September 26, 2026

PM Modi in a family photo with other leaders at Brics Business Forum 2026. (ANI) NEW DELHI: The Brics bloc on Saturday agreed on a joint declaration that it is “unlikely to name any country but will condemn unilateral war by any country,” Reuters reported, citing four sources.The agreement comes as leaders of the 11-member grouping gather in New Delhi for the annual Brics summit this weekend.Member countries have been working to bridge differences between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, which are on opposite sides of the Gulf conflict, to reach consensus on the declaration, the sources said.The leaders are expected to approve the declaration on Saturday, according to the sources.India is hosting the 18th Brics Summit in New Delhi under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.The summit reflects India’s focus on strengthening cooperation among member countries and addressing shared priorities, with leaders expected to discuss major global and regional developments.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe Brics grouping comprises Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.The bloc’s partner countries are Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.India began its fourth Brics chairship on January 1, having previously chaired the grouping in 2012, 2016 and 2021. The year 2026 also marks 20 years since Brics was established.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKanchan YadavKanchan Yadav is a writer at The Times of India, where she covers business, politics, international affairs and social issues. Her reporting also focuses on policy, governance and economic developments, with a close lens on how decisions in corridors of power affect everyday lives and community well-being.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPunjab Police Brings Amrit Dalam Back From Moldova | First European ExtraditionTrump vs BRICS? Modi, Putin & Pezeshkian Push Local Currencies Amid US Sanctions And Trade WarModi-Pezeshkian Meet: Can India Help End Iran War? Hormuz, Chabahar Stakes In Focus | WatchArmy Armoury Breach: Retired Havaldar Stole AK-203 Rifles, INSAS Guns & Thousands Of Rounds | WatchPM Modi At BRICS Forum: India Backs Secure Trade Routes, UPI Power And New Global PartnershipsFrom ‘Su-57, Oil & $100 BN Trade’, What Modi & Putin Discussed Ahead of BRICS 2026?’As A Bengali…’: Suvendu Eats Fish Bhog At Kalighat Amid Row Over Bageshwar Baba’s Non-Veg RemarkPiyush Goyal Pushes Local Currency Trade, Calls For Linked Payment Systems At BRICS Business Forum‘Congress Wants Kashmiris In Jail?’: J&K CM Omar Abdullah Snaps Back At Ally Over Vande Mataram RowPM Modi’s ‘Global Welfare’ Message Ahead Of BRICS Summit, Bilaterals With Putin & Xi Jinping123PhotostoriesAlia Bhatt proves beige can bite in a corset top and flared pants at the ‘Don’t Be Shy’ trailer launch‘They say I have multiple wives’: Former ADC to President, Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal breaks silence on viral rumoursWhat should women actually track besides their period? A gynaecologist shares 5 reproductive health goals worth setting“I’m too young to have cancer”: Why young Indians are dismissing warning signs that should not be ignored5 signs they like you but are too scared to make the first moveChatGPT AI 80s trend: How to make Indian cricketer-style retro photos – step by step guideKiara Advani’s Ermanno Scervino power suit is what happens when corporate dressing gets a glam upgrade10 beautiful baby names that reflect kindness and compassion7 most expensive Indian sarees and why do they cost so muchNo pain, no problem? Doctor explain why a painless breast lump can still be an early warning sign of cancer123Hot PicksBRICS Summit 2026Piyush GoyalXI JinpingNew Delhi railway stationJaipur murderAnurag UpadhyayFMGE October registrationNitin GadkariNEET PG Answer KeyTop TrendingPatrick MahomesGracie Hunt FitnessKim and Randy Orton Net WorthCole HockerLebron JamesDenzel ward Net WorthTravis Kelce MansionSam Darnold InjuryUS Iran WarSophie Cunningham Career

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PM Modi in a family photo with other leaders at Brics Business Forum 2026. (ANI) NEW DELHI: The Brics bloc on Saturday agreed on a joint declaration that it is “unlikely to name any country but will condemn unilateral war by any country,” Reuters reported, citing four sources.The agreement comes as leaders of the 11-member grouping gather in New Delhi for the annual Brics summit this weekend.Member countries have been working to bridge differences between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, which are on opposite sides of the Gulf conflict, to reach consensus on the declaration, the sources said.The leaders are expected to approve the declaration on Saturday, according to the sources.India is hosting the 18th Brics Summit in New Delhi under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.The summit reflects India’s focus on strengthening cooperation among member countries and addressing shared priorities, with leaders expected to discuss major global and regional developments.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe Brics grouping comprises Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.The bloc’s partner countries are Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.India began its fourth Brics chairship on January 1, having previously chaired the grouping in 2012, 2016 and 2021. The year 2026 also marks 20 years since Brics was established.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKanchan YadavKanchan Yadav is a writer at The Times of India, where she covers business, politics, international affairs and social issues. Her reporting also focuses on policy, governance and economic developments, with a close lens on how decisions in corridors of power affect everyday lives and community well-being.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPunjab Police Brings Amrit Dalam Back From Moldova | First European ExtraditionTrump vs BRICS? Modi, Putin & Pezeshkian Push Local Currencies Amid US Sanctions And Trade WarModi-Pezeshkian Meet: Can India Help End Iran War? Hormuz, Chabahar Stakes In Focus | WatchArmy Armoury Breach: Retired Havaldar Stole AK-203 Rifles, INSAS Guns & Thousands Of Rounds | WatchPM Modi At BRICS Forum: India Backs Secure Trade Routes, UPI Power And New Global PartnershipsFrom ‘Su-57, Oil & 0 BN Trade’, What Modi & Putin Discussed Ahead of BRICS 2026?’As A Bengali…’: Suvendu Eats Fish Bhog At Kalighat Amid Row Over Bageshwar Baba’s Non-Veg RemarkPiyush Goyal Pushes Local Currency Trade, Calls For Linked Payment Systems At BRICS Business Forum‘Congress Wants Kashmiris In Jail?’: J&K CM Omar Abdullah Snaps Back At Ally Over Vande Mataram RowPM Modi’s ‘Global Welfare’ Message Ahead Of BRICS Summit, Bilaterals With Putin & Xi Jinping123PhotostoriesAlia Bhatt proves beige can bite in a corset top and flared pants at the ‘Don’t Be Shy’ trailer launch‘They say I have multiple wives’: Former ADC to President, Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal breaks silence on viral rumoursWhat should women actually track besides their period? A gynaecologist shares 5 reproductive health goals worth setting“I’m too young to have cancer”: Why young Indians are dismissing warning signs that should not be ignored5 signs they like you but are too scared to make the first moveChatGPT AI 80s trend: How to make Indian cricketer-style retro photos – step by step guideKiara Advani’s Ermanno Scervino power suit is what happens when corporate dressing gets a glam upgrade10 beautiful baby names that reflect kindness and compassion7 most expensive Indian sarees and why do they cost so muchNo pain, no problem? Doctor explain why a painless breast lump can still be an early warning sign of cancer123Hot PicksBRICS Summit 2026Piyush GoyalXI JinpingNew Delhi railway stationJaipur murderAnurag UpadhyayFMGE October registrationNitin GadkariNEET PG Answer KeyTop TrendingPatrick MahomesGracie Hunt FitnessKim and Randy Orton Net WorthCole HockerLebron JamesDenzel ward Net WorthTravis Kelce MansionSam Darnold InjuryUS Iran WarSophie Cunningham Career


Brics declaration unlikely to name any nation but condemn unilateral war imposition: Report
PM Modi in a family photo with other leaders at Brics Business Forum 2026. (ANI)

NEW DELHI: The Brics bloc on Saturday agreed on a joint declaration that it is “unlikely to name any country but will condemn unilateral war by any country,” Reuters reported, citing four sources.The agreement comes as leaders of the 11-member grouping gather in New Delhi for the annual Brics summit this weekend.Member countries have been working to bridge differences between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, which are on opposite sides of the Gulf conflict, to reach consensus on the declaration, the sources said.The leaders are expected to approve the declaration on Saturday, according to the sources.India is hosting the 18th Brics Summit in New Delhi under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.The summit reflects India’s focus on strengthening cooperation among member countries and addressing shared priorities, with leaders expected to discuss major global and regional developments.

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INDIA bloc parties likely to meet over EC row (PTI) NEW DELHI: Opposition INDIA bloc parties are likely to meet in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss concerns over the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, besides other issues, sources said.The proposed meeting comes amid increased coordination among opposition parties over the Election Commission following reports of differences within the poll panel over aspects of the SIR exercise.The parties have been in touch with each other on the issue and are discussing a joint response, sources added.The CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML)-Liberation have demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and an immediate halt to the SIR, while the Congress has also stepped up its attack on Kumar.The Congress Working Committee is scheduled to meet on September 29 to discuss its strategy on the issue.The developments have also brought West Bengal’s bitter political rivals, the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and the CPI(M), on the same page on the Election Commission issue.CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby wrote to the INDIA bloc and other opposition leaders seeking a meeting over the developments, and subsequently spoke to Banerjee, who agreed the situation warranted coordinated action.Opposition parties are working on a fresh removal notice against CEC Kumar, which is likely to be submitted in both Houses of Parliament after being vetted by legal experts. It would be the third such attempt by the opposition.The opposition’s latest mobilisation follows an Indian Express report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised objections on several occasions over decisions and orders regarding the SIR.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe Election Commission has said that differing views and observations are a normal part of institutional deliberations and asserted that its orders have full legal sanction and follow statutory procedures.Earlier, 23 political parties and an Independent MP jointly approached the Chief Justice of India over the SIR process and other election-related issues, underlining the broader opposition coordination on the issue.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging123Hot PicksMandeep K BhandariBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court

INDIA bloc parties likely to meet over EC row (PTI) NEW DELHI: Opposition INDIA bloc parties are likely to meet in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss concerns over the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, besides other issues, sources said.The proposed meeting comes amid increased coordination among opposition parties over the Election Commission following reports of differences within the poll panel over aspects of the SIR exercise.The parties have been in touch with each other on the issue and are discussing a joint response, sources added.The CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML)-Liberation have demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and an immediate halt to the SIR, while the Congress has also stepped up its attack on Kumar.The Congress Working Committee is scheduled to meet on September 29 to discuss its strategy on the issue.The developments have also brought West Bengal’s bitter political rivals, the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and the CPI(M), on the same page on the Election Commission issue.CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby wrote to the INDIA bloc and other opposition leaders seeking a meeting over the developments, and subsequently spoke to Banerjee, who agreed the situation warranted coordinated action.Opposition parties are working on a fresh removal notice against CEC Kumar, which is likely to be submitted in both Houses of Parliament after being vetted by legal experts. It would be the third such attempt by the opposition.The opposition’s latest mobilisation follows an Indian Express report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised objections on several occasions over decisions and orders regarding the SIR.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe Election Commission has said that differing views and observations are a normal part of institutional deliberations and asserted that its orders have full legal sanction and follow statutory procedures.Earlier, 23 political parties and an Independent MP jointly approached the Chief Justice of India over the SIR process and other election-related issues, underlining the broader opposition coordination on the issue.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging123Hot PicksMandeep K BhandariBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court

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Eggs thrown at TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh’s car in Hooghly NEW DELHI: TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh’s car was pelted with eggs on Saturday while he was travelling to Serampore in Hooghly to attend a political rally addressed by former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.The incident took place in the Uttarpara area, where a group of people carrying black flags surrounded Ghosh’s vehicle and shouted the slogan “go black”, a party leader said.The group pelted the TMC legislator’s car with eggs and stones, breaking its rear windshield.Reacting to the incident, Ghosh said, “This is jungle raj. They attacked my car with stones and eggs and blocked the road. No police personnel were present there. I am now returning to Kolkata and will go straight to Lal Bazaar or Bhawani Bhawan to lodge a complaint.”TMC leaders alleged that the incident was the “handiwork of the BJP”.Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to address the public meeting later on Saturday.The rally at Serampore Court grounds had earlier faced legal hurdles before the Calcutta high court allowed the meeting, subject to conditions including a cap on attendance and police security arrangements.The incident comes amid a political standoff between the Trinamool Congress and police in Serampore ahead of the meeting. Police arrested two Trinamool volunteers, Sudip Acharya and Nur Islam, on Thursday in connection with extortion cases.A day before the rally, the TMC claimed that police had rounded up more than 150 party workers, including women, across the district. Serampore MP Kalyan Banerjee condemned the action. “Police have started a massive action against our workers and have rounded up more than 150 of them, including women. Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesDespite this, a large number of people remain interested in attending Didi’s meeting,” he said.Following a meeting with local police officials on Friday, Asit Mazumdar, convener of Serampore district TMC, accused the police of disrupting party operations. “We submitted all required documents to comply with the HC order, but police started massive arrests, forcing most of our workers to flee,” Mazumdar said, questioning the justification behind targeting the event’s volunteers.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAadrita HalderWrites on social matters, geopolitics, and trending issues for the Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging123Hot PicksMandeep K BhandariBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court

Eggs thrown at TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh’s car in Hooghly NEW DELHI: TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh’s car was pelted with eggs on Saturday while he was travelling to Serampore in Hooghly to attend a political rally addressed by former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.The incident took place in the Uttarpara area, where a group of people carrying black flags surrounded Ghosh’s vehicle and shouted the slogan “go black”, a party leader said.The group pelted the TMC legislator’s car with eggs and stones, breaking its rear windshield.Reacting to the incident, Ghosh said, “This is jungle raj. They attacked my car with stones and eggs and blocked the road. No police personnel were present there. I am now returning to Kolkata and will go straight to Lal Bazaar or Bhawani Bhawan to lodge a complaint.”TMC leaders alleged that the incident was the “handiwork of the BJP”.Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to address the public meeting later on Saturday.The rally at Serampore Court grounds had earlier faced legal hurdles before the Calcutta high court allowed the meeting, subject to conditions including a cap on attendance and police security arrangements.The incident comes amid a political standoff between the Trinamool Congress and police in Serampore ahead of the meeting. Police arrested two Trinamool volunteers, Sudip Acharya and Nur Islam, on Thursday in connection with extortion cases.A day before the rally, the TMC claimed that police had rounded up more than 150 party workers, including women, across the district. Serampore MP Kalyan Banerjee condemned the action. “Police have started a massive action against our workers and have rounded up more than 150 of them, including women. Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesDespite this, a large number of people remain interested in attending Didi’s meeting,” he said.Following a meeting with local police officials on Friday, Asit Mazumdar, convener of Serampore district TMC, accused the police of disrupting party operations. “We submitted all required documents to comply with the HC order, but police started massive arrests, forcing most of our workers to flee,” Mazumdar said, questioning the justification behind targeting the event’s volunteers.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAadrita HalderWrites on social matters, geopolitics, and trending issues for the Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging123Hot PicksMandeep K BhandariBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court

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NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday took a jibe at Mamata Banerjee’s reported outreach to the CPM amid the ongoing row over the Election Commission, saying the former chief minister was trying to find a role in the opposition INDIA bloc after losing power in the state.Speaking to reporters, West Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh said CPM leaders had earlier tried to reach out to Mamata, but she had never spoken to them. He said the political equations had now changed.”Earlier, when they would call Mamata Banerjee, she never spoke to them. Now the situation is reversed. She seems to be approaching them or expecting a call from them,” the West Bengal minister said.”As she has no role here, she is trying to play a role somewhere else,” he added.The ongoing row over the Election Commission has brought West Bengal’s bitter political rivals, the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and the CPM, on the same page.CPM general secretary M A Baby spoke to Mamata, who agreed that the situation warranted coordinated action.Meanwhile, INDIA bloc parties are likely to meet in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss concerns over the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, besides other issues, news agency PTI reported, citing sources.The proposed meeting comes amid increased coordination among opposition parties over the Election Commission, following reports of differences within the poll panel over aspects of the SIR exercise.Opposition parties are also working on a fresh removal notice against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, which is likely to be submitted in both Houses of Parliament after being vetted by legal experts. It would be the third such attempt by the opposition.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe latest mobilisation follows an Indian Express report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on several occasions over decisions and orders related to the SIR.The Election Commission has said that differing views and observations are a normal part of institutional deliberations and asserted that its orders have full legal sanction and follow statutory procedures.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorRohitashwa RanjanRohitashwa Ranjan is a digital journalist with The Times of India, where he decodes Indian politics as a carefully staged production with scripts, subtext and everything behind. His stories track elections, party dynamics and the things that often are buried beneath the headlines. When not parsing vote shares or alliances, he is usually reading between the lines, where the real story tends to reside.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging123Hot PicksMandeep K BhandariBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday took a jibe at Mamata Banerjee’s reported outreach to the CPM amid the ongoing row over the Election Commission, saying the former chief minister was trying to find a role in the opposition INDIA bloc after losing power in the state.Speaking to reporters, West Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh said CPM leaders had earlier tried to reach out to Mamata, but she had never spoken to them. He said the political equations had now changed.”Earlier, when they would call Mamata Banerjee, she never spoke to them. Now the situation is reversed. She seems to be approaching them or expecting a call from them,” the West Bengal minister said.”As she has no role here, she is trying to play a role somewhere else,” he added.The ongoing row over the Election Commission has brought West Bengal’s bitter political rivals, the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and the CPM, on the same page.CPM general secretary M A Baby spoke to Mamata, who agreed that the situation warranted coordinated action.Meanwhile, INDIA bloc parties are likely to meet in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss concerns over the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, besides other issues, news agency PTI reported, citing sources.The proposed meeting comes amid increased coordination among opposition parties over the Election Commission, following reports of differences within the poll panel over aspects of the SIR exercise.Opposition parties are also working on a fresh removal notice against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, which is likely to be submitted in both Houses of Parliament after being vetted by legal experts. It would be the third such attempt by the opposition.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe latest mobilisation follows an Indian Express report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on several occasions over decisions and orders related to the SIR.The Election Commission has said that differing views and observations are a normal part of institutional deliberations and asserted that its orders have full legal sanction and follow statutory procedures.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorRohitashwa RanjanRohitashwa Ranjan is a digital journalist with The Times of India, where he decodes Indian politics as a carefully staged production with scripts, subtext and everything behind. His stories track elections, party dynamics and the things that often are buried beneath the headlines. When not parsing vote shares or alliances, he is usually reading between the lines, where the real story tends to reside.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging123Hot PicksMandeep K BhandariBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court

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Kumaraswamy said there was a need to distinguish between reports appearing in the media and the actual situation inside the EC NEW DELHI: Union minister HD Kumaraswamy on Saturday called on the Election Commission EC to clarify amid the continuing row over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.Kumaraswamy said the responsibility for addressing reports of internal differences lay with the Election Commission itself and that the country needed to know what was actually happening within the constitutional body.“It is not the question of demands by any party or any leader. The responsibility of the Election Commission, that is important. What is the ground reality? What is going on inside the Election Commission?” Kumaraswamy said.His remarks came a day after three NDA allies Chirag Paswan’s LJP(RV), Upendra Kushwaha’s RLM and Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP separately urged the Election Commission to address concerns surrounding the SIR exercise and reports of differences within the poll panel.Kumaraswamy said there was a need to distinguish between reports appearing in the media and the actual situation inside the ECI.“The difference between what we are watching in the media and what is the real fact has to come out by these members. Because this is an important organisation, an autonomous body; why has it happened? That reality they must tell the media and the country. Their responsibility is greater. It is not an easy thing. Those three Election Commission members, including the chairman, what is the problem between them? What is the fault in that? Anything is there, they have to spell it,” he said.The issue gained traction after The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded 14 written dissents or objections over a 10-month period. The reports have prompted opposition demands for action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and calls to halt the SIR process.The ECI has maintained that differing views, internal notes and queries are part of its institutional functioning and said its final decisions on the SIR were unanimous. What NDA allies saidLJP(RV) chief and Union minister Chirag Paswan on Friday said he did not intend to “defend what is a constitutional body” but argued that the Election Commission should address public concerns directly.“If questions are being raised about its conduct, it is the responsibility of EC, especially the chief election commissioner (Gyanesh Kumar), to present its side firmly,” Paswan said.He added: “If people start losing trust in the electoral system, that will not augur well for democracy and, therefore, I think the EC must come out with its clarification more forcefully. It need not respond to what Rahul Gandhi and his associates are saying. But it must dispel misgivings in the minds of the people.”RLM president Upendra Kushwaha also called for an immediate clarification, writing on social media, “There is considerable confusion among the public regarding the controversy surrounding SIR. This issue needs to be addressed. The EC should immediately clarify the situation to dispel this confusion.”The TDP too sought greater transparency. TDP parliamentary party neta Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu said, “The EC is a constitutional institution entrusted with a crucial responsibility in our democracy. Therefore, whenever questions are raised by anyone, providing appropriate clarification and maintaining transparency will only help strengthen public confidence in the institution.”Opposition raises allegationsMeanwhile, Jharkhand Minister Irfan Ansari criticised Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR exercise and alleged that names had been removed from electoral rolls.Speaking to ANI, Ansari alleged that the ECI had acted in a manner that benefited the BJP and questioned whether the poll panel would work according to the directions of a political party. The allegations were not independently established in his remarks.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines“I want to ask the citizens of the country, and I even want to ask the BJP voters: Names have been removed from the voter list; your name might have been removed too,” Ansari said.He also alleged that names of Muslims, Dalits and Adivasis had been deleted from voter lists and demanded that elections in Bihar be held again.“The Commission is an independent, neutral body. No political party should interfere with it,” he said, while alleging that Kumar had interfered and helped the BJP.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorVivek DubeyA digital news desk journalist at The Times of India with over two years of experience. Closely tracks foreign affairs and international politics. Fondness for precise language and clever headlines. When not editing news, he is usually refining a turn of phrase.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? 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Kumaraswamy said there was a need to distinguish between reports appearing in the media and the actual situation inside the EC NEW DELHI: Union minister HD Kumaraswamy on Saturday called on the Election Commission EC to clarify amid the continuing row over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.Kumaraswamy said the responsibility for addressing reports of internal differences lay with the Election Commission itself and that the country needed to know what was actually happening within the constitutional body.“It is not the question of demands by any party or any leader. The responsibility of the Election Commission, that is important. What is the ground reality? What is going on inside the Election Commission?” Kumaraswamy said.His remarks came a day after three NDA allies Chirag Paswan’s LJP(RV), Upendra Kushwaha’s RLM and Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP separately urged the Election Commission to address concerns surrounding the SIR exercise and reports of differences within the poll panel.Kumaraswamy said there was a need to distinguish between reports appearing in the media and the actual situation inside the ECI.“The difference between what we are watching in the media and what is the real fact has to come out by these members. Because this is an important organisation, an autonomous body; why has it happened? That reality they must tell the media and the country. Their responsibility is greater. It is not an easy thing. Those three Election Commission members, including the chairman, what is the problem between them? What is the fault in that? Anything is there, they have to spell it,” he said.The issue gained traction after The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded 14 written dissents or objections over a 10-month period. The reports have prompted opposition demands for action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and calls to halt the SIR process.The ECI has maintained that differing views, internal notes and queries are part of its institutional functioning and said its final decisions on the SIR were unanimous. What NDA allies saidLJP(RV) chief and Union minister Chirag Paswan on Friday said he did not intend to “defend what is a constitutional body” but argued that the Election Commission should address public concerns directly.“If questions are being raised about its conduct, it is the responsibility of EC, especially the chief election commissioner (Gyanesh Kumar), to present its side firmly,” Paswan said.He added: “If people start losing trust in the electoral system, that will not augur well for democracy and, therefore, I think the EC must come out with its clarification more forcefully. It need not respond to what Rahul Gandhi and his associates are saying. But it must dispel misgivings in the minds of the people.”RLM president Upendra Kushwaha also called for an immediate clarification, writing on social media, “There is considerable confusion among the public regarding the controversy surrounding SIR. This issue needs to be addressed. The EC should immediately clarify the situation to dispel this confusion.”The TDP too sought greater transparency. TDP parliamentary party neta Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu said, “The EC is a constitutional institution entrusted with a crucial responsibility in our democracy. Therefore, whenever questions are raised by anyone, providing appropriate clarification and maintaining transparency will only help strengthen public confidence in the institution.”Opposition raises allegationsMeanwhile, Jharkhand Minister Irfan Ansari criticised Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR exercise and alleged that names had been removed from electoral rolls.Speaking to ANI, Ansari alleged that the ECI had acted in a manner that benefited the BJP and questioned whether the poll panel would work according to the directions of a political party. The allegations were not independently established in his remarks.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines“I want to ask the citizens of the country, and I even want to ask the BJP voters: Names have been removed from the voter list; your name might have been removed too,” Ansari said.He also alleged that names of Muslims, Dalits and Adivasis had been deleted from voter lists and demanded that elections in Bihar be held again.“The Commission is an independent, neutral body. No political party should interfere with it,” he said, while alleging that Kumar had interfered and helped the BJP.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorVivek DubeyA digital news desk journalist at The Times of India with over two years of experience. Closely tracks foreign affairs and international politics. Fondness for precise language and clever headlines. When not editing news, he is usually refining a turn of phrase.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging123Hot PicksMandeep K BhandariBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court

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