Politics

The bypolls held on June 19 across five Assembly seats saw the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) scoring key wins in Gujarat and Punjab, while the Congress defeated the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala. In West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) secured a resounding victory in Kaliganj, reinforcing its stronghold in the state.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav filed his nomination for re-election as the party’s national president on Monday, aiming for a 13th consecutive term. The move comes amid the party’s ongoing organisational elections and ahead of crucial Bihar assembly polls. Accompanied by his son Tejashwi Yadav, Lalu’s unopposed re-election appears likely, as no other contender has emerged.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Sunday dubbed RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav as the "Gabbar of Bihar," blaming him for the state's industrial decline and accusing his family of deep-rooted corruption. Defending CM Nitish Kumar, Choudhary dismissed opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav’s criticism and highlighted NDA's efforts toward development, including pension reforms and new industries. The RJD hit back, calling Lalu a symbol of social justice and accusing Choudhary of political opportunism.

The Bihar government has raised the monthly social security pension by ₹700, increasing it from ₹400 to ₹1,100 for widows, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced that the new amount will be disbursed from July, benefitting over 1.09 crore people. The move comes ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in the state.

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has criticised the Modi government's silence on the Israel-Iran conflict, calling it a diplomatic failure and a break from India’s moral traditions. In an op-ed, she condemned Israel’s actions as unlawful and urged India to take a clear stand. The BJP hit back, accusing Congress of politicising diplomacy, stating that India’s position advocating de-escalation is clear and consistent.