Political Row Over RSS Chief's Unity Remarks In US; Opposition Attacks, BJP Defends Speech

A political confrontation has unfolded over accusations against the Election Commission of India and the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines. Addressing the controversy, it was pointed out that opposition parties accept election victories as personal achievements while blaming the Election Commission and voting machinery whenever the public rejects them. The remarks highlighted past questions raised against constitutional institutions, including the judiciary and the Comptroller and Auditor General over its Rafale review, as well as characterisations of EVMs as black boxes. It was noted that all three Election Commissioners held a press briefing clarifying voter registration protocols and procedures relating to Form 6, which had also received scrutiny before the Supreme Court. The remarks underlined that violence, vandalism, and efforts targeting election headquarters undermine democratic conventions, asserting that attempts to cast doubt on electoral systems weaken the integrity of democratic 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.