The INDIA bloc is set to intensify its protest in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with Opposition MPs expected to march to Rajghat on Thursday.

The fresh mobilisation comes a day after several Opposition leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, were detained during protests against the Election Commission. The leaders were later released.

The Opposition has been demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over allegations linked to electoral rolls and what it has described as “vote chori”.

Opposition leaders discuss next course of action

INDIA bloc MPs met at a cafe in Delhi on Thursday to discuss the next steps in their protest. Following the meeting, the leaders were expected to proceed towards Rajghat.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hosted an INDIA bloc luncheon meeting on Wednesday, after which buses were arranged to transport MPs. Several Opposition leaders later staged a sit-in and raised slogans demanding the resignation of the poll body chief.

Mamata Banerjee among leaders expected to join

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is likely to be part of the Opposition’s 10-member delegation that will meet President Droupadi Murmu on Friday.

The INDIA bloc has also sought an appointment with the President. Ten Opposition leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, have been given an appointment to meet the President on Friday.

The INDIA bloc had sought a meeting with a 15-member delegation, but Rashtrapati Bhavan agreed to a 10-member delegation.

Case against Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi

The Delhi Police has registered a case against Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several other leaders and workers over alleged misconduct during the protests.

Police sources said the FIR alleges assaulting police personnel and obstructing government work during Wednesday’s protest.

The INDIA bloc’s agitation follows an earlier march towards the Election Commission headquarters, during which Opposition MPs demanded action over their concerns regarding electoral rolls and alleged irregularities.

Election Commission protest continues

The Opposition has announced further protests as it seeks to keep the issue in focus.

Congress has described October 8 as a “Black Day” nationwide, while Opposition MPs are continuing their campaign against the Election Commission.

The latest protest comes amid heightened security at CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s Delhi residence and around the Election Commission headquarters.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has criticised the BJP over a CBI search at the residence of his officer on special duty (OSD) Rajbir Singh Ghuman in Sangrur, alleging that central agencies are being used against political opponents ahead of elections.

Mann said the CBI action was an indication that elections were approaching and accused the BJP of using agencies such as the CBI and Enforcement Directorate against Opposition leaders or their associates.

“The CBI raid shows that elections have arrived,” Mann said.

The Punjab Chief Minister cited cases involving Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and leaders close to former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee while alleging that central agencies have been used ahead of elections. He also said Aam Aadmi Party leaders faced similar action before the Delhi Assembly elections.

Mann says CBI returned empty-handed

According to Mann, the CBI search at Gharachon village in Sangrur lasted nearly six hours.

The Chief Minister claimed that the agency “did not find anything” during the search and returned empty-handed. He alleged that the action was part of a BJP conspiracy to defame him and his government.

Mann also linked the CBI action to the BJP’s anti-drug campaign in Punjab and questioned the political impact of the campaign.

He alleged that the CBI action was politically motivated and intended to create a narrative against the AAP government ahead of upcoming elections.

CBI search at Mann aide’s house

Earlier, a CBI team searched the house of Mann’s OSD Rajbir Singh Ghuman in Gharachon village in Sangrur.

The search triggered a political confrontation involving the ruling AAP and Opposition parties. Representatives of Waris Punjab De and Akali Dal Punar Surjeet gathered in the village and welcomed the CBI team.

After the CBI vehicles left the area, people were seen beating dhols, performing bhangra and showering flower petals on the vehicles carrying the agency officials.

Sources cited in the report said the CBI was investigating allegations involving people accused of causing significant losses to Punjab and looting public money.

BJP hits back at Bhagwant Mann

BJP leader Tarun Chugh criticised the response to the CBI search, calling it an “extraordinary display of shamelessness”.

Taking a swipe at AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, Chugh said the time for political drama was over and that those responsible would have to answer for money allegedly stolen from the people of Punjab.

“Stop the drama. Let the investigation proceed and let the facts speak,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reflected on his 25-year journey as head of government, recalling the lessons he learnt from major events including the Bhuj earthquake, the Chandrayaan mission and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Modi marked 25 years since he first took oath as Gujarat Chief Minister on October 7, 2001. He is now serving his third term as Prime Minister.

Addressing the ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha’ organised by the BJP as part of the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, PM Modi expressed gratitude to the people of India, the BJP, the NDA and political colleagues for their trust.

“Seva hi dharm hai” (service is duty), the Prime Minister said, adding that he “lives for mission, not ambition”.

What PM Modi said about learning

Reflecting on his childhood in Vadnagar, PM Modi recalled how he used to be among the first students to reach school.

He said the eagerness to learn became a part of his life and that he continues to consider himself a student.

“I try to learn something new every day,” Modi said, adding that he had prayed that his ability to learn should never diminish.

He said that the more he learns, the greater his ability to do something for the country would become.

From Bhuj earthquake to Covid

Looking back at some of the major experiences of his journey, PM Modi said the Bhuj earthquake taught him to remain steadfast during reconstruction.

He also referred to Chandrayaan, saying the mission taught him to rise after failure.

On the Covid-19 pandemic, Modi said it made him understand the importance of the nation’s collective consciousness.

The Prime Minister linked these experiences to the broader lessons he has gathered during his years in public life.

PM Modi on the role of media

PM Modi also spoke about the media’s role in his journey, saying it provided him with inspiration through both bitter and sweet experiences.

He said the experiences of his journey had shown him the importance of bringing sensitivity into policymaking.

According to Modi, every village and every poor person taught him that resources may be limited, but dreams should be big and determination should remain strong.

“25 years of public trust” an asset for country

PM Modi said the trust of the people and their hard work had always been his greatest strength.

He also said that every citizen has the greatest right over him.

Reflecting on completing 25 consecutive years as the head of a government, Modi expressed gratitude to the people for choosing him as their leader and said that the responsibility towards the country was the greatest.

He described the experience and public trust accumulated over the 25 years as a valuable asset.

Modi said this asset did not belong only to him but belonged to the country, with every child of Mother India entitled to it.

The Prime Minister took oath as Gujarat Chief Minister on October 7, 2001. He remained in the post until 2014 before becoming Prime Minister. He is currently serving his third term as Prime Minister.