Politics

Gopal Rai, senior AAP leader, criticized the BJP for delaying the appointment of a Delhi CM, predicting that the city could see three different CMs over the next five years due to internal party conflicts. Rai pointed to the BJP’s inability to choose a leader even 10 days after the election results, citing internal divisions. He also emphasized that AAP would provide strong opposition to hold the BJP accountable for its promises. As the BJP continues its leadership struggle, AAP is preparing to intensify its efforts in the political arena.

The cleaning of the Yamuna River began on Sunday with a comprehensive four-pronged strategy, ahead of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) forming the government in Delhi. The initiative involves using trash skimmers, weed harvesters, and dredgers to remove debris and silt. The plan also includes cleaning major drains, improving sewage treatment capacity, and constructing new plants to address a 400 million gallons per day sewage shortfall. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier pledged to make the river pollution-free, criticizing the previous AAP government for neglecting its upkeep. The ambitious project aims to restore the river within three years, with ongoing coordination among multiple agencies.

The BJP is set to announce Delhi's new Chief Minister on February 19, following its legislative party meeting. With 48 of the 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly, the BJP will choose its leader from several frontrunners, including Parvesh Verma, Vijender Gupta, and Satish Upadhyay. Speculation suggests that the national leadership might surprise the public with a fresh face. BJP observers will engage with the newly elected MLAs to finalize the decision. The AAP, which had ruled for over a decade, suffered a significant defeat, while Congress failed to win any seats, continuing its decline in Delhi.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav sparked controversy on Sunday by labeling the Maha Kumbh as “meaningless” while also blaming the Indian Railways for the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station, which resulted in 18 deaths. Prasad called for the resignation of the railway minister, citing the incident as a failure of the Railways' arrangements. His dismissive comments about the Kumbh Mela, a major Hindu religious event, were quickly condemned by BJP spokespersons, who accused him of insulting Hindu religious sentiments.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy caused a stir on Friday by claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, originally from an upper-caste background, is a “legally converted BC” (Backward Class). Speaking at a Congress event in Hyderabad, Reddy alleged that Modi’s caste was changed after he became Gujarat’s Chief Minister in 2001. The BJP quickly responded, with leaders accusing Reddy of making divisive remarks unfit for his position. Union Minister Kishan Reddy and other BJP officials demanded a public debate and criticized Reddy for attempting to divert attention from Congress’s internal issues. This controversy adds to a series of provocative comments made by Reddy regarding Modi.