India's election season has commenced, with voting concluding in the states of Kerala and Assam, and the union territory of Puducherry. As of 3 p.m. India time, voter turnout was recorded at nearly 76% in Assam, 72.4% in Puducherry, and 62.7% in Kerala. Kerala's Chief Electoral Officer Ratan U Kellar stated that if current trends continue, the state could see a 90% turnout by the end of the day.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for unanimous support for a bill aimed at increasing reservation quotas for women in India's parliament. In a blog post, he indicated that the "important bill" would be discussed and passed on April 16. Modi emphasized that while women constitute nearly half of India's population, their representation in politics and legislative bodies has not matched their societal role.
India has granted waivers to vessels carrying Iranian cargo, allowing them to enter ports despite being old or under international sanctions. According to Reuters citing unnamed sources, these waivers are intended to expedite energy supplies from the Gulf amid the Middle East conflict. India, the world's second-largest importer of liquefied petroleum gas, is facing its worst gas crisis in decades.
India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is scheduled to visit the United Arab Emirates on April 11-12. Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that during the visit, he will meet with UAE leadership to review cooperation and deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership. The UAE is India's third-largest trading partner after the US and China.
The World Bank has projected that India will remain among the world's fastest-growing major economies despite the war in Iran, but warned that the conflict could exacerbate inflation risks. The report highlighted that India's reliance on energy imports from the Gulf leaves its inflation and fiscal position vulnerable if the conflict prolongs. The Indian rupee has weakened against the dollar, becoming Asia's worst-performing currency.
Narendra Modi, at a pre-election rally in West Bengal, pledged to combat corruption, reopen investigations into sexual assault cases, and expel illegal immigrants if his party wins. He accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of fostering fear and lawlessness. West Bengal, one of India's most populous and politically influential states, has been governed since 2011 under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Bangladesh's newly elected government has formally requested the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is living in exile in India. Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman raised the issue during a two-day official visit to India, signaling a sharp turn in diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries. India's Ministry of External Affairs released a brief statement on the meetings without mentioning the extradition request.
Source: www.dw.com