Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on September 24 reiterated his allegations of “vote chori” and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. His remarks followed a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months concerning decisions related to electoral-roll revisions and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Gandhi questioned electoral outcomes in Haryana, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh and urged Kumar to become an approver. The Election Commission has rejected allegations of improper functioning, saying differing views are normal and decisions were taken according to legal procedures. (PC: X)

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)

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.  

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.

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.

India will have several medal opportunities at the Asian Games on Thursday, September 24, with Roshibina Devi leading the country’s challenge in wushu. She will face China’s Xiaoyu Zhang in the women’s 60kg sanda final at 6:10 am IST.   Indian rowers will also compete in several finals, while shooting features 10m air pistol and mixed-team skeet events. Athletics will begin with Indian athletes competing in the heptathlon, triple jump, 100m and 10,000m. India’s men’s hockey team will face South Korea, while the men’s and women’s kabaddi teams take on Chinese Taipei and Japan respectively. (PC: The Hindu)

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday demanded Assembly elections in the state using the pre-Special Intensive Revision (SIR) voter list. Her demand followed a media report claiming Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections to aspects of the voter-roll revision exercise. Banerjee demanded the arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and announced pan-India protests against him. She alleged that the BJP and Election Commission had benefited from the process. TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee alleged that 30 lakh names were deleted from Bengal’s voter rolls. The Election Commission said SIR decisions were taken unanimously. 

A report has raised questions over 16.10 lakh appeals filed against West Bengal voters whose names were retained after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. According to an Indian Express investigation, Election Commissioner Sukhbir Singh Sandhu questioned who authorised and filed the appeals on behalf of the Election Commission. He said neither he, Election Commissioner Vivek Joshi nor the Bengal Chief Electoral Officer was informed. The report also highlighted concerns over access to the ECI’s voter software. The Election Commission said differing views are part of normal deliberations and stressed that its final decisions, including those linked to SIR, were unanimous. (PC: India Today)

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has taken its “School Thik Karo” campaign to Odisha. CJP co-convenor Saurav Das visited three government schools in Bhubaneswar. He raised concerns over poor hygiene and damaged buildings. Das also demanded the resignation of Education Minister Nityananda Gond over errors in school textbooks. Around 1,678 factual, printing and typing errors were found in books for Classes I to VIII. The Odisha government suspended four officials and started action against six others. It has also begun distributing corrected textbooks. Student groups continue to protest and plan to surround the Odisha Assembly over the issue.  

Indian-origin politician Nila Vikhe Patil has been elected to Sweden's Parliament from the Stockholm City constituency. The 41-year-old Green Party member is the daughter of Maharashtra educationist Ashok Vikhe Patil and the niece of state minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil. Born in Sweden, she spent her early childhood in Ahmednagar. Sweden's left-leaning opposition won a narrow majority in the September 13 election, taking 176 of the 349 seats. Nila said she wants to be a voice for those who cannot vote and to work for a liveable planet and a good future for every child. (PC: India Today)