National Song

The Karnataka government has directed that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram be sung at state government programmes, with an exception for events attended by the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister or Governor. The decision has triggered political discussion in the state.

A political controversy has erupted in Gujarat after Congress MLA Imran Khedawala sat down during part of the Vande Mataram rendition in the state Assembly. The BJP has demanded an apology, while Khedawala defended his decision and said he stood for the traditionally sung portions of the national song.

The Supreme Court has resumed final hearings in petitions concerning the Shiv Sena split and the disqualification of MLAs from the Eknath Shinde-led faction. The Shinde camp is defending the Election Commission’s decision recognising its organisational majority in the party dispute.

Police conducted a search at the residence of former Tamil Nadu minister and DMK leader Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi as part of an investigation into an alleged private-school fraud case. The development has drawn attention to the state’s political and legal landscape.