BJP's strength in Rajya Sabha drops by four as nominated members Rakesh Sinha, Ram Shakal, Sonal Mansingh, and Mahesh Jethmalani complete their term. Their retirement brings BJP's strength to 86 and NDA's to 101, below the majority mark of 113. The current strength of the House is 225, with Congress-led INDIA bloc having 87 members. The development may impact the ruling party's ability to pass legislation without alliances. The opposition's strength remains significant, with Congress, Trinamool, AAP, and DMK holding key seats. [Photo Courtesy: The Tatva]

In a significant blow to the BJP, the Opposition INDIA alliance has won 10 out of 13 Assembly seats across seven states in the recent by-elections. The Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress, DMK, and Congress party secured victories in their respective states, while the BJP managed only two wins. This outcome marks a shift in India's political landscape, with regional parties and alliances gaining ground against national parties. The results may impact future electoral strategies and signal challenges ahead for the BJP in state-level contests. The by-elections were seen as a key test of strength after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

In a closely contested By-election, Congress candidate Qazi Mohammad Nizammudin won the Manglaur assembly seat by a margin of over 400 votes, defeating BJP's Kartar Singh Dhana. After ten rounds of counting, Nizammudin emerged victorious. Additionally, Congress is leading in Badrinath, where candidate Lakhapat Singh Butola has taken a significant lead of over 5,000 votes against BJP's Rajendra Singh Bhandari. These results mark a significant victory for the Congress party in the region. The wins are a testament to the party's strength and popularity in the area.

Kamlesh Thakur, wife of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has won the Dehra assembly bypoll. She contested as an INDIA bloc candidate and secured over 9,000 votes more than her nearest rival, BJP's Hoshyar Singh. Thakur received a total of 34,412 votes, while Singh got 25,384 votes. The bypoll was held on July 11, and the results were declared on July 13. With this victory, Thakur has made a successful debut in electoral politics. The win is a significant achievement for the ruling INDIA bloc in the state.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has secured a victory in the Jalandhar West Assembly bypoll in Punjab, while the INDIA bloc is leading in 10 of the 12 remaining seats across seven states. The by-elections were held in 13 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Punjab, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh. The results are a significant development ahead of the 2024 general elections, with the BJP trailing in most constituencies. The INDIA bloc's performance is a testament to the opposition's unity efforts, while the AAP's win in Jalandhar West is a boost to the party's prospects in Punjab.

The Bypolls took place in 13 Assembly seats across seven states on July 10, with West Bengal seeing a strong lead for the Trinamool Congress in all four constituencies. The party, led by Mamata Banerjee, is ahead in Maniktala, Raiganj, Ranaghat Dakshin, and Bagda. Notably, the BJP had won three of these seats in the 2021 Assembly elections, but the MLAs later defected to the Trinamool. The results indicate a significant shift in the state's political landscape. Counting is still underway, with the final outcome expected soon.

Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, is set to marry Radhika Merchant today at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. Amidst the grand celebrations, speculation is rife about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's attendance. Posters welcoming PM Modi were spotted outside the venue, though Maharashtra BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye clarified that these were not officially installed by the party, attributing them instead to enthusiastic party workers. The event is expected to draw prominent figures from various sectors, adding to its high-profile nature.

In the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) elections, the Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti alliance secured victory by winning 9 out of 11 seats. BJP candidates, including Pankaja Munde and Parinay Phuke, among others, clinched victories with narrow margins. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising Congress and NCP, managed to win only 1 seat. The voting, held amid heavy rains in Mumbai, saw high participation, with BJP and its allies maintaining a strong hold in the state legislature's Upper House.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that June 25 will be observed as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ to commemorate the Emergency imposed by the Congress-led government in 1975. Modi, along with Union Minister Amit Shah, criticized the Congress for stifling democracy during the 18-month period. The move has sparked renewed debate, with BJP leaders condemning Indira Gandhi’s actions and praising those who resisted the Emergency. President Droupadi Murmu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also voiced strong opposition to the Emergency during recent addresses. The decision aims to honor those who suffered during what Modi termed a “dark phase” in Indian history.

The Supreme Court will deliver its verdict on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea against his arrest and remand by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the excise policy case on July 12. Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 for alleged money laundering linked to the Delhi Excise Policy. The policy, now scrapped, faced corruption allegations. Kejriwal, currently in judicial custody, claims the charges are politically motivated. The Delhi High Court had earlier upheld his arrest. The verdict will be announced by a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta.