Rush Hour: Row over Madhya Pradesh CM’s land purchases, TMC tells EC Mamata is party chief and more

Refusing an urgent hearing, the Supreme Court told petitioners to approach the Calcutta High Court against the Bharatiya Janata Party government in West Bengal denying ration benefits to those excluded from the electoral rolls after the special intensive revision. The petition was filed by the Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity, a farm labourers’ union.

It had argued that 35 lakh to 60 lakh ration cards could become inactive if the government applies the new criterion.

Linking ration benefits to the electoral roll revision exercise violated the fundamental rights to equality and life, the union said, adding that the court itself had clarified that exclusion because of the revision exercise would not determine the citizenship status of a person. Read on.

The Congress on Tuesday alleged that the “engine of loot was running at full speed” in Madhya Pradesh, citing a report by The Indian Express. The newspaper reported that Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, his family members and their real estate companies have bought at least 168 acres of land in Ujjain since December 2023 in areas that will most benefit from infrastructure projects.

The land, spanning at least 137 plots, was bought at Rs 45 crore between December 13, 2023, when Yadav took oath as chief minister, and December 2025, according to...

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