The Delhi Congress has kicked off its 'Delhi Nyay Yatra' with the aim of unmasking the corrupt practices of the Aam Aadmi Party government. This yatra, which will last for a month, is seen as a strategy to regain the Congress' lost ground in the city before the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls in February. Party leaders, including former Delhi Assembly Speaker Ajay Maken and Delhi Congress Chief Devender Yadav, have come together to highlight the failures of the Kejriwal government and connect with the residents of the city. Inspired by Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', the Delhi Nyay Yatra holds great significance in the party's efforts to expose and criticize the incumbent government.
US President-elect Donald Trump made a major announcement by choosing Congressman Mike Waltz as his National Security Advisor for his second term. This decision will ensure continued bipartisan support and further strengthen the India-US relationship. Both Waltz and Indian-American Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna have a shared commitment to strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two countries. Their past collaborations include a joint letter to the House Speaker inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a joint address to the US Congress and their efforts to rush medical supplies to India during the peak of the COVID-19 crisis.
As the deadline to withdraw nominations passes, political parties are increasing their campaign efforts in preparation for the upcoming elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. Meanwhile, in the Lok Sabha, MPs recently took their oaths with slogans such as "Jai Samvidhan" and "Jai Bhim" being shouted. Additionally, the importance of a non-partisan approach from the Speaker in ensuring smooth House functioning is being emphasized, with the home minister also criticizing the past regime's centralization of power under one person.
In a special edition of Newscast, host Laura Kuenssberg shares her exclusive interviews with Rachel Reeves, the first Labour Chancellor to present a budget in over a decade, and Kemi Badenoch, the newly elected leader of the Conservative party. The discussions cover the parties' visions for the future and reactions from members. The episode also features information on how to join the Newscast online community and listen on a smart speaker. Tune in for daily political analysis from the BBC team.
As Kerala marks its 68th anniversary, political leaders call for unity and commitment towards the state's progress. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Governor Arif Mohammed Khan highlight the challenges posed by central government policies and the need for continued efforts in areas such as commerce, agriculture, job creation, and waste management. They are joined by Assembly Speaker AN Shamseer, who stresses the importance of solidarity and rejecting divisive ideologies.
In his first public remarks as the newly appointed leader of Hezbollah, Naim Kassem stated that the group would continue their fight against Israel until suitable ceasefire conditions are presented. Despite recent losses, Kassem asserted that Hezbollah's capabilities remain intact and prepared for a prolonged conflict. He also highlighted the group's coordination with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in negotiations with the US, but stated that no suitable proposal has emerged. Kassem warned the Israeli army to leave their lands to avoid further losses.
In a bold move, Maharashtra Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal and three legislators, belonging to the Ajit Pawar faction of NCP, jumped off the third floor of the state secretariat building in Mumbai to oppose the demand for the Dhangar community's inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes category. Fortunately, they landed safely on a net installed in the building to prevent suicide attempts. Officials confirmed that none of them sustained any injuries. The incident was a part of a larger protest by tribal MLAs in the Mantralaya complex during a cabinet meeting, where Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis were present.
Amidst ongoing protests against the ST reservation demanded by the Dhangar community, Maharashtra Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal reportedly attempted to jump from the third floor of the state secretariat building. The NCP MLA landed safely on a safety net, along with two other tribal legislators who also jumped in protest. The Ajit Pawar faction leader and other tribal MLAs were demanding that Dhangars not be given ST reservation and instead be given services under the PESA Act. The situation remains tense as discussions on the issue continue.
A division bench of the Telangana High Court has formed a committee to review disqualification petitions filed against three Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders who defected to the Congress. The High Court has also declined to stay a single-judge order warning the State assembly speaker of further court proceedings if he does not decide on the petitions. The case raises the question of whether the High Court can order a speaker to decide on disqualification petitions within a fixed time frame.
The Telangana High Court has issued notices to the Speaker of the Assembly and ten MLAs who defected from Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party to the ruling Congress party. The notices were issued in response to a PIL petition filed by Dr. K.A. Paul of Prajashanthi Party. The petitioner has requested the court to disqualify the MLAs and prevent the commercialization of elected representatives. However, the court rejected the petitioner's request to restrain the MLAs from attending assembly sessions and exercising their right to vote.