Police conducted a pre-dawn raid on the residence of Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee in Kolkata. The TMC has accused the BJP of political vendetta, with leaders claiming the 90-minute search yielded no seizures and was an act of intimidation.
Kolkata Police visited TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee's residence, removing security equipment. The visit follows notices from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation regarding alleged unauthorised construction, which Banerjee claims is political vendetta by the BJP.
A political storm erupted as Arvind Kejriwal compared PM Modi to Aurangzeb over ED raids on a Punjab minister. Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu retaliated, calling Kejriwal 'Ahmad Shah Abdali' and accusing the AAP of corruption. BJP leaders dismissed Kejriwal's claims, stating the ED action targets graft, not political vendetta.
Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha accused the AAP-led Punjab government of using state machinery for political vendetta against MPs who joined the BJP. He alleged selective targeting through various agencies, presenting these concerns to the President. Another rebel MP, Sandeep Pathak, stated they sought constitutional safeguards from the President, who assured protection.
A political confrontation in Punjab escalates as rival camps led by Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann seek separate meetings with President Droupadi Murmu on the same day. Chadha, one of seven AAP MPs who switched to BJP on April 24, is scheduled to meet the President at 10:40am, followed by Mann at noon seeking recall of the defectors. The row intensifies with reports of two FIRs with non-bailable charges against Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak, who alleges misuse of government machinery.
Punjab Police registered two non-bailable FIRs against BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak days after he switched from AAP to BJP. Pathak stated he has not received any information about the FIRs and is waiting for a copy to respond. BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal leaders accused the AAP government of political vendetta and misusing police machinery. Security was tightened outside Pathak's Delhi residence as a precautionary measure.
Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha will meet President Droupadi Murmu on May 5 to raise concerns over alleged misuse of state machinery in Punjab and flag political vendetta against MPs who recently quit the Aam Aadmi Party and joined the BJP. The meeting is scheduled for 10:40 am and Chadha will be accompanied by three other MPs. This comes after Chadha resigned from AAP and joined BJP on April 24, along with six other Rajya Sabha MPs, citing that the party had deviated from its founding principles.
Punjab police have filed two FIRs against Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak, a former AAP strategist who defected to BJP last week along with six others. Sources confirm non-bailable charges have been registered. Pathak was seen leaving his Delhi residence before police arrived. BJP and SAD allege political vendetta, claiming the timing aims to prevent further defections and divert attention from CM Bhagwant Mann.
