Actor and politician S Devan, formerly the BJP's state vice-president, has announced his decision to join the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party, led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. Devan cited a lack of "space" within the BJP and a desire for political change as reasons for his departure. He is expected to be offered the TVK state president post, with a formal announcement following a meeting on September 10.
The BJP has announced its new national organisational team, with eight leaders from Uttar Pradesh receiving key appointments. These include two national vice-presidents, two general secretaries, two secretaries, and the chiefs of the OBC and Minority Morchas. The appointments reflect a strategic focus on youth, social diversity, and experienced campaigners, particularly after the party's recent electoral setbacks in the state.
Newly appointed BJP Minority Morcha national president Kunwar Basit Ali announced a strategic focus on approximately 100 Uttar Pradesh assembly seats, aiming to connect the Muslim community with the BJP by highlighting government welfare schemes and dispelling "misconceptions" about the party.
BJP president Nitin Nabin has announced new in-charges for party affairs in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Gujarat, with Vinod Tawde, Satish Poonia, and Tarun Chugh taking on key roles respectively. These appointments are effective immediately.
Three months after winning power in West Bengal, the BJP is confronting a significant political challenge: how to expand and consolidate its presence without adopting the very political culture it campaigned against, particularly concerning the integration of former TMC leaders and the need to curb practices like extortion and intimidation among its own cadres.
The BJP has strongly condemned the Congress's decision to sing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram, vowing to protect the dignity and national status of the full version of the national song and launch a nationwide campaign to spread its significance.
The West Bengal government has revoked the Banga Bibhushan award from Rajya Sabha MP Ananta Maharaj following his controversial remarks describing Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose as a 'war criminal' and questioning the Azad Hind Fauj's role in India's freedom struggle.
Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal has hinted at a potential re-alliance with the BJP, expressing a desire for "agreements" that bring progress to Punjab from Delhi. This follows a recent meeting between SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reigniting speculation about the former allies rejoining forces after their 2020 split over farm laws.
Several prominent BJP leaders, including former Union minister Smriti Irani, RSS veteran Ram Madhav, and former chief ministers Biplab Kumar Deb and Tirath Singh Rawat, have been reinstated into significant roles within the party's national team. This reshuffle marks a political recovery for many who had previously seen their influence wane or lost electoral battles, positioning them for key organisational responsibilities ahead of upcoming elections.
'If elections are held with honesty you will see their defeat.'
The BJP has criticised the Allahabad High Court's observations regarding the wearing of a hijab in school, stating that such matters should be left to school administrations and not courts. BJP spokesperson Syed Zafar Islam argued that faith is a significant personal aspect and courts should not dictate personal attire, while also acknowledging that schools have the right to set uniform policies. The High Court had dismissed a petition seeking permission for a girl to wear a headscarf, ruling it's not an essential part of Islamic faith.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appointed Deepak Mhaskey, an academic and former board member of Engineers India Limited, as the new head of its social media department. He replaces Amit Malviya, who led the department for 11 years. Mhaskey, who holds a state minister-rank and is a permanent invitee of the BJP's Chhattisgarh unit, expressed gratitude for the significant responsibility.
'I remember that Indira Gandhi was virtually worshipped as a goddess. The kind of power wielded by Indira Gandhi in the early 1970s was much more than what Modi does today, but in just three years down the line Indira Gandhi faced defeat.' 'So you cannot take people's sentiments for granted. That is a lesson that the BJP should learn.'
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla has resigned from all his party positions and primary membership, citing pressing financial and personal circumstances. He had initially offered to resign on July 30, but the party requested him to reconsider. Poonawalla confirmed his final decision on Monday, stating he would move into the private sector but continue to support Prime Minister Modi's vision.
Deepak Mhaskey, an academic and former member of the board of Engineers India Limited, has been appointed as the new head of the BJP's social media department, taking over from Amit Malviya, who led the department for 11 years. Malviya expressed confidence in the new leadership to further strengthen the party's digital communication.
The spiralling agitation over the NEET issue saw protests and counter-protests by Congress and BJP across the country on Wednesday, with clashes and tense face-offs at many places, a day after Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders were forcibly removed from a dharna outside the prime minister's residence.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced a significant overhaul of its national team under party president Nitin Nabin, introducing numerous new faces and promoting prominent leaders like former Union minister Smriti Irani to general secretary and former RSS functionary Ram Madhav to vice president. The revamp aims to balance youth and experience while preparing for upcoming assembly and general elections.
Former poll strategist Prashant Kishor made a stunning electoral debut by winning Bihar's Bankipur assembly seat, a long-held BJP bastion. Concurrently, the Congress retained the Datia assembly seat in Madhya Pradesh, while the BJP successfully held onto the Manjalpur seat in Gujarat, showcasing mixed results for the ruling and opposition parties in these crucial by-elections.
Kharge, who is also the Congress President, demanded that cases should be registered, under the Untouchability Act, against those who purified the stage in Haldwani, and they should be arrested and sent to jail.
The Congress Working Committee has decided to adhere to its 1937 resolution, mandating that only the first two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' be sung at all party events, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from the BJP, which labelled the Congress the 'new Muslim League'.
Prashant Kishor's stunning Bankipur victory has broken the BJP's three-decade dominance in one of its safest urban strongholds, signalling a major political shift in Bihar.
The Bharatiya Janata Party's decision to replace six-time MLA Narottam Mishra with a rookie candidate in the Datia Assembly bypoll in Madhya Pradesh led to a significant defeat, with the Congress retaining the seat. This loss is seen as a major setback for the BJP's image of discipline, with the party indicating possible disciplinary action against those who defied the central leadership's choice.
The ruling BJP in West Bengal has suspended 22 functionaries, including several mandal presidents, over allegations of extortion and indiscipline. This action follows public warnings from the party leadership against adopting an 'extortion culture' and comes ahead of a visit by BJP's central in-charge for West Bengal, Sunil Bansal, to review the party's organisation and the new government's functioning.
Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka assembly R Ashoka on Sunday announced that the Bharatiya Janata Party and its ally Janata Dal-Secular would lay siege to Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on August 24 seeking the removal of planning and statistics minister B Nagendra from the cabinet.
Abhijeet Dipke, convener of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has urged the BJP to align with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's stance on Gen Z protests, particularly regarding NEET examination irregularities, and to refrain from labelling protesting youth as 'anti-national'.
The Cockroach Janta Party on Sunday demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible for the alleged assault that led to the death of Janab Mafik, the father of CJP volunteer Shaik Abdul Hafeez, in West Bengal.
JD-U supremo Nitish Kumar met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, a day after the BJP lost the Bankipur assembly by-election in Patna. The meeting, which included other JD-U leaders, occurred amidst recent political changes in Bihar, where Nitish Kumar had resigned as Chief Minister and a BJP leader took charge.
Arunachal Pradesh MP Tapir Gao underscores the critical importance of heeding local warnings regarding alleged Chinese incursions along the Line of Actual Control, amidst ongoing border tensions and official denials.
Cricketer-turned-politician Harbhajan Singh revealed in a podcast interview that his decision to switch from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stemmed from the AAP government's alleged neglect of his concerns regarding drug abuse and sports promotion in Punjab.
Student protests in Jharkhand over alleged irregularities in recruitment exams have intensified, leading to a state-wide bandh called by the BJP and a march by the ABVP to the state assembly. The agitation, now in its 18th day, has seen police action against demonstrators, an ED money laundering probe, and the arrest of a former JPSC chairperson, while talks between the government and students remain deadlocked.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a charge sheet against 11 accused people, including two Bharatiya Janata Party workers, in connection with the killing of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's aide Chandranath Rath, officials said Thursday.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has called for the immediate passage of the women's reservation bill and the delimitation bill, advocating for a uniform 50 per cent increase in seats for all states to ensure fair and equitable representation.
The BJP has accused the Congress and its INDIA bloc allies of deliberately disrupting the Monsoon Session of Parliament, alleging that their conduct has prevented discussions on key Bills and exposed the Opposition's 'double standards' on issues such as paper leaks and student protests.
NCP (SP) leader Eknath Khadse has firmly stated his disinterest in rejoining the BJP, despite being called by Amit Shah, and affirmed his commitment to Sharad Pawar, dismissing recent speculation about his political future.
The Haryana BJP appointed Archana Gupta as its new president, making her the second woman to hold the position in over four decades. Gupta, a radiologist and current state general secretary, succeeds Mohan Lal Badoli.
The BJP accused Congress leader Sonia Gandhi of objecting to the full version of Vande Mataram at an Independence Day event, sparking a political row. The Congress denied the charge, stating Gandhi was only seeking a chair for party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and clarified the historical context of the song's usage.
Waterlogging at the newly-built Noida International Airport in Jewar after heavy rains has ignited a political dispute between the Samajwadi Party and the BJP government. While SP chief Akhilesh Yadav criticised the infrastructure, airport authorities stated the temporary water accumulation was cleared within 30 minutes without disrupting operations. BJP MLA Dhirendra Singh defended the development, accusing the opposition of politicising the issue.
An unidentified group hurled a petrol bomb at the BJP office in Sangrur, Punjab, prompting strong condemnation from party leaders who criticised the AAP government's handling of law and order. Police are investigating the incident, which caused no injuries but left a burn mark on the building.
Rahul Gandhi recently connected with Gen Z through an engaging 'Ask Me Anything' session on Instagram, offering candid responses on student protests, his views on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and even his philosophy on pet ownership.
Student protests against alleged examination irregularities in Jharkhand have intensified, with six demonstrators on hunger strike demanding the cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination and an independent probe. The agitation, which has garnered political support from both opposition and ruling allies, is set to impact the Monsoon Assembly Session, even as a CID investigation progresses and prohibitory orders are issued.
