Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, along with his daughters, concluded his 11-day 'Prayaschit Deeksha' at the Tirumala temple in Tirupati on Wednesday. The deeksha was undertaken to seek forgiveness for the alleged use of animal fat in the famous Tirupati laddu. Kalyan will be unveiling a declaration at a public meeting in Tirupati on Thursday before offering meals to devotees in the Anna Prasadam complex and discussing the matter with TTD officials. He had started the deeksha on foot from Alipiri on Tuesday and launched it on September 22 at a temple in Nambur, Guntur district. The leader stated that the laddu, revered by millions, had been defiled due to the actions of the previous ruler and that seeking forgiveness was necessary for cleansing the sins.
The Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, celebrated Chhath Puja with his family and top BJP leaders, including National President JP Nadda and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary. The leaders inspected the arrangements made by the district administration for devotees to offer prayers to Lord Surya at 108 locations along the banks of the Ganga River. The festival, known for its cultural and spiritual significance in Bihar, has drawn lakhs of people to the Chhath Ghats in Patna, with the Chief Minister personally overseeing preparations for security, cleanliness, and crowd management.
The killing of two village defence committee (VDC) members by terrorists in the forest areas of J&K's Kishtwar district has sparked outrage, with political leaders such as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta condemning the act. The VDC members, who were initially given .303 rifles, have now been equipped with automatic weapons to better defend against the terrorists. However, this has made them targets for the terrorists, with incidents like this highlighting the ongoing security concerns in the region.
The state of Karnataka was filled with festivities as they marked the 69th Kannada Rajyotsava, commemorating the formation of the state. Top leaders such Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended their greetings and recognized the state's contributions to the country. The day was celebrated with a grand function attended by Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar and Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa, showcasing the rich local culture and heritage of Karnataka. The leaders also highlighted the state's exemplary people who are driving growth and innovation in various sectors.
Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has filed his nomination papers for the upcoming state assembly election from the Nagpur South-West seat. In a show of support, Fadnavis was joined by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and held a road show in Nagpur ahead of filing his nomination. Speaking to reporters, Fadnavis expressed his gratitude to top party leaders, including Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, for showing trust in him. He also stated that their main aim is to continue the development that has been achieved under the current government.
The political landscape in Maharashtra is filled with controversy as posters giving credit to Chief Minister Ekanth Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the encounter killing of a suspect in a child sexual assault case have surfaced in various parts of the state. While BJP has denied any involvement in the posters, the Shiv Sena, who is in power with BJP in the state, has openly celebrated and taken credit for the encounter. As the battle for credit and power continues, the local municipality has removed the posters of Fadnavis, causing backlash and calls for an inquiry from BJP members.
Amid speculation of stepping aside for his younger son, NCP chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will be contesting the upcoming Assembly election from Baramati constituency, which is considered a stronghold of the Pawar family. The NCP, in alliance with BJP and Shiv Sena, announced its first list of 38 candidates, including 26 sitting MLAs. Ajit Pawar is expected to face a challenge from his nephew, Yugendra Pawar, who is contesting from NCP (SP).
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, grandson of legendary politician Kalaignar, sticks to his statement comparing Sanatan Dharma to dengue and malaria. He defends it as a call to address the mistreatment of women in the Hindu religion and echoes the views of prominent Dravidian leaders. Despite facing protests and legal action, he refuses to apologize, stating he stands by his words.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has revealed its first list of 99 candidates for the #MaharashtraElection2024, with Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis set to contest from Nagpur South West, and state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule from Kamthi. Other notable nominees include minister Girish Mahajan running from Jamner, and minister Sudhir Mungantiwar from Ballarpur. This move sets the stage for a fierce competition as the party prepares to defend its hold in the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the NDA Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers, where they discussed various aspects of good governance and ways to improve people's lives. The PM emphasized the importance of focusing on 'Pro-people, Pro-governance- P2G2' and passing six proposals to further national progress. Ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, the meeting also touched upon the 'Amrit Mahotsav' of the Constitution and the 50th anniversary of Emergency.