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.  

Pakistan will take part in the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in India next month, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confirmed on Monday. The six-team competition will be held from October 27 to November 5 in Jalandhar and Mohali. India, Pakistan, China, Japan, Malaysia and South Korea will compete in the tournament. Mann said India’s policy allows the two countries to face each other in multinational sporting events, even though bilateral contests remain restricted. League-stage matches will be played in Jalandhar, while the semi-finals and final will be held in Mohali. India enter as defending champions. (PC: HT)

Counting is underway for Rajasthan’s municipal elections, with results showing a mixed contest between the BJP, Congress and Independents across 309 urban local bodies. In Udaipur, the BJP has secured a clear lead, holding 53 wards against Congress’s 23. The BJP also swept Jodhpur, winning 44 of 98 wards. In Jaipur, 21-year-old Congress candidate Faiz Hasan won Ward 71 with 5,426 votes, defeating Independent Mohammad Salim. Independents made a strong showing in Deeg, winning 25 of 40 wards, while Congress failed to win a seat there. Counting continues amid tight security across the state. (PC: HT)

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday defended religious preacher Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, popularly known as Bageshwar Baba, over his appeal to people to avoid meat during the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations. Speaking in the Assembly, Adhikari said Shastri had expressed his views but had not forced them on anyone. The Chief Minister also said he had seen people burning photographs of the preacher outside Bhawanipore police station. He directed the Kolkata Police Commissioner to take action and arrest those involved. Shastri had made the vegetarian appeal during his recent visit to Liluah, where he also spoke about nationalism, culture and Akhand Bharat. (PC: X)

Speculation is growing over whether former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will contest the October 6 bypolls from one of two Bengal seats—Nandigram or Rejinagar. Nandigram was vacated by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated Banerjee there in 2021. Rejinagar was vacated by Humayun Kabir. Political observers see Nandigram as the safer option, while Rejinagar, with a 65% Muslim population, could also favour Banerjee. TMC insiders have suggested an alliance with Congress. However, the party faces uncertainty over retaining its “twin flowers” symbol amid a rival faction’s claim to being the “real Trinamool”. The BJP plans to contest both seats. (PC: NDTV)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday criticised the previous UPA government over delays in completing the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC). Speaking at a ‘NaMo for Viksit Bharat’ event in Vadodara, Modi said the project remained stuck in bureaucratic processes for years. He said his government helped speed up its implementation. The 2,800-km freight corridor has now been completed, marking a major milestone for India’s transport network. Modi said better connectivity is important for a developed India. He called the project a major achievement for 21st-century India. The corridor is expected to improve freight movement and strengthen the country’s infrastructure.  

West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya rejected religious leader Bageshwar Baba’s appeal urging people to avoid non-vegetarian food during Navratri and Durga Puja. Bhattacharya said no religious leader or political party should dictate what Bengalis eat at home. He pointed to Bengal’s tradition of fish and meat and noted that mutton is also offered to Goddess Kali. Bageshwar Baba had criticised the consumption of non-vegetarian food near Durga Puja pandals during an event in Howrah. His remarks sparked reactions among Bengali Hindus and renewed a political debate over food habits in Bengal, months ahead of the state elections. (PC: HT)