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 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 Congress party has called for the scrapping of the Agnipath scheme, claiming it has weakened national security and led to a shortage of soldiers. This demand follows the government's recent decision to extend Agniveers' tenure by two years and offer permanent recruitment to some. The Congress also seeks retrospective benefits for regularised Agniveers and criticises the scheme's impact on soldiers' welfare, citing reported suicides and discrimination.
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 Supreme Court has issued a contempt notice to the Keralam unit of the Congress party for a social media post targeting Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. The court emphasized that judicial independence is paramount and not subject to political convenience, stating that any attempt to undermine judicial authority must be dealt with firmly. The Congress unit claimed the post was unauthorized and has since been removed, with an unconditional apology issued. The court will appoint amicus curiae to determine if criminal or civil contempt applies.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has strongly criticised the Congress party and the previous UPA government amidst the row over IDBI Bank's divestment, alleging they used banks and financial institutions as "personal entities" and pressured employees to extend loans bypassing prudent norms. She defended the current government's decision to sell a stake in IDBI Bank to Fairfax, stating it was revived through professionalism and recapitalisation.
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 Indian National Congress has strongly condemned the air strike by Pakistan that hit a hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, resulting in a high number of casualties. The party calls for global rejection of such acts of barbarism and expresses solidarity with the Afghan people.
The Congress party faced a significant defeat in the Karnataka Legislative Council elections, losing all four seats contested. The opposition alliance of BJP and JD(S) secured all segments, with JD(S) wresting one from Congress and BJP retaining three. This outcome, while not affecting government stability, is seen as a moral victory for the opposition and a test of their coordination.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that Rahul Gandhi has turned creating ruckus in Parliament and resorting to boycotts into a Congress culture.
The BJP claimed a rift within the Congress party, claiming Rahul Gandhi is actively sidelining his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at INDIA bloc protests.
Amid swirling rumours of a potential merger between the two Nationalist Congress Party factions, senior leaders are clarifying recent meetings, primarily citing health visits, while political observers debate the future of Maharashtra's political landscape.
Congress MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring has criticised the Punjab government following the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa. Warring demanded Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's resignation, citing deteriorating law and order and the government's failure to curb the drug menace. He also questioned the accused's licensed weapon and announced support for a Punjab Bandh on October 15.
An analysis of Election Commission filings reveals that the Congress party's receipts from donations above Rs 20,000 plummeted by nearly 75 per cent to Rs 130.69 crore in 2025-26. This marks the steepest annual fall in such contributions for the party in a decade, with a significant drop attributed to reduced funding from the Prudent Electoral Trust. The report highlights a stark contrast with the BJP's donations in 2024-25.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly criticised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for describing Diwali as 'khushiyon ka Eid' (Eid of happiness), accusing the Congress of appeasement politics and hurting Hindu sentiments. Congress leader Pawan Khera defended Kharge, stating that 'Eid' literally means 'festival'.
The Congress party is set to replace Amrinder Singh Raja Warring as the president of its Punjab unit, following organisational feedback from Sachin Pilot and persistent infighting within the state unit. The move aims to unite various factions ahead of the 2027 assembly polls, with former minister Vijay Inder Singla emerging as a frontrunner for the post.
The Samosa Caucus, an informal group of Indian-American lawmakers, is set to expand its presence in the US House of Representatives following the recent elections. With Democrats gaining control of both the House and Senate, re-elected members like Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, Suhas Subramanyam, and Pramila Jayapal will be joined by newcomers Pia Dandiya and Amish Shah, significantly increasing Indian-American representation on Capitol Hill.
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.
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has alleged "great damage" to India's fabric, democracy, and institutions over the last 12 years, expressing optimism for a return to proper governance. In an interview, she also discussed the resilience of the Congress party against challenges and provided insights into her upcoming memoir, 'Belonging: A Journey of Love', which covers her personal life and political journey.
Congress workers and police clashed outside the Jaipur Police Commissionerate during a protest demanding the registration of a zero FIR regarding the alleged assault on NSUI leader Ritu Barala by Delhi Police. Jaipur Police refused, citing an ongoing investigation in Delhi, while Congress leaders insisted on the legal provision for a zero FIR and accused the BJP government of denying justice. BJP leaders, in turn, called the protest a "political drama."
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.
'Jan Suraaj Party was the BJP's 'B' team. It is proven now.' 'You have seen their performance and it proves that they only worked to dent Opposition votes by working for the BJP.'
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.
Senior NCP leader Praful Patel met NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar at Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital, stating that despite political differences, their family relations remain strong. They discussed the political situation, and Pawar was in good spirits. This meeting follows the 2023 NCP split and recent developments within the Ajit Pawar faction.
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.
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.
A political controversy has erupted after Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's "baap" remarks, with the Congress claiming a BJP worker first insulted Kharge's father, prompting his retort. The BJP has strongly condemned Kharge's language, calling it indecent and reflecting the Congress's ideological bankruptcy, while the Congress alleges repeated insults against its chief.
Rahul Jaiswal, detained in connection with a police officer's death during an illicit liquor crackdown in Madhya Pradesh, has reportedly admitted to Congress party association and managing a liquor shop. The incident involved SHO Dilip Puri being run over by a truck smuggling illicit liquor. Police have detained two others, Keram Singh Changod and Vijay Rao. The case has sparked a political war of words between Congress and BJP, with BJP alleging Congress involvement in the illegal trade.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge sparked a major controversy on Sunday with his remark "Modi ka baap bhi jayega" during an event in Patna, in response to an audience member's comment about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The statement drew sharp condemnation from senior leaders of the BJP and other NDA allies, including Home Minister Amit Shah and Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who criticised the use of "indecent and unparliamentary language" and demanded an apology from the Congress.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has claimed that Rs 860-Rs 880 crore generated from an alleged liquor scam in Chhattisgarh during the previous Congress regime was delivered to the Pradesh Congress Committee office in Raipur. The agency filed a supplementary chargesheet against former PCC treasurer Ramgopal Agrawal and provisionally attached his properties worth Rs 9.06 crore. The ED alleges a liquor syndicate controlled the state excise department, generating over Rs 2,883 crore in illegal proceeds.
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.
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.
Sonia Gandhi's new book reveals her deep internal conflict and reluctance to enter politics after Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. Despite her children's fierce opposition, she found guidance in the Bhagavad Gita, which helped her overcome her doubts and embrace her duty towards the Congress party amidst its challenging times in the late 1990s.
'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.'
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has claimed that 20 to 22 MLAs from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction might break away, hinting at significant political shifts in Maharashtra. He also criticised the ruling Mahayuti's conduct in the Gokul Dairy polls, alleging undemocratic practices and that victory was snatched from the Congress panel.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar addressed reporters regarding the ongoing speculation about a merger between the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions, stating that details would be revealed at the appropriate time. She also announced a service week across Maharashtra from November 11 to 18 to observe 'Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas' on November 15, marking tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda's birth anniversary.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a strong counterattack against the INDIA bloc's 'vote chori' allegations, challenging Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to a special Parliament session debate on EVMs and infiltrators. Shah dismissed the INDIA bloc's rally as a "save infiltrator" event, questioning Congress's wins if EVMs are faulty and asserting the BJP's commitment to removing all infiltrators from electoral rolls.
Amidst swirling political developments in Maharashtra, speculation about a potential merger between the NCP and NCP-SP factions is intensifying, with key leaders hinting at significant realignments and leadership role clarifications.
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 Haryana Congress has strongly criticised the BJP government's two-year tenure in the state, alleging widespread misgovernance, unfulfilled election promises, a surge in crime, and rampant corruption. Senior Congress leaders, including Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Kumari Selja, highlighted issues faced by farmers, traders, and youth, demanding accountability and a white paper on the government's performance.
