Politics News India Today

Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi visited the Tirupati temple on Friday, December 26th, to offer prayers to Lord Venkateswara Swamy. He was received by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) officials, who facilitated his darshan. Following the prayers, priests honored Governor Ravi with silk clothes and presented him with the temple's prasadams.

A plastic waste management unit in Chhaygaon, Assam, reportedly ceased functioning within two months of its July 2023 inauguration, despite significant public funds allocated. Student unions allege mechanical failure caused the shutdown, leading to concerns about planning, maintenance, and accountability for government-funded projects. They are demanding authorities revive the unit or explain its future, warning of potential misuse of public resources.

Sardar Udham Singh, an Indian revolutionary, is remembered for avenging the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. Witnessing the event and aiding victims fueled his resolve against British rule. In 1940, he assassinated Michael O'Dwyer, the former Punjab Lieutenant Governor, whom he blamed for the massacre. Singh, who used names symbolizing religious unity, was executed by the British in London in July 1940 after a 21-year wait to carry out his revenge.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) responded to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena's letter holding Arvind Kejriwal responsible for Delhi's pollution and infrastructure issues by launching a poster campaign. The AAP poster depicted the LG as 'Gajni,' suggesting memory loss, to counter his criticism. Saxena had previously written to Kejriwal, stating his concerns about pollution were ignored and that Kejriwal downplayed the issue. The exchange occurs as Delhi's air quality remains in the 'poor' category.

Uttar Pradesh will observe a public holiday on Saturday, December 27, for Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti. All schools, colleges, and government offices across the state will be closed. The holiday was declared by the Department of General Administration. Guru Gobind Singh, born in 1666, was the tenth Sikh guru and founded the Khalsa Panth, emphasizing courage and unity.

The Calcutta High Court quashed an FIR against a man accused of felling four trees in a Kolkata housing society. Justice Chaitali Chatterjee (Das) ordered the petitioner to plant at least four saplings, stating that this action would help offset the damage and promote sustainability. The court noted the accused's argument that prosecution requires prior state government sanction and that cutting branches might not constitute 'felling' under the West Bengal Trees Act, 2006.

An open letter from an 80-year-old Hindu Indian to Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, an 85-year-old Muslim Bangladeshi, appeals to their shared heritage from undivided India. The author, a history teacher, avoids historical dates but invokes cultural figures like Tagore and Nazrul Islam, and intellectuals Jyoti Basu and Amartya Sen. The letter expresses deep anxieties, metaphorically describing both individuals as prisoners facing a potential end, urging Yunus to appeal to a higher consciousness.

Multiple Indian government organizations, including the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), are offering a combined total of over 26,000 vacancies. The application deadlines for these positions, primarily for roles like Constable (GD) and technical posts, are set to close by the end of December 2025 and early January 2026. Eligibility criteria generally require a minimum of a 10th-grade pass, with selection processes involving computer-based exams, physical tests, and medical examinations.

Mumbai's 2026 BMC elections feature a significant realignment with Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray's MNS forming an alliance to capture the Marathi Manoos vote. They face the Mahayuti combine, led by Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and the BJP, which emphasizes development. The campaign centers on Marathi identity, with 10 key wards, including Aaditya Thackeray's home turf G-South and the historic Sena birthplace G-North, becoming crucial battlegrounds for control of the Marathi heartland.

Mumbai's D-Ward, encompassing elite areas like Malabar Hill and congested neighborhoods like Girgaon, faces significant civic challenges despite its prominence. Issues include aging infrastructure, water supply problems, traffic congestion, and inadequate public amenities. The ward, politically represented by Shiv Sena (UBT) and BJP, is home to diverse communities. Residents voice concerns over pollution, construction impacts, and unkept civic promises as the BMC elections approach.

Bangladesh is experiencing unrest following the killing of a Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, in Mymensingh, leading to six arrests and straining India-Bangladesh relations. Concurrently, BNP leader Tarique Rahman returned to Dhaka after 17 years in exile, addressing a large rally and promising a safe Bangladesh for all citizens, regardless of religion, ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections.

India's road transport ministry plans to implement barrier-free tolling and pass a new Road Safety Bill in 2026, aiming to reduce the annual 1.8 lakh road fatalities. Key highway projects like the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway are slated for completion. The new tolling system will use ANPR cameras and FASTag, reducing collection costs and waiting times. Non-compliance will result in e-notices and potential FASTag suspension.