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The Assad regime, which has ruled Syria for over five decades, faced a dramatic collapse early Sunday as opposition forces surged into Damascus after a swift nationwide offensive. Reports indicate that President Bashar al-Assad fled the country for an undisclosed destination, leaving the capital city as rebels claimed control.

Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali, in a video statement, said he was open to cooperation with opposition forces and working towards a peaceful transfer of power. Jalali said he is staying at his home and that the key is to protect public infrastructure; he said he will stay on the job in the meantime, but he did not address reports that Assad had left the country.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Assad left Damascus Sunday on a flight. State media in Iran, also referring to Al Jazeera, reported that Assad has left, but it did not provide any further information. The Syrian government has not issued any statements regarding these developments.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis is poised to take oath as the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra. His name was finalized during a BJP core committee meeting held on Wednesday, prior to the Maharashtra legislature party meeting.

The core committee meeting was attended by Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, and Fadnavis.

Maharashtra BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar announced that the Mahayuti alliance leaders would meet Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan at 3:30 PM on Wednesday to stake their claim to form the state government.

Speaking to the media, Mungantiwar stated, “After the legislature party meeting at Vidhan Bhavan, all Mahayuti leaders will proceed to Raj Bhavan to meet Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan and submit their claim to establish the government in Maharashtra.”

The BJP delivered an impressive performance in the Maharashtra elections held on November 20, winning 132 out of 288 seats—its best-ever result in the state. Alongside its allies, the Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar’s NCP, the Mahayuti coalition now holds a commanding majority with 230 seats.

The Winter Session of Parliament commenced on November 25 and is scheduled to run until December 20. However, the proceedings in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have faced interruptions early in the session.

On Monday, both Houses held brief discussions before adjourning until 11 AM on Wednesday, November 29. The Parliament did not convene on Tuesday due to celebrations marking Constitution Day. A special event was organized in the Central Hall of the old Parliament building, now renamed Samvidhan Sadan, to honor the occasion.

Pakistan is witnessing a wave of violent protests as thousands of supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan clash with security forces, defying government-imposed lockdowns. The unrest, led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has plunged the nation into further political crisis.

Imran Khan, jailed since August 2023 following a corruption conviction, faces over 150 criminal cases, which his supporters claim are politically motivated. Ousted via a parliamentary no-confidence vote in 2022, Khan’s detention has become the focal point of PTI’s demands, including his immediate release, fresh elections, and the reversal of constitutional amendments that they argue undermine judicial independence.

The interior ministry reports that since Monday, conflicts between security personnel and followers of Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) have resulted in the deaths of at least four paramilitary rangers, two police officers, and numerous others.

The government, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has refused to negotiate, accusing Khan of inciting violence. The PTI, however, alleges a coordinated effort between the government and the military to dismantle their party. Stay tuned for live updates as the situation unfolds.

The counting of votes for the recently held bypolls across 48 assembly constituencies in 14 states has begun. These elections were conducted in Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Additionally, two Lok Sabha constituencies—Wayanad in Kerala and Nanded in Maharashtra—also went to the polls.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s Electoral Debut in Wayanad

The Wayanad Lok Sabha seat witnessed the much-anticipated debut of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. This election was necessitated after her brother, Rahul Gandhi, vacated the seat upon deciding to retain Rae Bareli following his win in both constituencies in the previous general election.

Rahul Gandhi has been actively supporting his sister’s campaign in Wayanad. Addressing voters at a rally, he expressed confidence in her capabilities, saying, “If she likes you, she will do whatever; beyond anything you can imagine. She is also going to like Wayanad a lot. A huge part of being a good MP is liking the people and the place you work for. She is going to like it.” Early trends show Priyanka Gandhi leading in the constituency.

High-Stakes Battle in West Bengal Amid Controversies

The bypoll results for six assembly seats in West Bengal are being closely watched, especially for their implications on the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). The elections come against the backdrop of widespread protests over the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case, testing the TMC’s resilience and public trust.

Since its landslide victory in 2021, the TMC has dominated assembly bypolls, except for a rare setback in Sagardighi earlier this year. Maintaining this momentum is crucial for the party’s prospects as it navigates ongoing public discontent and scrutiny.

The counting of votes for the Maharashtra Assembly election 2024 will take place on Saturday, November 23. The election on 288 seats, held on November 20, recorded a voter turnout of 66.05%, the highest since 1995. While Mumbai saw the lowest turnout at 52.65%, Gadchiroli recorded the highest.

The contest is primarily between two major alliances. The ruling Mahayuti alliance, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, includes the BJP and Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction. On the other side is the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) under Uddhav Thackeray, and Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction.

For the last three decades, no single party has managed to secure the majority of 145 seats needed to form a government on its own, making coalition politics the norm in the state. Both alliances are now relying on their partners to cross the halfway mark after the results are declared.

The exit polls on Wednesday, predicted Mahayuti Alliance will be forming the government in Maharashtra but Opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi has shown confidence and claims that their alliance will emerge victorious.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led Mahagathbandhan has secured a majority with wins in 56 seats in the state assembly election.

The counting of votes for Jharkhand Assembly election begins at 8am today (Nov 23, 2024).

The elections were held on November 13, 2024, in the first phase, where voters in 43 constituencies from 15 districts decided the fate of 638 candidates. Voter turnout remained at 66.65%, with a stronger female voting force than males. There was women’s voter turnout at 69.04%, whereas men’s turnout remained at 64.27%. That of the third gender was 31.02%. What is important to note is that women outvoted men by nearly 4.8%. In 37 out of the 43 constituencies in the first phase, women had a higher voter turnout than men.

The November 20, 2024 polls had to vote on the remaining 38 Assembly constituencies with 528 candidates vying for seats, and the constituencies accounted for a total overall voting percentage of 68.45%.

The 2024 U.S. presidential election, set for November 5, is a high-stakes race with significant implications for the nation’s future. This election features incumbent President Joe Biden, running for a second term, and former President Donald Trump, who seeks a return to the White House after his 2020 loss. Key issues include the economy, healthcare, immigration, and national security, with both candidates highlighting contrasting visions for the country.

Israel announced that it had carried out targeted strikes on military sites in Iran early Saturday morning, according to local reports. The Israel Defense Forces indicated that these actions were a response to ongoing assaults from Iran over the past several months. Notably, on October 1, Iran fired almost 200 ballistic missiles at Israel.