New Delhi, Aug 18 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 9 pm: NATION DEL86 OPPN LD EC

Opposition parties mull impeachment of CEC, accuse him of acting like BJP spokesperson New Delhi: Opposition parties on Monday accused the Election Commission of failing to discharge its constitutional duty of ensuring a free and fair electoral system, and did not rule out moving an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, whom they alleged was acting like a "BJP spokesperson".

DEL69 PM-LD PUTIN

Russian President Putin dials PM Modi; briefs him on Alaska summit New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday conveyed to President Vladimir Putin India's consistent position for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict when the Russian leader apprised him on the summit talks he held with US President Donald Trump.

DEL100 SINOINDIA-WANG-LD JAISHANKAR

Differences must not become disputes, nor competition conflict: Jaishankar to Wang New Delhi: India and China should adopt a "candid and constructive" approach in moving ahead in the ties that must be based on mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed this to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Monday.

PAR23 RS-OPPOSITION-LD WALKOUT

Opposition stages walkout in Rajya Sabha demanding discussion on electoral rolls revision in Bihar New Delhi: Opposition MPs on Monday staged a walkout in the Rajya Sabha demanding discussion on electoral rolls revision in Bihar.

DEL99 PM-LD SHUKLA

Shubhanshu Shukla meets PM Modi; gifts tri-colour that travelled to space New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla who became the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS).

DEL61 RAHUL-BH-LD YATRA

SIR new weapon for 'vote chori', will protect 'one person, one vote': Rahul Aurangabad/Gayaji (Bihar): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is a "new weapon" for "vote chori" and vowed to protect the "one person, one vote" principle by stopping "vote theft".

DEL80 VP CANDIDATE-LD PM

NDA's vice-presidential nominee reaches Delhi; meets PM Modi, other leaders New Delhi: Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan arrived in the national capital on Monday and met leaders of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a day after he was named as its vice-presidential candidate.

DEL71 JK-CLOUDBURST-LD OPERATION

Two more bodies recovered in cloudburst-hit J-K’s Kishtwar, death toll rises to 63 Chisoti (JK): Two more bodies were recovered from the debris in this cloudburst-hit village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, taking the death toll in the natural calamity to 63, officials said, as a large-scale search continued for the fifth day on Monday despite intermittent rains.

DEL78 BJP-OPPN-LD EC

BJP dares Oppn parties to dissolve assemblies in states ruled by them if EC unfair New Delhi: The BJP on Monday dared INDIA bloc parties to dissolve state assemblies where they are in power if they doubt the Election Commission's fairness, and alleged that their sole aim behind protesting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar is to shield infiltrators.

CAL42 BH-EC-SIR-LDALL DELETED VOTERS

Bihar: EC makes public names of 65 lakh deleted voters, INDIA bloc calls it 'farce' Patna: The Election Commission on Monday said it has made public the names of nearly 65 lakh people, which were deleted from the draft electoral rolls published in Bihar as part of the special intensive revision (SIR).

PAR25 LS-2NDLD JANVISHWAS

Govt introduces Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0 in LS, proposes to decriminalise 288 provisions New Delhi: The government on Monday introduced a new bill in the Lok Sabha to decriminalise as many as 288 provisions relating to minor offences under different laws with a view to promote ease of living and improve business climate.

DEL97 UP-LD SOLDIER ASSAULT

Soldier assaulted at UP toll plaza, Army condemns; six arrested, NHAI slaps Rs 20 lakh fine on operator Meerut/New Delhi: An Army jawan returning to duty after leave was allegedly assaulted by toll plaza employees in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut district, prompting the arrest of six people, a hefty penalty and blacklisting proceedings against the toll operator by NHAI and a strong condemnation from the Indian Army.

MDS18 TL-ECI-LD CM

'Vote Chori': Telangana CM slams ECI for asking affidavit from Rahul Gandhi Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday hit out at the Election Commission of India for seeking an affidavit from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on the issue of "vote chori", claiming the poll body "failed" to respond to the questions raised by the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

PAR28 LS-LD SPACE

Indian on Moon will herald Viksit Bharat in 2040: Jitendra Singh in Lok Sabha New Delhi: An Indian landing on the Moon in 2040 will herald 'Viksit Bharat' a few years earlier than the 2047 target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said in Lok Sabha on Monday as the opposition's protest drowned the discussion on Shubhanshu Shukla's space sojourn.

BOM40 MH-MUMBAI-LDALL RAINS

Local trains, flights hit; lakes supplying water to Mumbai overflow amid incessant rains Mumbai: Mumbaikars woke up to heavy rainfall on Monday, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a ‘red’ alert, forecasting more rains, prompting the civic body to declare a holiday for schools and colleges, officials said.

BUSINESS DEL66 BIZ-GST-LD SITHARAMAN

Sitharaman to attend GoM meeting on Aug 20, explain next-gen GST reforms New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will attend a crucial meeting of a state ministerial panel on August 20 to put forth the Centre's proposal for sweeping GST reforms that will slash tax rates and lead to reduction in prices of common use items.

LEGAL LGD33 SC-ELECTION

Courts shouldn't rush to invalidate elections: SC New Delhi, Aug 18 (PTI) The Supreme Court has said courts should not rush to invalidate elections by adopting a "highly pedantic" approach just because a returned candidate didn't disclose certain information about assets, unless it influences the poll's outcome.

LGD28 SC-MP-2NDLD SUICIDE

'Not necessary perpetrator intended ex-MP dies by suicide': SC rejects son's plea to restore FIR New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to restore an FIR against nine persons, including Praful Khoda Patel, administrator of the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, for allegedly abetting the suicide of former MP Mohan Delkar in 2021.

LGD22 SC-WB-EX-MINISTER

Cash-for-jobs case: SC grants bail to ex-WB minister Partha Chatterjee with rider New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee in teacher recruitment case investigated by the CBI but said he would be released after the trial court records statements of material witnesses.

FOREIGN FGN18 CHINA-INDIA-WANG

FM Wang’s visit to Delhi aims at working with India to deliver on important understandings: China Beijing: China on Monday said Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to India was aimed at working with New Delhi to deliver on important understandings reached between the leaders of the two sides and decisions taken during the previous round of border talks. By K J M Varma

FGN36 TRUMP-AIDE-INDIA

Trump aide slams India for buying Russian oil, says Delhi needs to act like strategic partner of US London: President Donald Trump's trade adviser Peter Navarro has slammed India for what he dubbed as an "opportunistic" purchase of crude oil from Russia and said New Delhi needs to act like a strategic partner of the US. By Aditi Khanna

PTI OZ OZ

Election integrity: courts urge caution on invalidating elections for nondisclosure amid electoral roll revision controversy. The document focuses on electoral administration and legal standards: controversy over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and publication of deleted names has prompted political scrutiny and talk of impeachment of the Chief Election Commissioner, implicating oversight and constitutional accountability. The Supreme Court cautioned against invalidating elections for nondisclosure absent a material effect on results, refused to restore an FIR in an alleged abetment suicide, and granted conditional bail in a recruitment corruption case, illustrating judicial restraint and procedural thresholds. Parallelly, the government advances decriminalisation reforms and proposed GST changes.