Fresh cracks have appeared within the Congress over its flagship caste census demand at a national level with a senior leader claiming the party never endorsed identity politics.

A demand for caste census may be misinterpreted as disrespecting the party’s former leaders and former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, Anand Sharma said in a letter to party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, which was shared by news agency IANS.

In a surprise move, Ruturaj Gaikwad on Thursday replaced the legendary MS Dhoni as the Chennai Super Kings captain as defending champions dropped a bombshell a day before the IPL opener. In a post on X, the Indian Premier League revealed the development, a day before CSK take on Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Nazneen, the accused’s mother, said being a mother herself she understands the extreme grief that the victims’ family isgoing through and the death of her son in a shootout is “justified”. “If he has done wrong, he got what he deserved,” she can be heard saying in a video. Babu, Sajid’s father, was taken to the police station for questioning on Wednesday.