KTR on BJP alliance, KCR's comeback, EC row and youth protests

A debate on the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly by-elections in Dharapuram and Madurantakam focuses on horse-trading charges and political alliances. Political analyst Akshat Ram argued that the by-election in Dharapuram was necessitated due to political horse trading and opportunism by the TVK after taking in the AIADMK MLA, claiming that local anti-incumbency and agricultural distress involving water deficits and power outages could hurt the ruling party. TVK spokesperson M. Sathya Kumar defended the candidate switch as lawful under the Representation of the People Act, stating there was no illicit agreement and that MLAs resigned voluntarily because the AIADMK sought an unnatural pact with the DMK. Addressing videos alleging a TVK-BJP tie-up, Sathya Kumar strongly dismissed the claim, asserting, 'Never. Never it is possible,' and called it an opposition conspiracy.

Tamil Nadu gears up for the Dharapuram by-poll, marking a key test for the TVK following Satyabama's resignation from the AIADMK to contest under the TVK symbol. Chief Minister Vijay campaigned in the constituency ahead of the October 6 voting date, leading to traffic diversions across arterial roads. The reserved constituency sees a heated contest as the DMK mounts a strong campaign. While Satyabama's party switch drew criticism, including from TVK ally CPIM, party workers remain confident of retaining the seat amid claims of widespread voter support on the ground.

Apple Pay has launched in India after a decade-long wait, rolling out support initially for Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards across iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Unified Payments Interface is not included in the initial release. Apple Pay operates as a secure digital payment service enabling card transactions without entering an OTP or PIN, relying on on-device biometric or passcode authentication. Users can add eligible cards via Apple Wallet or the Axis Bank app and pay by holding their device near contactless readers.

The INDIA bloc has finalised a coordinated protest campaign against the Election Commission of India, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the electoral process. Opposition parties have announced a 'Save Democracy March' from 2 October to 8 October, featuring demonstrations outside District Magistrate offices, joint rallies across five major cities, and a march of Members of Parliament to the Election Commission on 6 October. The opposition also plans to seek an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu. Key opposition leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Mamata Banerjee, reiterated demands for ballot paper voting over electronic voting machines and sought the reinstatement of deleted voters along with a probe. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party defended the poll body, rejecting all allegations and accusing the opposition of deliberately targeting democratic institutions to build an excuse for electoral defeats.