'In 2013-2014, Modi was asking for regime change. In fact, the words he used were, they should be pulled out and thrown away; ughadke phekna hai. That is part of democracy.'
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.
What lessons opposition parties need to learn post defeat of Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal elections? The election saw spectacular victor of BJP which rose from 3 seats in 2016 to 206 seats in 2026 assembly elections.
Opposition parties in Thane, including Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP), and MNS, have announced a protest march to the Police Commissionerate on October 9. This demonstration is in response to the deteriorating law and order situation following the murder of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pradeep Purnekar. Police have made arrests in the case, and the victim's son has accused a rival Shiv Sena leader of involvement.
Opposition parties in Assam are questioning the police investigation into the death of singer Zubeen Garg after a Singapore coroner ruled it an accidental drowning, contradicting the Assam police's murder charge.
Opposition parties in Punjab have strongly criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government following the murder of anti-drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota in Mansa. They allege a breakdown of law and order and "jungle raj," demanding accountability from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and a CBI probe into the killing. The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of those fighting the drug menace in the state.
Opposition parties in Punjab have announced a joint protest at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's residence, demanding the arrest of former minister Laljit Singh Bhullar following the suicide of a state warehousing corporation official. The move follows allegations of harassment and demands for a CBI investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
Israel's Election Commission is counting 'double envelope' votes, with Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud projected to be the largest party but his bloc falling short of a majority. The opposition bloc, along with Arab parties, holds a potential majority, leading to calls for a Jewish-Arab coalition to form a government and keep Netanyahu out. Negotiations are set to begin as President Herzog urges against another election.
Abhijeet Dipke has issued a strong call to Indian opposition parties, urging them to boycott elections if they genuinely believe the electoral process is rigged, arguing that their continued participation only legitimises alleged unfairness.
Two individuals were killed and three injured in a firing incident in Moga, Punjab, on Sunday evening. Police suspect old enmity as the motive and have arrested five people in connection with the case, though the assailants remain at large. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, who allege a complete collapse of law and order under the current state government.
Opposition parties are planning a third attempt to move a motion for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. This renewed effort follows an Indian Express report highlighting objections from two other Election Commissioners regarding decisions made without their knowledge, particularly concerning voter registration and electoral roll management.
American singer Mary Millben has ignited a political debate by calling on 'young patriots' in India to protest the Cockroach Janata Party..
Opposition INDIA bloc leaders staged a sit-in at Rajghat, alleging a 'criminal conspiracy of vote chori' by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, demanding Kumar's resignation and seeking a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has intensified allegations of election fraud by Arab-led parties, describing suspected foreign interference as an "earthquake". The Central Elections Committee has asked the internal security agency, Shin Bet, to investigate these claims, which come amid an inconclusive election where neither Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition secured a majority. President Isaac Herzog has called for a thorough investigation while cautioning against general suspicion of the Arab community.
A Bangladesh opposition leader, Nahid Islam of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has issued warnings against facilitating an Indian transit corridor through Bangladesh and called for a fair renewal of the Ganges water-sharing treaty, which expires in December. His remarks were made at a rally in Dhaka, where he also criticised the current government. The allegations about the corridor follow Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's recent visit to Japan, which focused on economic cooperation and regional connectivity, though Bangladesh officials deny discussing third-country issues. India has also expressed interest in strengthening regional linkages with Japan involving its northeastern states.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticised Opposition parties, including Congress and AAP, stating that protests are futile and asserting that the NDA will form the next government in Punjab. He also spoke about Yamuna cleaning projects and accused previous Delhi governments of pollution.
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.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud emerged as the largest party in Israel's recent election, but his right-wing bloc secured only 53 seats, falling short of the 61 required for a parliamentary majority. This outcome positions Arab parties, with a combined 19 seats, as crucial powerbrokers in upcoming coalition negotiations.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill clarified that churches and faith-based organisations receive only about 6 per cent of the Rs 22,000 crore in foreign contributions. JPC chairperson Sanjay Jaiswal stated the committee is examining practical concerns raised by stakeholders, including allegations from opposition parties that the bill targets minority institutions. The government maintains the bill is not religion-specific and aims to regulate foreign contributions. The JPC is conducting nationwide consultations to gather feedback.
The opposition has strongly criticised the government's decision to introduce a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 for merchants, effective October 15. They allege the move is a result of US pressure and will lead to increased commodity prices, calling it a "betrayal" of the common man. The government, however, clarifies that customers will not be charged, and the MDR applies only to merchants for larger transactions.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has strongly refuted Opposition allegations that the decision to levy a 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on specific UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 was influenced by external pressure. She clarified that the decision was a professional one made by the payment ecosystem, not a government imposition or a tax on consumers, with collected funds distributed among banks and UPI entities to ensure a sustainable digital payments framework.
Relentless protests by Opposition parties forced the adjournment of the Lok Sabha for the day after the passage of the Bankers' Books Evidence Bill without a debate on Wednesday, with the government accusing them of coming to the House to disrupt proceedings and not for discussion.
A five-storey boys' hostel in Satya Niketan, Delhi, collapsed, killing three students and trapping others, leading to widespread condemnation from opposition parties. Leaders from Congress and AAP criticised both the central and Delhi governments, highlighting inadequate hostel facilities and demanding accountability for student safety.
As the Centre announced the inclusion of caste enumeration in the next census on Wednesday, opposition parties said it is a victory for their long-standing demand and sought time-bound implementation.
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.
Opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, and RJD, have strongly criticised the government's decision to impose a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions exceeding Rs 2,000 made to merchants. They allege the move is a result of "American imperialism" and will lead to increased commodity prices, while the government maintains the charge is on merchants and not consumers, with person-to-person transactions remaining free.
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 party has strongly refuted claims by Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance Chairperson Bhartruhari Mahtab that opposition MPs supported levying a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions. Congress MP Manish Tewari termed Mahtab's remarks "erroneous and fallacious," clarifying that the committee's recommendation was to "explore" revenue models, not to implement MDR. The party accused Mahtab of misleading due to his recent switch to the BJP.
The INDIA bloc's planned 'public impeachment' of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has been postponed to October 31 due to Delhi's weather conditions.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Friday that the BJP would implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttar Pradesh if it returns to power in the upcoming assembly elections. Addressing a state working committee meeting, Shah expressed confidence in the BJP's victory, criticised opposition parties on issues like the Ram temple and alleged voter list irregularities, and highlighted the Adityanath government's achievements in law and order and development.
Israel's parliamentary election results have led to uncertainty in government formation, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc failed to secure a majority. The situation is further complicated by allegations of electoral fraud and foreign interference, which have been refuted by election officials and the Shin Bet security agency.
It is too early to judge whether the CJP will become a consequential political movement or remain a moment of protest. Its significance will depend less on the size of crowds or the reach of online campaigns than on what follows when the initial excitement subsides, notes Manoj Mohanka.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke met Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee in Delhi, thanking her for supporting youth-led protests and extending solidarity with the INDIA bloc's upcoming rally against alleged "vote chori." CJP, however, stated it would maintain its independent identity and not formally join the Sunday protest.
The Election Commission has suspended two electoral registration officers (EROs) in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, for alleged irregularities in the electoral roll. The EC also directed the addition of a penal provision to an existing FIR against them and a computer operator. This action follows complaints from opposition parties about large-scale manipulation and an inquiry revealing misuse of login IDs for voter detail changes without proper documentation.
The son of an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sarpanch, Tirath Singh, was shot dead by unidentified assailants outside a gurdwara in Chite Kalan village, Amritsar, on Monday night. His brother alleged the attack was due to their stance against drug peddlers, though police suggest old enmity. The incident has drawn strong criticism from opposition parties against the Bhagwant Mann government over the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab, citing a series of recent killings.
Several political parties in Tamil Nadu, including the ruling TVK and opposition DMK, walked out of an all-party meeting convened by the Election Commission. They demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, citing alleged irregularities and a lack of transparency in the previous Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, where millions of voters were reportedly removed or flagged. The AIADMK and BJP attended the meeting, with AIADMK also raising concerns about the large number of affected voters.
Former Thane Mayor and Shiv Sena leader Meenakshi Shinde resigned as the party's district women's wing chief on Thursday. Her resignation comes two days after she was questioned by police regarding the murder of Shiv Sena (UBT) functionary Pradeep Purnekar, a case that has intensified political friction and led to accusations against her and her husband.
Major opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, and SP, boycotted the customary tea party hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the House was adjourned sine die, while some opposition leaders attended a similar event in the Rajya Sabha.
The Indian government has introduced a 0.4% fee on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 for merchants, effective October 15, sparking strong opposition from political parties and traders. Despite accusations of foreign influence and demands for a rollback, the finance ministry and top functionaries have stated there will be no reversal, citing the need for a self-sustaining digital payments ecosystem.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has condemned the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh, alias Jhota, in Mansa, assuring strict action against all involved. He also criticised opposition parties for politicising the incident. The medical store owner accused of the shooting was arrested, and public outrage led to property damage.
