Left, Right & Centre

Union Minister Hardeep Puri is fighting his first election this year. He says national security is a bigger issue than the economy. "There is a pro-incumbency wave for (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi," Mr Puri said.

In an unprecedented order, the Election Commission has cancelled the Bengal campaign from 10 pm tomorrow, after the vandalism and violence at Amit Shah's Kolkata roadshow on Tuesday.

In a huge blow to the BJP government, the Supreme Court rejected the centre's arguments that classified documents accessed by the media can't be used as evidence in the review petitions on the Rafale jet deal. In fact, the court will now hear the review pleas and fix a date soon. It is an order that also upholds a free press, vital to any democracy.

Former editor, union minister and now one of the petitioners in the Rafale case Arun Shourie speaks to NDTV on the implications of the Supreme Court's order rejecting Centre's arguments that classified documents accessed by the media on Rafale deal can't be used as evidence.

As the Income Tax conducts raids against Congress leaders, the party cries vendetta just ahead of the elections. Are these investigations impartial or are they meant to intimidate the opposition?

In a huge Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh, a BJP lawmaker and four policemen were killed this evening, just 48 hours before polling in this area. Maoists ambushed the convoy of the MLA, Bhima Mandavi, using a powerful IED which ripped apart the bulletproof car in which the MLA was travelling. Soon after the blast, Maoists started firing at the convoy. The Central Reserve Police Force has rushed reinforcements in the area. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has called for a high-level meeting.

In this special edition of Left, Right And Centre, we discuss if BJP, which released its election manifesto today, will get votes for its performance in five years or its poll promises.

Congress's Milind Deora, reacting to the BJP's poll promise of "zero tolerance against terrorism" , asked: "On the eve of election suddenly they are talking about zero tolerance. What were they doing in last five years?" The BJP today released its elections manifesto, two days before Lok Sabha polls begin.

Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has declared war against the Election Commission of India after the poll panel transferred four senior IPS officers in Bengal. In a scathing letter to the Election Commission Mamata Banerjee has said said the order is "highly arbitrary, motivated and biased" and issued "at behest of the BJP". She has even raised questions about whether the poll panel is following its constitutional mandate or not. The move to transfer the top cops has been welcomed by the opposition in Bengal. On Left, Right and Centre we discuss, was the move a political one or justified?

The results of UPSC exams are out, and we speak Akshat Jain, the second ranker. Akshat Jain is a graduate from IIT Guwahati with a degree in design. The 23-year-old's early influence to prepare for the UPSC were his civil servant parents. He talks about his preparation techniques and overcoming his biggest challenges, and claims he did not expect to top the prestigious exam.