Bengaluru Special Court Grants Bail to Rahul Gandhi in BJP Defamation Case 2
A special court in Bengaluru granted bail to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday in connection with the defamation case filed by the Karnataka BJP unit. The bail has been granted on the surety of Congress leader DK Suresh.
The court has postponed the matter to July 30 for the next hearing. The BJP in the complaint had alleged that the advertisements in local newspapers and ‘false campaigning’ by Congress ahead of the 2023 state assembly elections damaged BJP’s image.
The case was registered against Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Earlier, the court granted bail to Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar who appeared before it on June 1.
Shivakumar called the defamation case filed by the Karnataka BJP unit a ‘bogus case’. “BJP has filed a false, bogus case against me, CM Siddaramaiah, and Rahul Gandhi, and summons have been issued,” he told ANI.
"Shortcomings in Agniveer Scheme Should Be Discussed" Says JDU's KC Tyagi, Offers Unconditional Support to NDA 4
JDU Senior Leader KC Tyagi on Thursday said that his party had offered unconditional support to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA but wanted the shortcomings in the ‘Agnipath’ scheme to be discussed in detail.
“A section of voters has been upset over the Agniveer scheme. Our party wants those shortcomings which have been questioned by the public to be discussed in detail and removed,” he said
The Agnipath Scheme in the Indian Armed Forces is a scheme where selected candidates will be enrolled as Agniveers for a four-year period. Based on organisational requirements and policies promulgated by the Armed Forces, Agniveers after completing their engagement period will be offered an opportunity to apply for enrolment in the permanent cadre. Of these upto 25% of Agniveers will be selected to be enrolled in the Armed Forces as a regular cadre.
Meanwhile, JDU spokesperson KC Tyagi also spoke on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), which has been one of the poll promises of the BJP. He signalled that the JDU is not against the UCC but it should be discussed with the stakeholders.
“We are not against the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), but we reckon that it should be discussed with all the stakeholders including the states, Chief Ministers and political parties”, he said.
The JDU leader also advocated for a caste census saying that PM Narendra Modi was not opposed to it.
Tyagi stated, “A caste census is being demanded by all. Bihar has paved the way for it. Even the Prime Minister did not oppose the caste census, so we will pursue it.”
KC Tyagi also spoke on special status for Bihar, which has been a demand of the party and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
“There is no pre-condition. There is unconditional support. But Bihar should be given a special status. That is something which we have in our heart… ” said KC Tyagi.
As per the results announced by the Election Commission of India on Tuesday, the BJP won 240 seats and along with its allies, it stands at 293 seats. Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP and Nitish Kumar’s JDU, having won 16 and 12 seats respectively in their respective states, have extended support to the NDA.
The INDIA bloc has 234 MPs in the new parliament with the Congress having won 99 seats.
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das unveils monetary policy: Repo rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent 6
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das said that Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided to keep the policy repo rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent as retail inflation continues to be above its target of 4 per cent.
The decision comes amidst a backdrop of economic uncertainties both domestically and globally.
The MPC, in a majority decision with four out of six members in agreement, opted to keep the Repo Rate steady.
Consequently, the standing deposit facility (SDF) rate remains at 6.25 per cent, while the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the bank rate remain at 6.75 per cent.
Governor Das, in his post-policy press conference emphasized the importance of a balanced approach towards monetary policy.
Das reiterated the MPC’s commitment to withdrawing accommodation gradually to ensure that inflation aligns with the targeted range while supporting economic growth.
“Monetary policy must continue to remain disinflationary and be resolute in its commitment to aligning inflation to the target of 4 per cent on a durable basis sustain price stability outset strong foundation,” stated the RBI Governor.
The RBI revised its growth projections for the current financial year 2024-25, forecasting a GDP growth rate of 7.2 per cent. The quarterly growth projections stand at 7.3 per cent for Q1, 7.2 per cent for Q2, 7.3 per cent for Q3, and 7.2 per cent for Q4. Governor Das highlighted that the risks to the growth outlook are evenly balanced.
The decision to keep the Repo Rate unchanged signals the RBI’s cautious approach towards balancing the objectives of controlling inflation and supporting economic recovery.
The announcement comes at a time when the global economy is grappling with uncertainties arising from geopolitical tensions and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Taylor Swift Comes Out in Support of Lady Gaga Against "Invasive" Pregnancy Rumours 8
Taylor Swift has come out in support of fellow musician Lady Gaga after the latter posted a TikTok video refuting pregnancy rumours.
According to Instagram account @commentsbycelebs, Swift addressed the rumours, noting, “Can we all agree that its invasive & irresponsible to comment on a woman’s body. Gaga doesn’t owe anyone an explanation and neither does any woman.”
As per The Hollywood Reporter, on Monday, Gaga took to TikTok to shut down the rumours while making a cheeky reference to Swift’s song ‘Down Bad’ off her newly-released. She posted the 10-second video with the “I am the aesthetic” audio, which says, “I don’t have to find an aesthetic; I am the aesthetic. I mean, I’m sure there’s somebody out here right now who is going into Pinterest trying to type up all these adjectives to describe me.”
Over the clip, Gaga wrote, “not pregnant—just down bad cryin at the gym,” referencing Swift’s song “Down Bad” from The Tortured Poets Department. Gaga received similar attention in April after being spotted with what seems to be a huge diamond ring on her left ring finger during an outing, prompting fans to speculate that she and her boyfriend, Michael Polansky, had gotten engaged.
Gaga was formerly engaged to talent agent Christian Carino. The couple began dating in February 2017 and ended their engagement in February 2019. until their romance, Gaga dated Taylor Kinney for approximately four years until getting engaged in February 2015. One year later, the pair ended their relationship. During a Q&A at the Los Angeles premiere of her HBO concert special, Gaga Chromatica Ball, in May, Gaga announced that she has been busy working on new music. “I am in the studio every single day. I have written so many songs, I’ve been producing so many songs, and it’s nothing like anything that I’ve ever made before,” she said. “I love to break genre, and I love to explore music,” reported People.
Nine individuals were injured in an LPG cylinder explosion in Mumbai’s Chembur area on Thursday morning, according to official reports. The blast, which occurred in a one-storey house on C G Gidwani Marg, resulted in a fire that caused significant damage to both the house and an adjacent shop.
The explosion happened at approximately 7:30 am when a woman attempted to light a gas stove, causing the already leaking LPG cylinder to explode. The intense blaze was soon extinguished, but not before eight people inside the house and one outside sustained injuries.
The victims included two minors and three women, who were all quickly transported to the civic-run Shatabdi Hospital in Govandi. Four individuals suffered deep burn injuries while others received mild injuries. Another person was moved to Sion Hospital for further treatment. All injured parties are currently in stable condition.
18th Lok Sabha Formation: CEC to Present List of Newly-Elected MPs to President 12
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar along with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu will meet President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday to present the comprehensive list of newly-elected Members of Parliament (MPs) to start the formation of the 18th Lok Sabha. After that President will invite the largest party to form the government.
On Wednesday the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) unanimously passed a resolution to elect Narendra Modi as their leader for the third time. This decision was taken during a crucial meeting held at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Delhi on Wednesday. The NDA leaders expressed their admiration for Prime Minister Modi’s leadership and the progress made by the nation under his guidance over the past decade.
In the meantime, President Droupadi Murmu dissolved the 17th Lok Sabha on Wednesday, following the recommendation of the Union Cabinet. “The President accepted the advice of the Cabinet on June 5, 2024, and signed the Order dissolving the 17th Lok Sabha in the exercise of the powers conferred upon her by Sub-Clause (2) of Article 85 of the Constitution,” a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said on Wednesday.
On the same day, PM Modi tendered his resignation along with his Council of Ministers to President Murmu. The President accepted the resignation and requested that the Prime Minister and his Council of Ministers continue until the new government assumes office. The counting of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was held on Tuesday. According to the Election Commission of India, the BJP won 240 seats, much lower than its 2019 tally of 303. For the first time, since the Bharatiya Janata Party swept to power in 2014, it did not secure a majority on its own.
The Congress, on the other hand, registered a strong growth, winning 99 seats. The INDIA bloc crossed the 230 mark, posing stiff competition, and defying all predictions.
Who is responsible for the BJP's ill fate in Maharashtra? 14
There have been discussions time and again about who betrayed whom or which party did what was right or wrong. It is pointless to talk about the same issues again and again. The biggest concern for the BJP was the declining number of seats. Devendra Fadnavis, a strong leader, ruled as the Chief Minister for 5 years continuously and was suddenly made the deputy Chief Minister in another term. In an attempt to teach a lesson to Uddhav Thackeray, he broke two main regional parties, and the math also went wrong from here.
Maharashtra is a state that was supposed to decide the BJP’s fortunes in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. And it held true to that, bringing down the party to nine seats from 23 in 2019 and ending it with a short majority in Parliament.
Maharashtra was mostly ruled by the Congress and the NCP. The BJP and then Balasaheb’s Shiv Sena came to power in Maharashtra only once and then came to power again in 2014, but people liked the Thackeray family’s party and the BJP’s alliance with each other. Neither the BJP nor Shiv Sena could come to power on their own strength; both had the same ideology and people liked to see them together. Perhaps this is the reason they were favoured by the people of Maharashtra. In 2019, political betrayal reached its peak and the BJP somehow came into an awkward position. They were not letting Uddhav demand anything but joined hands with corrupt Ajit Pawar, while Shivna too joined hands with the NCP and Congress. People in the state felt cheated. In the past two and a half years since Mahayuti came to power, the BJP and its leaders have engaged in only blame games, forgetting development issues. The BJP’s Mahayuti allies also performed below expectations, with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena getting seven seats and Ajit Pawar’s NCP just 1. The NDA was thus reduced to 17 seats out of 48 in the state. In 2014, with the united Sena as an ally, the NDA had won 43 seats. The BJP-led NDA has won after securing 292 seats in a 543-member Lok Sabha. The INDIA Alliance defied all exit polls and predictions and bagged 234 seats.
One of the sad results of the 2024 Lok Sabha election results has been the drop in numbers for the BJP. From a commanding 303 seats in 2019, the Narendra Modi-led BJP has been reduced to 240 seats this time around. This indicates Modi has lost his charisma; people are not taking him seriously. Modi is the star campaigner of the party and its alliance.
Following the low-slung performance of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, In Maharashtra, the splitting of Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led to voter preference for Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar, which negatively impacted the NDA’s performance. Maharashtra never settled down with the BJP after the party failed to secure a majority in the 2019 Assembly elections. However, while it may have come back into power by first breaking the Shiv Sena and the NCP, the BJP left the voters unconvinced. Instead, the sympathy factor helped the original leaders of the Sena and NCP, from under whose noses their parties were seen as “stolen”—Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar, respectively.
Uddhav, who was projected as the face of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition—or INDIA—in Maharashtra, won nine of the 21 seats it contested. This was two more than the Shinde-led Sena, which contested 15 seats and won seven. In the split, the Shinde Sena, which walked away with most of the united Sena’s MLAs and MPs, had both the name of the party and its symbol. Still, that didn’t come in the Uddhav faction’s way. Similar was the case with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, which won the name and the symbol after breaking away from the party created and bred by Sharad Pawar. While Pawar Senior again came up on top, with an impressive strike rate of winning seven of the 10 seats it contested, Ajit’s NCP could win just one of the five seats it fought for.
Ultimately, Marathwada’s eight seats proved the albatross around the BJP’s neck, with the party paying a price for the poor management of the Maratha quota agitation by the state government. The BJP failed to win any of the seats in Marathwada. The government’s flip-flop on the issue was seen as driven by essentially the BJP, with the other two partners in power, Sena and NCP, led by Maratha leaders Shinde and Ajit, respectively. While the aggressive campaign by activist Manoj Jarange Patil forced the BJP to ultimately bring in a 10% quota for the Marathas, the delay was considered by many to be a cynical move by the party to consolidate the OBCs behind it in a case of reverse polarisation. Finally, even that didn’t happen, despite the OBCs previously proving a solid BJP vote bank.
Days before the elections, the BJP persuaded long-time Congress leader and former CM Ashok Chavan into its fold in a move to bolster its Maratha credentials. But that, too, failed. In 2019, the BJP saw sweeping wins in the Beed, Jalna, Nanded, and Latur seats. In 2024, even BJP national secretary Pankaja Munde, the daughter of one of the BJP’s tallest OBC leaders, the late Gopinath Munde, lost to NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) candidate Bajrang Sonwane in Beed. In the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP’s performance rested to some extent on its ability to win over Dalits. However, this time, the INDIA bloc’s narrative of an overwhelming BJP majority government being a threat to the Constitution seems to have struck home.
Voices were heard from Dalit defrayals about alterations in the statute created by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and threats to the protections provided in it for them. At 10.5%, Dalits are a formidable vote bank in Maharashtra, with the state seen as Ambedkar’s karma Bhoomi, and their apprehension regarding the BJP seems to have found reflection in the party’s performance in Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Mumbai. The BJP tried to debunk this narrative. With 55% of the state being rural, agriculture has always driven the politics of Maharashtra. It is not for no reason that Sharad Pawar ensured he held the agriculture portfolio in his stints as Union minister. If there is the sugarcane belt in western Maharashtra, soyabean and cotton are predominant in Vidarbha and Marathwada regions, and onion in North Maharashtra. Across these regions, farmer angst was evident.
Swearing in ceremony of PM Modi likely on June 8, cabinet recommends dissolution of 17th Lok Sabha 16
A day after the Lok Sabha poll results were announced, the Union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday recommended the dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha, whose term ends on June 16. According to the sources, as the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Janata Dal-United (JDU), the potential “kingmakers” have given the green signal, the formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government and the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi is likely to take place on June 8. Both parties are expected to submit formal letters of support to the BJP during a meeting of the alliance.
As per the results of the Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission of India has declared results for 542 of the 543 Lok Sabha constituencies, with the BJP winning 240 seats and the Congress 99. The BJP victory tally was much lower than its 2019 tally of 303 and the 282 seats it had won in 2014. The Congress, on the other hand, registered a strong growth, winning 99 seats compared to 52 that it had won in 2019 and 44 seats in 2014.
The INDIA bloc crossed the 230 mark, posing stiff competition, and defying all predictions from exit polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has secured a third term, but the BJP will need to rely on the support of other parties in his coalition – JD (U) chief Nitish Kumar and TDP’s chief Chandrababu Naidu.
The BJP fell 32 seats short of the 272 majority mark after votes polled in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were counted. For the first time, since the Bharatiya Janata Party swept to power in 2014, it did not secure a majority on its own. Meanwhile, the NDA leaders are scheduled to meet later today, at Prime Minister Modi’s residence.
The opposition INDIA bloc will also meet today, with Congress Presidentt Mallikarjun Kharge calling alliance leaders for the meeting at his house. Having witnessed a favourable outcome in the LS polls, the leaders of the INDIA bloc will strategize their next move. Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the people for the mandate and said the BJP-led NDA will form its third successive government and that it is the victory of the resolve of Viksit Bharat, of ‘Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas’ and of the strong faith of people in India’s Constitution.
“On this sacred day, it is confirmed that the NDA is forming the government for the third time. We are grateful to the people, they reposed full faith in the BJP, and NDA. This is the victory of the world’s largest democracy, it is a victory of strong faith in India’s Constitution, it is the victory of the resolve of Viksit Bharat. It is the victory of ‘Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas’,” he said in his address at the BJP headquarters on Tuesday.
"Will talk to them after decision is taken," says Sharad Pawar on Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu 18
After Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP) chief Sharad Pawar reached New Delhi to attend the meeting organised by the INDIA bloc, Pawar asserted that he will not speak to Chandrababu Naidu or Nitish Kumar unless a decision will be taken by the INDIA bloc in the meeting When asked about TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, while addressing a press conference in the National Capital, Sharad Pawar said, “…I won’t talk to them… When a decision is taken during our (INDIA alliance) meeting, then I will. Right now, I haven’t spoken to them.”
On being asked if they would consider the partners of BJP-led NDA alliance in the INDIA bloc, he said, “I cannot comment on that. We will let you know after the meeting. Today is our first meeting and the decision will be taken on the future strategies.” Notably in Maharashtra, Congress won 13 out of 48 seats while the BJP secured nine seats. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackrey) won nine seats while NCP-SP clinched eight seats.
Shiv Sena (SHS) won seven seats while Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) secured one seat. Declaration of results of the 18th Lok Sabha election in the 543-member Parliament saw the BJP-led NDA winning 294 seats and the INDIA bloc bagging 234 seats. A party or coalition requires a simple majority of 272 seats to form the government.
According to the Election Commission of India, the BJP won 240 seats, much lower than its 2019 tally of 303. The Congress, on the other hand, registered a strong growth, winning 99 seats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has secured a third term, but the BJP is relying on the support of other parties in his coalition – JD (U) chief Nitish Kumar and TDP’s chief Chandrababu Naidu, as it needs 32 seats to reach the 272 majority mark.
For the first time, since the Bharatiya Janata Party swept to power in 2014, it did not secure a majority on its own — far fewer than the record 303 it won in the 2019 election. TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu has confirmed his backing for the NDA by declaring, “I am with the NDA.”
“I have seen so many political changes in the country. I am in NDA. I am going to the NDA meeting. If there is anything else, we will report to you,” Naidu said, extending his support to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) while addressing a Press conference in Vijayawada today. Nitish Kumar’s key aide Sanjay Jha also dispelled talk of the Bihar CM having discussions with NCP Patron Sharad Pawar claiming that the JDU was committed to the NDA.
Victory for the People: Akhilesh Yadav Hails Win in Uttar Pradesh 20
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday celebrated the INDIA bloc’s success in Uttar Pradesh, declaring it a victory for backward classes, Dalits, and minorities. He attributed this success to the PDA strategy and the unwavering efforts of the alliance.
Yadav, who previously served as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, ran on a platform advocating for the unity of Pichada (backwards), Dalits, and Alpasankhyaks (minorities). According to Yadav, voters demonstrated that no force is stronger than the power of the people.
Yadav said, “Dear intelligent voters of Uttar Pradesh, the victory of India bloc in the state is also the victory of the Dalit-Bahujan trust. Along with backwards, minorities, tribals, ‘half population’ (women), and all neglected groups, we fought shoulder to shoulder to protect the Constitution that grants rights to equality, respect, self-respect, dignified life, and reservation.”
The INDIA bloc secured 43 out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh—37 seats won by SP and six by Congress. Yadav opined, “This triumph belongs to the strong alliance of backward-dalit-minority-tribal, ‘half population’ and backward among the upper castes in the form of PDA, strengthened by contributions from all societal sections.”
Yadav emphasized that the election results symbolize harmony, inclusivity, and the positive spirit of society. He added, “This victory goes to the unbiased, tireless media, the Constitution-protectors who view it as their lifeline, and supporters of democracy.”
He concluded by thanking the public, promising to uphold their trust, and expressing optimism for the future.
