'Their functioning is flawed, they are not accountable, they are opaque, they are non-transparent, they have lost credibility.'
Glimpses of the INDIA bloc's protest march from Parliament House to Nirvachan Sadan, the Election Commission headquarters, in New Delhi on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
The Centre has announced a major bureaucratic reshuffle, appointing Prakash Rajpurohit as Deputy Election Commissioner and approving appointments for 27 civil servants at joint secretary and equivalent levels across various ministries and departments.
'The incumbent matters. It matters a lot. If a person sitting on top is good, then he can achieve a lot. And if he is bad, you see what can happen.'
'The current Election Commission functions more like a government department than an autonomous body.'
Ace shuttler Kidambi Srikanth has withdrawn his candidature from the Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) Athletes' Commission polls, leaving 10 contestants for nine positions. Olympic medallists PV Sindhu and Mirabai Chanu are prominent candidates in the virtual elections scheduled for Tuesday. The commission's rules mandate specific representation for medallists and Olympians, with Manjeet Singh already elected unopposed.
TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee has questioned the credibility of the West Bengal assembly polls, accusing the Election Commission of partisan conduct and alleging large-scale irregularities during the elections.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has expressed serious concerns regarding the deployment of police personnel to provide security to individuals allegedly connected to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal ahead of the elections, directing the Director General of Police (DGP) to conduct a review and ensure impartiality.
The nomination papers of all 12 candidates, including Olympic medallists PV Sindhu and Mirabai Chanu, for the Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) Athletes Commission election were found valid on Thursday after scrutiny. The election for 10 members of the commission for the 20262030 term is scheduled for November 3.
Kerala Police have registered a case against social media platform X and one of its handles for circulating an AI-generated video allegedly depicting the Prime Minister and the Election Commission of India in a misleading and defamatory manner.
Political parties in West Bengal react to the Election Commission's reshuffle of senior administrative and police officials ahead of upcoming elections, with TMC criticising the move and BJP and CPI(M) welcoming it.
Olympic medallists PV Sindhu and Mirabai Chanu are among 12 prominent sportspersons vying for a spot on the Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) Athletes Commission. The elections, scheduled for November 3, will select 10 members for the 2026-2030 term. The article also details the electoral process, eligibility criteria, and mentions the upcoming election for eight Sportspersons of Merit (SOMs).
'To attribute motives to the individual election commissioner or the Election Commission as a group is very unfair.'
The Supreme Court has instructed the Election Commission to probe allegations of irregularities, specifically concerning bulk Form 7 applications, during the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh. The court's directive came after petitioners raised concerns about the deletion of voters' names, with the EC acknowledging bulk submissions but stating they were not acted upon due to being false.
Top Indian athletes like PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu, Neeru Dhanda, and Harmanpreet Singh have been nominated by their respective National Sports Federations to the electoral college for the Indian Olympic Association's Athletes Commission polls on November 3. The article details the nomination process, eligibility criteria, and the composition of the new Athletes Commission, noting the absence of some federations and the exclusion of outgoing members like Mary Kom.
'If you ask Prime Minister Modi prove you are Indian, as per the Election Commission's criteria, he may not be able to prove that he is an Indian.'
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio refused to comment on recent protests against India's Election Commission, labelling it an "internal political matter." During his visit to India, Rubio also dismissed UN experts' criticism of the protests, stating that the US would not interfere in India's domestic affairs, despite UN concerns over police response to demonstrations.
The Election Commission has directed five states - Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand - to transfer officers involved in election work ahead of the 2027 assembly polls. This move, a standard practice for fair elections, targets officers in their home districts or those completing three years in a district by May 2027, covering various administrative and police roles.
The Supreme Court clarified on Wednesday that it has not yet made a final ruling on the legality of the Election Commission's "logical discrepancy" category used for scrutinising voter details during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The court noted that its previous permission for this exercise in West Bengal was only an interim arrangement and its Bihar SIR decision was not a final determination of all related issues.
Abhijeet Dipke has issued a strong call to Indian opposition parties, urging them to boycott elections if they genuinely believe the electoral process is rigged, arguing that their continued participation only legitimises alleged unfairness.
High drama unfolded as INDIA bloc leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, marched to the Election Commission headquarters in Delhi, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and his misleading statements regarding Supreme Court observations on Form 6.
The INDIA bloc is intensifying preparations for its November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged "vote chori" and irregularities in electoral rolls. Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi, inspected the site, where tents, chairs, and barricades are being set up. Delhi Police are deploying 3,500 personnel for security, expecting around 50,000 attendees, while the Congress anticipates 10 lakh. The rally is part of a broader campaign against the Election Commission's functioning, following a planned "public impeachment" proceeding.
The Cabinet Secretariat declined to act on complaints from two Election Commissioners regarding a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner's conduct, citing that the communications were in an "individual capacity" and not an official stance from the Election Commission as a whole. This decision was based on concerns about potential interference in the constitutional body's functioning.
The Supreme Court has sought a response from the Election Commission regarding a plea by TMC MP Dola Sen, who alleges unauthorised changes to Form 6 during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. Sen claims the EC wrongly suggested the Supreme Court approved these changes. The EC, in its affidavit, defended the SIR process, stating no changes were made to the statutory Form 6 and that all decisions were unanimous. The court has given petitioners 10 days to respond to the EC's affidavit.
The INDIA bloc is set to convene on September 30 in New Delhi to formulate a unified strategy regarding the Election Commission, focusing on the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and concerns over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The meeting will also address coordinated protests and the CEC selection process, bringing together diverse opposition parties.
The INDIA bloc conducted a symbolic "public impeachment" of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of operating under the influence of the Modi government and threatening voting rights. Led by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and presided over by former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, the event saw leaders demand Kumar's removal, the repeal of the 2023 law governing election commissioner appointments, and an end to the Special Intensive Revision exercise, alleging intentional deletion of around 14 crore voters.
The Election Commission on Monday defended its decision to conduct the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the Supreme Court, saying the exercise was undertaken in accordance with the law and the three orders on its roll-out were approved unanimously by the Commission's three members.
'One of the principles of the MCC that you should not make hate speeches and create hatred between communities on the basis of religion was violated on a scale that was never seen before.' 'Religious symbols were very liberally used and speeches were made to polarise people on the basis of religion.'
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke met Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee in Delhi, thanking her for supporting youth-led protests and extending solidarity with the INDIA bloc's upcoming rally against alleged "vote chori." CJP, however, stated it would maintain its independent identity and not formally join the Sunday protest.
'They refuse to be transparent. They refuse to be accountable.'
Union minister Chirag Paswan criticised the Opposition for playing politics with protests against the Election Commission, particularly regarding the Cockroach Janata Party's planned demonstrations and the resulting train cancellations. He asserted that such disruptions cannot deter India's youth and urged the Opposition to seek solutions rather than merely protesting.
Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with their supporters, for allegedly forcibly entering Akashvani Bhawan during an opposition march against the Chief Election Commissioner on October 6. The incident occurred after an INDIA bloc protest towards the Election Commission office was halted, leading to detentions.
'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 Election Commission of India clarified its position after INDIA bloc MPs marched to its office, stating that no formal appointment was sought until late afternoon. The EC later declined a request to meet 240 MPs at the Parliament House Annexe, citing protocol that meetings must be held at the EC premises. The incident involved a protest march led by Rahul Gandhi and a standoff with police.
The Supreme Court clarified on Monday that it had not adjudicated on the new Form 6, used for inclusion in electoral rolls, during its hearing on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. This clarification comes after the Election Commission's press release suggested the apex court had upheld the Form 6 declaration.
A panel of retired Supreme Court and High Court judges, part of an Independent Commission on Special Intensive Revision (SIR), held a public hearing on Thursday to address widespread deletions from India's electoral rolls. Testimonies from affected citizens, including a former MP and a Delhi resident declared deceased by the Election Commission, highlighted significant issues. The SIR process, initiated in 2025, has led to the removal of approximately 13 crore voters nationwide, with substantial deletions reported in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has invited India, Germany, Qatar, and Turkiye, among others, to present their bids for hosting the 2036 Olympic Games to its Future Host Commission next month. Ahmedabad is India's preferred city for the mega-event, with negotiations led by the Indian Olympic Association in collaboration with the Gujarat government and Union Sports Ministry. The host will be announced in mid-2029, following a streamlined selection process focusing on venue master-plan, funding, public support, and athlete experience.
The Election Commission of India has commenced preparations for the upcoming assembly elections in five states, with senior officers visiting Uttarakhand and scheduled to visit Manipur and Punjab soon.
Rahul Gandhi has convened a high tea for INDIA bloc MPs to discuss a strategy for joint protests against alleged "vote theft" and to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. This meeting follows a "March for Democracy" by opposition leaders and activists to the Supreme Court, where they filed a petition challenging alleged poll irregularities.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has announced that its new Executive Council will be elected on December 5, with Sanjay Kumar Srivastava appointed as the returning officer. The electoral process, which includes elections for the Athletes' Commission on November 3 and selection of Sportspersons of Merit (SOMs), will adhere to national sports governance acts and the amended IOA Constitution. The new council will serve a four-year term (2026-2030), with current President PT Usha highlighting the importance of good governance as India eyes hosting the 2036 Olympic Games.
