Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, speaking at the INDIA bloc's Ramlila Maidan rally, accused the BJP of forming governments on "stolen" mandates and alleged that Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were shielding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He called for PM Modi's removal to protect democracy.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has declared Chandrashekhar Aazad as the chief ministerial candidate for the newly formed Samajik Parivartan Morcha in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.
BJP MP Janardan Mishra has caused a controversy by stating that modern farmers work for only three months and spend the rest of the year playing cards, consuming gutka, and liquor. His comments, made at a Govardhan Puja event, have drawn sharp criticism from Congress leaders who accuse him of insulting farmers and demand a public apology.
Chitta, Siddhu Moosewala and allegations that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann reeked of alcohol in Parliament, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched an all-out attack against Punjab's ruling Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday as he kicked off his party's election campaign.
Expelled Congress leader Kripa Alva was questioned by Cyber Crime Police regarding her alleged involvement in a sting operation targeting former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. This marks another instance of her interrogation in the ongoing probe, which also saw the recent expulsion of Alva from the Congress party and questioning of a news channel head. The case stems from two YouTube videos making serious allegations against Siddaramaiah, who subsequently sought a court injunction and filed a police complaint.
Indian benchmark indices, the Sensex and Nifty, witnessed a significant rally, with the Sensex jumping 2,009 points and the Nifty surging 576 points. This surge is attributed to a sharp decline in crude oil prices, hopes for a resolution to the West Asia conflict, and the Democratic Party gaining control of the US Congress in the midterm elections.
An Agra court granted bail to six Congress workers accused of defacing CEC Gyanesh Kumar's residence during a protest. The court dropped the "attempt to murder" charge (Section 109(2) BNS) initially invoked by police, citing lack of evidence, and expressed displeasure over the police's handling of the case.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis addressed speculation regarding a merger between NCP factions led by Sharad Pawar and Sunetra Pawar, stating neither had informed the BJP. He also discussed drought relief measures, water management, pollution in Mumbai, and the city's law and order situation, defending the Mumbai Police's actions against criminal gangs.
Democrats are projected to gain control of both the US House of Representatives and the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections, marking a significant shift in the balance of power and delivering major victories in traditionally Republican states like Texas, Kansas, and Iowa.
The BJP has strongly criticised Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders for allegedly promoting a false narrative against Delhi Police using a fabricated AI-generated video. This comes after an arrest was made in connection with circulating the video, which purportedly showed an ACP harassing a woman journalist. The BJP questions Gandhi's silence and the potential involvement of the Congress IT cell in creating and amplifying the fake content.
Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi's memoir, "Belonging: A Journey of Love," reveals her limited interactions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, noting his tendency to avoid eye contact. She discusses their differing visions for India, rooted in their ideological backgrounds, and critiques his political style and the BJP's aim for a "Congress-free India."
Supporters of the INDIA bloc gathered at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan for a 'Chalo Dilli' protest on Sunday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities and 'vote chori'. Senior leaders participated in a march, while extensive security arrangements were made for the large-scale mobilisation.
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.
BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, questioning her political rise and describing events surrounding the Gandhi family as "way too many coincidences." Ranaut, citing research for her film 'Emergency,' labelled Gandhi a "mysterious foreign national" and linked the deaths of Indira, Sanjay, and Rajiv Gandhi to Sonia's eventual leadership, accusing her of promoting foreign agendas.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to disclose details of his foreign trips to the public, saying they have a right to know since he was the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha.
A political controversy erupted in Mumbai after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) removed actor Dia Mirza's video from its eco-friendly Diwali campaign. The video, which urged citizens to avoid firecrackers for environmental reasons, was taken down following objections from a BJP leader and comments from the Mayor labelling Mirza as "anti-Hindu." This move has drawn criticism from opposition parties, who accuse the BMC of succumbing to political pressure, while BJP leaders defended the removal, citing Mirza's past stances and alleged "anti-Hindu" views.
The Congress has initiated seat-sharing discussions with the Samajwadi Party for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, proposing a list of over 175 seats. While the Congress aims for a significant share, buoyed by its performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Samajwadi Party emphasises winnability as the sole criterion. The alliance seeks to collectively challenge the BJP in the state.
The INDIA bloc is gearing up for a symbolic 'public impeachment' of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on October 30, protesting alleged 'vote chori' and irregularities in electoral rolls, raising significant questions about India's democratic processes.
The NDA alliance secured 16 out of 28 legislative council seats across four states, while the Congress managed to win only one seat. The Samajwadi Party made significant gains in Uttar Pradesh, and the Jan Suraaj Party opened its account in Bihar. The results show mixed fortunes for major parties, with notable setbacks for the BJP in Nagpur and the Congress in Karnataka.
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.
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi shared an Instagram video reminiscing about her family's Diwali celebrations at 1, Safdarjung Road, the former residence of Indira Gandhi. She recalled traditions like decorating the Ganesh statue, lighting diyas, enjoying firecrackers, and having Kashmiri food, alongside Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and granddaughter Miraya Vadra.
The Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council elections, conducted using ballot papers, have reignited the debate over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) versus ballot papers ahead of the 2027 UP assembly polls. While the BJP maintained its lead, the Samajwadi Party made significant gains, prompting renewed calls for ballot paper usage in future elections.
The Congress candidate's victory in the Nagpur Division Graduates' constituency marks a significant upset for the BJP in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections.
Sonia Gandhi's memoir, "Belonging: A Journey of Love," reveals that Pranab Mukherjee hinted at his desire to become prime minister during a 2010 conversation. Gandhi recounts her surprise at his suggestion for a "change at the top." The book also addresses criticisms of Gandhi being a "back seat driver" during the UPA years, which she refutes. Mukherjee's daughter, Sharmistha Mukherjee, has since questioned Gandhi's "shock," asserting her father's ambition was earned through hard work, not dynastic entitlement.
The Election Commission has issued an interim order preventing rival factions of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), led by Mamata Banerjee and Arup Roy, from using the party name and its "Flowers and Grass" symbol during the upcoming West Bengal by-elections. Both groups have been directed to submit preferred names and symbols by Friday morning for recognition and allotment for the bypolls, as the EC undertakes a substantive determination of the party dispute.
Congress leaders have accused the Haryana Police of illegally detaining 18 municipal councillors from Rajasthan's Tijara in Panchkula, allegedly to prevent them from voting in a crucial municipal council chairperson election. While police deny the claims, Congress has staged protests, calling the incident a "murder of democracy" and demanding a high-level inquiry into the alleged political interference.
A farmer and four associates were allegedly abducted and threatened in Latur, Maharashtra, amidst intense rivalry for the upcoming District Central Co-operative Bank (DCCB) elections. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, led to a police complaint and protests by Congress workers, resulting in an FIR against two individuals for kidnapping and criminal intimidation.
Jenny, a resident of Assam, has reignited a nearly 23-year-old controversy by reiterating rape allegations against former Uttarakhand minister Harak Singh Rawat, demanding a fresh CBI investigation and a DNA test for her son. Rawat has denied the claims, citing a previous CBI clean chit, and threatened defamation suits against those making or supporting the allegations, including Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The case has stirred political circles ahead of upcoming assembly polls.
Lok Sabha MP Ramashankar Rajbhar 'Vidyarthi' announced that the INDIA bloc's seat-sharing formula has been finalised for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, with the Samajwadi Party's manifesto set for release on November 26. He emphasised a unified strategy for victory, while Congress leaders have claimed 175-200 seats, with final decisions to be made by top leadership. The article also touches upon the political landscape in UP, considering past election results and the 2027 contest.
The BJP staged a protest march in Delhi, demanding an apology from the Congress and Rahul Gandhi for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The party accused the Congress of deliberately holding the INDIA bloc rally on November 1, the anniversary of the riots, thereby insulting the Sikh community's sentiments. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri described the 1984 violence as a "well-planned massacre" and a "genocide."
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.
The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar regarding a plea filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and 12 other opposition leaders concerning alleged large-scale voter deletions and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) irregularities.
Sonia Gandhi's memoir "Belonging: A Journey Of Love" details the political targeting of her son, Rahul Gandhi, by the BJP and Narendra Modi government. She asserts that neither she nor Rahul received any monetary benefit from the National Herald revival process, despite facing legal challenges. The book also touches upon the legal issues faced by Priyanka Gandhi's husband, Robert Vadra, and highlights the family's resilience.
A 36-year-old lawyer, Anuj Kumar Chaturvedi, was allegedly shot dead by Congress district general secretary Amol Dixit in Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh, on Diwali night. The incident stemmed from a dispute over political rivalry, with Dixit reportedly slapping Chaturvedi's cousin, leading to a confrontation. Dixit is currently absconding, and police have registered a case and formed multiple teams for his arrest.
'Nobody, even the government, cannot compel Gyanesh Kumar to resign. He can only be removed through a constitutionally laid down process of impeachment. If he does get impeached, there will be political fallout on Mr Modi's government.'
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an application alleging that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pushed a pregnant journalist during a march to the apex court on October 12. The matter was mentioned by senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia, who stated the journalist was three months pregnant and required hospitalisation. The court will hear the application on October 26 or October 27, alongside other pleas related to the October 12 march and electoral roll irregularities.
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty surged significantly in early trade, driven by a sharp decline in crude oil prices and optimism surrounding a potential resolution to the West Asia conflict following the US midterm elections, which saw the Democratic Party gain control of Congress. Track Sensex, Nifty on November 5, 2026.
Kerala's Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph stated that criticism regarding the state government's initial decision for a preliminary inquiry in the alleged CMRL payments case, involving former CM Pinarayi Vijayan and his family, would subside following a recent Supreme Court verdict. Health Minister K Muraleedharan also affirmed that the SC order vindicated the government's cautious approach, which prioritised a preliminary inquiry over immediate FIR registration based solely on the ED's request.
While remaining cautious of the unpredictability of a bruised Trump administration, New Delhi, and other world capitals, could go slow on the investment pledges made to stave off tariffs.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has interpreted the US midterm election results as a clear rejection of conflict by the American public, stating, "Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message." This comes as Democrats are poised to take control of the US Congress, securing the Senate and gaining seats in the House of Representatives.
