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.
Rahul Gandhi has convened a high tea for INDIA bloc MPs to discuss a strategy for joint protests against alleged "vote theft" and to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. This meeting follows a "March for Democracy" by opposition leaders and activists to the Supreme Court, where they filed a petition challenging alleged poll irregularities.
The Supreme Court registry has identified over 10 defects in the petition filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders concerning alleged large-scale voter deletions and irregularities in electoral rolls. Issues include missing ID cards, illegible pages, and a court fee shortfall. The petition seeks an independent audit of the Special Intensive Revision process.
Expiry day can make an otherwise ordinary trading session feel unusually fast. Index prices may move sharply around important strikes, option premiums can change quickly, and a position that looked manageable in the morning can behave very differently later in the day.
Coventry City claimed their first home Premier League win of the season with a commanding 4-1 victory over Newcastle United, featuring goals from Jack Rudoni, Sidiki Cherif, Ellis Simms, and Stephen Mfuni.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored Al-Nassr's second goal in their 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan's Neftchi in the AFC Champions League Elite, a match that was delayed by an hour due to a security warning in Riyadh.
England white-ball star Jos Buttler begins his recovery after hamstring surgery. He is ruled out of the Pakistan tri-series and his participation in the Australia tour is in doubt.
Despite recent electoral losses to the newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in both the April Assembly election and October 6 by-polls, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has demonstrated a robust and independent vote bank. Electoral data indicates that the DMK maintained significant voter support, securing its position as the principal opposition party and potentially a key challenger to the TVK in future elections, including the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
A recent IIT Indore study highlights the evolving landscape of protest sites in Delhi, from Rajpath to Jantar Mantar, and now to more distant locations like Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground. This shift, driven by authorities, raises concerns about the visibility, accessibility, and effectiveness of democratic protests, as moving demonstrations further away from power centres can diminish their impact and public engagement.
The Delhi Police have designated three new venues for protests - Burari Ground, CBD Ground, and Ramlila Ground - after denotifying Jantar Mantar. These sites vary in size and location, with concerns raised about the impact of protests on commercial and residential areas near CBD Ground, while Burari Ground is the largest. Ramlila Maidan has a rich political history.
Ramlila Maidan, recently designated as one of Delhi's new protest sites, is proving to be a costly and difficult option for demonstrators. With no free dates for the next two and a half months and booking fees exceeding Rs 1 lakh, it contrasts sharply with the previously free Jantar Mantar. The ground, rich in political history, also poses logistical challenges due to its busy commercial location and impact on traffic.
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.
The Indian Army has launched 'Bharat Rice', a superior-quality rice for defence forces, aimed at improving ration quality and logistics. This initiative, spearheaded by the Directorate General of Supplies and Transport, involves direct supply to Army Supply Depots, including remote areas, and an MoU with FCI for infrastructure utilisation during contingencies. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted its significance for soldier welfare, operational readiness, and national security, emphasising logistics as combat power.
President Droupadi Murmu has announced a major gubernatorial reshuffle, appointing new governors for Tamil Nadu, Keralam, Sikkim, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, and Odisha. Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar moves from Keralam to Tamil Nadu, while Om Prakash Mathur becomes the new Keralam Governor. Dushyant Gautam, Sudha Yadav, Dhal Singh Bisen, and Braj Mohan Ram are among the new appointees, bringing diverse political experience to their roles.
'...but could demotivate employees seeking US residency.'
Around 40 pilots of SpiceJet's Q400 aircraft fleet refused to fly till the airline cleared their salary dues, a stance that has been supported by pilots' grouping ALPA India, according to sources.
The AIADMK suffered a significant blow in the recent Madurantakam and Dharapuram by-polls, seeing a sharp decline in its traditional vote base. The party came in a distant third in both seats, which were previously its strongholds, raising concerns about its leadership, strategy, and future in Tamil Nadu's political landscape, especially with the rise of the TVK.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham's past meetings with Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak have come under scrutiny following criticism of Burnham's initial response to the club's financial rule breaches.
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.
A 20-year-old youth, Soumya Ranjan Rath, who was out on bail after a previous fatal car incident, hit four people with his vehicle on Monday in Bhubaneswar after a dispute at an eatery. Police confirmed he was under the influence of alcohol and has been arrested, with actions planned to cancel his bail and driving license.
Telangana's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested a Tahsildar and a Mandal Surveyor in Abdullapurmet Mandal, Ranga Reddy district, on Monday for allegedly accepting a Rs 20 lakh bribe. The officials had initially demanded Rs 30 lakh for a survey report related to a layout under HMDA guidelines.
A special PMLA court in Mumbai has allowed the monetisation of attached assets worth over Rs 3,400 crore in the National Spot Exchange Limited (NSEL)-linked payment default case. This decision paves the way for the restitution of funds to thousands of investors who have been awaiting recovery for 13 years since the 2013 payment default.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced a new skating track in Dhuri, Sangrur, aiming to develop the district into a skating hub. He highlighted the government's commitment to sports with a Rs 1,790 crore allocation and ongoing initiatives like 'Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan' to nurture young talent and promote a healthy lifestyle.
NorthEast United FC secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Mohun Bagan Super Giant in their Indian Super League season opener. Substitute Jithin M S scored in the 90+2nd minute, clinching all three points for the Highlanders in a closely fought home encounter against the defending champions.
Australia need six wickets on final day to win first Test as South Africa were reduced to 102 for 4 at stumps on day four in Durban.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has significantly expanded its central contract list to 30 players, alongside nine development contracts, for the 2026/27 season, introducing several new faces and extending deals for key players.
Gurugram police have arrested two individuals, Mukesh Mandal and Ganesh Kumar, in connection with the murder of auto-rickshaw driver Arvind. The motive appears to be a dispute over a transport contract and alleged abusive language, leading Mukesh to hold a grudge against Arvind. The victim's body was found on Saturday, and the arrests were made on Monday.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh felicitated armed forces sportspersons who won 27 medals at the recent Asian Games. He highlighted the role of the Mission Olympic Wing and stressed a focused approach for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, aiming to establish India as a leading sporting power.
A madrasa teacher, Sayid Mohammed Naufal, was arrested in Kochi for allegedly sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl on a ship travelling from Lakshadweep. The incident occurred during the voyage, and the accused was detained by ship security after the girl informed her mother. Police registered a case under the POCSO Act, and Naufal was remanded to judicial custody.
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar shared his childhood dream of dismissing legendary West Indies all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers, whom he idolised as 'everybody's hero', during a conversation celebrating Sobers' life and legacy.
A Thane court has extended the police custody of Subhash Shinde, the first arrested accused in the murder of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pradeep Purnekar, and sent two recently apprehended suspects from Uttar Pradesh, Santosh Kanojia and Amit Singh, to seven-day police remand. The Special Investigation Team is probing the funding for the suspects' stay in UP and the broader conspiracy behind the "calculated and meticulously planned" September 29 murder.
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has claimed actor Imran Khan, who participated in a protest, holds US citizenship and questioned his motive. Somaiya lodged a complaint, alleging a conspiracy to create anarchy through protests against electoral roll revisions and stating police assured him of summoning Khan for citizenship documents.
HCLTech announced a robust 21.18 per cent increase in its Q2 FY27 consolidated net profit, reaching Rs 5,132 crore, largely propelled by the strong performance and higher margins from its advanced AI operations and a reduced tax burden.
A special PMLA court in Mumbai has allowed the monetisation of attached assets worth over Rs 3,400 crore in the National Spot Exchange Limited (NSEL)-linked money laundering case. This decision paves the way for the restitution of funds to thousands of investors who have been awaiting recovery for 13 years since the 2013 payment default. Up to Rs 1,950 crore from the monetisation will be paid to 63 Moons Technologies Ltd for specified creditors.
Mighty Marathas secured a thrilling shoot-off victory against in-form Chero Archers in the Archery Premier League on Monday, extending their winning streak to three matches. Other results saw Kakatiya Knights defeat Prithviraaj Yodhas, and defending champions Rajputana Royals end their losing streak against Chola Chiefs.
An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) in Haryana's Nuh district was arrested on Monday by the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000. The ASI, identified as Ashok, had reportedly demanded the money to remove a complainant and his wife's names from an ongoing case.
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games 2026 in Ahmedabad, emphasising the role of traditional sports in reflecting cultural identity and fostering international cooperation. The one-day event, hosted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, brought together delegations from BRICS and partner countries to showcase indigenous sporting practices like Mallakhamb, Yogasana, and Kalaripayattu from India, alongside Wushu from China and Sambo from Russia. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi also highlighted India's rich sporting heritage and proposed initiatives for global promotion and preservation of traditional sports.
Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the first two India A matches against New Zealand due to a left side strain, with Kumar Kushagra named as his replacement.
The Supreme Court expressed dissatisfaction with the Centre's cap on anti-cancer drug trade margins, questioning why similar controls aren't applied to other medicines. The court highlighted significant markups on common drugs and medical devices, urging the government to expand its price regulation efforts and present modalities by October 27.
A 62-year-old farmer from Dakshina Kannada district was digitally arrested and duped of Rs 1.31 crore by cybercriminals impersonating Mumbai police and ATS officers. The fraudsters coerced him into transferring money by falsely claiming he was involved in a terror attack. A case has been registered, and investigation is ongoing.
