The Bharatiya Janata Party has finalised seat-share deals with the Telugu Desam Party of ex-Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and actor Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena, sources told NDTV Friday evening. The alliance covers the Lok Sabha election and the Assembly poll later this year, with the national party likely to contest six to eight seats in the former and 10-12 in the latter.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSR Congress Party dominated both elections five years ago, winning 22 of the state’s 25 Lok Sabha seats and 151 of its 175 Assembly segments.

The BJP – which contested both on its own – failed to win a single seat in either.

The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal has dismissed Congress’ plea to freeze their bank accounts. Congress plans to approach the high court after the I-T department withdrew Rs 65 crore despite a pending appeal and a demand of Rs 210 crore.

Several Indian nationals have been duped into working in the Russian army, prompting strong action by the ministry of external affairs. The ministry also issued an appeal to Indian nationals to not be swayed by offers made by agents for support jobs with the Russian army. “This is fraught with danger and risk to life,” the MEA added.