Phase one of the West Bengal elections covered 152 constituencies across 16 districts, recording a voter turnout of approximately 90 percent by late afternoon. Simultaneously, Tamil Nadu conducted its single-phase election with a participation rate of 82.2 percent. Analysts attribute these high percentages to polarised sentiments and the SIR process, which involved significant electoral roll revisions. While the heavy deployment of central paramilitary forces ensured polling remained largely peaceful, sporadic clashes and attacks on candidates occurred in Murshidabad, South Dinajpur, and Asansol.
This edition of India First reports on the conclusion of Prime Minister Modi's five-nation diplomatic tour across Europe and the Gulf, focusing on strategic agreements in defence, energy, and technology.
Prime Minister Modi has been conferred with the Food and Agriculture Organisation's highest honour, the Agricola Medal. The prestigious award was presented during a special ceremony held at the historic Plenary Hall at the organisation's headquarters in Rome.
The episode of The Point focusses on the death of a 33-year-old woman, Twisha Sharma, in Madhya Pradesh following alleged dowry harassment and other dowry deaths.
A Bhopal court has rejected the plea for a second postmortem, citing a lack of jurisdiction to order the procedure at a medical facility in the national capital. However, the court partially allowed the application by directing the local police to ensure the victim's body is preserved at a sub-zero temperature.
