Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday attempted to enter Akashvani Bhawan after police stopped an INDIA bloc march towards the Election Commission headquarters. The leaders, along with Mallikarjun Kharge, Abhishek Banerjee and other opposition MPs, were briefly detained after being stopped near Parliament Street. The protesters demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, citing concerns over changes to Form 6 during the electoral roll revision. The Supreme Court had said it had not approved any modified version of Form 6 and would examine the Election Commission’s records. Opposition parties said they would intensify their campaign.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday called Rahul Gandhi’s allegations over Form 6 “misleading.” Gandhi had accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of changing the form without approval during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The ECI said the SIR order for Bihar was issued with the unanimous approval of the Commission. It also said the Supreme Court had upheld the order. However, the Supreme Court said it had not approved any modified Form 6. Chief Justice Surya Kant said the court would examine records to find who made the changes. Form 6 is used for first-time voter registration.  

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of changing Form 6 “illegally and unilaterally.” Form 6 is used by people to register as voters for the first time. His remarks came after the Supreme Court said it had not approved the changes made to the form. The court has asked the Election Commission to provide records about the changes. It also issued notices to the Centre and the Election Commission. The court did not order Kumar’s suspension. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also criticised voter deletions under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.

The BJP on Sunday announced Dinesh Arya and actor Rukmini, popularly known as Koel Mallick, as its candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Uttarakhand and West Bengal, respectively. Biennial polls for 11 seats, 10 from Uttar Pradesh and one from Uttarakhand, will be held on October 16, along with a bypoll in West Bengal. Mallick, a former Trinamool Congress leader, will contest the bypoll after joining the BJP following the TMC's defeat in the Assembly elections. Arya, who has ties to the RSS and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, is vice chairperson of Uttarakhand's Water Resources Management and Regulatory Commission. (PC: The Indian Express)

Opposition leaders from the Congress and AAP on Sunday questioned the Centre and Delhi Police after no FIR was registered over harassment complaints by three women journalists. The journalists alleged manhandling by senior police officers during Saturday's protest against the Election Commission at Jantar Mantar. Rahul Gandhi said registering an FIR was the police's basic duty and asked Home Minister Amit Shah to answer. Priyanka Gandhi said no concrete action had been taken. AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj said failing to register an FIR could be a punishable offence. Delhi Police said the complaints were registered, medical examinations were done, and the matter has been referred to the Crime Branch. (PC: HT)

Opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and AAP’s Saurabh Bharadwaj criticised the Centre and Delhi Police over allegations of sexual harassment and manhandling involving three women journalists during Saturday’s protest at Jantar Mantar. They questioned why an FIR had not initially been registered and demanded accountability, with Rahul Gandhi directing criticism at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, whose ministry oversees Delhi Police. The police said the women’s complaints were received, medical examinations were conducted, and the matter was transferred to the Crime Branch for a fair and impartial inquiry. Police also sought relevant footage from witnesses. (PC: PTI)

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray led a joint march in Mumbai on Sunday demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Virat Garjana Morcha began at Metro Cinema and moved towards the BMC headquarters, with Congress and NCP (SP) leaders joining. The protesters allege irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Raj Thackeray demanded that SIR be cancelled in Maharashtra and elections be held on ballot papers. Uddhav Thackeray alleged large-scale deletions of voters nationwide. The march came two days after a Cockroach Janta Party protest in the city. (PC: India Today)

The UK government believes Iran may have played a role in an incident near RAF Fairford that led to the arrest of five men, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said. Speaking to the BBC, Burnham cited “strong indications” but provided no further details, stressing that the investigation remains ongoing. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected the allegation, accusing the UK leader of pursuing the wrong lead. The five British nationals, aged between 23 and 25, were released on bail under strict conditions. Police said searches of suspicious vans found petrol but no explosive devices. (PC: BBC)

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s personal relationship with Congress leader Sonia Gandhi remains intact despite political differences between their parties, a Hindustan Times report said on October 1. At an INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi, Mamata presented Sonia with a special stole and shared the stage with her at a press conference. Mamata criticised Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and called for action over alleged electoral irregularities in West Bengal. She also praised Rahul Gandhi’s campaign against alleged vote theft. Rahul stressed the need for opposition unity, while Sonia supported proposals for ground-level action and outreach. (PC: HT)

The INDIA bloc has announced a series of protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. District-level “Save Democracy” marches will be held from October 2 to 8. Opposition MPs will march to the Election Commission on October 6. INDIA bloc leaders also plan to seek a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu in the second week of October. The alliance will hold five major rallies, including a large rally in Delhi on November 1. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the protests will raise concerns about voter lists and the Election Commission. The Election Commission has not endorsed the opposition's allegations.