Sougata Roy: 'Nothing Is Untenable', Modi And Shah Must Answer For CEC 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.

Pawan Khera: 'Gyaneshwar Gupta Is Nothing But a Pawn' 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.

INDIA Bloc Unveils Joint Action Plan Over 'Vote Chori' and Targets Election Commission Following the Congress Working Committee meeting, INDIA bloc leaders gathered in Delhi to finalise a joint battle plan against the Election Commission and the central government over alleged voting irregularities. The opposition alliance announced district-level demonstrations from 2 October to 8 October, an MPs' march to the Election Commission office on 6 October, and five major rallies scheduled across October and November.

Additionally, a mega rally is slated for 1 November in Delhi alongside a request for a meeting with the President by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. Meanwhile, the BJP dismissed the alliance's campaign and questioned Rahul Gandhi's leadership.

Tejashwi Alleges Bihar Poll Manipulation, Targets EC Over SIR; Raises Paper Ballot, Boycott Options 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.