India News Highlights, 24 September 2026: ‘PM, Amit Shah destroyed India’s democracy, will face probe’: Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi is addressing a news conference following The Indian Express investigation on the Election Commission.

Addressing the media following The Indian Express investigation into the Election Commission rift, Rahul Gandhi called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

“If the vote has been destroyed, then our Constitution has been destroyed. It no longer has its power. If our Constitution is destroyed, our laws are illegal, and our institutions are attacked,” Gandhi said.

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Gandhi alleged that Kumar’s actions are an attack on the country’s constitutional framework. “This thing Gyanesh Kumar has done is against the Indian nation. Not some small rigging. This is an attack against the Constitution of India,” he said.

“We are sitting in a place where we have never been. Which is, our elections are fundamentally broken. The laws are under question, and the capture of institutions is also under question. And this is the first time in independent India that we are here,” Gandhi said.

Gandhi also alleged that the Prime Minister and Home Minister had attacked the country’s democratic architecture. “These are deshdrohis. A person who attacks the vote is a traitor. I’m not saying this lightly. For three years I’ve been saying this. I have used facts for it. The fact is that the PM and HM have attacked the democratic architecture of this country,” he said.

“Mr Modi and Mr Shah will be investigated,” Gandhi added.

‘Jantar Mantar 2.0’ if CEC Gyanesh Kumar doesn’t resign: CJP founder Dipke

The Cockroach Janta Party held a live press conference on discrepancies in the voters’ list and the alleged deletion of names from electoral rolls. During the press conference, Abhijeet Dipke alleged that the BJP’s vote share had increased several-fold after Gyanesh Kumar took charge of the Election Commission. He accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of rigging elections across the country.

Dipke said that if the government did not respond to their demands within 48 hours, the party would move towards a nationwide agitation and demand Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.

97 Goa voters remain missing from electoral roll despite EROs clearing their names

A case involving 97 voters in Goa has highlighted concerns over the centralisation of electoral roll decisions. The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected 14 times in 10 months to steps taken by the ECI under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, including the addition and deletion of voter names. On February 17, four days before Goa’s final electoral roll was due to be published under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the state’s Chief Electoral Officer sent the ECI a list of 97 voters whose cases had been heard and cleared by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) under a process laid down by the Supreme Court. The CEO said earlier decisions to delete their names “have to be reversed”.

Accused in Delhi teen gangrape was former police informer: Probe

The investigation into the alleged gangrape of a 17-year-old at Aastha Kunj Park in Southeast Delhi has found that one of the three accused, Asif, 34, had earlier worked as a police informer in the district, sources told The Indian Express. Police identified Asif, a vegetable vendor, from the teenager’s description. He had previously been detained over allegations of eve-teasing but was released as no complaint was filed. DCP (Southeast) Vineet Kumar said police personnel had details of local offenders, including Asif. Police later traced Asif through technical surveillance and local intelligence after finding his phone switched off. All three accused were arrested by Tuesday morning, hours after the alleged assault on Monday night. Asif was shot in the leg during the arrest after police said he opened fire at them.

Tata Trusts says Chandrasekaran family’s TVS tie-up was not disclosed

Tata Trusts said the business arrangement between the family of Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran and TVS Motor Company was not disclosed to its trustees by Venu Srinivasan, a Tata Sons director and Chairman Emeritus of TVS Motor. The Trusts also indicated that the Tata Sons board may not have been informed about the arrangement involving Hanno One Warehousing/Hanno Infra and TVS Motor. However, it said it could not definitively comment as the Trusts do not have independent access to the board’s proceedings. Tata Trusts said it would evaluate the matter and “act appropriately” if the allegations are proven to be true.

Live Updates
Sep 24, 2026 08:07 PM IST
Surat hospital sees second doctor suicide in over a month

Over a month after a junior resident doctor allegedly died by suicide, another resident doctor, identified as Dr Yogendra Prajapati, allegedly died by suicide at the same New Civil Hospital in Surat on Thursday, September 24.

Sep 24, 2026 07:49 PM IST
Maharashtra moves to bring back student elections after three decades

More than three decades after the last student elections were held in colleges across Maharashtra, the state government has set the stage for their return by constituting a 12-member expert committee to examine the process and recommend a framework for campus polls.

The state had framed detailed rules in 2018 and scheduled elections in 2019, but the polls were later deferred. Student elections have not been held regularly in Maharashtra since the 1990s.

The committee will examine safeguards against political interference, representation of women and marginalised communities, transparency in the election process and the possible use of digital systems.

Sep 24, 2026 06:16 PM IST
'They cannot win any election': BJP MP

"They cannot win any election without the support of other Opposition parties," Sudhanshu Trivedi, BJP Rajya Sabha MP, following Rahul Gandhi's conference.

Sep 24, 2026 06:10 PM IST
Opposition 100% in agreement on vote chori, says Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition is "100%" in agreement that "vote chori" must be stopped, adding that BJP leaders may also share the same view.

"The Opposition is 100% in agreement on vote chori and that it has to be stopped. And frankly, BJP people inside might also be saying the same," Gandhi said.

Sep 24, 2026 06:03 PM IST
‘Those given the holy duty have destroyed it’: Rahul Gandhi on alleged election rigging

"Those people who were given the holy duty have destroyed it": Rahul Gandhi on alleged election rigging.

Rahul Gandhi claimed that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was brought in following his allegations of "vote chori".

Sep 24, 2026 05:51 PM IST
'Votes are being stolen and elections are being rigged': Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi says that for the past three years, he has been saying that votes are being stolen and elections are being rigged.

Sep 24, 2026 05:44 PM IST
Rahul Gandhi on vote chori yatra

Rahul Gandhi claimed that a law passed in December 2023 made Election Commissioners immune from legal action. He said that on February 7, 2025, the Congress held a press conference on Maharashtra and presented what it described as evidence of "vote chori".

In February 2025, he also submitted a dissent note opposing the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner.

On August 7, 2025, Gandhi held a press conference on alleged "vote chori" in Mahadevapura.

On August 17, the Congress held the Voter Adhikar Yatra.

In September 2025, the Congress held a press conference on alleged "vote chori" in Aland. Gandhi said it was around this time that the two Election Commissioners began opposing Gyanesh Kumar.

Gandhi said the Prime Minister appointed Kumar and alleged that Kumar was protected by the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and others, whose photographs were shown during the press conference. "We are sitting in a place where we have never been.

Our elections are fundamentally broken, the laws are under question and the capture of institutions is also under question. And this is the first time in independent India that we are here," Gandhi said.

Sep 24, 2026 05:39 PM IST
Calls of resignation of CEC made by Rahul Gandhi at the media breifing

Rahul Gandhi called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He claimed that "This thing you have done is against the Indian nation. Not some small rigging. This is an attack against the Constitution of India."

Sep 24, 2026 05:36 PM IST
Rahul Gandhi claimed that a person who attacks the vote is a traitor

Rahul Gandhi alleged that both the Prime Minister and the Home Minister have attacked the democratic architecture of the country; he said, "These are deshdrohis. A person who attacks the vote is a traitor. I'm not saying this lightly. For three years I've been saying this. I have used facts for it. The fact is that the PM and HM have attacked the democratic architecture of this country."

Sep 24, 2026 05:32 PM IST
'This is an act against Indian state and its people': Rahul Gandhi

"There are going to be consequences to this. We are not going to let democracy be destroyed. People responsible will be punished. The two ECs have done a wise thing. I appreciate it. Mr Kumar should turn approver. That would be an act of nationalism. We know what has happened and we'll reveal it.," Rahul Gandhi said.

"I'd like to end by saying that the PM and Amit Shah will be investigated for what is being done. Without any doubt. They are at the top of the conspiracy. This is an act against Indian state and its people. We can't sit silent," he added.

Sep 24, 2026 05:23 PM IST
'The vote is gone; the law-making system is gone': Rahul Gandhi

Speaking about vote chori, Rahul Gandhi said that from vote chori comes kanoon chori, from kanoon chori comes sanstha chori . Today, the vote is gone; the law-making system is gone. If the vote has been stolen, MPs in parliament are there based on stolen votes.

Sep 24, 2026 05:21 PM IST
'I have been raising questions, and they were ignored': Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi, during the conference, showed photos of Adani, Mohan Bhagwat, Shah, Modi, Doval, Gyanesh Kumar and said they are "conspirators". All elections are being rigged. The top of the list has conspirators. Mr Gyanesh is sitting there. Two election commissioners are raising on that man. I have been raising questions, and they were ignored.

Sep 24, 2026 05:18 PM IST
'If vote is destroyed, then Constitution is destroyed': Rahul Gandhi

If the vote has been destroyed, then our Constitution has been destroyed. It no longer has its power. If our Constitution is destroyed, our laws are illegal, and our institutions are attacked.

Sep 24, 2026 05:17 PM IST
'From the vote, the Constitution gets power and from constitution our laws are made': Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi said that the states swing. He said, "This has been a fundamental question for us. We can understand the popularity of a person, understand the performance of a government. But can't understand how anti incumbency disappears. It doesn't exist in North Korea... There is no democracy where anti incumbency doesn't work. We are looking for answer to where it went here. And we have found answers."

"From the vote, the Constitution gets power and from constitution our laws are made," he added.

Sep 24, 2026 05:15 PM IST
'In India there is a force called anti-incumbency': Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi at the conference said, "I come from a political family. No political leader can say or make such statements. In India there there is a force called anti incumbency which starts to resist any government. It doesn't spare anybody. Indira Gandhi ji won the Bangladesh war. And within a year or two, massive anti-incumbency and pressure. The same happens to leaders after leaders. For some reason, it doesn't happen to Narendra Modi, Mr Shah, or the BJP."

Sep 24, 2026 05:13 PM IST
Rahul Gandhi begins the press conference

Rahul Gandhi began the press conference by showing a video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. In the purported video, Shah is heard saying that for 30 years BJP government will be in power.

Sep 24, 2026 04:47 PM IST
Power cuts disrupt TN ministers' meetings day after CM Vijay's power review

Power cuts disrupted government meetings chaired by Tamil Nadu ministers on Thursday, a day after Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay inspected the state Electricity Board headquarters amid concerns over power shortages.

Vijay conducted a review at the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) headquarters in Chennai on September 23, following reports of a severe electricity deficit. However, outages disrupted official events across the state the very next day.

In Maduranthakam, a power cut interrupted Minister Aadhav Arjuna's speech. A video circulating online shows the minister instructing officials to "put on the generator" after the microphone stopped working during his address.

A similar disruption occurred in Dharapuram, where electricity failed while Minister K A Sengottaiyan was speaking at a consultative meeting. Notably, this was the second such interruption for both Sengottaiyan and Arjuna, who had previously faced power cuts in the middle of their speeches.

(PTI)

Sep 24, 2026 04:22 PM IST
Madhya Pradesh Congress to protest over SIR, demand CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation

Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari said the party will hit the streets from Friday, demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Patwari told PTI that the Congress will 'gherao' (encircle) the office of the state's chief electoral officer and hold protests outside collectorates.

The Congress will not sit quietly till Kumar resigns and a case of treason is registered against him, as the issue concerns every voter's rights and the credibility of electoral rolls and not just any political party, Patwari added.

(PTI)

Sep 24, 2026 04:02 PM IST
Motion to remove CEC Gyanesh Kumar being drafted with legal experts: Congress sources

Congress sources told The Indian Express that the joint Opposition will soon move a motion in both houses of Parliament to remove CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

"The motion is being drafted with legal experts, and we'll soon submit notices in both houses on behalf of the joint Opposition," said a source in Congress.

Sep 24, 2026 02:43 PM IST
'If government does not respond, we will move towards nation-wide protest': Abhijeet Dipke

Cockroach Janta Party holds live press conference on discrepancies in the voters’ list and deletion of names from the electoral roll. Abhijeet Dipke said to Opposition parties that if political parties accuse of elections being rigged, then these parties should not be contesting elections. He further said that if the government does not respond on our demands in the next 48 hrs, we will move towards a nationwide agitation and demand resignation of Gyanesh Kumar.

Sep 24, 2026 02:27 PM IST
CJP holds press conference after Express Investigation

Cockroach Janta Party holds live press conference on discrepancies in the voters' list and deletion of names from the electoral roll. Saurav Das quotes The Indian Express Investigation and asks 4 key questions. During the live press conference, Abhijeet Dipke said after Gyanesh Kumar took charge of EC, BJP's vote share increased several folds. CEC Gyanesh Kumar rigged elections across the country. He said that Modi is not the hero of BJP. Gyanesh Kumar is the real hero. Saurav Das puts forwards demands said that Gyanesh Kumar must resign, a independent enquiry commission to be set up, SIR-related files should be ceased on the order of Supreme Court and repeal of 2023-law on Election Commission of India.

Sep 24, 2026 02:19 PM IST
Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad, NSUI activists detained at IIT Bombay protest

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Congress CWC to meet on September 29, SIR row on agenda

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Sep 24, 2026 12:19 PM IST
Rahul Gandhi to address press conference at 4 pm today

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Sep 24, 2026 12:13 PM IST
Adani Group to invest Rs 4,000 crore in 2,000-bed hospital near Kolkata

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SC asks EC to set timeline on TMC name, symbol dispute

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Sep 24, 2026 11:57 AM IST
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi seeks criminal prosecution of CEC Gyanesh Kumar

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Sep 24, 2026 11:31 AM IST
Dismissed Punjab Police officer Raj Jit Singh arrested in drug nexus case

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Sep 24, 2026 10:33 AM IST
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Sep 24, 2026 09:51 AM IST
Rahul Gandhi assures Sahil Wakode’s parents of support in fight for justice

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Sep 24, 2026 09:40 AM IST
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