Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly flagged multiple issues during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, including name deletions. Despite a media report suggesting 14 objections over 10 months, Election Commission officials assert that all decisions, including SIR, were unanimous and approved by all commissioners. The report also highlights opposition parties' criticism of the SIR, alleging it targets non-BJP aligned voters.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on simultaneous elections had scheduled an "informal interaction" with Supreme Court judges, which was later cancelled by the apex court. The Supreme Court deemed the meeting inappropriate as the proposed constitutional amendment could become subject to judicial review. JPC Chairman PP Chaudhary defended the panel's initial decision, citing precedents, while DMK MP P Wilson, who mooted the idea, expressed disappointment and argued against the notion that such interactions violate separation of powers.
An unidentified group hurled a petrol bomb at the BJP office in Sangrur, Punjab, prompting strong condemnation from party leaders who criticised the AAP government's handling of law and order. Police are investigating the incident, which caused no injuries but left a burn mark on the building.
A political controversy has erupted in Delhi after a video surfaced showing PWD Minister Parvesh Singh slapping a man who was recording a road inspection in Tilak Nagar.
Comedian Pulkit Mani's stand-up shows in Noida, Lucknow, and Kanpur have been cancelled following "repeated threats from goon activists." This comes after he performed a mimicry of Prime Minister Modi alongside Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at an event in Indore, sparking significant controversy and criticism from the BJP. Mani has since reported receiving hate messages online.
'Nitishji as CM never supported the UCC and publicly expressed his strong reservations over UCC.'
Cricketer-turned-politician Harbhajan Singh revealed in a podcast interview that his decision to switch from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stemmed from the AAP government's alleged neglect of his concerns regarding drug abuse and sports promotion in Punjab.
At this point at 85, Sharad Pawar is like a mature but ageing trapeze artist who is assessing if he will still land on his feet if he jumps from the safe perch of INDIA to the NDA. Can a Great Betrayal be presented as a tactical move? Watch Sharad Pawar do it, predicts Aditi Phadnis.
An FIR has been registered against Aishwarya, daughter of Karnataka BJP MLA B Suresh Gowda, for allegedly abusing and assaulting a woman police sub-inspector at a temple in Mandya. The incident occurred when Aishwarya reportedly sought to bypass a queue, leading to an altercation. While Aishwarya has also filed a counter-complaint, her father has apologised for her conduct and called for an inquiry into the matter, advocating for an end to VIP protocols at temples.
AICC general secretary K C Venugopal announced that the Congress would not withdraw its candidate Milan Pradhan from the Nandigram Assembly bypoll in West Bengal, despite his recent arrest. Pradhan was apprehended in connection with a 2007 anti-land acquisition movement case, shortly after the Trinamool Congress extended its support to him. Venugopal alleged political pressure and questioned the Election Commission's silence, vowing to elevate the issue to a national level.
How long can the Cockroach Janta Party remain an agitationist force? asks Saisuresh Sivaswamy.
BJD chief Naveen Patnaik has voiced concerns over the Centre's decision to introduce Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 from October 15, urging protection for small traders and common people. This move has sparked a political debate, with the BJP defending the charges as beneficial for digital infrastructure and largely not impacting consumers, while the Congress and traders' associations criticise it as an additional burden.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has called for the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resignation, citing alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and the poll process. Kharge outlined five key demands for electoral transparency and pledged that the Congress party would protest both on the streets and in Parliament.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in a Bhajan clubbing event in New Delhi, a modern trend where young people gather to sing and dance to Hindu devotional songs. The event marked the 110th birth anniversary of Deendayal Upadhyay and saw Modi engaging with Gen Z attendees.
The Congress party has announced a significant organisational reshuffle in its Uttar Pradesh unit, appointing Aradhana Misra-Mona as president and Imran Masood as working president. This strategic move comes ahead of the state assembly elections next year and aims to strike a social balance while strengthening the party's position in the crucial state.
The BJP has accused the Congress of spreading "fake news" regarding UPI transaction charges, asserting that the government has clarified that consumers will not be levied merchant discount rate (MDR) charges. This comes after the Congress criticised a government notification, alleging it paves the way for imposing fees on UPI transactions. The BJP has strongly refuted these claims, highlighting that most UPI transactions remain free and the government provides incentives to maintain a charge-free ecosystem for users.
Police in Jamui, Bihar, have arrested two main accused in the molestation of a minor girl, bringing the total arrests to five. The arrests followed an encounter where the accused were injured. The incident, captured in a viral video, has ignited a fierce political debate between the ruling NDA and opposition parties over law and order in the state.
Assembly by-elections in Madurantakam and Dharapuram will offer an early measure of the TVK's electoral strength and put the dynamics of its new alliance in focus.
The death of former West Bengal assembly deputy speaker and veteran Trinamool Congress leader Ashis Banerjee on Sunday triggered a political blame game, with the rival factions within the party and the Bharatiya Janata Party trading allegations over the circumstances surrounding the 74-year-old leader's death.
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 Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has called for the immediate passage of the women's reservation bill and the delimitation bill, advocating for a uniform 50 per cent increase in seats for all states to ensure fair and equitable representation.
JD(U) MLA Anant Kumar Singh has publicly declared his intention to support and campaign for Jan Suraaj Party candidate Anuj Singh against his own party's MLC, Neeraj Kumar, in the upcoming Bihar legislative council polls. Singh cited personal scores and past conspiracies involving Neeraj Kumar and RCP Singh as reasons for his rebellion.
The Indian government has introduced a 0.4% transaction fee on UPI payments above Rs 2,000 for merchants, effective October 15, sparking a political row. The Congress party has labelled it a "Modi tax" and accused the government of succumbing to US pressure, while the BJP has defended the move, clarifying that consumers will not be charged and small vendors are protected. The finance ministry reiterated that the charge is on merchants, not customers.
Student protests against alleged examination irregularities in Jharkhand have intensified, with six demonstrators on hunger strike demanding the cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination and an independent probe. The agitation, which has garnered political support from both opposition and ruling allies, is set to impact the Monsoon Assembly Session, even as a CID investigation progresses and prohibitory orders are issued.
Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has moved the Supreme Court to intervene in a significant case concerning the interpretation of legislative privileges of MLAs and their impact on freedom of speech. A seven-judge Constitution bench will hear the matter from October 6. Kamra's involvement stems from privilege proceedings against him in the Maharashtra Assembly over his comedy special. The case also revisits a 2003 matter involving journalist N Ravi, highlighting conflicting views on whether fundamental rights override legislative privileges.
Following the horrific Jamui molestation case, new incidents of harassment have been reported in Bihar's Samastipur and Muzaffarpur districts, leading to five arrests and prompting strong criticism from opposition leaders against the BJP-led NDA government over the state's law and order situation.
The Congress party criticised the all-vegetarian menu served at the BRICS Summit gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Rahul Gandhi highlighting that 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian. The party accused the BJP government of imposing its dietary preferences and questioned why India's diverse culinary culture was not showcased.
A retired 70-year-old IAS officer, Rakesh Agarwal, was found dead with his throat slit at his Bhopal residence. Police suspect his househelp, Varun, who joined two days prior and is now missing. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has assured strict action, while the Congress party has criticised the state's law and order situation following the incident.
Bihar Police have arrested three individuals in connection with a deeply disturbing viral video from Jamui showing the harassment of a young couple, an incident that has sparked widespread social media outrage and strong political condemnation.
A retired 70-year-old IAS officer, Rakesh Agarwal, was found dead with his throat slit at his Bhopal residence. Police suspect his househelp, Varun, who joined two days prior and is now missing. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has assured strict action, while the Congress party has criticised the state's law and order situation following the incident.
A retired 70-year-old IAS officer, Rakesh Agarwal, was found dead with his throat slit at his Bhopal residence. Police suspect his househelp, Varun, who joined two days prior and is now missing. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has assured strict action, while the Congress party has criticised the state's law and order situation following the incident.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has accused the "bhaipo gang," allegedly linked to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, of involvement in the murder of his personal assistant, Chandranath Rath. The allegations come as Rath's mother, Hasirani Rath, was nominated by the BJP for the Nandigram by-election. Adhikari claimed Rs 2 crore was spent on the murder and that the CBI investigation is progressing, with phone records and a money courier identified.
A 70-year-old retired IAS officer, Rakesh Agarwal, was found dead with his throat slit at his home in Bhopal. Police suspect his househelp, who has been missing since the incident. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has condemned the killing and assured swift action, while the opposition has criticised the state's law and order situation.
The Aam Aadmi Party's latest financial disclosures reveal a substantial 68% decline in contributions for 2025-26.
Bihar police are investigating multiple past incidents of molestation and moral policing across several districts, including Kishanganj, Banka, and Samastipur, following recent public outrage. These cases, some months or even a year old, involve vigilante groups harassing individuals, often for inter-faith interactions, and have led to arrests and significant political controversy.
If the new MDR regime is rolled out from the middle of this month, as scheduled, it should count as one of the boldest political actions by the Modi government on an economic-policy issue, and a signal that it is less worried about erosion of political capital it draws from one of its key constituencies, notes A K Bhattacharya.
Student protests in Jharkhand over alleged irregularities in recruitment exams have intensified, leading to a state-wide bandh called by the BJP and a march by the ABVP to the state assembly. The agitation, now in its 18th day, has seen police action against demonstrators, an ED money laundering probe, and the arrest of a former JPSC chairperson, while talks between the government and students remain deadlocked.
Students and political parties in Odisha are protesting widespread errors in school textbooks, demanding the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond. The CJP has extended support to the Navnirman Yuva Chhatra Sangathan's 'satyagraha', while the state government has begun distributing corrected textbooks.
India is set to host five-time world champions Brazil in a historic invitational football friendly in Kolkata. The match, while offering invaluable exposure for the Indian team, has also drawn criticism over its cost and the decision to withdraw from the FIFA ASEAN Cup. The event carries political significance and marks a key step in Brazil's rebuilding process.
Five-time world champions Brazil are set to play India in an invitational friendly at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium, marking their first-ever international meeting. The match, while a spectacle for Indian fans, has drawn criticism regarding its cost and impact on Indian football development, with former captain Bhaichung Bhutia questioning its value over long-term investment. For Brazil, it's part of a rebuilding process, while India aims to gain invaluable experience against a top-tier team.
