January 4: Top headlines at 1 pm

Election Commission announces poll schedule for 5 states

The Election Commission has announced poll schedule for Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttarkhand and Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. Goa (40 seats) and Punjab (117 seats) will both vote in a single phase poll on the same day, February 4. Uttarakhand too will have single phase poll, with voting for all 70 constituencies on February 15, 2017. Manipur’s 60 constituencies will vote in two phases—March 4 (38 seats) and March 8 (22 seats), 2017. Voting in the largest state Uttar Pradesh, with 403 seats, will be spread over seven phases—February 11, February 15, February 19, February 23, February 27, March 4 and March 8.

Counting date for all 5 states is 11 March, 2017.

Another son rises—DMK elevates Stalin as Working President

DMK today appointed party Treasurer Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin as its Working President at its general council meeting, marking his elevation to the top post at a time when party patriarch M Karunanidhi is recuperating after illness. Alongside his present post of Treasurer, Stalin will now be holding the position of Working President, party veteran and general secretary K Anbazhagan told the meet. The working president will have the powers of the president, Anbazhagan added. In his brief acceptance address, Stalin broke down while referring to the failing health of his 92-year-old father and party president Karunanidhi.

Man hacks 10 relatives to death in Amethi

A man allegedly hacked to death 10 of his family members and then committed suicide in Mahnoa locality of Amethi district, Uttar Pradesh, police said today. 45-year-old Jamalu first fed pesticide to 12 family members and later hacked to death 10 of them. He then hanged himself, Superintendent of Police, Santosh Kumar Singh said. All the 11, including Jamalu, died on the spot, while two others were admitted to a hospital where their condition was stated to be critical. Police is probing the matter.

West Bengal BJP leader’s house attacked

West Bengal BJP general secretary Krishna Bhattacharya's house was attacked by three men with bombs in Hooghly district last night. They barged into the house, smashed a windowpane, damaged furniture, and abused and assaulted her, Bhattacharya said in her police complaint. The BJP leader said in her complaint that it was the handiwork of "anti-socials harboured by the TMC". The police said they rushed to her house after getting the information, adding that investigation was on. District TMC leader Tapan Dasgupta said no party supporter was involved in the incident.

Several BJP workers were injured yesterday when activists of the students wing of Trinamool Congress had attacked the state party headquarters here with stones to protest the arrest of the TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay in the Rose Valley chit fund scam case.

JS Khehar sworn in as 44th Chief Justice of India

Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, who led the five-judge constitution bench in the Supreme Court which had struck down the controversial NJAC Act for appointment of judges, was today sworn in as the 44th Chief Justice of India. President Pranab Mukherjee administered the oath of office and secrecy to Justice Kehar at the Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan. Khehar took oath in the name of God in English at the ceremony where the Opposition was conspicuous by its absence.

Justice Khehar, 64, will be the first Chief Justice from the Sikh community. Outrgoing CJI Justice TS Thakur demitted office yesterday. Justice Khehar will hold the tenure for over seven months till August 27.

With inputs from NH National Bureau.