Politics

The 2025 Parliament Budget Session will be held from January 31 to April 4, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman set to present her eighth consecutive Union Budget on February 1. The session will begin with President Droupadi Murmu's address on January 31, followed by the tabling of the Economic Survey. The first part of the session will run until February 13, with discussions on the President’s address and the budget. Parliament will then break for recess before reconvening on March 10 to complete the budgetary process, with the session concluding on April 4.

Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor, on Friday labeled the Ayushman Bharat health scheme as the “biggest scam” in India, following the Supreme Court’s stay on a Delhi High Court order. The High Court had directed the Delhi government to sign an agreement with the Centre for the scheme’s implementation in the national capital. Kejriwal welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, calling it a confirmation that the scheme was “fake” and predicting that an inquiry would reveal the true extent of the scam. The matter remains pending as the Supreme Court has issued notices to the Centre and others.

Manish Sisodia, AAP's candidate for the Jangpura assembly seat, responded to the BJP's "Sheesh Mahal" allegations, accusing Prime Minister Modi of building a ₹2700 crore "Raj Mahal." He criticized the BJP for diverting the election discourse away from development and attacking Kejriwal over issues like the alleged "golden toilet." Sisodia also defended the concept of "freebies," asserting that public funds should be used for the people's benefit, and highlighted that other parties are now adopting Kejriwal's welfare policies, which they once mocked.

In the lead-up to the Delhi Assembly elections, Congress has announced a series of poll promises, including a ₹500 gas cylinder, a free ration kit, and 300 units of free electricity for every resident if voted to power. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, speaking at a press conference, criticized both the Modi and Kejriwal governments for their failure to improve living conditions in the city and urged voters to support Congress in the upcoming elections. This marks the latest in a series of guarantees from Congress, including financial assistance for women, unemployed youth, and health coverage.

A Delhi court on Thursday issued a notice to Chief Minister Atishi and AAP MP Sanjay Singh in response to a criminal defamation complaint filed by former Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit. The complaint accuses the AAP leaders of making false allegations, claiming that Dikshit accepted crores of rupees from the BJP and that Congress colluded with the BJP to defeat AAP in the Delhi elections. The court has directed the AAP leaders to submit a reply by January 27, when the case will be further heard.