During a meeting in his Parliament office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly interacted with five Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) MPs, led by party chief Chirag Paswan. Modi showed genuine interest in each MP's background and goals as politicians, earning praise from the attendees. He also mentioned the late Shri Ram Vilas Paswan and his valuable contributions, while expressing his support for Chirag and the LJP in their pursuit of public service.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party has emerged victorious in all five seats in Uttarakhand, thanks to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's efficient election strategy and management. This clean sweep victory was made possible by the hard work of party workers and the strong support of the people, who have shown their trust in the BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's affection for Uttarakhand and Devbhoomi has been a key factor in this historic win, with over two lakh crores worth of schemes being approved for the state.
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi gave a fiery speech on July 1, denouncing the BJP's tactics of spreading falsehoods and violence. In response, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced new criminal laws prioritizing justice rather than punishment. The fiery debates continued in both Houses of Parliament, with heated discussions on the NEET paper leak and Prime Minister Modi's election speeches. Despite the Speaker's attempts to expunge portions of Rahul Gandhi's remarks, the Leader of Opposition stood by his statement, stating that the truth cannot be erased.
The recently elected Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha, Om Birla, has a rare distinction of being elected for a second consecutive term by a voice vote. However, this year saw a contested election for the Lok Sabha Speaker post between Birla and the INDIA bloc's nominee, Kodikunnil Suresh. This article provides a comprehensive understanding of who a Lok Sabha Speaker is, their role and responsibilities, appointment process, and a list of previous Speakers. With vast powers and responsibilities, the Speaker acts as an interpreter of constitutional provisions, presides over joint sessions, maintains order and decorum, and has the authority to cast a vote in case of a tie.
On the third day of the 18th Lok Sabha, Om Birla of the Bharatiya Janata Party was elected as the Speaker of the House through a voice vote, defeating opposition candidate Kodikkunil Suresh of the Congress. This was a rare contest for the Speaker post as the NDA government and the INDIA group of opposition parties could not reach a consensus. However, Mr. Birla had the majority with the support of the NDA and YSRCP. After his election, he was escorted to the Chair by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.
In a historic decision, Mohan Majhi has been declared as the Chief Minister-elect of Odisha by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This marks a major shift in the political landscape of the state, as Majhi will be the first BJP CM in Odisha's history. Along with Majhi, two other leaders, K V Singhdeo and Prabhati Parida, will also serve as Deputy Chief Ministers of the state, following their victories in the recent assembly elections. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place on June 12 and will be attended by top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has chosen Mohan Charan Majhi, a former General Secretary of the BJP Odisha ST Morcha and a four-time MLA, to be the new Chief Minister of Odisha. His selection marks the end of Biju Janata Dal's (BJD) 24-year-long rule, making him the first BJP Chief Minister in the state. Over the years, Majhi has showcased his dedication and leadership skills through his prominent role in the party and relentless service to his constituents. This decision comes after the BJP's successful 2024 Assembly elections in which it formed an alliance with BJD in 2000 and 2004, winning 38 and 32 seats respectively.
After winning a historic victory in the recent state elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is preparing to elect its first Chief Minister in the state of Odisha. The party's state legislature unit will hold a meeting on Tuesday to decide on the CM's name, with top leaders like Rajnath Singh and Bhupender Yadav as observers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also scheduled to attend the swearing-in event on Wednesday, where he will participate in a 1.5 km-long roadshow. While senior leaders Dharmendra Pradhan and Jual Oram were considered frontrunners for the CM's post, they have now been inducted into the central government. State BJP President Manmohan Samal is said to be the leading candidate, despite losing his own election.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term has seen eleven members from the Rajya Sabha being sworn in as Ministers in his Council. Additionally, the Council of Ministers also includes many newly-elected MPs from the Lok Sabha. Two of the new Ministers, Ravneet Singh Bittu and George Kurian, are required to become members of Parliament within the next six months. A total of 72 members, including Modi, took their oaths on Sunday. Interestingly, 15% of the Council consists of Rajya Sabha members including big names like Nirmala Sitharaman and S Jaishankar.
After winning the election but losing a parliamentary majority, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been sworn in for a third term, leading a coalition government with smaller regional parties. Despite a smaller victory for his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, the swearing-in ceremony was attended by dignitaries and celebrities, with tight security in place. Analysts predict that coalition politics will temper Modi's authoritarian leanings, signaling the strength of India's democracy. Check out some of the best pictures from the historic weekend. Subscribe to our diverse newsletter for essential news and insightful commentary.