The Congress party on Tuesday announced its first list of 55 candidates for the upcoming Kerala Assembly Elections 2026.. The dates declared by the EC are-polling on April 9 and counting of votes on May 4. (ANI). The list shows several prominent leaders, with state party president Sunny Joseph set to contest from Peravoor. Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan has been fielded from Paravur, while Chandy Oommen will contest from Puthuppally.. Senior leader Ramesh Chennithala has been named as the candidate from Haripad, and Ramya Haridas will contest from Chirayinkeezhu. Veteran leader K Muraleedharan has been fielded from Vattiyoorkavu.. 1. Adv. Sajeev Joseph – Irikkur. 2. Abdul Rasheed – Dharmadam. 3. K.P. Saju – Thalassery. 4. Adv. Sunny Joseph – Peravoor. 5. Ms. Usha Vijayan – Mananthavady – ST. 6. I.C. Balakrishnan – Sulthanbathery – ST. 7. Adv. T. Siddique – Kalpetta. 8. K.M. Abhijith – Nadapuram. 9. Adv. K. Praveen Kumar – Quilandy. 10. V T Sooraj – Balusseri – SC. 11. Mrs. Vidhya Balakrishnan – Elathur. 12. Adv. K. Jayanth – Kozhikode North. 13. Aryadan Shoukath – Nilambur. 14. A.P. Anil Kumar – Wandoor – SC. 15. V S Joy – Thavanur. 16. Noushad Ali – Ponnani. 17. V.T. Balram – Thrithala. 18. Mrs. K.A. Tulsi – Kongad – SC. 19. A. Suresh – Malampuzha. 20. Ramesh Pisharody – Palakkad. 21. K.C. Subramanian – Tarur – SC. 22. Adv. Sumesh Achuthan – Chittur. 23. T. Thankappan – Nenmara. 24. K.N. Febin – Alathur. 25. T.N. Prathapan – Manalur. 26. Adv. Shaji J Kodankandath – Ollur. 27. Rajan J Pallan – Thrissur. 28. Adv. Sunil Laloor – Nattika – SC. 29. T.M Nazar – Kaipamangalam. 30. K. M Babu Raj – Puthukkad. 31. Saneesh Kumar Joseph – Chalakudy. 32. O.J. Janeesh – Kodungallur. 33. Roji M. John – Angamaly. 34. Anwar Sadath – Aluva. 35. V.D. Satheesan – Paravur. 36. T.J. Vinod – Ernakulam. 37. Mrs. Uma Thomas – Thrikkakara. 38. V.P. Sajeendran – Kunnathunad – SC. 39. Dr. Mathew Kuzhalnadan – Muvattupuzha. 40. K. Binu – Vaikom – SC. 41. Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan – Kottayam. 42. Chandy Oommen – Puthuppally. 43. Mrs. Shanimol Usman – Aroor. 44. K. R. Rajendra Prasad – Cherthala. 45. Ramesh Chennithala – Haripad. 46. Ms. Adv. Muthara Raj – Mavelikkara – SC. 47. C.R. Mahesh – Karunagappally. 48. Mrs. Adv. P. Aisha Potty – Kottarakkara. 49. Jyothikumar Chamakkala – Pathanapuram. 50. P.C. Vishnunadh – Kundara. 51. Mrs. Adv. Bindhu Krishna – Kollam. 52. Sooraj Ravi – Chathannoor. 53. Ms. Ramya Haridas – Chiraninkeezhu – SC. 54. K. Muraleedharan – Vattiyoorkavu. 55. M. Vincent – Kovalam. The Election Commission of India announced the schedule for the Kerala Assembly elections at a press conference in New Delhi on Sunday, with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar confirming that the Model Code of Conduct would come into force with immediate effect.. The dates declared by the EC are-polling on April 9 and counting of votes on May 4. 

 New Delhi, The Supreme Court on Tuesday urged the Centre to come up with a law recognising paternity leave as a social security benefit, observing that parenthood is not a solitary function and while the mother is central to a child’s development, it would be unjust to overlook the role of the father.. Parenthood not a solitary function: SC urges Centre to bring law recognising paternity leave. The apex court’s observations came while striking down a law under which a woman was eligible for maternity leave if she legally adopts a child below the age of three months. The court held that an adoptive mother should be entitled to maternity leave of 12 weeks, irrespective of the age of the adopted child.. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan also emphasised that a provision of paternity leave helps in dismantling gendered roles, encourages fathers to take an active role in child care, fosters a balanced understanding of parenting, and promotes gender equality within family and workplace.. While the role of a mother is undeniably central to a child’s emotional, physical, and psychological development, it would be incomplete and unjust to overlook the equally significant role of a father, the bench said.. The top court said parenthood is not a solitary function performed by one parent but rather a shared responsibility in which each parent contributes to the child’s holistic development.. It said that although the father is present at the periphery of infancy, he is not present in the intimate and irreplaceable way that society has always presumed the mother must be.. “In light of the aforesaid discussion on the need of paternity leave, we urge the Union to come up with a provision recognising paternity leave as a social security benefit.. “We emphasise that the duration of such leave must be determined in a manner that is responsive to the needs of both the parent and the child,” the bench said.. Observing that early months and years of a child’s life constitute a formative period during which emotional bonds, attachment and a sense of security begin to take shape, the top court said that during this stage, the presence of a father contributes significantly to the child’s emotional and psychological well-being.. What a father offers to a child in those nascent days cannot be scheduled for a convenient time or compensated for later, it said.. “In the aforesaid context, the absence of a father is rationalised by the hope of making up for lost time through devoted weekends. For the child, who needed to hear the voice and feel the warmth of a father in those early moments, the absence is not merely a matter of memory.. “It affects the foundation upon which the child begins to build emotional security and attachment. The absence of a father during the formative years of a child’s life, particularly due to employment constraints, deprives both the child and the parent of the opportunity to form these early bonds,” the bench said.. The top court 

 Trinamool Congress supremo and chief minister Mamata Banerjee has predicted that her party will secure more than 226 seats in the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections.. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee also hit out at the BJP, saying that the saffron party’s numbers would decline in the upcoming elections. (ANI). The ruling TMC announced its list of candidates for the upcoming polls, with Mamata Banerjee contesting from the Bhabanipur assembly constituency.. Addressing a press conference in Kolkata, Banerjee said the TMC will contest 291 of the 294 seats in the state, predicting that her party will secure more than 226 seats.. ALSO READ | It’s Mamata Banerjee vs BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari in Bhabanipur: Rematch on as TMC list out for West Bengal elections. “We will contest 291 of the 294 seats. The remaining three seats will be contested by our ally, Anit Thapa-led BGPM, in the Darjeeling hills,” Banerjee said, while announcing the names of candidates.. Exuding confidence in her party’s performance in the upcoming polls, she added, “We will win more than 226 seats in the 2026 assembly polls.”. The West Bengal chief minister also sought to reassure party leaders and workers who weren’t fielded for the assembly elections, saying that space would be made for them within the organisation.. “All those who could not be accommodated in the candidate list will be accommodated in the organisation,” she said.. Mamata Banerjee’s candidature from Bhabanipur implies that it will be a direct contest between her and BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari.. ALSO READ | Election dates for Kerala, West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry out | Check full schedule. During the presser, Banerjee also hit out at the BJP, saying that the saffron party’s numbers would decline in the upcoming elections. “The BJP’s tally will decrease in this election. They will receive a befitting reply for their anti-people policies,” she said.. West Bengal is set to witness a high-stakes electoral battle for its 294-member legislative assembly in two phases. Elections for 152 seats will be held on April 23, 2026, while the remaining 142 seats will go to polls on April 29.2026.. The Election Commission of India said that the vote counting process is scheduled to take place on May 4, 2026. 

 New Delhi, As on February 28, a total of 11.69 crore hospital admissions across the country, amounting to ₹1.73 lakh crore, have been authorised under the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana , Minister of State for Health Prataprao Jadhav told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.. Hospital treatments worth ₹1.73 lakh crore sanctioned under Ayushman Bharat, Rajya Sabha told. Out of these, 4.40 crore hospital admissions amounting to ₹68,302.23 crore were authorised during the last two financial years FY 2023-24 and FY 2024-25.. The significant utilisation of the scheme indicates that eligible beneficiaries are availing the benefit to access healthcare services, thereby reducing their out-of-pocket expenditure, Jadhav said in a written reply.. The AB-PMJAY provides health coverage of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to 12 crore families constituting the bottom 40 per cent of India’s population.. In March 2024, approximately 37 lakh families of accredited social health activists, and Anganwadi workers and helpers were included under the scheme. The scheme was further expanded to cover six crore senior citizens of age 70 years and above, belonging to 4.5 crore families irrespective of their socio-economic status.. As on February 28,a total of 43.52 crore Ayushman cards have been created, including 1.14 crore cards created under the Ayushman Vay Vandana category for senior citizens aged 70 years and above, Jadhav stated.. Also, a total of 36,229 hospitals have been empanelled under the scheme across the country, of which 19,483 are public and 16,746 are private hospitals.. Since the launch of the scheme, the health benefit packages have been revised five times.. Initially, the scheme included 1,391 packages, but the latest Health Benefit Package 2022, comprises 1,961 packages across 27 specialties. This includes packages for chronic illnesses like cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other non-communicable diseases, Jadhav said.. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. 

 Over 1,000 vehicles were reportedly stranded near the South Portal of the Atal Tunnel after sudden heavy snowfall hit Manali and the upper reaches of Kullu district, prompting a large-scale rescue and snow clearance operation, officials said.. Tourist vehicles stand stuck in traffic amid fresh snowfall at Atal Tunnel Rohtang near Manali, in Kullu on Monday. (Ajay Kumar). Heavy snowfall has been impacting traffic at the tunnel since Monday afternoon and snow clearance operations by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) are underway at the South Portal, news agency ANI reported on Tuesday.. “Since yesterday afternoon, there has been heavy snowfall at Atal Tunnel in Manali and the upper reaches of the district, and since yesterday itself, BRO’s operation is being enforced at the south portal of the tunnel,” Deputy Commissioner of Kullu, Anurag Chand Sharma was quoted as saying.. Also Read | 1,500 vehicles stranded near Atal Tunnel cleared. Police deployed to ensure safety and help. Manali and surrounding areas were blanketed in fresh snow, covering houses and mountains, while higher reaches across the state also recorded snowfall.. Khadrala in Shimla district received 10.2 cm, Kalpa 6.4 cm, Gondhla and Jot around 3 cm each, and Kukumseri 1.5 cm.. Thunderstorms and lightning were reported in several areas, including Shimla, Kufri, Jubberhatti, Kangra and Sundernagar, with parts of Shimla district also witnessing hailstorms.. According to the IMD, a fresh western disturbance is expected to impact northwest India from the night of March 17, with its effects likely in Himachal Pradesh between March 18 and March 21.. An Orange Alert has been issued for March 18 and 19, warning of hailstorms and thunderstorms in districts including Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Kangra and Sirmaur.. Tourists stranded in nearby areas too. “Some colleagues and I reached the Atal Tunnel to assist as we got the news of tourists being stranded,” said Dhanraj, a taxi driver, PTI reported.. He said they have been evacuating tourists in 4×4 vehicles, adding that most of those stranded have now been safely moved from the area.. “(We are) Stranded here since Saturday night and now gradually being moved towards Manali. There are no arrangements for food or drinking water,” said Prem Lal, a stranded driver.. A tourist said he was provided food by social organisations working in Sissu.. “We set out from Manali towards Keylong on Saturday when the snowfall was light. But on return, the snowfall intensified significantly, and we have been stranded here since Sunday evening. But now vehicles are being evacuated from the area,” said Amit, a commuter.