Raghav Chadha and six other Members of Parliament from the Rajya Sabha announced their decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The group includes Swati Maliwal, Harbhajan Singh, Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, Rajinder Gupta, and Vikram Sahni. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has responded strongly, alleging that this move is part of the BJP’s “Operation Lotus,” which they claim aims to undermine the achievements of the AAP government in Punjab. AAP MP Sanjay Singh criticized the BJP’s actions, describing them as a tactic of “cheap politics” intended to derail the progress made by the Bhagwant Mann government.
In related political developments, Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted the West Bengal government, asserting that a wave of support for the BJP is evident following the first phase of polling. He warned “TMC goons” against potential misconduct as the elections progress, emphasizing the importance of voter participation to bring about political change.
Meanwhile, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Pakistan for discussions with U.S. representatives. Reports suggest a significant possibility of progress in the ongoing diplomatic negotiations. Earlier, Araghchi held talks with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, focusing on regional developments and ceasefire conditions.
In a separate political note, opposition parties have taken steps to impeach Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, submitting a notice in the Rajya Sabha signed by 73 MPs. Allegations of misbehavior against the CEC were presented, with Congress leader Jairam Ramesh stating that the situation undermines constitutional integrity.
In sports, the IPL 2026 season is heating up as players compete for both the Orange Cap and Purple Cap. With 33 out of 70 league matches completed, key players are emerging as top contenders for the leading run-scorer and wicket-taker spots. The competition is expected to intensify as teams vie for playoff positions.
