Rahul emerges as INDIA bloc’s leading voice; Uttar Pradesh puts its resolve on trial
Gandhi deserves full credit for emerging as the Opposition’s spearhead and posing serious questions to those in power. But the difficult part of a seat-sharing agreement with the Samajwadi Party will be decisive. The Opposition had a spring in its step after the conclusion of its massive ‘Chalo Dilli’ rally against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at the historic Ramlila Maidan on Sunday. Whether or not Kumar departs, the protest has provided a springboard for the immediate task ahead: preventing a third consecutive mandate for the Lotus in Uttar Pradesh. If the recent MLC poll drubbing did little to dent the Congress, the Samajwadi Party’s commanding performance has given it the political space to forge a formidable Opposition coalition in UP. The show of strength clearly signalled that the Congress intends to shape the Opposition’s national agenda. The Delhi rally also showcased Rahul Gandhi’s emergence as the INDIA bloc’s undisputed leader, a position his allies were reluctant to accord him until a few months ago. He built the ‘vote theft’ plank from scratch, even when many within his own party doubted its appeal among the masses. Subsequent media scrutiny of the shortcomings of the controversial special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and alleged dissonance within the poll panel, gave his campaign further impetus. In his concluding address, Gandhi underscored Opposition unity, calling it “one protest” and signalling that the entire INDIA bloc shared a common aim: to eject Kumar from the poll body. “This is not the voice of a political party. This is the voice of Indian youth, farmers and people,” he said. But the goal was larger—to ultimately challenge India’s political leadership. He struck a reasonable, rather than shrill, note when he invoked the analogy of ‘Shiv ki barat’ (a wedding procession where everyone is free to participate), saying he wanted an India open to everyone. “If a farmer works hard, he should be allowed to fulfil his dream. If a student studies for 18 hours, they should be rewarded,” he said. Gandhi deserves full credit for emerging as the Opposition’s spearhead and posing serious questions to those in power. He is articulating the Opposition’s position with a confidence and finesse many thought he lacked. But the difficult part lies ahead: negotiating seat-sharing arrangements within the INDIA bloc, with electoral victory as the sole yardstick, not the bloated egos of regional Congress satraps. Managing the electoral ambitions of the nascent Cockroach Janta Party will pose another major challenge. The first test in preventing a split in Opposition votes lies in UP. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
INDIA bloc rally at Ramlila Maidan saw creative expression take centre stage as slogans, posters and placards delivered the message
NEW DELHI: If the stage at Ramlila Maidan sent out a strong message of a united opposition that will not relent till it sees Gyanesh Kumar’s removed as Chief Election Commissioner, the atmosphere at the packed grounds reflected the same sense of coming together as flags of all hues representing the diverse ideologies of INDIA parties were held up by workers and supporters. From slogans like “Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod” to the euphoric response of the crowd to repeated chanting of “Inquilab Zindabad” – the Ramlila Maidan on Sunday became the space for INDIA bloc members to make their presence felt. The RJD and Samajwadi Party flags shared space with a sea of flags representing the Left parties – a reflection of how diverse ideologies and ideas converged on ground for a common cause. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi got the loudest applause from the crowd that had been growing strong since 9 in the morning and remained eager to stay even as the main speeches only took off at 3 pm as the top leaders of the INDIA parties arrived on stage after the Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao March from CP Minto Road Junction to the rally venue. With 2027 set to see crucial assembly polls in UP, Punjab and Uttarakhand, one saw Samajwadi Party supporters assert their presence as they rooted for party supremo Akhilesh Yadav cheering loudly and waving the Party flag. Yadav delivered a fiery speech shooting sharply at Modi saying, “Jo UP sey aayey they woh UP sey hi jayengey”. He also raised the issue of “chanda chori” from Ram Temple Trust in Ayodhya. Reflecting on the INDIA campaign so far, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya was the first speaker who set the set the tone by highlighting how the parties in the Alliance have unitedly taken up and build the outreach on the issue of SIR and working of Election Commission under CEC Gyanesh Kumar. “We took the decision to hit the streets on Sept 30 at the INDIA bloc meeting and since then the slogan of “vote chor gaddi chhod” and “vote bachao, desh bachao” has resonated across the country. Since they started SIR in Bihar people have suffered and faced its impact and to counter it and the autocratic working of the Central govt, the people have responded with this “jan sailaab” he highlighted. Bhattacharya and CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby referred to the ongoing protests as nothing short of a second freedom struggle. RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav chose to draw from the epic Mahabharat to make his point. “Vote chori key liyey Mahabharat ka ayojan kiya Hai Ramlila Maidan mein..,” he said in Hindi. He cited the example of Shakuni and his dice to highlight that there was a lack of a level-playing field there and alleged that the same situation existed in the Modi regime with Gyanesh Kumar as CEC. He demanded that Gyanesh Kumar should be tried for treason. Rahul Gandhi had raised this at the public impeachment on Saturday and reiterated the same on Sunday. Interestingly, TMC chairperson and former West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee while delivering a fiery attack on CEC Gyanesh Kumar, was the only speaker who after highlighting the unity in the INDIA bloc, lauded and backed the efforts of the Cockroach Janta Party and Gen Z in taking up issues ranging from concerns in the examination system to SIR and EC related protests. It was interesting to see a large presence of youth with student outfits. The Left linked student wings like AISA, SFI, AISF and Krantkari Yuva Sangathan joined with full fervour alongside the NSUI. One one side there were the Left students groups who chose to break into an impromtu performance amid the crowd as all waited for the INDIA leaders to arrive. Then one saw a large group of ethnically dressed women and men from Jharkhand play their traditional instruments. An RJD supporter was busy singing patriotic songs, and then there was a stir as one man arrived drenched in sculpted clay depicting Mahatma Gandhi holding the Constitution. There were others too holding cutouts and impressions from the Constitution. Posters calling for Gyanesh Kumar’s ouster in Gen Z lingo – “It’s done Bro!” and a young man holding up a cutout of BR Ambedkar which read “Ab toh Ungli Uthegi” to a group of men who came wearing a garland of plastic fingers with red stains to symbolise the loss of the voting rights – the rally saw people convey the political message on the importance of voting rights with creative zeal. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Transgender women wreak havoc on police in Kanpur, stripped naked and beaten, kicked in the chest; case filed after video goes viral
A video is rapidly going viral on social media, showing some transgender people assaulting a policeman. Based on the complaint of the victim, a case has been filed against the accused. A video of a policeman being assaulted in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, is rapidly going viral on social media. The video shows some transgender people assaulting a policeman. The incident caused a stir within the police department. Taking cognizance of the matter, the police have initiated action. Based on the complaint filed by the policeman, a case has been filed against the accused. The matter came to light through a viral video A video circulating on social media shows a dispute between a policeman and transgender people. As the situation escalated, scenes of transgender people assaulting the policeman have emerged. The video clearly shows transgender people arguing, then stripping naked and assaulting a police officer. Meanwhile, a transgender person is seen kicking the police officer in the chest. After the video went viral, the incident sparked widespread public discussion. However, the details of what sparked the dispute and the circumstances that led to the altercation will only be clear after a police investigation. Case Registered Based on a Report After the video surfaced, the police took the matter seriously and obtained a written complaint from the police officer involved. Based on this, a charge has been registered against the accused under relevant sections. The police are now taking further legal action in the matter, investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident. ACP stated: Legal action underway Assistant Police Commissioner Ghatampur Krishnakant stated that cognizance has been taken of the video viral on social media. A case has been registered based on the written complaint submitted by the police officer concerned. Further legal action is underway in the matter as per the law. Report by Anurag Srivastava, correspondent from Kanpur Courtesy: Hindi News
Beaten and thrown out of home for being transgender at 21, she refused to give up on her dream of becoming a doctor; at 31, Dr Koyyala Ruth John Paul becomes one of India’s first Dalit transgender women to earn an MD
When Dr Koyyala Ruth John Paul came out to her family as a transgender woman, she says she was beaten and forced to leave home. She was in the third year of her medical course. At a time when she could have lost the chance to continue her education, she found support among members of the transgender community and kept studying. Today, the doctor from Khammam district in Telangana has completed her MD in Emergency Medicine. At 31, she is among the first Dalit transgender women in India to achieve this qualification, as reported by The Indian Express. But the degree has not ended her struggle. She is still seeking official recognition of her gender in records and wants to work in a government hospital. Forced to leave home, she found support in her community Dr Ruth is the youngest of three siblings and grew up in Khammam. Her father died of a cardiac arrest in 2006, after which her mother, a daily wage labourer, raised the three children. Books remained an important part of her life. She says she was inspired by the life and work of Dr BR Ambedkar, particularly his emphasis on dignity, education and the fight against caste discrimination. Ruth completed her Class 10 and Class 12 examinations with good results. She enrolled for medicine using the gender assigned to her at birth. However, during her third year of medical studies, she came out to her family. She said that her family struggled to accept her identity. “They beat me and threw me out of the house,” she said. She said she saw begging and sex work as the two options available to her at the time. She eventually connected with educated members of the transgender community, who helped her continue her studies. Hyderabad-based transgender activists Rachana Mudraboyina and Vyjayanthi Vasantha Mogli supported her during this period. She completed her MBBS in 2019 from a medical college in Hyderabad. Her relationship with her family has since improved. They are now reconciled and support her. A medical career, but repeated rejection In August 2023, she joined the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College and Hospital in Hyderabad for an MD in Emergency Medicine. After completing her MBBS, Ruth faced difficulties finding work. As per a 2022 TOI report, 15 hospitals in Hyderabad had turned her away after her graduation in 2018. The report also said that she and another transgender doctor, Prachi Rathore, were appointed as medical officers at the state-run Osmania General Hospital, becoming the first transgender duo to get government jobs in Telangana. “It is a huge day for me and my community. I really did not expect this because I was rejected ever since I graduated. They never told me outright, but the reason was apparent,” Ruth told TOI at the time. Her next challenge was securing a postgraduate medical seat. She appeared for and cleared NEET-PG three times between 2021 and 2023. Although the application form allowed her to register as an SC transgender woman, she said she was placed in the women’s category during counselling. She approached the Telangana High Court in 2021, seeking recognition as a Scheduled Caste transgender woman for admission purposes. In 2022, the National Medical Commission (NMC) wrote to her that she could not be included in the transgender category during counselling because there was no precedent for such an inclusion. The issue also came before the Telangana High Court in June 2023. As reported by The Times of India, the court questioned whether prejudice was preventing a transgender candidate from securing a postgraduate medical seat. It sought details of the marks of candidates admitted under the Scheduled Caste and Other Backward Classes categories. The court’s observations came amid a dispute over how Ruth should be considered during NEET-PG counselling. Her lawyers argued that transgender candidates should be recognised as a separate category in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directions. In August 2023, she joined the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College and Hospital in Hyderabad for an MD in Emergency Medicine. At the time, she had become the first transgender person to join a postgraduate medical programme in the state. She had wanted to specialise in obstetrics and gynaecology, but was allotted Emergency Medicine. The legal dispute over her recognition as a transgender candidate continued. According to the Indian Express report, the case is still pending before the Telangana High Court. In 2023, the court passed an interim order allowing her admission, but in the women’s category. She said she was thrilled when the MD examination results were announced on October 9. Why she chose medicine For Ruth, becoming a doctor was not only about completing a degree. She was also concerned about the difficulties transgender women faced in accessing healthcare. She says that she had seen transgender women in her neighbourhood living with HIV/AIDS who struggled to receive proper medical attention because of their identity. After facing difficulties finding work, she joined Mitr Transgender Clinic, a specialised healthcare network for the transgender community that was initially funded by USAID. The Hyderabad clinic shut down after funding cuts in 2025. It reopened in May that year as Sabrang Clinic in Narayanguda. She now works at ESIC Hospital in Hyderabad. Her older brother’s name, John Paul, is the surname she has chosen to use. According to her, he had wanted to become a doctor, but their mother could not afford to fund his education. Completing her MD has taken Ruth another step towards the career she wanted. But she says she still wants her gender to be correctly reflected in official records and hopes to work in a government hospital, where she can treat people who cannot afford private healthcare. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Kerala Minister K.A. Thulasi Demands Strict Action in the Case of Casteist Remarks Against a Dalit Student
Kerala Minister K.A. Thulasi has written to the Director General of Police (DGP) demanding strict action against an art festival judge who allegedly made casteist and derogatory remarks against a 17-year-old Dalit student. To encourage the student, the minister has also offered her an opportunity to perform at a government event to be held on December 6th. Kerala Minister K.A. Thulasi has demanded strict action against a school art festival judge who allegedly made casteist and derogatory remarks against a 17-year-old Dalit student. The minister has also offered her an opportunity to perform at a government event to boost her confidence. The Minister for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes Welfare has written to the Director General of Police (DGP) demanding strict action in connection with this recent incident. According to an official statement, he has also written to the Ministers of General Education and Home Affairs, urging them to take necessary action. A 12th-grade student from Veeranakavu in Kattakkada taluk was allegedly subjected to caste-based derogatory remarks by a judge during a recent school arts festival. The judge is also accused of making derogatory comments about the student’s skin color and physique. According to the statement, the student’s parents met with the Minister and complained, following which he immediately intervened. The Minister directed officials to provide justice to the student and initiate legal action against those responsible for the incident. To restore the student’s confidence, Minister Tulsi has arranged for her to perform a dance performance at the inauguration ceremony of a housing scheme for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities on December 6. The statement said that Tulsi personally called the student to inform her of the opportunity and assured her of all possible support from the government in pursuing her artistic interests. Disclaimer: Prabhasakshi has not edited this story. This story has been published from a PTI-language feed. Courtesy : Hindi News
Mission Uttar Pradesh: BJP is targeting Dalit votes with BSP’s cultural strategy
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced grand celebrations for Valmiki’s birth anniversary. The Valmikis, a major section of Dalits, claim descent from Maharshi Valmiki. Concentrated in towns and cities, they have produced an educated class and their goodwill towards BJP appears to be growing The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), founded by Kanshi Ram, once commanded a vast Dalit base across India, above all in Uttar Pradesh (UP). That base carried it to power in Lucknow. Mayawati, its leader, has been chief minister four times, and in 2007 she won the Assembly election outright, emerging as the single dominant force in UP politics. Over the last few elections, however, BSP’s vote share has declined steadily and the party has suffered heavy defeats. It now faces the most critical moment in its history, with no representation in either Lok Sabha or the UP Assembly. Kanshi Ram’s strategic vision had stitched together a broad Bahujan social coalition: Dalits, non-Yadav Other Backward Classes , the lower strata of Muslims and, later, Brahmins. Gradually, each of these groups grew disillusioned, and many deserted the party. Dalits, who make up roughly 21.6 per cent of UP’s population, were its core vote for decades. Among them, the Jatavs, Pasis, Koris, Sonkars, Valmikis and others became the strongest pillars of support. Kanshi Ram and Mayawati mobilised these communities through three strategies: first, a sense of dignity, by giving prominence to their identity, history, icons and heroes; second, an aspiration to a rightful share in development and politics; and third, a dream of a better future. Together, they delivered a huge Dalit vote to BSP. After 2012, though, the party’s electoral base visibly fragmented. BSP lost the Assembly election that year and today has no seat in Lok Sabha or the state Assembly, with the party’s sole MLA, Umashankar Singh, dying on August 5, 2026. Field studies suggest that, among Dalits, the party has retained its base among the Jatavs, although a section of them, too, has deserted it for various reasons. Dalit voters, then, stand at a political crossroads. Where once they had a single party, they now seek multiple choices. The most notable shift is towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and for two reasons. First, the welfare schemes led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Garib Kalyan Yojanas, have drawn Dalit and other marginalised communities to BJP. Second, the cultural politics through which BSP once mobilised Dalits has been largely appropriated by BJP strategists and reinvented. Its central plank was the forging of identity and the enhancement of dignity by celebrating Dalit cultures, histories and heroes and by honouring their saints, gurus and icons. Mayawati repeatedly said that one of the Bahujan regime’s chief achievements was the respect it accorded to these figures. BJP appears to be reinventing the same strategy with the coming Assembly election in view. Mayawati renamed Bhadohi as Sant Ravidas Nagar during an earlier tenure in 1997, honouring the revered saint worshipped widely among Dalits, especially Jatavs. Akhilesh Yadav restored the old name in 2014 after the Samajwadi Party (SP) took power in 2012. In July, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath declared that the district would again be Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadohi, winning goodwill among Dalits, most of whom in rural UP follow the Ravidas tradition. Adityanath has also announced grand celebrations for Valmiki’s birth anniversary. Sweepers and the Valmiki community, a major section of Dalits, claim descent from Maharshi Valmiki. Concentrated in towns and cities, they have produced an educated political class, and goodwill towards BJP appears to be growing among them. BJP, thus, is courting Dalits and marginalised groups through symbolic and substantive means. Cultural strategies BSP pioneered decades ago are now being deployed by BJP, alongside the economic benefits of its welfare schemes. Taken together, the two approaches may well draw Dalit voters towards BJP in the 2027 UP Assembly election. Badri Narayan (Badri Narayan is vice chancellor, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai and the author of Republic of Hindutva) Courtesy : Open Magazine Note: This news is originally published on https:/openmagazine.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Akhilesh Yadav questions Amit Shah over crimes against women, Dalits in U.P.
Home Minister should look into why women face so much injustice in Uttar Pradesh, why the state witnesses so many murders and why people from the Dalit community are among the worst affected, Akhilesh Yadav said Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday (October 31, 2026) questioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah over crimes against women and Dalits in Uttar Pradesh, while party MP Awadhesh Prasad said the BJP had lost ground in the state, citing its recent electoral setbacks. “Home Minister should look into why women face so much injustice in Uttar Pradesh, why the state witnesses so many murders and why people from the Dalit community are among the worst affected,” Mr. Yadav said. Uniform Civil Code in U.P. if BJP voted to power again: Amit Shah Reacting to Mr. Shah’s assertion that the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh was firmly established and could not be dislodged, Mr. Prasad said the party’s political footing had already weakened. Mr. Shah had on Friday (October 30) compared the BJP government’s position in the state to “Angad’s foot”, saying nobody could move it, and expressed confidence that the party would return to power. “The foot has already been uprooted,” Mr. Prasad told PTI Videos. He said the BJP had failed to retain several seats in the recent Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council elections despite making every effort. He cited the party’s defeats in Varanasi, from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been elected, as well as in Lucknow and Agra. He also referred to its defeat in Prayagraj, a prominent educational centre. He also cited the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, saying the BJP had failed to achieve its target of winning all 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh. No government jobs in Uttar Pradesh for protesters ‘involved in regime change through violence’ “Under Akhilesh Yadav’s leadership, the Samajwadi Party won 37 seats, while the Congress won six. The opposition INDIA bloc secured 43 of the state’s 80 seats,” he said. Mr. Shah had announced on Friday (October 30) that the BJP would implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttar Pradesh if voted to power again. He had also targeted the SP leadership over the Ram temple issue, referring to the police firing on kar sevaks in Ayodhya on October 30, 1990, and saying the SP had ordered firing on Ram devotees while the BJP had built the Ram temple. Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
JNU Cuts Reserved PhD Seats for Dalit, Adivasi, Disabled Students; CPI(M) MP Writes to Education Minister
NEW DELHI — CPI(M) Lok Sabha MP K Radhakrishnan has written to Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi, seeking urgent intervention over the reduction in reserved seats for Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) candidates in Jawaharlal Nehru University’s (JNU) PhD admissions for the 2026–27 academic year. In a letter dated October 29, 2026, Radhakrishnan, who represents Alathur in Kerala and leads the CPI(M) in the Lok Sabha, raised serious concerns over the university’s PhD admission prospectus, pointing out that the seat allocations fall short of the prescribed reservation requirements. “It has come to light that the university administration has drastically slashed the mandated reservation quota for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD),” the MP wrote in his letter. According to the figures cited by Radhakrishnan, JNU has allocated only 38 seats to Scheduled Tribe candidates against the 53 required under the 7.5 per cent reservation quota, calculated against a total of 711 seats. Similarly, SC candidates have been allotted 103 seats against the 107 required under the 15 per cent reservation quota. The shortfall is even more pronounced in the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities category. Against the 36 seats required under the 5 per cent reservation provision, the university has allocated just 17. Taken together, the three categories face a shortfall of 38 seats — 15 for ST candidates, four for SC candidates and 19 for PwBD candidates. Expressing strong concern over the disparity, Radhakrishnan described the reduction as a serious setback to the principles of equal opportunity and representation in higher education. “This denial of constitutional representation in one of India’s premier higher education institutions is a clear violation of social justice and equity,” he wrote. He further stated that such practices systematically deprive students from marginalised backgrounds of opportunities to pursue higher education and advanced research. MP demands withdrawal of JNU prospectus Seeking immediate corrective action, Radhakrishnan urged the Union Education Minister to intervene and direct the university administration to revise its admission policy and restore the required reserved seats. In his letter, he specifically requested the minister to direct JNU to “withdraw this flawed prospectus, rectify the seat matrix, and fully restore the constitutional quota reserved for SC, ST, and PwBD candidates without delay.” The MP is a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs and the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Courtesy : Clarion India Note: This news is originally published on https:/clarionindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
From Mallikarjun Kharge’s lawn, 250 opposition MPs ‘impeach’ CEC Gyanesh Kumar
NEW DELHI: With Rahul Gandhi terming “public impeachment” and Sunday’s Ramlila Maidan rally a “dangerous political weapon” targeting Modi-Shah-Gyanesh, the INDIA bloc, in a symbolic move, Saturday passed a “resolution” to “impeach” CEC Gyanesh Kumar accusing it of colluding with the ruling BJP to compromise national election management. It also sought that Kumar be “tried for treason”. Six “charges” of “premeditated attack on poll process” – as part of “criminal conspiracy” of BJP, PM Modi and Union minister Amit Shah – span questionable handling of poll rolls, “manipulated” SIR to delete 14 crore voters, illegal changes to Form 6 to block new voters, deletion of voters through software. CEC Kumar has also been accused of ignoring the two ECs in decision making. The “public impeachment” held in the lawns of the residence of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge involved around 250 MPs from opposition. The venue was designed with Parliament chamber like decor, with former Speaker Meira Kumar in the high chair. LoP Rajya Sabha Kharge tabled the resolution while Rahul concluded the debate, before Meira Kumar put the resolution to vote that was passed by a voice vote. The slogan ‘vote chor gaddi chhod’ ended the assembly after three hours of debate. Setting the tone, Kharge said Modi has hatched conspiracies to retain power, which include engineering defections, splitting parties, electoral bonds, misuse of agencies, while adding the 2023 “immunity law” for the CEC is another such instrument. Underlining the need for “public impeachment”, Kharge said RS and LS rejected the opposition notices for removal of Kumar. Rahul said 15% of 2024 voters have been deleted by SIR, which means the LS polls were illegal. “I can comfortably say Kumar will not survive as CEC. We have enough proof. If BJP keeps him after we reveal what we know, then the BJP game would be clear,” he argued. Harendra Malik of SP said SIR has sought to target “PDA voters” of his party ahead of UP polls. Sagarika Ghose of TMC said 2026 Bengal polls were stolen after 29 lakh voters “vanished” under “Vanish Kumar’s SIR”. John Brittas (CPM), in a searing warning, said India should not be the Germany of 1930s, a parallel also drawn by Mamata TMC’s Mahua Moitra. Those who spoke were Mehbooba Mufti (PDP), Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena), Abhay Sinha (RJD), NK Premachandran (RSP), Sandosh Kumar (CPI), Rajeev Rai (SP), Durai Vaiko (MDMK), Kapil Sibal, Jose Mani (KCM), Devarajan (FB), ET Muhammed Basheer (IUML), Sudama Prasad (CPI-ML), Nasir Aslam (NC), Thol Thirumavalavan (VCK), Baidyanath Ram (JMM). Civil society luminaries like Yogendra Yadav, Nikhil Dey, Sharukh Alam advocate, Anjali Bharadwaj, Noor Shridhar provided incisive arguments and data to put the EC in the dock. Neha Bora of AISA and NSUI volunteer Ritu Barala also spoke. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
India’s opposition set to hold mega rally seeking election chief’s resignation
Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather in the Indian capital, Delhi, for a mega opposition rally, seeking the resignation of chief election commissioner and electoral reforms. The rally, called by the main opposition Congress party, will begin around noon at the famous Ramlila Maidan grounds, with leaders claiming a million people could attend. Several top leaders of the Congress-led INDIA alliance have said they would attend and the influential Gen Z-led pressure group Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has also pledged support. The rally comes amid growing criticism of a voter-list revision exercise that has removed 130 million names from the draft rolls across India. The Election Commission of India (ECI) says the exercise is aimed at updating the voters’ list by purging names of people who have died or moved away from their registered addresses. But opposition parties allege that the exercise – known as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) – could benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by removing eligible voters from the rolls. They accuse the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the BJP of “vote chori (theft)”. Both the BJP and the ECI have denied the allegations. The controversy intensified in September when The Indian Express newspaper in its investigation reported that the CEC, Gyanesh Kumar, made key decisions related to the exercise without the agreement of the two other election commissioners, who had raised objections on more than a dozen occasions. NurPhoto via Getty Images Protesters form human chains while holding placards and Indian national flags demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in voter rolls and the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Hyderabad, India, on October 24, 2026NurPhoto via Getty Images Protests have been going on for weeks seeking CEC Kumar’s resignation and electoral reforms The Election Commission said differences of opinion were normal in any institution and did not affect its functioning. But concerns over the revision process have continued, with the opposition parties, the CJP and student groups organising a number of protests in Delhi and other Indian cities. Last month, Congress MP and leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi led tens of thousands of protesters in a march from Connaught Place in central Delhi to the Supreme Court, seeking the CEC’s resignation. “The march was just the trailer,” a party leader told the BBC, adding that “Sunday’s rally will be several times bigger than that”. Ahead of the rally, Gandhi said their protest was against “the demolition of Indian democracy”, adding that “all the opposition parties and everybody who wants to come, political or non-political, is welcome”. “There is huge anger, huge emotional pain because millions are being disenfranchised,” he said. “We are all standing together because we are defending the Constitution. We are defending the idea of India. We are defending the vote, which is the expression of all Indians.” Getty Images Protesters gather around a bus carrying Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi during a demonstration on October 12, 2026 in New DelhiGetty Images Thousands gathered for the last Congress rally in Delhi on 12 October Delhi police have given permission to hold Sunday’s rally, but it comes with several conditions. Media reports say the rally must end by 5pm, CCTV cameras must be installed at the venue and no marches will be allowed outside the designated protest site. The planned mega rally has also divided opinion among traders in Chandni Chowk, one of Delhi’s oldest and busiest markets, located less than a kilometre from Ramlila Maidan. Earlier this week, a group of traders said the protest could hurt business during the festive season, coming just a week before Diwali. But a rival group of traders said they supported Gandhi’s rally and criticised the BJP for taking out a march through the market on Thursday, saying that disrupted the festive season more. Rekha Gupta/X Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Nitin Nabin (centre L) with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta (centre R) take part in a “Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy” protest march in New Delhi on October 28, 2026.Rekha Gupta/X Leaders of the ruling BJP party also carried out a march in Chandni Chowk market on Thursday Authorities have deployed thousands of police and paramilitary personnel across the city, including the roads leading up to Ramlila Grounds, Sunday’s protest venue. The opposition, which has been preparing for the rally for days now, has accused the government of trying to stop people from travelling to Delhi to take part in the protest. Rahul Gandhi has appealed to people to turn up in large numbers. “Don’t worry about the police, don’t worry about lathis [batons] – the BJP will not have the guts to try any of their antics,” he wrote on X. His comments come amid growing concerns about the policing of recent protests in the capital. On 10 October, thousands of security personnel were deployed and large parts of the city were shut down to thwart protests called by the CJP against CEC Gyanesh Kumar. All of the top CJP leaders were detained and many demonstrators were beaten and dragged through the streets to break up their protests. BBC reporters covering demonstrations saw police dragging away protesters and using batons on some of them. The CJP has publicly backed the INDIA bloc rally, but it is unclear whether its senior leaders will attend. Geeta Pandey and Nikita Yadav Courtesy : BBC Note: This news is originally published on https:/bbc.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights