With the counting for the three-tier panchayat elections in Uttar Pradesh still on, the ruling BJP and the opposition Samajwadi Party (SP) have claimed that their candidates have won over half of the zila panchayat seats.

While the panchayat elections in the state are not contested on party symbols, this time both the BJP and SP had officially declared the names of the candidates backed by them.

BJP president JP Nadda will be on a two-day visit to West Bengal starting from Tuesday to hold a protest against the alleged atrocities on party workers in the state by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government.

He will meet the BJP workers and their families affected by the violence and will hold protests in a democratic manner.

Amid rising coronavirus COVID-19 cases in India and growing demand for vaccines, Serum Institute of India (SII) chief executive Adar Poonawalla has said the shortage of COVID-19 vaccine would remain till July.

According to a Financial Times report, the SII CEO said that production of vaccines would increase in July from about 60-70 million doses a month to about 100 million.

Global pharma major Pfizer is sending its medicines worth USD 70 million (over Rs 510 crore), from its distribution centres in the US, Europe and Asia, that have been identified as part of India's COVID-19 treatment protocol, the company's Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla said on Monday.

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the country, the Punjab government on Sunday issued that no one will be allowed to enter the state without a negative COVID-19 test result or a vaccine certificate.

In a set of new guidelines to curb the spread of the virus, the state government further said that all non-essential shops would be closed till May 15.

The daily COVID-19 cases in India showed a slight dip with3,68,147new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, taking the total tally of cases to1,99,25,604, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday.

The death toll increased to2,18,959 with3,417daily new fatalities,thedata updated at 8 am showed.

The third and largest phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive to inoculate people in 18-45 age group began here Monday morning.

Around 90 lakh people are eligible for the jabs under this category in Delhi. Five vaccination booths each have been set up at 77 schools for the exercise, an official said.

In a significant development, the Election Commission of India has rejected TMC’s demand seeking recount of votes at Nandigram which saw a tight fight between TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. It is to be noted that Mamata lost to Adhikari by 1,756 votes from Nandigram.

On Sunday evening, a TMC delegation led by its Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’ Brien, Kolkata former Mayor Firhad Hakim, MP Kalyan Banerjee and Atin Ghosh met Chief ELection Officer and submitted a letter seeking a recount of votes in Nandigram.

Shares of Natco Pharma, on Monday, rose 4 per cent to Rs 935 on the BSE in intra-day trade after the company received emergency use approval for Baricitinib tablets for Covid-19 treatment.

The company has received Emergency Use approval for Baricitinib tablets, 1mg, 2mg and 4mg strengths from Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) in India.

Following Trinamool Congress' thumping win in assembly elections in West Bengal, Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Monday said arrogance, might, money power and using Jai Shri Ram for politics lost the polls in the state.

Sibal also hailed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who is all set to continue her third term in West Bengal.

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