'BJP wanted a compromised Opposition and found a match in this faction of the Trinamool.'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made history by becoming India's longest continuously serving elected prime minister.
The rejection of senior Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan's nomination papers transformed what should have been a routine Rajya Sabha election into a lesson in contemporary political warfare.
The BJP held a torchlight procession in Ranchi, Jharkhand, protesting the state's law and order situation and the rising number of missing children. The protest specifically highlighted the case of three children, including twin brothers, who have been missing for 13 days, with the BJP demanding their immediate recovery and intensified police action.
Kerala BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar has pledged full support and legal assistance to party councillor Sugathan, who was dramatically arrested in Thiruvananthapuram. The BJP alleges political vendetta and misuse of the police system, while police claim they fired in the air during the arrest due to BJP supporters.
'The generational shift belongs to Vijay, Udhayanidhi and Annamalai.' 'The BJP cannot fit into the shift.' 'So they threw Annamalai into the situation where he is comparable with Vijay and Udhayanidhi.'
Twenty rebel Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MPs have merged with the obscure Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), a move seen by political observers as a strategic way to support the BJP-led NDA without immediately joining the saffron party and bypassing legal complexities.
The BJP team under the new national president Nitin Nabin, who took charge in January, is expected to be announced within this month, with sources suggesting that some holding positions in the government may move to the party.
A political controversy has erupted in Navi Mumbai after Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde's name was omitted from official invitation cards for a civic event, leading to protests by Shiv Sena workers. The incident has also exposed infighting within the BJP, with an MLA accusing a minister of sabotaging her projects and falsely claiming credit.
The Congress party has accused Home Minister Amit Shah of launching an "onslaught" on the Opposition and "wrecking" Indian democracy. The party alleges that Shah is enticing elected representatives to join the BJP with significant incentives, a claim echoed by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut regarding Maharashtra MPs. This comes amidst reports of defections from other parties like the TMC.
A local BJP leader in Thrissur, Kerala, A R Sreekumar, has been booked for attempted culpable homicide based on his wife's complaint of brutal assault. His wife alleges he attacked her for returning home late and that party workers are harassing her on social media.
BJP workers in Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh, staged a sit-in protest and recited the Hanuman Chalisa at a police station, alleging inaction in arresting accused individuals involved in the assault of a BJP leader. The protest followed an alleged attack on BJP city vice-president Jayant Singh Dharmu. Police have registered a case and assured prompt action.
BJP councillor Sugathan was arrested in Thiruvananthapuram under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) after the Kerala High Court denied him anticipatory bail. The arrest involved police firing in the air to disperse a crowd obstructing the process, leading to new charges against Sugathan for assaulting officers. His family, however, alleges police used excessive force.
Senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay's meeting with Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and allegedly with Home Minister Amit Shah has ignited fresh political speculation about his potential defection and the formation of a dissident parliamentary faction, further deepening the turmoil within the Mamata Banerjee-led party.
Trinamool Congress MP Kirti Azad has accused the BJP of orchestrating 'Operation Lotus' to induce defections from the Mamata Banerjee-led party, citing recent resignations and meetings of dissident MPs as evidence of an organised attempt to weaken the TMC.
Uttar Pradesh Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar has sensationally claimed a major split is imminent within the Samajwadi Party, with many leaders reportedly ready to defect to the BJP.
'We can never trust the BJP when it comes to elections.'
The TMC is grappling with an extraordinary internal paradox as its legislative faction in West Bengal pledges 'constructive opposition' against the BJP, while a significant portion of its Lok Sabha MPs surprisingly aligns with the BJP-led NDA, exposing a profound ideological schism within the party.
'Our discussions focused on the India-Nepal development partnership and people-to-people ties.'
The BJP has announced 11 candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls, notably omitting Union ministers Ravneet Singh Bittu and George Kurian, whose terms end soon. This decision, alongside other recent appointments, has fuelled speculation about an imminent Cabinet reshuffle. The list includes new faces and senior party leaders from various states.
Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee has declared that removing the BJP from power is her life's mission, alleging election rigging and vowing to support TMC workers. She announced a nationwide anti-BJP programme and protested against post-poll violence and government actions.
A BJP councillor, Sugathan, was arrested in Thiruvananthapuram under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) after police fired into the air to disperse a crowd obstructing the arrest. His family denies allegations and accuses police of excessive force.
A BJP councillor, Sugathan, was arrested in Thiruvananthapuram under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) after police fired into the air to disperse a crowd obstructing the arrest. His family denies allegations and accuses police of excessive force.
All four BJP candidates have filed their nomination papers for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Gujarat, with their victory appearing certain as the Congress is not contesting. This outcome means the Congress will lose its sole representative from Gujarat in the Upper House, Shaktisinh Gohil, whose term is ending. The BJP's strong majority in the state assembly ensures an unopposed win for its candidates.
Unidentified individuals allegedly pelted stones at the residence-cum-office of local BJP leader Virendra Shedge in Indore, causing property damage. A relative of MLA Malini Gaud also reported a similar incident. Police are investigating, linking the events to a prior dispute over a pet dog.
Three BJP candidates have been declared elected unopposed in the biennial Rajya Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh, while the Congress party has moved the Supreme Court against the rejection of its candidate Meenakshi Natarajan's nomination.
Jai Inder Kaur, BJP leader and daughter of former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, met newly appointed state BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon to congratulate him on his appointment. The meeting is significant given Amarinder Singh's earlier concerns about Dhillon's appointment.
BJP leaders and other political figures visited the family of Shivanand Chaurasia in Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, who was among three Indian crew members killed in an attack on merchant ships off the Oman coast. They offered condolences and assured the family of government and party support. Shivanand, an engine fitter, was on a tanker targeted on June 10, and his body was recovered on Thursday.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders Kalyan Banerjee and Kirti Azad have launched a scathing attack on rebel party MPs, accusing them of lacking political morality, maintaining links with the BJP, and abandoning party workers amidst alleged harassment and political attacks.
BJP spokesman Sajid Yousuf Shah claimed he was asked to leave a hotel in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar due to his "Kashmiri identity." Shah expressed sadness over the incident, highlighting persistent stereotypes despite efforts to strengthen bonds between Jammu & Kashmir and India. The National Conference criticised the BJP, stating the incident reflects the "politics of hatred" propagated by the party.
A BJP member and scrap dealer was allegedly murdered in his godown in Jaipur. Police are investigating the incident and examining CCTV footage.
The BJP has secured victories in the Mandi, Dharamshala, and Solan municipal corporation elections in Himachal Pradesh, dealing a blow to the Congress party, which managed to retain control only in Palampur.
BJP leaders Rajeev Chandrasekhar and B B Gopakumar have accused both the UDF and LDF governments of pushing Kerala into an economic crisis. They criticised the lack of solutions from the ruling fronts, highlighted the state's high public debt, and questioned the allocation of revenue for development versus salaries and pensions.
Mamata Banerjee alleges BJP rigged the West Bengal elections and announces plans for a nationwide anti-BJP alliance. She also protests against post-poll violence and arrests of TMC workers.
BJP leader K Surendran has alleged that organised networks are helping Bangladeshi nationals obtain fake identity documents in Kerala, including Aadhaar and ration cards. He warned of a serious challenge if unchecked and called for urgent measures to distinguish genuine migrant workers from illegal infiltrators.
The BJP's Bahraich unit has filed a cyber crime case against a social media account for allegedly misusing images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister J P Nadda, along with party symbols, to circulate misleading content. Police have registered a case under the IT Act and initiated an investigation.
Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai has launched a new political movement focused on 'common man politics,' rejecting personality cults and hereditary power, aiming to position Tamil Nadu as the premier state in India.
Three Congress candidates, including All India Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge, and one Bharatiya Janata Party nominee were declared elected "unanimously" to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka on Thursday, election officials said.
The BJP appointed Archana Gupta as the president of its Haryana unit, making her the second woman to hold the position in over four decades. Gupta, a doctor and state general secretary, succeeds Mohan Lal Badoli and aims to strengthen the party and increase women's participation.
A Bharatiya Janata Party leader, Sangeeta Rajak, died in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, after her licensed firearm accidentally discharged, hitting her in the abdomen. Police are investigating the incident, which occurred while she was reportedly attempting to hand the weapon to family members during a dispute outside her home.