Politics

"Local issues do play a role in assembly polls along with wider national issues," MLA Saryu Roy said.

Sitaram Yechury said, "Now the government is saying that through affidavits, it would name some people. But naming some people has already been done in the past and that does not serve any purpose."

Athawale's party drew a blank in the recently-concluded Assembly election which it fought as a BJP ally.

BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday appointed state party incharges in 28 states and union territories, a statement in New Delhi said.

Shiv Sena, which had breathed fire against BJP during the assembly poll campaign, has deputed two senior leaders for discussions with the BJP leadership, sources said.

Out of 24 seats MIM contested, it bagged two seats but lost three seats by a narrow margin. In nine constituencies, the party finished third.

Shiv Sena's Sunil Prabhu emerged triumphant from the Dindoshi assembly constituency in Mumbai, defeating Maharashtra's richest candidate and BJP nominee Mohit Kamboj.

DMDK leader Vijayakant, attributed BJP's success to PM Narendra Modi and its national President Amit Shah.

Fighting anti-incumbency and allegations of corruption, the Congress ended a distant third in both Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly elections.

Nashik-Central's sitting MNS legislator Vasant Gite was defeated by BJP's Devyani Pharande by a margin of 28,272 votes.

The Peasants and Workers Party leader, who has represented Sangola for a record 54 years, defeated Shahajibapu Patil of Sena by 25,224 votes.

Addressing a press conference, Thakre said he had sent his resignation to Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

As the counting for 288-member Maharashtra Assembly and 90-member Haryana Assembly is underway, here is what Cartoonist Neelabh thinks how BJP will celebrate this Diwali.

The Committee was set up during the previous UPA government and was headed by Manmohan Singh.

Exit polls this election have predicted a Bharatiya Janata Party surge in the state and the decimation of Congress.

BJP said actions like waiving of ISIS flag in Srinagar should be dealt with sternly and the "threat" must not be "undermined".