The Indian government introduced the National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Rajya Sabha, aiming to extend legal protection to Vande Mataram, similar to the National Anthem. The Bill's introduction was met with noisy protests from Opposition MPs over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak issue, leading to parliamentary disruptions.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge attacked PM Modi for veiled criticism of Rahul Gandhi and condemned police action on students protesting alleged examination irregularities at Jantar Mantar. Kharge accused Modi of deflecting from governance failures and corruption, leading to the adjournment of Rajya Sabha.
Three former TMC Rajya Sabha MPs, Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, and Prakash Chik Baraik, filed nominations as BJP candidates for West Bengal's Rajya Sabha bypolls on July 24. Having resigned from TMC and the Upper House, they are set to return to Parliament on BJP tickets, with the BJP holding enough legislators to secure all three seats.
Hours after joining the BJP, former TMC leaders Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, and Prakash Chik Baraik were named as BJP candidates for upcoming Rajya Sabha bypolls. The trio resigned from the Rajya Sabha and TMC last month, citing political and personal reasons, and their induction is seen as a move to strengthen BJP's presence in West Bengal amid TMC's internal crisis.
Three former Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MPs—Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, and Prakash Chik Baraik—joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in Kolkata. They had resigned from their seats and the TMC after the West Bengal Assembly elections, creating vacancies for which bypolls will be held. The BJP aims to win all three seats.
Three former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, and Prakash Chik Baraik, formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kolkata. Their induction follows resignations amid internal turmoil in the TMC after its defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections.
Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, and Prakash Chik Baraik formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kolkata, West Bengal. Their defection follows weeks of internal rebellion within the TMC and comes after their resignations from the party and Rajya Sabha.
Three former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, and Prakash Chik Baraik, formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kolkata, West Bengal, weeks after resigning from TMC amid internal party rebellion following an electoral defeat.
Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor will contest the Bankipur Assembly by-election from the BJP's stronghold, aiming to send a message for voters to rise above caste and religion. He criticizes the incumbent MLA's resignation and alleges BJP takes voters for granted.
Bypolls for three Rajya Sabha seats in West Bengal, vacated by Trinamool Congress MPs, will be held on July 24. The resignations followed internal dissent after the party's assembly election defeat. Vote counting is scheduled for the same evening.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra was targeted with eggs and allegedly held hostage for four hours by BJP supporters at a party office in Nadia, West Bengal. Moitra accused police of inaction, while authorities stated they urged her to leave. Similar protests occurred against MP Dola Sen.
Over 100 prominent Indian and Pakistani figures, including former chief ministers and diplomats, have jointly appealed to PMs Modi and Sharif to revive bilateral dialogue and restore normal ties, stressing sustained engagement as the only viable path to resolving differences.
Union Minister of State George Kurian has resigned from the council of ministers after his Rajya Sabha term concluded and the BJP chose not to renominate him. President Droupadi Murmu accepted his resignation, effective immediately. Kurian also served as Minister of State in the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
Cross-voting impacted Rajya Sabha elections in Jharkhand and Legislative Council polls in Karnataka. While NDA gained in Jharkhand, Congress outmaneuvered BJP in Karnataka. Both parties exhibit double standards regarding cross-voting.
The BJP-led NDA has won 19 of 26 Rajya Sabha seats, increasing its strength to 150. The alliance is now 13 seats short of a two-thirds majority, with potential further gains from TMC and AAP splits. Opposition INDIA bloc secured six seats.
The BJP claims the ruling alliance in Jharkhand is fractured following a Congress defeat in Rajya Sabha polls, attributing it to cross-voting and alleging 'loot and corruption' by the bloc. Alliance partners are exchanging accusations of betrayal and being 'sold out'.
The Congress nominee for a Rajya Sabha seat in Jharkhand, Pranav Jha, lost the election to NDA-backed Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani, despite the Congress having the required number of MLAs. Allegations of betrayal and cross-voting have surfaced among INDIA bloc allies.
Naresh Gujral, son of former PM I.K. Gujral, lost Rs 7.8 crore to cyber fraudsters who impersonated him on a messaging app and manipulated employee phone records. Delhi Police froze Rs 4 crore and are pursuing further recovery.
An NDA-backed independent candidate, Parimal Nathwani, secured a Rajya Sabha seat from Jharkhand, defeating Congress's nominee and exposing cracks within the INDIA bloc. In Mizoram, the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) comfortably won the state's lone Upper House seat.
The Congress candidate for a Rajya Sabha seat in Jharkhand lost the election despite having the support of the required 28 MLAs. NDA-backed Independent Parimal Nathwani secured 28 votes, while Congress nominee Pranav Jha received only 20. The defeat has triggered a blame game among INDIA bloc allies, with Congress accusing RJD and CPI-ML of betrayal, charges they deny.
CPI(ML) Liberation and RJD denied cross-voting in Jharkhand Rajya Sabha elections, stating their MLAs voted for Congress. They blamed Congress's internal issues for the loss and warned against damaging the INDIA bloc by shifting blame.
Congress nominee Pranav Jha lost a crucial Rajya Sabha election in Jharkhand despite having the support of 28 MLAs. NDA-backed Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani secured 30 votes, while Jha received only 20. The defeat has triggered a blame game among INDIA bloc allies, with Congress accusing RJD and CPI-ML of betrayal, charges they deny.
NDA-backed Independent Parimal Nathwani secured one of the two Rajya Sabha seats from Jharkhand, defeating Congress candidate Pranav in a close contest. The ruling JMM candidate Baidyanath Ram won the other seat. The election saw cross-voting and invalid votes, leading to accusations of betrayal from the Congress.
Jharkhand's Rajya Sabha elections are set for a close contest as the INDIA bloc, with 56 MLAs, faces a challenge from the BJP-backed independent candidate Parimal Nathwani, who needs just 4 cross-votes to potentially upset the ruling coalition's expected win of two seats. Both camps are employing 'hotel politics' and mock polls to ensure MLA unity and prevent cross-voting, reminiscent of recent upsets in Bihar and Odisha.
