Assembly polls: NDA vs Mahagathbandhan, who is ahead in Bihar?

A heated debate unfolded on India Today over the opposition INDIA bloc's mega rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner over alleged vote theft. Congress national spokesperson Nighat Kaushik affirmed the party's satisfaction with the public turnout and voter participation, dismissing the Bharatiya Janata Party's criticisms regarding crowd numbers. She emphasized that the rally highlighted critical questions about voting rights and electoral rolls, asserting, 'When does demanding accountability become anarchy?' In response, BJP national spokesperson Dr Syed Zafar Islam characterised the rally as a flop show that caused disruption for local traders during the festive season. He challenged the Congress leadership to substantiate their allegations by approaching the court rather than attacking democratic institutions. The debate brought sharp focus to allegations of electoral tampering and counter-accusations of political gimmicks.

Delhi witnessed competing political protests as the INDIA bloc and the BJP held rival rallies over allegations of vote theft. At Ramlila Maidan, opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Mamata Banerjee, and Akhilesh Yadav, mounted a demonstration demanding the resignation and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The BJP hit back, with Sambit Patra calling the opposition gathering a flop show. Concurrently, the BJP organised a counter-march in Delhi citing the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and criticising the date of the rally, while party president Nitin Nabin led a padayatra in Rohtak, Haryana, under the banner of Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao.

After the devastation caused by Cyclone Arnub on October 28, India's east coast is bracing for a second cyclonic storm in less than a week. The deep depression over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into Cyclone Murasu, prompting southern Odisha to issue a high alert and step up preparedness. The India Meteorological Department has projected that the cyclone is likely to make landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast, specifically between Nellore and Bapatla, with effects extending toward Srikakulam. Coastal regions in Andhra Pradesh are bracing for the impact as authorities ramp up safety measures.

An India Today crew was assaulted by an unidentified mob in Pulivendula, Andhra Pradesh, while covering civic elections that turned violent. The attackers snatched the camera, took away the battery and memory card, and damaged equipment to eliminate recorded footage of alleged stone pelting and booth capturing. A formal complaint has been registered at the Pulivendula police station, with investigators scanning working CCTV cameras to identify the assailants. Meanwhile, a political blame game erupted between the YSRCP and the TDP. YSRCP chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy staged a dharna at the municipal office, alleging that dozens of party polling agents were barred from booths, while both parties traded accusations over the unrest.