The bypolls to one Lok Sabha and six assembly seats across five states resulted in a mixed outcome for both the opposition and the BJP. The Biju Janata Dal and Congress retained their respective seats in Odisha and Chhattisgarh, while the BJP secured victories in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur Sadar and Bihar's Kurhal. The Samajwadi Party held onto Mainpuri, despite losing Rampur Sadar. The BJP did not succeed in Khatauli, UP, where the Rashtriya Lok Dal claimed victory. BJP's win in Bihar's Kurhani was highlighted by party chief J P Nadda, marking a defeat for the JDU and the ruling grand alliance.

Praveen Chakravarty, chairperson of the All India Professionals’ Congress, outlines the Congress party's draft promises for the upcoming elections, including a revamped right to apprenticeship, security for gig workers, and a startup fund. The new apprenticeship proposal would obligate the government to provide apprenticeships to qualified individuals under 25. The party also plans to introduce social security for gig workers and fill 3 million government vacancies. A Rs 5,000 crore corpus for startups is proposed, with funds reallocated from existing programs. The Congress manifesto is under review and will be presented to the Congress Working Committee.

Illegal migration from India to the US has seen an increase, with US Customs and Border Protection reporting 96,917 illegal Indian immigrants encountered in 2023. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India acknowledges the issue but lacks reliable data on Indians working or staying illegally abroad. A chartered flight from Dubai to Nicaragua with 303 Indian passengers was grounded by French authorities due to suspicions of human trafficking and potential illegal entry into the US or Canada. The MEA also informs about illegal agents through the eMigrate portal.

The Indian National Congress' crowdfunding campaign 'Donate for Desh' experienced over 20,400 bot attacks and 1,340 data theft attempts within two days of its launch. Despite this, the party raised Rs 2.81 crore from 113,713 donors, with the majority using UPI. The campaign, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's Tilak Swaraj Fund, will expand to include door-to-door collections and the sale of merchandise. The Congress aims to strengthen its organizational network by involving donors in party work. The Bank of Baroda is handling the transactions, which are limited to Indian citizens. Top donations came from Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch 'Rozgar Mela', a recruitment initiative to fill 10 lakh government job vacancies by the end of 2023. The launch event on October 22 will distribute appointment letters to 75,000 candidates across 25 states. This move comes ahead of the legislative assembly elections in BJP-ruled Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat. Opposition parties, including Congress and AAP, have criticized the Modi government for not fulfilling job creation promises. The recruitment drive is part of several government measures perceived as efforts to appeal to voters before the elections.

Since 2015, the Narendra Modi government has advocated for simultaneous assembly and Lok Sabha elections in India, citing cost savings and reduced disruption to governance. Opposition parties, including Congress, argue it contradicts federal principles. Studies show a high likelihood of voters choosing the same party for state and central elections when held together, but this likelihood decreases when elections are spaced apart. The cost of elections has risen significantly, and simultaneous elections could optimize expenses. The Congress's opposition is partly due to their success in state elections held separately from national polls, which allowed them to capitalize on local issues.

The 21st Law Commission criticized the Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) status for being used for tax evasion, a legacy of British rule. The BJP, having achieved other goals like repealing Article 370 and constructing the Ram temple, continues to push for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), despite the 21st Law Commission's 2018 report stating it was unnecessary. The 22nd Law Commission is seeking stakeholder views on UCC, which will address personal laws across religions. The Uttarakhand government is close to finalizing its UCC draft, aimed at gender equality. The 21st Law Commission had recommended various reforms, including equitable divorce settlements and gender-neutral laws, while cautioning against the protection of social evils as religious customs. The BJP accuses Congress of succumbing to fundamentalists, while Congress alleges BJP is using UCC as a distraction.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India is set to embark on four foreign visits over the next 40 days, including the G7 summit in Hiroshima and a state visit to the US, which will feature his participation in the International Yoga Day event at the United Nations and a Diaspora event in Chicago. These visits are strategically important for India and politically significant ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Modi's visit to Papua New Guinea was crucial due to the competition for influence in the region between China, the US, and their allies. The upcoming India-US discussions will cover a range of sectors and aim to expand the Quad engagement. The visits will also serve to enhance Modi's image as a world leader among the Indian electorate.

Opposition leaders in India are shifting focus to social justice and welfarism as their main narrative to challenge the BJP in the 2024 elections. They aim to avoid a personality-driven campaign that pits Narendra Modi against Rahul Gandhi, which has previously resulted in BJP victories. Key figures like M K Stalin, Ashok Gehlot, and Tejashwi Yadav are advocating for issues such as a caste census and addressing economic disparity. The Congress party is also implementing welfare schemes in various states. The opposition is concerned about the electoral impact of Rahul Gandhi's increasing support base among minorities and is strategizing accordingly.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), formed in 1998, is approaching its 25th anniversary, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is considering its alliances ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Recent state assembly elections highlighted the importance of regional parties, with the BJP facing challenges in maintaining its previous election tallies. The BJP has lost some long-standing allies but has gained new ones like the Jannayak Janata Party in Haryana. Political observers suggest the BJP will seek to strengthen the NDA and look for new allies, especially in the south. The BJP's strategy includes potential alliances with parties like the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh and the Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal in Bihar. The political landscape remains fluid, with past examples showing that political affiliations can change quickly.

The RSS, at the peak of its political influence, has made two notable retractions on core ideological issues within five days, sparking criticism and debate. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's comments on the caste system and the promotion of 'cow hug day' over Valentine's Day by the Animal Welfare Board have highlighted contradictions within the Sangh Parivar's approach. The RSS's recent outreach to Dalits and Muslims, and its evolving stance on issues like the caste census, 'ghar wapsi', 'love jihad', and LGBTQ+ rights, suggest a possible reevaluation of its positions. Political commentators and insiders suggest that while the RSS may appear to be liberalizing its views, its foundational beliefs remain unchanged. The Sangh Parivar's behavior is seen as strategic, aiming to secure another majority for the Modi-led BJP in the 2024 elections.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the 1111th birth anniversary of Gurjar deity Devnarayan in Rajasthan, with no invite for CM Ashok Gehlot or Sachin Pilot. Modi's visit is seen as outreach to the Gurjar community amid internal Congress conflicts. BJP and Congress are preparing for upcoming elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, with both parties setting ambitious targets. The BJP is focusing on Modi's name for the campaign, while the Congress targets BJP's failures on food inflation and cooking gas prices. The Ujjwala scheme's affordability is questioned.

The BJP's significant win in the Gujarat Assembly has been overshadowed by internal dissent and infighting across various state units, including Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Delhi, and Kerala. The infighting has been detrimental, as seen in Himachal Pradesh where it contributed to the party's defeat. High-profile leaders and factions within the party are at odds, with accusations of poor leadership and ticket distribution. The party's strategy of sidelining older members and importing opposition members has caused unrest. Upcoming elections in several states, including Karnataka, are a concern for the BJP as they face a resurgent Congress and internal challenges.

The BJP's recent electoral losses in Himachal Pradesh and Delhi have highlighted the limitations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's influence, particularly in one-on-one battles outside his home state of Gujarat. The party faces the challenge of retaining power in Tripura, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh, and aims to gain control in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Telangana in the upcoming 2023 assembly polls. Public dissatisfaction with inflation and the effectiveness of welfare schemes like the Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana and PM Kisan Nidhi are influencing voter behavior. The BJP's nationalist narrative was less effective than local issues in Himachal Pradesh, and efforts to connect with voters, such as Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, are becoming increasingly important.

The BJP's victory in Gujarat was overshadowed by its loss to Congress in Himachal Pradesh, with Jai Ram Thakur resigning as CM. The BJP won 156 seats in Gujarat, a record-breaking win, while Congress only secured 17 seats. In Himachal Pradesh, Congress won 40 seats, and the BJP won 25. The AAP, contesting all seats for the first time, won five seats. Modi highlighted the narrow margin of loss in Himachal and the BJP's win in reserved seats. Despite the loss in Himachal, the BJP plans to use its election strategy as a template for future elections. Rahul Gandhi acknowledged the Gujarat defeat and aims to revamp the Congress organization.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured a victory in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections despite strong opposition from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This win enhances Arvind Kejriwal's appeal and positions him as a potential challenger to Narendra Modi in 2024. The AAP has been criticized for being perceived as the BJP's 'B team' and for only defeating Congress. The article discusses the shifting voter demographics in Delhi, including the waning support from Muslim voters and migrants from eastern UP and Bihar. It also notes the BJP's slow but steady increase in vote share and the Congress's wins in Muslim-majority wards. The AAP's recent Hindutva turn and its response to the anti-CAA agitation and the North East Delhi riots are highlighted as points of contention among voters.

Following the conclusion of crucial polls, the Congress party in India is faced with the task of revival. Sonia Gandhi, who has been a pivotal figure in the party since 1998, is unlikely to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, signaling the end of her parliamentary role. Despite resistance within the party, Sonia is expected to continue guiding the new Congress president, Mallikarjun Kharge, in an advisory capacity. The party's future may hinge on the ability of Kharge and the Gandhi family to empower regional leaders and prevent further splintering, a challenge that has arisen during Sonia's tenure with the emergence of party offshoots in various states.

The RSS is convening in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, to discuss Dalit outreach amid waning influence of Dalit-led parties in the region. A four-day meeting will review plans for the Sangh's centenary in 2025 and expansion of shakha networks. Topics include women's participation, education in the mother tongue, and dialogue with Muslim intellectuals. The meeting aims to strengthen the Scheduled Caste voter base for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. The RSS's inclusive Hindutva faces internal resistance, and Mohan Bhagwat has called for equality and annihilation of caste. The Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal meeting will include top RSS functionaries and affiliates.

The article discusses the ongoing farmers' protests in India against three new farm laws introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. The farmers, primarily from the northwestern provinces of Punjab and Haryana, have been protesting for over two months, fearing the laws will lead to corporate monopolies by companies like Adani Group and Reliance Industries, and destroy their livelihoods. Despite facing harsh weather and police action, the farmers remain determined to have the laws repealed. The protests have gained international attention, with support from global figures like Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The Indian government's attempts to negotiate have been met with skepticism, and a Supreme Court committee formed to resolve the crisis was deemed biased. The farmers' struggle is also seen as a fight against the economic policies of the Modi government, which they believe favor large corporations over small businesses and farmers.

Dipankar Bhattacharya, the general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, is highlighted as a grounded communist leader who communicates effectively in multiple languages. The article notes the increased interest in Bhattacharya and his party following their impressive performance in the Bihar Assembly polls, where they won 12 out of 19 seats contested and narrowly lost three others. This performance is noted as the best strike rate among the major parties that participated in the elections.

The article discusses the difficulties faced by villagers in Mewar, Rajasthan, due to poor internet connectivity which affects their access to the public distribution system (PDS) for subsidized wheat. Villagers, including the Meena community, have to climb a hill to get their thumbprints authenticated for PDS due to the lack of internet. The article also touches on the lack of work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), the impact of demonetisation and GST on the local economy, and the failure of schemes like Bhamashah Yojana and farm loan waivers to benefit the villagers. It mentions the dissatisfaction with the state government and the hope of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that its other schemes will garner support.