The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) officially announced its exit from the INDIA bloc on Friday. Senior leader Sanjay Singh said AAP joined the alliance only for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and has since contested assembly polls independently in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Gujarat. Singh confirmed AAP will not attend the INDIA bloc’s meeting ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on July 21. He criticized Congress for failing to lead the opposition alliance effectively. However, AAP will maintain strategic ties with parties like TMC and DMK on parliamentary issues while positioning itself as a strong opposition. (PC: News18)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the Trinamool Congress during his rally in Durgapur, accusing it of shielding the accused in the Kolkata gangrape case and failing to ensure law and order in West Bengal. He alleged TMC leaders were linked to the accused and criticized the government’s handling of crimes against women. Modi also accused TMC of extorting businesses through a so-called ‘Gunda Tax,’ hindering investment and job creation. He launched infrastructure projects worth Rs 5,400 crore, including Bharat Petroleum’s City Gas project and the Durgapur-Kolkata gas pipeline, promising development despite the state’s alleged governance failures. (PC: India Today)

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of misusing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to systematically target senior Congress leaders. Speaking to the media on July 18, Venugopal alleged that the Modi–Shah duo seems to have assigned the ED a "monthly assignment" against opposition figures. His comments followed recent ED raids, including on Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, linked to an alleged liquor scam. Congress leaders condemned the actions as political harassment, demanding accountability and warning against the misuse of investigative agencies. (PC: ANI)  

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee led a massive protest in Kolkata, daring BJP to “prove Bengali-speaking migrant workers are Rohingyas.” She accused the BJP of harassing Bengalis in NDA-ruled states and manipulating voter rolls to rig elections. Banerjee claimed 22 lakh Bengal migrants have valid documents and warned BJP against similar attempts in Bengal. Thousands joined the TMC rally, disrupting traffic, ahead of PM Modi’s Bengal visit. Meanwhile, BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari led MLAs to the Election Commission, demanding deletion of alleged “Rohingya” names from voter lists. TMC cited these actions as evidence of rising linguistic discrimination. (PC: News18)

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, in a forceful op‑ed marking the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, warns that India’s democracy was critically undermined when Indira Gandhi suspended civil liberties between June 1975–March 1977. He highlights the incarceration of journalists, activists, opposition leaders, judicial submission including suspension of habeas corpus and “horrifying” human‑rights abuses: torture, extrajudicial killings, forced vasectomies and slum demolitions orchestrated by Sanjay Gandhi. Tharoor stresses that today’s India is stronger, but must heed lessons: protect freedom of information, ensure an independent judiciary, and resist executive overreach. He cautions that unchecked power, even with parliamentary majority, threatens democratic norms. The Emergency, he concludes, remains a stark reminder that democracy is precious and fragile. (PC: News18 & BBC)

At least 10 people died after a part of the Gambhira Bridge in Vadodara, Gujarat, collapsed on Wednesday. Five vehicles, including two trucks and an auto-rickshaw, fell into the Mahisagar River. Rescue work is still going on. Opposition leaders blamed the BJP government. The Trinamool Congress asked, “Is this an act of God or an act of fraud?” Congress said locals had warned that the bridge was shaking. Supriya Shrinate called the “Gujarat Model” a symbol of corruption. PM Modi said the incident was “deeply saddening” and announced ₹2 lakh for families of the dead, ₹50,000 for the injured. (PC: AP)

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced a 35% reservation for women in all state government jobs ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. The decision, approved in a Cabinet meeting, will apply to all direct recruitment across government services for women who are permanent residents of Bihar. The government also cleared the formation of the Bihar Youth Commission to address youth employment and education. “We are committed to empowering women and youth,” Kumar said. The move follows a pension hike for the elderly and is seen as a major pre-poll step with elections likely in October-November across Bihar’s 243 Assembly seats. (PC: News18)

Maharashtra’s junior Home Minister Yogesh Kadam said “Marathi must be spoken in Maharashtra” after a shopkeeper in Mira Road was slapped by MNS workers for not using the language. The minister warned of action against those who “disrespect Marathi” but did not strongly condemn the attackers. Babulal Khimji Chaudhary, who owns a 20-year-old sweet shop, was assaulted on Sunday night. A video of the incident went viral, causing public outrage. So far, four of the seven MNS workers have been questioned but not arrested. Bollywood actor Ranvir Shorey and others have spoken in support of the victim. (PC: NDTV)

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said he will remain Chief Minister for five years, ending rumours of a leadership change. “Why do you doubt it? I’ll be CM,” he told reporters. His deputy, DK Shivakumar, also said there is no conflict in the Congress and that he has not asked to become CM. Both leaders said they are united and working together. Siddaramaiah hit out at the BJP and JD(S) for spreading false claims. Shivakumar added that leaders making public statements on leadership change will face action. Congress said it is strong and will complete its full term. (PC: PTI)

A leaked phone call of senior Karnataka Congress MLA BR Patil has gone viral. In the call, he claims, “Siddaramaiah won the lucky lottery and became Chief Minister. I was the one who made him meet Sonia Gandhi.” Patil expressed frustration over party politics, saying, “There is no God or father for us.” He added that Siddaramaiah’s rise was due to “favourable planetary alignment.” Patil said he recently met AICC leader Randeep Surjewala, who told him, “I’m grateful to you.” The leak follows another clip where Patil alleged corruption in a housing scheme, questioning, “Is this a business?” (PC: India Today)