Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Wednesday announced the withdrawal of cases filed against farmers and teachers for protests during the previous DMK government’s tenure between 2021 and 2026. Vijay said the pending cases had caused difficulties for those booked for protesting against projects such as SIPCOT developments and the proposed Parandur airport. He accused the previous government of treating democratic protesters “inhumanely” and said the decision would strengthen democratic rights and public trust. The CPI urged the TVK government to extend the move to NEET protesters, while the PMK sought the withdrawal of cases linked to protests against the Neyveli Lignite Corporation. (PC: X)

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay’s spontaneous gesture during his visit to Mettur has gone viral on social media. The actor-turned-politician stopped his convoy to meet elderly woman Chellam and spoke with her about her health. Vijay then removed his Christian Dior sunglasses and gifted them to her. Chellam said she was surprised and delighted by the meeting, adding that Vijay “looked just like he does in his movies.” She also said the Chief Minister asked whether she had eaten. The video of their warm interaction quickly spread online, drawing widespread attention. Vijay was in Mettur to open the sluice gates of the Stanley Reservoir.  

Brishti Mukherjee, 28, daughter of Nihar Mukherjee, a cousin of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, died by suicide at her home in Kusumba village, Birbhum, on Tuesday. Her body was found hanging on the first floor around 9 am. According to her family, Mukherjee had been suffering from depression for several years and was undergoing treatment. She had also faced allegations of securing a primary school teaching job through the teacher recruitment scam, while she and her husband had filed for divorce. Rampurhat police are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death. Her body has been sent to Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital for a post-mortem examination, with further findings expected from the investigation and procedural inquiries. (PC: NDTV and Loksatta)

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent post celebrating India’s 7.8% GDP growth. Dipke shared a photograph of a dilapidated washroom at a government-run school and captioned it, “7.8% growth sir!!!”, appearing to question the contrast between the headline economic figure and conditions in public infrastructure. Modi had congratulated Indians on the 7.8% growth rate, calling it a reflection of the country’s “collective strength”, resolve and industrious spirit. Dipke’s post came in response to the Prime Minister’s social media video discussing the latest GDP figures. The CJP founder has previously criticised the Union Government and Modi through social media posts, with his latest remark drawing attention to government-school infrastructure.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has backed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as the INDIA bloc’s Prime Ministerial candidate, Tamil Nadu Congress Legislature Party leader Tharahai Cuthbert said on Monday. She rejected speculation of a rift between the Congress and its ally, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), over the prime ministerial race. Cuthbert said recent projections of Vijay as a future Prime Minister reflected the enthusiasm of TVK workers and were not the party leadership’s official position. She also stressed that the Congress was expanding independently in Tamil Nadu and remained an autonomous party, while maintaining its alliance with the TVK. (PC: India Today)

Congress leaders have questioned Penguin Random House India (PRHI) over the publication row surrounding Sonia Gandhi’s memoir Belonging: A Journey of Love, alleging pressure on the publisher and threats to freedom of expression. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot claimed sections concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the RSS and China were targeted for removal, while Kamal Nath and other Congress leaders also raised concerns. Penguin denied that it rejected the memoir because Gandhi refused editorial changes, clarifying that it is not the book’s Indian publisher. PRHI said fact-checking and editorial recommendations are routine and maintained it had remained willing to publish the book. The memoir’s Indian publisher remains unclear, with international release scheduled for November. (PC: X)

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and TVK leader C. Joseph Vijay has emerged as the third-most preferred choice for India’s next Prime Minister, according to the India Today-CVoter Mood of the Nation survey. For the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, 48.7% of respondents preferred Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while 27.1% chose Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Vijay received 9.2%, placing him ahead of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (2%) and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav (1.7%). The survey highlights Vijay’s rapid political rise after entering politics in 2024. TVK leaders have also increasingly projected him as a potential national leader. 

The Lok Sabha Secretariat has issued notices to 20 rebel Trinamool Congress MPs over petitions seeking their disqualification under the anti-defection law. The petitions were filed by TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee after the MPs joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India. The MPs have been asked to submit their responses within seven days. The development comes after Banerjee approached the Supreme Court over the delay in deciding the disqualification petitions. The rebel MPs remain officially part of the TMC as their proposed merger with the NCPI is still under review. (PC: HT)

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday said the Congress would continue to sing only the first two stanzas of *Vande Mataram*, standing by the party's long-held position. His remarks came amid a political row over the national song and demands to sing all its stanzas. Shivakumar said the party respects *Vande Mataram* but would follow its established stand. The Congress traditionally sings the first two stanzas, which are widely recognised and have been adopted for official use. The issue has triggered fresh political debate, with the BJP questioning the Congress's position on the national song.  

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has backed actor Kriti Sanon amid a row over her Raksha Bandhan advertisement, saying it was “her choice” what she wore. His remarks came a day after actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut criticised Sanon’s outfit in the advertisement. The campaign sparked debate online, with some users questioning Sanon’s clothing and a scene involving a rakhi. Sanon later responded to the criticism, defending her right to choose her outfit. Gandhi’s intervention added a political dimension to the controversy, as reactions continued to pour in over the advertisement and the wider debate around personal choice. (PC: India Today)