UPA making mockery of the poor: Mayawati

An unidentified speaker addressed the public in Punjab, raising concerns over the state's financial condition and alleging widespread corruption across multiple civic and rural schemes, including smart city initiatives, advertising contracts, and land unions. The speaker questioned Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann regarding unmet commitments, including employment targets, establishment of clinics, widow pensions, medical colleges, and agricultural Minimum Support Price implementation. The address heavily focused on the drug problem in the state, alleging that enforcement under the narcotics control framework has been lacking and questioning the lack of state coordination meetings. Urging the electorate to back the Bharatiya Janata Party, the speaker promised comprehensive measures to eradicate the drug menace by December 2029, set up regional Narcotics Control Bureau infrastructure, support farmers, and revive industrial growth.

Addressing a public gathering in Jalandhar, Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared that the Bharatiya Janata Party will contest the upcoming Punjab elections on the single agenda of making the state drug-free. He promised that if the party is voted to power, Punjab will be completely rid of the illicit chitta trade before 31 December 2029. Criticising the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party government for allowing the narcotics business to operate openly, he stated that strict action would ensure no drug peddler is spared and offenders are put behind bars. Highlighting the central government's nationwide anti-narcotics campaign under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he compared enforcement statistics, stating that seizures rose significantly from 26 lakh kilograms worth 40,000 crore rupees under the United Progressive Alliance regime to 1.2 crore kilograms valued at 1,90,000 crore rupees between 2014 and 2024. Shah asserted that only the BJP holds the resolve to eliminate drugs and safeguard Punjab's youth.

Opposition leaders from the INDIA bloc held a meeting addressing allegations of stolen elections and attacks on Indian democracy. The bloc announced a series of Save Democracy marches from 2 October to 8 October across districts, involving opposition MPs, non-governmental organisations, and activists to raise awareness before district magistrates. Opposition MPs also plan to march to the Election Commission office on 6 October and seek an appointment with the President of India during the second week of October to raise constitutional concerns regarding the conduct of elections.

A televised panel discussion examines how political parties in India engage with youth voters, analyzing demographic voting patterns, graduate unemployment, and electoral reform. Representatives from the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Indian National Congress, and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam debate core youth issues, including government paper leak controversies, campus politics, social media activism, and public demonstrations at Jantar Mantar. Panellists address graduate unemployment statistics, technology sector growth, startup expansion, fiscal management, and youth representation in Parliament alongside calls for electoral accountability, voter list transparency, and state administrative governance reforms.