Telangana CM Faces Backlash Over Remark On Two Parivaars Amid Escalating CEC Row

A power cut disrupted a graduation ceremony at the Government Law College in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, while Justice Jagdish Chandra was addressing the gathering. The state's Electricity Minister, CTR Nirmal Kumar, was also seated on the dais when the outage occurred. The brief interruption caused surprise among attending dignitaries and students amid ongoing complaints regarding power supply issues across the state. Minister Nirmal Kumar later clarified on social media platform X that the power cut was brief and caused by a generator shift jump between units, following which power was quickly restored. The incident comes amid rising discussions over increasing power consumption and the need for alternate energy solutions.

A bizarre incident emerged from Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, where a monkey entered a wine shop located at Block Chowk in Ormanjhi. Once inside the shop, the animal stunned onlookers by drinking liquor directly from a bottle kept on the premises. After consuming the alcohol, the monkey settled down and took a deep nap peacefully among the liquor bottles. Visuals from the shop captured the unusual event before the bulletin concluded.

Opposition parties within the INDIA bloc and broader regional outfits are stepping up consultations to formulate a coordinated strategy demanding the resignation and criminal proceedings against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities. Top leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee and Rahul Gandhi, have held discussions regarding allegations of voter data and procedural inconsistencies in recent assembly elections. Efforts are underway to organise a joint meeting followed by an opposition media briefing to formalise their campaign. Parties including the Trinamool Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Aam Aadmi Party, and regional groups are being approached to form an expanded front. Concurrently, public demonstration ultimatums have been issued demanding institutional accountability. NDA allies have also underscored the importance of institutional transparency, urging the Election Commission of India to publicly clarify concerns and uphold public trust in democratic electoral processes.

Opposition parties are uniting to seek the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner, with Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee reaching out to long-time political rival CPI(M) and holding discussions with Rahul Gandhi to convene an all-opposition meeting in Delhi. CPI(M) General Secretary MA Baby wrote to INDIA bloc constituents on 23 September, drawing a swift response from Banerjee, whose party MPs are reportedly in touch with left leaders at the Centre. TMC asserts that rivalries must be set aside to save democracy. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party mounted an attack, stating that neither the Trinamool Congress nor the CPI(M) holds significant presence in West Bengal following recent assembly elections. Calling the unity a survival tactic and optics, the BJP stated that the opposition must take their proof to court rather than protesting on the streets. Congress members have staged nationwide street protests, including demonstrations in Kolkata, as opposition parties amplify their agitation against the CEC.