Sonakshi Sarkar - The Purbottar

18 May

Sikkim electoral roll revision to use 2002 list as base for eligibility verification

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

The Election Commission is preparing to begin the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Sikkim, with the final electoral roll scheduled to be published on September 6, 2026, according to official documents related to the exercise.The revision process is aimed at ensuring inclusion of all eligible voters while identifying and removing ineligible entries after verification. Officials said the electoral roll of the last SIR conducted in 2002 will be used as the reference point for eligibility verification. Under the process, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will carry out house-to-house visits across the state and distribute Enumeration Forms (EFs) to voters. The…

18 May

Sikkim government rolls out cost-cutting measures after appeal by Narendra Modi, cuts motorcade and promotes public transport use

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang today walked from his official residence at Mintokgang to Manan Kendra to attend an official programme as the Sikkim government formally began implementing austerity measures across the state. According to a press note issued by Press Secretary Yougan Tamang, the move follows an appeal made by Narendra Modi urging governments to adopt disciplined and responsible governance practices in the interest of economic management and efficient administration. Officials said the Chief Minister walked for around 14 minutes from Mintokgang to Manan Kendra as part of an effort to demonstrate the government’s commitment to austerity and…

18 May

Light Rain Likely in Guwahati as IMD Reports Low Rainfall Activity Across Kamrup Region

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

India Meteorological Department on Monday said Guwahati and nearby areas are likely to witness generally cloudy skies with chances of light rain over the next few hours. According to a nowcast issued at 7 am by the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Guwahati, rainfall activity during the three-hour period ending at 5:30 am remained low across most parts of Kamrup Metro and Kamrup districts. Among the observation stations, Sualkuchi recorded the highest rainfall at 1.0 mm during the period.Downtown University and Guwahati Rupnagar recorded 0.5 mm rainfall each, while Mirza Circle Office also registered 0.5 mm rainfall. The weather department also…

18 May

Assam Pushes Citizen-Centric Urban Development with Focus on Sanitation and Infrastructure in Guwahati

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Himanta Biswa Sarma reviewed the progress of several urban development projects in Guwahati and directed departments to give priority to flood mitigation, sanitation and access to clean drinking water in the city and other urban areas of Assam.The review meeting focused on the ongoing works and future plans of the Housing and Urban Affairs Department, including projects being carried out by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation, Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority, Guwahati Jal Board and the AMRUT mission. During the meeting, the Chief Minister said urban development should remain citizen-centric and asked officials to focus on improving the daily lives of residents…

16 May

Himanta Says July Budget Will Reflect Poll Promises

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said the first full-fledged annual Budget of the new state government, expected to be presented in July, will lay out the administration’s development plans and policy priorities for the next five years.Speaking to reporters after offering prayers at Batadrava Than in Nagaon district, the Chief Minister said the Budget session of the Assam Assembly is likely to begin on July 5 or 6.Sarma said the annual Budget could not be presented earlier in February or March because the state was preparing for the Assembly elections.“The upcoming Budget will reflect our government’s plans and…

16 May

Heavy Rain Triggers Flooding in Parts of Assam

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

More than 23,000 people have been affected by urban flooding in different parts of Assam following heavy rainfall over the past few days, while the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of more rain and thunderstorms across several districts in the state.Officials said urban flooding has been reported in Kamrup (Metropolitan), Cachar and Sribhumi districts, disrupting normal life in many low-lying areas. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), four revenue circles and 12 villages have been inundated due to continuous rainfall. A total of 23,619 people have been affected by the flooding across the three districts.Cachar district…

15 May

Musical tribute held for legendary singers at SKBS closing event in Sikkim

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Prominent Sikkim artistes were felicitated during the closing ceremony of the third season of Sikkim Kalakar Barosha Sammelan (SKBS) held at Manan Kendra in Gangtok on Thursday, with the event also featuring a musical tribute to legendary singers from across the country. Well-known artistes Tribeny Rai, Jetshen Dohna Lama and Girish Pradhan were honoured for their contribution to Sikkim’s artistic and cultural landscape and for representing the state at national and international platforms. The programme brought together singers, musicians and cultural performers from different parts of Sikkim, turning the closing ceremony into a celebration of music, art and cultural identity.…

15 May

Sikkim launches austerity drive to cut fuel use and government expenditure

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

The Sikkim government has announced a one-year ban on the purchase of new official vehicles as part of a wider austerity and fuel conservation initiative aimed at reducing government expenditure and promoting responsible governance. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang announced the measures during a high-level administrative meeting held on May 14. The meeting was attended by Cabinet ministers, MLAs, the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, Heads of Departments, District Collectors and Superintendents of Police, while senior officials from other districts joined virtually. The decisions were taken in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for austerity, fuel conservation and…

15 May

Himanta Biswa Sarma reviews key infrastructure and power projects across Assam

Sonakshi SarkarNorth East

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that more than 60 per cent of the investment proposals announced during the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit had reached advanced stages of implementation, with several projects already becoming operational across the state. The Chief Minister reviewed the progress of major investment, infrastructure and power sector projects during a high-level meeting and said the government was closely tracking proposals worth over Rs 5 lakh crore committed during the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit held in February 2025. Sharing details after the review, Sarma said the government was focused on ensuring that investment announcements move quickly…

15 May

Himanta Biswa Sarma government announces key portfolio changes after 2026 poll victory

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Senior BJP leader Chandramohan Patowary is set to take oath as the Pro-tem Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly on May 15, ahead of the first sitting of the newly constituted House following the 2026 Assembly elections.According to official sources, Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya will administer the oath to Patowary during a ceremony scheduled at Raj Bhavan at 11:30 am on Friday. As Pro-tem Speaker, Patowary will preside over the initial proceedings of the Assembly, including the swearing-in of newly elected MLAs and the conduct of the election for the Speaker of the House. The appointment is considered a…