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Ideology out for summer vacation, Congress Group of 23 becomes 22 with Jitin Prasada exit but who’s next?

The move comes on the back of his long-running differences with the Congress leadership while other reports claimed Prasada had wanted to be the UP Congress Committee chief.

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G23 REBELS

The Congress, which is already reeling from successive electoral losses and bickering, suffered another setback on Wednesday as former Union Minister Jitin Prasada joined the BJP. The move comes on the back of his long-running differences with the Congress leadership while other reports claimed Prasada had wanted to be the UP Congress Committee chief. But is this really a setback or a favour for the party?

The two-time MP was among the 23 leaders who had written to then Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi in 2020 demanding organisational changes and for introspection. Formally, the Congress is yet to reply to the letter though some of the so-called rebels found place in inter-party posts. Prasada’s move comes after another Young Turk Jyotiraditya Scindia scrammed into the BJP in 2020 leading to the fall of the Kamal Nath government. Similarly, Sachin Pilot’s rebellion against Ashok Gehlot was managed by the party with some promises that are yet to be fulfilled.

Why Jitin Prasada? Why now?

Jitin Prasada’s move is a different kettle of fish though. A Brahmin face, his move to the BJP mirrors that of Rita Bahuguna Joshi’s in 2016. His injection is expected to balance out the Thakur-Brahmin equation in the BJP which is heading for polls. It is not immediately clear if the BJP will ask Prasada to contest the 2022 polls.

The BJP’s discomfort with the public perception of the Yogi Adityanath government lies at the heart of its efforts to come up with failsafes. Opposition parties have tried to corner Yogi Adityanath on his government’s response to the Covid-19 situation, even as the government says it has efficiently dealt with the brutal second wave. But the heightened political activity in the state indicates that not everyone in the BJP has bought into the defence.

Read Also: Sonam Kapoor turns 36, wishes pour in from Anil Kapoor, Anand Ahuja, and others

Congress cup of woes now down to 22

The Congress G23 list includes five former chief ministers, MPs Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tewari, members of Congress Working Committee and over a dozen former union ministers with years of political experience.

1.    Ghulam Nabi Azad: A former Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha and a party veteran from Sanjay Gandhi days.

2.    Kapil Sibal: Former Chandni Chowk MP and former union minister.

3.    Shashi Tharoor: Thiruvananthapuram MP since 2009.

4.    Manish Tewari: Former Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting.

5.    Anand Sharma: Former Union Minister and had been Deputy Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, but has been relieved of upper house party duties.

6.    Pallath Joseph Kurian: Former Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha till June 2018, he had been Union Minister several times.

7.    Renuka Chaudhary: Rajya Sabha member from Andhra Pradesh and former union minister.

8. Milind Deora: A former Union Minister of State and was MP from Mumbai in the 15th Lok Sabha.

9. Mukul Wasnik: Former Union Minister.

10. Bhupendra Singh Hooda: Former Chief Minister, Haryana.

11.  Rajinder Kaur Bhattal: A former Punjab Chief Minister.

12. Marpadi Veerappa Moily: A former Karnataka CM and union minister.

13.  Prithviraj Chavan: Former Mhaarshtra CM and former PMO minister.

14.  Ajay Singh, former Leader of Opposition of Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, also has been elected 5 times from Churhat Vidhan Sabha constituency. Singh is the son of Arjun Singh, former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and former Union Minister.

15. Raj Babbar: Actor, three-time Lok Sabha MP and a two-time Rajya Sabha member. He was president of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee.

16.  Arvind Singh Lovely: Congress prodigal from Delhi, left party briefly for the BJP in 2017 but now back in.

17. Kaul Singh Thakur: Leader from Himachal Pradesh, he served as PCC president twice despite strong opposition from Virbhadra Singh and Vidya Stokes.

18. Kuldeep Sharma: Former MP from Haryana.

19. Yoganand Shastri: Speaker of Delhi Legislative Assembly from 2008 to 2013.

20. Sandeep Dixit: Son of former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit, represented East Delhi constituency in Lok Sabha.

21.  Vivek Tankha: Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, senior advocate at the Supreme Court of India.

India News

Abhishek Banerjee says will not bow to BJP after nearly 11 hours of ED questioning

After spending nearly 11 hours before the Enforcement Directorate, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said he would not bow to the BJP and accused the ruling party of using investigative agencies for political purposes.

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Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress leader and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said he would not bow to the BJP after spending nearly 11 hours being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Speaking after the questioning, Banerjee alleged that central agencies were being used to target opposition leaders and asserted that he would continue his political fight despite what he described as sustained pressure.

The TMC leader has repeatedly maintained that investigations involving him are politically motivated, a charge he has made on several previous occasions while appearing before central agencies.

His appearance before the ED comes amid a period of heightened political activity and multiple investigations involving leaders in West Bengal. Recent days have also seen Banerjee face summons and questioning in separate matters by state investigative agencies.

After leaving the ED office, Banerjee reiterated that he would not be intimidated and said he remained committed to his political responsibilities. He also accused the BJP of attempting to weaken opposition parties through investigative action, an allegation that the BJP has rejected in the past.

The Enforcement Directorate has not publicly commented on Banerjee’s remarks. The investigation related to the questioning remains ongoing.

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India News

DMK attacks Rahul Gandhi, accuses him of weakening opposition unity

DMK has intensified its criticism of Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader’s actions have weakened opposition unity and strained relations within the INDIA bloc.

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Rahul-Gandhi

The war of words between the DMK and Congress has intensified, with the DMK launching a strong attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and accusing him of contributing to divisions within the opposition alliance. The criticism comes amid strained ties between the two parties following their political split in Tamil Nadu.

According to the DMK, Rahul Gandhi’s political approach has weakened unity among opposition parties. The party’s IT wing mocked the Congress leader on social media, while an editorial published in the DMK’s official mouthpiece Murasoli questioned his recent remarks on opposition solidarity.

DMK questions Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on opposition unity

In its editorial, Murasoli argued that Rahul Gandhi was speaking about opposition unity despite, according to the DMK, contributing to disagreements among alliance partners in several states. The publication cited criticism directed at Congress by various opposition parties and suggested that the party’s actions had often created tensions within the INDIA bloc.

The editorial also referred to past political disputes involving Congress and Left parties, particularly in Kerala, claiming such episodes had raised concerns among opposition allies about Congress’s approach toward its partners.

Tamil Nadu political fallout adds to tensions

The attack comes after a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu. Following the 2026 Assembly elections, Congress ended its alliance with the DMK and joined the government led by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The move left the DMK in the opposition and significantly altered the political equation between the two former allies.

The DMK has alleged that Congress benefited from the alliance during the election and later abandoned its partner. The party’s editorial questioned whether assurances from Congress leadership would be trusted by alliance partners after the developments in Tamil Nadu.

Congress rejects allegations

Congress has not issued a detailed official response to the editorial, but party sources have rejected the allegations. According to the party, its decisions in Tamil Nadu were made in line with the mandate delivered by voters and were not intended to undermine either the DMK or the broader opposition alliance.

The latest exchange highlights growing strains between two key opposition parties even as leaders continue to stress cooperation on national issues. Just days earlier, Rahul Gandhi had said that the DMK remained aligned with the opposition on defending the “idea of India” despite political differences.

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Entertainment

Kumkum Bhagya actor Sanchita Ugale dies by suicide near Mumbai at 22

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, died by suicide at her residence near Mumbai. Police have launched an investigation.

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Sanchita Ugale

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for her appearances in Kumkum Bhagya, Wagle Ki Duniya and Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi, died by suicide at her residence in Nalasopara East near Mumbai on June 14. She was 22.

According to police officials, the incident took place at her home in Achole village, Nalasopara East. Authorities said Ugale had locked herself inside her bedroom and was later found hanging from a ceiling fan. Family members and local residents rushed her to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Officials said inquiries are underway and the exact reason behind the incident has not yet been established.

Career across television, OTT and films

Ugale had built a growing presence in the entertainment industry through television, streaming projects and films. Apart from Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, she played a lead role in Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi. She also appeared in OTT projects such as Crime Aaj Kal and Silence 2.

The actor was also associated with the film Chhaava, which contributed to her growing recognition among audiences.

Last social media post draws attention

Following news of her death, social media users shared and commented on Ugale’s final Instagram post, which had been uploaded hours before the incident. The post showed the actor in traditional attire lip-syncing to a classic Bollywood song. Fans expressed shock and grief after learning of her death.

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