Politics
Political news and analysis
Karnataka CM Shivakumar Visits Siddaramaiah in Mysuru, Holds Closed-Door Meeting Amid Sting Operation Row
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar met former chief minister Siddaramaiah at the latter’s residence in Mysuru on Friday night in a closed-door meeting. The visit came after the Cauvery Arathi event in Mandya and amid a row over allegations of a sting operation involving Siddaramaiah. Shivakumar later said the meeting was part of his duty.
Tiranga March Crackdown: AISA’s Neha Bora Released, CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke Produced Before Magistrate
AISA president Neha Bora was released early on Saturday after being detained ahead of the Lehra Do Tiranga march in Delhi, while CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke was arrested under preventive provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and produced before a Special Executive Magistrate. A later update said the court granted him bail, with a peace bond. Bora called the detentions illegal.
TVK Functionary Arrested in Methamphetamine Case, Udhayanidhi Stalin Questions Vijay’s “Give Up Drugs” Campaign
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence arrested N Boopalan, an advocate and member of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s Nagapattinam district executive committee, in a case involving about 135 kg of methamphetamine, reportedly worth around Rs 270 crore. Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin used the arrest to question Chief Minister Vijay’s anti-drug campaign and demanded a thorough probe. The accused is yet to be tried and the TVK’s response was not available in the reports.
Ajit Pawar Crash Operator VSR Under Scanner as AAIB Flags Lapses in 2023 Mumbai Learjet Crash
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s final report on the September 2023 Learjet crash at Mumbai airport has flagged lapses at VSR Ventures, the operator of the aircraft that crashed at Baramati in January 2026 and killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others. The report cites an unstabilised landing in bad weather, time pressure, and gaps in training and maintenance records. The Baramati crash is still being investigated.
Goa MLA Vijai Sardesai Alleges 50 Voters Shifted to Fatorda to Favour BJP, Seeks Probe
Goa Forward Party president and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai has filed a complaint with Goa’s Chief Electoral Officer alleging that more than 50 voters from the Curtorim constituency were illegally shifted into the Fatorda rolls. He accused the BJP and its state president Damu Naik of benefiting from the irregularity. These are his allegations and have not been independently verified.
Supreme Court Directs Centre and Social Media Platforms to Remove Child Sexual Abuse Material Immediately, Seeks Status Report by December 10
In a judgment delivered on October 15, 2026, the Supreme Court directed the Centre, in coordination with intermediaries such as Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and YouTube, to immediately detect and remove child sexual exploitation and abuse material. The bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran ordered a national hash and URL database, 24-hour acknowledgment of complaints and possible heavy fines for platforms. The Centre must report on compliance by December 10, 2026.
SC-Appointed Panel Launches Portal for Complaints and Evidence on Pellet Guns, Harassment of Women During July Protests
The five-member High Powered Enquiry Committee appointed by the Supreme Court has launched an online portal, hpec.nic.in, to receive complaints and evidence on the July 2026 violence at Jantar Mantar and other places. Priority will go to matters involving pellet guns, targeted violence and harassment of women protesters, and excessive violence or property destruction by either side. The portal allows vulnerable witnesses to keep their identities confidential.
Karnataka to Issue Single Statewide Notification to Fill SC/ST Backlog Vacancies, Targets 18 Months
A Cabinet subcommittee headed by Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara has directed officials to issue one statewide notification to fill backlog posts reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes across government departments. The posts are to be filled within 18 months on the basis of merit and age criteria alone. The panel also expressed strong dissatisfaction over the large number of unfilled backlog posts in aided schools and colleges.
Namma Metro Services Extended Till 1.30 AM for India vs West Indies T20I in Bengaluru
Bengaluru’s Namma Metro will run late-night services for the India vs West Indies T20 international at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, October 17. The last trains will leave from the terminals between midnight and 1.30 am, and the last train from Majestic will leave at 1 am. Digital match tickets carry a two-way metro QR code for the journey.
CJP Denied Permission for Tiranga March in Bengaluru, CM D K Shivakumar Says Government Was Not Informed
Bengaluru Police have denied permission for the Cockroach Janta Party’s Lehra Do Tiranga march from Town Hall to the Quit India Memorial, citing a High Court direction that protests be confined to Freedom Park and concerns about traffic. Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the organisers had not informed the government in advance. The BJP has accused the Congress of double standards, while CJP leaders say they will go ahead with the programme.
“Cowards and Greedy”: Rahul Gandhi Targets Former Congress Leaders During Interaction with Young Party Members
During a conversation with young Congress members, Rahul Gandhi called former leaders Jyotiraditya Scindia and Ghulam Nabi Azad cowards and greedy people who left the party, saying the ones who stayed are the real lions. The remark was part of his message to young workers about courage and commitment. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge added a light-hearted comment during the exchange.
“Gandhis Have Lost the Right to Use Gandhi’s Name”: Rajnath Singh Accuses Congress of Seeking Bangladesh-Style Regime Change
At a press conference in Lucknow on October 16, 2026, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accused the Congress and the INDIA bloc of using youth-led protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the SIR drive to push for regime change like the 2024 uprising in Bangladesh. He also criticised Rahul Gandhi for what he called politics of disruption. These are Singh’s allegations; no response from the Congress was included in the reports.
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