Rahul Gandhi made a cryptic social media post about swimming in rough seas, which coincided with a political controversy surrounding alleged irregularities within the Election Commission. A report by The Indian Express highlighted that two Election Commissioners had repeatedly questioned decisions regarding electoral roll revisions, a matter Gandhi had previously raised as "vote chori."
Amid sweltering October heat in Mumbai, Uddhav Thackeray turns up the heat against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, hinting obliquely about Nuremberg-like trials once the wheels of electoral fortune change.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the democratisation of technology to ensure no section of society is left behind, advocating for affordable and accessible digital services, especially for the Global South. He highlighted the potential of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and called for solutions to cyber fraud, global standards for emerging tech, and mechanisms to identify AI-generated content during his interaction with GSMA board members.
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey and West Bengal Minister Indranil Khan offered their perspectives on the Indian football team's 6-1 defeat against Uruguay. Chaubey highlighted the team's strong start and confidence, suggesting rain disrupted momentum, and stressed the importance of playing top-level opposition. Khan called the match a landmark moment for Indian football exposure but also criticised political interference in West Bengal's football ecosystem.
Delhi Police has denied permission for a protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, leading to the closure of 11 metro stations and heightened security. Various political parties and student unions are demanding Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
A Fast Track Court in Surajpur, Chhattisgarh, has sentenced three men to death and one to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of a policeman's wife and their 11-year-old daughter in 2024, a case that also involved sexual assault.
The Delhi High Court has directed the Centre to consider a representation for standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding the mandatory use of 'always-on' body-worn cameras by police and Rapid Action Force personnel during crowd control and protest management. The court asked the government to respond within six months, emphasising accountability in situations involving allegations of excessive force.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has said that the Congress will oppose the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill and the issue will also be discussed at the meeting of floor leaders of opposition parties on Monday.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and various student organisations have called for a united protest on October 10 against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. They demand his resignation and an overhaul of the electoral system, describing the confrontation as a fight for democracy against the BJP. The groups are seeking to sustain street pressure, following a previous agitation that led to a minister's resignation.
Congress's Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan has been sent to judicial custody until October 3 on charges dating back 19 years, effectively ending his campaign for the October 6 by-election.
Bengali film actor Koyel Mallick, previously a TMC MP, has joined the BJP and is set to file her nomination for a Rajya Sabha seat, expressing her desire to contribute to West Bengal's development initiatives.
The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who allegedly died by suicide, have begun a hunger strike demanding action against those they accuse of tormenting their son due to caste discrimination. The institute has deferred mid-semester examinations and reissued an apology for an earlier statement regarding the circumstances of his death.
The CPI(M) has strongly criticised the UDF government in Keralam for ordering a police inquiry into an alleged bribery case involving former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter, and son-in-law, based on an Enforcement Directorate report. The party alleges political targeting and a nexus between the UDF and the BJP-led Centre.
India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is actively courting Sri Lanka's Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a Marxist party with strong Sinhalese nationalist roots, marking a significant shift in bilateral relations despite ideological differences. This engagement, highlighted by a recent high-profile visit by JVP leader Tilvin Silva, aims to foster cooperation on economic projects and address New Delhi's concerns over slow progress in India-aided initiatives in the island nation.
Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat on Saturday demanded punishment for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid an ongoing political row over the SIR exercise, declaring that "Kala Pani" is the appropriate punishment for Kumar based on the magnitude of his position and the alleged gravity of his misconduct.
Before protesting against the State, the citizen should not have to ask: Sir, may I protest, please?, asserts Prem Panicker.
Sanchita Pradhan Dey, the Mamata Banerjee camp's candidate for the Nandigram bypoll, withdrew her nomination just hours after the Election Commission assigned a new party name and symbol to the faction. This development leaves the Mamata All India Trinamool Congress without a candidate in the crucial Nandigram constituency.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has launched a scathing attack, calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar 'deshdrohis' (traitors) for allegedly 'destroying' India's voting system and 'stealing elections'.
The Election Commission has allotted the 'Football Player' symbol to the Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress for the upcoming West Bengal bypolls, while the rival Arup Roy-led group will contest with the 'Envelope' symbol.
The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea by the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction to operate four debit-frozen bank accounts, upholding a Calcutta High Court order. The accounts, holding around Rs 804 crore, are under investigation due to alleged cash deposits and a factional dispute within the party. The court noted the Election Commission's symbol freeze and requested the High Court to expedite the larger adjudication.
Congress MP from Jalandhar, Charanjit Singh Channi, was conspicuous by his absence when party leader Rahul Gandhi spoke in a debate in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, bringing to the fore the recent rift within the party's state unit.
The Trinamool Congress has submitted new names and symbols to the Election Commission for the upcoming West Bengal bypolls, following an interim order that temporarily barred the party from using its original name and "flowers and grass" symbol due to an ongoing internal dispute and split. The party submitted its choices under protest.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju met Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to discuss resolving the persistent deadlock in the Lok Sabha's monsoon session, focusing on the Delimitation Bill and FCRA Bill, though no immediate commitment was secured from the Congress leader.
The Calcutta High Court has verbally directed the West Bengal government to allow Congress' Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan to contest the election properly, provided he secures bail in five criminal cases. Pradhan was recently arrested in connection with multiple long-pending cases, raising questions about his ability to campaign for the upcoming bypoll.
Nila Vikhe Patil, recently elected to Sweden's Parliament, has expressed surprise and disapproval over her estranged uncle, Maharashtra minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, and cousin, Sujay Vikhe Patil, attempting to associate themselves with her political achievement. She stated that she has had no contact with them for over a decade and views their actions as an attempt to "piggyback" on her success.
The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who allegedly died by suicide, are continuing their hunger strike, demanding the arrest of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla and institute director Shireesh B Kedare. They allege caste discrimination and abetment to suicide, while police investigate the case, recording statements and analyzing electronic devices.
A special NIA court in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district has sentenced all 10 convicts in the 2013 Jhiram Valley Maoist attack to death. The attack, which occurred on May 25, 2013, resulted in the deaths of 29 people, including prominent Congress leaders.
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has filed a plea in the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission's interim decision to freeze the Trinamool Congress' name and party symbol. The EC had allotted separate names and symbols to two rival TMC factions ahead of upcoming bypolls, a move Banerjee has strongly criticised as a "black day" for democracy.
Mamata Banerjee, who founded the Trinamool Congress through an act of rebellion against the Congress, now faces a similar internal revolt that threatens the very identity of her party. The Election Commission's interim decision to withhold the TMC name and symbol for the upcoming bypolls highlights a deeper struggle for political inheritance. This situation, unprecedented for the party, forces both Mamata's loyalists and rebels to seek electoral recognition without their established identity, marking a significant challenge to her long-standing dominance.
A professor at Nirma University in Ahmedabad allegedly grabbed a student's collar during a stand-up comedy show, sparking a controversy. The incident, captured in a viral video, occurred during the 'Technofora 2026' event after the student reportedly interrupted the professor. The NSUI has demanded an apology and an inquiry, threatening protests.
Madhya Pradesh BJP MLA Usha Thakur has sparked controversy by claiming that 4.5 lakh girls elope with non-Hindu men during Garba celebrations annually, leading to demographic change. She advocated banning non-Hindus from Garba pandals, a stance supported by the VHP, which suggests Aadhaar checks to prevent "love jihad." The Congress has condemned her remarks, demanding an apology, and highlighted similar controversial statements from another BJP MLA.
Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, Mamata Banerjee's party's candidate for the Rejinagar by-election, initially announced his withdrawal from the contest due to harassment of workers and symbol unfamiliarity, but retracted his statement within hours after intervention from the party's top leadership and Mamata Banerjee herself, confirming he will now contest the October 6 poll.
Delhi Police have registered three FIRs and detained nearly 1,000 individuals, including prominent political leaders and activists, following protests at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protests, which violated prohibitory orders, were in response to allegations concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The Election Commission has announced elections for 12 Rajya Sabha seats across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal on October 16. The BJP is expected to retain eight seats in UP and gain one in West Bengal, increasing its overall strength. The Samajwadi Party is also likely to gain one seat in UP, while Mayawati's BSP faces the prospect of losing its representation in Parliament.
The Congress party won six out of nine wards where repolling was conducted across four urban local bodies in Rajasthan, while the BJP secured three. These results finalise the tally for all 10,244 wards, with the BJP holding the overall lead in total wards won, followed by Congress and Independents. The process for electing mayors and chairpersons is now underway.
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.
The ruling BJP has increased its lead over the Congress in the Rajasthan urban local body elections, winning 3,587 wards against Congress's 3,050. Independents also performed strongly, securing 2,024 wards. While BJP secured a clear majority in Udaipur, Congress won in Ajmer and Pali. Bharatpur, the Chief Minister's hometown, saw Independents leading. These elections are a crucial test for the Bhajanlal Sharma-led BJP government ahead of the 2028 Assembly polls.
The Calcutta High Court criticised the Election Commission for reassigning the 'envelope' symbol to the Democratic Trinamool Congress, previously used by the ISF, for the Nandigram by-election. Justice Krishna Rao questioned the EC's fairness, especially when 183 free symbols were available, and adjourned the hearing until Friday.
Pune, India, has been selected to host the UCI Road World Championships in 2032, marking the first time the prestigious cycling event will come to the country. This historic achievement is the result of a collaborative bid by the Government of Maharashtra and the Cycling Federation of India, supported by the Government of India, aiming to establish Pune as a premier global cycling destination. The decision was announced at the UCI Congress in Montreal after Pune's successful presentation, highlighting India's growing potential in the sport.
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has ordered a Vigilance probe into corruption allegations related to the 2006 KSTP road project, implicating incumbent Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who was then the PWD secretary. The investigation also concerns the death by suicide of a Malaysian engineer involved in the project, who reportedly named Kumar in his suicide notes. The probe revives a case that was allegedly "hushed up" after a change in government.
