India will be one of the strategic backdrops to the meeting between Xi and Trump

New Delhi will be one of the strategic backdrops to the meeting between Xi and Trump, say experts.

 For China, improving ties with India also means stabilising relations with a country that has simultaneously deepened its strategic relationship with the US. For New Delhi, the Modi-Xi thaw opens another diplomatic channel with Beijing even as India maintains defence and security ties with the US. And for Washington, India's position matters because the US-China contest is increasingly playing out across the wider Indo-Pacific.

The newly passed Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 would also be a talking point among the major issues shaping the meeting between the leaders of the world's two superpowers. China faces the risk of 100% US tariffs.

 Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a three-day visit to the US, as Washington and Beijing seek to manage their ties amid growing vulnerabilities. But Xi's India visit just two weeks earlier adds another layer to the Trump-Xi talks, bringing New Delhi's growing strategic relevance into focus.

Xi is meeting Trump for the second time this year. Earlier in May, the two Presidents had met in Beijing. According to Reuters, Xi and Trump are expected to discuss major bilateral issues, while Trump's earlier visit to Beijing in May had established the reciprocal nature of their summitry.

Taiwan is likely to be among the most sensitive subjects.

Xi is expected to press Trump to halt US arms sales to Taiwan, invoking the 1982 US-China joint communique. Beijing regards Taiwan as its territory and has repeatedly described the issue as a core diplomatic concern.

The meetings also come against a wider economic and technological contest involving tariffs, rare earths, artificial intelligence (AI) and trade. The UK-based Financial Times (FT) newspaper reported that extending the existing trade truce is among Xi's key objectives, alongside discussions on AI, the Iran war and major US agricultural and aviation purchases.

 Xi Jinping has called for extensive cooperation with Washington to avoid the “Thucydides trap” that could put the US and China on a military collision course amid rising tensions over artificial intelligence, trade and Taiwan.

At the start of his summit meeting with Donald Trump in the White House, the Chinese president laid out terms for a mutual understanding that he said could steer the two competing superpowers away from future military conflict and on to a road of mutual gain.

Rather than confrontation, conditions for “achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again go hand in hand” should be the goal Xi said, citing Trump’s political catchphrase.

Xi said, “the Thucydides trap can be overcome”, refering to the phenomenon, defined by the Greek historian, of tensions that arise when an emerging power challenges the dominance of an established power.

Xi invoked the phrase in his meeting with Trump in Beijing in May, asking the US president how he planned to avoid it.

His proposals for lessening tensions – which also included the invitation of 100,000 young Americans to visit China on student exchanges – come amid a period of intense competition between the two powers over artificial intelligence and trade, with each side imposing tariffs on the other.

Trump said that he had forged “a truly great friendship” with Xi. “President Xi and I have made tremendous strides on the issues facing our two countries,” he said. “Our teams have been working to encourage a more balances trading relationship, including the new market access for American farmers and ranchers.”

He said the current visit would include discussion overs security, technology and AI – which he called “super intelligence”, a term he introduced in his speech to the United Nations general assembly on Tuesday.

Xi also extolled his personal relationship with his American counterpart, saying: “President Trump and I have respect for each other. We have built personal rapport and stayed in touch.”

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Rahul Gandhi blasts BJP and Election Commission, says all laws passed since 2014 including GST are illegal

 Reacting to Indian Express report on 2 ECs objecting to discrepancies in SIR process, LoP Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi says, 

"... On 21st December 2023, a strange law was passed. A law was passed that makes the election commissioner immune to investigation. He is immune to the Indian legal system. On 7th February, we held our press conference on Maharashtra. 

RAHUL Gandhi drew parallael with North Korea and Iraq under Saddam Huussein.

Rahul said, “anti-incumbency does not happen in Saddam Hussein's Iraq and Kim Jong Un's North Korea.

 The former Congress president also made a sweeping claim, saying “all elections are being rigged.”

"Gyanesh Kumar was chosen by PM, Amit Shah and now two ECs are saying he's responsible for chaos, damage to our voting system," Rahul said.

 The Election Commission has rejected the allegations, saying its decisions on SIR were unanimous and that written notes, observations and differing views were part of its internal deliberations

"We are not going to let democracy in India be destroyed and remain silent," Gandhi said.

"Indira Gandhi was at the height of her popularity after she won the Bangladesh war (in 1971) and then faced massive anti-incumbency and pressure within a year or two. The same thing happens to leader after leader, to Congress leaders and to regional parties. But, for some reason, it does not happen to PM Modi, Amit Shah and the BJP," LoP said.

We made it very clear that vote-chory is going on, and we put proof on the table. After that, I gave a dissent note to the Prime Minister of India, where I said that the most fundamental aspect of an independent election commission, free from executive interference, is the process of choosing the election commissioners and the chief election commissioner. 

My view is thrown aside, and the gentleman is appointed by the Prime Minister of India. We then show Mahadevapura vote chori. The pressure is slowly building because we are getting more and more information.

 Information is leaking from inside, and we are getting it. Pressure is building up on the institution, and they are understanding that a problem is coming now. 

Then we do vote-chori adhikar yatra on 16th August, 1st September. On 18th September, we do Aland vote-chori. Here, we show a certain methodology that is taking place. These letters that start, start after our Aland vote-chori and at approximately the same time as our Haryana vote-chori. The ECs knew this. 

They understood what was going on. But then they decided that something needed to be done. That is when these letters start... We do Haryana vote-chori, which frankly is the most devastating presentation because of the level of discrepancies that have taken place there. Now, the two gentlemen make it public."

Zzzzz

The EC row is linked to opposition frustration. Desperation to discredit all elections and governance and judicial system in India. 

Are defeat of jehadi forces especially in West Bengal linked to these ? 

All eyes on Gandhinagar local polls

 

Assembly elections may be still more than a year in Gujarat. But all eyes are on Gandhinagar municipal polls due on Oct 11.

The Congress party released a focused local manifesto targeting transparency and governance. 

Key promises include barring party bearers or corporators from taking government contracts or sub-contracts and eliminating nepotism.

The opposition party has promised a 25% reduction in residential property taxes and a 10% relief on commercial taxes to ease inflationary pressures.

Congress state unit chief spokesman Manish Doshi told this journalist that the grand old has deployed senior office-bearers across all 11 wards to strengthen grassroots outreach and address local infrastructure complaints regarding roads, sanitation, and water.

"We are taking the battle of Gandhinagar most seriously. After many years we have seen a chane in public mood. The BJP will face the beginning of the countdown in Gujarat," he said.

Manish Doshi

The BJP has initiated its "sense-taking" (consultation) process across 11 wards and 44 seats, appointing observers like Purnesh Modi, Shabdsharan Brahmbhatt, and Dushyant Patel to gather feedback from ticket aspirants.

The party reported significant enthusiasm, including over 100 applications from Gen Z and young aspirants looking to contest.

High-level core committee discussions have been held at the Chief Minister’s residence to finalize candidate name

The AAP is another player in Gujarat politics and the party did well in 2022 assembly elections - harming the Congress interest by dividing anti-BJP votes.

When the Aam Aadmi Party contested the Gandhinagar Corporation election for the first time, the people of Gandhinagar blessed the Aam Aadmi Party immensely and it received 22% votes, and the Aam Aadmi Party also won one seat. 

The Aam Aadmi Party has also geared up in Gandhinagar and the process of selecting candidates is underway. 

The notification for the elections was issued on September 21. The last date for filing nomination papers is September 26, while scrutiny of nominations will be carried out on September 28. 

Candidates can withdraw their nominations till September 29.

Elections to Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation and Okha and Thara municipalities are scheduled to be held on the same day. Counting of votes will take place on Oct 13.

Seven states go to polls in 2027: Goa, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat.

Nine states go to polls in 2028: 

Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Karnataka, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana.

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All actions of ECI have been in accordance of laws : EC official statement

  Written notes, observations, technical suggestions and internal checks-and-balances are standard, ongoing practices designed to ensure complete transparency, legal compliance and operational rigour. All actions of ECI have been in accordance of laws and instructions of the Commission.

The ECI is a constitutional body that functions under the strict mandate of Article 324 of the Constitution, statutory rules and established institutional conventions. The Commission operates as a multi-member constitutional body, the poll panel said in a statement.

BJP has tried  to turn the table on opposion.

"The Election Commission of India nor any constitutional body in india is under dictatorial rule. They are functipning in a democratic nanner and upholding democratic  traditions In this country," BJP spokesman Sambit Patra has said.

All official orders, decisions and administrative directions issued by the Commission carry full legal sanctions and follow established statutory procedures under The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.

Any operational queries or inputs raised by Commission members during draft stages are part of standard administrative practice aimed at safeguarding voter rights. The suggestions given by the Commissioners were for further improving the electoral processes. 

 Differing views and observations are a normal part of deliberation in any institution. They are a part of the decision-making process before a final decision is taken. Not only the three Commissioners, but every officer of the Commission is fully authorized to give his suggestions to the Commission for improving the electoral system.

 The commission emphasised that difference in views and observations are a normal part of deliberation in any institution, and it is a part of the decision-making process before taking a final decision. It said that every officer of the Commission is fully authorized to give his suggestions to the Commission for improving the electoral system.

 The Commission has recently successfully conducted major elections of Bihar, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Assam and West Bengal and election-related exercises during this period.

 Impeach Gyanesh Kumar to save democracy': Opposition closes ranks against CEC, calls for his arrest

A united Opposition pressed for Kumar’s removal, probe and rollback of SIR over reported objections by two election commissioners; BJP calls it "a reflection of pure democracy".

 Two election commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, red-flagged issues relating to the deletion of names under the SIR of electoral rolls and raised objections to the decision-making process 14 times in recent months, according to a report in the Indian Express.

 Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, reiterated his "vote chori" charge against the Election Commission, calling it an act of treason and a crime against the people of India.

"The BJP, RSS and EC who organised it have committed an act of treason. Justice will be served," Gandhi said.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that on 24 April 2026, 73 opposition Rajya Sabha MPs had submitted a new Notice of Motion to the Secretary General seeking Kumar's removal.

"The Monsoon Session of Parliament has not yet been prorogued. Will the Hon'ble Rajya Sabha Chairman now decide on that pending Notice?" Kharge said, adding that the country would demand answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

 Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee demanded Kumar's arrest and fresh assembly elections in the state using the pre-SIR voter list, alleging that the BJP and the poll panel had "looted" the elections held earlier this year.

"It has now been proven that the BJP and the EC looted the West Bengal assembly polls," Banerjee said in a Facebook live.

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"There will be pan-India protests till Gyanesh Kumar remains CEC.

Satish Poonia made in charge of poll bound Punjab, Ram Madhav gets Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand, Tarun Chug to be in charge of Gujarat

 BJP President Nitin Nabin has appointed the party’s in-charges and co-in-charges for all 36 states and union territories. Former Union Minister Smriti Irani has been appointed BJP in-charge for Chhattisgarh and Haryana, while Harish Dwivedi will oversee Bihar.

 

 

Vinay Sahasrabuddhe has been given the charge of Delhi, while Jamyang Tsering Namgyal and Darshanaben Jardosh have been named as co-in-charges. Vinod Tawde has been appointed Uttar Pradesh in-charge, with Jagdish Patel, Medha Kulkarni, Pardeep Varma and Anant Ojha named as co-in-charges.

 

Ram Madhav has been given charge of Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand, while Tarun Chugh will oversee Gujarat. Satish Poonia has been appointed in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. 

Anil Antony will handle Goa and Nagaland.

Uttar Pradesh: Vinod Tawde

Chhattisgarh & Haryana: Smriti Irani

Tamil Nadu & Uttarakhand: Ram Madhav

Madhya Pradesh: Biplab Kumar Deb

 (Co-incharge: Rekha Verma)

Punjab: Dr. Satish Poonia (Co-incharges: Virendra Sachdeva and Dr. Alka Gurjar)

West Bengal & Telangana: Sunil Bansal

Delhi: Vinay Sahastrabuddhe

Bihar & Karnataka: Harish Dwivedi 

Himachal Pradesh: Shrikant Sharma

 (Co-incharge: Darshana Singh)Rajasthan: Sanjay Bhatia

Assam Mangal Pandey i.c 

co i.c Phangnon Konyak, Manoj Tiggga

Poll bound manipur

Rajdeep Roy

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IRAN SETS CONDITIONS FOR REOPENING HORMUZ

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IRAN SETS CONDITIONS FOR REOPENING HORMUZ

The meeting between Iran and US at the UN also saw Iran convey its conditions for reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, with Tehran demanding the immediate lifting of the naval blockade, the release of frozen Iranian assets and an end to the war across all "resistance" fronts, the report said.

The world may have become inured to Trump’s dire threats to send Iran “to the stone age” or end its civilization – so often have they been issued, only to sometimes be followed by a ceasefire or negotiations. But hearing them voiced in a forum created in the aftermath of the second world war, with the explicit aim of preventing future conflicts, was disconcerting.

Iran was the focal point of much of Trump’s speech, which began with a catalogue of familiar boasts of his supposed achievements that seemed better fitted to a domestic audience.

Whether or not the latest threat should be taken literally, little of what he said about Iran seemed reassuring. He appeared to play fast and loose with the facts, consciously or otherwise.

Trump had asked Jared Kushner and Witkoff to comment on the meeting but did not confirm exactly who attended. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Araghchi are in New York as part of Iran's core delegation for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

Witkoff, speaking to reporters after the meeting, said: "I feel very good right now."

Trump later echoed that assessment, saying: "They had a very good meeting, and we'll see how it turns out. But certainly, it's to their advantage to make a deal."

The comments came shortly after Trump met British Prime Minister Andy Burnham at the United Nations in New York. Speaking after that meeting, Trump said Iran had continued communicating with the US.

"They want to talk to us. They have been talking to us, even today they've been talking to us, and the relationship is developing."

"But we can't let them -- and they understand that -- we can't let them have a nuclear weapon," he added.

The issue of Iran's nuclear capability remains at the centre of Trump's position. 

Throughout his comments, the US President made clear that any potential agreement would have to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The meeting therefore comes at a critical moment. 

The UN General Assembly has brought the leaders of the two countries into the same city, creating a rare opportunity for direct or indirect diplomacy despite the absence of a formal breakthrough.

[The General Assembly in 2026 has provided a potential diplomatic opening at a time when the conflict is approaching its seven-month mark. For months, negotiations between Washington and Tehran have remained stalled, while the war has disrupted energy markets and choked the shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said earlier on Tuesday that Trump was open to meeting Iranian representatives in New York because he believes direct engagement can help resolve difficult disputes. 

Rubio told NBC that Trump was open to such a meeting "because he believes that engaging with people is important if you're going to solve problems."

At that stage, however, Rubio said no meeting had been scheduled.

Trump will also meet representatives of nine Arab countries on Tuesday to discuss the war.

 Reuters reported that several of those countries were expected to press the US President to reduce tensions with Iran and pursue a diplomatic agreement. 

The Gulf states have a direct interest in ending the disruption because the conflict has affected shipping and energy supplies across the region.

Trump's comments followed a combative speech at the UN General Assembly in which he presented the Iran issue as a stark choice. Earlier in his speech, the US President said he had a "big decision to make."

"Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before, maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world," he said. 

"Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again."

Trump said he believed a deal could eventually be reached with Tehran. He also suggested that Iran may be watching the outcome of the US midterm elections before deciding how to proceed.

"They're waiting to see how I do in the midterm election. What they don't realize is that I'm not running. I did that already, and won in a landslide," he said, noting that he still has two and half years more in his term.

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How did Sonia Gandhi vote in 1980

  BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari says, 

"So, if you look carefully at 1980, I want to place two pictures in front of you, which will make the matter very clear. In 1980, Sonia Gandhi was not a citizen of India. If someone is not a citizen of India, they cannot vote. But she cast her vote in 1980. From January 1980 to 1983 and beyond, it was the Congress party government. 

That means, did the Congress and the Gandhi-Vadra family forge documents to make Sonia Gandhi vote? This is our first question to the Congress party. And I am asking this because if someone makes fake documents, then under Section 337 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, there can be a punishment of up to 7 years, and it is a cognizable offense..."

Speaking at a press conference, Bhandari emphasised that citizenship is a fundamental requirement to exercise voting rights in India, stating, “The Constitution of India states that a person needs to be a citizen of India to vote.”

He questioned how Gandhi was permitted to cast a vote in 1980 despite reportedly not being an Indian citizen at that time. “A petition was filed in court in 1980 asking on what basis Sonia Gandhi was allowed to cast a vote when she was not a citizen of India. Did she attempt forgery of documents?” he asked.

Pradeep Bhandari criticised Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday for allegedly being involved in the “theft of democracy” while frequently accusing others of “vote theft.”

Bhandari’s comments followed a ruling by the Special Court for MP/MLA cases at Rouse Avenue, which set aside a Magistrate’s order that had refused to register a first information report (FIR) against Sonia Gandhi.