Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon citizens to celebrate Independence Day with honour and pride, urging them to take a pledge for a developed India. This appeal comes amidst parliamentary sessions marked by protests from both ruling and opposition alliances.
Mamata Banerjee's faction of the Trinamool Congress announced support for the Congress candidate in the Nandigram assembly bypoll after its own candidate withdrew. This decision comes amidst a bitter dispute with the Election Commission over the freezing of TMC's traditional symbol and name, which Banerjee termed "arbitrary" and accused the BJP of trying to destroy opposition parties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 76th birthday was celebrated with extensive programmes in Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency. Events included special prayers by 76 young priests, a milk 'abhishek' of the Ganga, and a significant 'Seva Sankalp' motorcycle journey from Varanasi to Vadnagar, Modi's birthplace, involving 500 participants. Several prominent political figures, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, participated in the celebrations, offering prayers for Modi's health and India's progress.
Former West Bengal Chief Minister's faction has announced support for the Congress candidate in the Nandigram assembly bypoll, marking a significant shift in state politics. This move comes amidst an internal party dispute within the Trinamool Congress and is seen as an attempt to consolidate anti-BJP votes and strengthen the INDIA bloc, despite a history of acrimonious rivalry between the two parties.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has set an ambitious target for district collectors to achieve a 15-20 per cent growth rate, building on the state's 13.4 per cent growth in Q1 FY27, the highest in India.
Five southern states are stepping up coordination on delimitation, tax devolution and language issues, reviving calls for a stronger collective South platform.
Former RBI Governor Bimal Jalan, ex-IAF Chief NAK Browne, and other prominent figures in Delhi have received notices regarding discrepancies in their voter details during the ongoing Special Summary Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. Over 33 lakh electors have been identified for such notices, with a deadline of September 30 for responses.
Independents have secured nearly two-thirds of urban wards in Bharatpur and Deeg districts, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma's home turf, significantly outperforming the BJP and Congress in local body elections. This unexpected surge sets the stage for a political battle as both major parties vie for the support of these Independent councillors to form civic boards.
Police in Jamui, Bihar, have arrested two main accused in the molestation of a minor girl, bringing the total arrests to five. The arrests followed an encounter where the accused were injured. The incident, captured in a viral video, has ignited a fierce political debate between the ruling NDA and opposition parties over law and order in the state.
AICC general secretary K C Venugopal announced that Rahul Gandhi would lead the INDIA bloc in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, dismissing reports of TVK proposing C Joseph Vijay as a prime ministerial candidate. Venugopal highlighted Gandhi's widespread appeal and campaigns on key issues, while also addressing internal alliance differences and criticising the BJP government's actions.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has called upon ministers and legislators to extensively use digital technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for balanced development and improved public outreach. He highlighted the state government's existing use of AI in welfare programmes and project cost reduction, stressing its importance for Bihar's progress in the digital era.
Despite repeated demands over the years, the proposal to develop Khudiram Bose's cremation ground in Muzaffarpur into a martyr park has yet to see the light of day due to official apathy.
The Akali Dal Waris Punjab De has announced Satwant Singh, son of Kehar Singh (convicted in Indira Gandhi's assassination conspiracy), as its candidate for the Bassi Pathana constituency in the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. This move highlights the party's 'Panthic' principles and focus on families who sacrificed for the Sikh Panth.
Ernakulam DCC president Mohammed Shiyas criticised the previous LDF government's neglect of the district and expressed optimism for development under the UDF regime, citing sufficient representation in the state cabinet and a focus on addressing key issues.
'Modi had his own cricket team in his school days. He was a good cricketer.'
West Bengal could be the Bharatiya Janata Party's real test case of its business-friendly policies, points out Kanika Datta.
Uttar Pradesh assembly Speaker Satish Mahana has found himself at the centre of a controversy after he was seen walking away while the national anthem was played at an event in Unnao, drawing flak from the opposition. Mahana, however, claimed that the anthem was not played where he was given the guard of honour.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed concern over the repeated disruptions of parliamentary proceedings, stating that due to the turmoil in the House, the country has been unable to listen to the talented MPs elected in recent times.
FICCI FLO and UP BJP MLA Rajeshwar Singh are collaborating to train 100 women as 'drone pilots' in Lucknow. This initiative aims to provide employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in the burgeoning drone economy. The announcement was made at an event where MLA Singh also highlighted his efforts in public grievance redressal and establishing women's empowerment centres in his constituency.
For the second time in two years, Karnataka minister B Nagendra resigned from the state Cabinet on Friday amid the Opposition heat over his alleged involvement in the Rs 89 crore Valmiki Corporation scam.
The National Conference and BJP held significant protests in Jammu and Kashmir, accusing each other of failing to deliver on promises. The NC demanded the restoration of statehood, while the BJP criticised the NC government's performance on issues like jobs and corruption, marking the first major political unrest since Article 370's abrogation.
Lack of women in Karnataka's new council of ministers has put the spotlight once again on women's under-representation in politics and policy.
'Some people may not like what I am saying, but shortcomings have to be pointed out. These deficiencies should be rectified within the next three months.' 'This is Gorakhpur, where our CM himself resides. If such shortcomings exist here, then what will happen?'
Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde have been directed by a Thane magistrate's court to appear in connection with a 17-year-old defamation complaint. The case, filed by late NCP leader Vasant Davkhare, relates to a controversial video screened during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a breakfast meeting with 37 BJP MPs, including recent AAP defectors, where he emphasised the importance of smooth parliamentary proceedings. He also advised MPs on taking their roles seriously, utilising the Parliament library, engaging with youth, and effectively implementing MPLADS.
TVK candidate Vinoth Ravi is using a 3D hologram of actor-turned-politician Vijay to campaign for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, aiming to reach voters across the state.
Lok Sabha MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay's closed-door meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, just before NCPI MPs were to attend an NDA meeting, has ignited speculation about the Nationalist Citizens Party of India's political future and its potential alignment with the BJP-led alliance. The NCPI comprises 20 rebel TMC MPs who broke away after the West Bengal Assembly election.
'The anger among the PoK public is unlikely to subside against Pakistani State in the near future.'
Prashant Kishor and Dr Jahnavi Das first met while working on a United Nations public health initiative.
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.
Former Hurriyat Conference leader Bilal Gani Lone on Sunday held a workers' rally in north Kashmir's Handwara constituency, signalling his entry into mainstream politics while asserting his claim to the political legacy of his slain father, Abdul Gani Lone.
The Bankipur assembly bypoll is a high-stakes electoral debut for Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor as he challenges the BJP in a constituency that has been a BJP stronghold for nearly two decades.
The Madhya Pradesh BJP has dispatched senior leaders to Datia to consolidate support for its bypoll candidate, Ashutosh Tiwari, following protests by supporters of former home minister Narottam Mishra, who was denied a ticket. The party is working to project unity ahead of the July 30 by-election, which was necessitated by the disqualification of the incumbent Congress MLA.
'It is not because of the war in West Asia, which began on February 28.' 'Petroleum product prices are already going through the roof. They are bound to have a serious inflationary impact.' 'A country's leadership is tested in trying times. It is here that the current leadership is failing.'
'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.'
Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishore has accused the ruling BJP and the state government of using police to harass his party workers, alleging that over 16 leaders were detained ahead of the Bankipur Assembly by-election. Despite the alleged intimidation, Kishore expressed "200 per cent" confidence in his victory.
Major bills, including those on women's reservation, delimitation, and the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), face an uncertain future in the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament due to persistent opposition protests and a lack of consensus.
Dharmendra Pradhan's political career faced an unexpected jolt as he resigned as Education Minister following nationwide protests over the NEET paper leak, marking a significant departure from the government's initial dismissive response to the agitation.
Kerala Women and Child Development Minister Bindu Krishna revealed she was voyeuristically filmed during a school event in Kollam, prompting her to advocate for a comprehensive state policy to combat digital harassment against women.
'After announcing that she will return to Bangladesh, if she does not, her credibility will suffer.'
