The death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash has created uncertainty within the Nationalist Congress Party. Attention has now shifted to his wife, Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha MP. Though she stayed away from frontline politics for years, she entered active politics in 2024 and later joined the Upper House. Sunetra Pawar has strong political and social links in Baramati and Marathwada. She also heads educational, business, and environmental initiatives. Party leaders say sympathy and her family standing may place her at the centre of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction, even as questions remain over future leadership and unity. (PC: India Today)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday hinted at possible foul play in the plane crash that killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and demanded a Supreme Court-monitored investigation. Speaking to the media, Banerjee said the incident raised serious questions about the safety of political leaders. She said only a probe under the Supreme Court’s supervision would be credible and added that she trusted no other agency. Banerjee said she was shocked by Pawar’s death and called it a major loss. Several opposition leaders also sought a proper and transparent investigation while offering condolences to Pawar’s family. The aircraft crashed near Baramati during a landing attempt. (PC: India Today, X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed grief over the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who was killed in a plane crash in Baramati. In a post on X, Modi described Pawar as “a leader of the people” with a strong grassroots connect. He said Pawar was respected for his hard work and service to Maharashtra. Calling the death shocking and saddening, the Prime Minister offered condolences to Pawar’s family and supporters. The charter aircraft crashed while attempting to land in the Baramati area of Pune district. All five people on board were killed, officials said. An investigation into the crash is underway. (PC: X)

The Karnataka Wine Merchants’ Association has accused the Congress government in Karnataka of a ₹6,000-crore excise scam. The association said corruption took place under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s rule. It plans to write to Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. The body claimed CL-7 bar licences in Bengaluru cost up to ₹2 crore. Excise Minister RB Timmapur rejected the claims and said there is no proof. He said he will answer the charges in the Assembly.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi did not wear a North-Eastern patka at the Republic Day ‘At Home Reception’ at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday, sources said. The event followed a North-East theme.   Sources claimed President Droupadi Murmu asked Gandhi twice to wear the patka, but he declined. Pictures showed him holding it instead. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was seen wearing it.   The Congress called the claims “fake drama” and accused the BJP of politicising the President’s house. The BJP said Gandhi insulted the culture of the North-East.

A college professor was stabbed to death at Malad Railway Station in Mumbai, police said on Saturday. The victim, Alok Singh, taught at a college in Vile Parle. The attack followed a brief argument inside a local train over boarding and alighting at the gate. After the train stopped, the dispute continued on the platform. The accused, identified as 27-year-old Omkar Shinde, allegedly stabbed Singh several times and fled. Government Railway Police used CCTV footage from the station to trace the suspect. He was later arrested from Vasai. Police are probing whether other factors led to the attack. (PC: NDTV)

Rashtriya Janata Dal founder Lalu Prasad Yadav has appointed Tejashwi Yadav as the party’s national working president. The decision was announced at the opening session of the RJD national executive meeting in Patna. Lalu Yadav formally handed over the appointment letter in the presence of senior party leaders. Tejashwi Yadav, a former Bihar deputy chief minister, has led the party in recent elections and is seen as its main leader. The RJD said the move aims to strengthen the party’s organisation and outreach. Tejashwi earlier led the RJD to emerge as the largest party in the 2020 Bihar Assembly polls. (PC: NDTV)

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has decided not to attend an important party meeting called by senior leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge to discuss Kerala assembly poll preparations, sources told NDTV on Friday. Tharoor is reportedly upset over a perceived lack of respect during Gandhi’s recent visit to Kochi, where issues around speaking order and recognition left him feeling sidelined. The four‑time MP from Thiruvananthapuram has had growing friction with the party leadership, drawing attention for comments seen as favorable to the BJP and sparking internal unease. 

Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot walked out of the state Assembly on Thursday after reading only two lines of his customary address. The move came amid a fresh disagreement between Raj Bhavan and the state government. Officials said the governor objected to parts of the government-drafted speech. He reportedly wanted 11 paragraphs removed, citing references critical of the Centre and its policies. When the changes were not made, Gehlot concluded the address early and left the House. A video of the brief address circulated widely. The incident adds to a series of recent disputes between governors and elected state governments across the country over legislative procedures and content of official addresses.

The contest for the Mumbai mayor’s post has intensified after Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde said the post should go to his Shiv Sena faction. He said it would be a “mark of respect” for party founder Bal Thackeray in his birth centenary year. The demand follows the BJP-led Mahayuti winning a majority in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut alleged that phones of BJP and Shiv Sena corporators were being tapped and that elected members were kept under watch. The BJP rejected the charge and denied any surveillance. No party has an outright majority in the 227-member civic body. (PC: HT)