Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said the Islamic Republic will "very soon" confront the enemy forces with a weapon "it is deeply afraid of", according to state-run Press TV. 

"And it is right next to them [too]... I hope they won't have a heart attack," he noted in reference to the weapon in question.

He also mocked the Trump administration's strategy to force Tehran to the negotiating table using economic pressure by blocking the Iranian oil trade through Hormuz, saying "enemies" have wrongfully thought they would achieve the results they had sought through their latest bout of unprovoked aggression against Iran "in the shortest possible time."

ALSO READ: Trump, Putin Discuss Iran War And Ukraine In Over 90-Minute Call

"That very assumption has now turned into a joke in military academies."

Irani also claimed that the Iranian forces have carried out at least "seven missile operations" against the US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, which, according to him, prevented the "United States from being able to launch aircraft or conduct air operations from the carrier for a period of time."

Iran's Weapons Used So Far in The War

Iran said that after US and Israeli forces launched a war against Iran, the Iranian forces have launched at least 100 waves of successful reprisal against sensitive American and Israeli targets across the Middle East. 

Another part of Iran's retaliation was closing Hormuz -- the strategic waterway through which 20 per cent of global crude shipments pass in peacetime -- to vessels belonging to enemies and their allies. The Islamic Republic then subjected the waterway to further restrictions, conditioning the passage of vessels only after they secured permission from relevant Iranian authorities. The latter move came after the US forces blocked Iranian vessels and ports in the region, the official said. 

ALSO READ: "Lying To American Public": Pete Hegseth Under Fire In Congress Over Iran War

According to the commander, Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz from the Arabian Sea. "If they move any closer, we will take operational action without delay," he said.

Despite the blockade, he added, "some vessels have departed from our ports, and some have reached their destinations."

He also slammed American forces for what he called "illegal seizure of some Iranian vessels" as part of the blockade, calling it not only "piracy," but also "hostage-taking."

"They have taken crewmembers and their families hostage aboard ships," he stated. "The Americans are worse than Somali pirates, because Somali pirates acted out of poverty, but these have added hostage-taking" to their atrocities," Irani said.

He also pledged to avenge the people killed in the war "to the last drop of our blood." "We will inflict a regret-inducing blow to them."

ALSO READ: Trump Says Iran "Choking Like Stuffed Pig", Refuses To Lift Hormuz Blockade: Report

US Rejects Iran's Proposal

Trump has told Axios that he's rejecting Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a lift of the U.S. blockade — a plan that would postpone discussions of Iran's nuclear program. Iran's proposal, shared with US leaders this week, sought to postpone discussions around Iran's nuclear program, leaving unresolved the disagreements that led the US and Israel to go to war on Febuary 28.

"The blockade is somewhat more effective than the bombing," Trump told Axios. "And it is going to be worse for them. They can't have a nuclear weapon."

The Iranian proposal would have pushed negotiations on the country's nuclear program to a later date, two regional officials said earlier this week. The officials with knowledge of the proposal spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door negotiations between Iranian and Pakistani officials.

One of the major reasons Trump has said he went to war was to deny Iran the ability to develop nuclear weapons.

Even winning 98 seats in the lowest band of the exit poll would make the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) feat extraordinary and likely take the southern state into a new era of politics.

Below are details of other exit polls:

Peoples Pulse has predicted the DMK and allies would win 125-145 seats, while the AIADMK and allies would get 65-80 seats.

Peoples Insight gave the DMK and allies 120-140 seats, and the AIADMK and allies may win 60-70 seats.

Praja Poll says the DMK and partners would get 148-168 seats; the AIADMK and allies may get 61-81. TVK is forecast to win 1 to 9 seats.

P-Marq has given DMK and allies 125-145 seats; AIADMK and allies 65-85 seats, and actor Vijay's TVK 16-26 seats.

Matrize has given DMK and allies 122-132 seats; AIADMK and allies 87-100 seats, and actor Vijay's TVK 10-12 seats.

Kamakhya Analytics has given DMK and allies 78-95 seats; AIADMK and allies 68-84 seats, and actor Vijay's TVK and allies 67-81 seats. This puts the actor's new party firmly in place to play a big role, if the exit poll results hold.

JVC has given DMK and allies 75-95 seats; AIADMK and allies 128-147 seats, and actor Vijay's TVK 8-15 seats.

The main contest was between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), which includes the Congress, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) on one side, and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by AIADMK with the BJP and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) as allies.

Tamil Nadu saw strong voter participation across districts, with several regions recording high turnout figures. According to the Election Commission, voter turnout in Tamil Nadu stood at 82.24 per cent by 5 pm on April 23, with polling for all 234 assembly constituencies ending at 6 pm. Counting is on Monday.

Four exit polls (Matrize, P-Marq, Praja Poll and Poll Diary) have predicted a big win for the BJP, while two (Peoples Pulse, Janmat Polls) have given a clear edge to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, while JVC predicted a neck and neck.

Voters queued up from 7 AM outside booths in Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia, North and South 24 Parganas and Purba Bardhaman districts, which form Bengal's electoral and political core.

Of the total electorate eligible to vote in this phase, 1.57 crore are women, and 792 are third-gender.

Till 5 PM, West Bengal recorded 89.99 per cent polling with Purba Bardhaman registering the highest turnout at 92.46 per cent. .

The first phase of polls in 152 assembly seats of West Bengal on April 23 also recorded more than 89.9 per cent polling till 5 PM.

Speaking during a Cabinet meeting here, Shehbaz said Pakistan's oil import bill had surged from $300 million before the conflict to $800 million, placing additional pressure on the economy. He also noted a reduction in petroleum consumption during the current week compared to the previous one.

Shehbaz said a task force is monitoring the situation daily, according to an official statement.

He said collective efforts are needed to tackle the challenges.

Apprising the Cabinet about the progress made in the US-Iran talks and Pakistan's efforts to ease tensions in the region, Shehbaz said Islamabad made sincere efforts to promote regional stability.

He highlighted that marathon talks between Iran and the US held in Islamabad on April 11 lasted for 21 hours and marked a significant diplomatic breakthrough.

Shehbaz said Pakistan made sincere and coordinated efforts for the success of the negotiations, with contributions from Field Marshal Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and other senior officials.

As a result of these efforts, he noted, the ceasefire between Iran and the United States was extended and continues to hold.

The prime minister informed the cabinet that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Pakistan with his delegation and held multiple rounds of talks, including a two-hour session with him.

He said Araghchi assured that Iran would respond positively after consultations with its leadership.

"Before the Iranian foreign minister visited Russia, I spoke with him on the phone, in which he assured me that all his meetings in Oman were held with sincerity of intent, and after consultation with his leadership...he will give a positive response soon," he said while talking about Araghchi's whirlwind visits to Islamabad, Muscat and Moscow over the weekend.

He expressed hope that the conflict would end soon.

Pakistan plans to host a second round of talks between the United States and Iran.

The Iranian minister made two brief visits to Pakistan within 48 hours over the weekend, meeting with Field Marshal Munir and PM Shehbaz to discuss the regional situation.

Trump on Sunday reiterated that the US and Iranian officials can talk by phone for a peace solution to the conflict.

Last week, Trump extended the two-week ceasefire with Iran indefinitely to give Tehran more time to prepare a unified proposal to end the war.

The war began when the US and Israel jointly attacked Iran on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top commanders. The retaliation by the Islamic Republic extended the war to the entire Gulf region.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

In Tamil Nadu, Vijay's TVK party may win 98-120 out of the total 234 seats, the Axis My India exit poll predicts. It gives the DMK-led alliance about 92-110 seats and the AIADMK-led alliance 22-23 seats.

Led by Chief Minister Himanta Sarma in Assam, the BJP may return for another term in power. The party may win 88-100 seats while the Congress-led alliance may end up with 24-36 seats, according to Axis My India exit poll.

In Kerala, the exit poll predicts that Congress-led UDF will win the elections, winning 78-90 seats out of the total 140 seats, while the LDF may win 49-62 seats. In Puducherry, NR Congress, part of the NDA alliance, may win 16-20 out of the total 30 seats, while the Congress may win 6-8 seats.

Health warning: Exit polls often get it wrong.

The voting process saw the participation of 17 crore voters across 824 assembly constituencies. Assam, Kerala and Puducherry voted on April 9. Tamil Nadu, too, voted in a single phase on April 23. In Bengal, the first phase was held on April 23, while voting in the second phase ended this evening.

Highlights on NDTV Exit Polls

"We will be seeking an explanation from Riyan on this issue, as vaping is not allowed. Depending on his explanation, the IPL will take further course of action," a BCCI official was quoted as saying in the report.

Smoking and vaping are strictly prohibited within IPL stadium premises, except in designated zones. Furthermore, India's federal laws are far more stringent; the country banned e-cigarettes under The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019. This Act prohibits the production, sale, purchase, import, export, and advertisement of vapes nationwide. 

Violations of this act can carry severe penalties, including hefty fines and imprisonment for up to six months. As of now, neither the BCCI, the Rajasthan Royals, nor Riyan Parag himself have issued an official explanation regarding the incident.

This controversy arises when the 24-year-old is already facing challenges, leading the Rajasthan Royals in the 2026 season after Sanju Samson moved to the Chennai Super Kings. Parag has struggled with his batting consistency, scoring only 81 runs in seven innings before this match, which has drawn criticism from fans and former players.

Despite the off-field distraction, Rajasthan Royals successfully chased down 222 with six wickets in hand, defeating Punjab Kings and handing them their first loss of the season.

Parag made a 16-ball 29 in his team's successful chase of 223.

(With Agency Inputs)

The call lasted more than 90 minutes and was "frank and businesslike", Ushakov told reporters, including from AFP, during a phone briefing.

The presidents "paid particular attention to the situation regarding Iran and in the Persian Gulf", Ushakov said. 

"Vladimir Putin considers Donald Trump's decision to extend the ceasefire with Iran to be the right one, as this should give negotiations a chance and, overall, help to stabilise the situation."

But Putin also "highlighted the inevitable and extremely damaging consequences not only for Iran and its neighbours, but also for the entire international community, should the US and Israel resort to military action once again," Ushakov said.

He added Russia was "firmly committed to providing every possible assistance to diplomatic efforts" on the Middle East war, and said the call was held at Moscow's initiative.

The leaders also discussed the war in Ukraine, now in its fifth year following Russia's invasion of its neighbour in 2022.

"At Trump's request, Vladimir Putin described the current situation along the line of contact, where our troops are holding the strategic initiative and pushing back the enemy's positions," Ushakov told reporters.

"Both Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump expressed essentially similar assessments of the behaviour of the Kyiv regime led by (Volodymyr) Zelensky, which, incited and with the support of the Europeans, is pursuing a policy of prolonging the conflict."

Russia's assault on Ukraine has devastated swathes of Ukrainian territory, killed thousands of civilians and forced millions to flee their homes.

Putin said he was ready "to declare a ceasefire for the duration of Victory Day celebrations. Trump actively supported this initiative, noting that the holiday marks our shared victory," Ushakov said.

Russia marks Victory Day on May 9 to commemorate the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, celebrated each year with a military parade in central Moscow.

This year's event will be slimmed-down as a precautionary measure given the threat of Ukrainian retaliatory strikes, the Kremlin said earlier on Wednesday.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Warning: Exit polls are not always accurate.

Following the conclusion of the final phase of voting in West Bengal, various polling agencies released data indicating that the BJP is likely to secure a second consecutive term in Assam and potentially unseat or significantly challenge Mamata Banerjee's government in West Bengal. In Southern India, projections point toward a return of the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu and a comeback for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala.

Here Are Highlights Of The Exit Polls:

The loss left Mumbai Indians languishing on four points from eight games, while Sunrisers Hyderabad climbed to third spot with 12 points from nine matches. Pandya showed magnanimity and did not blame his players in the open after the loss, saying he won't put his bowlers under the bus.

"I think this season we don't have much option, we really need to see what all differences we can do. I won't put my bowlers under the bus. I think as an overall unit, we have not been able to do what exactly Mumbai Indians stands for," said Pandya when asked how he plans to address his bowling attack after the bowlers failed to defend a strong total.

"We really need to see what all we need to work on," he added.

The Mumbai Indians skipper said that with the continued backing of the franchise owners and support staff, the team will find a way out.

"We have passionate owners and support staff, hopefully we will figure out something." He also expressed regret for the die-hard Mumbai Indians' fans, admitting the team has not been able to bring them the joy of enough wins.

"We have not given them much opportunity to back us -- but they have been fantastic and loyal. Sometimes it hurts when the opposition comes and they start chanting their name. But we probably need to give them more (to cheer and shout about)," he said.

Pandya, however, gave credit where it was due, saying Mumbai Indians' batting had clicked but added that a few missed opportunities, including dropped catches could have shifted the momentum in their favour.

"Yes, I enjoyed (the batting), I had fun today on the ground. Yeah, I think 244, I think I'll back my bowlers to stop it, but some other day today we could not execute.

"I think it's been that kind of season (of missed chances on the field). When you get a couple of chances, you grab them, that's when the luck and momentum changes. If you don't, it kind of hurts you...all the boys tried really well. They gave everything, it did not work out," he added.

Pat Cummins, the SRH skipper, praised his players for their fearless approach and urged them to continue playing in the same positive manner.

"When the pitch is good, they (openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head) have so many different shots. Glad I am not bowling to them," he said, adding that the youngsters in the side have a "super aggressive." approach.

"They have a fearless attitude." he added.

Player of the Match Heinrich Klaasen, who walked in at a crucial stage after Sunrisers Hyderabad lost a couple of quick wickets and went on to play a match-winning knock, said he took his chances early against a quality Mumbai Indians attack.

"Big gap at cow corner so had to take a risk early. Wicket was good. They (MI) had a quality bowling attack, so had to take a chance and see if we could make light work of it.

"(Abhishek and Head) put the bowlers under pressure. If they are going (at a brisk rate), it makes your job easier," he said

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Tensions have been simmering between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh for a while, but were partially covered by their shared anger with Tehran over its attacks on the Gulf states since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran. 

"The Emirates were not happy to have to constrain themselves, particularly when they wanted to pump more, and the Saudis wanted to pump less," Firas Maksad, director of Middle East at Eurasia Group, told The Financial Times.

The UAE has also been frustrated with Pakistan, partly because of its deepening ties with Saudi Arabia, but also because of what it considers Islamabad's meek role as a mediator between the US and Iran, and not holding Tehran accountable for attacks on the Gulf during the war. 

Pakistan's role as mediator annoyed the UAE, as it "sees things in kind of black and white at the moment", Neil Quilliam, an associate fellow at Chatham House, told the UK-based financial daily. 

"There's no neutrality in this [from the UAE perspective], there's no middle ground, and if you're mediating, then you are in the middle ground," he added.

How OPEC Exit Helps The UAE

The UAE, OPEC's third-largest producer, joined the oil-producing cartel in 1967. But the cartel's production quotas have long been controlled by its de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, preventing it from exporting greater quantities of oil. In the short term, the exit will give Abu Dhabi the freedom to respond quickly to a long-term prospect of constrained supplies and to maximise profit.

The defection also comes as a blow to Saudi Arabia's prestige, as it weakens Riyadh's ability to manage the oil prices. It also helps the UAE position itself closer to US President Donald Trump, a long-term critic of OPEC. 

UAE's Frustration With Gulf Neighbours

The UAE made the big announcement without any prior consultation while the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) met for an emergency session in Jeddah, the first since the Iran attacks. The UAE, the Gulf state politically closest to Israel and most hostile to Tehran, was Iran's biggest target in the region, fending off more than 2,200 drones and missiles, in part a function of its geographical proximity.

According to a report by The Guardian, Abu Dhabi has been privately pushing Saudi Arabia and Qatar to launch joint counterattacks against Iran. But despite reports claiming that Riyadh was urging the US to defeat Iran, "no public GCC consensus was formed to take a step that could be seen as highly risky, since it could be interpreted not only as self-defence but also as siding with Israel", the report said. 

Unable to receive any political solidarity for its cause, the UAE has abandoned the economic solidarity and decided to go it alone. 

Blow To Saudi

According to the UAE's state-run firm Adnoc, Abu Dhabi's exit from OPEC is likely to boost crude production from 3.4 million barrels a day before the start of the Iran war to 5 million barrels by 2027. 

Notably, since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, the country's crude production slumped by 44 per cent to 1.9 million in March, and its capacity to increase production is contested. Overall, the war has wiped out 7.88 million barrels a day of OPEC's production in March, resulting in a 27 per cent fall to 20.79 million barrels a day that month – the biggest supply collapse for the cartel in recent decades.

Dr Ebtesam Al-Ketbi, the president of the Dubai-based Emirates Policy Centre, told The Guardian that the move was cast as an act of self-interest. 

"In effect, the UAE is redefining its role from a producer within a bloc to a balancing producer that contributes to market stability through its ability to act," she said.

"While this move may gradually weaken Opec's cohesion, it simultaneously strengthens the UAE's position as an actor capable of directly influencing global supply dynamics."

Moreover, the decision to quit OPEC may also make it Trump's diplomatic favourite, a status that could have investment benefits for the Emirates. Trump has been a vocal critic of OPEC. 

The Pakistan Factor

The UAE has already been wielding its influence even before it exited OPEC. Earlier this month, Abu Dhabi recalled $3.5 billion in deposits from Islamabad, a fifth of Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves. The move was seen as an indication of the UAE's displeasure with Pakistan's neutrality over Iran, forcing Saudi Arabia-- which signed a defence pact with Islamabad in September–– to step in to help its South Asian partner. 

A rift has been simmering between the Gulf's powerhouses for years, but it burst into the open in December and January over disputes in the civil war in Yemen, where they back rival factions.

Another reason for this rivalry, according to analysts, is that Riyadh is more closely aligned with Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt than its Gulf neighbour.

"The rift is still there, and Pakistan is one area it can play out, and the UAE is much more invested in India anyway," Quilliam told the FT. 

"They [UAE] see this growing alliance between the Saudis and the Pakistanis, and for the UAE, that constitutes a conflict of interests for Abu Dhabi."

By leaving OPEC, the UAE not only hopes to guarantee US engagement but also break the Saudi-Pakistan nexus. 

A Benefit For India

The UAE's exit from OPEC is likely to benefit India as it translates into lower costs and improved supply access. 

The UAE wants to maximise output free from OPEC quotas and monetise reserves while demand still holds. More supply, especially from a low-cost producer, will lower the ceiling on prices over time. For India, that means a smaller import bill and reduced inflation pressure.

"The exit of the United Arab Emirates from OPEC is likely to increase global oil supply flexibility in the medium term… which could soften crude prices. It is likely to be beneficial for India's import bill and inflation in that sense,” Sourav Mitra, Partner – Oil and Gas, Grant Thornton Bharat, told Financial Express. 

According to The Wall Street Journal, the hackers shared identifying information on Telegram, presenting the leak as evidence of their "surveillance capabilities". 

Iraq-based Shafaq News reported that the US personnel stationed in the region were sent threatening messages on WhatsApp, warning that they were under watch and could be targeted. The group further claimed it had access to deeper layers of data, including family information, home addresses, and even details about daily routines and troop movements. It also signalled that more disclosures could follow.

Pentagon Probes Breach

The incident has raised serious concerns within the US defence establishment, given the potential risks tied to exposing the identities and locations of military personnel. Officials are now working to determine the extent of the breach and evaluate its implications for operational security.

Investigators are expected to focus on how the data may have been obtained and whether additional systems were compromised.

Handala Also Hacked FBI Director's Personal Email

The same group had publicly claimed the breach of FBI Director Kash Patel's personal inbox last month, publishing photographs of the director and his purported resume on the internet.

On their website, the hacker group Handala Hack Team said Patel "will now find his name among the list of successfully hacked victims."

Read | FBI Chief Kash Patel's Personal Email Breached, Claim Iran-Linked Hackers

US-Iran Tensions

The alleged hack comes at a time of strained ties between Washington and Tehran. US President Donald Trump recently claimed that Iran had reached out under mounting pressure.

"Iran has just informed us that they are in a 'State of Collapse.' They want us to 'Open the Hormuz Strait,' as soon as possible," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

In a separate post, he said, "Iran can't get their act together. They don't know how to sign a non nuclear deal. They better get smart soon!"

Cyber Conflict Takes Centre Stage

The episode highlights how cyber operations are becoming a central front in geopolitical rivalries. Beyond traditional military and diplomatic arenas, digital attacks targeting personnel data, infrastructure, and communications are increasingly shaping modern conflict.

If verified, the breach could represent a notable escalation, demonstrating how state-linked or proxy actors can directly expose military personnel to risk outside conventional battle zones.
 

"My visa expired, and I didn't get picked in the H-1B lottery. My US employer doesn't have an India office, so an internal transfer or remote-from-India setup wasn't an option. I had absolutely no choice but to pack up and move back," the user stated.

Prior to losing the job, the techie said they were making $200,000, but the sudden drop to zero in income and the forced relocation had come as a massive reality shock to them.

"The biggest hurdle right now is the job market here. It is absolutely brutal. The competition is insane, but what caught me completely off guard is the interview difficulty. The level of questions they are asking in Indian tech interviews is way more advanced compared to what I faced in the US," the techie said.

The pressure of managing the Rs 40 lakh debt while being grilled in the intense interviews was starting to mess with their mental peace.

"Is anyone else currently dealing with this, or has anyone successfully survived this forced transition? Any advice, reality checks, or just knowing I'm not alone in this would be highly appreciated. Thanks."

Also Read | Man Reveals Why Climbing Mount Everest Could Be 'Deadly' This Year: 'It's Race Against Time'

'Temper Expectations'

As the post gained traction, social media users advised the techie not to focus on a big payday and instead get their foot in the door by landing a job.

"200k salary? How long did you have your job in the USA? It's surprising that you have a 40L loan even after that," said one user while another added: "You would be lucky to land 15 to 20 LPA at this point. Swallow your international experience and 200k ego and take it."

A third commented: "I moved back by choice after clearing my loan in 1.5 yrs. You can't expect salaries like in the US. If you have savings from US, try paying it out month after month. As for job, just get started with any decent job you get in your desired role, don't wait for that big buck opportunity."

A fourth said: "Temper your expectations, forget how much you earned in the US and research how much people with your level of experience are making in your domain and target that level of seniority and have salary expectations as per that level."

Zadran's younger brother, Ghamai Zadran, shared an emotional message on Instagram, appealing to the public to help the former cricketer by donating the required blood, which would assist in his recovery.

"My brother, national hero Shapoor Zadran, is currently in a concerning health condition," Ghamai wrote. "With your prayers, we stand by our national hero. Due to a deficiency and urgent need, he is in critical need of blood."

Shapoor first fell ill in October last year and was advised to seek treatment in India. With support from Rashid Khan and Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chairman Mirwais Ashraf, Shapoor's visa was fast-tracked, and he was admitted to a hospital in New Delhi on January 18.

A bone marrow test in late March confirmed stage four HLH.

"The doctor said we could come in frequently for check-ups. He (Shapoor) was feeling good for about 20 days before he got the infection again. Then we admitted him to the hospital," Ghamai told ESPNcricinfo.

"He started getting a fever and then tested positive for dengue. His immunity was very weak as his red blood cell count was severely depleted. He doesn't have much vitality. We hope that he will improve day by day. The steroids Shapoor has been given recently seem to be working, and that has given us hope," Ghamai added.

One prominent agency, however, has so far remained silent.

In an interview with NDTV, Pradeep Gupta, founder of Axis My India, said his organisation may not release exit poll data for West Bengal on Thursday if it does not obtain a sufficiently representative sample.

"See, the method of Axis My India is talking to people face to face. And when we tried to talk after the first phase, about 60-70 per cent of the people had their lips sealed. They were not even ready to say yes or no," Gupta told NDTV.

"No one is ready to talk to anyone in the context of elections. So, as long as our sample is not representative, on the basis of a 20-30 per cent sample, we do not believe it is right to predict any number. For that, we will try once again Thursday. Maybe now that the elections have been held,  people will be more relaxed," he added. 

Gupta reiterated in the interview that there is a "possibility" that Axis My India may not release its Bengal numbers on Thursday. 

"I don't have any opinion, because when no one is speaking, my boundaries are cut short," Gupta said. "It is my habit to try my best. We have tried and sweated it out for all these days, and we have been sweating it out for so long. It would be a matter of disappointment for us too if we couldn't predict it, after all the effort and sweat we've been putting in."

The West Bengal assembly has 294 seats, with 148 needed for a majority. 

Voting took place in several phases and concluded on Wednesday. Among the exit polls already released, projections vary significantly. Praja Poll estimated the BJP could win between 178 and 208 seats, while Matrize and Poll Diary placed the BJP above the majority threshold at 161 and 171 seats, respectively. 

By contrast, Janmat Polls projected the Trinamool and its allies securing 195 to 205 seats, with Peoples Pulse forecasting a range of 177 to 187 seats for the ruling party. Both suggest that the Trinamool's organisational strength and welfare programmes have helped it withstand the challenge from the BJP.

Most pollsters expect the alliance of the Left parties and the Congress to perform poorly, with their combined seat share remaining in single digits in many projections.

What's Happening

• On Siddharth Kannan's podcast recently, Annu Kapoor said, "I have seen actors get aroused during intimate scenes and not stop even when the director says cut. Many take advantage of such situations, but I have never done that... During one such scene, the hero got carried away."
• He continued, "Even after 'cut' was called, he didn't stop. The actress had to struggle to get away and run off. She was so shaken that she didn't step out of her room for two days."
• He did not mention the names of the actors, but was adamant that they would back his words if they saw this interview.

On Priyanka Chopra Refusing To Kiss Him In 7 Khoon Maaf

In the same conversation, the actor had addressed an old controversy, where Annu Kapoor had revealed Priyanka Chopra's hesitance to kiss him onscreen because he wasn't a 'hero' or 'good-looking'.

Annu Kapoor said, "What else could it be? More than my looks, the problem was that I am not a hero. I don't really know. When we worked together in the Vishal Bhardwaj film Saat Khoon Maaf, several journalists kept asking me if Priyanka refused to kiss me. This was around 16 years ago. During one such interaction, someone asked me why she didn't kiss me, and I replied, 'That's her wish.' Woh baar baar puch rahe the aur main jhujhla ke bola (They kept pestering me, and I eventually got irritated and said, 'Maybe she would have if I was a star.')"

He continued, "It never made a difference to me. I was unbothered. Vishal Bhardwaj told me she was hesitant to kiss me. I used to call her 'beta' as I had bonded well with her father on set. After winning Miss World, she had come to Antakshari. So when I was told she wasn't comfortable, I said, 'That makes sense.' I even suggested removing the scene, but Vishal refused. We had to go ahead with it. Actors can't appear uncomfortable on camera, so we did the scene professionally."

How Priyanka Chopra Reacted

Annu Kapoor had said, "She doesn't have a problem doing intimate scenes with heroes. If talent goes out of the window, I guess you just need to be good-looking."

Priyanka Chopra strongly reacted to Annu Kapoor's comments in a 2011 interview with Hindustan Times, where she said, "If he wants to do intimate scenes and pass such cheap comments, then he should do those kinds of films. Such scenes were never part of our film. I'm very irritated. I don't think unko aisa kehna shobha deta hai (saying such things doesn't suit him at all). I don't think he knew that his comments would upset me, but they really did. It was very wrong of him to speak the way he did."

Annu Kapoor's recent projects include Dream Girl 2 (2023), The Signature (2024), and Hamare Baarah (2024).

The incident occurred in UP's Sultanpur district. On the fateful night, the wedding procession for the daughter of local resident Babban Vishwakarma moved through the village. The procession had come from Ram Bhadra Purva in the Kudwar area and included a DJ playing music at high volume. 

Sabir Ali, who operates Sabir Ali Poultry Farm located near the village, stated that the procession passed in front of his farm around 9:30 PM. According to his account, the intense noise from the DJ caused panic among the chickens. He said the birds could not tolerate the sound and 140 of them died as a result.

In his complaint to the police, Sabir Ali described the sound as high-decibel and said it frightened the poultry, leading directly to the deaths. 

"The noise was so intense that the chickens got frightened and died," the complaint stated.

Following the complaint, the police registered a case on Tuesday night against Kavi Yadav, a DJ operator from Parsipur. 

The police are investigating whether the music system was operating beyond the permissible sound limits at the time. Officers are also looking into the sequence of events to determine if the noise levels contributed to the loss of the chickens.

According to experts, high-intensity sound waves can trigger severe stress responses in birds and animals, sometimes resulting in cardiac arrest. 

The poultry farm owner has attributed the entire loss to the volume of the music played during the wedding procession. No immediate comment was available from the DJ or the family holding the wedding.

The act caught on camera triggered immediate reaction on social media. Parag made a 16-ball 29 in his team's successful chase of 223.

IPL and BCCI officials involved in the conduct of the IPL termed it as a careless act in the age of social media and prying TV cameras.

"A lot of players consume e-cigarettes but they don't do it in the dressing room. It is too risky and careless to be doing that with so many cameras around. With Parag caught vaping so openly, the BCCI might be forced to act," said a well placed IPL source.

No Rajasthan Royals team official was available for a comment.

This is not the first controversy to hit the Royals this season. Earlier this month, team manager Romi Bhinder was fined Rs one lakh for breaching PMOA protocol after being found using his phone in the dugout.

Dressing room privacy raised at IPL Captains Meeting

Another IPL source told PTI the issue of players' privacy in the dressing room was raised at the Captains Meeting in Mumbai ahead of IPL 2026. Some of the captains had raised an objection to cameras panning to the dressing room during the live broadcast.

"It was not specifically related to the use of e-cigarettes in the dressing room. It was broadly around their players' privacy. There are times when players are not fully dressed in the dressing room or may want to avoid cameras.

"They were told that is up to the broadcaster and not the BCCI to decide over cameras showing the feed from the dressing room. After this incident, it perhaps may be reviewed.

"Having said that, it was careless from Parag and it is difficult to defend something like this. An elite athlete caught smoking like this is not setting a good example for the public," said the source.

As per the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) 2019, "no person shall, directly or indirectly, (i) produce or manufacture or import or export or transport or sell or distribute electronic cigarettes, whether as a complete product or any part thereof; and(ii) advertise electronic cigarettes or take part in any advertisement that directly or indirectly promotes the use of electronic cigarettes.

"...no person, being the owner or occupier or having the control or use of any place shall, knowingly permit it to be used for storage of any stock of electronic cigarettes." As per John Hopkins Medicine, vaping is injurious to health thought it may not be as harmful as smoking a cigarette.

"Nicotine is the primary agent in regular cigarettes and e-cigarettes, and it is highly addictive. It causes you to crave a smoke and suffer withdrawal symptoms if you ignore the craving.

"Nicotine is a toxic substance. It raises your blood pressure and spikes your adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and the likelihood of having a heart attack," states an expert columns on the John Hopkins Medicine website. PTI BS APA APA

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

In the two Opposition-ruled states, it predicts a  regime change: Kerala welcoming back the Congress and Tamil Nadu overhauling the system with a big mandate for actor-politician Vijay. 

In Assam and Puducherry, it predicts a sweep by the NDA and its local allies.

TAMIL NADU
Vijay's TVK Could Script History

The binary politics of Tamil Nadu that has endured for decades since Independence, could be in for a rude shock. Actor-politician Vijay's TVK (Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam) -- formed barely two years ago -- could hit it for a six, pulling off a surprise win in the recently concluded assembly election in the southern state, Axis My India Poll has predicted. 

The TVK could win 98 to 120 of the state's 234-member assembly where the majority mark is 118, with a vote share as much as the ruling DMK -- 35 per cent.

The DMK -- which has been banking on its governance, welfare programmes and the battle against Hindi imposition -- could get 92 to 110 seats. 

The AIDMK-BJP combine, which was geared up for a do-or-die-battle -- may scrape up 22 to 23 seats with a 23 per cent vote share.

Health warning: Exit polls may not always get it right.

The contours of the huge surprise this election might pack in, was arrived at after interviewing nearly 45,000 people across the state's 234 constituencies. 57 per cent of them were men and 43 per cent women. 

Data also indicated that the TVK has captured a huge vote share from the first-time voters -- 68 per cent of them have voted for the party. Besides, 59 per cent of 20-29-year-olds and 45 per cent of the 30-39 age group has also voted for the new party. of the 35 per cent people who have been batting for a change in this election, 77 per cent have given a big thumbs up to TVK.  

Data also shows that Vijay is the most-preferred Chief Minister, with 37 per cent people rooting for him. Chief Minister MK Stalin, who is hoping for a second term, is the choice of 35 per cent and former Chief Minister E Palaniswami 22 per cent.

ASSAM
Big Endorsement For Himanta Sarma

The battle for 126 seats in Assam -- coming on the heels of a bitter political row between the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress over the corruption allegations against Chief Minister Himanta Sarma -- could give a third straight term to the BJP, the Axis My India polls have showed. 

The NDA is expected to get between 88 and 100 seats -- improving on its 2021 performance with a vote share of 48 per cent. Of these seats, 70 to 80 can be scooped up by the BJP alone. Ally Asom Gana Parishad could get between 7 and 9 seats and the BPF 9 to 11 seats. 

The Congress-led alliance could get between 24 and 36 seats, with a 38 per cent vote share.

In the 2021 assembly polls, the NDA had won 74 seats, the Congress-led Front 31. 

Health warning: Exit polls may not always get it right. 

For this poll, the pollsters had interviewed 24,228 people across all 126 seats. Around 60 per cent of the respondents were men and 40 per cent women. The Muslims comprised 29 per cent of the people interviewed, the Other Bcakward Castes 32 per cent, 16 per cent Scheduled Tribes and 8 per cent Scheduled Castes. 

The rural-urban divide was large -- 86 per cent to 14 per cent.  More women voted for the NDA than men -- 50 per cent to 46 per cent, the exit poll showed. Most of these votes -- 52 per cent -- came from urban areas. The figure for rural areas was 47 per cent. 

For the Congress-led Front, 39 per cent men voted, the women's vote was lower -- 37 per cent. of this, 39 per cent votes came from rural areas and 34 per cent from the urban areas.

Caste-wise, there has been a positive swing for the NDA -- with Scheduled caste and tribe votes going up by 3 per cent and the general category by 5 per cent. The Muslim vote has dropped by 3 per cent, the exit poll found.

KERALA
Congress Comeback Likely 

The 2026 assembly elections in Kerala - following the 2021 upset - is being seen as huge challenge for the Pinarayi Vijayan government. In 2021, when the Left-led government broke records to win a consecutive second term, the Left Democratic Front had won 99 of the state's 149 seats and the Congress-led United Democratic Front 41 seats. This time, the wait is to see if they would score a hat-trick in face of anti-incumbency that has accumulated for a decade.

The Axis My India exit polls for Kerala's 140 seats show the LDF coming to power with anything between 78 and 90 seats with a 44 per cent vote share -- up 5 per cent from 2021.  The LDF could get between 49 and 62 seats with 39 per cent seat share, down by 6 per cent.

The NDA could also open account in the state with up to three seats and 14 per cent vote share. 

Pinarayi Vijayan though, remains the most favourite Chief Minister, with 33 per cent people voting for him. VD Satheesan is a distant second with 21 per cent votes. 

Health warning: Exit polls do not always get it right. 

For this exit poll, the pollsters had interviewed 24,419 people across the southern state's 140 constituencies. Of them, 59 per cent were men and 41 per cent women -- the majority of them being Muslims (26 per cent) Ezhava (23 per cent), Christians (19 per cent), Nair (13 per cent) and the rest Hindus and others. 39 per cent people had voted for a change -- hence the move towards UDF. 

More than half (52 per cent) were from rural areas and 48 per cent from urban areas. Age-wise, the maximum voters (23 per cent) were senior citizens, only two per cent were first time voters. The rest belonged to the 20 to 60 age group.

In terms of profession, it was a mix of people in private service (18 per cent) labourers (14 per cent), farmers (15 per cent), government service (3 per cent) and home-makers (26 per cent).  The maximum number had passed their Class 10 and Class 12 board exams (53 per cent), 19 per cent were graduates and five per cent had done their post-graduation. Five per cent had not gone to school and 12 per cent had studied till Class 9.

The UDF, though, had been a favourite with all sections, with a majority giving it their mandate.  

PUDUCHERRY
Sweep For NDA

The NDA is expected to retain the Union Territory of Puducherry with a sweeping mandate, the Axis My India Polls have found. The bloc, which has the BJP and the AIADMK is likely to win 16 to 20 of the 30  assembly seats. But it is the regional partner, Chief Minister N Rangaswamy's  AINRC (All India N.R. Congress) that will corner the big chunk -- 10 to 12 seats. 

The Congress-DMK combine may get 6 to 8 seats, the exit polls found, with the Congress alone getting six seats. 

Actor Vijay's TVK, which many expected to play kingmaker in a divided house, could get 2 to 4 seats. 

The NDA vote share could be around 40 per cent and that of the Congress-DMK combine 30 per cent. The TVK could get 17 per cent of the votes. 

The exit polls, though, do not always get it right. 

For this poll, 58 per cent men and 42 per cent women were interviewed, 68 per cent of them were from rural and 32 per cent urban areas. 

The exit poll showed that 41 per cent of men and 39 per cent women had voted for the NDA -- a four per cent downward swing. the Congress-DMK voteshare is also down by 8 per cent, with 31 per cent men and 29 per cent women voting for the alliance. 

The slack has been taken up by Vijay's TVK, which is likely to corner 14 per cent votes from men and 20 per cent from women.

According to a report by news agency PTI, IPL and BCCI officials involved in the conduct of the tournament termed it a careless act in the age of social media and prying TV cameras.

"A lot of players consume e-cigarettes, but they don't do it in the dressing room. It is too risky and careless to be doing that with so many cameras around. With Parag caught vaping so openly, the BCCI might be forced to act," said a well-placed IPL source.

The Indian government banned e-cigarettes in 2019, prohibiting their production, sale, and distribution. As per the law, offenders face imprisonment of up to one year and/or a fine of Rs 1 lakh for a first-time offence.

Riyan Parag Smoking VAPE in dressing room pic.twitter.com/EbIMI5qHxK

— Liam Livingstone (@NightmareOP9) April 28, 2026

However, a report by Times Now, quoting unnamed sources, has claimed that there will be no punishment for Parag as there is "no provision" in the IPL rulebook to penalise a player for vaping. The BCCI may, however, issue him a warning for his actions. The report added that Parag is unlikely to face serious punishment.

Meanwhile, a report in The Indian Express, quoting an unnamed BCCI official, stated that the board would seek an explanation from the Rajasthan Royals captain.

"We will be seeking an explanation from Riyan on this issue, as vaping is not allowed. Depending on his explanation, the IPL will take a further course of action," the official was quoted as saying.

This is not the first controversy to hit the Royals this season. Earlier this month, team manager Romi Bhinder was fined Rs 1 lakh for breaching PMOA protocol after being found using his mobile phone in the dugout

"The shots he was hitting were brilliant. Even 10 fielders at the boundary would not have been enough. He doesn't seem to be fazed. That, I think, is the benefit of being so young. You are not worried about anything. You don't look at the opposition," Gavaskar said on Star Sports.

Talking about the match, Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey put together an impressive unbeaten 77-run partnership off just 32 balls to take Rajasthan Royals to a thrilling six-wicket victory over Punjab Kings in the 40th match at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh, on Tuesday.

With the game tightly contested after 14 overs and the required run rate exceeding 12, the pair made the chase look easy. Ferreira and Dubey took full advantage when the spinners were out, targeting the pace bowlers. Arshdeep Singh was hit for three fours in his return spell, while Marco Jansen conceded a four and a six. The duo kept up their attack against Arshdeep, showing poise and clean hitting to finish the chase and hand Punjab Kings their first loss of the season.

Earlier, Rajasthan's chase was energised by a fast start from the 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. After Yashasvi Jaiswal gave him the strike, Sooryavanshi made a strong impression. Despite Arshdeep Singh starting with two accurate yorkers, the young player replied with 6, 4, 4, helping RR score 15 runs in the opening over. He continued his offensive against Lockie Ferguson and Jansen, hitting sixes and boundaries with ease.

Sooryavanshi raced to 43 off 16 balls, hitting three fours and five sixes, before Arshdeep changed his angle and got him to slice a low full toss into the air, where Shreyas Iyer took the catch. During his innings, Sooryavanshi reached 400 runs in just 167 balls at an astonishing strike rate of 238.09 - the fastest any player has scored 400 runs in an IPL season. RR had already surpassed 50 runs in 3.2 overs and reached 66/1 after four overs.

Jaiswal, who had been quiet initially, took control after Sooryavanshi's dismissal. He hit 4, 6, 4 against Arshdeep and reached a 27-ball 51, getting his fifty off 26 balls. However, Yuzvendra Chahal made a crucial impact for PBKS, getting Jaiswal out and then dismissing Riyan Parag (29), as RR managed only 25 runs over the next four overs, also losing Dhruv Jurel (16 off 20).

With IANS inputs