Kerala Governor clears Seshadrinathan’s posting as new state election commissioner
The appointment came despite stiff opposition from KPCC general secretary P M Niyas and a section of Congress leaders, as well as the Youth League, the IUML’s youth wing. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Rajendra Arlekar has approved the cabinet’s proposal to appoint N Seshadrinathan as the new State Election Commissioner. The official notification was issued on Wednesday. Speaking to TNIE, Seshadrinathan expressed happiness over the appointment and said he would assume charge at the earliest. Seshadrinathan has served as Principal District and Sessions Judge in Kavaratti, as CBI Court judge in Ernakulam, and in several other judicial positions. Following his retirement, he has been serving as a judge at the Irinjalakkuda Family Court. The appointment came despite stiff opposition from KPCC general secretary P M Niyas and a section of Congress leaders, as well as the Youth League, the IUML’s youth wing. They had questioned Seshadrinathan’s alleged past links with the CPM and the Sangh Parivar. Niyas had sought the intervention of Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, KPCC president Sunny Joseph and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, urging them to intervene. However, as he failed to garner enough support, the cabinet went ahead with the appointment. Seshadrinathan’s name was proposed by Local Self Government Minister K M Shaji, the Indian Union Muslim League’s representative in the cabinet. League sources said the decision had triggered differences of opinion within the party, with one section backing Shaji while another opposed the appointment. The decision has also led to discontent within the Youth League. However, those backing Shaji maintained that the allegations against Seshadrinathan remained unsubstantiated and had surfaced only after another aspirant for the post missed out. Meanwhile, the League’s stand has raised eyebrows among sections of the Muslim community. “We cannot dismiss suspicions of an understanding between a section of League leaders and the Sangh Parivar. Everyone knows how the Enforcement Directorate failed to pursue the AR Nagar Cooperative Bank scam after the Income Tax raid unearthed huge quantities of unaccounted money in 2021. Had there been a proper investigation, the League might have had different ministers in this government,” a leader of a Muslim community organisation told TNIE on condition of anonymity. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Pro Sangh approach’: Row over Kerala election commissioner’s appointment deepens rift in Congress
KPCC general secretary P M Niyas seeks Rahul Gandhi’s intervention, also writes to Mallikarjun Kharge. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The row over the appointment of the new State Election Commissioner has taken a political and ideological turn, with the opposition LDF intensifying its attack on the V D Satheesan government over its alleged soft stance towards the Sangh Parivar. The LDF, which has been targeting the government over its support to the PM SHRI scheme, has now sought to link the appointment controversy to its broader charge that the government is accommodating the Sangh Parivar. The opposition has drawn strength from the public opposition of KPCC general secretary P M Niyas to the appointment of N Seshadrinathan as the State Election Commissioner. CPM state secretary M V Govindan alleged that the appointment is yet another example of the government’s pro-Sangh Parivar approach. LDF leaders believe that criticism from within the Congress lends greater credibility to their campaign, particularly among the Muslim minority. Meanwhile, further deepening the unease within the Congress over the appointment, Niyas has sought the intervention of the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, urging him to ensure that the cabinet decision to appoint Seshadrinathan is withdrawn. He has also written to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge seeking the party leadership’s intervention. On Tuesday, Niyas, who had publicly opposed the appointment of Seshadrinathan as the State Election Commissioner, met Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala. “Chennithala told me that the proposal was placed before the cabinet as an out-of-agenda item and that he, therefore, could not verify the facts,” Niyas told TNIE. Niyas reiterated that the cabinet decision should be withdrawn and said he would continue his campaign against the appointment. Apart from Minister K M Shaji, no other minister has publicly defended the chief minister over the issue. Although Niyas is widely regarded as being close to AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, no other leaders associated with Venugopal have publicly backed his stand. Party sources said both the Venugopal and Chennithala camps have adopted a strategic approach by refraining from openly criticising either the government or the chief minister. Meanwhile, leaders close to Satheesan maintained that decisions are taken collectively in consultation with the cabinet and the UDF leadership. “Ordinary party workers and the public have high expectations of the government,” a KPCC office-bearer close to Satheesan said. “The government needs time to rectify its mistakes. People will not take lightly an all-out attack against Satheesan at this stage. This is a cooling off period for the government. Niyas has his own agenda,” he added. According to Congress leaders from Kozhikode, Satheesan had reprimanded Niyas during the Chelakkara by-election campaign which in turn created a rift between them. Meanwhile, Kozhikode DCC general secretary Shajir Arfat Karat, in a Facebook post, appealed that no one should, for narrow political interests, drag people of integrity and public standing, including members of the judiciary, into the Sangh Parivar camp. However, many senior KPCC office-bearers and MLAs from Kozhikode, cutting across factional lines, are understood to support Niyas’ allegations. They claimed that similar discrepancies were evident in the appointment of the chief secretary, alleging that the appointment was made despite complaints against the officer. Some leaders also alleged that corporate interests were influencing key appointments. They further claimed that the chief minister’s preferred choice for the post of ADGP (Law and Order) was not P Vijayan. “However, the home minister did not agree with the chief minister’s proposal,” a Congress leader said. K S Sreejith Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Karnataka Cabinet expansion: Brass to decide on their own
Surjewala knows the ground reality and is aware of whose elevation as ministers will help the Congress in the 2028 Assembly elections in Karnataka, sources said. BENGALURU: The Congress high command, which reportedly asked Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar not to entertain lobbying by party legislators for ministerial posts, is likely to take a decision on cabinet expansion on its own without holding any consultations with state party leaders. “AICC General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge of party affairs Randeep Singh Surjewala has prepared the list after taking suggestions from party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Shivakumar, and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Now, it is only a formality to announce the names after obtaining the approval of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi,” sources told The New Indian Express. Rahul is expected to return to India on July 3 or 4. Surjewala knows the ground reality and is aware of whose elevation as ministers will help the Congress in the 2028 Assembly elections in Karnataka, sources said. “That is why the top brass is unlikely to summon any leader to Delhi to discuss the cabinet expansion,” the sources added. However, Shivakumar, who shares a good rapport with Surjewala, is likely to have an edge in pushing for young and new faces, as Rahul Gandhi is also believed to share the same view. “There are 20 vacancies. At least 15 will be filled by new faces while maintaining a balance in terms of caste and regional representation,” party insiders said. More than 50 ministerial aspirants, who had been openly sponsoring demonstrations by their supporters and lobbying for cabinet berths, have now stopped doing so. However, some of them have continued their efforts by meeting senior leaders of the party high command confidentially in Delhi, an MLA told The New Indian Express. If all goes as planned, the expansion of the Shivakumar cabinet is expected to take place by July 10, ahead of the monsoon session of the legislature, which is likely to begin in the third week of July. Devaraj B Hirehalli Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
We will hit back: New TNCC chief Tagore sets sight on PM Rahul Gandhi for 2029
Chennai: Taking charge as the state president of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC), Virudhunagar MP Manickam Tagore on Monday declared that the party’s singular focus is to install Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Addressing cadres at Sathyamoorthy Bhavan, Tagore issued a stern warning to political rivals, cautioning that Congress would aggressively “hit back” against any criticism directed at the party or its leadership. “We have no personal issues with anyone. We are peace-loving people. But we will not remain silent if anyone criticises our leader. Whoever it may be,” he said. He referred to former ally DMK and its leaders Udhayanidhi Stalin, R S Bharathi, and several others, labeling them “betrayers” and “backstabbers” for criticising Rahul Gandhi following the realignment of post-poll allies. He also cautioned PMK leader Anbumani and NTK chief coordinator Seeman to refrain from criticising the Congress leader. Listing his priorities, the three-time MP urged functionaries to set aside their differences and egos to work as a unified force to achieve their target of winning all 39 seats in the 2029 Lok Sabha polls. “We should build a narrative around whether the electorate wants Rahul Gandhi or Narendra Modi as their PM. Surveys show that 60-65% of people want our leader Rahul Gandhi as the PM. We should work hard to translate the people’s wish into action.” He called TVK a “respectful ally” and credited them with aiding the revival of Congress in Tamil Nadu, as after 59 years, the party has representation in the cabinet. Noting that this is a crucial juncture, Tagore emphasised that party functionaries must work in tandem to take the party to the next level. He confirmed they would continue their alliance in the local body polls and guaranteed that hardworking and loyal functionaries would be given opportunities. He also appreciated his predecessors, comparing the role of the state president to a relay race, and assured to do his part. He appealed to ministers Rajeshkumar and P Viswanathan to meet party cadres and functionaries at Satyamoorthy Bhavan once a week after office hours. He also cautioned them to watch their words and actions, as they could attract criticism. Tagore’s predecessor K Selvaperunthagai earlier said that he had retrieved party property worth around ₹5,000 crore and established village-level committees in more than 17,000 villages during his tenure, which lasted 34 months. “I have created a robust infrastructure and retrieved party property. The new president can deliver with the existing party infra without doing much,” Selvaperunthagai said. He added that he was stepping down from the position with “double happiness” and thanked the party leadership for giving him the opportunity to serve Congress. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Owaisi’s show of strength in Bijnor, attempts to balance the Muslim-Dalit equation; will SP’s tension increase?
UP Politics: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi will address a public meeting today in Najibabad, Bijnor, as part of the “Paigam-e-Ittehad” program. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who is seeking political ground in Uttar Pradesh, will address a public meeting today in Najibabad, Bijnor, as part of the “Paigam-e-Ittehad” program. He will not only seek to establish his own political standing in Muslim-majority constituencies in western Uttar Pradesh, but his political activism has also raised concerns for the opposition Samajwadi Party (SP). Regarding the program, party spokesperson Shadab Chauhan stated that the current government and the main opposition party have perpetrated atrocities and discrimination against Muslims, victims, and marginalized groups. Together, they have made them political pariahs. Asaduddin Owaisi will hold a public meeting on these issues, along with other issues, primarily the problems of sugarcane farmers in this belt. Furthermore, Shadab Chauhan stated that Asaduddin Owaisi has appealed to all parties to unite to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party and is ready to join forces with them. Why did he choose the Najibabad seat? The Najibabad seat in Bijnor district is a Muslim-majority constituency, and the Dalit-Muslim equation here could be the key to anyone’s victory. Consequently, Asaduddin Owaisi chose this location for his public meeting. Furthermore, the plight of farmers and laborers here is also concerning, and he appears to be trying to capitalize on this. Haji Tasleem is a Samajwadi Party MLA from the Najibabad seat, so Asaduddin Owaisi’s presence is a source of tension for the Samajwadi Party. To ensure this public meeting was a success, party workers have been conducting a public relations campaign for the past several days. Asaduddin Owaisi is active in Uttar Pradesh Party mobilization for the UP assembly elections has intensified. Asaduddin Owaisi previously attended a program in Bahraich. Although he did not achieve much success in previous assembly elections, the surprising performance of Owaisi’s party in the recent Bihar assembly elections has raised eyebrows among opposition parties. Written By: ABP UP Desk Courtesy : Hindi News
Ram temple donations case: All eight accused sent to 14-day judicial custody
The accused were produced before Special Judge, Anti-Corruption Court, Rajat Verma, through video conferencing from the district jail, after the expiry of their three-day judicial custody. LUCKNOW: All eight accused arrested in connection with the alleged embezzlement of donation funds at Ram temple were, on Monday, remanded to 14-day judicial custody by a local court, case officials said. The accused were produced before Special Judge, Anti-Corruption Court, Rajat Verma, through video conferencing from the district jail, after the expiry of their three-day judicial custody, Special Prosecution Officer Umesh Dubey said. Dubey said that the district police did not apply for the custody of the accused. The eight accused — Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu, Anukalp Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Karunesh Pandey, Manish Yadav, Lavkush Mishra, Ram Shankar Mishra and Subhash Srivastava—earlier been remanded to three days’ judicial custody till Monday by a special remand magistrate. The case has been posted for next hearing on July 13. Namita Bajpai Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit vote at centre of UP parties’ organisational overhaul ahead of 2027 polls
Congress, BJP, SP and BSP are reshaping their leadership structures as the battle for Scheduled Caste voters intensifies ahead of the Assembly election. As Uttar Pradesh heads towards the 2027 Assembly elections, political parties have begun fighting the first battle long before campaigning begins—through organisational restructuring. While the Congress has appointed Dalit leader R.P. Gautam as its Uttar Pradesh in-charge, the BJP has carried out a sweeping overhaul of its state unit by replacing all six regional presidents and appointing a new caste-balanced leadership team. The Samajwadi Party continues expanding its PDA network, while the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has reshuffled its organisational hierarchy under Mayawati. Together, the moves underscore how every major party is recalibrating its leadership to reflect Uttar Pradesh’s intricate caste and regional equations in a state where Dalit votes could prove decisive in determining power. Why Is the 2027 UP Election More Than an Electoral Contest—A Battle for Dalit Votes? The renewed emphasis on Dalit representation follows the political message delivered by the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP’s tally in Uttar Pradesh fell from 62 seats in 2019 to 33, while the Samajwadi Party emerged as the largest party in the state with 37 seats and the Congress won six, giving the INDIA bloc a significant boost. More importantly, the BJP’s dominance in Scheduled Caste-reserved constituencies weakened as it won only eight of the state’s 17 reserved Lok Sabha seats, down from 14 in 2019. Equally significant was the BSP’s electoral setback, with Mayawati’s party once again failing to open its account in Uttar Pradesh, repeating its 2014 performance. Once the undisputed political voice of Dalits, the BSP has seen its support fragment over the past decade, with sections of Jatav voters remaining with the party while many non-Jatav Dalits shifted towards the BJP and, more recently, the SP-led INDIA alliance. The BSP’s electoral decline has intensified competition for Dalit votes, encouraging every major party to aggressively target both Jatav and non-Jatav Scheduled Castes ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. With Scheduled Castes constituting nearly 21 per cent of Uttar Pradesh’s population and influencing electoral outcomes in well over 150 Assembly constituencies, organisational appointments have become almost as politically significant as candidate selection. Every major party is now attempting to balance caste identity, regional representation and social influence within its organisational structure. Congress Bets on a Dalit Face The latest move has come from the Congress, which appointed senior Dalit leader R.P. Gautam as its Uttar Pradesh in-charge, replacing Avinash Pande. Gautam, regarded as an experienced organisational hand, is expected to spearhead the party’s preparations for the 2027 Assembly elections while strengthening its outreach among Scheduled Castes. The appointment is widely seen as an acknowledgement that Dalit politics in Uttar Pradesh has entered a new phase following the BSP’s decline. By placing a Dalit leader in charge of its largest electoral battleground, the Congress hopes to complement its alliance strategy with the Samajwadi Party while simultaneously rebuilding its independent organisational base. BJP’s Organisational Reset If the Congress has sought to send a political message by appointing R.P. Gautam, the BJP has responded with one of its most extensive organisational overhauls in recent years. Following its disappointing performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP replaced all six regional presidents of its Uttar Pradesh unit while appointing 19 vice-presidents, eight general secretaries and several new office-bearers, carefully balancing caste representation and regional aspirations. The six regional chiefs themselves reflect the BJP’s social engineering strategy. Nawab Singh Nagar (Gujjar) has been appointed for western Uttar Pradesh, Puran Lal Lodhi (Lodhi OBC) for Braj, Ram Kishore Sahu (Sahu OBC) for Kanpur-Bundelkhand, Avadhesh Dwivedi (Brahmin) for Awadh, Ashok Chaurasia (OBC) for Kashi and Vinod Rai (Bhumihar) for Gorakhpur. The revamped organisation accommodates leaders representing Dalit, OBC, upper-caste and regional communities, reflecting the BJP’s effort to broaden its social coalition after the 2024 setback. The organisational restructuring complements the BJP’s representation in government through ministers such as Baby Rani Maurya, Asim Arun, Dinesh Khatik and Gulab Devi, while continuing targeted outreach among non-Jatav Dalit communities including Pasi, Valmiki, Kori and Khatik through welfare schemes, social outreach programmes and grassroots mobilisation. SP Strengthens PDA Coalition The Samajwadi Party, meanwhile, continues to reorganise its structure around Akhilesh Yadav’s PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) formula. The party has consciously increased the representation of Dalits and Extremely Backward Classes in district organisations, frontal units and candidate selection while expanding beyond its traditional Muslim-Yadav support base. The strategy paid dividends in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when the SP won seven of Uttar Pradesh’s 17 Scheduled Caste-reserved parliamentary constituencies. Since then, the party has consistently appointed office-bearers from backward and Dalit communities while making caste census, reservation and social justice central themes of its campaign for 2027. BSP Seeks to Reclaim Dalit Base Although the BSP suffered another major setback by failing to win a Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh in 2024, political observers believe writing off the party would be premature. The BSP still retains a committed cadre, strong booth-level organisation in several districts and an emotional connect among a sizeable section of its traditional Jatav support base. Recognising the need for organisational revival, BSP chief Mayawati has repeatedly reshuffled state office-bearers, zonal coordinators and district presidents while restoring her nephew Akash Anand as the party’s national coordinator. The BSP continues to strengthen its booth-level network by appointing coordinators from different Scheduled Caste sub-groups and OBC communities across western, central and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Unlike the BJP’s welfare-centric politics or the SP’s PDA narrative, the BSP continues to rely on Ambedkarite ideology and the legacy of Kanshi Ram and Mayawati. The party hopes to retain its loyal Jatav vote while reconnecting with non-Jatav Dalits who shifted towards rival parties over the last decade. The emergence of Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad as an independent Dalit voice has further diversified Dalit politics in Uttar Pradesh, particularly among younger voters, adding another layer to the competition for the community’s support. Even if the BSP does
Congress claims SBI had sought removal of officials posted at Ram Temple’s donation counting centre three months ago
Congress leader Pawan Khera said the donation theft, for which eight people have been arrested so far by the Uttar Pradesh police, was only a glimpse, and more such cases were yet to come. The Congress on Monday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the alleged irregularities in the handling of donations and offerings made by devotees at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Speaking to reporters in Raipur, Pawan Khera, Chairman (Media and Publicity Department), AICC, claimed that the State Bank of India had recommended the removal of officials posted at the temple’s donation counting centre three months ago, and sought to know who were protecting them. He said the alleged donation theft at the Ram Temple, for which eight people have been arrested so far by the Uttar Pradesh police, was only a glimpse, and more such cases were yet to come. “Ayodhya ki loot jhanki hai, Kashi-Mathura abhi baaki hai (the alleged loot in Ayodhya was only a glimpse, Kashi and Mathura were yet to come),” he said. Khera said the UP CM should be asked whether bulldozer action will be taken against the RSS or the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) over the embezzlement of funds at the temple. “The RSS and PMO were directly looking after the Ram Mandir administration. Ask Adityanath, if there has been wrongdoing there, will bulldozers be sent to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s residence or to PMO? Just ask him this question and he will have no answer,” he said. Khera claimed the State Bank of India (SBI) three months ago recommended the removal of officials posted at the donation counting centre at the shrine. “SBI had recommended three months ago that those posted at the counting centre be removed. Who has been protecting them? Nagpur or Delhi?” the Congress leader asked. In reply to a question, he said the United States was “insulting India every day” while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was maintaining silence. “Modi ji should give us a list of those he is afraid of and those he is not,” he quipped. On the reported move by the new BJP government in West Bengal to bring a bill on Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Khera alleged such issues were being raised to divert people’s attention from the Ram Mandir donation theft case. “The purpose (of UCC bill) is only to change the headlines and divert attention from what is happening in the name of Lord Ram in Ayodhya,” he claimed. Khera was in Raipur to address the last day of a ten-day training camp of the Chhattisgarh Congress organised for district unit presidents in the Abhanpur area. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
BJP backs Nitin Nabin’s ‘foreign mindset’ jibe at Congress, intensifies attack on Rahul Gandhi
Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla alleges Congress works at the behest of foreign powers to undermine India, labels it the “Italian National Congress” and “Islamabad National Congress” The BJP on Monday threw its weight behind party president Nitin Nabin’s remarks targeting the Congress, accusing the opposition of having a “foreign mindset” and alleging that it works at the behest of foreign powers to weaken and divide India. The controversy stems from Nabin’s speech at a public meeting in Hyderabad on Sunday, where he claimed that the Congress leadership’s mindset was “Italian rather than Indian” and asserted that a government guided by such thinking would never get an opportunity to govern the country. Echoing those remarks, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that the Congress no longer deserved to be called the “Indian National Congress”, but should instead be described as the “Italian National Congress” or the “Islamabad National Congress”. “Nitin Nabin ji is absolutely right. The Congress family’s bodies are here, but their mindset is abroad. With that foreign mindset, they constantly divide and undermine India at the behest of foreign powers,” Poonawalla said in a video statement. Stepping up his attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Poonawalla alleged that Gandhi routinely criticises India’s economy, democracy and sovereignty during his visits abroad. “Isn’t it true that Rahul Gandhi is abroad even now, perhaps planning some conspiracy against India? He goes to foreign soil and abuses India’s economy, democracy and sovereignty. He goes abroad and says Operation Sindoor did not happen. He attacks our armed forces and says they were beaten. Even the Supreme Court chastised him, saying no Indian speaks like this,” he alleged. Poonawalla further accused Gandhi of attempting to divide the country on caste lines and undermining India’s institutions. “He says he wants to fight the Indian state and divides India on caste lines. It is very clear that the agenda is to take George Soros’ money and contract to divide and attack India and its institutions. He attacked the AI Summit, attacked India’s self-reliant vaccines, defence preparedness and armed forces. In opposing the BJP, he is attacking India and the Indian state itself,” he claimed. Reiterating the BJP’s criticism, Poonawalla alleged that the Congress was functioning against the country’s interests. “That is why it is not the Indian National Congress; it is the anti-India Italian National Congress or the Islamabad National Congress,” he said. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Mallikarjun Kharge takes oath as Rajya Sabha member after re-election
Vice President C P Radhakrishnan administers oath in Parliament House; Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attend ceremony Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was on Monday sworn in as a member of the Rajya Sabha after being re-elected to the Upper House. The oath of office was administered to Kharge by Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President C P Radhakrishnan in his chamber at Parliament House. He took the oath in Hindi and was seen holding a copy of the Constitution during the ceremony. Vice President Radhakrishnan congratulated Kharge and said the Upper House would benefit from his long parliamentary experience. Following the oath-taking, Kharge said he would continue to raise the concerns, aspirations and voices of the people with sincerity and conviction, while also holding the government accountable. He reiterated that these responsibilities would remain central to his role in Parliament. Senior Congress leaders, including Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were present during the ceremony. Union ministers J P Nadda, Kiren Rijiju, Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh also attended the occasion. In a post on social media platform X, the Vice President’s office confirmed that Kharge had taken oath as a re-elected member of the Council of States from Karnataka, sharing photographs of the ceremony. Kharge also posted on X expressing gratitude for the opportunity to continue serving as Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, calling it a matter of “immense pride and responsibility.” He thanked Vice President Radhakrishnan and Deputy Chairman Harivansh for their support, as well as Congress leadership including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, along with party colleagues and workers for their continued backing. He also expressed appreciation to leaders across parties, particularly INDIA bloc members, and said he looked forward to stronger coordination during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament to ensure greater accountability from the government. Apart from Kharge, BJP leader Tarun Chugh, and six other new members including Jitendra Meghjibhai Kanzariya and Mansingh Meraman Parmar (Gujarat), M Nagaraja (Karnataka), Rajendra Hiralal Jain (Maharashtra), Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi (Manipur) and Alka Singh (Rajasthan), also took oath. Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Leader of the House J P Nadda, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal were present at the oath-taking, both inside the chairman’s chamber as well as in the House. Kharge took oath in Hindi while holding a copy of the Constitution in his hand. VP Radhakrishnan congratulated and welcome the new members into the House. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights