The Election Commission has barred both rival Trinamool Congress factions from using the party’s name, “All India Trinamool Congress,” and its reserved “Flowers & Grass” election symbol in the upcoming bypolls. The interim order applies to the factions led by Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee. Both groups have been directed to submit three choices each for new party names and free election symbols by 11 a.m. on September 18. The decision comes ahead of the October 6 bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar. The EC said the interim arrangement does not determine which faction ultimately controls the party’s established identity. (PC: ITG)

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has approached a United Nations rights body alleging that senior Muslim IAS and IPS officers in West Bengal were excluded from official events linked to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visits because of their religion. Moitra flagged the issue with the UN Special Rapporteur on Minorities in a social media post, alleging Muslim officers were kept away from events attended by Shah in north Bengal. She named Siliguri Police Commissioner Waquar Raza, West Bengal Police Special Task Force chief Jawed Shamim and IAS officer Khalil Ahmed. A complaint was later filed against Moitra in Diamond Harbour over the post, after which cybercrime police summoned her for questioning. (PC: PTI)

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, September 17, 2026, extended birthday greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who turned 76. In a post on X, Gandhi wrote, “Happy birthday to PM Narendra Modi ji. Wishing you good health and a long life.” His message was brief and focused on personal birthday wishes. Several other political leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay, also greeted Modi. The BJP is separately observing the occasion through a month-long ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ marking Modi’s 25 years in public service. 

The Congress has alleged that the Centre introduced the new UPI Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework under pressure from the United States. The party questioned whether the move could help American payment companies compete with UPI. Under the new framework, a 0.4% MDR will apply to specified merchant UPI transactions above ₹2,000 from October 15, with the charge paid within the merchant payment ecosystem. The government says customers will not pay MDR and person-to-person UPI payments will remain free. It also says around 96% of merchant transactions will remain unaffected. The BJP has accused the Opposition of spreading misinformation. (PC: India Today)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday demanded that the government roll back the new UPI merchant charges, calling the move a “UPI tax”. His remarks came after new rules introduced a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on specified merchant transactions above ₹2,000 from October 15. The government has clarified that the MDR will be paid by merchants, not customers, while person-to-person UPI payments and merchant payments up to ₹2,000 will remain free. Gandhi argued that merchants could eventually pass the additional cost on to customers through higher prices. The government rejects the characterisation of MDR as a tax. (PC: HT)

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused the Modi government of caving to pressure from American payment companies after the finance ministry's latest UPI notification. He said the rule capping the no-charge protection at transactions up to Rs 2,000 opens the door to fees on merchant payments above that limit through MDR. Gandhi argued that although such transactions are only 5% by volume, they make up nearly 65% of UPI's total value, and any merchant fee would ultimately be passed on to customers. "Compromised PM Modi is once again surrendering to American pressure," he said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday alleged that the CBI's FIR in the Disha Salian death case is a political conspiracy aimed at tarnishing the Thackeray family and targeting Aaditya Thackeray. Raut said Mumbai Police had already probed the matter multiple times and cleared Aaditya Thackeray of any involvement. The CBI registered the FIR following Bombay High Court directions on a plea by Salian's father, without naming any accused, though names have surfaced in media reports. Raut linked the timing to the ongoing Supreme Court case over the Shiv Sena symbol and Maratha quota unrest, though his claims remain unverified allegations. (PC: HT)

The BJP has taken the lead in Rajasthan’s urban local body elections, winning 4,179 wards against Congress’s 3,613. The BJP secured majorities in Jaipur, Udaipur, Kota and Bhilwara municipal corporations. Congress won a majority in Bikaner and emerged as the largest party in Ajmer, where it won 37 of 80 wards. Jodhpur remained a close contest, with BJP and Congress winning 44 wards each. Independents won 2,273 wards across the state. Congress also scored a major win in Jhalawar, a stronghold of former chief minister Vasundhara Raje. Counting continued in some wards across Rajasthan’s 309 urban local bodies.  

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar claimed Congress welfare schemes in Karnataka have inspired similar plans in other states and the US. Referring to Donald Trump’s proposed $5,000 payment for American adults, Shivakumar said, “Now they copied us in Maharashtra, copied us in Madhya Pradesh, in Rajasthan, in Bihar, and now Trump is copying us.” Trump announced the proposed payment if Republicans retain control of both houses of Congress after the 2026 midterm elections. Shivakumar also accused the BJP of using religion for politics. He alleged that money meant for the Ram Temple was misused. The BJP has not responded to these specific claims.  

Rebel TMC MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia claimed 17 of the 20 NCPI MPs will join the BJP before or after Durga Puja. He said the group has finalised the plan and would avoid the anti-defection law by crossing the two-thirds mark. Basunia also claimed three MPs would support the NDA from outside. However, fellow NCPI MPs rejected his claims. Satabdi Roy said no such decision had been taken. Abu Taher Khan said the three MPs would not join either the BJP or NDA. The BJP also distanced itself from the claim and said it had no information about such a move.