West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission’s interim decision to bar rival Trinamool Congress factions from using the original TMC name and its ‘Flowers and Grass’ election symbol. The EC said two rival groups were claiming the party’s identity and ordered both to use separate names and symbols for the October 6 bypolls. Banerjee’s faction was allotted the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the ‘Football Player’ symbol, while the rival faction led by Arup Roy received “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the ‘Envelope’ symbol. (PC: PTI)

Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, contesting the Nandigram Assembly by-election, has been arrested in connection with an old alleged murder case, hours after Mamata Banerjee publicly announced support for his candidature. Banerjee said her faction would back Pradhan after its own nominee, Sanchita Pradhan Dey, withdrew her nomination amid the Trinamool Congress’ name and symbol freeze row. Pradhan’s arrest adds another twist to the dramatic developments surrounding the Nandigram bypoll. The report said the alleged murder case dates back several years, but did not provide further details about the case or the circumstances of the arrest. Banerjee had extended support to Pradhan earlier Friday, just shortly before news of his arrest emerged. (PC: X)

Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress faction will back Congress nominee in the Nandigram bypoll after its nominee, Sanchita Pradhan Dey, withdrew from the contest. Dey’s candidature had been announced on Sunday, but she reportedly met Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday night before withdrawing on Friday. With nominations already closed for the October 6 election, the faction could not field a replacement. The Congress has nominated Milan Pradhan, while the BJP has fielded Hasirani Rath and Ritabrata Banerjee’s TMC faction has nominated Ehteshamul Haq. Banerjee said Rahul Gandhi had called her over the party’s name and symbol dispute, saying they were together. The Election Commission has frozen the TMC name and symbol.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on September 18 criticised the Election Commission’s interim decision to bar rival Trinamool Congress factions from using the party’s name and “Flowers & Grass” symbol in upcoming West Bengal Assembly bypolls. Gandhi alleged that the BJP and Election Commission were working together to split political parties, citing previous disputes involving Shiv Sena and NCP. He described the situation as “vote chori, government chori, now party chori” and questioned the EC’s constitutional responsibility to protect electoral mandates. The Commission said both TMC factions must choose separate names and free symbols until it reaches a final decision. (PC: AP)

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.