zimmer’s most celebrated film scores, a coherent argument was being made. One that the choreography and staging amplified. The music did the work. Taken together, these songs form their own kind of geometry: different angles on the same central question of what truth is, who holds it, who is denied it, and what it costs to look for it honestly.Waltz No. 2 — Dmitri Shostakovich Watch Dmitri Shostakovich – Waltz No. 2Shostakovich composed this waltz in the mid-1950s for a Soviet film, and it circulated for decades under a misattributed title — a piece of music whose very identity was a matter of record. Its fame soared when Kubrick used it in Eyes Wide Shut, where it underscored a world of beautiful surfaces concealing darker truths beneath. As an overture for a show about perception and reality, it was precisely right.Michael Jackson appears three times in the Tesseract soundtrack, and the progression is not accidental.Man in the Mirror — Michael Jackson Watch Michael Jackson – Man In The Mirror (Official Video)From his 1988 album Bad, this is the most inward of the three Jackson pieces — a gospel-drenched call for self-examination that he performed at the Grammy Awards that year with a choir behind him. The music video, unusually, features almost no Jackson himself; instead it runs through a montage of suffering, protest, and injustice, as if to say: this is what you are looking away from.They Don’t Care About Us — Michael Jackson Watch Michael Jackson – They Don’t Care About UsReleased eight years later and considerably more confrontational, this shifts the gaze outward. It is a song about the people history does not account for, the voices that systems of power find convenient to ignore. The anger in it is specific and earned. Where Man in the Mirror asks the individual to look inward, this one holds the world to account.Earth Song — Michael Jackson Watch Michael Jackson – Earth Song (Official Video)A gospel lament for the natural world, released in 1995, it asks what collective human ambition — including the ambition to discover and build and grow — has cost the planet that makes all of it possible. The pursuit of progress, even the pursuit of truth, is not free. Of the three Jackson pieces, this one carries the broadest moral weight, and the hardest question.Billy Joel offered two very different registers.She’s Always a Woman — Billy Joel Watch Billy Joel – She’s Always a Woman (Official Audio)Written in 1977, this is a portrait of someone who resists being reduced to a simple narrative — a study in the gap between who a person actually is and who others insist on seeing. Joel wrote it partly in frustration at critics who had misread someone he loved, but it became something larger: a quiet argument against the laziness of received opinion. In a show about the geometry of truth, it is worth noting that truth about people is almost always more complicated than the shape we assign it.We Didn’t Start the Fire — Billy Joel Watch Billy Joel – We Didn’t Start The Fire (Official HD Video)Written after a conversation with a young man who believed the 1950s had been uneventful, this is the opposite of quiet — 119 historical references compressed into under five minutes, a torrent of events presented without hierarchy or verdict. Joel said he never meant it as an apology for his generation or an accusation against any other. The world, he argued, has always been a mess. The fire was burning long before any of us arrived.We Are the Champions — Queen Watch Queen – We Are The Champions (Official Video)Freddie Mercury wrote this in 1977 as a direct address to the audience — not a triumphant boast but a recognition of a shared journey through failure, persistence, and something that might, eventually, resemble winning. The we in it is genuinely open. It belongs to whoever has earned the right to claim it. As an anthem of collective resilience, it carries the emotional centre of the evening without needing to explain itself.Hans Zimmer is represented three times, and the three pieces span a decade of his most celebrated work.Time — Hans Zimmer (Inception, 2010) Watch Hans Zimmer – Time (Inception)This piece builds from a single fragile motif into something enormous and unresolved; it accompanies the final moments of Christopher Nolan’s Inception, where the line between dream and waking is deliberately left open, and the music refuses to close either. For a show built around perception and truth, few pieces of music do more with less.The Dark Knight Theme — Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard (2008) Watch The Dark Knight Main Theme – Hans ZimmerBuilt from almost nothing — a two-note motif that Zimmer associated with a character defined by his desire to expose the fragility of everything people believe keeps them safe. The Joker, in Nolan’s reading, does not want power or money; he wants to demonstrate that the systems people trust are more fragile than they appear. It is a theme, in other words, about what happens when comfortable fictions collapse.Interstellar Main Theme — Hans Zimmer (2014) Watch Interstellar Main Theme – Extra Extended – Soundtrack by Hans ZimmerRecorded almost entirely on pipe organ — an unusual choice for a science fiction film, and a deliberate one. The organ carries centuries of associations: the sacred, the vast, the unknowable. It sits in the Tesseract soundtrack as something apart from the others. It does not argue. It does not accuse. It witnesses.Chevaliers de Sangreal — Hans Zimmer (The Da Vinci Code, 2006) Watch Chevaliers De Sangreal (From The Da Vinci Code Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)The climactic theme from Ron Howard’s adaptation of Dan Brown’s novel — a story built entirely around the proposition that the most guarded truths are the ones institutions have the most to lose from revealing. Zimmer’s score for the moment of revelation is not triumphant so much as solemn: a choir ascending, unhurried, as if truth itself were walking into the light. It is the final piece in the Tesseract soundtrack. That it closes the evening feels right.S no.Song TitleArtist/ComposerSource / Notes1Waltz No. 2Dmitri ShostakovichPerformed by Russian State Symphony Orchestra / Dmitry Yablonsky2Man in the MirrorMichael Jackson—3They Don’t Care About UsMichael Jackson—4She’s Always a WomanBilly Joel—5We Didn’t Start the FireBilly Joel—6We Are the ChampionsQueen—7TimeHans ZimmerFrom Inception8The Dark Knight ThemeHans Zimmer & James Newton HowardFrom The Dark Knight9Earth SongMichael Jackson—10Interstellar Main ThemeHans ZimmerFrom Interstellar11Chevaliers de SangrealHans ZimmerFrom The Da Vinci CodeTesseract was a production about perception, geometry, and the many shapes truth can take depending on where you stand. Its music was chosen with the same seriousness. From a Soviet waltz that had been misnamed for decades to a choir walking toward revelation in the final moments, the songs held the truth for a brief moment in human memory.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosMassive Opposition Protests Forces Modi Govt To Pause Foreign Contribution (FCRA) Bill In Lok SabhaRussian Envoy Rejects US Pressure On India Oil Trade, Backs Delhi’s Independent Foreign Policy StandDonald Trump Backs US-India Ties, Says Sergio Gor, But Hormuz Risk Puts India In Strategic DilemmaIran War Impact Hits India: Commercial LPG Prices Rise, Airfares Set To Surge As Fuel Costs DoubleIndia Conducts Ex Dweep Shakti, Tri-Service Drill To Boost Coastal And Island DefenceHow An Indian LPG Tanker Took An Unusual Route To Escape Strait Of HormuzTrump Ready To End Iran War Despite Hormuz Blockade?; Iran’s Oil Revenues Soar Thanks To Trump’s War’India’s Silence Helpful To US, Israel And Gulf States’: Former Deputy NSA Pankaj Saran On Iran WarBig April Financial Reset: New Rules For UPI, ATM, PAN, FASTag, Railway Booking To Impact Daily Life’Like Political Vultures’: PM Modi Slams Congress For ‘Spreading Fear’ Amid West Asia Crisis123PhotostoriesPink Full Moon: 7 signs the universe is preparing you for a major life shift6 delicious flatbreads to try instead of regular pizzaNarayan Murthy and Sudha Murty’s ₹50 crore Bengaluru home at UB City is all about simplicity and classFrom Rob Reiner to Heath Ledger: Hollywood actors who tragically lost their lives8 quick and easy Good Friday long weekend trips from MumbaiMumbai’s iconic dabbawalas suspend services for 6 days: 7 meals you can prepare at home without gas stove, induction, or microwaveIMD’s summer outlook: Heatwave likely in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana; Maharashtra spared extreme heat7 delicious snail dishes you need to try at least onceBaby names inspired by holy cities of IndiaYuvraj Singh’s mountain-view mansion in Chandigarh is a personalised dream home built on his cricket legacy and family values123Hot PicksIncome Tax Changes from April 1stPost office small savings schemesNASA Artemis IIAmazon treeIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingNeeraj ChopraSjoerd MarijneSam KonstasVaibhav SooryavanshiChennai Super KingsIPL 2026Adam ZampaLSG vs DC Match PreviewCooper ConnollyIPL Match Today

There is a moment near the end of Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut where a waltz plays over scenes of uneasy beauty. The piece is Shostakovich’s Waltz No. 2, composed in the mid-1950s for a Soviet film, later misattributed to a different suite entirely, and now among the most recognised orchestral pieces in the world precisely because of what it does to a room. It does not comfort. It unsettles, elegantly. It was the first music audiences heard as they walked into Tesseract: The Geometry of Truth, and the choice said something about what the evening intended to be.Tesseract’s musical direction was not incidental. Across eleven pieces, spanning Soviet orchestral music, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Queen, and three of Hans Zimmer’s most celebrated film scores, a coherent argument was being made. One that the choreography and staging amplified. The music did the work. Taken together, these songs form their own kind of geometry: different angles on the same central question of what truth is, who holds it, who is denied it, and what it costs to look for it honestly.Waltz No. 2 — Dmitri Shostakovich Watch Dmitri Shostakovich – Waltz No. 2Shostakovich composed this waltz in the mid-1950s for a Soviet film, and it circulated for decades under a misattributed title — a piece of music whose very identity was a matter of record. Its fame soared when Kubrick used it in Eyes Wide Shut, where it underscored a world of beautiful surfaces concealing darker truths beneath. As an overture for a show about perception and reality, it was precisely right.Michael Jackson appears three times in the Tesseract soundtrack, and the progression is not accidental.Man in the Mirror — Michael Jackson Watch Michael Jackson – Man In The Mirror (Official Video)From his 1988 album Bad, this is the most inward of the three Jackson pieces — a gospel-drenched call for self-examination that he performed at the Grammy Awards that year with a choir behind him. The music video, unusually, features almost no Jackson himself; instead it runs through a montage of suffering, protest, and injustice, as if to say: this is what you are looking away from.They Don’t Care About Us — Michael Jackson Watch Michael Jackson – They Don’t Care About UsReleased eight years later and considerably more confrontational, this shifts the gaze outward. It is a song about the people history does not account for, the voices that systems of power find convenient to ignore. The anger in it is specific and earned. Where Man in the Mirror asks the individual to look inward, this one holds the world to account.Earth Song — Michael Jackson Watch Michael Jackson – Earth Song (Official Video)A gospel lament for the natural world, released in 1995, it asks what collective human ambition — including the ambition to discover and build and grow — has cost the planet that makes all of it possible. The pursuit of progress, even the pursuit of truth, is not free. Of the three Jackson pieces, this one carries the broadest moral weight, and the hardest question.Billy Joel offered two very different registers.She’s Always a Woman — Billy Joel Watch Billy Joel – She’s Always a Woman (Official Audio)Written in 1977, this is a portrait of someone who resists being reduced to a simple narrative — a study in the gap between who a person actually is and who others insist on seeing. Joel wrote it partly in frustration at critics who had misread someone he loved, but it became something larger: a quiet argument against the laziness of received opinion. In a show about the geometry of truth, it is worth noting that truth about people is almost always more complicated than the shape we assign it.We Didn’t Start the Fire — Billy Joel Watch Billy Joel – We Didn’t Start The Fire (Official HD Video)Written after a conversation with a young man who believed the 1950s had been uneventful, this is the opposite of quiet — 119 historical references compressed into under five minutes, a torrent of events presented without hierarchy or verdict. Joel said he never meant it as an apology for his generation or an accusation against any other. The world, he argued, has always been a mess. The fire was burning long before any of us arrived.We Are the Champions — Queen Watch Queen – We Are The Champions (Official Video)Freddie Mercury wrote this in 1977 as a direct address to the audience — not a triumphant boast but a recognition of a shared journey through failure, persistence, and something that might, eventually, resemble winning. The we in it is genuinely open. It belongs to whoever has earned the right to claim it. As an anthem of collective resilience, it carries the emotional centre of the evening without needing to explain itself.Hans Zimmer is represented three times, and the three pieces span a decade of his most celebrated work.Time — Hans Zimmer (Inception, 2010) Watch Hans Zimmer – Time (Inception)This piece builds from a single fragile motif into something enormous and unresolved; it accompanies the final moments of Christopher Nolan’s Inception, where the line between dream and waking is deliberately left open, and the music refuses to close either. For a show built around perception and truth, few pieces of music do more with less.The Dark Knight Theme — Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard (2008) Watch The Dark Knight Main Theme – Hans ZimmerBuilt from almost nothing — a two-note motif that Zimmer associated with a character defined by his desire to expose the fragility of everything people believe keeps them safe. The Joker, in Nolan’s reading, does not want power or money; he wants to demonstrate that the systems people trust are more fragile than they appear. It is a theme, in other words, about what happens when comfortable fictions collapse.Interstellar Main Theme — Hans Zimmer (2014) Watch Interstellar Main Theme – Extra Extended – Soundtrack by Hans ZimmerRecorded almost entirely on pipe organ — an unusual choice for a science fiction film, and a deliberate one. The organ carries centuries of associations: the sacred, the vast, the unknowable. It sits in the Tesseract soundtrack as something apart from the others. It does not argue. It does not accuse. It witnesses.Chevaliers de Sangreal — Hans Zimmer (The Da Vinci Code, 2006) Watch Chevaliers De Sangreal (From The Da Vinci Code Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)The climactic theme from Ron Howard’s adaptation of Dan Brown’s novel — a story built entirely around the proposition that the most guarded truths are the ones institutions have the most to lose from revealing. Zimmer’s score for the moment of revelation is not triumphant so much as solemn: a choir ascending, unhurried, as if truth itself were walking into the light. It is the final piece in the Tesseract soundtrack. That it closes the evening feels right.S no.Song TitleArtist/ComposerSource / Notes1Waltz No. 2Dmitri ShostakovichPerformed by Russian State Symphony Orchestra / Dmitry Yablonsky2Man in the MirrorMichael Jackson—3They Don’t Care About UsMichael Jackson—4She’s Always a WomanBilly Joel—5We Didn’t Start the FireBilly Joel—6We Are the ChampionsQueen—7TimeHans ZimmerFrom Inception8The Dark Knight ThemeHans Zimmer & James Newton HowardFrom The Dark Knight9Earth SongMichael Jackson—10Interstellar Main ThemeHans ZimmerFrom Interstellar11Chevaliers de SangrealHans ZimmerFrom The Da Vinci CodeTesseract was a production about perception, geometry, and the many shapes truth can take depending on where you stand. Its music was chosen with the same seriousness. From a Soviet waltz that had been misnamed for decades to a choir walking toward revelation in the final moments, the songs held the truth for a brief moment in human memory.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosMassive Opposition Protests Forces Modi Govt To Pause Foreign Contribution (FCRA) Bill In Lok SabhaRussian Envoy Rejects US Pressure On India Oil Trade, Backs Delhi’s Independent Foreign Policy StandDonald Trump Backs US-India Ties, Says Sergio Gor, But Hormuz Risk Puts India In Strategic DilemmaIran War Impact Hits India: Commercial LPG Prices Rise, Airfares Set To Surge As Fuel Costs DoubleIndia Conducts Ex Dweep Shakti, Tri-Service Drill To Boost Coastal And Island DefenceHow An Indian LPG Tanker Took An Unusual Route To Escape Strait Of HormuzTrump Ready To End Iran War Despite Hormuz Blockade?; Iran’s Oil Revenues Soar Thanks To Trump’s War’India’s Silence Helpful To US, Israel And Gulf States’: Former Deputy NSA Pankaj Saran On Iran WarBig April Financial Reset: New Rules For UPI, ATM, PAN, FASTag, Railway Booking To Impact Daily Life’Like Political Vultures’: PM Modi Slams Congress For ‘Spreading Fear’ Amid West Asia Crisis123PhotostoriesPink Full Moon: 7 signs the universe is preparing you for a major life shift6 delicious flatbreads to try instead of regular pizzaNarayan Murthy and Sudha Murty’s ₹50 crore Bengaluru home at UB City is all about simplicity and classFrom Rob Reiner to Heath Ledger: Hollywood actors who tragically lost their lives8 quick and easy Good Friday long weekend trips from MumbaiMumbai’s iconic dabbawalas suspend services for 6 days: 7 meals you can prepare at home without gas stove, induction, or microwaveIMD’s summer outlook: Heatwave likely in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana; Maharashtra spared extreme heat7 delicious snail dishes you need to try at least onceBaby names inspired by holy cities of IndiaYuvraj Singh’s mountain-view mansion in Chandigarh is a personalised dream home built on his cricket legacy and family values123Hot PicksIncome Tax Changes from April 1stPost office small savings schemesNASA Artemis IIAmazon treeIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingNeeraj ChopraSjoerd MarijneSam KonstasVaibhav SooryavanshiChennai Super KingsIPL 2026Adam ZampaLSG vs DC Match PreviewCooper ConnollyIPL Match Today

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Congress’ V Vaithilingam; CM N Rangasamy; TVK chief Vijay NEW DELHI: The upcoming Puducherry assembly elections have set the stage for a direct contest between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of All India NR Congress (AINRC)–BJP and the Congress–DMK’s Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA).The NDA, led by chief minister and AINRC founder-president N Rangasamy, is aiming for a second consecutive term. Meanwhile, the Congress and DMK finalised their seat-sharing at the last moment, and will fight to reclaim power in the Union territory. Puducherry assembly polls 2026Puducherry’s 33-member legislative assembly includes 30 elected seats, while three members are nominated by the Centre. Voting will be held on April 9, followed by counting on May 4, alongside counting in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, all of which will also vote this month.A snapshot of past electionsPuducherry has not re-elected a government since the Congress in 2006. In February 2011, Rangasamy, a former Congress member, launched the AINRC, which came to power a few months later. The grand old party reclaimed power in 2016, before the AINRC–BJP combine won the assembly elections in 2021.In the previous polls, the AINRC and BJP—contesting together for only the second time and their first assembly election as allies—ousted the Congress. The alliance won 16 seats, exactly the majority needed to form the government. How parties fared in Puducherry assembly polls 2021Five years before that, the Congress had emerged victorious with 15 seats, while the DMK added two more to their joint tally. The AINRC, which had experienced rapid success soon after its formation, was voted out, securing just eight seats.Can AINRC reverse the trend?High-stake contestThe most high-profile contest of the election is set to unfold in Thattanchavady, featuring two candidates who were once in the same party and have both held the UT’s top executive post. On the final day of nominations, with the Congress and DMK yet to finalise a seat-sharing agreement, V Vaithilingam, Puducherry Congress president and former chief minister, filed his nomination from Thattanchavady, setting up a direct clash against Rangasamy, the outgoing CM. Thattanchavady constituencySince his second term as chief minister ended in 2011, Vaithilingam has represented the UT’s only Lok Sabha seat—also called Puducherry—which he won in both the 2019 and 2024 general elections. Meanwhile, Rangasamy has held the chief ministerial post four times, twice each with the Congress and later with the AINRC.Thattanchavady could, therefore, once again decide Puducherry’s next chief minister.Major poll battlesWhile the Rangasamy–Vaithilingam contest will be the most high-profile battle, several other constituencies are also set to witness intense fights. For the Raj Bhavan segment, the NDA has nominated VP Ramalingam, the Puducherry BJP chief. The SPA nominee is Vignesh Kannan, who recently joined the DMK and is the son of the late P Kannan, an ex-Puducherry minister and a former parliamentarian. Key battlesIn Lawspet, AINRC’s VP Sivakolundhu, who served as assembly speaker while in the Congress, faces a strong challenge from V Saminathan of actor-politician Vijay’s two-year-old Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Saminathan, a former Puducherry BJP president, holds the distinction of being the longest-serving leader in that position, making this race a high-stakes contest.In Mahe and Yanam, which fall in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh respectively, the NDA candidates are A Dineshan (BJP) and Malladi Krishna Rao (AINRC). The SPA candidates are Ramesh Parambath (Congress) and GS Ashok (Congress). Puducherry dynasty candidatesOther major candidates include home minister and BJP leader A Namassivayam (Mannadipet), minority affairs minister and BJP leader A Johnkumar (Mudaliarpet), and AINRC’s Nedungadu nominee Chandira Priyanga, a former minister who resigned in October 2023 as the lone woman in the cabinet.From the Congress-DMK alliance, DMK’s R Siva, leader of the opposition in the outgoing assembly, will contest from Villianur. DMK leader and ex-minister AMH Nazeem will contest the Karaikal South seat.Key issues dominating the election campaignStatehood: Ahead of the electoral battle, the long-pending demand for statehood for Puducherry has emerged as the biggest issue and could play a decisive role in the outcome. As the ruling party and an ally of the BJP, which leads the Union government, the AINRC stands to lose the most if the opposition is able to bring this issue to the forefront effectively.Puducherry’s Union territory status means that most administrative matters are decided by the lieutenant governor—the UT’s constitutional head appointed by the President on the Centre’s recommendation—rather than the chief minister. For instance, the police department reports to the Union home ministry, unlike in a full-fledged state, where it functions under the elected political administration. Successive governments in the UT have cited this lack of full-fledged powers as a hindrance to effective governance.‘Excessive’ focus on Puducherry district: The district, which shares its name with the Union territory and is home to its capital city of the same name, also accounts for a lion’s share of the assembly seats. Out of the 30 assembly constituencies, 23 are located here, giving it an overwhelming influence in determining the outcome of the elections. This concentration of seats means that political campaigns, party strategies, and voter attention are heavily focused on the Puducherry district, often overshadowing Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam. Additionally, Mahe and Yanam are surrounded by two different states (Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, respectively), which shape their political and administrative dynamics differently. Candidates with criminal casesWater contamination: In September 2025, the Puducherry city faced a public health concern due to contaminated drinking water in some areas, with many residents reportedly falling ill with symptoms like diarrhoea and vomiting after consuming unsafe water. The contamination was believed to be caused by poor sanitation and possible mixing of sewage with the water supply. The incident led to protests and raised concerns about the need for better water quality management and improved public health measures.Unemployment: Despite its small size and relatively low population, the UT has recorded a high unemployment rate. In June 2021, just a month into the AINRC–BJP government’s first term, the unemployment rate stood at a national high of 47.1%, according to a Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) study, compared to a national average of 9.2%.This was significantly lower than the figures recorded in April 2020, when the unemployment rate had peaked at 75.8% against a national average of 23.5%, largely due to the lockdown imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19.SWOT analysisNDA: The alliance has retained its previous formula, under which AINRC will contest 16 seats and BJP 14. From its quota, the BJP has allocated two seats each to allies like the AIADMK and the newly formed Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK), led by businessman Jose Charles Martin, son of “lottery king” Santiago Martin.StrengthCM Rangasamy’s pro-people image The UT government’s popularity Rangasamy is implementing a slew of welfare measuresWeaknessBJP remains relatively weak in PuducherryAIADMK has struggled electorally, including losing all five seats it contested in 2021.Allegations including corruption, failure to maintain law and order, and “political blessings’ for a fake drug manufacturing racket busted last yearOpportunityGreater friction within the opposition coalition compared to the ruling one Better coordination with the Centre, as the BJP leads the central government and is part of the ruling coalition in PuducherryThreat Anti-incumbency, with no ruling party re-elected since 2006Strains within the NDA, including the Centre’s failure to deliver on the statehood promise and the BJP, including Jose Charles Martin in the alliance NDA SWOTCongress-DMK: The Congress–DMK alliance is the more traditional of the two major coalitions, having contested assembly elections here since 2006.Last time, the DMK won six constituencies compared to the Congress’ two, emerging as the second-largest party and holding the leader of the opposition post.The Congress will field 16 candidates, with the remaining seats allotted to the DMK. The MK Stalin-led party had initially announced one seat from its quota for the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK). However, the VCK chose to contest independently and field its own candidates in three constituencies.StrengthAs the two most successful parties, both – especially the Congress – continue to have a widespread organisational presenceWeaknessCongress’ inability to convert issues into votesCongress-DMK sea-sharing friction almost derailed the allianceOpportunityThe previous AINRC (2011–2016) and Congress (2016–2021) administrations both lost power after just one termThreatCongress’ broader national declineDespite potential anti-incumbency, AINRC-BJP combine appears better positioned to retain powerThe last-day seat-sharing announcement could lead to friendly contests Congress-DMK SWOTWildcard factorAs in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, the biggest wildcard factor in Puducherry is “Thalapathy” Vijay. His TVK initially announced candidates for all 30 constituencies before joining hands with independent legislator G Nehru’s newly formed Neyam Makkal Kazhagam (NMK).Under this arrangement, the TVK withdrew its nominees from the Orleanpet and Thattanchavady seats for the NMK. Nehru himself will contest from Orleanpet, while NMK general secretary E Vinayagam will stand from Thattanchavady.Like in Tamil Nadu, the TVK’s biggest strength is Vijay’s massive popularity; his Puducherry rally in December last year drew thousands. Yet, converting his fan base into votes will be the party’s biggest challenge. Additionally, as a newly formed party—it was launched in February 2024—the TVK lacks both a strong grassroots organisation and governance experience compared to more established parties.Yet, TVK could attract voters seeking alternatives beyond the two major alliances. This could end up benefiting one of the two while hurting the other, and at the same time help establish TVK as a rising political force.Unsurprisingly, Vijay was reportedly courted by the AIADMK, BJP, and Congress in Tamil Nadu, but he declined overtures from all three.StrengthBuilt-in fan base driven by Vijay’s strong popularityWeaknessPolitical debutant; therefore lacks political and policy experienceLack of a grassroots organisational networkNo prominent face beyond VijayOpportunityPositioning as a fresh alternative to the dominant coalitionsAttracting voters seeking changeThreatPotential difficulty in converting fan support into actual votesReputation impact following the Karur stampedePotential disruptions due to frequent travel to Delhi for CBI questioning TVK SWOTStage set for poll battleAs the elections approach, several political heavyweights—including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, and Congress MP and Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi—are expected to visit Puducherry regularly to campaign for their respective parties..Still, attention is not on Puducherry as it is a Union territory and small in size. However, it has its own politics and stands out for its French colonial past and the fact that its four districts are spread across three different states, with two of the states—Tamil Nadu and Kerala —voting in the current round, giving the UT a unique political significance.With the key players and alliances in place, the stage is now set for a potentially close poll battle.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. He also writes explainers to make these stories easier for readers to follow.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Where Was Your PM?’ Mallikarjun Kharge Attacks Modi Govt, Sparks War Of Words With Kiren RijijuMassive Opposition Protests Forces Modi Govt To Pause Foreign Contribution (FCRA) Bill In Lok SabhaRussian Envoy Rejects US Pressure On India Oil Trade, Backs Delhi’s Independent Foreign Policy StandDonald Trump Backs US-India Ties, Says Sergio Gor, But Hormuz Risk Puts India In Strategic DilemmaIran War Impact Hits India: Commercial LPG Prices Rise, Airfares Set To Surge As Fuel Costs DoubleIndia Conducts Ex Dweep Shakti, Tri-Service Drill To Boost Coastal And Island DefenceHow An Indian LPG Tanker Took An Unusual Route To Escape Strait Of HormuzTrump Ready To End Iran War Despite Hormuz Blockade?; Iran’s Oil Revenues Soar Thanks To Trump’s War’India’s Silence Helpful To US, Israel And Gulf States’: Former Deputy NSA Pankaj Saran On Iran WarBig April Financial Reset: New Rules For UPI, ATM, PAN, FASTag, Railway Booking To Impact Daily Life123PhotostoriesPink Full Moon: 7 signs the universe is preparing you for a major life shift6 delicious flatbreads to try instead of regular pizzaNarayan Murthy and Sudha Murty’s ₹50 crore Bengaluru home at UB City is all about simplicity and classFrom Rob Reiner to Heath Ledger: Hollywood actors who tragically lost their lives8 quick and easy Good Friday long weekend trips from MumbaiMumbai’s iconic dabbawalas suspend services for 6 days: 7 meals you can prepare at home without gas stove, induction, or microwaveIMD’s summer outlook: Heatwave likely in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana; Maharashtra spared extreme heat7 delicious snail dishes you need to try at least onceBaby names inspired by holy cities of IndiaYuvraj Singh’s mountain-view mansion in Chandigarh is a personalised dream home built on his cricket legacy and family values123Hot PicksIncome Tax Changes from April 1stPost office small savings schemesNASA Artemis IIAmazon treeIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingNeeraj ChopraSjoerd MarijneSam KonstasVaibhav SooryavanshiChennai Super KingsIPL 2026Adam ZampaLSG vs DC Match PreviewCooper ConnollyIPL Match Today

Congress’ V Vaithilingam; CM N Rangasamy; TVK chief Vijay NEW DELHI: The upcoming Puducherry assembly elections have set the stage for a direct contest between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of All India NR Congress (AINRC)–BJP and the Congress–DMK’s Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA).The NDA, led by chief minister and AINRC founder-president N Rangasamy, is aiming for a second consecutive term. Meanwhile, the Congress and DMK finalised their seat-sharing at the last moment, and will fight to reclaim power in the Union territory. Puducherry assembly polls 2026Puducherry’s 33-member legislative assembly includes 30 elected seats, while three members are nominated by the Centre. Voting will be held on April 9, followed by counting on May 4, alongside counting in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, all of which will also vote this month.A snapshot of past electionsPuducherry has not re-elected a government since the Congress in 2006. In February 2011, Rangasamy, a former Congress member, launched the AINRC, which came to power a few months later. The grand old party reclaimed power in 2016, before the AINRC–BJP combine won the assembly elections in 2021.In the previous polls, the AINRC and BJP—contesting together for only the second time and their first assembly election as allies—ousted the Congress. The alliance won 16 seats, exactly the majority needed to form the government. How parties fared in Puducherry assembly polls 2021Five years before that, the Congress had emerged victorious with 15 seats, while the DMK added two more to their joint tally. The AINRC, which had experienced rapid success soon after its formation, was voted out, securing just eight seats.Can AINRC reverse the trend?High-stake contestThe most high-profile contest of the election is set to unfold in Thattanchavady, featuring two candidates who were once in the same party and have both held the UT’s top executive post. On the final day of nominations, with the Congress and DMK yet to finalise a seat-sharing agreement, V Vaithilingam, Puducherry Congress president and former chief minister, filed his nomination from Thattanchavady, setting up a direct clash against Rangasamy, the outgoing CM. Thattanchavady constituencySince his second term as chief minister ended in 2011, Vaithilingam has represented the UT’s only Lok Sabha seat—also called Puducherry—which he won in both the 2019 and 2024 general elections. Meanwhile, Rangasamy has held the chief ministerial post four times, twice each with the Congress and later with the AINRC.Thattanchavady could, therefore, once again decide Puducherry’s next chief minister.Major poll battlesWhile the Rangasamy–Vaithilingam contest will be the most high-profile battle, several other constituencies are also set to witness intense fights. For the Raj Bhavan segment, the NDA has nominated VP Ramalingam, the Puducherry BJP chief. The SPA nominee is Vignesh Kannan, who recently joined the DMK and is the son of the late P Kannan, an ex-Puducherry minister and a former parliamentarian. Key battlesIn Lawspet, AINRC’s VP Sivakolundhu, who served as assembly speaker while in the Congress, faces a strong challenge from V Saminathan of actor-politician Vijay’s two-year-old Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Saminathan, a former Puducherry BJP president, holds the distinction of being the longest-serving leader in that position, making this race a high-stakes contest.In Mahe and Yanam, which fall in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh respectively, the NDA candidates are A Dineshan (BJP) and Malladi Krishna Rao (AINRC). The SPA candidates are Ramesh Parambath (Congress) and GS Ashok (Congress). Puducherry dynasty candidatesOther major candidates include home minister and BJP leader A Namassivayam (Mannadipet), minority affairs minister and BJP leader A Johnkumar (Mudaliarpet), and AINRC’s Nedungadu nominee Chandira Priyanga, a former minister who resigned in October 2023 as the lone woman in the cabinet.From the Congress-DMK alliance, DMK’s R Siva, leader of the opposition in the outgoing assembly, will contest from Villianur. DMK leader and ex-minister AMH Nazeem will contest the Karaikal South seat.Key issues dominating the election campaignStatehood: Ahead of the electoral battle, the long-pending demand for statehood for Puducherry has emerged as the biggest issue and could play a decisive role in the outcome. As the ruling party and an ally of the BJP, which leads the Union government, the AINRC stands to lose the most if the opposition is able to bring this issue to the forefront effectively.Puducherry’s Union territory status means that most administrative matters are decided by the lieutenant governor—the UT’s constitutional head appointed by the President on the Centre’s recommendation—rather than the chief minister. For instance, the police department reports to the Union home ministry, unlike in a full-fledged state, where it functions under the elected political administration. Successive governments in the UT have cited this lack of full-fledged powers as a hindrance to effective governance.‘Excessive’ focus on Puducherry district: The district, which shares its name with the Union territory and is home to its capital city of the same name, also accounts for a lion’s share of the assembly seats. Out of the 30 assembly constituencies, 23 are located here, giving it an overwhelming influence in determining the outcome of the elections. This concentration of seats means that political campaigns, party strategies, and voter attention are heavily focused on the Puducherry district, often overshadowing Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam. Additionally, Mahe and Yanam are surrounded by two different states (Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, respectively), which shape their political and administrative dynamics differently. Candidates with criminal casesWater contamination: In September 2025, the Puducherry city faced a public health concern due to contaminated drinking water in some areas, with many residents reportedly falling ill with symptoms like diarrhoea and vomiting after consuming unsafe water. The contamination was believed to be caused by poor sanitation and possible mixing of sewage with the water supply. The incident led to protests and raised concerns about the need for better water quality management and improved public health measures.Unemployment: Despite its small size and relatively low population, the UT has recorded a high unemployment rate. In June 2021, just a month into the AINRC–BJP government’s first term, the unemployment rate stood at a national high of 47.1%, according to a Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) study, compared to a national average of 9.2%.This was significantly lower than the figures recorded in April 2020, when the unemployment rate had peaked at 75.8% against a national average of 23.5%, largely due to the lockdown imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19.SWOT analysisNDA: The alliance has retained its previous formula, under which AINRC will contest 16 seats and BJP 14. From its quota, the BJP has allocated two seats each to allies like the AIADMK and the newly formed Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK), led by businessman Jose Charles Martin, son of “lottery king” Santiago Martin.StrengthCM Rangasamy’s pro-people image The UT government’s popularity Rangasamy is implementing a slew of welfare measuresWeaknessBJP remains relatively weak in PuducherryAIADMK has struggled electorally, including losing all five seats it contested in 2021.Allegations including corruption, failure to maintain law and order, and “political blessings’ for a fake drug manufacturing racket busted last yearOpportunityGreater friction within the opposition coalition compared to the ruling one Better coordination with the Centre, as the BJP leads the central government and is part of the ruling coalition in PuducherryThreat Anti-incumbency, with no ruling party re-elected since 2006Strains within the NDA, including the Centre’s failure to deliver on the statehood promise and the BJP, including Jose Charles Martin in the alliance NDA SWOTCongress-DMK: The Congress–DMK alliance is the more traditional of the two major coalitions, having contested assembly elections here since 2006.Last time, the DMK won six constituencies compared to the Congress’ two, emerging as the second-largest party and holding the leader of the opposition post.The Congress will field 16 candidates, with the remaining seats allotted to the DMK. The MK Stalin-led party had initially announced one seat from its quota for the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK). However, the VCK chose to contest independently and field its own candidates in three constituencies.StrengthAs the two most successful parties, both – especially the Congress – continue to have a widespread organisational presenceWeaknessCongress’ inability to convert issues into votesCongress-DMK sea-sharing friction almost derailed the allianceOpportunityThe previous AINRC (2011–2016) and Congress (2016–2021) administrations both lost power after just one termThreatCongress’ broader national declineDespite potential anti-incumbency, AINRC-BJP combine appears better positioned to retain powerThe last-day seat-sharing announcement could lead to friendly contests Congress-DMK SWOTWildcard factorAs in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, the biggest wildcard factor in Puducherry is “Thalapathy” Vijay. His TVK initially announced candidates for all 30 constituencies before joining hands with independent legislator G Nehru’s newly formed Neyam Makkal Kazhagam (NMK).Under this arrangement, the TVK withdrew its nominees from the Orleanpet and Thattanchavady seats for the NMK. Nehru himself will contest from Orleanpet, while NMK general secretary E Vinayagam will stand from Thattanchavady.Like in Tamil Nadu, the TVK’s biggest strength is Vijay’s massive popularity; his Puducherry rally in December last year drew thousands. Yet, converting his fan base into votes will be the party’s biggest challenge. Additionally, as a newly formed party—it was launched in February 2024—the TVK lacks both a strong grassroots organisation and governance experience compared to more established parties.Yet, TVK could attract voters seeking alternatives beyond the two major alliances. This could end up benefiting one of the two while hurting the other, and at the same time help establish TVK as a rising political force.Unsurprisingly, Vijay was reportedly courted by the AIADMK, BJP, and Congress in Tamil Nadu, but he declined overtures from all three.StrengthBuilt-in fan base driven by Vijay’s strong popularityWeaknessPolitical debutant; therefore lacks political and policy experienceLack of a grassroots organisational networkNo prominent face beyond VijayOpportunityPositioning as a fresh alternative to the dominant coalitionsAttracting voters seeking changeThreatPotential difficulty in converting fan support into actual votesReputation impact following the Karur stampedePotential disruptions due to frequent travel to Delhi for CBI questioning TVK SWOTStage set for poll battleAs the elections approach, several political heavyweights—including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, and Congress MP and Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi—are expected to visit Puducherry regularly to campaign for their respective parties..Still, attention is not on Puducherry as it is a Union territory and small in size. However, it has its own politics and stands out for its French colonial past and the fact that its four districts are spread across three different states, with two of the states—Tamil Nadu and Kerala —voting in the current round, giving the UT a unique political significance.With the key players and alliances in place, the stage is now set for a potentially close poll battle.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. 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