Mamata Banerjee moves Supreme Court against EC freeze on TMC name, ‘Flowers and Grass’ symbol
Challenge comes after EC barred both factions from using the original party identity and allotted new names and symbols for October 6 bypolls NEW DELHI: Former West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee has moved the Supreme Court against the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) decision to freeze the party’s name and election symbol. The plea is likely to be mentioned before the Chief Justice of India-led Bench on September 21 for urgent listing and hearing. On Friday, the poll panel allotted the Mamata Banerjee-led faction the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the ‘Football Player’ symbol. The rival faction led by Arup Roy was allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the ‘Envelope’ symbol for the October 6 bypolls in two West Bengal Assembly constituencies, Nandigram and Rejinagar. In an interim order on Thursday, the Election Commission barred the rival factions from using the original name of the All India Trinamool Congress and its ‘Flowers and Grass’ symbol for the upcoming bypolls. The factions were directed to choose new names and symbols until the dispute is resolved. The EC’s Thursday order said, “on due consideration of the totality of information available on record…the Commission is of the opinion that there are two rival groups in the All India Trinamool Congress, one led by Ms Mamata Banerjee and the other led by Shri Arup Roy, and each group is now claiming to be the party and therefore the matter requires a substantive determination by the Commission under Para 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order 1968.” AI in sports video 2AI in sports video 2 Banerjee had on Friday described the EC’s decision as a “Black Day” in the country’s democratic history and said she would continue to claim the original party name and symbol. “We will not surrender. We will not bow our heads before political pressure. We will fight this battle democratically and legally,” she said, according to The New Indian Express. She also said the organisation was built through nearly three decades of political struggle and that she could not abandon the All India Trinamool Congress, which she founded in 1998 after breaking away from the Congress. The dispute over the party’s identity followed a rebellion within the TMC after its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections earlier this year. The rival camp has staked its claim to control of the party, with the EC examining competing submissions on its organisational structure, authorised representatives, name and election symbol. The EC’s intervention was prompted by the approaching bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal, and Nagaon in Assam. Both factions had sought to contest under the original TMC identity, prompting the Commission to issue an interim arrangement before the elections. The legal challenge also comes as the TMC’s political crisis deepens. Banerjee’s faction has decided to support the Congress candidate in the Nandigram bypoll after its own nominee withdrew from the contest. Banerjee said the decision was intended to strengthen the INDIA bloc. The Supreme Court challenge will now bring the dispute over the TMC’s original name and symbol before the judiciary, while the EC’s substantive proceedings under Paragraph 15 remain pending. Suchitra Kalyan Mohanty Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Rahul Gandhi to address Cong’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event in Indore today
Indore: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will visit Indore on Saturday for a Congress programme “Chhatron Ki Goonj”, which seeks to highlight issues related to education, recruitment and unemployment. The campaign focuses on question paper leaks, education costs and alleged irregularities in govt recruitment. Four editions have been held so far in Kota, Dehradun, Prayagraj and Pune. The Indore event was earlier scheduled for Sept 12 and was postponed by a week. The district administration denied permission to use Nehru Stadium, citing a pending court matter. Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava said a high court order allows the stadium to be used only for sports or state-level govt events. Congress then leased 12,000 square metres of land in front of Regional Park from Indore Development Authority for Sept 17 to 19, at a fee of Rs 10.08 lakh. Another charge of around Rs 4 lakh was imposed by local authorities as the land was used in violation of lease terms before the prescribed dates. Congress paid the amount. The party has named the venue “Bharat Jodo Maidan”. It claims about 1.5 lakh students have registered, but around 15,000-20,000 are expected to attend at the venue. “We will make arrangements on wide screens for youths unable to attend the event in areas around the venue,” Congress state chief Jitu Patwari told reporters. Patwari accused BJP of delaying permissions, a charge the party dismissed. He alleged that organisers were repeatedly asked to pay for the ground. Describing the programme as non-political, he said: “The administration can impose as many difficulties as it wants; we accept them.” Congress said police security conditions require organisers to deploy at least 1,500 volunteers, including 500 women. Police may restrict entry if the gathering exceeds the approved capacity. The party said the conditions also barred the display of objectionable or provocative pictures, banners, posters or hoardings, and prohibited inflammatory or derogatory remarks against any religion, caste, community or political or non-political organisation that could hurt anyone’s religious sentiments. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
CJP joins Rahul, says EC ‘fixing’ on behalf of BJP
NEW DELHI: Slamming the freezing of TMC symbol and name as “fixing” on behalf of BJP, Rahul Gandhi and CJP co-convener Saurav Das Friday called for a wider political battle to hold Election Commission to account – their programmatic convergence and acerbic tone raising prospects of a Jantar Mantar-like protest. Reactions came in late evening from the CPM general secretary MA Baby and the CPI(M-L)L general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya. While Baby told TOI that EC “doesn’t have a reputation of impartiality any more”, Bhattacharya claimed what EC has done is “wrong” and “now with Congress candidate arrested, there is a walkover-like situation for BJP”. Bhattacharya’s remarks were related to the TMC candidate for the Oct 6 Nandigram bypoll withdrawing after the EC order and Congress nominee’s arrest. Taking a jibe at EC, Das said, “‘Envelope’ symbol for TMC defectors. Envelope me bharr ke kya aaya tha? (what came filled in the envelope?).” Rahul said, “Shiv Sena, NCP, and now TMC. Every time, the same pattern – BJP and EC join forces to split a party. Then its poll symbol is snatched away. Vote chori, govt chori and now party chori – these have become symbols of our democratic decline.” Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Jaggareddy Welcomes Padayatra Supporting Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister
Hyderabad: A padayatra undertaken by AP high court advocate Venkateswarlu from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, with the objective of seeing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi become the Prime Minister of India, reached Sangareddy district headquarters on Thursday. On the occasion, TPCC Working President T. Jaggareddy welcomed the yatra, felicitated Venkateswarlu, and expressed solidarity by joining the march. Venkateswarlu has already covered around 1,590 kilometers across four states as part of his journey. Speaking on the occasion, Jaggareddy said that the aspiration for Rahul Gandhi to become PM is widely shared among ordinary people across the country and that the same sentiment is being reflected throughout the padayatra. Jaggareddy said that during the yatra, Venkateswarlu has been interacting with people from different walks of life, including those at hotels, roadside tea stalls, farms, and industrial establishments, gathering their views on national issues and leadership. The PCC working president said, Venkateswarlu has so far met nearly 30,000 people and shared his experiences from the journey. He said that many of those he interacted with expressed the belief that Rahul Gandhi should become the country’s PM. The padayatra, which began in Kanyakumari and will conclude in Kashmir, is expected to cover approximately 4,500 kilometers. During the journey, Venkateswarlu aims to meet more than two lakh people and collect their opinions. During his yatra, Venkateshwaralu wants to educate the public about the sacrifices made by Rahul Gandhi’s family for the nation and to highlight Rahul Gandhi’s efforts and campaigns for the people of the country. Venkateswarlu embarked on the extensive walk with the belief that Rahul Gandhi’s leadership is essential for ensuring the welfare and prosperity of the people. Jaggreddy also promised that upon completion of the padayatra, he would personally take Venkateswarlu to meet Rahul Gandhi. A large number of Congress leaders, party workers, and supporters participated in the programme held in Sangareddy. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
BJP must light a diya to atone for its sins: Congress
New Delhi: Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi targeted BJP over “malgovernance” and “lighting of diyas” during its lamp-lighting campaign for PM Narendra Modi’s birthday. “In Balaghat, more than 30 tribal children have died amid illness, malnutrition and a lack of basic health facilities. The extent of the callousness is such that innocent lives kept slipping away, yet the response remained sluggish, and the govt kept sleeping,” Rahul told MP CM Mohan Yadav. “Chief minister, if you have found time after lighting lamps and holding celebrations, take a look at the ground reality in the state,” he said, while citing spurious medicines and hooch deaths. Kharge cited Maharashtra govt findings of healthcare markups exceeding 2,000%, saying, “on World Patient Safety Day, Modi govt stands exposed for turning patients into prey. Hospitals are charging a staggering 2,841% markup on basic medical consumables like IVs, according to the Maharashtra FDA, exposing the brazen robbery of common patients, especially in private hospitals.” He added, “food, retail and wholesale inflation are already very high and burning the pockets of common people. Perhaps, the BJP should light a diya to atone for its pathetic misgovernance and sins.” Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘BJP and EC join forces’: Rahul Gandhi slams EC over TMC name, symbol freeze
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday slammed the Election Commission for barring TMC from using party name and symbol in the upcoming assembly bypolls in West Bengal, accusing the poll panel and Bharatiya Janata Party of joining forces to split a party. In a social media post on X, Rahul pointed towards the past examples of split in shiv Sena and NCP. “First Shiv Sena, then NCP, and now Trinamool Congress. Every time, the same pattern—BJP and the Election Commission join forces to split a party. Then its election symbol is snatched away,” the Congress leader said. “When an entire party can be stolen, it’s hardly surprising that the votes of millions of Indians can be stolen too,” he added. Rahul also said that “vote chori, sarkaar chori and now party chori have become the symbols of democratic decline” in the country. “Vote theft. Government theft. Now party theft—these have become symbols of our democratic decline. The ECI’s constitutional responsibility is to protect the mandate—but instead, it’s aiding those very forces that overturn the people’s verdict,” the Congress leader said. “This fight isn’t just Mamata Banerjee’s. It’s the fight of every political party, every voter who wants free and fair elections,” he added. Rahul’s remarks came after the poll panel, in its interim order, ruled that neither faction of TMC can use its name or “flowers and grass” symbol after acknowledging a split between factions led by Mamata Banerjee and Arup Roy. Both groups will have to contest the bypolls under different names and with election symbols allotted by the Commission. This arrangement will continue until the dispute is finally settled. EC said two rival groups each claimed to be the “real” party, requiring substantive determination under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. It said the interim measure, based on precedents, would place them on an “even keel”. The poll panel has been hearing competing claims from the two factions over control of the party, its name and election symbol. Both sides have submitted documents and appeared before the Commission during the proceedings. The dispute reached the Election Commission in July after the rival factions staked competing claims to control of the TMC. The panel subsequently sought responses on issues including organisational control, authorised signatories, party assets, name and election symbol. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Woman minister in Karnataka cabinet soon says, Randeep Surjewala
Surjewala pointed to previous governments, saying that during the JDS-BJP coalition government, then CM Kumaraswamy had himself held the Women and Child Development portfolio. BENGALURU: AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala on Wednesday said the Congress leadership would soon resolve the issue of inducting a woman minister in the Karnataka cabinet, which currently has no woman representative despite the DK Shivakumar government completing 100 days in office. Hitting back at Union minister HD Kumaraswamy who had jibed the Congress on this issue, he said, “I just want to remind those making a noise that they never had a Women and Child Development minister for a full tenure.” Surjewala told reporters that he was to blame for the controversy. “This is not Delhi’s fault. It is the fault of the General Secretary, AICC in-charge of Karnataka, who could not decide on account of certain political exigencies. We have many (aspirants)… so very soon we will sort out the issue after consulting with the Chief Minister, our PCC president who is very keen and hounds me every day on this, as also ex-CM (Siddaramaiah) and other state leaders,” he stated, adding that LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has also taken the lack of a woman minister very seriously. Surjewala pointed to previous governments, saying that during the JDS-BJP coalition government, then CM Kumaraswamy had himself held the Women and Child Development portfolio. Surjewala said the Congress government was committed to implementing the socio-economic and educational survey report in Karnataka, but would not take any step that violated court directions, as the matter is currently sub judice. He said social justice remained the party’s core commitment and was shared by Siddaramaiah, CM Shivakumar and party workers. The party would seek the court’s guidance on implementing the report at the earliest. Responding to BJP leaders’ criticism of the government’s stance on singing specific stanzas of Vande Mataram, Surjewala argued that those raising objections were unaware of the historical context and the freedom movement. He recounted that Vande Mataram was first sung at an Indian National Congress session in 1896, and formally adopted as the national song in 1930. He stated that leaders such as Dr BR Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had agreed on adopting two stanzas on the guidance of Rabindranath Tagore in the Constituent Assembly, which was accepted across the board. The Karnataka government will strictly adhere to Government of India protocols during visits by the President, Governor or Prime Minister, while otherwise respecting the traditions framed by Tagore and the Constituent Assembly, he added. GAYATRI SHANTEGOWDA HANDS RESUME TO SIDDU Bengaluru: The political drama surrounding Congress MLC Gayatri Shantegowda’s stalled entry into the Karnataka cabinet came to a head on Wednesday with the legislator personally approaching former chief minister Siddaramaiah. Multiple sources have pointed to Siddaramaiah as the driving force behind the exclusion, despite the Congress high command having reportedly cleared her name. On Wednesday, Gayatri handed Siddaramaiah a document. When he asked what it was, she reportedly told him it was her resume, which is seen as her continued claim to a cabinet berth. She also spoke to AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal at the Congress office, after KPCC president B K Hariprasad introduced her to him. The apparent contradiction — a leader cleared by the party’s central leadership still having to lobby for the post she was promised — has fuelled criticism that state-level factional politics are overriding decisions made at the national level. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Rift in Tamil Nadu Congress over TVK ties, Rahul Gandhi as PM candidate
Former TNCC chief Selvaperunthagai said the Congress should form an alliance only with parties that openly and honestly accept Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate. CHENNAI: A war of words broke out between Tamil Nadu Congress leaders on Wednesday over the party’s alliance with the ruling TVK, with former TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai insisting the ally should publicly accept Rahul Gandhi as the PM candidate, while Rajya Sabha MP Praveen Chakravarty sought to play down his remarks, prompting a fresh counter from Selvaperunthagai. The episode began with Selvaperunthagai, speaking to reporters in Guindy after paying floral tributes to freedom fighter Ramasamy Padayatchiar on his 109th birth anniversary, saying the Congress should form an alliance only with parties that openly and honestly accept Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate. “If Rahul Gandhi is the PM, alliance partners should accept that. If not, what is the point of being in this alliance? It is only honest to have an alliance with those who openly and sincerely accept Rahul as the prime minister,” said Selvaperunthagai, who was in office during his party’s alliance with the DMK. Later in the day, MP Praveen Chakravarty, speaking to reporters at Chennai airport, responding to Selvaperunthagai’s comments, asked, “Who is he now? In the past he may have been whatever he was, but now that is not relevant.” He said the alliance had been strong before the government was formed and remains equally strong after the government came to power. Chakravarty said the alliance would also work together in the upcoming bypolls. He said TVK is contesting the Tamil Nadu bye-election, while Congress is fielding a candidate in Puducherry bypoll. Later in the day, responding to Chakravarty’s reference to the meeting with the chief minister, Selvaperunthagai took to social media, saying that a long and cordial conversation could not by itself constitute an assurance on the prime ministerial candidate. “Let the chief minister say it, or at least let any senior functionary of that party say that Rahul Gandhi is our Prime Ministerial candidate,” he said. Selvaperunthagai also asked Chakravarty to raise issues like why remarks criticising PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah or the BJP were removed from the Assembly proceedings when they meet the next time. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
UPI charges row: Chidambaram among 5 Congress MPs who had backed revenue framework
NEW DELHI: As Rahul Gandhi stepped up his criticism of the government over the MDR announcement and demanded its rollback, calling it a “UPI tax”, a Standing Committee on Finance report had earlier emphasised the need for a viable revenue mechanism to ensure the UPI ecosystem remains financially sustainable without placing a perpetual burden on the government exchequer. The report was prepared by a committee that included Congress leaders, including former finance minister P Chidambaram. The Standing Committee on Finance, which includes Congress MPs such as P Chidambaram, Manish Tewari, Gaurav Gogoi, Kishori Lal and K Gopinath, in its report presented to Parliament on August 12 this year, called for a tiered MDR or revenue framework for UPI. The panel also said the framework should be notified and operationalised without delay. In its report, the Committee noted the “massive Rs. 2000 crore budgetary allocation for 2026-27 designed to offset ecosystem costs caused by the zero-MDR policy on RuPay and low-value UPI transactions”. The Committee observed that while UPI is projected to process up to 150 billion transactions a month and add 600 million new users, the current government incentive covers only 11% of the industry’s actual costs and 14% of potential MDR collections. It said this creates a structural funding gap that could affect long-term investment in infrastructure. “The Committee would like to emphasize that establishing a viable revenue mechanism is critical to ensuring the UPI ecosystem achieves financial sustainability without perpetually straining the Government exchequer,” the report said, as cited by ANI. “In the view of the Committee, while statutory enablement now exists to permit calibrated MDR on high-value transactions, any delay in notifying and operationalizing this framework leaves payment service providers heavily dependent on inadequate subsidies, thereby threatening critical investments in cybersecurity, fraud prevention, and network infrastructure,” it added. The report, headed by BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, was adopted by the panel, and no dissent was recorded in the published minutes, officials were quoted as saying by news agency ANI. The development comes as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Centre’s new Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions, accusing the government of yielding to pressure from the United States and urging Modi to “have a spine”. In a video posted on X, Gandhi referred to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi while comparing her stance with Modi’s approach to the new UPI measures. “Indiraji was once asked whether she leans left or right, and her response was, ‘I don’t lean left or right. I stand straight’,” Gandhi said. He then turned to the new UPI framework, alleging that PM Modi had adopted a different approach. Meanwhile, the Centre has ruled out any rollback of the proposed 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions above Rs 2,000, saying the decision has already been taken and will come into effect from October 15. The government has clarified that the new UPI framework will have no impact on person-to-person transactions, which will continue to remain completely free, irrespective of the amount transferred. Payments to merchants of up to Rs 2,000, along with transactions covered under the zero-MDR framework for small merchants, will also remain free. The government also clarified that MDR is neither a tax nor a charge collected by the government or NPCI. Instead, it is distributed among payment ecosystem participants, including banks and payment application providers, to support the operation and continued expansion of the UPI ecosystem. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Cong attacks state govt over education policy ahead of Rahul’s visit
Indore: Ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s scheduled ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event in Indore on Sept 19, Madhya Pradesh Congress media department head Mukesh Nayak on Tuesday criticised BJP govt in the state, alleging failures in higher education, recruitment, and employment generation. Nayak said that while global education systems prioritise emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and quantum computing, Madhya Pradesh’s public universities struggle in national competitive rankings. Citing the NIRF 2025 overall rankings, he noted that IIT Indore stands at 27th, IISER Bhopal at 75th, and Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya at 49th. Nayak criticised the recurring delays, paper leaks, and cancellations in competitive examinations, asserting that while students spend years preparing for recruitment tests, systemic flaws deprive eligible youth of secure livelihoods. He said that Rahul Gandhi’s upcoming interaction in Indore will serve as a platform for students to demand accountability regarding exam integrity, timely recruitment, and educational reform. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights