Punjab Government

A political controversy has erupted in Punjab after the death of a Sangrur farmer whose family says he had raised concerns about drug addiction and government action against the drug trade. Rahul Gandhi has demanded the resignation of Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and called for an independent investigation.

Punjab politics has taken a new turn after farmers called off a week-long protest following written assurances from the state government. The government agreed to convene a special Assembly session on interstate water agreements and address several agricultural demands, temporarily reducing tensions between farmers and the AAP administration.

The upcoming Nandigram Assembly bypoll has triggered fresh political discussions in West Bengal after a Congress leader claimed that the Trinamool Congress had offered the seat to Congress. The TMC denied making such a proposal, adding another point of contention ahead of the October 6 bypoll.

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.