Jammu and Kashmir Justice and Development Front (JDF), backed by Jamaat-e-Islami, has inaugurated an office in Baramulla and rejected claims about its activities being “misconceptions in Delhi.” The group said it plans to participate in upcoming elections under the Constitution of India, even amid a ban on Jamaat-e-Islami. It also sought to clarify its intent and role in politics.
French President Emmanuel Macron says he will leave politics when his current presidential term ends in 2027, arguing he was not involved before taking office and will not return afterward. The remarks, delivered publicly, mark a potential turning point for France’s political landscape as voters and rivals react to his unexpected exit timeline.
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At the Congress Working Committee meeting, Mallikarjun Kharge raised allegations of “voter deletion” tied to the SIR revision of electoral rolls in nine states and three UTs. He said SIR is part of a wider “conspiracy” to restrict democratic rights. Kharge also condemned violence against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh and recent Christmas-time vandalism in India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his day on the Hooghly River in Kolkata, meeting boatmen and underscoring the significance of the holy river. During the election season, he reiterated a commitment to accelerate West Bengal’s development. Modi also shared glimpses from the riverside, including moments featuring Vidyasagar Setu and Howrah Bridge, and posted his photography from the visit.
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.”
Independent MP Pappu Yadav’s controversial remarks about women in Indian politics have triggered a nationwide backlash. He claimed most women cannot succeed without spending time in the bedroom with male politicians, prompting strong condemnation from leaders including Priyanka Chaturvedi and NCW Chief, who called the comment highly objectionable and insensitive, escalating the political firestorm.
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A bipartisan group of US lawmakers visited the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala, prompting sharp criticism from China. Beijing warned Washington to acknowledge what it calls the Dalai Lama’s separatist role, while the US move is framed as support for Tibetan rights amid worsening US-China tensions. The Dalai Lama, in exile since 1959, continues to pursue meaningful autonomy for Tibet through dialogue.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharply criticized Congress, DMK, Trinamool Congress and the Samajwadi Party for defeating a bill meant to fast-track women’s reservation. He said the legislation would still be implemented eventually, and argued that parties opposing it would pay politically at the ballot box, particularly with women voters. The remarks signal a renewed push for the quota ahead of elections.
Mamata Banerjee said she saw voters in Chowrangee, Bhabanipur, Jadavpur and Tollyganj turn out with “clear intent” to defend Bengal’s identity. Posting on X, she attacked leaders she said seek to dictate politics from Delhi, alleging attempts to divide people and distort culture. She warned that Bengal has “a long memory and a stronger spine.”
A decade after Anna Kitex group backed its political project Twenty20 in Kerala, the party is reportedly losing steam. The experiment that initially drew attention for its corporate sponsorship is now at a crossroads, raising questions about leadership, grassroots traction, and whether the strategy can translate into durable political influence.
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Former undivided Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nadendla Bhaskar Rao died in Hyderabad at 90, where he was undergoing treatment for age-related ailments. He served briefly as Chief Minister in 1984 after a coup against N T Rama Rao, later holding roles as MLA, minister, and MP. Leaders across politics extended condolences.
Ahead of the Bengal assembly polls, an NIA crackdown in Mothabari, Malda, has triggered an electoral exodus. Men are reportedly fleeing villages out of fear of the agency, leaving behind a “ghost electorate.” Residents who had fought to get back on voter rolls are now prioritizing safety over voting, after a reported assault on judicial officers. Parties trade blame as the crisis unfolds.
The Aam Aadmi Party says it will not contest the upcoming mayoral polls for Delhi’s MCD. Announced a day before nominations close, the party claims the move is strategic: allow the BJP to take control, then highlight what it calls BJP’s repeated governance failures. The decision reshapes the contest timing and power dynamics ahead of the election.
Olly Robbins, the former head of the UK Foreign Office who has been fired, says he felt political pressure to approve Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington despite security concerns. He insisted the concerns were not connected to Mandelson’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein, but he would not say why the government vetting agency flagged Mandelson as a potential security risk.
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Nepal’s Home Minister Sudan Gurung has resigned, saying ethics and “moral responsibility” forced his exit. The move comes as an investigation targets alleged links between Gurung and businessman Deepak Bhatta, who is being scrutinized for money laundering offences, raising fresh questions over governance and political accountability.
The Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of Bihar’s electoral rolls has triggered fresh political debate, mainly because of the unusual timing just months before assembly elections. While such intensive revisions aren’t new, Bihar’s process differs from past de novo exercises by building on the 2002-03 roll and using updated enumeration forms and document submissions.
Karnataka’s government is moving quickly to form student unions, with consultations underway across student groups linked to multiple political parties. The move is aimed at building leadership and democratic values on campuses. Student leaders have welcomed the plan and are urging elections within the current academic year, with the government saying it will follow recommendations from the Lyngdoh Committee.
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