Meghna Gulzar to India Today: 'Hesitating to Talk About It Is Not Going to Make It Go Away'

A political controversy has emerged over allegations concerning the Chief Election Commissioner. A former Kerala Chief Secretary alleged that during a flight to Delhi in 2016, the official advised him to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket, an offer he stated he rejected. The opposition has questioned the neutrality of the Election Commission and demanded the resignation of the poll body chief following reports regarding internal rifts. Meanwhile, the ruling party dismissed the claims as fabricated, questioning why the allegations surfaced after an entire decade and raising doubts over the timing of the disclosure.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar following allegations by former Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson. Thomson claimed that in 2016, Gyanesh Kumar advised him during a flight to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections on a BJP ticket, win, and become a minister. Speaking on the revelations, Priyanka Gandhi termed the alleged action illegal, unconstitutional, and unethical, questioning how individuals actively propagating party leanings can oversee fair elections. The controversy comes amid wider opposition scrutiny and ongoing friction within the Election Commission, with Congress leaders warning that protests demanding the poll chief's resignation will escalate in the coming weeks.

Opposition parties are intensifying coordination to forge a united front against the Election Commission and central agencies. CPM General Secretary M.A. Baby met AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi to discuss a joint struggle, inviting him to participate in party programmes in Kerala. The discussions focused on allegations of authoritarian functioning within the poll body, targeting of opposition leaders, and central agency actions against political figures including Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Arvind Kejriwal, and Manish Sisodia. The coordination comes ahead of a key INDIA bloc meeting scheduled for 30 September, where opposition leaders plan to outline a common strategy to challenge the central government and the election watchdog.

Lovely Professional University students went on a rampage in Phagwara, causing extensive violence, arson, and vandalism across campus facilities, including the on-campus mall. The student unrest was sparked by serious allegations concerning suicide and rape, which university authorities rejected as fake news and rumours. Angered by the administration's stance, students blocked the national highway and demanded strict action and justice. Police personnel from neighbouring districts such as Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar were deployed alongside senior officers, including the SSP, to bring the situation under control as cleanup operations commenced.