Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi has made her Instagram debut to announce her upcoming memoir, 'Belonging: A Journey of Love'. The book, set to be published by HarperCollins India on November 10, details her life from childhood in Italy to her political journey in India, including personal tragedies and her decision not to become prime minister in 2004. Her social media entry marks a significant shift, as she previously avoided such platforms. The memoir's publication also follows a controversy with its initial publisher, Penguin Random House India, over editorial differences.
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.
Rahul Gandhi's trip abroad occurred amid protests in New Delhi concerning CEC Gyanesh Kumar and electoral rolls.
BJP MLC Parinay Fuke claimed NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar was considering joining the Congress, citing deteriorating relations with Supriya Sule. In response, Pawar accused Fuke of shielding alleged corruption, particularly concerning illegal sand businesses, paddy procurement issues, and irregularities in an employment guarantee scheme, challenging him to address farmers' concerns instead of making baseless claims.
A Delhi-based man, Ritesh Pandey, has been arrested in connection with an alleged sting operation targeting former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Police are investigating his links to a mobile phone used to upload the controversial videos and are examining the digital trail. Siddaramaiah has called the operation "totally concocted", while his son alleged involvement of Congress members. Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has assured a transparent and thorough investigation, promising to expose those behind it.
The Congress party has criticised the Modi government over a notification regarding UPI transactions, alleging it paves the way for imposing fees, especially on transactions above Rs 2,000. Rahul Gandhi claimed the government is surrendering to American pressure, while Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted the potential burden on common citizens amidst inflation. The government's notification prohibits charges on UPI transactions up to Rs 2,000 but remains silent on higher amounts, sparking fears of a "Digital Payments Tax."
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has strongly criticised the Bikaner House administration's decision to remove certain photographs from Raihan Vadra's exhibition before its opening. Tharoor termed the act as "petty" and "censorship," stating it casts a shadow on India's reputation as a democracy and a land of freedom of expression. He highlighted the removal of protest photographs and those featuring the tricolour, calling the decision "stupid" and counterproductive, as it has inadvertently boosted Raihan Vadra's profile.
A panel supported by Congress MLC Satej Patil has won the election for the Kolhapur District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union (Gokul Dairy), defeating the Mahayuti-backed group led by NCP minister Hasan Mushrif. This victory marks a setback for the ruling Mahayuti alliance in western Maharashtra and gives the Patil-backed panel control of the influential cooperative's board.
Unless the Congress stops seeing a CIA and RSS in everyone who disagrees with it, many well-meaning people will find it difficult to rub shoulders with Rahul Gandhi, notes M R Narayan Swamy.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced its full support for Gianni Infantino's re-election as FIFA president, despite previous disagreements over his commercial rights plan. AFC head Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa stated the region's commitment to Infantino's leadership, who is seeking a fourth term until 2031.
The ruling Mahayuti and opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi are set for a significant political contest in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections. Polling for five seats - three Graduates' and two Teachers' constituencies - will be held on Friday, with 182 candidates in the fray. The results, crucial for both alliances, will be declared on October 27.
Opposition parties in Maharashtra have criticised the state government following a firing incident involving actor Tiger Shroff's car in Mumbai. They allege a deterioration of law and order, citing this and other recent high-profile incidents, and demand a separate home minister.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot is set to embark on a five-day visit to Punjab starting October 16, where he will meet families of gang violence victims across 11 districts. This visit aims to amplify their voices and is seen as a strategic move by the Congress to make law and order a central issue against the AAP government in the upcoming elections. Punjab Congress chief Pargat Singh also criticised the AAP government over deteriorating security and extortion threats faced by traders.
The prime accused in the alleged rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl in Odisha's Balasore district has been arrested. A police officer was suspended for negligence, and another transferred, amidst public protests and demands for a Crime Branch probe by the Opposition Congress.
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.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan have strongly criticised the Maharashtra government, particularly Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis, over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. They cited recent incidents like the firing at actor Tiger Shroff and the murder of a Shiv Sena worker, demanding a "regime change" and accountability from the government.
Some see in the CJP the potential of weakening the Opposition. Hence the BJP/RSS's 'softly softly catchee monkey' approach, with co-option being the ultimate aim, points out Aditi Phadnis.
Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the opposition amidst ongoing protests for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and scrapping of SIR. Shah predicted a "crushing defeat" for the Congress in the 2029 general elections, citing the BJP's and NDA's strong public support and the Congress's dismal performance in recent bypolls and local body elections across several states, including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Tripura. He urged the Congress to introspect instead of engaging in "negative politics" and "fabricated media events."
Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai has strongly criticised the Delhi Police for its recent actions against members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), calling it a "real disservice." Annamalai defended CJP's democratic right to raise critical questions, particularly regarding electoral roll revisions, and warned that heavy-handed police measures would only strengthen the critics. He emphasised that the government should address the substantive public queries instead of resorting to arrests.
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.
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.
The BJP's women's wing announced a protest march against the Congress, alleging that Rahul Gandhi is protecting Inner Manipur MP Prof Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, who was dismissed from JNU over sexual harassment allegations involving 11 students. The BJP Mahila Morcha will organise a 'Nari Shakti Hunkar Andolan' on Monday, demanding Akoijam's expulsion and resignation.
The Bharatiya Janata Party received nearly Rs 1,473 crore at its central headquarters alone during the last five state assembly elections, more than seven times the Rs 207 crore in net receipts reported by the Congress across its central and state units, according to expenditure statements filed with the Election Commission.
Congress MP and former JNU professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam appeared before the Vasant Kunj North Police Station on Thursday in connection with a sexual harassment case. He was dismissed from JNU on October 9 following an inquiry into allegations made by 11 female students in May, which he denies, calling the action a "witch hunt."
The Gujarat government has proposed to allot a long-disputed municipal plot in Vadodara to former cricketer Yusuf Pathan, gifting 500 square metres and offering the rest at a concessional rate. This proposal comes months after Pathan, a newly elected MP, broke away from the Trinamool Congress to join the NDA. The plot has been subject to legal battles and encroachment notices since 2012.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, normal life was affected with closures of markets, educational institutions and business establishments in five valley districts of Manipur due to a statewide 48-hour strike called by a civil society group to protest against the killing of three Meiteis by suspected militants.
The Supreme Court registry has identified over 10 defects in the petition filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders concerning alleged large-scale voter deletions and irregularities in electoral rolls. Issues include missing ID cards, illegible pages, and a court fee shortfall. The petition seeks an independent audit of the Special Intensive Revision process.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met with students injured during recent protests and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to obstruct their voice. Gandhi assured the students of Congress's support and warned that action would be taken against all officials, from the Prime Minister to police constables, who acted against them. He emphasised the unity of the protesting students, transcending religion and caste.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised the alleged censorship of her son Raihan Vadra's photography exhibition at Bikaner House. Raihan Vadra stated that the administration removed his pictures documenting recent Delhi protests, citing the current political climate, leading to a row over artistic freedom.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant asserted that the judiciary cannot be browbeaten, during a hearing on a plea against a political march to the Supreme Court by Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders on October 12. The plea alleges an attempt to obstruct the judicial system and seeks a ban on political demonstrations within court premises. The court has issued notices to the leaders and ordered the preservation of CCTV footage from the incident.
A 45-year-old man named Joby was arrested in Kochi for allegedly threatening and abusing Aluva MLA Anwar Sadath via a live social media video. The arrest followed a complaint by the Congress MLA after Joby's remarks, which were made in response to Sadath's statement on taking action against theft in his constituency. Police confirmed Joby has a history of criminal cases.
Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, recently dismissed from JNU over sexual harassment allegations, has been served a notice by Delhi Police to join the investigation. Akoijam, a former professor, was sacked on October 9 after an internal inquiry into complaints from at least 11 female students regarding alleged harassment and inappropriate remarks. He denies the charges.
Militants ambushed 14 Meitei men in Manipur on Monday, killing three and injuring three others. The attack, which occurred in the Sunurok hills, sparked widespread protests in Imphal, with locals placing bodies outside the Chief Minister's residence. Police used tear gas to disperse protesters. Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh condemned the killings and held security review meetings, while the opposition Congress demanded his resignation, citing the state's ongoing ethnic violence since May 2023. Security forces have launched a combing operation with drones and sniffer dogs.
Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani and three others have been booked in a second FIR for allegedly obstructing police, creating commotion at a police outpost, and violating the poll code during the Gandhinagar civic body elections. The charges include unlawful assembly and rioting, stemming from an incident where Mevani and supporters allegedly interfered with police questioning a man at a Sector-13 police outpost on October 9.
The first phase of Panchayati Raj elections in Rajasthan concluded on Thursday with a 63 per cent voter turnout across 16 districts. Despite long queues, some villages boycotted the polls over local administrative issues. These elections are seen as a crucial test for the ruling BJP and opposition Congress ahead of the 2028 assembly elections.
A 27-year-old man died in Ludhiana after allegedly consuming medicine purchased from a chemist shop, leading to a protest where a mob vandalised the shop. Police have taken the chemist into custody, and a Congress MP has criticised the state government over the incident.
The CBI questioned former MLA Suresh Rathore in Haridwar regarding the Ankita Bhandari murder case, a day after meeting Bhandari's parents. Rathore, who has been expelled from the BJP, denied knowing actress Urmila Sanawar, whose allegations fueled the 'VIP' involvement controversy. The case has seen renewed protests following a governor's appointment and a recommended CBI inquiry earlier this year.
Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has been invited as a guest to the RSS' annual Vijayadashmi event in Nagpur next week, which also marks the closing of the organisation's centenary year. The event will feature Sanjay Gupta as chief guest and an address by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. The Congress has criticised the government regarding Dhankhar's housing situation despite the RSS invite.
Ahead of fresh protests scheduled for Saturday, France will deploy around 70,000 police personnel nationwide as authorities prepare to prevent a recurrence of widespread looting, arson and vandalism that erupted alongside demonstrations last week.
Six Delhi Metro stations, including key hubs like Rajiv Chowk, will be closed till 4 pm on Monday due to a protest announced by the Congress party against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over "vote chori" allegations. Interchange facilities will remain operational.
