Pioneer in short
BJP fields ex-MPs, actors in West Bengal
The BJP on Thursday released its second list of 111 candidates for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, including ‘face of Sandeshkhali agitation’ Rekha Patra and former Union Minister Nisith Pramanik. Other notable nominees are former MP Arjun Singh, state vice-president Tapas Roy, and actor-turned-politician Roopa Ganguly. Patra will contest from Hingalganj against TMC’s Ananda Sarkar, while Ganguly will face Lovely Maitra in Sonarpur Dakshin. Actor and sitting MLA Hiran Chatterjee is fielded from Shyampur in Howrah, and lawyer Priyanka Tibrewal will contest from Entally. Former Barrackpore MP Arjun Singh is set for Noapara, and Tapas Roy will run from Maniktala. The BJP highlighted its push for change and urged voters to support candidates on the lotus symbol. The party also fielded Dibyendu Adhikari from Egra, Mathabhanga’s Nisith Pramanik, and several newcomers across constituencies, while leaving Panihati’s nomination pending. West Bengal’s 294-seat assembly will vote in two phases on April 23 and 29, with results announced on May 4. Leaders emphasised the need for a “double-engine” government for the state’s growth.
Vikram Doraiswami named China envoy
Senior diplomat Vikram Doraiswami has been appointed as India's new envoy to China, replacing Pradeep Kumar Rawat, amid efforts to rebuild bilateral ties strained by the over four-year military standoff in eastern Ladakh. Doraiswami is expected to assume his new role shortly. A 1992-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Doraiswami currently serves as India's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. He has previously held key diplomatic postings, including ambassador to Uzbekistan and South Korea, High Commissioner to Bangladesh, and roles at the UN Mission in New York and the Consulate General in Johannesburg. An alumnus of DU with a master's in history, Doraiswami began his career as a journalist before joining the IFS.
Akasa Air flight struck by lightning
An Akasa Air Boeing 737 MAX flight from Phuket to Bengaluru was struck by lightning on Wednesday amid adverse weather and safely diverted to Chennai. The airline confirmed that flight QP 624 landed without incident and has been grounded for routine safety checks. The strike occurred while the aircraft encountered turbulent weather conditions en route. Akasa Air said its pilots and crew followed established safety protocols, ensuring the safety of passengers and crew. The exact number of passengers onboard has not been disclosed. In a statement, the airline emphasized that lightning strikes are a known and manageable occurrence in aviation. “Aircraft are designed and certified to safely withstand lightning, and our teams are trained to handle such situations with the highest safety standards,” it said.
