News for 'political defection'

Maha Cong suffers jolt as MLC Pradnya Satav joins BJP

Maha Cong suffers jolt as MLC Pradnya Satav joins BJP

Rediff.com18 Dec 2025

Congress MLC Pradnya Satav joined the BJP in Maharashtra, prompting accusations of undemocratic practices and political maneuvering ahead of local elections.

'Surprisingly, Tejashwi Looked Lacklustre In The Campaign'

'Surprisingly, Tejashwi Looked Lacklustre In The Campaign'

Rediff.com6 Nov 2025

'...in comparison to his presence in the previous election campaign where he looked robust and vibrant.' 'His television and social media interviews looked dull and predictable.' 'There could be a different kind of fatigue of being out of power for a long time at work here.'

No pension for MLAs who defect: Himachal passes new bill

No pension for MLAs who defect: Himachal passes new bill

Rediff.com4 Sep 2024

Himachal is first state in the country to pass such a bill under which "A person shall not be entitled for pension under the Act, if he has been disqualified at any point of time under the tenth schedule of the Constitution".

SC to hear Shiv Sena symbol dispute pleas on Jan 21

SC to hear Shiv Sena symbol dispute pleas on Jan 21

Rediff.com12 Nov 2025

The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for January 21 on pleas challenging the Election Commission's decision to allot the 'bow and arrow' symbol to the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena. The court will also hear arguments on a similar dispute concerning the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on January 22.

Why Anti-Defection Law Needs Scrutiny

Why Anti-Defection Law Needs Scrutiny

Rediff.com12 Sep 2023

Should the anti-defection law in India exist only to prevent democratically elected governments from being toppled?

Parliament toughens anti-defection law

Parliament toughens anti-defection law

Rediff.com18 Dec 2003

It passed an amendment that deletes the provision allowing one-third of a legislature party to split without attracting provisions of the anti-defection law.

Elected representative can't go against will of electorate: HC on defection

Elected representative can't go against will of electorate: HC on defection

Rediff.com10 Feb 2024

The court made the observation while dismissing a petition connected with defection in one of the local self government bodies in Idukki district.

Amid buzz of defections, Uddhav dares Shinde to...

Amid buzz of defections, Uddhav dares Shinde to...

Rediff.com8 Feb 2025

Maharashtra Minister Uday Samant on Friday claimed that many leaders from the opposition Shiv Sena-UBT were in touch with his party and would be inducted in phases.

Panel led by Maha Speaker Narwekar to review anti-defection law: LS Speaker

Panel led by Maha Speaker Narwekar to review anti-defection law: LS Speaker

Rediff.com28 Jan 2024

Birla said Narwekar will head the committee that will be formed to review the anti-defection law.

Feud erupts in Matua head family in Bengal; BJP uneasy

Feud erupts in Matua head family in Bengal; BJP uneasy

Rediff.com25 Aug 2025

A family feud within the politically influential Matua community has erupted between Union minister Shantanu Thakur and his brother, BJP MLA Subrata Thakur, creating ripples in West Bengal's political landscape and posing a challenge for the BJP ahead of upcoming elections.

Will Nitish Surprise Modi Or Vice Versa After Bihar Poll?

Will Nitish Surprise Modi Or Vice Versa After Bihar Poll?

Rediff.com29 Oct 2025

The BJP's MoSha leadership are past masters in encouraging defections from their allies if it helped their party capture the chief minister's chair. In Bihar, they are not sure if JD-U MPs and MLAs would be willing to cross over to the BJP if the Nitish leadership came on top -- and the NDA crossed the halfway mark together, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

Ajit Pawar group real NCP, can't use anti-defection law: Speaker

Ajit Pawar group real NCP, can't use anti-defection law: Speaker

Rediff.com15 Feb 2024

Ajit Pawar-led group was the real Nationalist Congress Party when two factions emerged in the party in July 2023, Maharashtra assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Thursday held.

Will Mukesh Sahni Quit Mahagathbandhan To Join NDA?

Will Mukesh Sahni Quit Mahagathbandhan To Join NDA?

Rediff.com31 Jul 2025

'If the Mahagathbandhan ignores Mukesh Sahni's demands as it did in 2020, he will be left with no option but to join hands with the BJP.'

Why BJP Wants JMM To Contest Bihar Polls

Why BJP Wants JMM To Contest Bihar Polls

Rediff.com28 Jul 2025

'It is good for us if the JMM contests. That will divide the Opposition and give us the upper hand.'

Bihar voter list row 'largely trust deficit', says SC

Bihar voter list row 'largely trust deficit', says SC

Rediff.com12 Aug 2025

The Supreme Court has begun hearing petitions challenging the Election Commission's decision to conduct a special intensive revision exercise in Bihar ahead of elections, raising concerns about voter exclusion.

Plea filed in SC for nationwide revision of all electoral rolls

Plea filed in SC for nationwide revision of all electoral rolls

Rediff.com8 Jul 2025

A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, particularly before parliamentary, state assembly and local body elections. The court has agreed to hear a batch of petitions challenging the Election Commission's decision to undertake special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar.

Modi Isn't Going To Retire On September 17

Modi Isn't Going To Retire On September 17

Rediff.com11 Aug 2025

'Mr Modi has the power and pre-eminence in the BJP-RSS to choose how long he wants to serve, and he is definitely going to want to contest in 2029.' 'He will only be 79, as old as Donald Trump now, and fitter,' observes Shekhar Gupta.

'Only Trump Can Unite Thackeray Brothers'

'Only Trump Can Unite Thackeray Brothers'

Rediff.com6 Jun 2025

'Like me there are crores of Marathi people in the state hoping for this miracle to work.'

'Linking Aadhar With Voter ID Is Very Dangerous'

'Linking Aadhar With Voter ID Is Very Dangerous'

Rediff.com29 Jul 2025

'The protection of secrecy and anonymity gets lost with this linking.'

Goa speaker refuses to disqualify 8 Cong turncoats

Goa speaker refuses to disqualify 8 Cong turncoats

Rediff.com1 Nov 2024

Goa assembly speaker Ramesh Tawadkar on Friday dismissed the disqualification petition filed by the Congress against eight of its MLAs who defected to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in 2022.

His name will be written in...: Raut slams ex-CJI Chandrachud

His name will be written in...: Raut slams ex-CJI Chandrachud

Rediff.com24 Nov 2024

Raut claimed that by not deciding on the disqualification petitions, Chandrachud kept doors and windows open for defections.

Exodus Rocks Uddhav's Sena

Exodus Rocks Uddhav's Sena

Rediff.com24 Feb 2025

'Those seeking short-term benefits are joining the Shinde-led Sena and the ones looking at long-term benefits are joining the BJP.'

Justice Gavai sworn in as CJI, to have 6-month tenure

Justice Gavai sworn in as CJI, to have 6-month tenure

Rediff.com14 May 2025

Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was on Wednesday sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India.

Justice Gavai to be next CJI, have 6-month tenure

Justice Gavai to be next CJI, have 6-month tenure

Rediff.com16 Apr 2025

Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has recommended Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai as the next CJI. Justice Gavai, the second most senior Supreme Court judge, will become the 52nd CJI on May 14, 2024, after CJI Khanna's retirement on May 13. Justice Gavai has served on several important Constitution benches and has been a part of landmark verdicts, including the one upholding the Centre's decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370.

Sharad Pawar taking legal opinion on NCP crisis

Sharad Pawar taking legal opinion on NCP crisis

Rediff.com4 Jul 2023

Notably, when asked by reporters if he would take legal recourse after Ajit Pawar took oath as deputy chief minister on Sunday, Sharad Pawar had said he would not get into all this but will go among people.

India's first Buddhist CJI ruled against 'bulldozer justice'

India's first Buddhist CJI ruled against 'bulldozer justice'

Rediff.com14 May 2025

Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, India's 52nd chief justice and its first Buddhist one, has played a key role in shaping the judicial landscape, penning about 300 verdicts, including landmark rulings on constitutional issues, liberty, and perhaps most important against the executive's 'bulldozer justice'.

The Politics Of The Bharat Ratna

The Politics Of The Bharat Ratna

Rediff.com6 Feb 2024

Most politicians and even non-politicians have been honoured because of what they were purported to be electorally worth for the ruling party of their time, argues N Sathiya Moorthy.

Senators Grill Kash Patel, Tulsi Gabbard

Senators Grill Kash Patel, Tulsi Gabbard

Rediff.com1 Feb 2025

Kash Patel, former Trump aide and vocal critic of investigations into the former president, testified at his Senate confirmation hearing for FBI director.

Maharashtra political crisis a tough constitutional issue, has serious ramifications: SC

Maharashtra political crisis a tough constitutional issue, has serious ramifications: SC

Rediff.com15 Feb 2023

The Supreme Court said on Wednesday the issues related to the Maharashtra political crisis, triggered by the differences in the Shiv Sena, are "tough" constitutional questions to decide as they have "very serious" ramifications for the polity.

Will India See Return Of Two-Party Politics?

Will India See Return Of Two-Party Politics?

Rediff.com20 Jul 2023

If only the Congress could rebuild on its strengths and develop a modern enough ideology, we could again be moving towards a clearer two-party political landscape, asserts Shekhar Gupta.

SC to hear NCP-SP plea against speaker's call after Uddhav camp's

SC to hear NCP-SP plea against speaker's call after Uddhav camp's

Rediff.com29 Jul 2024

The Supreme Court on Monday sought the responses of Ajit Pawar and his 40 MLAs on a plea moved by the Sharad Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party challenging Maharashtra assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar's decision declaring the group led by the deputy chief minister as the real NCP.

Will defections decide govt in Manipur this time too?

Will defections decide govt in Manipur this time too?

Rediff.com9 Mar 2022

The fulcrum of victory or defeat of parties attempting to form a government is held by smaller players and those willing to defect.

It's time to look at the anti-defection law

It's time to look at the anti-defection law

Rediff.com31 May 2018

'What happens in case the party joins a post-poll alliance with another party whose ideology the legislator is opposed to?' 'Should s/he let down her/his voters merely because her/his party leadership has taken a decision in that direction?' asks Aakar Patel.

Ghosi bypoll: Voters reject 'Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram' politics

Ghosi bypoll: Voters reject 'Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram' politics

Rediff.com10 Sep 2023

Singh defeated Bharatiya Janata Party's Dara Singh Chauhan in the bypoll to the Ghosi Assembly constituency in Mau district with a margin of 42,759 votes on Friday.

Fresh crisis in Cong as Azad, Sibal seek CWC meet amid defections

Fresh crisis in Cong as Azad, Sibal seek CWC meet amid defections

Rediff.com29 Sep 2021

Beset by troubles on multiple fronts within, the Congress faces the danger of imploding with party veterans Ghulam Nabi Azad and Kapil Sibal on Wednesday sharply questioning the decision-making process, saying there are 'no monopolies', and demanded convening an urgent meeting of the Congress Working Committee for a 'dialogue'.

BJP gets likely nominees to sign no-defection pact in Manipur

BJP gets likely nominees to sign no-defection pact in Manipur

Rediff.com27 Jan 2022

The Bharatiya Janata Party has signed an 'agreement of cooperation' with several party members who might be fielded in the upcoming Manipur assembly elections, in a bid to prevent switching of allegiance before the polls.

Why The Speaker's Job Is Important

Why The Speaker's Job Is Important

Rediff.com26 Jun 2024

The Speaker is the final authority to take a call on cases of defection. Although this may not be an immediate concern now, but its occurrence in the future cannot be ruled out considering the volatile nature of politics, points out Rup Narayan Das.

After row, economist Ajit Ranade quits as Gokhale Institute VC

After row, economist Ajit Ranade quits as Gokhale Institute VC

Rediff.com4 Nov 2024

Ranade was earlier removed from the position on September 14 by the then chancellor Bibek Debroy, after a fact-finding committee concluded that his appointment as the GIPE's VC did not conform to the UGC regulations on minimum qualifications for the appointment of teachers and other academic staff.

AAP-Cong cross-voting puts BJP in Chandigarh mayor's seat

AAP-Cong cross-voting puts BJP in Chandigarh mayor's seat

Rediff.com30 Jan 2025

The BJP won the Chandigarh mayoral election on Thursday, defeating the AAP-Congress alliance. Harpreet Kaur Babla of the BJP was elected as the new mayor, while the AAP-Congress alliance won the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor. The victory of the BJP candidate indicated that cross-voting took place during polling. The Supreme Court had previously overturned the result of the 2023 mayoral poll, which had seen the BJP candidate win despite allegations of tampering with ballots. The court had ordered prosecution of the returning officer for the poll, Anil Masih, a BJP leader, for his "misdemeanour." The court had also declared defeated AAP-Congress alliance candidate Kuldeep Kumar as the new city mayor. This latest victory is a significant win for the BJP in the city and represents a setback for the AAP-Congress alliance.