Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on September 24 alleged that India’s elections were being “rigged” and sharply criticised the Election Commission and the government over reported differences within the poll panel regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The controversy follows reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised objections to aspects of the process. Gandhi alleged that the issue amounted to “vote chori” and a threat to constitutional rights. The Election Commission rejected claims of institutional disagreement, saying individual observations are normal and that final decisions, including SIR-related measures, were taken unanimously. The matter remains politically contested. (PC: AP)

India added more medals at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on September 24. Roshibina Devi won silver in the women’s 60kg wushu event, her second straight Asian Games silver. Satnam Singh and Salman Khan also won bronze in men’s double sculls rowing. India’s medal tally reached 14 with one gold, six silver and seven bronze medals at that stage. India also advanced in several events. The men’s hockey team beat South Korea 8-2, while squash player Anahat Singh reached the quarter-finals. India’s men’s kabaddi team also secured a place in the semi-finals.

9 passengers died after a sleeper bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida. According to an FIR, passengers noticed a burning smell and asked the driver to stop. The driver and conductor allegedly refused and said, “If you want to die, then die; we won’t stop the bus.” The complaint also alleged that both men were smoking bidis and cigarettes inside the driver’s cabin. Flames later spread quickly, filling the bus with smoke. The bus was carrying 35 passengers. The driver and conductor fled after the bus stopped. Police have launched a probe and are searching for them.  

8 US sailors assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group attempted suicide during its lengthy deployment, the US Navy said. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao revealed the figure in a letter to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. The sailors included crew members and personnel from the carrier airwing, destroyer squadron and other units. The carrier had been deployed since November and is now returning to the US. Families had raised concerns about poor conditions and mental health. The Navy said five chaplains and several mental health professionals were available. It also acknowledged temporary plumbing and water problems, while denying a wider mental health crisis.  

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has called for the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), accusing the election chief of harming democracy. Dipke described the CEC as the “biggest threat to democracy” in his remarks. The CJP began in 2026 as a youth-led political movement. It has focused on issues affecting young people across India. Its campaigns include “School Thik Karo”, which highlights problems in government schools. CJP leader Saurav Das also alleged that the CBI and ED were being pressured to target associates of Election Commissioners. The claims come amid a wider debate over the Election Commission’s functioning.  

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the ban on drinking alcohol in football stands could be removed. He called the rule “unfair” because similar restrictions do not apply to fans at sports such as rugby and cricket. Alcohol has been banned in view of the pitch in England’s top five men’s football leagues since 1985. Burnham said the rule could be changed through trials. The Football Supporters’ Association welcomed his comments. However, the UK Football Policing Unit warned that changing the rules without proper consultation would be “incredibly rash”. Officials said alcohol can contribute to violence and disorder among some football supporters.  

Sensitive parts from an Australian F-35 fighter jet were diverted to Hong Kong while being shipped to the US, according to people familiar with the incident. The parts included a cockpit canopy and weapons-bay door. Both were made by Lockheed Martin and had radar-absorbing material. The shipment reportedly stopped in South Korea before being sent to Hong Kong. Chinese authorities later took possession of the parts and have not returned them. The Pentagon said it is working to recover them and investigate the incident. Two US congressional committees are also reviewing the case. Lockheed Martin said the parts were unserviceable and considered low risk.  

The Opposition has criticised the Election Commission after a report said 97 eligible Goa voters were left out of the final electoral roll. Local Electoral Registration Officers had reportedly found the voters eligible after checking their documents. However, the centralised ECINet software did not allow their names to be restored before the final list was published. Goa officials reportedly sent eight emails in seven days seeking a solution. The Indian Express reported that the 97 names remained missing from the final roll. Congress leaders demanded answers from the Election Commission. The poll panel has said differences among commissioners are normal.

Iran may expand the conflict to the Indian Ocean if the US launches another attack, a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned. Yahya Rahim Safavi said the war could spread from the Persian Gulf and Red Sea to the Indian Ocean and beyond. The warning comes amid tensions over key shipping routes. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has already fallen. Any wider conflict could affect India, which depends heavily on imported crude oil. Higher shipping and energy costs could also hurt trade. India imports more than 88% of its crude oil.

The Supreme Court has asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to set a reasonable timeline for deciding the dispute over the Trinamool Congress name and election symbol. The court said both sides must get a fair chance to present their evidence. The ECI had earlier frozen the original TMC name and the Flowers and Grass symbol for the upcoming West Bengal by-elections. It gave the rival groups separate names and symbols as an interim measure. The Supreme Court asked the ECI to return with a proposed timeline on September 28. The by-elections in Nandigram and Rejinagar are scheduled for October 6.