Mamata Banerjee has rejected theElection Commission ’s new party name and symbol for her faction, calling the move “unconstitutional, illegal, undemocratic” as the TMC split deepens. She called the internal factional dispute in TMC, a “black day” in India’s democratic history.- A suicide blast at a mosque inside a police compound in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has killed at least 16 people and injured more than 56, with rescue operations under way.
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Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate from Mamata Banerjee’s faction has withdrawn her nomination for theNandigram bypoll after meeting West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, while Banerjee has announced her support for the Congress candidate. - India has rejected Pakistan’s account of the naval collision involving INS Kolkata and PNS Hunain, saying the Pakistani vessel violated maritime rules and a 1991 bilateral agreement.
- Social media influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj has been released from Tihar Jail on three-week interim bail in connection with an alleged assault at a Jantar Mantar protest.
Here are your top stories of the day:
Mamata rejects EC’s new TMC identity as party split widens
The Election Commission has frozen the use of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) name and its traditional symbol by rival factions, assigning Mamata Banerjee’s group the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the “Football Player” symbol. Banerjee called the development “unconstitutional, illegal, undemocratic” and said her faction would continue to fight the dispute. The remarks came after the Nandigram bypoll candidate backed by the Mamata Banerjee camp, withdrew her nomination on Friday, a day before the deadline for withdrawal. Read full story.
16 killed in mosque blast at Pakistan police compound
At least 16 people were killed and more than 56 injured in a suicide explosion at a mosque inside the Kohat Police Lines in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province during Friday prayers. The blast brought down part of the building, while security forces also exchanged fire with armed attackers; no group had immediately claimed responsibility. Read full story.
Nandigram poll race shifts as TMC candidate withdraws
Sanchita Dey Pradhan has withdrawn her nomination for the Nandigram assembly bypoll after meeting West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, a day before the withdrawal deadline. Mamata Banerjee subsequently announced that her faction would support the Congress candidate in Nandigram, amid the wider dispute over the TMC’s name and symbol.
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India rejects Pakistan account of INS Kolkata-Hunain collision
India has rejected Pakistan’s allegations over the September 15 collision between INS Kolkata and PNS Hunain in the North Arabian Sea. On Friday, the MEA said the Pakistani vessel carried out a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre that violated a 1991 India-Pakistan agreement and international regulations governing collisions at sea; Pakistan has disputed India’s account. Read full story.
Swatantra Bhardwaj released from Tihar on interim bail
Social media influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj has been released from Tihar Jail after a Delhi court granted him three weeks’ interim bail in connection with an alleged assault on the father of a student activist during a Jantar Mantar protest. The court barred him from discussing the case publicly, contacting the complainant or witnesses, or tampering with evidence, with further proceedings scheduled for October 6.Read full story.