Left, Right & Centre

The Trinamool Congress has accused the BJP and the Election Commission of having a role in Mamata Banerjee's injuries. The party said an attempt was made on the Chief Minister's life "within 24 hours of the removal of the Bengal police chief" by the Election Commission. Within half an hour of the incident in which Mamata Banerjee was badly injured, the BJP alleged she was faking it for sympathy. The Election Commission responded today, saying in a strong letter that the Trinamool memo questioned the "very basis of formation and functioning of the Election Commission".

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she was attacked today in Nandigram, where she had gone to file her nomination for the coming elections. The Chief Minister said she was pushed by four or five people at a time when there was no police personnel around her. The BJP, which had blamed the Trinamool after its chief JP Nadda's convoy was attacked in Bengal in December, called today's incident a political stunt by the Trinamool Congress. Also on the show, an exclusive chat with Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on "Deshbhakti Budget" announced by the Delhi government ahead of the 75th year of India's Independence. Former Congress leader, PC Chacko, speaks to NDTV on what lead to him quitting the party.

Congress veteran PC Chacko quit the party today complaining that there was "no democracy left" in the Congress and not sparing the "high command" in his recriminations. "There is no Congress party in Kerala as such," just two factions of the party, he said. But he firmly dismissed speculation about joining the BJP.

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that neither the local police nor the police superintendent were near her when four-five people deliberately pushed leading to the injury on her leg. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar visited Mamata Banerjee at Kolkata's government-run SSKM hospital amid "go back" slogans by hundreds of the Trinamool supporters gathered there. The Election Commission has sought a report from Chief Secretary and Special Observers.

Delhi's first paperless budget, the "Deshbhakti Budget", was presented by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the Delhi Assembly. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Manish Sisodia said, "We all celebrate birthdays & anniversaries. This is the 75th year of India's Independence and we want to celebrate it like a festival. The budget is centered on the last 75 years of India's Independence and plans for the next 25 years."

A war of words broke out in the Congress camp at a time when the Gandhis have hit the campaign trail ahead of the upcoming elections. A rift in party ranks has emerged over the Congress-Left's alliance with the Indian Secular Front.

As two firms that monitor the threat posed by international hackers, report that India is being severely threatened by state-sponsored Chinese hackers, security experts discuss how the country can tackle the challenge.

Congressmen who are accusing the party of breaching secularism are those who "have already extracted their own pound of flesh," said the party's Bengal chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in an interview to NDTV today. "These leaders enjoyed the power of Congress over the decades, but are now castigating the party," he said.

As India begins its second phase of vaccinations and ropes in private hospitals, over 29 lakh people register on the CoWIN portal on Day 1. Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan explains why this is India's shot at winning the war against the virus.

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Monday night cautioned people against letting down their guard because of the rollout of coronavirus vaccines, stressing that following Covid-appropriate behaviour was critical "at least for a few more months" to ensure the chain of transmission is snapped.

NDTV connects with people who got the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccines as India began the second phase of the vaccination drive. Listen in as they detail their experiences from the registration process to the administration of vaccines.

On this episode of Left, Right and Centre: As India begins vaccinating its senior citizens and those with comorbidities and above 45 years of age from Monday, a look at the arrangements in place for the mega vaccination drive, and the process of registration.

Ahead of the assembly elections in five states, the Congress dissenters shared a stage in Jammu. "A weakened Congress needs to be strengthened," they said. Party loyalist Abhishek Manu Singhvi, however, said, "The party's interests would be better served by focusing on states where elections will be held."

A judge in the UK has ruled that fugitive businessman Nirav Modi can be extradited to India. There is still a fairly extensive appeal process. Today's ruling was, however, a victory for the Indian legal system that has been pursuing this case in British courts to try and bring back Mr Modi, who allegedly defrauded banks of Rs 14,000 crore.

India's new guidelines for digital and social media and streaming services seem to suggest that the government will be big brother in its role in regulating content. There are provisions that social media companies will feel are impossible to implement. For example, revealing the name of a person from whom a message originated. There will also be a government oversight body looking at content on OTT platforms, a Joint Secretary who is ultimately empowered to block content.