India

Ahead of upcoming assembly elections, the Indian National Congress and AIMIM are clashing in Hyderabad’s Jubilee Hills over campaign strategy, while their national alliances grapple elsewhere—in particular the Bihar context where similar fault-lines are emerging. The dispute underscores how local dynamics mirror broader national divides north-and-south, revealing how party unity is challenged when regional identities and caste equations interplay with electoral strategy.

The first phase of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections recorded a turnout of around 64.66 per cent across 121 constituencies, marking the highest ever in the state’s history. The surge reflects heightened voter engagement at a time when alliances and mood-shifts dominate political calculations. While both the National Democratic Alliance and Mahagathbandhan claim advantage, analysts say the figure alone does not guarantee outcomes but sets a dynamic tone for the next phase.

Ahead of the Jubilee Hills by-poll, Telangana Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar slammed Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and the Congress for using a skullcap in campaign events, claiming religio-political posturing. He challenged AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi to perform ‘arti’ at a prominent Hindu temple to prove his credentials. The remarks have stirred heat ahead of the November 11 election and deepened communal undercurrents in the campaign.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Election Commission of India (EC) of attacking India’s constitution by orchestrating widespread vote manipulation, dubbing it “vote theft”. The claim came amid electoral-roll revisions and protests in Haryana, escalating tensions over democratic integrity. Gandhi stated that his party possessed substantial evidence pointing to mass deletions and fraudulent entries, and pledged to expose the issue to India’s youth.

In a significant aviation-security breach, a British national slated for deportation evaded immigration at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi after arriving from Bangkok. The individual slipped past check-ins on 28 October and remains at large as authorities launch a major manhunt. The case has strained oversight of deportation procedures at one of India’s busiest transit hubs.

A report by the Association for Democratic Reforms shows that 59 per cent of unrecognised political parties in Bihar failed to submit their mandatory financial disclosure for the fiscal year 2023-24. The lapse raises concerns about transparency, hidden funding and electoral accountability at grassroots level. The findings may push regulatory reform and stricter oversight of smaller political outfits.

A tragic stampede at the privately-managed Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, Kasibugga in Andhra Pradesh killed nine devotees—eight women and a 13-year-old boy—and injured dozens. Following the incident, the state government announced plans to take over the temple’s management. The rescue and inquiry highlight gaps in crowd management, private shrine regulation and safety of pilgrimage sites in India, especially during festivals.

The Supreme Court of India has issued a nationwide directive requiring municipal authorities to remove stray dogs from locations such as bus stands, railway stations, hospitals and sports complexes within eight weeks. The order mandates sterilisation of dogs prior to relocation and regular inspections of premises. Animal rights activists argue the move contradicts the Animal Birth Control Rules and raise concerns over feasibility and animal welfare.

The AIADMK leadership expelled fourteen members on November 7, 2025, for supporting senior leader K.A. Sengottaiyan, who had earlier been removed for anti-party activities. The purge, executed by General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, signals a deeper power struggle inside the opposition party. Analysts say the move may help centralize authority before Tamil Nadu’s 2026 elections but could alienate regional cadres critical to the AIADMK’s grassroots machinery.

The investigation into the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash has become a clash between rigorous scientific procedure and intense public emotion. Families continue to demand answers even as investigators trace technical data, flight recorders and debris patterns. The article explores how crash-investigation protocols intersect with grief, accountability and aviation-safety narratives in India.