Amit Anil Chandra Shah is a businessman-turned-politician and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader. He became the Minister of Home Affairs in 2019 and is also the first Minister of Co-operation of India. Shah has served as the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party from 2014 to 2020. Amit Shah is an important figure in the current government and has been an important advisor to PM Narendra Modi.
He was born on October 22, 1964, in Mumbai to Anil Chandra Shah, who was a businessman and Kusumben Shah. Shah is married to Sonal Shah and the couple has a son named Jay. Shah was introduced to politics at a relatively early age, working with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh since he was a young child. Shah had a degree in biochemistry from CU Shah Science College and experience in the finance industry working as a stockbroker before beginning a serious career in politics.
With the rise of Modi, Shah gained recognition as the man to form his highly successful, pro-Hindu nationalist election strategy and the duo has become the face of the BJP.
Shah has fought 29 elections since 1989, including various local body polls and has not lost any to this day. He was elected as an MLA from Gujarat’s Sarkhej in four consecutive elections, i.e. 1997 (by-election), 1998, 2002 and 2007.
His official Twitter handle is @AmitShah and the name of his official Facebook page is Amit Shah. He is also active on Instagram, under the username amitshahofficial.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg in Delhi ahead of the UP Assembly elections. Meetings were lined up with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the party leadership to review UP poll preparations. The Bharatiya Janata Party is reviewing multiple internal surveys to identify key areas requiring extra focus and working on strategies to strengthen ground-level workers while effectively countering aggressive opposition campaigns.
The News Today reports on the political controversy surrounding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Election Commission of India's Special Intensive Revision exercise.
In an interview with India Today, Congress leader Pawan Khera launched a sharp attack against the Election Commission of India and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged anomalies in voter lists and the electoral process. Defending his party's stance against BJP criticism, Khera claimed that evidence of wrongdoing had emerged across multiple states and within recent investigative reports. He asserted that the poll body had lost its sanctity, alleging systemic deletions of voters from electoral rolls. Calling for accountability, Khera declared that Gyanesh Kumar was merely a pawn representing higher authorities in the government, demanding his immediate resignation from office and stating that he should apologize to the nation.
A major political row has erupted following allegations of vote theft against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah. Opposition parties, led by the Congress, are staging nationwide demonstrations outside state election offices, while the RJD announced plans to burn effigies of the Chief Election Commissioner across Bihar. Sources indicate the opposition bloc plans to pursue impeachment proceedings against the Chief Election Commissioner in Parliament. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party rejected the accusations, asserting that the opposition is unnerved by anti-incumbency and administrative electoral revision exercises. The Election Commission clarified that its internal digital platform is decentralized with restricted access for designated election officials and protected by cybersecurity measures. In Goa, Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Koyal faced scrutiny over the reported omission of ninety-seven verified voters from the electoral rolls. The broadcast outlined the constitutional procedure required for the removal of a Chief Election Commissioner.
A major political row has erupted over a reported rift within the Election Commission of India. The Bharatiya Janata Party attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks, sharing an older video of Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala acknowledging the benefits of the Special Summary Revision exercise in Kerala. The BJP accused the Congress of raising selective allegations only in states where it loses elections. Meanwhile, opposition parties intensified protests, with the Congress planning nationwide demonstrations and marches to election offices, while the INDIA bloc reportedly considers an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Rahul Gandhi accused the government of vote theft, targeting top leadership. Amid the escalating controversy and concerns over voter data integrity, the Election Commission issued a clarification regarding its ECI Net platform, maintaining that it is a decentralised system accessible only to authorised officials like booth-level officers and district election officers through unique login credentials, backed by cybersecurity safeguards.
A massive political conflict has erupted following reported internal divisions within the Election Commission of India. Opposition parties led by Rahul Gandhi have demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of electoral manipulation and functioning under the protection of the central government. The INDIA bloc is drafting a notice for an impeachment motion against the CEC, alongside police complaints and ultimatums from political outfits. In response, the BJP has dismissed allegations of vote theft, attributing election outcomes to strong anti-incumbency against the Congress and defending the centralisation of electoral roll data under data protection frameworks. Panelists on the debate scrutinised media reports alleging that two election commissioners registered fourteen objections across ten months regarding the Special Intensive Revision exercise, voter deletions, and Form 6 procedures. While former CEC O.P. Rawat highlighted that commissioners possess majority decision-making powers and internal differences remain routine, analysts emphasised the need for the commission to address public concerns directly.
The INDIA bloc is set to move an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Parliament amid reported internal rifts and objections by two Election Commissioners regarding the SIR exercise.
An unidentified speaker addressed the media regarding concerns over the integrity of the Indian electoral system and the process governing appointments to the Election Commission of India. The address outlined a timeline beginning from December 2023, citing presentations and demonstrations regarding alleged voting discrepancies in Maharashtra, Madhepura, Aland, and Haryana. The speaker demanded the immediate resignation of Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, calling on him to turn approver regarding operations within the poll body. The speaker asserted that elections in India have faced institutional challenges and stated that a dissent note had previously been submitted to the Prime Minister concerning executive involvement in choosing election commissioners. The address also called for an investigation into the roles of top government officials regarding appointments and the protection of democratic institutions, asserting that constitutional mechanisms and the voting framework must be safeguarded.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad won three key posts in the Delhi University Students' Union elections, while an independent candidate secured the vice-president post and the National Students' Union of India bagged none. Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated the student outfit, stating the victory reflects faith in its nation-first ideology and commitment to student welfare. Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders also lauded the win following the recent Panjab University election results. Meanwhile, National Students' Union of India president Vinod Jakhar accused the outfit and the university administration of vote-rigging and intentionally slowing down the counting process.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has made a major poll promise ahead of the assembly elections, vowing to eradicate the drug menace in Punjab within two years of forming the government. Amid controversy surrounding the Gulzar suicide row, the party announced a Nashamuk Punjab Yatra across villages and households to build public awareness. Top party leaders and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are scheduled to participate in the campaign across the state.
Nationwide celebrations marked the Prime Minister's birthday, spanning events across Gujarat, New Delhi, Varanasi, and several states. In the national capital, the fifth edition of the SemiconIndia event was launched to coincide with the occasion. Across the country, the Bharatiya Janata Party commenced a month-long Seva Sankalp Abhiyan focusing on public service initiatives, including blood donation drives, cleanliness campaigns, and welfare outreach. Several political leaders and NDA allies participated in commemorative programmes, flagging off bike rallies from Vadnagar to Varanasi and conducting special prayers for the Prime Minister's long life and health. Citizens were urged to participate in the evening 'Ashirwad ka Diya' initiative by lighting lamps in homes and public spaces. Key state-level welfare announcements, including the second phase of the Deendayal Lado Lakshmi scheme, were launched to support women's financial empowerment. Leaders highlighted the collective national vision of achieving a developed nation status by 2047, praising the Prime Minister's decisive governance and long public service journey.
Across the country, celebrations are underway to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 76th birthday, spanning Delhi, Gujarat, and his parliamentary constituency Varanasi. Key events include the launch of the fifth edition of the SemiCon India event in the national capital and the commencement of the month-long Seva Abhiyan focused on public service activities. In Varanasi, NDA allies including Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Chirag Paswan are participating in celebrations, alongside a bike yatra flagged off by Rajnath Singh and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister. Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah is flagging off a bike yatra from Vadnagar to Varanasi and joining cleanliness and Aashirwad Ka Diya events, marking 25 years of the Prime Minister's public service.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi turns 76, celebrations and public service programmes are taking place across India, from Delhi to Gujarat and his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi. The Prime Minister is launching the fifth edition of the SEMICON India event in the national capital, while the Bharatiya Janata Party has initiated the month-long Seva Sankalp Abhiyan and urged citizens to light an Ashirwad ka Diya. Key political leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and National Democratic Alliance allies, participate in major events such as the Vadnagar to Varanasi bike yatra and cleanliness drives. The broadcast highlights Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 25 years in public life since assuming office as Gujarat Chief Minister in 2001, tracing landmark governance milestones from welfare schemes and Make in India to digital infrastructure expansion and the Viksit Bharat 2047 roadmap.
This special broadcast covers major national security, geopolitical, and cultural developments. The programme details the maritime incident in international waters near the Gulf of Oman, where Pakistan Navy offshore patrol vessel PNS Hunain executed an unsafe manoeuvre and collided with a frontline Indian Navy warship, prompting India to lodge formal diplomatic protests citing the 1991 bilateral military agreement.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has designated the Pakistan-based Shehzad Bhatti network as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. According to the government, the network led by gangster and terror handler Shehzad Bhatti is involved in cross-border smuggling of arms, explosives, narcotics, and recruiting Indian youth for terror activities, including IED attacks and targeted killings. Union Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted the action as part of the zero-tolerance policy against terrorism. This ban follows an extensive nationwide crackdown on 12 August across 14 states, where security forces detained 253 suspects, made over 200 arrests, and recovered explosives and weapons bearing Pakistan Ordnance Factory markings.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has declared the Pakistan-based Shehzad Bhatti network a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed the decision, stating the syndicate was recruited by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence to smuggle arms, explosives, and narcotics, incite youth, and publish hateful digital content. Investigations revealed that Shehzad Bhatti operated out of the United Arab Emirates as a social media influencer, paying local recruits to photograph military installations, railway stations, and convoys moving towards Jammu and Kashmir, besides orchestrating low-intensity attacks. Raids across 14 states led to multiple detentions. Operating under the banner of Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan to mask Pakistani involvement, the network aimed to destabilise Punjab ahead of elections by targeting police personnel, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh functionaries, and political leaders. The ban enables India to coordinate with Gulf nations and international bodies to choke the syndicate's financial, hawala, and operational networks across West Asia.
On this episode of To The Point, host Preeti Choudhury covers key national developments, beginning with the government's revised UPI Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework taking effect on 15 October 2026.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has set a 2029 deadline to roll out the Uniform Civil Code across all party and National Democratic Alliance ruled states. Positioned as a major ideological goal following the abrogation of Article 370, the proposed civil code includes common laws on marriage, divorce, inheritance, and succession across religions. However, the push has exposed internal differences within the alliance. While allies like the Telugu Desam Party, Shiv Sena, and Hindustani Awam Morcha have offered support, the Janata Dal United has opposed its rollout in Bihar, and Lok Janshakti Party leader Chirag Paswan has demanded wider public consultations before deciding.
Differences have surfaced within the National Democratic Alliance over the Uniform Civil Code, particularly in Bihar, following the Union Home Minister's announcement that UCC will be implemented across all 21 NDA-ruled states by 2029. Key allies Janata Dal (United) and Lok Janshakti Party have adopted a cautious approach. JD(U) has reiterated its demand for wider consultations to ensure no community feels hurt, with working president Sanjay Jha set to convey the party's position. LJP chief Chirag Paswan has sought the public release of the UCC draft and discussions with stakeholders, citing India's diverse social fabric. Meanwhile, Bihar opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav has criticised both allies, demanding they clarify their respective positions on the issue.
The Janata Dal (United) has voiced reservations regarding the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code across NDA-ruled states before 2029. In response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's announcement, JD(U) leaders reiterated that the party seeks extensive dialogue so that no community is hurt. As opposition party RJD demanded clarity from the ruling ally in Bihar, JD(U) Working President Sanjay Jha is scheduled to meet Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss party concerns and resolve alliance differences regarding the proposed uniform law.
