Politics
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BJP names poll in-charges for UP, Punjab, Gujarat
The HinduArchived
BJP president Nitin Nabin on 18 August 2026 appointed Vinod Tawde as in-charge for Uttar Pradesh, with national secretary Jagdish Ishwarbhai Patel as co-in-charge. Satish Poonia was named in-charge for Punjab and Tarun Chugh for Gujarat. The party said the appointments take effec
Vijay office shift draws tender questions from opposition
NDTVArchived
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay plans to move the Chief Minister's Office from Fort St George to Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai. A tender of about Rs 5.5 crore has been floated for the shift. BJP leader C R Kesavan cited reports that work began before the tender. Minister Aa
Supreme Court ready to quash student protest FIRs
The HinduArchived
The Supreme Court on 18 August 2026 said it would use Article 142 to quash FIRs against students who joined NEET-UG protests. Cases against people with serious criminal records would be decided separately. Chief Justice Surya Kant asked for a list of FIRs that name only students.
BJP replaces Malviya as social media convenor
The HinduArchived
BJP president Nitin Nabin replaced Amit Malviya with Deepak Mhaskey as social media convenor in the 17 August 2026 organisational list. Malviya had held the information-technology and social media brief since 2015. He wished Mhaskey well in a public post. Nabin said the wider res
Delhi ACB arrests Jain over jal board tenders
Times of IndiaArchived
Delhi's Anti-Corruption Branch on 18 August 2026 arrested former minister Satyendar Jain and five others over alleged irregularities in Delhi Jal Board sewage-plant tenders. Those held include former DJB chief executive Udit Prakash Rai. AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal said the arre
Kharge says Congress will keep two-stanza song
Times of IndiaArchived
On 18 August 2026, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said his party would keep singing two stanzas of Vande Mataram after BJP leaders objected at Congress events. He said he had sung the version linked to Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel. BJP spokesperso
Khera asks Trump to take India's election chief to America
NDTVArchived
Congress leader Pawan Khera on 18 August asked US President Donald Trump to take Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to America and said India would send electronic voting machines on the next flight. The post followed Trump's praise of India's polls. Khera signed off with
Supreme Court to form panel on NEET protest police force
The HinduArchived
The Supreme Court on 18 August said it will form a committee of retired judges, a former DGP and former CBI director to examine police force during Delhi's NEET protests. Chief Justice Surya Kant sat with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana. The panel will also look at violencVijay's office to move to Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai
The HinduArchived
Tamil Nadu Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna told the Assembly on 18 August that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay is shifting his office to Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai. He said the move is to house secretaries, visiting foreign dignitaries and officials. He told DMK MLA E.V. Velu
Supreme Court keeps hanging as the execution method
The HinduArchived
The Supreme Court on 18 August dismissed a petition seeking to end hanging and replace it with methods such as lethal injection. Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta heard the 2017 plea by advocate Rishi Malhotra. The petition challenged Section 354(5) of the old Criminal Proce
What public organisation chart should list UP poll roles?
Times of IndiaArchived
The national reshuffle named 13 vice-presidents, eight general secretaries and 16 secretaries, with many first-time appointees. Tawde retained the general secretary post and gained the Uttar Pradesh organisational charge. Further state in-charge names are to follow. What publishe
Biren tells Shah Manipur wants NRC before census
The HinduArchived
Former Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh said on 18 August he met Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi the previous day. He told Shah that people want a National Register of Citizens before any census in the State. He also raised economic blockades that have cut supplies and rais
PM links youth power to Viksit Bharat at Red Fort
Indian ExpressArchived
On 15 August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 80th Independence Day from the Red Fort and linked yuva shakti to Viksit Bharat. He announced AI skill training for 1 crore youth in one year and free online coaching for competitive examinations. He asked the young to help
Congress tells Trump to take the CEC and EVMs
Times of IndiaArchived
Congress MP Pawan Khera on 18 August asked President Trump to take Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to America and keep him there. He offered to send EVMs on the next flight. The post followed Trump citing India's photo ID rules while urging the SAVE America Act. Khera eSupreme Court keeps hanging as the method of execution
The HinduArchived
The Supreme Court on 18 August dismissed a 2017 petition by Rishi Malhotra seeking to replace hanging with lethal injection, shooting, electrocution or a gas chamber. Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta declined to send the 1983 Deena decision to a larger bench. Section 354(5)
Bar Council chief cannot also speak as party MP
Times of IndiaArchived
NALSAR students opposed inviting Chief Justice Surya Kant as convocation chief guest. On 13 August, Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra directed state bar councils not to enrol the 2026 batch until further orders. The council later withdrew the ban. Mishra is also a
Vijay apologises after minister names Karunanidhi without title
Times of IndiaArchived
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on 17 August apologised after Forest Minister R.V. Ranjithkumar named former chief minister M. Karunanidhi without the customary honorific. DMK members protested. Vijay stopped the minister and said the manner of reference was wrong. He s
Modi offers skill training and names dimagi Naxals
The HinduArchived
Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his thirteenth Independence Day address from the Red Fort on 15 August. He promised skill training for one crore youth, free online coaching for competitive exams, and work on quantum technology, space, robotics and data centres. He also spo
Athawale invites Dipke to join Republican Party of India
RediffArchived
Union minister Ramdas Athawale on 17 August invited Cockroach Janta Party convenor Abhijeet Dipke to join the Republican Party of India (Athawale), an NDA ally. In Nagpur he called Dipke a young Ambedkarite and said joining would help fulfil B.R. Ambedkar's dream. Dipke had not r
Supreme Court stays High Court assets probe reports
NDTVArchived
The Supreme Court on 17 August told the Allahabad High Court to defer a petition alleging disproportionate assets against Rahul Gandhi. Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana barred the CBI, ED and other authorities from filing any report under the 20
BJP retains Vasundhara Raje as national vice-president
NDTVArchived
BJP president Nitin Nabin on 17 August announced a new national team retaining former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia as vice-president. She thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nabin on X. The list names 13 vice-presidents and eight general secretaries, incl
Greater Hyderabad has 43 lakh names in ASDD list
Times of IndiaArchived
Greater Hyderabad accounts for 43 lakh of Telangana's 73.3 lakh ASDD electors, 58.6 percent statewide, despite 33.8 percent of the electorate. CEO C. Sudarshan Reddy said the three metro districts drove most of the cut to the 17 August draft. Hyderabad district placed 19.4 lakh nBar Council chief cannot also speak as party MP
Times of IndiaArchived
NALSAR students opposed inviting Chief Justice Surya Kant as convocation chief guest. On 13 August, Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra directed state bar councils not to enrol the 2026 batch until further orders. The council later withdrew the ban. Mishra is also a
Mehbooba says she is a dimaagi Naxal
Times of IndiaArchived
Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti wrote on X that she supports Article 370 and is a dimaagi Naxal. She replied to Union minister Kiren Rijiju, who said Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not call opposition leaders dimaagi Naxals. Rijiju listed Article 370 supporters among those
Irani returns as BJP general secretary in charge of UP
Times of IndiaArchived
The BJP on 17 August named Smriti Irani a national general secretary and in-charge for Uttar Pradesh in Nitin Nabin's new office-bearer list. Piyush Goyal was appointed national treasurer. Ram Madhav returned as a national vice president. Nabin said the team mixed experience and
Supreme Court tells Karnataka to comply on Cauvery releases
NDTVArchived
The Supreme Court on 17 August asked Karnataka to ensure compliance with Cauvery Water Management Authority directions on releases to Tamil Nadu. Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta listed the matter for 24 August so an updated status can be filed. The bench told Tamil Nadu it
Poonawalla quits BJP, citing money, persons and middle class
NDTVArchived
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on 17 August asked president Nitin Nabin to relieve him of that post and primary membership. He cited pressing financial and personal circumstances and a move to the private sector. A 30 July letter had not been accepted. He said certa
Rijiju cites 2006 Singh line on Maoists in Dimagi row
The HinduArchived
Union minister Kiren Rijiju on 17 August said Congress must apologise to the family of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He quoted Singh's 13 April 2006 remark that Naxalism was the single biggest internal security challenge India had faced. The post followed P. Chidambaram's
Telangana publishes SIR 2026 draft electoral rolls
The HinduArchived
Telangana's draft electoral rolls after the Special Intensive Revision enumeration were published on 17 August. PDFs are on the Chief Electoral Officer's site under SIR Draft Rolls-2026, by district, constituency and part. Claims and objections run from 17 August to 16 September.
CMO calls Vijay's first 100 days Governance for Generations
The PrintArchived
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's office on 17 August released a 100-day report titled Governance for Generations. The TVK government took charge on 10 May 2026. Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar told the Assembly the period marked a historic transformation. The CMO cited women'
BJP firms up Gen Z outreach after student protests
New Indian ExpressArchived
The BJP is tightening a Gen Z outreach plan after nationwide protests over alleged NEET irregularities and the education minister's resignation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 15 August speech announced a free online coaching network. Party leaders said the Yuva Morcha will run m
Supreme Court halts High Court assets case against Gandhi
The HinduArchived
The Supreme Court on 17 August ordered the Allahabad High Court to defer a disproportionate-assets case against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi until further orders. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant said courts must follow principles of natural justice before directing a
Masood says he will stand, not sing
Times of IndiaArchived
Congress MP Imran Masood on 17 August said he would stand when Vande Mataram is recited but would not sing it. He told ANI he cannot worship anyone except Allah and cited his constitutional right. He said he would not insult the song. The BJP had filed a complaint over the Indepe
BRS protests after court stay on marriage-aid schemes
Hindustan TimesArchived
Bharat Rashtra Samithi called statewide protests on 17 August at constituency and mandal centres over Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak. Working president KT Rama Rao said the Congress government was using a High Court stay as a reason to stop the schemes. He said they were laun
Poonawalla resubmits BJP resignation after July refusal
Times of IndiaArchived
Shehzad Poonawalla on 17 August again asked BJP president Nitin Nabin to accept his resignation as national spokesperson and from active primary membership. He first wrote on 30 July citing financial and personal circumstances. The party declined the letter and asked him to recon
Dimagi Naxal Party page gains 1.6 lakh followers
NDTVArchived
An Instagram handle named Dimagi Naxal Party gained about 1.6 lakh followers in a day, then disappeared, NDTV reported. The account had 62 posts, followed 35 users, and was created this month with one username change. Who ran it was not stated. A separate X account named Dimagi N
Delhi Police enquire into Vande Mataram complaint
Times of IndiaArchived
Delhi Police said it was enquiring into a complaint against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi over the singing of Vande Mataram at the AICC headquarters on 15 August. Advocates Shubh Sharma and Kunal Vinayak filed it at IP Estate police station on 16 August. Police said the complaint
Nabin team likely to reserve 13 posts for women
India TVArchived
BJP president Nitin Nabin was expected on 17 August to unveil his first national organisational team. Party sources told India TV that 33 percent of posts would go to women, 13 of 38. The exercise was linked to Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and ManipurSpeaker calls Vijay's first 100 days a milestone
The PrintArchived
Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker JCD Prabhakar on 17 August told the House that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had completed 100 days in office. He listed women's safety, social welfare, 200 units of free power and a cooperative farm-loan waiver. Vijay's office released a 100-day repor
Shah and Congress clash over Vande Mataram at AICC
Times of IndiaArchived
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Sonia Gandhi asked Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to stop Vande Mataram at the AICC headquarters on Independence Day. He called the act a sin that people would not forgive and asked the party to apologise to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
Punjab ticket-cap row draws in Ravneet Bittu
NDTVArchived
BJP leader Ravneet Bittu backed Congress MP Sukhjinder Randhawa in a Punjab ticket dispute. State Congress chief Raja Warring said one family should get one Assembly ticket. Randhawa, speaking at Issru with Charanjit Channi present, said capable winners in one family could get ev
Congress runs 16 student focus groups before Pune event
The HinduArchived
Congress has held 16 focus groups with exam aspirants in Delhi, Patna and Dehradun since June. The closed sessions feed Rahul Gandhi's Chhatron Ki Goonj meetings in Kota, Dehradun and Prayagraj. On 16 August he announced a fourth event in Pune on 22 August, limited to women aspir
Readers write on dimagi naxals and Vande Mataram
The HinduArchived
The 17 August letters page carried two notes. Kamal Laddha wrote that the Prime Minister used the Red Fort to introduce dimagi naxals after labels such as urban Naxals. He said the phrase seemed aimed at Gen Z protest leaders. Matthew Adukanil wrote that the Vande Mataram row sho
Editorial reads Red Fort speech as youth plus label
The HinduArchived
A 17 August editorial, United and Free, examined Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech. It listed pledges of AI training for one crore youth, free online coaching, and work on quantum and data centres. It also recorded his phrase dimagi naxals. The piece said Ind
Congress questions Red Fort pitch on women's reservation
The HinduArchived
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day appeal on women's reservation was a dishonest pitch. He said Parliament passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in September 2023, yet it did not apply to the 2024 polls. Ramesh said the
Ex-deputy speaker found dead at Rampurhat party office
The TelegraphArchived
Ashis Banerjee, 74, former West Bengal deputy speaker and five-time MLA from Rampurhat, was found hanging on 16 August at a Trinamool Congress office near his home in Hattala Para, Birbhum. Police recovered a purported note on his former MLA letterhead. He is survived by his wife
Married earning children may claim accident compensation
Deccan HeraldArchived
The Supreme Court held that major, married and earning children may file a Motor Vehicles Act claim after a parent's death. Justices N Kotiswar Singh and N V Anjaria said the amount depends on proven dependency. In Sameem Begum's appeal the bench added consortium for the widow an
Omar Abdullah links PoK unrest to J&K's status
The Indian ExpressArchived
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said in his Independence Day speech that had the region's constitutional structure not changed in 2019, people in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir would today be protesting to reunite with India. He called for strengthening federalism start
BJP, Congress clash over Vande Mataram rendition
Deccan HeraldArchived
The BJP accused Sonia Gandhi of objecting to the full version of Vande Mataram being played at a Congress Independence Day event, a charge the Congress party denied. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis cited the alleged incident while backing Prime Minister Modi's 'intel
Court rejects plea to join Savarkar defamation case
Bar and BenchArchived
A Pune court on August 14 dismissed researcher Pankaj Phadnis's plea to join the private criminal defamation case that Satyaki Savarkar filed against Rahul Gandhi, ruling Phadnis had no legal standing since he is not a family member of the late Vinayak Savarkar. The magistrate al