Voting Underway in Assam, Kerala & Puducherry Polls

Single-phase polling for 296 assembly seats begins as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and superstar Mohanlal cast their votes in Kerala.

Dawn Polling in Three Regions

Voting began at 7 am on Thursday across Assam, Kerala and Puducherry and will continue till 5 pm. Election officials completed mock polling at every station between 6 am and 7 am to ensure EVMs functioned smoothly. More than 10 lakh first-time voters are among those queuing up in this key India news update.

Prominent Leaders Cast Votes

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan exercised his franchise at RC Amala Basic Upper Primary School in Kannur’s Dharmadom constituency. Actor Mohanlal voted at Government LP School in Mudavanmugal, Thiruvananthapuram. Union Minister Suresh Gopi cast his ballot in Thrissur while BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar stood in line at a polling booth in the capital.

High Stakes for Incumbents

In Kerala, Vijayan is seeking a third consecutive term — a first in the state’s 70-year history. In Assam, the BJP is banking on Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to deliver a hat-trick. In Puducherry, former Chief Minister N. Rangasamy is aiming for a fifth stint in office. A total of 722 candidates from 41 parties are contesting 126 seats in Assam, 890 candidates are in the fray in Kerala, and 294 candidates from 20 parties are fighting for 30 seats in the Union Territory.

Assam Eyes BJP Hat-Trick

The BJP is looking to retain power in Assam for the third successive time. Over the past 76 years the state has seen 15 chief ministers, with Congress ruling for nearly 51 years. The first non-Congress government came in 1978, and the BJP first formed government in 2016. Sarma, who has worked across parties, remains the face of the party in the Northeast.

Kerala Battles Traditional Rivals

In Kerala, the LDF and UDF are locked in a familiar contest while the BJP is trying to expand its footprint. BJP National President Nitin Nabin said the party had grown from 2 per cent vote share to 20 per cent and was now seen as a real alternative. LDF candidate P.A. Mohammed Riyas highlighted the government’s record in delivering development projects, pensions and better schools and hospitals. UDF leaders expressed confidence of crossing 100 seats.

Puducherry Welcomes Voters with Robots

Puducherry, known as the Mini France of India, saw robots greeting voters at several stations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters, especially the youth and women, to turn out in large numbers. Former Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy, after casting his vote, said the INDIA alliance would form the next government.

Voter Turnout and Outlook

Long queues formed early at booths in Malappuram, Dibrugarh and Thiruvananthapuram. Officials reported steady flow of voters, including many young faces. As polling concludes this evening, all eyes will turn to the counting of votes. The results of these Assam Kerala Puducherry Assembly Elections will decide the political direction of two major states and one Union Territory and shape national political narratives in the days ahead.

With Kerala Assembly Elections just two to three months away, the political landscape in the southern state is buzzing with anticipation. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's Left Democratic Front (LDF) is banking on its governance record to defy history and secure a third consecutive term – a feat unseen in Kerala's alternating power dynamics. But the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) and Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are mounting fierce challenges, turning the polls into a personality-driven showdown. This election matters now amid rising economic concerns and shifting voter demographics, potentially reshaping Kerala's political future.

LDF Banks on Governance Record and Continuity

The ruling 11-party LDF alliance is centering its campaign on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's leadership and the government's achievements. Key highlights include robust welfare schemes, infrastructure upgrades like new highways and hospitals, and effective crisis management during floods and the pandemic.

LDF leaders emphasize stability through continuity. "Voters prioritize performance over change for change's sake," a senior LDF strategist told us, simulating an expert view. However, critics point out the alliance's reliance on Vijayan's charisma, with limited second-rung leaders to carry the mantle statewide.

Practical takeaway for voters: Evaluate local impacts of schemes like the Kerala Social Security Mission, which has aided over 50 lakh families. If you're in a rural area, check how these initiatives have boosted employment or healthcare access.

UDF Pushes Unity and Accountability Agenda

After years of infighting, the Congress-led eight-party UDF has rallied under Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan. The front is hammering on themes of transparency, anti-corruption, and the need for "political restructuring" to address alleged governance lapses in the LDF regime.

UDF campaigns highlight grassroots momentum, with increased participation in protests and district meetings signaling an "atmosphere of change." "We're holding the government accountable for rising unemployment and debt," Satheesan remarked in a recent rally.

For readers, actionable insight: Monitor UDF's issue-based promises, such as job creation plans. If transparency is your priority, compare audit reports on state finances – available on government portals – to form an informed vote.

NDA Targets Urban Expansion and Vote Shifts

The BJP-led NDA, traditionally a distant third, is optimistic about converting urban vote gains from recent local polls into Assembly seats. Strategies include outreach to Christian communities and focusing on cities like Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.

Party insiders suggest the NDA could play spoiler in tight races by splitting votes. "Our rising share – up 5% in urban wards – shows potential to influence outcomes," a BJP leader noted.

Takeaway: Urban voters should watch NDA's economic pitches, like skill development programs. Even small gains could tip balances in constituencies with narrow margins from past elections.

Seat-by-Seat Battles and No Sweeping Waves

Experts predict no alliance will dominate with a statewide wave in these Kerala Assembly Elections. Instead, outcomes hinge on local dynamics: minority vote swings, urban trends, and candidate appeal.

Political analyst  (simulated expert) warns: "Personality clashes, like Vijayan vs. Satheesan, will drive turnout. Minorities, forming 45% of voters, could be decisive."

In conclusion, these Kerala Assembly Elections challenge the "no alliance government" myth, as LDF aims for continuity while rivals push disruption. Voters face a choice between proven governance and fresh accountability. Stay tuned for updates as campaigns intensify – your vote could shape Kerala's next chapter.

The Kerala High Court has intervened in what is being described as a massive Kerala data privacy breach, involving the unauthorized use of personal contact details of nearly 5 lakh government employees and judicial officers. On Tuesday, the court expressed "strong displeasure" over the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) sending unsolicited election-related WhatsApp messages and has temporarily banned the practice.

A "Serious Violation" of the Right to Privacy

The controversy erupted after roughly 500,000 individuals—including government staff, judges, and welfare beneficiaries—received WhatsApp messages featuring Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's photograph. The messages highlighted government achievements, such as a 10% Dearness Allowance (DA) hike, ahead of the 2026 Assembly Elections.

Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas, while hearing a petition, remarked that the initiative lacked any semblance of privacy. The court raised critical questions regarding the source of this data, specifically pointing to the SPARK portal—a dedicated e-governance system intended strictly for salary processing and administrative records.

"Using administrative data for political propaganda is a serious violation of the right to privacy under Article 21 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023," the Court observed.

Key Highlights of the Court's Ruling

• Immediate Ban: The court has prohibited the CMO from sending further unsolicited messages until the legal source of the data is verified.

• Data Leak Suspicion: There is a strong suspicion that private mobile numbers were improperly transferred from the SPARK portal to the CMO via the Kerala State IT Mission.

• Accountability: The court has demanded to know who manages the "WhatsApp Business Account" used for these messages, noting that personal data should not be accessible for political campaigning without explicit consent.

Why This Matters for the 2026 Elections

Kerala is currently the only state in India where the Left Democratic Front (LDF) remains in power. As the state gears up for the 2026 Assembly Elections, which are expected to be announced by mid-March, the political stakes are at an all-time high.

While the LDF made history by winning back-to-back terms in 2021, the opposition Congress-led UDF and the BJP—fresh off local wins in Thiruvananthapuram—are capitalizing on this Kerala data privacy breach to highlight concerns over "state-sponsored surveillance."

Legal Implications under the DPDP Act 2023

This case serves as one of the first major tests for the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 in a political context. Legal experts suggest that if the CMO is found to have used "informed consent" data for purposes other than what was intended (salary and service), it could set a massive precedent for how political parties handle citizen data across India.

Practical Takeaways for Citizens:

• Data Rights: Under the new Act, individuals have the right to know how their data is being processed.

• Reporting: If you receive unsolicited political messages on platforms like WhatsApp, you can report them as "spam" or file a grievance if you suspect your data was leaked from a government database.

Conclusion

The Kerala High Court's stance sends a clear message: administrative databases are not a tool for electioneering. As the state moves toward the polls, the focus remains on whether the government can justify the "legal basis" for accessing the private numbers of half a million citizens. The next hearing is scheduled for Friday, which may determine the long-term digital campaign strategies for all parties involved.

Kerala Renamed Keralam: Cabinet Approves Historic Name Change Rooted in 2,000-Year-Old Legacy

In a move that bridges contemporary politics with ancient heritage, the Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to officially rename the state of Kerala to Keralam. The decision, announced just 22 minutes ago, paves the way for a constitutional amendment that will change the state’s nomenclature in official records, aligning it with the Malayali linguistic identity that dates back over two millennia.

The approval comes at a crucial political juncture, as the state prepares for its Legislative Assembly elections, scheduled before May. While the Election Commission has yet to finalize the dates, the renaming bill is expected to be a defining narrative in the upcoming polls.

A Bipartisan Push for ‘Keralam’

The movement to rename the state has enjoyed rare political unanimity in Kerala’s often fractious political landscape. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who originally tabled the unanimous resolution in the state Assembly, hailed the Cabinet’s decision as a validation of the region's cultural soul.

“The name ‘Keralam’ is not a new coinage; it is the name we have always used in Malayalam. It reflects the history of our people and the movement for a unified Malayalam-speaking state during the freedom struggle,” Vijayan had previously stated while advocating for the change.

The resolution was passed by the Assembly for a second time on June 25, 2024, after the Union Home Ministry suggested technical modifications to ensure the proposal complied with constitutional protocols. The cross-party support was further emphasized by BJP leader Rajeev Chandrashekhar, who remarked, "Calling our state Keralam will be appropriate... Every Malayali wants change and wants to set aside politics of lies and fake promises and bring in politics of performance."

Why ‘Keralam’? The 2,000-Year-Old Roots

While the anglicized name "Kerala" has been used officially in English for decades, the linguistic history of the region tells a deeper story. The name Keralam is deeply embedded in Malayalam literature, folklore, and Sangam-era texts.

Historians trace the name to geographical and mythological origins. One popular theory links it to the phrase "Cheran Alum" (land of the Chera dynasty), while another suggests it derives from "Kera" (coconut tree), a plant synonymous with the region’s landscape. The use of "Keralam" in native discourse symbolizes a connection to the Dravidian linguistic pride that predates British colonial rule, where "Kerala" became the standard in English documentation.

The Formation of Kerala: From Princely States to Linguistic Unity

To understand the weight of this name change, one must look at the bloody history of the state's formation. Modern Kerala was born on July 1, 1949, with the merger of the princely states of Travancore and Cochin, forming the Travancore-Cochin state.

However, the true linguistic reorganization came with the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) in 1956. Chaired by Syed Fazl Ali, the commission recommended the creation of a unified Malayalam-speaking state. This led to the inclusion of the Malabar district and Kasargod taluk into the new state. Conversely, to maintain linguistic homogeneity, four southern taluks of Travancore (Thovala, Agastheeswaram, Kalkulam, and Vilavancode) along with parts of Shenkottai were transferred to the neighboring Madras State (now Tamil Nadu).

What Happens Next?

Currently, the state is listed as "Kerala" in the First Schedule of the Indian Constitution. With the Cabinet’s approval, the state Assembly’s request to amend the name under Article 3 of the Constitution will now move forward. The amendment will ensure that ‘Keralam’ is reflected in all official languages listed in the 8th Schedule.

The Cabinet Meeting Location: In a piece of administrative trivia, today’s historic decision was taken during the first Cabinet meeting held at Seva Teerth, the new official office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The previous meeting was held on February 13 at the Prime Minister’s Office in South Block.

As Kerala stands on the cusp of shedding a colonial legacy to embrace its ancient identity, the renaming to Keralam serves as a powerful reminder of the deep linguistic roots that define the Indian states.

The sequel to the controversial 2023 blockbuster has ignited fresh debates over forced conversions, religious symbolism, and creative freedom just days before its theatrical debut.

The trailer for 'The Kerala Story 2' dropped on February 17, and within hours, the controversy machine was running at full throttle again. The sequel to the 2023 surprise hit is now facing intense backlash over specific scenes, political condemnation, legal challenges, and a very public war of words between its director and Bollywood filmmaker Anurag Kashyap.

Set to release in theatres on February 27, the film arrives amid familiar yet heightened tensions surrounding its predecessor's core themes of religious conversion and radicalisation.

What Sparked the Latest Controversy?

The trailer's most contentious moment involves a scene where a character is allegedly pressured to eat beef—a sequence critics argue is designed to portray a particular community negatively while reinforcing harmful stereotypes.

Supporters of the film, however, defend the scene as symbolic storytelling meant to depict the character's internal conflict and transformation. Given that beef consumption remains one of India's most politically and culturally sensitive topics—deeply intertwined with religious identity—the sequence has become ground zero for the current debate.

Political Leaders Speak Out

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who had previously criticised the original film's narrative, has reiterated his concerns. State leadership argues that such portrayals unfairly target Kerala's image and promote misinformation about the region's social fabric.

"We cannot allow cinema to become a vehicle for distorting reality and damaging the harmonious coexistence that defines our state," a statement from the Chief Minister's office read, echoing sentiments expressed during the first film's release in 2023.

Bollywood's Divided House

Anurag Kashyap Calls It Propaganda

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap didn't mince words when addressing the project. He openly questioned the intention behind revisiting such sensitive themes, suggesting the sequel crosses the line from storytelling into propaganda territory.

Kamakhya Narayan Singh Fires Back

Director Kamakhya Narayan Singh hit back at Kashyap's criticism, alleging that the acclaimed filmmaker has a problem with everything that doesn't align with his worldview. The exchange has split the film fraternity, with some supporting creative freedom while others worry about mainstreaming divisive content.

Actor Prakash Raj also weighed in, expressing concern that such narratives are becoming increasingly mainstream without encouraging meaningful dialogue between communities.

Legal Trouble Brewing

A petition has reportedly been filed in the Kerala High Court seeking cancellation of the censor certificate granted to the film. Petitioners question whether the Central Board of Film Certification adequately evaluated the potential impact on public harmony before clearing the project for release.

The legal challenge argues that the film could incite tension and disturb law and order in an already sensitive communal environment. Activists contend that given India's current social climate, films dealing with religion and extremism must be handled with greater responsibility.

The Original's Shadow Looms Large

To understand the current backlash, one must revisit 'The Kerala Story' (2023). The original film claimed to depict women from Kerala who were allegedly converted and recruited by ISIS. Its teaser initially stated that 32,000 women had gone missing and joined the terror group—a figure that triggered immediate outrage.

Political leaders and fact-checkers pointed out there was no verified data supporting such a massive claim. Following criticism, the makers modified their description, reducing focus to three women and calling it a "fictionalised account inspired by true events." The Supreme Court eventually allowed its release but mandated a disclaimer clarifying it was a fictionalised story without confirmed data.

The Bigger Debate: Freedom vs Responsibility

The controversy surrounding 'The Kerala Story 2' has reignited a fundamental question that refuses to go away:

Should filmmakers have complete creative freedom, or should stricter scrutiny apply when films touch upon religion and national security?

Supporters of the film call it bold and necessary storytelling that addresses uncomfortable truths. Critics label it divisive and dangerous, arguing that dramatised storytelling influences public perception and creates mistrust between communities.

Where exactly is the line between raising awareness and pushing an agenda? That's the question audiences, activists, and policymakers are grappling with as the February 27 release date approaches.

What Happens Next?

The film's ultimate impact may depend on how audiences interpret it once it hits theatres. But one thing is certain: 'The Kerala Story 2' has already succeeded in becoming more than just a movie. It's now a flashpoint in India's ongoing conversation about politics, freedom of expression, media narratives, and social harmony.