Gill Asked About His Wedding Ahead Of IPL Clash. GT Captain's Reply Is Viral

Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill was stumped by a question by broadcaster Danny Morrison during the toss ahead of the IPL 2026 match against Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Gill won the toss and opted to bowl but the interaction took an unexpected turn as Morrison asked whether Gill is getting married. The GT captain was left stunned by the question before saying 'no'. The conversation ended abruptly as Morrison shifted his attention to Shreyas Iyer but the video of the interaction has already gone viral on social media. Here's a look at the full conversation between Shubman Gill and Danny Morrison - 

Morrison: Still, Shubhers, there are no wedding bells around the corner? Anything that we need to know about.

Gill: No. No. Nothing.

Morrison: Good to see you.

This is not the first time that Morrison left Gill completely speechless at the toss as he asked a similar question during the IPL 2025 match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Titans at Eden Gardens.

Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bowl against Punjab Kings.

GT made one change, handing Nishant Sindhu his debut, while PBKS brought in pacer Xavier Bartlett.

Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Nishant Sindhu, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Manav Suthar.

Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Marcus Stoinis, Suryansh Shedge, Nehal Wadhera, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal. 

"Shubman Gill: We're gonna bowl first. I think we have been chasing well in the past few games and our bowling has been top-notch, so we thought we'll continue with the momentum. (Middle-order performing in the last game) Yeah, definitely in the last match, we spoke about our middle-order finishing the game and I think our Rahul bhai, batting in the middle, it was magnificent [to] watch and him finishing the game was exactly what we talked about."

"(What do you make of pitch?) Yeah, I think initially to start with there's something in it for the bowlers, particularly on this kind of a wicket. So hopefully we'll also see how it pans out. (What mark would you give the GT so far this season?) I think it's all about, especially in a tournament like IPL, such a long tournament, it's all about peaking at the right time and I think we are doing that. And I still feel our best game is yet to come, so I hopefully it's gonna be this one. (No changes?) One change - Nishant Sindhu makes his debut," Gill said at the toss.

(With agency inputs)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/zXAticn

In Numbers: With Zero Deaths, Bengal Election Most Peaceful In 2 Decades

For decades, elections in West Bengal have carried a grim footnote - political violence, often resulting in deaths and serious injuries. From the turbulent years of the late 1960s to the fiercely contested multi-party battles of the present, control over territory and the exclusion of rivals have shaped the state's electoral culture. But the 2026 Assembly elections have delivered an unprecedented shift: zero reported murders and no serious injuries, marking a significant break from this violent past.

The Numbers That Defined Bengal's Poll Violence

Over the past two decades, every major election cycle has seen deaths.

-2006 Assembly polls: 5 deaths
-2008 Panchayat polls: 45
-2009 Lok Sabha polls: 15
-2011 Assembly polls: 17
-2013 Panchayat polls: 20
-2014 Lok Sabha polls: 7
-2016 Assembly polls: 8
-2018 Panchayat polls: 75 (one of the deadliest elections)
-2019 Lok Sabha polls: 12
-2021 Assembly polls: 17
-2023 Panchayat polls: 57
-2024 Lok Sabha polls: 6

The trend is unmistakable: fatalities were routine, not exceptional, with local body polls often turning the most violent.

Also read: Analysis: Government Planning Underlines BJP's Confidence Ahead Of Bengal Results

NCRB and MHA Data: Evidence of a Systemic Problem

Beyond election-specific counts, broader datasets underline the structural nature of political violence:

According to National Crime Records Bureau data, West Bengal averaged around 20 political killings annually between 1999 and 2016. NCRB figures under "motive of murder-political" show continued incidents.

 -2011: 38
-2012: 22
-2013: 26
-2014: 10
-2015: 1
-2016: 1
-2017: 1
-2018: 12
-2019: 12
-2020: 3
-2021: 7

Also read: "Subversion Of Democratic Process": Bengal's Falta To See Repolling On May 21

However, the Ministry of Home Affairs disagree with the Bengal government data and wrote a letter to the state government. MHA says multiple sources suggest higher spikes in certain years.

-2016: 36
-2017: 25
-2018: 96
-2019: 26

These differences underline a key point: political violence in Bengal is persistent and, at times, underreported or contested in measurement.

Scale of Violence: NHRC Findings

The scale extends far beyond killings. A probe by the National Human Rights Commission into post-election violence of 2021 documented 1,900 incidents, including:

-29 murders
-12 sexual assault cases
-391 cases of grievous hurt
-940 instances of arson and vandalism
-562 cases of intimidation

Out of more than 9,300 accused, only about 1,345 were arrested - highlighting gaps in enforcement alongside political rivalry.

Historical Roots: Politics of Territorial Control

Politics in West Bengal exhibits a culture of protest. Between 1967 and 1971, the state witnessed widespread armed clashes, with guns and bombs becoming common in both rural and urban politics. Kolkata was marked by frequent bloody street battles, as rival political groups carved out exclusive zones of control, often denying even a nominal presence to opponents.

The 1972 elections under the Indian National Congress were widely associated with coercion, displacement of opposition workers, and large-scale rigging. The rise of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in 1977 brought relative stability, but largely through the consolidation of political dominance across the state.

The emergence of the All India Trinamool Congress in 1998 disrupted that dominance, triggering violent rural contests for territory. Later, land movements in Singur and Nandigram reshaped political alignments, with mass mobilisation and confrontation becoming central to electoral politics. In the past decade, the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party as a major challenger further intensified competition.

Across eras and parties, a consistent pattern emerges: electoral success has often been linked to territorial control, enforced through coercion and violence.

2026 Assembly Election: A Clean Break

Against this backdrop, the 2026 Assembly election stands as a complete statistical outlier with zero deaths.

From a historical range of 5 to 75 deaths per election, the number dropped to zero for the first time in at least two decades. Equally significant is the absence of serious injuries, which had previously run into hundreds.

This is not an incremental improvement; it is a structural break in the data trend.

What Changed: Central Forces and Enforcement

A key factor behind this shift was the scale of security deployment overseen by the Election Commission of India. Large contingents of central armed police forces, including the Central Reserve Police Force, were stationed across sensitive areas.

At the start of the election process, the Chief Election Commissioner assured citizens that the polls would be violence-free, intimidation-free, inducement-free, "chappa"-free (where a voter finds their vote already cast), booth-jamming-free, and source-jamming-free. Following two phases of polling, the state also recorded one of its highest voter turnouts since its inception, indicating both participation and confidence in the process.

This reduced the scope for local coercion and ensured a more neutral enforcement environment. For years, data from NCRB, MHA, and independent probes pointed to one conclusion: violence was embedded in Bengal's electoral process. The 2026 election challenges that assumption. Whether this becomes a sustained trend or remains a one-time exception will depend on future elections. But for now, the numbers tell a clear story.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/j5OcrQt

Batchmates (2026) Now Streaming Online: What You Need to Know

Batchmates on JioHotstar: A Hilarious College Life Story You Shouldn’t Miss

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/XojC4Dy

Heavy Rain, Thunderstorms Bring Respite From Heat To Delhi-NCR

Delhi on Saturday witnessed a spell of rain and thunderstorms, bringing respite from the heat. Parts of Delhi-NCR received rainfall as a sudden change of weather brought a much-needed break from the rising temperature in the city.

Visuals from parts of the national capital showed the rains battering a few areas, with the city and its adjoining areas experiencing stormy weather.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) earlier in the day predicted the spell of showers for Delhi. It has issued a yellow alert for the national capital for the next two days.

"A spell of very light to light rain, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds of 30-40 km/h, gusting up to 50 km/h, is likely to occur on Sunday." Similar conditions may persist into Monday," an IMD official was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Today's rainfall comes two days after Delhi and adjoining regions experienced hailstorms and rain amid an intense heatwave spell, cooling the city down in a major relief to its residents.

"A fresh western disturbance is expected to influence the region in the coming days, leading to a cyclonic circulation over adjoining areas. Light rain might occur in parts of the city for the next few days, and there is no possibility of a heatwave at least for the next week," private weather channel Skymet's vice president Mahesh Palawat was quoted as saying by PTI.

Meanwhile, the maximum temperature in Delhi on Saturday was recorded at 38.6 degrees Celsius at Safdarjung, 0.7 degrees below normal. However, it was 2.2 degrees Celcius higher than the previous day. The minimum temperature at Safdarjung was 25.9 degrees Celsius - 1.2 degrees above normal.

Rain In Uttarakhand, Rajasthan

Neighbouring states including Uttarakhand and Rajasthan also witnessed spells of rainfall on Saturday.

Dehradun experienced a hailstorm after a day of fluctuating sunshine and clouds.

On the other hand, a western disturbance brough relief in Rajasthan as several parts of the state saw rainfall and dust storms, bringing relief from scorching heat.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/NiKr7T4

Diamond Harbour "Lyari Of Bengal", Says BJP. Trinamool Hits Back

The BJP's description of Diamond Harbour, the Lok Sabha constituency of Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, as the "Lyari of Bengal" has earned a sharp clapback from the ruling party in the state. Accusing the BJP of attempts at "otherisation", the Trinamool Congress alleged that the party is treating the state with contempt and hatred.

Lyari, in Pakistan's Karachi, has entered the consciousness of the average Indian as a hotbed of crime syndicates, gang wars and espionage after its portrayal in the blockbuster movie 'Dhurandhar'.

The Falta Assembly seat in the Diamond Harbour area made headlines earlier this week after IPS officer and "encounter specialist" Ajay Pal Sharma, also known as 'Singham', warned  Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan and others of strict action if they engage in "mischief". Khan responded with a movie reference of his own, saying, "If he is Singham, I am Pushpa". 

The BJP also alleged on polling day on Wednesday that its election symbol was taped over on EVMs in several booths in the Falta constituency, preventing voters from casting their ballots in its favour. 

It was against this backdrop that a report on Friday quoted a BJP worker as saying that Diamond Harbour is the "Lyari of Bengal", citing its proximity to the Sunderbans and the Bangladesh border to claim that infiltration is rampant there. 

'New Low'

Lashing out at the BJP, the Trinamool Congress posted a screenshot of the article on X and alleged that this was proof of the party's "hostility" towards Bengal and its people crossing all limits. 

"First, they called us 'Bangladeshi' for speaking in our mother tongue Bengali. Then they labelled us 'Rohingyas' for eating fish. And now, the @BJP4India has sunk to a new low, openly equating Bengal with Pakistan," the Trinamool said. 

Accusing the BJP of "continuous otherisation" of Bengal, the Trinamool claimed the party was doing so because it had failed to find a foothold in the state. 

"A state that sacrificed the most blood for India's freedom is being treated with utter despise (sic), contempt and hatred... This is deep-seated hatred and cultural aggression against Bengal. Bengal will never accept this humiliation," it said. 

West Bengal, which has seen a bitterly fought contest between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress, voted in two phases on April 23 and 29. Most exit polls have given the BJP an edge, predicting that the party's sustained efforts to oust the Trinamool will pay off, and it will form a government in the state for the first time. Counting will be held on Monday.  

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/KaCdp4v

"Why Would I Tell You That?" Trump Evades Reporter's Question On Iran Strikes

Hours after Iran sent a fresh proposal for talks with the United States to end the war, President Donald Trump evaded a question on Friday about striking Iran again.

While Trump was speaking to reporters in Washington, a reporter asked him, "Are you considering new strikes on Iran?"

The Republican leader stepped back and said, "Why would I tell you that?" essentially ending the conversation.

Earlier, Trump had said that he was "not satisfied" with the new Iranian negotiating proposal. 

REPORTER: "Are you considering new strikes on Iran?"@POTUS: "Why would I tell you that?" pic.twitter.com/dABwCJU05h

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 1, 2026

"At this moment I'm not satisfied with what they're offering," Trump told reporters, laying blame for the stalled talks with Iran due to "tremendous discord" within its leadership.

He added that negotiations were ongoing but inconsistent. "They get close, and then a new group of people comes in," he said, pointing to shifting positions within Iran's leadership.

Asked why he was unsatisfied with the Iranian offer, Trump said, "They're asking for things that I can't agree." However, he gave no details.

"Do we want to go and just blast the hell out of them and finish them forever -- or do we want to try and make a deal? I mean, those are the options," he said when asked about next steps, adding he would "prefer not" to take the first option "on a human basis".

In the meantime, Iran has maintained its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off vast amounts of oil, gas and fertiliser from the world economy, while the US has imposed a counterblockade on Iranian ports.

Since the war began on February 28, at least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran and more than 2,600 people in Lebanon, where new fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah broke out two days after the war started, according to authorities.

Additionally, 24 people have died in Israel and more than 20 in Gulf Arab states. Seventeen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 US service members throughout the region have been killed.
 

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/xMv0Rwb

"Calm Down, He's 15": DC Star Slammed By Internet After Sooryavanshi Send-Off

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi suffered a rare failure in IPL 2026 on Friday, being dismissed for just 4 in Rajasthan Royals' (RR) game against Delhi Capitals (DC). DC's New Zealand speedster Kyle Jamieson delivered an excellent yorker to leave Sooryavanshi with no answer. Jamieson celebrated the wicket in an aggressive manner, clapping his hands fiercely in front of Sooryavanshi and giving the 15-year-old an explosive send-off. However, his reaction was met with mixed reaction on social media, with many criticising him for it.

The celebration of Kyle Jamieson after dismissing Vaibhav Suryavanshi. pic.twitter.com/s6Otq9Uu0X

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 1, 2026

Calm down Jamieson, he is just 15 y/o pic.twitter.com/RtvBMwBYXS

— Shivani (@meme_ki_diwani) May 1, 2026

Kyle Jamieson Celebration against 15 Years Old Kid

— Junaid Khan (@JunaidKhanation) May 1, 2026

Kyle Jamieson..relax..he is 15. Calm down with your send off. Speaks a lot about your fragile ego that a four from a kid rattled you.

— Anuj Nitin Prabhu (@APTalksCricket) May 1, 2026

Jamieosn bro Sending off a 15 year old child is not a good thing!

I can't believe you're from New Zealand.

— Shariq (@CricBhakt7380) May 1, 2026

RR vs DC, IPL 2026: 1st Innings Review

Riyan Parag vaporised multiple concerns surrounding him with a quality 90 as Rajasthan Royals posted a competitive 225 for six against Delhi Capitals in their IPL match here on Friday.

The Royals skipper, whose knock came off 50 balls, was struggling for runs so far this season and if his on-field troubles were not enough, Parag copped a 25 per cent fine handed by BCCI after getting caught in camera, vaping inside the dugout.

So, he had a lot to prove, and the right-hander did it in some style, notching up his first score above fifty in IPL 2026.

In fact, Parag were under serious pressure after the early departure of openers Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who was yorked by Kyle Jamieson, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who offered a return catch to Mitchell Starc (3/40), who made his maiden appearance in this IPL.

After all, 12 for two is not exactly the position an out of form batter wants to be in, and the nerves were evident in his loose wafts against Starc.

But the confidence returned to him once he took apart Jamieson in the sixth over through a sequence of 6, 4, 6 — a pull over mid-wicket and a slice over slips.

The third shot was quite remarkable, an inside out carve over covers for a six as the Royals ended the Power Play at a satisfactory 56 for two.

Once the self-belief came back, it reflected in Parag's batting too, those fast hands and audacity resurfaced.

Those elements were on ample display in a tennis-like forehand six over covers off left-arm pacer T Natarajan.

Parag brought his fifty in 32 balls and added 102 runs for the third wicket with a composed Dhruv Jurel (42).

It helped RR to tide over early blues and push themselves towards a formidable total despite Jurel pulling Axar Patel straight to Tristan Stubbs in the deep.

But that barely deterred Parag as he, in the company of middle-order batters like Ravindra Jadeja (20), marched on.

There was a brief period of lull after Jurel's dismissal but Parag broke the lean phase with a hat-trick of boundaries off Jamieson, that included a stunning uppercut.

Parag and Jadeja milked 53 runs for the fourth wicket before the latter succumbed to Starc, whose first outing of the season lent some much-needed teeth to DC's attack.

The Australian quick also snapped the stay of Parag, whose attempt to loft him over covers ended in the hands of Axar.

RR still needed the cushion of a few more runs and Donovan Ferreira (47, 14 balls) gave them that with a little Tsunami, during which he even struck Starc for a four and a six in succession.

With PTI inputs

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/ouqy1CQ

Kohli's Vintage Send-Off To Gill After Taking His Catch Breaks The Internet

A vintage Virat Kohli was on display when Royal Challengers Bengaluru were fielding against Gujarat Titans in their IPL 2026 game at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Thursday. GT skipper Shubman Gill got off to a terrific start in the chase of 155 against RCB. He smashed veteran pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Josh Hazlewood all around the park in the first two overs of Powerplay. Gill hit the Indian fast bowler for a four and six in the very first over of the innings, and then smashed the ace Australian pacer for three overs and two sixes in the following over.

RCB looked completely clueless as their bowlers found no way to stop him. Eventually, Bhuvneshwar provided RCB the much-needed relief as Gill smashed the ball into the hands of Kohli at cover. The RCB star followed the wicket with a furious celebration.

A vintage Kohli took the catch, gave a stare to Gill and then banged the ball on the floor with a loud roar.

Watch here:

Vintage #ViratKohli energy!

KING catches, PRINCE departs - Absolute cinema! #TATAIPL 2026 #GTvRCB | LIVE NOW https://t.co/K8vuSzrZ1d pic.twitter.com/jCKi1Qo4zA

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 30, 2026

Earlier, Gujarat Titans pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada's victory over Virat Kohli in the much-anticipated duel was a fair reflection of GT's disciplined bowling effort as they bundled out RCB for a modest 155.

Returning to the venue where they had lifted the title last season, RCB were cruising at a run rate in excess of 10, with Kohli leading the charge by smashing Rabada for 21 runs in his opening over, which included five fours in a row.

However, skipper Shubman Gill persisted with his strike bowler - a call that paid off handsomely.

Rabada (1/38) struck back to remove Kohli for a blazing 28 off 13 balls, triggering a collapse as RCB lost wickets in a cluster during the middle phase.

Left-arm pacer Arshad Khan wrapped up the tail and returned with figures of 3/22.

From a strong position of 71/2 after seven overs, RCB slipped to 96/6 in 10.3 overs, losing Rajat Patidar (19), Jitesh Sharma (1), Tim David (9), and Krunal Pandya (4).

Despite the collapse, RCB stuck to their all-out attacking template, which appeared to deny them an additional 20-30 runs, as they were bowled out in 19.2 overs.

(With PTI Inputs)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/7Lz6sN3

Bengal Voters Mum, May Not Release Exit Poll Data Today: Axis My India Founder

Following the completion of the final phase of voting in the West Bengal Assembly elections, several pollsters have released exit poll projections that show a divided picture of the likely outcome. Some surveys forecast a victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while others suggest that the Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, will retain power. 

One prominent agency, however, has so far remained silent.

In an interview with NDTV, Pradeep Gupta, founder of Axis My India, said his organisation may not release exit poll data for West Bengal on Thursday if it does not obtain a sufficiently representative sample.

"See, the method of Axis My India is talking to people face to face. And when we tried to talk after the first phase, about 60-70 per cent of the people had their lips sealed. They were not even ready to say yes or no," Gupta told NDTV.

"No one is ready to talk to anyone in the context of elections. So, as long as our sample is not representative, on the basis of a 20-30 per cent sample, we do not believe it is right to predict any number. For that, we will try once again Thursday. Maybe now that the elections have been held,  people will be more relaxed," he added. 

Gupta reiterated in the interview that there is a "possibility" that Axis My India may not release its Bengal numbers on Thursday. 

"I don't have any opinion, because when no one is speaking, my boundaries are cut short," Gupta said. "It is my habit to try my best. We have tried and sweated it out for all these days, and we have been sweating it out for so long. It would be a matter of disappointment for us too if we couldn't predict it, after all the effort and sweat we've been putting in."

The West Bengal assembly has 294 seats, with 148 needed for a majority. 

Voting took place in several phases and concluded on Wednesday. Among the exit polls already released, projections vary significantly. Praja Poll estimated the BJP could win between 178 and 208 seats, while Matrize and Poll Diary placed the BJP above the majority threshold at 161 and 171 seats, respectively. 

By contrast, Janmat Polls projected the Trinamool and its allies securing 195 to 205 seats, with Peoples Pulse forecasting a range of 177 to 187 seats for the ruling party. Both suggest that the Trinamool's organisational strength and welfare programmes have helped it withstand the challenge from the BJP.

Most pollsters expect the alliance of the Left parties and the Congress to perform poorly, with their combined seat share remaining in single digits in many projections.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/7GTlP2V

Axis Exit Poll Shock: Will 'Jana Nayagan' Vijay Rule Tamil Nadu Next?

Exit polls for the Tamil Nadu Assembly election point to a commanding return for the DMK-led alliance, but one projection for actor Vijay's TVK has emerged as the defining variable in a contest that may yet defy precedent.

While most exit polls converge on a DMK-led victory, the Axis My India projection has shifted the center of gravity of the conversation by placing Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in the 98 to 120 seat range. LIVE UPDATES

That estimate, if borne out, would not only disrupt the immediate electoral outcome but force a reassessment of what constitutes a breakthrough in Tamil Nadu politics.

To understand the scale of that claim, it must be placed against history.

The DMK's landmark 1967 victory delivered roughly 138 seats in a 234-member Assembly and installed the party in power. But that win came after years of organizational buildup and electoral participation dating back to the 1950s. 

A decade later, in 1977, M G Ramachandran's AIADMK secured around 130 seats. Though formally new, it emerged from a split within the DMK and carried with it a substantial share of the existing cadre and political network.

The Axis projection for TVK describes a fundamentally different case. The party was registered in 2024, is contesting all 234 seats independently, and does not draw from an inherited Dravidian structure. 

On raw numbers, even the upper end of 120 seats would fall short of those earlier benchmarks. But as a greenfield, stand-alone formation taking on both dominant parties simultaneously, such a result would arguably mark the most significant debut by a genuinely new political force in the state, if it materialises as projected.

That possibility stands in sharp contrast to the broader exit poll landscape, which largely favors continuity.

People's Pulse projected the DMK alliance at 125 to 145 seats and the AIADMK bloc at 65 to 80. Peoples Insight offered a similar range of 120 to 140 for the DMK and 60 to 70 for the AIADMK. Praja Poll went further, estimating 148 to 168 seats for the ruling alliance and limiting TVK to a marginal 1 to 9 seats.

Other agencies introduced more competitive scenarios. P-Marq placed the DMK alliance between 125 and 145 seats and the AIADMK between 65 and 85, while assigning TVK 16 to 26 seats. Matrize projected a narrower gap, with the DMK at 122 to 132, AIADMK at 87 to 100, and TVK at 10 to 12.

A handful of polls suggested a fractured mandate. Kamakhya Analytics estimated the DMK at 78 to 95 seats, AIADMK at 68 to 84, and TVK at 67 to 81, placing Vijay's party in a potential kingmaker role. JVC projected an AIADMK-led surge with 128 to 147 seats, pushing the DMK to 75 to 95 and TVK to 8 to 15.

Against this fragmented backdrop, the Axis numbers stand out not only for their scale but for the scenarios they unlock.

At 118 seats or above, TVK could form a government on its own. Between 105 and 117, it could emerge as the single largest party and face immediate coalition pressures. Between 98 and 104, it could still hold the balance of power, with the ability to support or block either of the established alliances.

These pathways carry added significance because TVK's campaign rested on rejecting pre-poll alliances and positioning itself as an independent alternative to both DMK and AIADMK. A strong showing would validate that strategy and suggest a consolidation of support across voter segments that have historically split between the two dominant formations.

Even so, exit polls are not definitive outcomes. Tamil Nadu's electoral history includes instances where projections have failed to capture final seat distributions, particularly in contests involving multiple competitive fronts.

For now, the state stands between two narratives. One points to a familiar result anchored by the DMK alliance. The other, driven by the Axis projection, raises the prospect of a structural shift led by a first-time entrant. 

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/1eCrcAY

'Fowl Play': 140 Chickens Die After Wedding DJ Plays Loud Music

A poultry farm owner in Uttar Pradesh has filed a police complaint after 140 chickens died at his farm, alleging that the cause was loud music from a DJ system used during a wedding procession that passed nearby on the night of April 25.

The incident occurred in UP's Sultanpur district. On the fateful night, the wedding procession for the daughter of local resident Babban Vishwakarma moved through the village. The procession had come from Ram Bhadra Purva in the Kudwar area and included a DJ playing music at high volume. 

Sabir Ali, who operates Sabir Ali Poultry Farm located near the village, stated that the procession passed in front of his farm around 9:30 PM. According to his account, the intense noise from the DJ caused panic among the chickens. He said the birds could not tolerate the sound and 140 of them died as a result.

In his complaint to the police, Sabir Ali described the sound as high-decibel and said it frightened the poultry, leading directly to the deaths. 

"The noise was so intense that the chickens got frightened and died," the complaint stated.

Following the complaint, the police registered a case on Tuesday night against Kavi Yadav, a DJ operator from Parsipur. 

The police are investigating whether the music system was operating beyond the permissible sound limits at the time. Officers are also looking into the sequence of events to determine if the noise levels contributed to the loss of the chickens.

According to experts, high-intensity sound waves can trigger severe stress responses in birds and animals, sometimes resulting in cardiac arrest. 

The poultry farm owner has attributed the entire loss to the volume of the music played during the wedding procession. No immediate comment was available from the DJ or the family holding the wedding.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/hFkEYHU