Top news of the day: More than 40 MLAs say ready to form new government in Manipur; Ashoka University professor’s interim bail extended, and more 

More than 40 MLAs say ready to form new government in Manipur; Ashoka University professor’s interim bail extended, and more in The Hindu’s Top news of the day on May 28, 2025

More than 40 MLAs are ready to form a new government in Manipur and converged on Wednesday (May 28, 2025) at the Imphal Raj Bhawan to meet the Governor. The conflict-scarred State has been under President’s Rule since February 13. According to PTI, BJP legislator Thokchom Radheshyam Singh claimed that 44 legislators were ready to form the government, after his meeting with Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla. Mr. Singh, along with nine other MLAs, met the Governor at the Raj Bhavan.“Forty-four MLAs are ready to form a government as per the wishes of the people. We have conveyed this to the governor. We also discussed what solutions can be there for the issue,” he said.

A series of earthquakes struck Manipur on Wednesday, the strongest one being 5.2 magnitude, according to the National Centre for Seismology. “The earthquake of 5.2 magnitude struck Churachandpur district at 1.54 a.m.,” it said. “A second one of 2.5 magnitude hit Noney district at 2.26 a.m., while a third one of 3.9 magnitude struck Churachandpur at 10.23 a.m.,” it added. “No casualties or damage have been reported so far,” officials said.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday told Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, accused of making contentious social media posts on Operation Sindoor, that there was no impediment on his right to speech and expression, but he can’t post anything online with respect to the cases against him. A partial working day Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta refused to modify as of now, the interim bail condition imposed on him on May 21 that he will not write any online post, article or make any oral speech related to either of the two online posts, which are subject matter of the investigation.

The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the transfers of four Chief Justices from the High Courts of Madras, Rajasthan, Tripura and Jharkhand. The Collegium, headed by the Chief Justice of India, has proposed the transfer of Madras High Court Chief Justice K.R. Shriram to Rajasthan. In return, Rajasthan Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava was recommended to head the Madras High Court. The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the transfers of four Chief Justices from the High Courts of Madras, Rajasthan, Tripura and Jharkhand.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday extended the operation of its interim order protecting Madhya Pradesh Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah from arrest. Mr. Shah is facing criminal proceedings for his derogatory remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who briefed the media during Operation Sindoor. The Minister has repeatedly apologised for the remarks.

The Indian Embassy on Wednesday said it has strongly taken up with Iranian authorities the case of three missing Indian citizens, all from the same family, who went missing after reaching Iran. “Family members of three Indian citizens have informed the Embassy of India that their relatives are missing after having travelled to Iran,” the Embassy said in a post on X. The Embassy did not, however, clarify when and where the three Indians went missing in Iran.

Congress leader Udit Raj on Wednesday criticised his party colleague and Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor over his statement in Panama as part of the multi-party delegation and called him a “spokesperson for the publicity stunts of the BJP”.Mr. Raj further accused the Central government of taking credit for the actions of the Indian Armed Forces. “Does he (Tharoor) even know what the earlier governments used to do? They (the Central government) are taking credit for the Indian Armed Forces. Shashi Tharoor has become the spokesperson for the publicity stunts of the BJP,” Mr. Raj said.