Zeeshan Siddique, son of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, who was shot dead earlier this month, joined the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday morning. This decision comes ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. Siddique had been expelled from the Congress party in August due to allegations of cross-voting during legislative council polls. He is set to contest the Vandre (East) seat, which he won in 2019, against Varun Sardesai, the nephew of former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Sardesai represents a Shiv Sena faction that is allied with Congress and Sharad Pawar’s NCP in the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance.

The Centre is likely to initiate the process of restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, over five years after the region's statehood and special status were revoked, sources said. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, where the issue was discussed. The meeting lasted 30 minutes and was described as cordial. During the discussion, Mr. Shah assured the Centre's full support to the newly elected government in Jammu and Kashmir and confirmed that the process of restoring statehood would soon begin. This move is seen as a significant step toward political restoration in the region.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, contesting the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll, declared assets worth over Rs 12 crore in her affidavit submitted to the Election Commission of India. Her husband, Robert Vadra, declared assets amounting to nearly Rs 65 crore. Together, the couple’s net worth is Rs 78 crore, with combined liabilities exceeding Rs 10 crore. Priyanka’s income sources include rent, bank interest, and investments. Robert’s income comes from business and similar channels. Priyanka expressed her gratitude to Wayanad residents for their support as she campaigns for herself for the first time.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra filed her nomination for the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election, marking her first personal electoral campaign after 35 years of campaigning for others. Speaking at a public meeting in Wayanad, she expressed her unique experience, stating, "This is the first time I am campaigning in an election and seeking your support for myself." Priyanka highlighted her history of campaigning since age 17 for her father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and her mother and brother. She thanked Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for the opportunity to contest and emphasized her desire to represent the constituency, previously held by her brother Rahul Gandhi, who has vacated the seat.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi has officially announced her candidacy for the Lok Sabha by-election in Wayanad, Kerala, by signing her nomination papers on Wednesday. The by-election became necessary after her brother, Rahul Gandhi, decided to vacate the Wayanad seat, which he had previously won along with the Raebareli constituency. Priyanka Gandhi will participate in a roadshow with Rahul Gandhi before filing her nomination. This election marks Priyanka's first entry into the electoral arena, and her candidacy is crucial for Congress as it aims to retain the Wayanad seat in the upcoming polls.

Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav sparked controversy on Monday by using a cuss word for Chief Justice DY Chandrachud. This came after Yadav was asked to respond to the Chief Justice’s comment about praying for a solution in the Ayodhya case. Yadav initially denied making the remark but later backtracked after backlash. "Nobody asked me anything about the CJI," he told ANI. Party leader Akhilesh Yadav distanced himself from the incident, stating, "We all respect the CJI." Justice Chandrachud had earlier spoken about seeking divine help during the Ayodhya verdict deliberations.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini criticized the Delhi government, accusing them of deflecting blame for Yamuna River pollution. Saini responded to Delhi CM Atishi's claim that Haryana's industrial waste causes toxic foam in the river. He defended Haryana, saying the water sent to Delhi has a low Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) level. Saini also questioned how the ₹6,000 crore allocated under the Yamuna Action Plan was spent. BJP Delhi chief Virendra Sachdeva also attacked AAP for failing to address severe air pollution in the city, blaming their corruption for residents' health problems.

The BJP has released its first list of 99 candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly election, with key figures like Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule included. Fadnavis will contest from Nagpur South West, while Bawankule is fielded from Kamthi. Notable candidates include Ram Kadam, Nitesh Rane, and Sreejaya Chavan, daughter of ex-CM Ashok Chavan. The election is set for November 20, with vote counting on November 23. The BJP is contesting in alliance with Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah flagged off the Kashmir Marathon, with over 2,000 athletes from 13 countries participating. Abdullah, 54, ran a half-marathon (21 km) in under 2 hours, without prior training. The event, organized by the J&K Tourism Department, aimed to showcase Kashmir as a peaceful destination for international events. Top athletes, including Asian gold medallists and runners from Europe and Africa, competed. Abdullah expressed hopes for the marathon to become a global event, while participants praised the beauty and hospitality of Kashmir.

The BJP has named Kozhikode councilwoman Navya Haridas as its candidate for the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypolls, challenging Congress' Priyanka Gandhi. Haridas, a rising BJP leader known for her work in local governance and social outreach, will contest the seat vacated by Rahul Gandhi, who opted to retain Rae Bareli. The Wayanad bypoll on November 13, 2024, marks Priyanka’s parliamentary debut, making it a highly anticipated contest. Haridas, who has gained popularity in Kerala's political circles, is expected to be a key figure in the BJP's push to gain ground in the southern state.