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Monday, February 23, 2026
TopicAssembly bypolls

Topic: Assembly bypolls

Prestige at stake in some seats, but bypolls in four states largely a test for INDIA bloc

On surface, it’s a familiar story of polls exposing cracks within opposition bloc. However, it also serves as a reminder that allies continue to drift farther & farther apart.

Pension, wildlife & secularism in focus as Nilambur bypoll turns prestige battle for UDF, LDF & Anvar

Anvar a wildcard as welfare, wildlife and secularism dominate debate ahead of the high-stakes 19 June poll between the ruling LDF and opposition UDF.

Sweet revenge for BJP in Ayodhya: Chandrabhanu Paswan beats SP’s Ajit Prasad by 61k votes in Milkipur

In Ayodhya, the land of the Ram temple, BJP's defeat in Faizabad Lok Sabha constituency was seen as a major embarrassment for the party. 

How Mamata Banerjee weathered RG Kar storm to blow aside Opposition in Bengal assembly bypolls

Not only did ruling party retain 5 seats & wrest Madarihat from BJP, it went on to clinch two constituencies of Sitai & Haroa by a whopping 1.30 lakh-plus margin.

Clean sweep by NDA in Bihar assembly bypolls leaves RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav in a tight spot

Loss of party strongholds Belaganj and Ramgarh will especially hurt RJD and its young leader. But former deputy CM promises to bounce back in next year's state polls.

Dynasties fall, Fadnavis rises & BJP shakes off LS jitters. Maharashtra, Jharkhand & bypoll takeaways

Hemant Soren is another big winner, while biggest questions must be asked of Congress. A negative consequence is that freebies have now cemented themselves as an unassailable idea.

Congress wrests Gowda stronghold Channapatna, HD Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil loses by hefty margin

This is the 3rd loss for Nikhil Kumaraswamy. Yogeeshwara, who won by 25,000+ votes, had defected from BJP to Congress ahead of bypolls, challenging the Deve Gowda family in stronghold.

BJP wins Kedarnath prestige battle as Asha Nautiyal clinches 3rd victory, beats Congress’s Manoj Rawat

The bypoll was necessitated by the death of Kedarnath MLA Shaila Rawat in July. Nautiyal is the Uttarakhand BJP Mahila Morcha president while Rawat is a former MLA.

Congress rebel, ex-student leader & Kirodi Lal’s disciple. Naresh Meena, man arrested for slapping SDM

Meena’s foray into politics began in 2003 when he was elected as general secretary of Rajasthan University Students' Union. Fondly called ‘Chhota Kirodi’ by his supporters.

Will they, won’t they? Congress shortlists picks for Bengal bypolls, ally CPI(M) in the lurch

Congress & Left contested 2024 Lok Sabha polls as allies in West Bengal. Left couldn’t win a single seat, while Congress candidate won in Maldaha Dakshin.

On Camera

Indian judiciary must stop panicking over AI

To assume courts weigh every word committed to paper is to ignore reality. The Indian judiciary has long had a "Control+C" problem.

In the West, there’s anxiety. In India, optimism—Rishi Sunak says India poised to be leader in AI

On Wednesday, the former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was speaking in New Delhi at a Carnegie & Observer Research Foundation event on AI.

India eyes 6th generation FCAS, looks at tying up with France for possible collaboration

Initial talks held on the possibility of India entering the programme that was started in 2017 between France, Germany and Spain to ensure European sovereignty in defence and security.

No country is ever fully sovereign. Cold War era taught India its real meaning

India’s fraught neighbourhood places multiple constraints on its strategic choices. It leaves no time to take a deep breath, lean back and reset.