HIGHLIGHTS

BOM26 MH-LD PM Country has decided to give over 400 LS seats to BJP-led NDA in upcoming polls PM Yavatmal Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asserted that the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance NDA will cross the 400-seat mark in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and said the next five years will see rapid development in the country..

Following are the top stories at 9.25 pm: NATION DEL106 CONG-4THLD HIMACHAL **** Himachal turmoil: Evaluating all options, won't hesitate in taking tough decisions, says Cong New Delhi: As the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh faces threat, the party on Wednesday said it was weighing all options and would not hesitate in taking ''tough decisions'' to ensure that the people's mandate given to it is respected. **** DEL118 HP-MLAS-LD DEFECTION **** Himachal Speaker reserves order on party's petition to disqualify 6 rebel MLAs Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on Wednesday reserved his order on a Congress petition seeking disqualification of six party MLAs who cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha election. **** MDS38 TN-PM-DMK ADVT-CHINA **** PM lashes out at DMK over 'China flag' row in spaceport advertisement Tirunelveli: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday strongly criticised the DMK in Tamil Nadu for being 'oblivious' to the nation's achievements in space sector, after a newspaper advertisement by a state minister belonging to the party over a spaceport kicked up a row over what the BJP claimed had a 'Chinese flag'. **** DEL109 TN-PM-SPACEPORT **** PM Modi lays foundation stone for spaceport in Tamil Nadu's Kulasekarapattinam Thoothukudi, Feb 28 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday laid the foundation for India's second spaceport at Kulasekarapattinam near this Tamil Nadu city that will serve as a launch pad for smaller satellites. **** DEL50 SIMULTANEOUS POLLS-LAW PANEL **** Law panel may propose simultaneous polls in 2029, adding chapter in Constitution New Delhi: The Law Commission is likely to recommend adding a new chapter to the Constitution on 'one nation, one election' and holding the gigantic democratic exercise of simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha, state assemblies and local bodies across the country by mid-2029, sources said on Wednesday. **** BOM26 MH-LD PM **** Country has decided to give over 400 LS seats to BJP-led NDA in upcoming polls: PM Yavatmal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asserted that the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will cross the 400-seat mark in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and said the next five years will see rapid development in the country.. **** DEL117 MHA-JK-GROUPS-LD BAN **** Govt bans 2 JK-based groups for anti-India activities, asking people not to take part in elections New Delhi: The government Wednesday banned two factions of the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir for five years for their anti-India and pro-Pakistan propaganda, and asking people to refrain from taking part in elections. **** CAL34 WB-HC-LD SHAJAHAN **** CBI, ED can also arrest Shajahan Sheikh apart from state police: Cal HC Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed that Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh, the main accused in sexual atrocities on women and land grabbing at Sandeshkhali, can be arrested by the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) or the West Bengal Police. **** MDS21 KA-SLOGAN-LD CM **** Allegations of pro-Pakistan slogan: Karnataka CM says strict action if found true Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Wednesday serious action would be taken against those who allegedly raised 'Pakistan zindabad' slogan inside the 'Vidhana Soudha' if the investigation found the charge to be true. **** BUSINESS DEL110 BIZ-LD RELIANCE-DISNEY Disney, Reliance to merge India media operations to create Rs 70,000 crore behemoth New Delhi: Global media giant Walt Disney Co and billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries on Wednesday announced signing of binding pacts to merge their media operations in India to create a Rs 70,000 crore-behemoth. **** LEGAL LGD14 UP-COURT-GYANVAPI **** Fresh plea in Varanasi court seeking to stop walking on top of Gyanvapi's cellar Varanasi: The Varanasi district court on Wednesday fixed March 19 for hearing a plea seeking to stop Muslim devotees walking on top of Gyanvapi mosque’s southern cellar, where the court recently allowed Hindu prayers. **** LGD13 DL-COURT-LD RAILWAYS-RABRI **** Railways land-for-jobs case: Delhi court grants bail to ex-Bihar CM Rabri Devi, 2 daughters New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday granted bail to former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi and her daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav in the Railways' land-for-jobs case. **** FOREIGN FGN32 PAK-GOVT-SHARIF ****New Pak government's first priority will be to ''fix'' economy: Nawaz Sharif Islamabad: Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said the priority of the upcoming government led by his party will be to ''fix'' the ailing economy as all the problems plaguing the cash-strapped nation were linked to the economic woes.**** FGN35 PAK-POLLS-RIGGING-AUDIO LEAK ****Two audio leaks making rounds on social media give credence to Imran Khan’s claims of rigged elections in Pakistan Lahore/Karachi: Two bombshell audio clips of the main leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan leaked on social media on Wednesday have given credence to the claim made by former prime minister Imran Khan's party that February 8 elections were ''massively rigged'' and its mandate was ''stolen.''**** FGN30 UK-KNIGHTHOOD-MITTAL ****Bharti Enterprises chief Sunil Bharti Mittal knighted by King Charles III London: Bharti Enterprises Founder and Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal on Wednesday became the first Indian citizen to be conferred an honorary Knighthood by Britain’s King Charles III “for services to UK and India business relations”.****