Election Commission Under Fire as Opposition Questions EVMs and Constitutional Bodies

A political war of words has erupted after former Kerala Chief Secretary G.G. Thompson alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, during a flight to Delhi in 2016, advised him to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket. Thompson stated that he promptly rejected the offer. Seizing on the claim, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked Kumar, alleging that he previously recruited for the BJP and accusing the prime minister and home minister of making him the election umpire. Speaking on the matter, Congress MP Jebi Mather called Kumar a "chief conspiracy commissioner", demanding his arrest and immediate resignation over alleged misuse of constitutional office. Meanwhile, the BJP strongly dismissed the allegations as fabricated, questioning why Thompson maintained silence for nearly a decade and casting doubt over his credibility, with party spokesperson RP Singh alleging political motives behind the delayed disclosure.

A political controversy has erupted in Karnataka after a municipal council cheque worth 18,093 rupees bounced in Mandya district due to insufficient funds. The cheque had been issued by the local municipal body to cover advertisement expenses. Seizing on the incident, the Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party mounted an attack against the Congress-led state government, claiming that the state is facing bankruptcy and severe financial mismanagement. The opposition party questioned the state finances, asserting that the government does not even have 18,000 rupees in its account. Neither the state government nor the local administration has issued a clarification on the cheque dishonour.

Aishwarya Rai made a rare appearance at Mumbai airport on Saturday, drawing attention with her new look. The sighting triggered social media speculation about a possible Paris Fashion Week visit, though she has not confirmed it.

A political row has erupted in Tamil Nadu over the proposed twelve hundred crore rupees plan for a new secretariat facing the sea. The state government also faces criticism over the ongoing Kaveri water-sharing dispute, a longstanding issue between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Tensions continue to rise between political leaders in the state as disputes persist over administrative expenditure, public infrastructure projects, and the release of Kaveri river water.