Top 20 Indian Politics News Stories — Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Here are the major Indian political developments making headlines today, with claims and allegations attributed to the relevant political parties or institutions.
1. Election Commission SIR row triggers major political confrontation
A fresh controversy erupted after an Indian Express investigation reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on 14 occasions over 10 months concerning aspects of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Election Commission said differing views during internal deliberations are normal and maintained that its final decisions were unanimous.
2. Congress demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation
Congress leaders intensified their criticism of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with Rahul Gandhi accusing the BJP, RSS and Election Commission of involvement in alleged electoral irregularities. These are political allegations, while the Election Commission has rejected the interpretation that internal objections represented a breakdown in its decision-making.
3. BJP defends Election Commission and challenges Opposition
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra defended the poll panel and challenged the Opposition to bring an impeachment motion against the CEC in Parliament if it believed there were grounds to do so. The BJP said the SIR decision itself was ultimately unanimous.
4. Supreme Court sends CEC appointment-law issue to Constitution Bench
The Supreme Court delivered a split verdict on Wednesday concerning the legal challenge to the framework for appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. The matter will now be considered by a Constitution Bench, with the dispute involving the balance between Parliament’s legislative power and the independence of the Election Commission.
5. Mamata Banerjee demands action against CEC and fresh Bengal polls
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee intensified her attack on the Election Commission amid the SIR controversy. She has called for action against Gyanesh Kumar and demanded fresh elections in states where polls were conducted after the electoral-roll revision. These demands represent the TMC’s position in the ongoing political dispute.
6. Supreme Court asks Lok Sabha Speaker to act on 20 rebel TMC MPs
The Supreme Court asked Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to take an “expeditious” decision on petitions seeking the disqualification of 20 rebel Trinamool Congress MPs. The dispute concerns whether their move to the NCPI constitutes defection or qualifies as a valid merger under the Tenth Schedule.
7. BJP announces major reshuffle of state in-charges
The BJP reorganised its network of state in-charges and co-in-charges ahead of upcoming political contests. The changes include Ram Madhav being assigned Uttarakhand, Smriti Irani getting Haryana and Chhattisgarh responsibilities, and Vinod Tawde being assigned Uttar Pradesh.
8. Congress continues campaign against SIR
Congress leaders have argued that the reported objections within the Election Commission raise questions about the handling of voter rolls. The party is demanding greater scrutiny of the SIR exercise and has linked the controversy to its broader allegations concerning electoral-list manipulation.
9. Arvind Kejriwal joins Opposition attack on Election Commission
AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal also criticised the functioning of the Election Commission following the SIR controversy. He called for action against Gyanesh Kumar and cancellation of elections that, in his view, were conducted using the disputed electoral rolls.
10. Akhilesh Yadav says elections should not be held under current CEC
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has joined Opposition criticism of the Election Commission, arguing that elections should not be conducted under the present CEC amid the controversy surrounding the SIR exercise. His comments come as political parties debate the credibility and implementation of electoral-roll revisions.
11. Uddhav Thackeray seeks CEC’s removal
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray has also demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demand comes amid Opposition parties’ wider campaign over the reported differences among Election Commission members regarding electoral-roll procedures.
12. Odisha’s voter-roll revision draws attention
An analysis of Odisha’s SIR process shows a different pattern from several other states. The final electoral roll published on September 21 contained about 3.16 crore voters, compared with roughly 3.14 crore in the draft roll released in July. The figures have prompted further discussion about how the revision has affected voter numbers across states.
13. BJP and Congress spar over political contest in Uttar Pradesh
Political tensions between the Congress and Samajwadi Party are becoming more visible ahead of Uttar Pradesh’s next Assembly election. Discussions within the Opposition camp increasingly centre on leadership, alliance arrangements and the respective roles of Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav.
14. BJP MLAs’ remarks over Muslims and Garba spark political row
Remarks by two BJP MLAs concerning Muslim participation in Navratri Garba events have triggered a political controversy in Madhya Pradesh. The comments have drawn criticism and renewed debate around political statements concerning religious participation in public cultural events.
15. Kerala government orders probe involving Pinarayi Vijayan and family
The Kerala government has ordered an inquiry connected with allegations arising from the CMRL case involving former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and members of his family. Vijayan and CPI(M) leaders have disputed allegations of wrongdoing, and the matter is now part of a wider political and legal confrontation in the state.
16. Kerala CPI(M) faces political questions over leadership transition
The CPI(M) in Kerala is navigating questions about its future leadership and political direction while a probe involving Pinarayi Vijayan adds another layer of pressure. The party is also looking at the challenge of preparing a new generation of leaders as Vijayan’s long political dominance becomes an increasingly discussed issue.
17. Karnataka water-sharing issue enters political focus
A Telangana delegation met Karnataka leaders again over the release of Krishna river water. Telangana has sought 5,000 cusecs for a month for crops covering around 5.5 lakh acres, making the inter-state water issue an important political and agricultural concern.
18. Karnataka Congress MLA resigns over drought-related issue
Congress MLA Yashvantharayagowda Patil resigned from his position amid a dispute concerning the exclusion of Indi from a drought-hit list. The development adds to political pressure over drought assessment and relief measures in Karnataka.
19. Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for October 16
The Election Commission has announced biennial elections for 11 Rajya Sabha seats from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand on October 16. A separate West Bengal Rajya Sabha bypoll will also be held that day following the resignation of TMC leader Rukmini Malik.
20. Punjab political activity intensifies ahead of future polls
Punjab’s political landscape is seeing fresh activity, with former Enforcement Directorate official Niranjan Singh joining Akali Dal Waris Punjab De. The development comes as political parties prepare for the state’s next electoral cycle and seek to expand their organisational presence.
