West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on November 1 strongly criticised the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, describing West Bengal as a victim of the exercise. Addressing the INDIA bloc's rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, she accused the Election Commission of electoral irregularities, alleging that voters' names had been removed and counting processes compromised. Banerjee vowed to continue the political fight against what she described as an attack on democracy and voting rights. She also demanded accountability from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and urged opposition parties to remain united in defending democratic institutions. (PC: ANI)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on November 1 took a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying his turn to become Prime Minister would never come. Addressing a gathering in Chandigarh, Shah criticised the INDIA bloc's 'Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao' rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, organised against alleged electoral irregularities and voter deletions. He also accused Congress of hurting Sikh sentiments by holding the protest on the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Shah further criticised the Opposition's mock Parliament session targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. 

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Sunday accused the Election Commission of helping the BJP win the 2024 Lok Sabha elections through alleged EVM manipulation and voter list tampering. Addressing the INDIA bloc rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, he called the elections "illegal" and warned that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar would be removed and jailed. Gandhi claimed 15% of voters were removed from electoral lists after the 2024 polls. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also accused the BJP of coming to power through alleged vote theft. Opposition leaders gathered to protest against the CEC and the Special Intensive Revision exercise. (PC: NDTV)

INDIA bloc leaders led by Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee and Akhilesh Yadav reached Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on Sunday for a major protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The rally, titled ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’, followed the Opposition’s ‘Chalo Dilli’ march from the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi and several other Opposition leaders also joined the gathering. The protest focuses on alleged electoral irregularities and concerns over voter list revisions. Thousands of supporters gathered at the venue, with some participants reportedly leaving due to overcrowding. Police said security arrangements were in place. (PC: HT)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said the INDIA bloc's November 1 rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan will reflect growing public anger against the Election Commission. “There is a huge anger, huge emotional pain because millions of people are being disenfranchised and their votes are being stolen,” Gandhi said on Friday. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of undermining democracy. The Opposition is organising the 'Chalo Dilli' march against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The march will begin at noon from Minto Road. (PC: India Today)

The BJP on Saturday criticised the INDIA bloc for holding a symbolic public impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra accused the opposition of making a mockery of Parliament and democracy. Taking a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, he said, “Keep him as your 'mock Prime Minister' for life; we have absolutely no objection.” The opposition held the event at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in Delhi. The move was linked to allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The BJP rejected the allegations.  

Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan was detained by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) minutes after his release on bail from Rampur jail on Friday. The agency picked him up in connection with an alleged money laundering case. An ED official said, “We have apprehended Azam Khan. After following arrest procedures, we will arrest him and produce him before the Ghaziabad PMLA court.” The probe also involves the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust and its university. The ED recently attached university properties worth around ₹1,170 crore. It alleges that ₹426.46 crore in assets came from criminal proceeds.  

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has challenged Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav to discuss allegations of electoral fraud in a special session of Parliament. Speaking at a BJP meeting in Lucknow on October 30, Shah said the BJP was ready for a parliamentary debate but claimed Rahul Gandhi would never agree. He dismissed the Opposition’s allegations against the Election Commission as baseless and accused its leaders of creating political drama instead of accepting election defeats. His remarks came ahead of Opposition protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over voter-list revisions. (PC: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 30 accused Opposition parties of spreading rumours about potential LPG and fertiliser shortages amid the ongoing West Asia conflict. Addressing a gathering in Bhildi, Gujarat’s Banaskantha district, he alleged that some people find happiness when India faces difficulties and use crises to damage his government’s reputation. Modi said claims that households would struggle to obtain cooking gas and farmers would lack fertilisers were intended to create panic. He reiterated his commitment to public service and highlighted the government’s efforts to protect farmers and citizens from the conflict’s economic impact. (PC: HT)

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has criticised veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah after he voiced support for protesting students at Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi. Rijiju called Shah a “dangerous urban Naxal” and a “subversive intellectual” in a post on X. The remarks followed a video in which Shah wore a badge reading “Dimagi Naxal” and questioned the Centre’s handling of student protests and educational institutions. He also referred to protests at Jawaharlal Nehru University and the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute. Jamia students are demanding a clear timeline for student union elections, which have not been held since 2006. (PC: NDTV)