Amid the high-voltage campaign and massive security deployment, one political puzzle is grabbing everyone’s attention-the surprising and complete absence of Akhilesh Yadav from the West Bengal election scene. It was assumed that Akhilesh would campaign vigorously in support of the TMC.

At least eight people were killed and many others injured in a blast that occured at a fireworks manufacturing unit at Mundathicode in central Thrissur district in Kerala on Tuesday, officials said.