The BJP high command finally announced the first list of 189 candidates on April 11th late at night, after being subjected to hectic lobbying, threats, pressure tactics by candidates, and even senior leaders, as well as endless consultations, discussions, and postponements for several days. Eight sitting MLAs have been denied tickets, and most of them are unhappy, with some, including Minister S Angara, expressing their discontent openly.

THE Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ), in a statement issued on April 8, has strongly opposed the amendments made to the IT Rules 2021. The amendments in fact change the very nature and mandate of the Press Information Bureau, giving them virtual policing powers.  

THE observance of the centenary of Vaikom Satyagraha, one of the landmark social protest movements in Kerala, began on March 30. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin kick-started the centenary observance on April 1. Several other organisations also marked the occasion. They included the Indian National Congress, SNDP and some Hindu organisations. Almost all the Malayalam dailies carried articles and comments by eminent intellectuals and activists on the Satyagraha.

THE All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), in a statement issued on April 11, has expressed its deep concern over mounting miseries of farmers and agricultural workers due to the recent spree of rainfall and hailstorm in different states, especially in north India. Unseasonal rain in Maharashtra, hailstorm and rains over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir have led to massive damage to crops.

THE British saw the Mysore Kingdom of Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali as a significant obstacle to the British Empire in India. The British lost the first three Anglo-Mysore wars before defeating Tipu in the fourth war. The British allies were the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Peshwas. Cutting to the present, the BJP's battle against Tipu is limited: it is about the Karnataka elections. The attack on Tipu is a not-so-thinly veiled attack on the Muslims.