The DMK has announced its exit from the INDIA bloc, citing "betrayal" by the Congress and asserting its independent political path. The party accused Congress leaders, including TNCC chief B Manickam Tagore, of making unsavoury remarks and acting as "sleeper cells," which contributed to the DMK's electoral setbacks. The DMK warned Congress leaders against further criticism and stated it would not participate in Congress-led agitations.
Union Minister Rajnath Singh has accused the Congress and its allies of attempting to instigate a 'Bangladesh-like regime change' in India, leveraging youth energy for political confrontation and anarchy, rather than constructive nation-building.
With the anti-Gyanesh Kumar campaign, Rahul Gandhi is showing he is determined to not let anyone else claim credit for what follows, notes Saisuresh Sivaswamy.
The Congress' Seva Dal organised a candle march in New Delhi, demanding justice for Ankita Bhandari, who was murdered in Uttarakhand in 2022. The protest called for an impartial investigation and accountability, especially regarding allegations against BJP's Dushyant Gautam, whose recent appointment as Sikkim Governor has drawn criticism from the Congress.
The official Congress Keralam 'X' account posted a controversial message against CJI Surya Kant, which quickly went viral before being deleted. The party subsequently removed the individual responsible, with KPCC president Sunny Joseph stating the post was unauthorised and did not reflect the party's stance on judicial impartiality. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju criticised Congress over the incident.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has extended an invitation to Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee to rejoin the Congress with her remaining legislators, offering her leadership in West Bengal amidst the TMC's significant internal turmoil and post-election challenges.
The Congress party and the INDIA bloc are planning a 'public impeachment' of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of violating the Constitution and subverting electoral democracy. This comes after alleged denials of permission for their event, which they claim is an attempt by the government to silence criticism. The JD(U) has criticised the move as an insult to Parliament and the judiciary.
The Congress party has questioned the Modi government's decision to defer the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions, alleging a potential "U-turn on the U-turn." Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh highlighted previous denials by the finance minister regarding MDR imposition, only for it to be announced later and now deferred. He expressed concerns about future charges on UPI transactions.
Lok Sabha MP Ramashankar Rajbhar 'Vidyarthi' announced that the INDIA bloc's seat-sharing formula has been finalised for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, with the Samajwadi Party's manifesto set for release on November 26. He emphasised a unified strategy for victory, while Congress leaders have claimed 175-200 seats, with final decisions to be made by top leadership. The article also touches upon the political landscape in UP, considering past election results and the 2027 contest.
The Congress party in Maharashtra has accused the police of illegally entering its Mumbai headquarters, Tilak Bhawan, and arresting tribal students and NSUI members who were protesting. While the police deny these claims, stating no arrests were made from the building, the Congress has threatened to gherao the Chief Minister's residence if the detained individuals are not released, escalating a political confrontation over student protests.
The INDIA Bloc plans a "public impeachment" of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on October 30, followed by a "Dilli Chalo march" to Ramlila Maidan on November 1. These events are part of their protest against alleged "vote chori" and "poll irregularities," aiming to pressure the government and demand Kumar's resignation.
Former Indian hockey captain and Olympian Pargat Singh has been appointed the new president of the Punjab Congress, replacing Amrinder Singh Raja Warring. A three-time MLA from Jalandhar Cantonment, Singh's elevation comes amidst internal party wrangling and is seen as a strategic move to unite factions ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. His journey spans from a decorated sports career to a prominent political figure, having previously served as a minister and consistently winning his assembly seat.
The Congress party has launched nationwide protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, demanding his removal. Accusing him of acting in favour of the BJP and citing alleged irregularities in electoral roll revisions (SIR), party workers burned effigies and clashed with police. Opposition parties plan further action, including a meeting of the INDIA bloc to strategize for his ouster.
A sharp political slugfest erupted on Thursday as Congress leaders and INDIA bloc allies rallied behind MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's son, Raihan Vadra, accusing the authorities and Centre of censoring artistic expression after Bikaner House requested the removal of several photographs from his exhibition.
US President Donald Trump has issued a waiver from sanctions under the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, citing national interest. This move comes after a deal with Russia for diesel supply and ahead of a US official's visit to India, where concerns about the act's impact on India's oil imports were raised.
Mamata Banerjee's faction of the Trinamool Congress announced support for the Congress candidate in the Nandigram assembly bypoll after its own candidate withdrew. This decision comes amidst a bitter dispute with the Election Commission over the freezing of TMC's traditional symbol and name, which Banerjee termed "arbitrary" and accused the BJP of trying to destroy opposition parties.
A century on, India has adopted the Left's welfare ideas, but not the Left. Why do people borrow the promises, then vote for the temple? questions Binu Alex.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant asserted that the judiciary cannot be browbeaten, during a hearing on a plea against a political march to the Supreme Court by Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders on October 12. The plea alleges an attempt to obstruct the judicial system and seeks a ban on political demonstrations within court premises. The court has issued notices to the leaders and ordered the preservation of CCTV footage from the incident.
Former West Bengal Chief Minister's faction has announced support for the Congress candidate in the Nandigram assembly bypoll, marking a significant shift in state politics. This move comes amidst an internal party dispute within the Trinamool Congress and is seen as an attempt to consolidate anti-BJP votes and strengthen the INDIA bloc, despite a history of acrimonious rivalry between the two parties.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to India this week underscores the complex dynamics of global energy policy, as Washington re-evaluates sanctions on Russian oil buyers amidst India's continued reliance on Russian crude.
The INDIA bloc, comprising 17 opposition parties and civil society members, met at Rahul Gandhi's residence to strategize against alleged "vote chori" and the denotification of Jantar Mantar as a protest site. Leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Tejashwi Yadav, vowed to continue their united political and people's resistance, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and asserting that those responsible for undermining democracy would be held accountable.
The Congress party has demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging "vote chori" and treason, following a media report revealing that two other Election Commissioners had formally objected to decisions regarding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have accused the BJP, RSS, and EC of undermining democracy, citing concerns over voter list tampering and lack of transparency.
Rahul Gandhi met the parents of Ankita Bhandari, who were protesting at India Gate, demanding justice for their daughter's murder.
The BJP has launched a new song, "Modi Kahin Nahi Jaayega," as part of its social media campaign against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's controversial "baap" remark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The song asserts Modi's continued presence and criticises the opposition's language, while the Congress has also intensified its social media attacks, accusing the government of "vote chori" ahead of an INDIA bloc rally.
The Congress party has criticised the government's recent notification regarding UPI transactions, alleging it paves the way for users to be charged fees, particularly for transactions above Rs 2,000. The party claims the government lacks transparency and questions if the move is to benefit American firms. The government, however, states that charges are necessary for the system's sustainability and infrastructure upgrades, with the Finance Minister clarifying that Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) applies to merchants, not customers.
Glimpses of the INDIA bloc's protest march from Parliament House to Nirvachan Sadan, the Election Commission headquarters, in New Delhi on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
The US announced a 60-day pause on sanctions against Russia and tariffs on other countries, including India, to analyse the global economic impact. This decision, made via an executive order by Trump, has drawn significant criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, who had previously passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. US officials stated the waiver allows for assessment of global energy pressures and European allies' refusal to impose secondary sanctions on Russian oil buyers.
AICC general secretary K C Venugopal announced that the INDIA bloc will stage a major protest in Delhi on Monday to protect voting rights, following meetings with the President and a planned meeting with the Chief Justice of India. He accused PM Modi and Amit Shah of attempting to protect Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and criticised the Centre for denying an AIIMS facility to Keralam despite past assurances. Venugopal affirmed the bloc's commitment to ensuring free and fair elections and expressed hope for AIIMS if they come to power.
'We are ready to help Prime Minister Modi achieve his vision of 100 per cent connectivity throughout India -- a vision all of our company, including Elon, shares,' Lauren Dreyer, vice-president of Starlink business operations at SpaceX, said at the pre-business day of the India Mobile Congress in New Delhi.
Biennial polls for eight Bihar Legislative Council seats resulted in significant upsets, with five sitting MLCs, including from BJP and Congress, losing. The fledgling Jan Suraaj Party secured its first victory. BJP won three seats, Independents two, while RJD, Jan Suraaj, and JD(U) each secured one. The results highlighted infighting within the INDIA bloc and a strong performance by new political forces.
The Bharatiya Janata Party launched a nationwide protest against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's "indecent and offensive" remarks targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where Kharge retorted "Modi ka baap bhi jayega" during a speech.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Surya Kant has rejected the INDIA bloc leaders' request for a meeting to submit a representation over alleged electoral irregularities, stating that they should approach the court by filing a petition as the matter is already sub judice.
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi announced her upcoming memoir, "Belonging: A Journey of Love," set for release on November 10. Gandhi, who recently joined social media, stated that the book will present her personal account, correcting past narratives. The memoir's publication has already sparked controversy, with HarperCollins India taking over after an "impasse" with Penguin Random House India, amidst allegations of external pressure regarding editorial content. The book will cover her life from childhood in Italy to her political journey in India, including family tragedies and key political decisions.
Elon Musk questioned if Mukesh Ambani is India's "real boss" amidst Starlink's licensing issues, drawing a cryptic response from Rahul Gandhi. The Indian government clarified that security assessments are pending for all satcom licensees, not just Starlink, and the delay is due to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Rahul Gandhi dramatically shifted the INDIA bloc's protest after their march to the Election Commission was stopped and leaders were detained. He entered Akashvani Bhavan, leading to a standoff and a continued sit-in joined by other opposition leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, to protest against alleged threats to democracy.
The Congress has initiated seat-sharing discussions with the Samajwadi Party for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, proposing a list of over 175 seats. While the Congress aims for a significant share, buoyed by its performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Samajwadi Party emphasises winnability as the sole criterion. The alliance seeks to collectively challenge the BJP in the state.
Opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc, including prominent leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, marched to the Supreme Court to file a petition against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging 'vote chori' and irregularities in electoral rolls.
The conversations on July 22 and 23, 1962, meetings in Geneva between V K Krishna Menon, India's defence minister at the time, and Chinese vice premier Chen Yi are important because, had they been followed up, the subsequent border war may perhaps have been avoided, notes former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.
Six US Democratic lawmakers, including Pramila Jayapal and Ilhan Omar, have urged US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to address alleged excessive force during student protests in India and concerns over voter purges during his upcoming visit. They also accused Indian diplomatic missions of surveillance of protesters in the US and called for investigations into human rights violations and potential arms sales implications.
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi has made her Instagram debut to announce her upcoming memoir, 'Belonging: A Journey of Love'. The book, set to be published by HarperCollins India on November 10, details her life from childhood in Italy to her political journey in India, including personal tragedies and her decision not to become prime minister in 2004. Her social media entry marks a significant shift, as she previously avoided such platforms. The memoir's publication also follows a controversy with its initial publisher, Penguin Random House India, over editorial differences.
