Nepal flood rescue ops on war footing as stranded survivors airlifted to safety

A major political controversy has emerged following remarks made by the Telangana Chief Minister regarding a confrontation between two political lineages in India. Speaking at a facilitation event in Kerala, the Chief Minister remarked on the contrast between the Sangh Parivaar and the Gandhi Parivaar, asserting that while one attempts division across caste, religion, region, and language, the other has sacrificed extensively for the nation. The statements triggered sharp responses from Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav, who defended the Sangh Parivaar as an embodiment of discipline, sewa, and nationalism, while accusing the Gandhi Parivaar of dynastic rule, corruption, and vote bank politics. The exchange intensifies existing frictions between both sides, coming against the backdrop of an ongoing national row surrounding the Chief Election Commissioner.

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.