Marking a significant step in her political journey, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took her oath of affirmation as a member of the Lok Sabha, joining mother Sonia Gandhi and brother Rahul Gandhi in Parliament. Her resounding victory in the Wayanad bypoll cements the Nehru-Gandhi family's presence in the Parliament, with three members present for the first time. Despite falling slightly short of her brother's victory margin, Priyanka Gandhi's dynamic campaign and focus on grassroots issues highlight her growing influence within the Congress party.
In a show of protest against the ruling coalition government, members of the opposition held up copies of the Constitution of India during the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Council of Ministers in the 18th Lok Sabha. The NDA holds a majority with 293 seats, while the BJP has 240 seats, just shy of the 272 majority mark. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of attacking the Constitution, while MPs showcased India's linguistic diversity by taking their oaths in various languages. The Parliament session has been adjourned for the day and will reconvene tomorrow.
The Budget Session in India's Parliament has resumed today, with both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha convening at 11 am to take up legislative business. The session, which was originally scheduled to end on February 9, has been extended by a day and will continue until February 10. The Rajya Sabha will focus on discussing the Interim Budget for both India and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Stay updated on the latest news and live updates on NDTV.com.
During his last address to Parliament before the Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharply criticized the Congress' stance on caste. He read out a letter by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, where Nehru expressed his dislike for reservations based on caste and advocated for equal opportunities in education. This address comes at a time when discussions on caste-based reservations are highly debated in Indian politics.