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TREND | 07 Oct 2026, 05:06PM

Oppn MPs head for sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar after solidarity lunch

Business Standard

Opposition MPs of the INDIA bloc decided to hold a sit-in at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday to raise the issue of 'vote chori' and seek the ouster of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, a day after their eight-hour dharna to press for a meeting with election commissioners. A large number of MPs of opposition parties got together for lunch at a restaurant at Janpath in central Delhi hosted by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, after which they boarded buses and headed towards Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site in central Delhi. "Today, we feel that we will protest at Jantar Mantar, which is a designated protest site, and tell the country that for us Gyanesh Kumar is not a legitimate Election Commissioner," Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi told reporters. The opposition MPs said they were all united in their fight against this government and will raise the people's issues and "how their rights were being taken away" by protesting on the streets. "As I said

SC to examine plea to recall split verdict on CEC, EC appointment law

Business Standard | 07 Oct 2026, 12:39PM

Elections

TREND | 06 Oct 2026, 11:18PM

Datanomics: How India measures up on electoral integrity, public trust

Business Standard

In the Perceptions of Electoral Integrity Index, India lagged behind seven other top global economies , excluding China and Russia

Elections

TREND | 06 Oct 2026

CJP activists being pressured not to join Oct 10 Delhi protest: Dipke

Business Standard

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke on Tuesday alleged that CJP activists were receiving police notices and being pressured not to participate in the CJP's proposed agitation in New Delhi on October 10. Targeting the BJP-led government, Dipke also claimed 'One Nation, One Election' was merely a slogan and that the intention was "one nation, one political party". The CJP founder was addressing a press conference in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city. The CJP has proposed an agitation at Jantar Mantar in the national capital on October 10 to press for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Dipke claimed that the Chandrapur police had served notices to CJP activists, asking them not to participate in the October 10 agitation at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and questioning them about the source of funds for their travel expenses. "I have said multiple times that the Maharashtra Police is the best police force in the country, and the Delhi Police sho

Elections

TREND | 06 Oct 2026

INDIA bloc march to EC today: Heavy security, traffic curbs in Delhi

Business Standard

Security has been tightened around Parliament, Vijay Chowk and the Election Commission headquarters as Opposition MPs prepare to march against alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise

Elections

TREND | 06 Oct 2026

Voting begins in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Puducherry bypolls

Business Standard

Polling began Tuesday for five Assembly and one Lok Sabha bypoll across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry, with counting scheduled for October 9

Elections

TREND | 05 Oct 2026

Kharge lists Congress' three 'non-negotiable demands' amid SIR row

Business Standard

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said his party has three "non-negotiable demands" - resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, annulment of SIR and conduct of elections on ballot paper instead of EVMs. Kharge said across the country, Congress workers and INDIA bloc partners are on the streets over these three issues. The Congress stands with civil society members and youth organisations that are struggling on these issues in various places across the country, Kharge said. On the other hand, the BJP has "harassed" female journalists in Delhi, which is highly condemnable, Kharge said. "The dictator is extremely panicked; get ready for another chapter in the distraction tactics," the Congress chief said. "The Congress Party's 3 demands are non-negotiable. First, the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. Second, the annulment of SIR. Third, conducting elections on Ballot Paper," Kharge said. The Congress' attack on the CEC comes amid the raging row over The Ind

Elections

TREND | 05 Oct 2026

Around 15 police personnel injured, 110 detained in Jantar Mantar protest

Business Standard

The controversy follows a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi formally raised objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months over decisions on electoral rolls

Elections

TREND | 03 Oct 2026

Nearly 200 detained as AISA, other protesters return to Jantar Mantar

Business Standard

Nearly 200 protesters were detained in connection with Saturday's demonstrations at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with Delhi Police registering cases under provisions dealing with disobedience of orders and obstruction and assault of public servants for Friday's protest, officials said. The protesters, including members of student organisations and civil society groups, attempted to gather at Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders imposed in the New Delhi district. Among those detained were AISA national president Neha Bora, civil society activist Yogendra Yadav and senior advocate Prashant Bhushan. The AISA said senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Nitya Ramakrishnan and Pallav Sisodia also joined the protest. Police invoked Sections 223(a), 221, 132 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with Friday's protests. The provisions relate to disobedience of a lawful order promulgated by a public servant, obstructin

CJP's Dipke announces Delhi protest on Oct 10 if CEC Gyanesh Kumar stays

Business Standard | 03 Oct 2026 7 more

Elections

TREND | 03 Oct 2026

Rajasthan Panchayat polls 2026 to be held in 4 phases from October 23

Business Standard

Elections to Panchayati Raj institutions will be held in four phases across Rajasthan from October 23 to November 17, Rajasthan State Election Commission announced on Saturday. The elections will be held for members of 41 Zila Parishads, 457 Panchayat Samitis and 14,403 Gram Panchayats following delimitation and reorganisation of Panchayati Raj institutions. State Election Commissioner Rajeshwar Singh, who announced the election schedule, said that more than 4.03 crore voters will be eligible to exercise their franchise and 45,384 polling stations will be set up. Polling for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti members will be held in four phases on October 23, October 29, November 4 and November 14 from 7 am to 6 pm. Of the total 4,03,07,308 voters, 2,08,87,351 are men, 1,94,19,789 women and 168 third-gender voters, the Commissioner said. The number of electors has increased by 6.22 per cent compared with the 2020-21 elections. Counting of votes for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Sam

Elections

TREND | 30 Sep 2026

EC withdraws SIR declaration from Form 6 in states where exercise is over

Business Standard

The Election Commission has withdrawn the additional SIR-related declaration from the online voter enrolment Form 6 in states where the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has been completed, days after the full Commission decided that the requirement would apply only during the exercise. The declaration, which requires new applicants to furnish details linking themselves or their parents or grandparents to electoral rolls prepared during an earlier intensive revision, remains available on the ECINET portal in states and Union Territories where the SIR is underway. In states where SIR has concluded, the additional declaration has now been removed from the ECINET app and portal as well as the respective Chief Electoral Officer portals, leaving applicants seeking enrolment to fill only the statutory Form 6 prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. The move follows a September 26 meeting of the full Commission comprising Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh ..