Lok Sabha MP Ramashankar Rajbhar 'Vidyarthi' announced that the INDIA bloc's seat-sharing formula has been finalised for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, with the Samajwadi Party's manifesto set for release on November 26. He emphasised a unified strategy for victory, while Congress leaders have claimed 175-200 seats, with final decisions to be made by top leadership. The article also touches upon the political landscape in UP, considering past election results and the 2027 contest.
The Congress has initiated seat-sharing discussions with the Samajwadi Party for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, proposing a list of over 175 seats. While the Congress aims for a significant share, buoyed by its performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Samajwadi Party emphasises winnability as the sole criterion. The alliance seeks to collectively challenge the BJP in the state.
The NCP (SP) has demanded a complete rollback of the 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, effective October 15. The party termed the move a "direct assault" on small traders and shopkeepers, accusing the Modi government of "double standards" by burdening small merchants while large industrialists benefit from loan write-offs.
Eight BJP and two Samajwadi Party candidates are set to be elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh after the nomination papers of two independent candidates were rejected. This ensures all 10 available seats will be filled without a contest, with the BJP fielding new faces ahead of the 2027 assembly polls.
Noel Tata, chairman of Tata Trusts, has presented a proposal for the Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) group to sell its 18.37 per cent stake in Tata Sons for approximately 25,000 crore, aiming to address the SP group's liquidity needs without a public listing of Tata Sons.
A 49-year-old physical education teacher, Shashidhar, accused of sexually assaulting children, died after jumping from the third floor of the Bengaluru South district Superintendent of Police's office complex in Ramanagara. He was arrested under the POCSO Act, and the incident, captured on CCTV, occurred while he was being escorted for judicial custody procedures.
Hoardings depicting Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, US entrepreneur Elon Musk and others as the 10 heads of Ravana were put up at several locations in Lucknow on Sunday ahead of Dussehra.
Samajwadi Party MP Iqra Hasan and MLA Nahid Hasan led a protest in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, demanding the arrest of all accused in the murder of trader Arbin Chauhan. Protesters, including the victim's family, gave police three days to act, threatening further agitation. Police dispersed the crowd, and while some arrests have been made, not all accused are in custody.
A Samajwadi Party office bearer, Mohammad Usman, has been booked by police in Moradabad for allegedly offering namaz without permission at the Circuit House and obstructing traffic. The action followed a viral video and complaints from Hindu organisations, leading to charges under BNS sections for public nuisance and obstruction.
Two individuals, Shyam Bihari and Gaurav alias Kala, have been arrested in Bihar's Gaya Ji district in connection with the murder of Ranu Singh, son of a sub-inspector. The arrests followed an exchange of fire with police, resulting in bullet injuries to the accused. Police are investigating the motive behind the murder.
Odisha Police arrested a 40-year-old man from Jamshedpur for allegedly murdering his mother and burying her body in their rented house in Puri almost two months ago. The accused was tracked across multiple states after the body was discovered.
Rajkot police have arrested 17 individuals operating as doctors without valid medical degrees in rural and industrial areas. The arrests were made during a special drive, with police seizing medicines and equipment, and vowing to continue the crackdown.
A man wanted in 17 criminal cases, Bunty Prasad, was injured in an exchange of fire with police in Odisha's Jharsuguda district on Monday morning. Prasad allegedly opened fire on a police team during a search operation in Amdara forest, prompting police to retaliate. He is currently in stable condition and faces charges including robbery, extortion, and firearms offences.
Odisha Police have arrested 470 individuals and seized over Rs 12.65 lakh in cash during a pre-Kumar Purnima crackdown on gambling dens in Ganjam and Berhampur police districts. The arrests were made on Wednesday night and Thursday, targeting traditional gambling activities associated with the festival.
Two men, Vakil Yadav (35) and Vinay Yadav (28), were stabbed to death by unidentified assailants near Badhaya Hardo village in Deoria district, Uttar Pradesh. The incident occurred on Tuesday night as they returned from Lar town. Police have launched an investigation and formed three teams to apprehend the culprits.
A businessman, Rana Suryavanshi, was injured after being attacked by two individuals near Baramati airport in Pune district on Sunday evening. The attackers, posing as fans, assaulted him, leading to his hospitalisation. The incident has drawn criticism regarding the state's law and order situation from NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule.
New CCTV footage from Surat station shows two suspects in the Tiger Shroff firing case rushing to board a Pune-Jaipur express train. The suspects travelled by road from Mumbai to Surat after the gun attack, before being nabbed later at Kota station in Rajasthan. The incident involved gunshots fired at Tiger Shroff's car in Mumbai, injuring his driver and a bystander.
New CCTV footage from Surat station purportedly shows two suspects in the Tiger Shroff firing case boarding a Pune-Jaipur express train, hours after the attack in Mumbai. Three individuals were later nabbed from a train at Kota station on Monday morning, following a coordinated police operation.
Police in Ramgarh, Jharkhand, have arrested the wife of a 38-year-old man and three of her relatives in connection with his murder. The victim, Rohit Kumar, was found dead on October 21, and investigations revealed that frequent quarrels over his wife's alleged extramarital affair were the motive.
The prime accused in the alleged rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl in Odisha's Balasore district has been arrested. A police officer was suspended for negligence, and another transferred, amidst public protests and demands for a Crime Branch probe by the Opposition Congress.
Three individuals, including a minor, allegedly involved in the firing incident at actor Tiger Shroff's car in Mumbai, were detained in Kota, Rajasthan. Police intercepted them on a train, revealing a connection to an alleged associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and a plan to flee to Nepal. Mumbai Police are now taking custody of the suspects for further investigation.
A video showing a senior woman IPS officer, Ankita Sharma, firing an AK-47 during a traditional Shastra Puja on Dussehra in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, has gone viral. The incident has ignited a debate over weapon handling protocols and safety, with some defending her actions as tradition while others, including military experts, criticised the perceived recklessness.
NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule has alleged that the BJP is using pens fitted with spy cameras to record voters in the Maharashtra MLC polls for Pune Teachers' and Graduates' constituencies. She claimed voters were offered money to record their votes for BJP candidates. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated he was unaware of such devices. Sule has urged the Election Commission to investigate these serious complaints.
Police in Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh, have arrested six individuals after uncovering two acres of illegal ganja cultivation hidden within a maize field. The bust, part of 'Operation Trishul', involved the use of drones and revealed a sophisticated drip irrigation system. Investigators believe the operation, which could have yielded crores of rupees, had links to trafficking in major Indian cities.
Police in Kendrapara, Odisha, have busted a motorcycle theft racket, apprehending eight individuals, including a minor, and recovering 11 stolen motorcycles. Further investigation is ongoing.
An excise constable in Bihar's Nalanda district, initially believed to have been shot dead by liquor smugglers, was actually killed by a bullet fired from a home guard jawan's rifle during a chase. An investigation revealed discrepancies and alleged attempts to conceal evidence, leading to the arrest of a sub-inspector and other personnel.
Three suspects have been detained in Kota, Rajasthan, in connection with the recent firing incident targeting actor Tiger Shroff's car in Mumbai, as police investigate the alleged involvement of the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
Police in Sonbhadra arrested a man named Vishant on Thursday for allegedly sexually exploiting his 21-year-old neighbour under the pretext of marriage. The woman filed a complaint on Wednesday, detailing incidents on October 6 and 10. Vishant was produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody, with further investigation ongoing.
Three individuals, including a minor, suspected of involvement in the firing incident at actor Tiger Shroff's car, were detained in Kota, Rajasthan, while attempting to flee to Nepal. The suspects, identified as Ritik and Rehan, were caught on a train from Mumbai after Mumbai Police shared intelligence with Rajasthan counterparts. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has claimed responsibility for the attack, though authenticity is unconfirmed.
A 16-year-old accused of rape dramatically escaped from Soban Singh Jeena Base Hospital in Haldwani. He dodged his guards and fled through a window after being taken to the hospital for feeling unwell on Thursday afternoon. Police are now conducting raids and questioning family members to trace him.
Police in Vijayapura have arrested four individuals, including a woman and her male friend, for allegedly murdering her husband by staging a road accident. The investigation revealed a conspiracy hatched by the wife, Ashwini, and Anand Rautappa Kallur, who then involved others to run over the victim, Rajshekhar, with an SUV on October 4.
A 40-year-old revenue department official, Lakshmikant Munda, was allegedly killed at his home in Ranchi, Jharkhand, by unidentified persons. Police have launched an investigation, considering angles like robbery and old enmity, and a Special Investigation Team has been formed to nab the culprits.
A couple was allegedly shot dead at their tea stall in Bhagalpur, Bihar, on Thursday morning. One person has been arrested, and police are investigating the motive. The incident has led to local protests, with concerns also raised about a missing child related to the victims' family.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has alleged that the death of Lucknow cafe owner Shiva Sharma is "not an ordinary case" and could "bring down the Uttar Pradesh government," drawing parallels to the Vikas Dubey encounter. Yadav criticised the police and media's handling of the case, particularly regarding the absconding prime accused, Shraddha Dubey. The case involves allegations of assault and torture by Sharma's family, a reward for the accused's arrest, and recent transfers of police officials.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the arrest of three individuals in Rajasthan in connection with the firing incident targeting actor Tiger Shroff in Mumbai. The accused were apprehended at Kota railway station after fleeing towards Surat and boarding a train to Jaipur. One suspect is linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which claimed responsibility for the attack.
Four inter-state drug peddlers were arrested in Chatra, Jharkhand, with 2.5 kg of opium valued at Rs 20 lakh and Rs 4 lakh in cash. The arrests followed a tip-off, and the seized opium was reportedly destined for Punjab. One of the accused has a criminal history.
Four inter-state drug peddlers were arrested in Ranchi, Jharkhand, with brown sugar valued at Rs 23 lakh. Police seized 340 grams of the drug, Rs 9,100 in cash, and vehicles. The accused, including three from Bihar and one from Ranchi, planned to sell the contraband during festivals. An FIR has been registered under the NDPS Act.
Three alleged members of an interstate gang were arrested in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, leading to the recovery of 400 stolen mobile phones valued at Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 6 lakh in cash. The gang operated across multiple states and union territories, stealing phones from public places and facilitating their sale.
Two policemen in Kochi were injured in a knife attack by a criminal gang after responding to an assault report at a petrol pump. Three suspects, including a murder accused, have been taken into custody, and a serious investigation is underway.
A pregnant minor girl was allegedly gang-raped in Dausa, Rajasthan. The incident came to light when she arrived at a hospital with her newborn, who was later declared dead. Police have registered a case, recorded the victim's statement, and detained a suspect for questioning. The investigation is ongoing.