Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was on Monday formally reappointed as the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Rajya Sabha after taking oath as a member of the Upper House following his re-election.

Kharge’s previous term as a Rajya Sabha member ended on June 25. Following his re-election to the Upper House from Karnataka, Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan accorded recognition to him as the Leader of Opposition with effect from June 26.

The Congress veteran took oath as a Rajya Sabha member in the Chairman’s chamber on Monday. The oath ceremony marked the beginning of his fresh term in the Upper House.

Recognition effective from June 26

According to a bulletin issued by Rajya Sabha Secretary-General P C Mody, Kharge ceased to hold the office of Leader of Opposition after the expiry of his earlier Rajya Sabha term on June 25. Following his re-election, he was once again recognised as the Leader of Opposition under the provisions of the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977.

Kharge had earlier been elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka during the recent biennial elections to the Upper House.

The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), led by Vaiko, has formally ended its nine-year association with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), marking a significant shift in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. The decision was taken during the party’s general council meeting held on Friday.

MDMK cites attempts to weaken party

In resolutions adopted at the meeting, the MDMK alleged that efforts had been made to weaken the party within the DMK-led alliance, making it difficult to continue the association. The party also claimed there were attempts aimed at facilitating an AIADMK return to power, allegations that were rejected by the DMK.

Although political observers have speculated about the MDMK moving closer to Chief Minister Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the party did not formally announce any alliance with the ruling front. Instead, it said decisions regarding future political alignments would be taken at an appropriate time.

Warm remarks for Vijay government fuel speculation

The MDMK’s resolutions welcomed the state government’s functioning under Chief Minister Joseph Vijay and urged it to remain committed to key promises, including ensuring corruption-free governance and safeguarding Tamil Nadu’s interests on issues such as the Mekedatu dam project. These remarks have intensified speculation about a possible future understanding between the two sides.

The development comes amid broader political realignments in Tamil Nadu following the 2026 Assembly elections, with several parties reassessing their alliances in the changed political scenario.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray were seen travelling on the same commercial flight from Mumbai to Nagpur, triggering fresh political discussions in the state.

The two leaders, who have remained political rivals in recent years, reportedly exchanged greetings and briefly interacted during the journey. Reacting to the unexpected encounter, Fadnavis remarked that the meeting of the leaders had become the “biggest news of the day”.

Thackeray was accompanied by his son and MLA Aaditya Thackeray, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut and other senior leaders of the Shiv Sena (UBT). The flight came at a time when Maharashtra politics has witnessed significant developments, including recent defections from the Thackeray-led party.

The shared journey quickly sparked speculation in political circles. However, leaders from the ruling alliance played down the development, describing it as a routine interaction between political opponents rather than an indication of any new political understanding.

While the brief interaction generated considerable attention, no political discussions or meetings beyond customary greetings were officially reported.