An Election Commissioner is a member of the Election Commission of India, the constitutional body responsible for conducting elections in the country. The Commission currently consists of the Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. All three members have equal voting rights in the Commission’s decision-making, with matters decided by majority. Election Commissioners are appointed by the President of India and serve for six years or until they turn 65, whichever is earlier. They have the same status, salary and other benefits as Supreme Court judges.
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv averted a midair disaster after an altercation inside the cockpit resulted in Indian pilot Captain Smit Machhar being stabbed multiple times by his Omani co-pilot, who attempted to seize control of the aircraft.
A debate on India Today examined the planned protests by the Cockroach Janata Party and opposition parties demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. Bharatiya Janata Party National Spokesperson Sanju Varma defended the Election Commission, pointing to historical precedents. Congress National Spokesperson Dr Pooja Tripathi argued that the Chief Election Commissioner and other leaders must face accountability following investigative media reports on voter list concerns and cited alleged violations of election laws. Cockroach Janata Party spokesperson Siddhant Bhardwaj declared that the group would proceed with its demonstration at Shivaji Park in Mumbai regardless of whether official permission is granted. Asserting constitutional rights under Article 19(1)(a), Bhardwaj warned that the youth movement would launch a 'jail bharo andolan' if participants face police detention across Mumbai and Pune. The panel debated whether the INDIA alliance and civic groups remain united or fragmented in their street-level agitation.
Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency diversion to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the co-pilot attacked Captain Smit Majahar and attempted to seize control of the aircraft, which descended 14,000 feet and issued distress codes 7700 and 7500 before passengers and crew restrained the assailant. In New Delhi, leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc met to launch nationwide demonstrations seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the withdrawal of the SIR exercise, amid ongoing seat-sharing disputes between Congress and the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the conclusion of the BJP Nashamukt Punjab Yatra in Jalandhar, pledging to eliminate narcotics in Punjab by December 31, 2029, as political leaders and former law enforcement officials debated governance, de-addiction infrastructure, and narcotics seizure data ahead of state elections.
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia after the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain inside the cockpit, causing the Boeing aircraft to drop thousands of feet before crew members and off-duty pilots subdued the attacker.
In an interview with India Today, Congress General Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain addressed the INDIA bloc's planned protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Responding to questions regarding alliance cohesion following the absence of key parties like DMK and AAP from recent meetings, Hussain asserted that opposition parties remain united against what he termed manipulations of the electoral process, stating, "They want the CEC to go." Addressing concerns over whether the INDIA bloc is driven entirely by Congress and Rahul Gandhi, Hussain maintained that leadership in both Houses naturally guides parliamentary strategy, while decisions remain collective. Refuting claims that the alliance convenes only during crises or lacks ideological foundation, Hussain emphasized, "It's an alliance of conviction," noting regular coordination among parties. He further stated that diverse sections of society, including youth, students, and farmers, are voicing strong dissatisfaction with the central government's policies and democratic track record.
The INDIA bloc has unveiled an escalating campaign demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Following a meeting of the Congress Working Committee and an all-party opposition conclave in New Delhi, the coalition announced a phased programme of action protesting against the Election Commission. Speaking on the broadcast, Congress leader Pawan Khera asserted that targeting only the Chief Election Commissioner is insufficient, alleging that the poll body is directed by top political leadership. He affirmed that the opposition would contest upcoming state elections rather than boycotting them. TMC Lok Sabha MP Sougata Roy defended seeking the resignations of the Prime Minister and Home Minister, pointing to legislative amendments altering the appointment process of election commissioners, and noted plans to pursue constitutional impeachment procedures.
In Tamil Nadu, campaigning intensifies for the upcoming by-elections in Dharapuram and Madurantakam, marking a high-stakes electoral test for Chief Minister Vijay's TVK as candidate Satyabhama faces criticism following her shift from the AIADMK. Political analyst Akshat Ram and TVK spokesperson Sathiyakumar debate allegations of political horse-trading and local anti-incumbency challenges facing the party. Meanwhile, a major controversy erupts in Telangana after Chief Minister Revanth Reddy questioned the BJP's frequent invocation of Jai Shri Ram over Har Har Mahadev. BJP leader Madhavi Latha hits back on the broadcast, accusing the Congress leader of attempting to divide Hindu traditions and ignoring state development issues. Additionally, at the India Today South Conclave in Kochi, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh spoke exclusively with Rajdeep Sardesai, defending the Election Commission of India amidst opposition demands targeting the Chief Election Commissioner over the Special Intensive Revision process.
Over 20 opposition parties of the INDIA bloc met in the national capital to announce a coordinated nationwide campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the SIR exercise. The alliance unveiled plans for Save Democracy marches from 2nd to 8th October, a march to the Election Commission on 6th October, five major rallies across October and November, and a mega rally in Delhi on 1st November. The bloc demanded the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner and a rollback of the SIR process. However, unity questions emerged as Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav skipped the meeting, officially citing Rajya Sabha election preparations. Underlying friction between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party centres on seat-sharing disputes ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, particularly concerning seats in the Rae Bareli-Amethi belt, Unnao, and Hardoi.
This news broadcast covers key national and international developments, beginning with an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv following an alleged cockpit attack on the pilot, with security analysis from retired IDF intelligence officer Major Dan Feferman. Focus shifts to women's safety issues across India, examining violent assaults in Begusarai and Gaya in Bihar, a recorded assault in Bengaluru, and demonstrations by Delhi University students demanding functional CCTV cameras and enhanced security following recent sexual assault cases in the national capital. The report details protests organized by the opposition INDIA bloc demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities. Additionally, coverage includes an Uttar Pradesh court convicting Muskan and Sahil in the Saurabh Rastogi blue drum murder case, the suspension of a Borivali restaurant's licence by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration, and the rollout of Apple Pay contactless payment services in India.
The INDIA bloc has unveiled an escalating campaign demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Following a meeting of the Congress Working Committee and an all-party opposition conclave in New Delhi, the coalition announced a phased programme of action protesting against the Election Commission. Speaking on the broadcast, Congress leader Pawan Khera asserted that targeting only the Chief Election Commissioner is insufficient, alleging that the poll body is directed by top political leadership. He affirmed that the opposition will contest upcoming state elections rather than boycotting them. TMC Lok Sabha MP Sougata Roy defended seeking the resignations of the Prime Minister and Home Minister, pointing to legislative amendments altering the appointment process of election commissioners, and noted plans to pursue constitutional impeachment procedures.
In an interview with India Today, senior Trinamool Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Sougata Roy defended the INDIA bloc's joint strategy demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, and the Chief Election Commissioner. Roy stated, "We are trying to move, uh, an impeachment motion, which is the constitutional way of, uh, removing the Chief Election Commissioner." Addressing concerns over targeting the executive alongside a constitutional office, he argued that since the government amended the appointment law to secure a majority in the selection panel, questioning the CEC naturally involves the Prime Minister and Home Minister. Furthermore, Roy dismissed suggestions that member parties would boycott upcoming assembly elections in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, asserting that the alliance will stick to a coordinated six-month program of action while extending moral support to civil society demonstrations.
In an exclusive interview with India Today at the South India Conclave, senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera addressed the INDIA bloc's escalating agitation demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah. Defending the targeting of the top executive leadership, Khera asserted that "Gyaneshwar Gupta is nothing but a pawn" controlled by the ruling regime. Despite charging the poll body with conducting manipulated electoral rolls and changing Form 6 guidelines without parliamentary amendments, Khera dismissed calls to boycott upcoming state polls, stating that stepping away would enable a sham democracy. He affirmed that the opposition alliance will contest upcoming assembly elections while keeping up political pressure, cooperating with civil society groups, and launching a coordinated six-month democratic campaign starting October 2.
Speaking after an INDIA bloc meeting, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav accused the Election Commission of enabling vote manipulation in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Yadav alleged that the Special Intensive Revision process in Bihar was designed to manipulate voter lists, citing instances from his Raghopur constituency where living voters were declared dead. Targeting Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, he alleged that the commission functions under directives from the Prime Minister's Office and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Yadav claimed the election was rigged through administrative machinery and financial power, pointing to irregularities in voter turnout data and welfare disbursements on voting day. He endorsed the Congress demand seeking the resignations of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, asserting that constitutional independence has been compromised after changes to the election commissioner appointment panel. He reiterated demands for paper ballots and stated that opposition parties could consider boycotting elections as a last resort if a level playing field is not ensured.
At the India Today Conclave South 2026, BRS working president KT Rama Rao ruled out an alliance with the BJP, backed KCR as the party’s chief ministerial face and promised a comeback.
The INDIA bloc has finalised a coordinated protest campaign against the Election Commission of India, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the electoral process. Opposition parties have announced a 'Save Democracy March' from 2 October to 8 October, featuring demonstrations outside District Magistrate offices, joint rallies across five major cities, and a march of Members of Parliament to the Election Commission on 6 October. The opposition also plans to seek an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu. Key opposition leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Mamata Banerjee, reiterated demands for ballot paper voting over electronic voting machines and sought the reinstatement of deleted voters along with a probe. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party defended the poll body, rejecting all allegations and accusing the opposition of deliberately targeting democratic institutions to build an excuse for electoral defeats.
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.
The Election Commission of India has removed the additional Special Intensive Revision declaration from the online Form 6 application across states and union territories where the exercise has concluded. Fresh voter applicants in these regions will now only submit the statutory Form 6 prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. The additional declaration has been pulled from the poll body's portal, mobile application, and chief electoral officers' websites. The move follows a clarification stating the additional requirement applied solely during the revision exercise. Internal differences had surfaced over the move, with Election Commissioners Vivek Joshi and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu objecting on grounds that a statutory form cannot be amended without altering relevant rules. The commission maintained the provision was temporary and upheld by the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the Congress Party termed the earlier modifications illegal and alleged unconstitutional deletions in Bihar and West Bengal.
Leaders of the INDIA bloc convened in Delhi to discuss their coordinated plan of action concerning the Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The meeting followed heightened political scrutiny surrounding issues related to Form 6 and the legal immunity granted to the election commissioner. Opposition parties reviewed strategies for coordinated demonstrations across the country and discussed the possibility of moving an impeachment motion against the Chief Election Commissioner in Parliament. Leaders including Mamata Banerjee, Hemant Soren, and Uddhav Thackeray addressed the meeting, with representatives assessing options to corner the ruling government on election-related controversies. The Election Commission had earlier issued clarifications defending its decisions, including amendments made to Form 6, as opposition leaders deliberated over their future parliamentary strategy and protest roadmap.
At an INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi, the opposition mounted a sharp attack against the Election Commission of India over alleged electoral discrepancies and the Special Intensive Revision process. Key issues highlighted included claims that 13.3 crore voters were removed from electoral rolls, demands for transparent revisions with mandatory notice and appeal procedures, and calls to conduct polling via paper ballots instead of electronic voting machines. The alliance also demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged government interference and urged institutional accountability to ensure no genuine citizen is disenfranchised.
The INDIA bloc convenes in New Delhi to formulate a joint strategy targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision exercise and alleged voter deletions. Opposition leaders, including representatives from the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Nationalist Congress Party, and Left parties, are discussing potential impeachment proceedings, demands for the CEC's resignation, and the reinstatement of deleted voters across the country. Meanwhile, parties such as the Samajwadi Party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and Aam Aadmi Party are skipping the meeting. The Bharatiya Janata Party has criticised the opposition meeting, labelling the alliance a sinking ship, a failed experiment, and a house of cards. The opposition aims to highlight alleged electoral roll discrepancies and plan nationwide campaigns.
