Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak announced he is stepping down from the Aam Aadmi Party after about a decade, saying he is disillusioned with the party’s direction. He indicated his next move is to join the Bharatiya Janata Party, marking a notable shift for both parties as rivals seek new political ground ahead of future battles.
Aam Aadmi Party has suffered another high-profile rupture as Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha and six others resigned and reportedly moved to the BJP. The latest split follows a familiar pattern of leaders exiting the party, with critics pointing to concerns about internal democracy and centralized control. Even so, AAP continues to hold strong electorally in key pockets.
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Seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, led by Raghav Chadha, resigned and announced a merger with the BJP, pointing to ideological convergence and frustration with AAP’s current direction. Analysts say it fits a repeating pattern: legislators from smaller parties aligning with the BJP after breakpoints emerge within their original ranks.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said BJP will not allow construction of a “Babri Masjid” in West Bengal as long as even one party worker remains alive. He accused Mamata Banerjee’s government of permitting a mosque modeled on the Babri structure in Murshidabad. Shah also promised that after May 5, the BJP will identify and jail “infiltrators.”
Arvind Kejriwal accused the BJP of undermining Punjab’s mandate after Raghav Chadha resigned from AAP and moved toward joining the BJP. Chadha alleged AAP has strayed from its founding ideals, calling it corrupt and compromised. Analysts say his departure, and possible defections of other AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, could substantially weaken AAP’s Upper House influence.
Raghav Chadha announced that two-thirds of Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MPs will merge with the Bharatiya Janata Party, announcing seven members in a press conference. The move comes amid a history of internal turbulence in AAP since 2012, with multiple high-profile leaders including Shazia Ilmi and Kumar Vishwas previously distancing themselves over ideological differences and disputes.
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Raghav Chadha has announced a major split among Aam Aadmi Party MPs in the Rajya Sabha, saying a significant number are set to merge with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Chadha claims AAP has strayed from its original ideals and supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The development could reshape AAP’s national clout and tilt parliamentary strength further toward BJP.
BJP MLA Pritam Lodhi has been served a show cause notice by the Madhya Pradesh unit after abusive and threatening remarks toward an IPS officer. The uproar follows an alleged SUV accident in which Lodhi’s son, Dinesh Lodhi, is accused of ramming five people while driving a speeding Thar. The remarks have now triggered internal party action.
BJP leader Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore accused Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge of “verbal violence” toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying Kharge’s remark insults voters who elected him. Rathore demanded an apology and linked the controversy to broader political dynamics, including comments on Bengal politics and discussions around statehood in Jammu and Kashmir.
VV Rajesh, the BJP state secretary and Kodunganoor ward councillor, was elected Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, becoming the first BJP mayor in the city. He secured 51 votes with support from 50 BJP councillors and one independent councillor, while LDF’s RP Shivaji received 29 and UDF’s KS Sabarinathan 17.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he is confident the BJP will win a landslide in West Bengal, pointing to Phase 1 polling as proof that the “temple of democracy” has been restored. Speaking at a Vijay Sankalp Sabha in Dumdum, he warned that the TMC’s “Maha Jungle Raj” will soon end, adding that “goons” won’t find space to hide after May 4.
West Bengal goes to the polls for Phase 1 of the 2026 Legislative Assembly elections on Thursday, April 23, with voting across 152 seats. The exercise spans 16 districts, including entire North Bengal and parts of South Bengal, along with Jangalmahal belts such as Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram, and Paschim Medinipur. Campaign fever runs high for the TMC versus BJP contest.
Voting in Phase 1 of the West Bengal and Tamil Nadu assembly elections concluded Thursday with overwhelming turnout in both states. West Bengal recorded a historic 92.68% turnout by 10 pm, intensifying the battle between BJP and ruling TMC, which is aiming for a fourth consecutive term. Tamil Nadu also voted in this phase as DMK seeks its second term.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took aim at the BJP and Prime Minister, alleging the party stage-managed the PM’s election-related stopover in Jhargram to eat jhal muri. Speaking at Bowbazar, she turned the debate to her own food habits, saying she eats everything from fish and chicken curry to dhokla, dosa and Eid vermicelli—adding, “Don’t teach me religion.”
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On Phase 1 polling day in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi predicted a “massive” BJP win, linking strong voter turnout to success on May 4. At a Nadia rally, he mixed politics with a Bengali snack reference, saying victory celebrations would come with sweets and Jhal Muri—adding a witty dig at TMC along the way.
Speaking at a rally in Krishnanagar, PM Narendra Modi announced a set of 10 guarantees for women in West Bengal, tying delivery to a BJP state government. The promises span stricter action against crimes, police recruitment, direct cash transfers, Mudra loans, healthcare benefits under Ayushman Bharat, and housing ownership rights through PM Awas Yojana.
Raghav Chadha has quit the Aam Aadmi Party and is expected to join the BJP, a shift that could weaken AAP’s presence in the Rajya Sabha. Chadha said AAP has departed from its founding principles, calling it corrupt and compromised. Sources also suggest additional AAP Rajya Sabha members may follow, raising fresh questions for the party’s future in Parliament.
Seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs who quit the party on Friday have officially joined the BJP. The defection includes Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Vikram Sahney, Swati Maliwal and Rajendra Gupta. BJP welcomed them at its Delhi headquarters with flowers and sweets, underscoring the political shift ahead of the next phase of campaigning and parliamentary battles.
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West Bengal’s election battleground remains dominated by Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress, while the BJP tries to convert national momentum into local victories. Despite its growth, the BJP struggles with the “outsider” perception, weaker grassroots reach, and incomplete leadership depth. TMC holds an edge through deep organisational networks, emotional voter connect, and welfare-linked support, especially among women and rural communities.
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin reignited a language row by asserting that states that implement Hindi eventually lose their mother tongues. He pointed to Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Punjab as examples, while invoking the legacy of the Tamil language movement linked to Periyar and C N Annadurai. BJP responded sharply to the claim as the dispute escalated.
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