Parliament

Just days after it was formed, the Cockroach Janata Party has gained traction on social media following a remark by the Chief Justice of India and has amassed over fourteen million followers on Instagram, surpassing the follower counts of Congress and BJP.

After an eleven-day deadlock, the Congress high command has appointed a new Chief Minister for Kerala, ending intense lobbying and factional disputes.

The central government has implemented austerity measures, including reducing ministerial convoys to two vehicles, in response to a looming fuel crisis driven by West Asian geopolitical tensions. While the ruling party frames this as a necessary fiscal step, opposition leaders have labeled the move tokenism, demanding a special parliamentary session to address the economic situation and rising oil prices. Simultaneously, the national currency has depreciated to an all-time low against the dollar, prompting calls from experts for fiscal consolidation and reduced political populism. Amidst these economic challenges, a major controversy has emerged regarding the national medical entrance examination. Investigations into an alleged paper leak and an interstate exam mafia have resulted in multiple arrests across several states, revealing potential political links. Education experts are now advocating for a complete overhaul of the testing system, suggesting decentralized, computer-based examinations to ensure future transparency. Transparency activists further urge the government to disclose fuel stock data to prevent public panic and hoarding during this period of economic instability.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to the public for the adoption of several austerity measures to mitigate the economic impact of the West Asia crisis has sparked a political confrontation. He urged citizens to reduce fuel consumption, utilise public transport, and limit gold purchases to preserve foreign exchange reserves. Opposition leaders criticised the appeal, questioning the continuation of large-scale political roadshows and demanding a special parliament session to address inflation and fuel taxes. During televised debates, ruling party representatives defended the nation's economic stability, while analysts highlighted structural financial strains. Simultaneously, West Bengal announced an administrative reshuffle, appointing the former Chief Electoral Officer as Chief Secretary and the Special Observer as Chief Adviser to the Chief Minister. In Kerala, the Congress high command continues deliberations over the next Chief Minister. Key contenders include the former leader of the opposition and a prominent organisational strategist. Former state party presidents have been summoned to the national capital for consultations as the party evaluates legislative support and ally preferences before making a final announcement.

The Prime Minister has issued an urgent austerity appeal, advising citizens to reduce fuel consumption, avoid gold purchases, and limit foreign travel due to rising crude oil prices and global economic pressures. This announcement triggered a sharp domestic stock market sell-off and drew criticism from opposition parties. Tensions escalated after a Samajwadi Party Member of Parliament from Uttar Pradesh used objectionable language against the Prime Minister, leading to demands for accountability. Simultaneously, a global health alert was issued following a deadly Hantavirus outbreak on a luxury cruise ship off the coast of Spain. The vessel reported multiple fatalities linked to the Andes strain, with two Indian crew members currently under quarantine. While health agencies have activated emergency containment protocols, medical experts clarify that the virus primarily spreads through rodents and human-to-human transmission remains limited. Meanwhile, diplomatic friction persists as Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson expressed mistrust regarding international negotiation proposals aimed at resolving the ongoing West Asia crisis and threats to the Strait of Hormuz.

The big talking point of this episode of News Today is the merger of seven Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha Members of Parliament with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In an interview with India Today Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai, former Attorney General of India and senior Supreme Court advocate Mukul Rohatgi discusses the recent defection of seven Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MPs to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

In his first attack ever after joining the BJP, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has launched a blistering attack on the Aam Aadmi Party, accusing it of having a toxic work environment.

The transcript features an opposition party representative addressing multiple political controversies. The representative alleges that the ruling party is suppressing their political campaign in Gujarat by suspending their official social media pages and unjustly imprisoning their leaders.

In a big setback to Arvind Kejriwal, Raghav Chadha and six other Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MPs quit the party to join the BJP.

A major political crisis has unfolded as seven out of ten Rajya Sabha members from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) quit the party to merge with the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the Punjab elections.

In an exclusive interview with India Today, Yogendra Yadav, Co-founder of Swaraj India, slammed Raghav Chadha and other AAP Rajya Sabha MPs who quit the party to merge with the BJP, calling the move "very sad for democracy."

The United States has initiated its largest military build-up in West Asia since the Iraq War, deploying three aircraft carrier strike groups, nuclear submarines, and destroyers near the Strait of Hormuz.

In a major blow to the AAP, Raghav Chadha and six other Rajya Sabha MPs quit the party to merge with BJP, triggering a massive political crisis.

In a massive jolt to the Aam Aadmi Party on Friday, seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs, including Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, quit the party and joined the BJP on Friday.

Raghav Chadha and two other Rajya Sabha MPs, Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak, joined the BJP on Friday in the presence of party chief Nitin Nabin in Delhi.

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said the BJP had once again betrayed the people of Punjab after seven Rajya Sabha MPs quit the party.

In a major setback to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), its Rajya Sabha MPs including Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal quit the party and announced their decision to merge with the Bharatiya Janata Party, citing constitutional provisions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government during his election campaign in West Bengal.

Ahead of the first phase of polling in West Bengal, the Prime Minister launched an attack on the Trinamool Congress and the Congress party, accusing them of betraying the women of the state. Addressing a public gathering, the Prime Minister alleged that both parties conspired to ensure the failure of the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament, preventing women from securing thirty-three percent reservation. The Prime Minister claimed the ruling state party does not want women to become Members of Legislative Assembly or Members of Parliament as they challenge the current administration. Highlighting the national ruling party's focus on women's empowerment, the Prime Minister outlined several financial promises, including thirty-six thousand rupees annually under the Matrushakti Bharosa Card, twenty-one thousand rupees for pregnant women, and fifty thousand rupees for daughters' education. Furthermore, the Prime Minister accused the state government of breaking laws to benefit infiltrators and attempting to provide reservations based on religion, thereby undermining the Constitution.