The announcement comes as the party accelerates preparations for the 2026 Assam Assembly elections. Sarma said the BJP will first finalise seat-sharing with NDA allies, including the Asom Gana Parishad and smaller regional parties, by January 15. He added that early candidate declaration will help strengthen grassroots coordination.

Elections to the 126-member Assam Assembly are expected in March or April next year. Sarma said winning the elections remains his top priority for the new year. He expressed confidence that the BJP-led NDA will perform better than the previous election and return to power with a stronger mandate.

Currently, the BJP holds 64 seats in the Assembly. Its allies include AGP with nine seats, UPPL with seven, and BPF with three. Sarma noted that in the Bodoland Territorial Region, the BJP sees a favourable contest on five to six of the 15 seats. He said the final decision will follow consultations with alliance partners.

On Bodoland alliances, Sarma clarified that while NDA unity remains strong in Dispur, regional dynamics will require careful discussion before seat allocation.

The post Assam Assembly Elections Candidates List Likely in February: CM Himanta Signals appeared first on India Podcast.

Sarma said birth rates remain higher in minority-dominated areas, while Hindu birth rates continue to decline. He claimed this trend has created a widening demographic gap in several constituencies. Responding to questions on the rising Muslim population, he appealed to Hindu families not to stop at one child.

The Chief Minister advised Hindu couples to have at least two children and, if possible, three. He said this was necessary to maintain social balance and ensure family support systems remain intact. At the same time, Sarma said Muslim families should avoid having seven or eight children and limit family size.

He clarified that recent constituency delimitation has changed population patterns, making exact figures difficult to assess immediately. However, he maintained that demographic trends remain a matter of concern.

Earlier this month, the Assam government relaxed the two-child policy for ST, SC, tea garden, Moran, and Matak communities. This marked a shift from the earlier plan to enforce family planning norms for welfare eligibility.

Referring to the 2011 Census, Sarma said Muslims formed 34.22 percent of Assam’s population, while Hindus accounted for about 61.47 percent. He reiterated that population balance remains a key policy issue.

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Political activity in West Bengal has intensified as parties step up preparations for the upcoming elections. Amit Shah, considered the BJP’s chief election strategist, is focusing on strengthening organisational coordination and energising the party cadre. According to party sources, Shah will begin his day by meeting elected BJP representatives at a city hotel around 11:30 am.

Later in the afternoon, at around 1:45 pm, he will address party workers at the Science City Auditorium. The interaction is expected to focus on booth-level preparedness, voter outreach, and election strategy. At around 3:30 pm, Shah will visit the Kalighat Temple to seek blessings from Goddess Kali before returning to New Delhi.

Earlier, during a press conference, Shah strongly criticised the Mamata Banerjee-led government. A video from the event went viral after he asked journalists to speak calmly, saying he had enough time. However, while leaving, he remarked that questions were being “fabricated,” sparking online discussion.

The post Amit Shah West Bengal Visit: Kolkata Meetings and Kalighat Temple Darshan Today appeared first on India Podcast.

Party sources said preparations are underway on a war footing, with Banerjee’s address expected to centre on a three-pronged strategy. The first pillar is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The party has activated help desks and feedback centres across the state to assist voters whose names are missing from draft lists. With the final voter list due on February 14, ensuring every genuine voter can cast a ballot remains a key priority.

The second focus is countering the BJP, which has emerged as the principal opposition in Bengal. Trinamool leaders believe another decisive victory will reinforce the party’s record of defeating the BJP in direct contests.

The final plank addresses the way forward. Aware of anti-incumbency after ruling since 2011, the party plans to aggressively communicate its welfare achievements while clearly distinguishing state schemes from central initiatives. The leadership hopes this approach will deliver a record mandate and boost Trinamool’s national standing.

The post Abhishek Banerjee Sets Victory Mantra appeared first on India Podcast.

Kabir said the committee will include a district president from Murshidabad. He added that decisions on alliances will follow after the party launch. The new party plans to contest 135 of the state’s 249 assembly seats.

Speculation has grown around a possible tie-up with Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM. Kabir clarified that talks have not reached any conclusion yet. AIMIM’s Bengal unit has shown interest in an alliance, but no formal agreement exists.

Kabir recently drew national attention after suggesting the construction of a ‘Babri-style’ mosque in Murshidabad. The remark deepened tensions with the TMC leadership and led to his suspension. Since then, he has focused on consolidating the party’s Muslim voter base.

Meanwhile, Kabir withdrew his decision to resign as MLA from the Debra constituency. He said supporters urged him to stay, citing poor access to their MP Yusuf Pathan.

Separately, Indian Secular Front MLA Naushad Siddiqui said talks continue with Congress and the Left. He suggested future discussions if Kabir’s party follows a secular agenda.

The post Suspended TMC MLA Launches New Party, Eyes 135 Seats appeared first on India Podcast.

Official data shows that 24 lakh names were marked as deceased. Around 19 lakh voters were listed as relocated. Another 12 lakh were categorised as missing, while 1.3 lakh entries were flagged as duplicates. The revision aims to remove duplication and errors ahead of the next Assembly elections.

Voters whose names are missing from the draft list can file objections and seek corrections. Authorities will examine claims before publishing the final voter list in February next year. The Election Commission is expected to announce election dates after the final list is released.

Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy termed the deletions unjust. He alleged a conspiracy to remove genuine voters and said the party has opened assistance booths to help affected voters submit forms.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also opposed the exercise. She accused the Centre and the Election Commission of targeting eligible voters. At a recent rally, she urged people to protest if their names were deleted.

The BJP rejected the allegations. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said SIR removes fake and illegal voters. He claimed the Trinamool fears losing power due to voter list cleanup.

The issue is expected to dominate Bengal’s political discourse in the coming months.

The post Bengal Draft SIR Deletes 58 Lakh Names appeared first on India Podcast.

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will lead the Tamil Nadu campaign as election in-charge. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and Civil Aviation Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol will support him as co-in-charges. BJP national president J.P. Nadda approved the appointments, signalling high-level focus on the southern state.

For Assam, BJP national vice-president Vijayant Panda will oversee election planning. He will work with Jammu and Kashmir Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma and former Union Minister Darshana Ben Jardosh as co-in-charges. The leadership expects the team to sharpen booth-level coordination and strengthen voter outreach.

Party insiders view these moves as part of a wider organisational reset. The BJP wants tighter control, faster decision-making, and stronger ground mobilisation. Recent leadership changes at the national level also reflect a push for energy and continuity.

With experienced faces in charge, the BJP aims to build momentum early. The party plans to counter rivals through focused messaging, disciplined organisation, and sustained grassroots engagement.

The post BJP Announces Election In-Charges for Tamil Nadu and Assam appeared first on India Podcast.