Congress leader and Lok Sabha leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who is on a US visit, has raised serious concerns over the integrity of India’s electoral process, alleging voter fraud and accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) of being compromised.

Addressing members of the Indian diaspora in Boston during his visit to the United States, Rahul Gandhi cited discrepancies in the voter turnout figures during the Maharashtra Assembly elections as a key example.

“More people voted in the Maharashtra Assembly elections than there are registered voters,” Rahul Gandhi claimed.

“The Election Commission gave us a figure at 5.30 in the evening. Then, between 5.30 and 7.30 pm, 65 lakh additional votes were cast. That is physically impossible to manage in just two hours.”

He went on to question the feasibility of such a large number of votes being polled in such a short timeframe.

“This would mean there were queues of voters stretching into the early hours of the morning. We raised this with the Election Commission, asked for video evidence, but they refused to provide it. It was very clear to us that the Commission was compromised.”

“There is something very wrong with the system. I’ve said this multiple times,” he reiterated, adding that the erosion of institutional independence is a growing concern.

Rahul Gandhi is also scheduled to address a gathering at Brown University during his visit to the United States.

In the Maharashtra elections held last year, Congress could manage to win just 16 seats with 12.42 per cent vote share. The party’s alliance partners also did worse with Shiv Sena (UBT winning 20 seats with nearly 10 per cent vote share while NCP (SP) could win only 10 seats with just 11.28 per cent vote share.

On the other hand, the MahaYuti emerged victorious with all three partners – BJP, NCP, and Shiv Sena getting 230 seats combined and forming the government with an absolute majority.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday, 20 April, accused the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government of bias in transfer and posting of officials across the state.

Speaking to reporters in Prayagraj, Yadav said, "In Agra, station house officers in 15 out of the 48 police stations belong to the PDA (backward, Dalit, minority) communities. The rest are 'Singh bhai log' (people of Thakur community). Similarly, in Mainpuri, out of the 15 SHOs, only three are from the PDA, while 10 are from the Singh community. In Chitrakoot, there are 10 postings only two from PDA, and five are from Singh community. In Mahoba, out of the 11 postings, three are PDA and six are Singh."

Yadav alleged that the BJP follows a "divide and rule" policy. "This party has always tried to divide people. Sometimes on the basis of religion, other times on the basis of caste," he said. Referring to recent incidents of communal violence in West Bengal, the Samajwadi Party chief claimed that such unrest is often orchestrated by BJP supporters.

"Whenever there is a riot, BJP's involvement is not far behind," he alleged.

Taking a dig at state minister Nand Gopal Nandi, Yadav said, "His language against me is so foul that no matter how many times he takes a dip in the Ganga, his sins won't be washed away. He must have taken the most dips. The then mayor Abhilasha Gupta wanted to join our party, but I personally refused her entry."

Reacting on Yadav's statement, Nandi said, "The close relationship between Samajwadi Party and the mafia is an indelible mark written on the forehead of time. In such a situation, talking about knocking on Samajwadi Party's door is not only a blatant lie but also a moral crime."

He said if there was an Oscar for speaking lightly and without facts, Akhilesh Yadav would have received it. "You are the messiah of the mafia and the patron of goons, every child in the state knows this. We have always strongly opposed anarchy and hooliganism of the Samajwadi Party. We have ourselves been its victims."

The minister said, "The involvement of Samajwadi Party leaders in the deadly attack on us on 12 July 2010 is a proven fact. The close association of both Samajwadi Party and mafia is an indelible mark written on the forehead of time. Akhilesh ji, it is your language, behaviour and sanskar that have made you irrelevant, unreliable and ridiculous among the public."

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Assam Congress MP and the party's deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi on Friday, 18 April, accused the BJP of employing "goons" to perpetrate atrocities against Opposition candidates ahead of the upcoming panchayat elections in the state.

He asserted that the state administration is biased towards the BJP and has failed to take action against these individuals.

Gogoi highlighted that despite efforts by state Congress president Bhupen Borah and MP Pradyut Bordoloi to raise the issue with the police, no measures have been taken against the alleged perpetrators.

He also stated that Congress workers will not be intimidated and they will take on the BJP in the polls. “We have a long history of contesting against the ruling dispensation, and our party workers are adamant not to let down their guard in front of the intimidation and fearmongering tactics of the BJP,” Gogoi added.

Gogoi invoked both the party's legacy and the resolve of its grassroots workers to ensure democratic participation, despite the challenges. The Congress leader aims to boost morale among party supporters and call out what they see as electoral malpractices.

Gogoi's accusation underscores a broader concern within the Congress party about the neutrality and fairness of the state machinery in the run-up to panchayat elections. It's part of their narrative that democratic processes are being undermined.

Gogoi on Wednesday alleged that Assam is witnessing a "disturbing collapse" of law and order, and has become a police state where "intimidation and miscarriage of justice have become the norm".

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The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) elections have been indefinitely suspended following alleged incidents of violence and vandalism at the campus election committee (EC) office, university officials said on Friday.

Glass windows were shattered and barricades dismantled during the violence, according to eyewitnesses.

“Due to the violence and vandalism targeting the EC office and its members, the election process has been severely disrupted. Until the administration and student organisations can ensure the safety of EC members, the entire process stands suspended,” the EC said in a statement.

A PhD student who was present in the administration block when violence erupted told NH that tensions flared after activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the RSS-affiliated student outfit, attacked the EC office.

This year’s elections were being held for the second consecutive time after a four-year gap, during which no polls were conducted owing to a Delhi High Court case regarding the implementation of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations — a reason repeatedly cited by the JNU administration for delaying the polls.

They were reportedly angry over the extension of the deadline for the nomination and withdrawal. Originally set for 16 April, the deadline was pushed to 4.00 pm on 17 April and again to 4.30 pm, leading to confusion and allegations of bias.

The volatile situation has resulted in a blame game, with the ABVP accusing the EC of acting under the influence of Left-leaning student groups. “The Election Committee has become a puppet of the Left,” ABVP said in a statement.

The nexus between the Election Committee and leftist organisations (proprietor Comrade Dhananjay) has become glaringly evident. On April 17th, the EC released the final list of valid nominations, in which neither Nigam Kumari nor Santosh Kumar were mentioned.

AISA (All India Students' Association), the most influential students' organisation on campus, in turn blamed ABVP for the violence. Sharing a video on Facebook, AISA wrote: “Look at how the ABVP attacked the JNUSU EC. They broke the doors of the JNUSU office. Don't let fascists break the walls of democracy

"Demand punishment against ABVP Goons! Ensure security to EC! Free and fair elections! Build a barricade against fascism, Vote for United Left Panel! Unite against ABVP lumpenism!”

Realignments among students' groups have also affected the election process, a student activist said.

While AISA and DSF have forged a new alliance, SFI, BAPSA, AISF, and PSA are working to form another coalition. Traditionally, AISA, AISF and SFI have fought together as a united left-leaning panel.

However, several nominations from these groups were reportedly delayed or rejected owing to procedural lapses and uncertainty over withdrawal rules.

Despite the suspension, both major alliances have already announced their candidates. The ABVP has fielded Shikha Swaraj for president, Nittu Goutham for vice-president, Kunal Rai for general-secretary, and Vaibhav Meena for joint-secretary. The AISA-DSF alliance has named Nitish Kumar (AISA) for president, Manisha (DSF) for vice-president, Munteha Fatima (DSF) for general-secretary, and Naresh Kumar (AISA) for joint-secretary.

JNU watchers said the Samajwadi Party student organisation, the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha, has also been active this year.

According to EC data, 7,906 students were registered to vote this year, with male voters accounting for 57 per cent and female voters for 43 per cent. As of now, the EC has not announced a revised timeline for the resumption of the election process.

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The Congress on Friday, 18 April, expressed concern over the American Immigration Lawyers Association's claim that out of the 327 visa revocation cases of international students collected by it so far, 50 per cent are Indians, and asked whether external affairs minister S. Jaishankar will take up the issue with his US counterpart. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh shared on X a press statement issued on Thursday by the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and said it is "cause for concern to us in India".

"Out of the 327 visa revocation cases of international students collected by the organisation so far, 50 per cent are Indians. The reasons for revocation are random and unclear. There is growing fear and apprehension," Ramesh said.

A press statement issued yesterday by the American Immigration Lawyers Association is cause for concern to us in India.

Out of the 327 visa revocation cases of international students collected by the organisation so far, 50% are Indians. The reasons for revocation are random… pic.twitter.com/dZfKJdiirR — Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 18, 2025

"Will the external affairs minister take note and raise the concern with his US counterpart?" Ramesh said and tagged Jaishankar.

"The Department of State (DOS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are aggressively targeting international students, including those without a history of protest, for visa revocation, termination of their status, and removal," the American Immigration Lawyers Association statement said.

AILA collected 327 reports of visa revocations and Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) terminations from attorneys, students, and university employees, it said.

"Of these reports - 50 per cent of these students were from India, followed by 14 per cent from China. Other significant countries represented in this data include South Korea, Nepal, and Bangladesh," the statement said.

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Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has condemned the recent demolition of a Jain temple in Mumbai, accusing the BJP government of systematically targeting the peaceful Jain community across India. He expressed concern over the increasing pattern of aggression towards the community, citing incidents such as.

- Violent Attack on Jain Monks: A brutal attack on Jain monks in Singoli, Madhya Pradesh.
- Objectionable Remarks: A leaked audio clip from Jabalpur allegedly containing derogatory remarks against Jains by BJP members.
- Temple Demolition: The demolition of a Jain temple in Mumbai, where sacred idols, scriptures, and religious books were allegedly disrespected.

Akhilesh Yadav questioned why such incidents occur primarily in BJP-ruled states, alleging that BJP-backed elements target Jain properties. He emphasized Jainism's contribution to India's society and assured the community of support, stating that the BJP's actions won't weaken them. He also praised the Jain philosophy of non-violence, co-existence, and compassion, highlighting its immense contribution to India's culture, economy, and education.

The Congress party has also responded to the incident, with Rajesh Kumar Sethi, national coordinator of the AICC's minority department, writing to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to demand justice and an investigation into the BMC authorities' action. Sethi emphasized that the temple's destruction was an affront to Maharashtra's secular ethos and demanded personal attention to heal the wound inflicted on the Jain community.

In response to the incident, the Jain community in Jodhpur staged a large-scale silent protest, spotlighting the attack on Jain monks in Madhya Pradesh's Neemuch and the demolition of the Jain temple in Mumbai.

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Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal strongly criticised vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday for questioning the judiciary over the timeline for the President to take decisions, saying this was "unconstitutional", and he had never seen any Rajya Sabha chairperson make "political statements" of this nature.

A day after Dhankhar used strong words against the judiciary, Sibal asserted that the Lok Sabha speaker and the Rajya Sabha chairperson remain equidistant between the Opposition and ruling party, and cannot be the "spokesperson of the party".

"Everyone knows that the Lok Sabha speaker's chair is in between. He or she is the speaker of the House, not the speaker of one party. They also don't vote, they only vote when there is a tie. The same with the Upper House. You are equidistant between the Opposition and the ruling party," the senior advocate said at a press conference in New Delhi.

"Everything you say must be equidistant. No speaker can be the spokesperson of a party. I don't say that he (Dhankhar) is, but no speaker in principle can be the spokesperson of any party. If it appears so, then the dignity of the chair is lowered," Sibal asserted.

Dhankhar on Thursday questioned the judiciary setting a timeline for the President to take decisions and said it was acting as a "super Parliament", and that the Supreme Court couldn't fire a "nuclear missile" at democratic forces.

Dhankhar's strong words to the judiciary came during his speech to Rajya Sabha interns, days after the Supreme Court sought to fix a timeline for the President to grant assent to Bills passed by state assemblies and reserved for her consideration by state governors.

"So, we have judges who will legislate, who will perform executive functions, who will act as super Parliament and absolutely have no accountability because the law of the land does not apply to them," Dhankhar said. He also described Article 142, which grants plenary powers to the Supreme Court, as a "nuclear missile against democratic forces available to the judiciary 24x7".

Condemning Dhankhar for his remarks, Sibal said, "If you make such statements, it will look as if the judiciary is being taught a lesson. It Is not neutral and not constitutional."

The judiciary should not be attacked in this manner by the executive, especially two ministers — Arjun Ram Meghwal and Kiren Rijiju — and the chairman of the House, as the judiciary cannot defend itself. "Then the polity must defend the judiciary. Independence of the judiciary is fundamental to democracy in the country. What is being done is unconstitutional," he said.

"I have never seen any chairman of the House make political statements of this nature. Even BJP chairmen in the past (have not done so)," Sibal said, hitting out at Dhankhar and saying he was saddened and surprised by the latter's statements.

"Judicial institutions — high courts or Supreme Court — if there is faith in any institution, it is the judiciary. I feel when government people do not like the decisions of the judiciary then they start accusing that it (judiciary) has gone beyond its limit. When they like it and the Opposition says something then they say it is the decision of the Supreme Court," the former Congress leader said.

When someone raises questions about Article 370 or the Ram janmabhoomi judgement, the government people point out that it is a Supreme Court decision, he said.

"When (Justice J.B.) Pardiwala's judgement came they said, how can the Supreme Court say this? The judgement which you do not like is wrong and which is as per your thinking, it is fine. It is not right for a constitutional functionary to say such a thing," Sibal said, referring to Dhankhar's remarks.

"I respect him a lot but you said article 142 is nuclear missile material, how can you say this? Article 142 has given powers to the Supreme Court and it is given by the Constitution, it is not by the government. It is for the Constitution to do complete justice," Sibal said.

He also pointed out that the President of India is a titular head and acts on the aid and advice of the council of ministers.

"The governor acts on the aid and advice of the council of ministers in a state. So when a Bill is passed, it goes to the governor, the governor can make comments and send it back but if passed again, the governor has to give an assent as stated in the Constitution. The governor can send the Bill to the President. The President acts on the aid and advice of the ministers, so the matter goes to the Centre. The President does not have personal powers," he said.

Dhankhar asked how can the President's power be curtailed, Sibal noted, and wondered who was curtailing the power of the President.

Can the governor sit for two years on a Bill that is important for people, Sibal asked, and added that this amounted to an intrusion on the supremacy of the legislature. "If you have a problem with a judgement, call for a review. If there are still problems, take an advisory opinion from the Supreme Court," Sibal said.

"He (Dhankhar) talked about 1984 but did not talk about 2002. You talked about an Emergency but not the undeclared Emergency that is going on, you did not talk about capture of institutions," Sibal said, in a scathing criticism of Dhankhar's other comments.

He said it seemed that Dhankhar only talks about what happened under Congress governments and not after 2014. "If you do not with expedition decide the matter then the argument for us is that we cannot do anything. If the governor doesn't not clear Bills, the judiciary cannot do anything," he said.

If the executive doesn't do its job the judiciary has to intervene, Sibal asserted, adding that Article 142 of the Constitution gives the Supreme Court the power to issue orders that ensure "complete justice" in any matter before it.

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Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said there was no opposition to the caste survey or Social and Educational Survey report during a special meeting of the state cabinet convened to discuss it on Thursday, 17 April.

He also denied that there were heated arguments among the ministers and said no one spoke with their voices raised, as reported by a section of the media.

“Yesterday, it [caste survey report] was discussed in the cabinet, it was incomplete, and it has been posted for another day. The subject will be discussed in the next cabinet. No one has opposed it,” Siddaramaiah said.

Deputy chief minister D.K. Shivakumar repeated this while speaking to reporters in Bengaluru separately. He said, “We shared thoughts, that’s all. Speaking in raised voices or arguments, nothing of that sort happened. Suggestions were given. Other than that nothing was decided.”

The cabinet discussed the parameters used for the survey, and sought more information and technical details from senior officials, law and parliament affairs minister H.K. Patil said on Thursday after the meeting. The cabinet will now discuss the report on 2 May.

The state cabinet had accepted the 50-volume report on 11 April, nearly a decade after the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes completed the survey.

Among other things, the report proposes an increase in reservation for other backward classes (OBCs) from the existing 32 per cent to 51 per cent. This would result in total reservation in the state going up to 85 per cent, including 10 per cent for the economically weaker sections (EWS) and 24 per cent for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).

According to sources, after some ministers expressed reservations about the report, Siddaramaiah asked everyone to give their opinion either in writing or verbally.

Various communities, especially Karnataka’s land-owning and politically dominant Vokkaligas and Veershaiva-Lingayats, have expressed “strong reservations” and demanded that a fresh survey be conducted.

With strong disapproval from the two politically influential communities, the survey report may turn out to be a political hot potato for the government, as it may set the stage for a confrontation, with Dalits and some sections of OBCs among others, demanding for it to be made public and implemented.

Ahead of the Bihar assembly elections slated for later this year, the Congress on Friday launched the 'Samvidhan Leadership Programme', with party MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi urging people to unite and participate in it to ensure social justice and equal participation of deprived sections of society.

Gandhi said justice would remain incomplete unless the real share and participation of the deprived classes is ensured.

"If you are a woman, Dalit, Mahadalit, OBC, EWS, Pasmanda, Minority community, or lead any of these communities, join our 'Samvidhan Leadership Programme'," he said in a post on X.

"Come together to strengthen your fight to protect your rights, social justice through caste census, and your participation. It is time to unite and raise our voice strongly," Gandhi added, using the hashtag "#WhiteTshirtMovement".

According to the programme's website, individuals will work as community organisers and mobilisers in their respective areas and districts of Bihar.

"They will proudly wear white T-shirts and be at the forefront — organising, educating and leading the movement. They will ensure that the dignity, rights and voices of the oppressed communities are not just heard — they are voiced loud and clear," the programme says.

जब तक वंचित वर्गों की असल हिस्सेदारी और भागीदारी सुनिश्चित नहीं होगी – न्याय अधूरा रहेगा। अगर आप महिला, दलित, महादलित, पिछड़े, अति पिछड़े, पसमांदा, EWS या अल्पसंख्यक वर्ग से हैं, या इन वर्गों का नेतृत्व करते हैं– तो हमारे ‘संविधान लीडरशिप प्रोग्राम’ से जुड़ें। अपने अधिकारों की… pic.twitter.com/IaWrpIPSV8 — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 18, 2025

This programme is a platform to organize and develop leadership capacity of people committed to social justice and constitutional values, according to the party.

"Our aim is to bring forth a new generation of leadership from women, Mahadalit, OBC, Pasmanda, Dalit, OBC, minority and EWS communities. We want to connect youth, grassroots leaders, social activists and strong voices of social media who are in favor of the politics of change with Congress and the White T-Shirt Movement," the Congress said on the programme website.

Gandhi, who routinely appeared in a white T-shirt during the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', earlier said it signified the party's fight against injustice.

"If you are playing or want to play a leading role in the fight for rights, respect and equality -— then this platform is yours.

"This initiative is to ensure workers' rights, equitable share in resources, and decisive participation of deprived communities in politics," the Congress said.

"Our goal is clear: to raise a strong political voice of the deprived society against the attacks on the Constitution and democracy by the BJP-RSS. Are you ready for leadership?" the party asked.

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Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Wednesday, 16 April, that the key question in Canada's election is who can best deal with US president Donald Trump, while his Conservative rival argued that Carney doesn't represent change after a decade of Liberal Party rule.

Opposition Conservative Pierre Poilievre said during the French-language leaders' debate that Canada needs change and that Carney is just like his predecessor Justin Trudeau.

“Mr Poilievre is not Justin Trudeau. I'm not Justin Trudeau either. In this election, the question is ," Carney responded.

I will stand up to President Trump.

— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney)

Trump's trade war and have infuriated Canadians and led to a surge in Canadian nationalism that has bolstered Liberal Party poll numbers ahead of the 28 April vote.

Poilievre is imploring Canadians not to give the Liberals a fourth term. He hoped to make the election a referendum on Trudeau, whose popularity declined toward the end of his decade in power as food and housing prices rose and immigration surged.

But Trump attacked, Trudeau resigned and Carney, a two-time central banker, became Liberal party leader and prime minister after a party leadership race.

“One of the differences, there are many, but one of the differences between the two of us is that , on growing the economy,” Carney said when asked about Trudeau at a news conference after the debate. “In fact, in this circumstance that we are in, given the scale of the crisis, I would say relentless focus on growing the economy.”

During the debate, Carney said he has only been prime minister for a month.

“We need change. You do not embody change,” Poilievre said to Carney.

Bloc Québécois Yves-François Blanche, whose party is losing support to Carney's Liberals in Quebec, agreed, saying the Liberals are the same party, the same ministers and the same lawmakers and a new leader does not change that.

But public opinion has changed.

In a mid-January poll by Nanos, Liberals trailed the Conservative Party by 47 per cent to 20 per cent. In the latest Nanos poll released on Wednesday, the Liberals led by 8 percentage points. The January poll had a margin of error 3.1 points while the latest poll had a 2.7-point margin.

“Carney, who played safe, did not make the kind of big mistakes that could have altered the dynamic of the race in Quebec,” said Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal. “I don't think the debate will have a major impact on the race in Quebec, which remains dominated by the Liberals.”

The French debate was moved up by two hours to minimize a conflict with a Montreal Canadiens hockey game. The NHL team faced off against the Carolina Hurricanes at 7 p.m. ET, in a game that could clinch them a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

This isn't the first time NHL hockey has elbowed its way on to the campaign trail. During the 2011 election, former Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe asked for a debate to be postponed due to a Canadiens hockey game and his request was granted.

The English language debate is on 17 April, Thursday evening.

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