In the recently concluded Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Congress faced a major defeat in direct contests with the BJP, winning only 10 out of 75 seats. This is a significant decline from their performance in the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year. The BJP's average vote share per seat contested rose by 6 percentage points, while the Congress saw a decline of 14 percentage points. In some key constituencies, the Congress finished in fourth place, highlighting the immediate need for the party to reassess its strategies and connect with the voting public.
After Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray submitted his nomination from Worli Assembly Constituency, the MNS announced Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora as their candidate, setting up a Sena versus Sena battle. This is a significant shift from the Shiv Sena's stronghold in Worli, which has been a Thackeray family stronghold for decades. With MNS candidate Sandeep Deshpande also in the mix, there is speculation of a split in Maratha votes, which could affect the Shiv Sena's victory chances in the upcoming assembly election. While Shiv Sena justifies their low majority in Worli in the recent Lok Sabha polls to overconfidence, the change in political equations is evident with MNS chief Raj Thackeray's decision to not field a candidate against Aaditya Thackeray in 2019.
Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis has filed his nomination from Nagpur South West constituency for the upcoming Assembly polls. This will be the fifth time Fadnavis is contesting from this constituency. With the BJP facing a tough competition in the region, Fadnavis is banking on his track record of development-oriented politics to secure a victory. However, Congress's Praful Gudadhe is also expected to give a tough fight in the elections, as the BJP suffered a decline in votes in this constituency during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Despite this, Fadnavis remains confident, while Congress sees this as an opportunity to make a comeback in the region. In the last Assembly elections, Fadnavis had defeated Gudadhe in a multi-cornered contest.
Udhayanidhi Stalin, a rising political figure in Tamil Nadu, used simple yet effective messaging to challenge the BJP-led Centre in the lead up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. With his '29 paisa' campaign, he targeted the government for allegedly not allocating enough funds to the state. This ultimately led to his elevation as Deputy Chief Minister in September 2024. Under his leadership, the DMK youth wing focused on engaging with the Dravidian spirit and utilizing technology to expand party membership. His successful 'single brick' campaign also gained him widespread praise. Despite controversies surrounding his comments on Sanatan Dharma, Udhayanidhi's natural ability to connect with people has solidified his position as a prominent leader in the political arena.
In a bold statement, former BJP MP and ex-WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh downplayed the entry of wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia into politics, claiming that any BJP candidate in Haryana will easily defeat them. Singh, who refused to contest in the Lok Sabha election, offered to campaign for the BJP in the upcoming Haryana assembly polls. He also alleged that the Congress has conspired to use wrestlers as pawns to destroy the sport, while he, during his tenure as WFI chief, helped popularize wrestling in India on an international level.
In a move to shake things up before the upcoming Haryana Assembly Elections, the Congress party has decided that sitting MPs will not be allowed to contest in the state polls. This announcement has put an end to speculations of Lok Sabha MP Kumari Selja and Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala running for the Haryana elections. Additionally, Congress General Secretary Deepak Babaria confirmed that sitting MLAs with anti-incumbency or a bad image in their constituency will not be given tickets for the upcoming election.
Milind More, the son of former Shiv Sena chief Raghunath More, passed away during an argument with a rickshaw driver in Vasai. The incident has been registered as a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and is currently under investigation by the police. In response to heavy rain in Maharashtra, educational institutions in Raigad and parts of Palghar have been declared closed. Additionally, a BSP worker upset about not receiving a party ticket for the Lok Sabha polls has been ousted from the party.
The counting of votes for 13 Assembly bypolls is currently underway across 7 states in India, following the first electoral contest since Lok Sabha polls in 2024. The results are expected to impact the political fate of ruling and opposition parties. So far, Congress' Hardeep Singh Bawa and Kamlesh Thakur have secured victories in Himachal Pradesh, while TMC candidate Supti Pandey leads in West Bengal and Congress candidates lead in Uttarakhand bypolls. In Madhya Pradesh, BJP and Congress candidates are in a close race for the Amarwara seat.
The once-promising alliance between the Indian National Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party has fallen apart after the BJP's domination in the recent Delhi Lok Sabha polls. Congress candidates have accused AAP of lack of cooperation and support during their campaigns, leading to their crushing defeat in all three contested seats. While both parties continue to be part of the national INDIA bloc, any future seat-sharing pact for the Delhi Assembly elections in 2025 seems unlikely. This rift could potentially shift the political landscape in Delhi, as the Congress looks to make a comeback in light of AAP's internal issues and controversies.
Prime Minister Modi visited the ancient ruins of Nalanda University in Bihar and highlighted the importance of its revival. This comes after his first visit to the state since the Lok Sabha polls. Modi will be inaugurating the new campus of Nalanda University in Rajgir, which was established around 1,600 years ago and is one of the world's first residential universities. This visit serves as a symbol of the government's focus on education and development in the country.