Top news of the day: March 31, 2026

Election Commission actions under SIR risk disenfranchisement of genuine voters in Bengal: Mamata to CEC

Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday (March 31, 2026) wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the poll panel’s actions under the SIR exercise risk disenfranchisement of genuine voters in Bengal. In her three-page letter, she also alleged that the actions of the Election Commission were undermining the democratic and fundamental rights of the people.

Trump tells affected nations to go to Hormuz and ‘get your oil’

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (March 31, 2026) “the hard part” in the war against Iran was done and asked other countries affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to buy oil from America or go to the Strait and take it. On Monday (March 30, 2026), Mr. Trump had threatened to attack Iran’s power plants, desalination plants and oil fields if Tehran refused to make a deal with the U.S. quickly. Tehran has said it received a proposal from the Trump administration through intermediaries, but said the U.S. demands were “very excessive, unrealistic and irrational”.

Bill to recognise Amaravati as A.P. capital likely to be tabled in Lok Sabha

The Union government is likely to introduce the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the current Lok Sabha session to officially recognise Amaravati as the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh. Senior sources in the government said the move follows a resolution passed by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on March 28, 2026, urging the Centre to amend the law to incorporate Amaravati as the State’s capital. Copies of the Bill have been circulated among MPs.

HC seeks response of Centre on plea regarding Sikh articles seized during Operation Blue Star

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notices to the Army, the Centre and the Central Bureau of Investigation on a petition seeking directions for disclosure of manuscripts, religious books and other articles allegedly seized during Operation Blue Star and handed over to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

World becoming more multi-polar, democratisation of global order underway: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday (March 31, 2026) observed that a “democratisation of global order” was being witnessed across the world, which was “becoming more multi-polar” since many cultures and societies were “making their voices heard”.

Tamil Nadu election: Vijay, TVK cadre booked for conducting roadshow in violation of poll code in Perambur

The Greater Chennai City Police have booked Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader C. Joseph Vijay and his party cadre for conducting his election campaign in Perambur in a manner causing inconvenience to the public. The case was registered by the Peravallur police of the Greater Chennai City Police based on a complaint by V. Kumar, an officer in-charge of the Static Surveillance Team of the Kolathur Assembly constituency. 

Leander Paes joins BJP ahead of West Bengal elections

Ahead of the elections in West Bengal, Indian tennis legend Leander Paes on Tuesday (March 31, 2026) joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the party headquarters. Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Sukanta Majumdar, along with MP Anil Baluni, were present on the occasion. In October 2021, prior to the Goa Assembly polls, Mr. Paes had joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the presence of party chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

At least nine dead in stampede at Nalanda’s Sheetla Mata temple in Bihar

At least nine people have been killed following a stampede that took place at the Sheetla Mata Temple in Bihar’s Nalanda district on Tuesday (March 31, 2026). The death toll is expected to rise further, locals said. Early reports suggest that all the victims are women. Nalanda DM Kundan Kumar said six of the victims have been identified, while police is identifying the remaining three victims.

Soaring fuel prices drive German far-right calls for a turn back to Russia

Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany ​party has used surging energy prices to revive its longstanding call for Berlin to turn once more to Russia for cheap energy after ‌scoring some of its best results in two state elections this month. German petrol prices have jumped ​by more than 15% since the U.S. and Israel began their war on Iran a month ago, ⁠and the AfD’s argument won a ready hearing this month among voters in Baden-Wuerttemberg, a centre of the German car industry.