CEC row LIVE: People Against SIR calls nationwide marches on October 23
People Against SIR on Sunday called for nationwide marches on October 23, demanding that Parliament impeach Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, scrap the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and restore voting rights to all eligible citizens.
In a statement, the platform alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have misused the Election Commission (EC) and that 13.41 crore citizens have lost their voting rights through the SIR.
It alleged that Kumar changed statutory forms, including Form 6, without parliamentary approval, to delete genuine citizens from electoral rolls and keep the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in power.
"Without Parliament impeaching CEC Gyanesh Kumar, the Prime Minister cannot come out of the full-blown constitutional standoff," the statement said.
People Against SIR was formed on October 14 at Surjeet Bhavan in New Delhi as an all-India platform bringing together organisations and networks representing farmers, workers, women, youngsters, students, adivasis, Dalits and minorities.
(This live is compiled by Mariya)
Key Updates
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BJP MP Rekha Sharma warns against ‘anti-establishment forces’, invokes Europe unrest
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Rekha Sharma on Monday warned against what she described as “anti-establishment forces” seeking to damage public property, drawing parallels with the unrest in Europe and targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the CJP.
Sharma, a former Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), said, “We have brought the boat out of the storm, children of my country, take care of it. Look at what is happening in Europe. The public properties are getting destroyed, stores are being looted, decades of development have been razed down by anti-establishment forces.”
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CJP’s Abhijeet Dipke vows to continue ‘long battle’
#WATCH | Delhi: CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke says, "Once Saurav and Ashu come, we will gather, restrategize, and determine how to move forward. Given what we have witnessed over the past few days, including the illegal arrests and detentions, it is clear that there is an attempt to intimidate us. However, we will neither be intimidated nor back down. This is a long battle, and we are fully prepared for it. Hopefully, both of them will be released today. I am on my way to meet Vrinda Ma'am to discuss some legal matters regarding this."
— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2026 -
Saurav, Ashutosh remain in custody as release plea faces delays, CJP on X
Saurav and Ashutosh remain in judicial custody as their release plea goes unheard. There are deliberate delays, procedural irregularities, and a hearing derailed by an alleged threatening message instead of the merits of their release. https://t.co/zK8Vt3Ibq2
— Cockroach Janta Party - CJP (@Cockroachisback) October 18, 2026 -
BJP’s Ramchander Rao accuses Rahul Gandhi of ‘stealing’ Gandhi name
#WATCH | Hyderabad, Telangana | BJP State chief N Ramchander Rao says, "In spite of the Election Commission of India and the Supreme Court repeatedly clarifying matters related to the SIR, they have made it clear that there have been no forced deletions and no vote theft. Rahul Gandhi has also failed to produce any proof, either before the people, the President of India, or the Supreme Court. Therefore, Rahul Gandhi’s repeated claims of vote theft are merely an attempt to mislead the people. In fact, they are the real thieves because they have stolen the Gandhi name, which they are using illegally..."
— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2026 -
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"BJP has turned Goa into its piggy bank": Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of electoral malpractice and alleged that the party was using its power to manipulate elections, while also targeting the Goa government over land issues, unemployment, corruption and the education system.
Addressing a public meeting during the Goy Rakhonn Yatra on its 25th day in Margao, Gandhi alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were involved in what he described as “vote theft”.
“The entire nation knows without any confusion how electoral malpractice is orchestrated: Gyanesh Kumar implements the vote theft, Amit Shah operationalises it, and Narendra Modi plans it from behind the scenes,” he alleged.
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Dussehra twist: 30-foot cockroach effigy to be burnt alongside Ravana
The Shri Keshav Ramlila Committee will burn a 30-foot effigy of a cockroach along with the traditional effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad this Dussehra, to spread the message of cleanliness.
Artisan Shahwez Khan, who is crafting the effigies, said his family has been making effigies since the time of his grandfather and great-grandfather.
"We make effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnad. This year, there will be a new addition, an effigy of a cockroach," Khan told ANI.
He said it takes about 3-4 days to complete a single cockroach effigy, while the traditional effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad take an entire month to complete.- ANI
Tiger Shroff attack: Mumbai Police register FIR against three unidentified individuals
Three unidentified individuals have been booked over the shooting near the actor’s car in Mumbai’s Juhu area. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has reportedly claimed responsibility.
Kolkata stampede: Family members, friends among 19 victims; traumatic asphyxia cited as cause of death
Abhishek Srivastav, 38, from Muzaffarpur in Bihar, and his seven-year-old son, Ayans Kumar Srivastav were among the deceased
Kolkata stampede: Police official removed amid questions over crowd control
Court remanded seven people arrested in connection with the incident to 10 days of police custody, until October 28.