In the latest Assembly bypolls, AAP won Gujarat’s Visavadar seat, reclaiming it after ex-MLA Bhupendra Bhayani defected to BJP. Gopal Italia defeated BJP’s Kirit Patel by over 17,500 votes. AAP also retained Ludhiana West in Punjab. Congress won Kerala’s Nilambur seat, where Aryadan Shoukath, son of veteran Aryadan Mohammed, beat CPI(M)’s M Swaraj by 11,000 votes. In West Bengal, TMC’s Alifa Ahmed led Kaliganj by over 50,000 votes, almost confirming victory. BJP retained Kadi in Gujarat. These results are a boost for AAP and Congress ahead of key state polls, despite alliance tensions within the INDIA bloc. (PC: NDTV)

The Election Commission (EC) has declined Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s plea to release CCTV footage from Maharashtra polling booths, citing privacy, legal, and electoral‑law concerns. It argued that public access to footage would enable identification of who voted or didn’t potentially exposing electors to pressure, discrimination, or intimidation. The EC emphasized that such recordings are for internal monitoring and would only be shared with courts, and mandated destruction of all video records within 45 days if no legal challenge arises. Rahul Gandhi, accusing the EC of “deleting evidence” and calling the election a “fixed match,” demands full transparency via voter rolls, video footage, and polling data. (PC: Deccan Herald)

A helicopter crash near Gaurikund, Uttarakhand, killed seven people on Sunday, including one infant and the pilot. The chopper was returning from Kedarnath and went down due to poor visibility. Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi expressed sorrow and demanded a detailed investigation. Kharge said it was the fifth such crash in six weeks and called for accountability. Gandhi urged a review of safety rules for pilgrims. The Civil Aviation Ministry said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau will look into the cause. As a safety step, the DGCA has reduced chopper trips to the Chardham shrines. (PC: ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with all-party delegation members Tuesday, praising their global outreach efforts following Operation Sindoor. "We are all proud of the manner in which they put forward India's voice," Modi stated on X after meeting Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, JD(U)'s Sanjay Jha, and others at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. Seven delegations comprising over 50 people visited 33 countries, including the US, UK, Russia, and Japan, to convey India's zero-tolerance stance on terrorism. The cross-party initiative followed India's military strike against terror bases in Pakistan, demonstrating unified diplomatic efforts despite domestic political differences. (PC: Hindustan Times)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on June 9, 2025, welcomed the Election Commission’s decision to hand over electoral rolls for Haryana and Maharashtra, terming it “a good first step,” and urged the EC to specify the exact date for delivering the data in digital, machine-readable format. His demand stemmed from concerns over alleged manipulation in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly polls, which he previously highlighted in a detailed Indian Express article. Gandhi flagged a suspicious voter jump 9.29 crore in Lok Sabha to 9.70 crore in Vidhan Sabha in just five months as evidence of “fake voters.” EC responded point by point to his concerns. Poll strategist Prashant Kishor supported Gandhi, urging EC transparency to uphold democratic trust. (PC: PTI)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking at a BJP rally in Madurai on June 8, 2025, acknowledged Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin’s statement that “I (Shah) cannot defeat DMK.” He said Stalin is right, but emphasised that the people of Tamil Nadu hold the power to do so . Shah projected confidence in an NDA (BJP‑AIADMK) alliance victory in the 2026 assembly elections, attributing his optimism to widespread public discontent over what he termed the DMK’s “massive corruption” . His remarks signaled a strategic push by the BJP to galvanise local support and leverage grassroots sentiment ahead of polling. (PC: X)  

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis criticised Rahul Gandhi for calling the 2024 Maharashtra polls a “blueprint for rigging.” He said Gandhi is insulting the people’s vote and making excuses ahead of the Bihar elections. Gandhi had raised doubts about a rise in voters, calling them “bogus.” Fadnavis replied, “Young voters are increasing every year — nothing unusual happened in 2024.” He added, “Rahul Gandhi must stop spreading doubt about democratic institutions.” Fadnavis shared data to counter voter fraud claims and said even opposition parties won in places with high turnout. “People will not forgive this insult,” he warned. (PC: Hindustan Times)

The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday rejected Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's claim that the Maharashtra Assembly elections were rigged to favour the BJP. Terming the allegations "absurd" and "unsubstantiated", the EC clarified that the elections were conducted transparently with polling agents from all parties present. No complaints of irregularities were raised during voting, it said. Rahul Gandhi, in an op-ed, alleged fake voter entries and biased election procedures. The EC responded that these claims had been addressed earlier, with data showing 40.81 lakh new voters added—not 70 lakh as alleged. The Congress-led INDIA bloc had won only 46 of 288 seats. (PC: India Today)

Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi was rushed to Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) in Shimla on Saturday after she felt unwell. Doctors performed several tests, including an MRI, to understand the cause of her condition. Sources say her condition is currently stable. Sonia Gandhi had been in Shimla when her health suddenly deteriorated. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is expected to visit her at the hospital. Earlier in February, Gandhi was also admitted to a hospital in Delhi due to abdominal issues, though doctors had then ruled out any serious concerns. (PC: PTI)

Rahul Gandhi has accused the BJP-led NDA of “match-fixing” the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections through institutional manipulation. In an op-ed, he outlined a five-step model allegedly used to rig the polls, including inflating voter rolls and altering the Election Commission's appointment process. The BJP, which won a record 235 out of 288 seats, dismissed his claims as “disgraceful.” Gandhi criticised the removal of the Chief Justice from the selection panel for Election Commissioners, alleging loss of neutrality. The Election Commission has denied any wrongdoing, citing legal adherence and increased youth voter registration as reasons for roll expansion. (PC: NDTV)