Raghav Chadha, 6 AAP Rajya Sabha MPs quit party; Decoding what drove Tamil Nadu's record voter turnout

Seven Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha members, including Raghav Chadha, have officially merged with the Bharatiya Janata Party in New Delhi. This move represents a two-thirds majority of the party's strength in the Upper House, bypassing the anti-defection law. The Aam Aadmi Party alleges the defection resulted from pressure by investigative agencies, while analysts link the timing to the upcoming Punjab assembly elections. Simultaneously, Home Minister Amit Shah conducted a roadshow in West Bengal, claiming the BJP will secure 110 seats in the initial polling phase. In Tamil Nadu, experts are evaluating an 85 percent voter turnout. Journalist N Ram predicts a DMK majority, while S Gurumurthy suggests a decline in Dravidian ideology as youth voters shift toward leaders like Vijay and Seeman. Additional reports cover a murder investigation breakthrough in the capital and international maritime security tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. These developments signal a significant shift in India's political landscape ahead of critical state elections.