Bengali film actor Koyel Mallick, previously a TMC MP, has joined the BJP and is set to file her nomination for a Rajya Sabha seat, expressing her desire to contribute to West Bengal's development initiatives.
A case has been registered against DMK MLA P K Sekar Babu and his supporters under various charges, including attempt to murder, following a clash during the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Security has been intensified at the Noida-Delhi borders ahead of a major protest by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) in Delhi on Saturday, demanding the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation. Police and BSF personnel are deployed, conducting checks, and placing barriers. Commuters from Noida and Greater Noida are concerned about potential traffic disruptions, though Noida Metro services are confirmed to run as usual. Some activists allege house arrest.
Major opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, have filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging alleged large-scale voter deletions and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This action follows a "March for Democracy" and a declined request to meet the Chief Justice of India regarding "vote chori" allegations.
The Election Commission of India has introduced a mandatory declaration for new voters, requiring them to provide parental details from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. This move, aimed at streamlining voter mapping, has sparked controversy, with some Election Commissioners deeming it "illegal" and "unauthorised" due to potential negative impacts on young voters.
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor cited the Kerala Assembly election results as an example of communal harmony, highlighting instances where voters looked beyond caste and religion.
Opposition parties, led by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, plan to march to the Supreme Court on Monday to meet the Chief Justice of India. They aim to submit a memorandum regarding alleged 'vote chori' and demand CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, halting of SIR, and a return to paper ballots. The protest follows widespread detentions during previous demonstrations, which the opposition condemns as an assault on democracy.
Ahead of fresh protests scheduled for Saturday, France will deploy around 70,000 police personnel nationwide as authorities prepare to prevent a recurrence of widespread looting, arson and vandalism that erupted alongside demonstrations last week.
The BJP spent Rs 286.99 crore on the West Bengal elections, surpassing the Congress's total expenditure of Rs 248.55 crore across five states and a Union territory. The report details spending by major parties in West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, highlighting significant financial disparities and campaign outlays.
The Union home ministry has extended the deployment of 273 Central Armed Police Forces companies in Delhi until October 31, anticipating potential "flash protests" from political and other groups across the national capital.
'There should have been more transparency in the process which even today we don't know.'
Kazakh businessman Timur Turlov has been elected the new president of the world chess governing body FIDE, succeeding Arkady Dvorkovich. Turlov won a closely contested election against German entrepreneurs Wadim Rosenstein and Jan Henric Buettner, securing a four-year term. His victory comes amidst scrutiny over Russian influence and FIDE's financial independence, with Turlov campaigning on expanding digital reach and supporting smaller federations. He also addressed concerns about his ties to the outgoing administration and FIDE's commercial partner, Freedom Holding Corp.
Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke and other CJP leaders were detained at Delhi's Indira Gandhi international airport ahead of a planned protest at Jantar Mantar.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka, and Saurav Das were released after preventive arrest following their detention at the Delhi airport, on the condition that they would not 'breach peace' for a year.
JD-U MLA Anant Singh, a prominent 'strongman' in Bihar politics, has openly defied his party by campaigning for Jan Suraaj Party candidate Anuj Singh in the Patna Graduate constituency legislative council polls.
Delhi Police is preparing for a large protest on Saturday, expecting around 7,000 participants. Senior officers have instructed personnel to exercise maximum restraint, handle the situation professionally, and detain unauthorised gatherings. No permission has been granted for Ramlila Maidan, and action may be taken against individuals provoking police.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has instructed all states and Union Territories to coordinate with Delhi Police to prevent Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) supporters from mobilising towards Jantar Mantar for a protest on Saturday, October 10. The MHA cited potential public peace disturbances and the CJP's history of non-compliance, noting that the protest request has been rejected.
Supreme Court Justice Dipankar Datta has strongly criticised the 2023 law for selecting the Chief Election Commissioner and election commissioners, arguing that the executive's dominant role in the selection committee creates a 'shadow of doubt' over the Election Commission's independence, even if appointments are meritorious.
The Congress party staged nationwide protests, demanding the immediate arrest and removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The party accused the Election Commission of an "unprecedented attack" on voter equality through an alleged 'Mark VIP' feature and called for an independent review of decisions made under Kumar, citing objections from other commissioners regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist, which supports the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from outside and based on which the government survives, has alleged that the ruling party was distributing "money to secure votes" for the October 6 bypolls and it tops the list of parties that have given cash to influence the electorate.
AJUP chief and Naoda MLA Humayun Kabir has hinted at quitting electoral politics and his assembly membership after his arrest during the Rejinagar bypoll. Kabir, who claims the BJP will win Rejinagar due to a "looted mandate," expressed disillusionment with the democratic system and vowed not to attend the state assembly as long as Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is in office. He also alleged betrayal by Adhikari regarding his son's bypoll prospects.
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.
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.
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.
The LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan announced that the Left front would seek public input to address shortcomings after their defeat in the Kerala Assembly elections, where they won only 35 out of 140 seats.
The Delhi Police has denied permission for a planned protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar on October 10, citing late application and previous rule violations, with Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) now in force in the New Delhi district.
The Congress party has appointed former Indian hockey captain Pargat Singh as the new president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, replacing Amarinder Singh Raja Warring. Warring resigned voluntarily amidst internal party infighting and speculation about Sachin Pilot's influence, with the change coming ahead of state assembly elections.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to light a torch at Israel's Independence Day celebrations. The invitation also extends to brave Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, who recently averted a potential hijacking of a Tel Aviv-bound flight. Netanyahu highlighted the strong, long-standing ties and joint fight against terrorism between India and Israel.
A Supreme Court bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma has given split opinions on whether pleas challenging the 2023 law for appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners should be referred to a larger Constitution bench, citing a difference in views on the law's constitutional validity and the executive's role in selections.
Actor Imran Khan, a US citizen, has challenged a Mumbai Police notice directing him to leave India by October 28 for allegedly attending a political protest. The Bombay High Court is set to hear his petition on Tuesday. Khan claims he had no association with the protest organisers and that the notice is "illegal, arbitrary, perverse and drastic." He also received a show-cause notice regarding his OCI status.
The Election Commission of India has defended its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voters' lists, asserting that differing views among Commissioners are a normal part of deliberations and all orders carry full legal sanction, following reports of two Commissioners red-flagging issues.
A Kolkata-based lottery firm, Tiger Associates, donated Rs 260 crore to Tamil Nadu's DMK and AIADMK in 2025-26, significantly increasing its contributions from the previous financial year. The firm accounted for nearly 74% of the combined contributions reported by the two parties, highlighting a concentration of political funding. The disclosures also revealed contributions from electoral trusts and a link between Tiger Associates' partner and lottery magnate Santiago Martin, whose other firm was a major electoral bond purchaser.
Maharashtra BJP MLC Parinay Fuke has criticised MNS chief Raj Thackeray, alleging that Thackeray's public statements and influence are solely due to the police security provided by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Fuke claimed Thackeray would not leave his home if the security was withdrawn. The MNS, through leader Sandeep Deshpande, retorted that security decisions are institutional, not personal, and challenged the BJP to withdraw it. This exchange follows Thackeray's recent criticisms of the state government.
Groups of men wearing saffron scarves, claiming affiliation with the Hindu Raksha Dal, threatened and assaulted demonstrators during Saturday's protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in central Delhi. Four members have been arrested for an assault on DDU Marg, while videos show larger groups operating unhindered, openly supporting police and administration, and justifying violence against "anti-national" protesters. The group's chief, Pinki Chaudhary, claimed responsibility for the attacks on social media.
The Election Commission has announced elections for 12 Rajya Sabha seats across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal on October 16. The BJP is expected to retain eight seats in UP and gain one in West Bengal, increasing its overall strength. The Samajwadi Party is also likely to gain one seat in UP, while Mayawati's BSP faces the prospect of losing its representation in Parliament.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange has released an audio clip purportedly claiming a Rs 500 crore payment was delivered to him through Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, alleging a conspiracy to silence him. This comes a day after Deputy CM Eknath Shinde challenged him to prove similar allegations. Ruling party leaders have hit back, questioning the clip's veracity and demanding a forensic probe, while Jarange insists on a thorough investigation by top state and central leaders.
A network of volunteers, including doctors, lawyers, and social media influencers, has mobilised in Delhi to provide medical assistance, legal aid, and mental health support to thousands of protesters detained during the recent CJP agitation. The initiative includes transport for released detainees, first aid, and therapist connections.
Former Indian shooter Rajeshwari Kumari has been appointed as the South Asia representative to the Olympic Council of Asia's (OCA) Athletes Committee. Her nomination was approved by the OCA Executive Board, bypassing elections held for other zonal positions. This appointment highlights her continued involvement in sports administration following a successful shooting career and her family's legacy in Olympic sports.
The Election Commission has announced that elections for 12 Rajya Sabha seats across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal will take place on October 16. This includes 10 seats from Uttar Pradesh, one from Uttarakhand, and a bypoll in West Bengal, with significant implications for party representation, particularly for the BJP and BSP.
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.
