In the lead-up to the January 15 civic elections in Maharashtra, 68 candidates from the BJP and its Mahayuti allies were declared winners unopposed, with 44 from the BJP, 22 from Shiv Sena (Shinde) and two from NCP after opposition contenders withdrew their nominations or failed to file papers, particularly in key bodies like Kalyan-Dombivli and Pune. BJP leaders credited the sweep to the party’s popularity and strong election strategy. However, opposition parties accused the ruling alliance of using money, pressure and undue influence on returning officers to force withdrawals, calling the process unfair and undermining democracy. (PC: HT)

A six-month-old boy died in Indore after drinking formula prepared with municipal tap water amid a contamination outbreak in Bhagirathpura, officials said. The child, Avyan, was born after his family waited ten years. His grandmother Krishna Sahu told PTI they have not accepted state compensation. She said the baby developed diarrhoea, was treated at home on medical advice, but his condition worsened and he died in hospital on December 29. Residents allege contaminated water has caused several deaths, though the health department has confirmed four so far. More than 1,400 people have reported vomiting and diarrhoea in the area. (PC: HT)

The BJP criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for allegedly threatening Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit to the state, calling her remarks unacceptable and labelling her governance as “tanasahi” (dictatorship). BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra claimed Banerjee suggested Shah could not leave his hotel without her “permission,” framing it as a threat not just to him but to the nation’s democratic norms. The party also accused her of failing to protect BJP workers and allowing political violence. Leaders alleged that violence and attacks on democracy in Bengal have worsened under her rule, and insisted BJP will win a strong mandate in the upcoming elections. (PC: The Hindu)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sharply criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding his resignation for “failing” to prevent recent terror attacks in Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir, questioning the Centre’s handling of national security. She challenged Shah’s allegation that West Bengal is a hub of infiltration, asking why attacks occurred outside Bengal if only it had security lapses. Banerjee invoked mythological figures to accuse Shah of political motives ahead of Bengal’s assembly elections, rejecting claims about border fencing and blaming the Centre for double standards. Her party also hit back through senior TMC leaders. (PC: ANI)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused authorities of conducting Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls using artificial intelligence, dubbing it a "huge scam." Speaking at a rally in Bankura ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, Banerjee claimed that poor and common citizens are being tortured through the SIR process. She criticized the BJP's recurring promise to build "shonar Bangla" (prosperous West Bengal) before every election, questioning how they would achieve this when atrocities are allegedly committed against Bengali-speaking people in BJP-led states. The Chief Minister's allegations come as political tensions escalate in the state ahead of crucial polls, with the electoral roll revision process becoming a contentious issue. (PC: The Indian Express)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged that the Indian National Congress is fractured into two rival factions — one loyal to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the other to her brother Rahul Gandhi — signalling deep internal discord within the main opposition party. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla claimed the division has surfaced at the national level, not just in states, with leaders publicly taking sides and some questioning Rahul’s leadership, while others align with Priyanka’s influence. The BJP asserts that calls to “remove Rahul and bring Priyanka” are gaining traction, although Congress has not responded to the allegations. (PC: The Hindu)

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh sparked controversy by posting praise for the organisational strength of the RSS and BJP, sharing a throwback photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rise through their ranks — triggering debate about unity within the party. Singh later clarified he opposes RSS-BJP ideology, saying his comments were about organisational lessons, not endorsement. The remarks exposed divided views among Congress leaders, with some defending his call for reform and others stressing there is nothing to learn from RSS, citing historical ideological conflicts. Party leaders stressed overall unity despite differing opinions. 

Bangladesh political platform Inqilab Moncho announced road blockades in all divisional cities from Sunday to demand justice for leader Sharif Osman Hadi. The group said the action would start at 11 am local time. Members have continued a sit in at Shahbagh in Dhaka since Friday. Local media reported similar protests in Sylhet, Chattogram and Kushtia on Saturday. Addressing supporters, member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber warned that protests could spread to Jamuna, parliament or the cantonment if the government did not act. Hadi was shot in Dhaka on December 12 and later died in Singapore. His death has led to unrest across parts of the country. (PC: HT)

The Election Commission has released Assam’s draft electoral rolls after a Special Revision exercise ahead of the Assembly polls. The state now has 2.51 crore registered voters, not counting about 93,000 doubtful voters, known as D-voters. A total of 10.56 lakh names were removed. Officials said nearly 4.79 lakh deletions were due to deaths, over 5.23 lakh voters had moved from their listed homes, and about 53,600 were marked as similar or duplicate entries. The door-to-door check ran from November 22 to December 20 across over 61 lakh households. Voters can file claims or objections till January 22. (PC: HT)

The Central Bureau of Investigation will move the Supreme Court against a Delhi High Court order that suspended the life sentence of former BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case. Sengar was convicted in December 2019 for kidnapping and raping a minor girl. The court granted him bail while his appeal is pending. It barred him from coming within five kilometres of the survivor’s home or threatening her or her mother. Any breach will cancel bail. The survivor, now 25, held a protest in Delhi and met Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. Sengar will stay in jail as he is also serving a 10-year term for the custodial death of the survivor’s father. (PC: HT)