Arvind Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), is set to file his nomination papers for the upcoming Delhi Assembly election from the New Delhi constituency today. Accompanied by numerous supporters, including many women whom he called “mothers and sisters” of the city, Mr. Kejriwal plans to seek blessings before the formal nomination process.

In a social media post on X, formerly Twitter, Kejriwal stated, “Today will be filing nomination for the polls. Many mothers and sisters will be accompanying me to bless me. Will visit Hanuman and Valmiki temples to seek blessings before filing nominations.”

The electoral battle for the New Delhi constituency will see Kejriwal facing off against Parvesh Verma of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress candidate Sandeep Dikshit, marking a high-stakes triangular contest.

Corruption allegations cloud campaign

Kejriwal’s campaign comes amidst controversy, as the Union Home Ministry recently approved the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) request to prosecute him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The case is linked to allegations that AAP received bribes from the “South Group,” a cartel accused of benefiting from the 2021-22 excise policy.

The former Delhi Chief Minister has denied the allegations, accusing the BJP of weaponizing central agencies against political rivals. “These charges are baseless and politically motivated,” Kejriwal has maintained.

Election fever and political accusations

The 70-member Delhi Assembly is heading for elections on February 5, with results to be announced on February 8. The campaign period has been marked by fiery exchanges between AAP, BJP, and Congress. While the BJP and Congress have targeted Kejriwal over corruption charges and alleged extravagant spending on his official residence, AAP has countered with accusations of misgovernance and lack of development.

The ongoing “Sheesh Mahal” controversy over Kejriwal’s alleged lavish spending on his official residence has also added fuel to the election rhetoric. Both the BJP and Congress have criticized Kejriwal for misusing public funds, an issue likely to influence voter sentiment.

With election day approaching, the triangular contest promises to be a heated battle for control of the capital, with each party vying for public trust amidst the cacophony of allegations and promises.

Laurene Powell Jobs, philanthropist and widow of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, experienced health challenges during her visit to the Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Despite developing allergies, she is determined to partake in the sacred ritual of taking a dip at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers.

Jobs, who arrived on Monday after visiting the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, is staying in a camp hosted by spiritual leader Swami Kailashanand Giri at the Niranjini Akhara. Speaking to ANI, Swami Giri revealed, “She is quite simple and has never been to such a crowded place before. She stayed with us during the pooja and will participate in the holy dip.” Swami Giri has given her the spiritual name ‘Kamala’ during her visit.

The Maha Kumbh 2025, marking a rare celestial event occurring once every 144 years, is one of the world’s largest religious gatherings. It attracts millions of devotees, including sadhus, pilgrims, and international visitors, to Prayagraj. Ms. Jobs’ visit underscores the global draw of this ancient tradition.

On Tuesday, the first Amrit Snan (sacred dip) saw the participation of 3-4 crore devotees, including members of the 13 Akhadas of Sanatan Dharma. These akhadas, representing Shaivite, Vaishnav, and Udaseen traditions, took turns performing their rituals at the Triveni Sangam.

She plans to stay in Prayagraj until January 15 before returning to the United States to attend the January 20 swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Donald Trump. Her brief yet spiritually enriching experience at the Maha Kumbh is a testament to the event’s universal appeal.

The Maha Kumbh, a grand congregation held every 12 years at one of four sacred sites in India, will continue until February 26. Key dates for holy dips include January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), February 3 (Basant Panchami), February 12 (Maghi Purnima), and February 26 (Maha Shivaratri).

Social media giant Meta will soon be summoned by India’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communication and Information Technology over CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s comments regarding the 2024 Indian general election. Nishikant Dubey, BJP MP and chairman of the panel, stated that Meta would be held accountable for allegedly spreading misinformation.

“Misinformation in a democratic country damages its image. The organization must apologize to the Parliament and the people for this mistake,” Dubey said in a post on X.

Zuckerberg, during a January 10 podcast, referred to the global erosion of trust in governments post-Covid. He claimed that in 2024, major elections worldwide, including India’s, saw incumbents losing power, linking this trend to factors such as inflation, economic policies, and pandemic handling.

The statement was swiftly fact-checked by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who clarified that India’s 2024 general elections reaffirmed public trust in the NDA led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“As the world’s largest democracy, India conducted its 2024 elections with over 640 million voters. People reaffirmed their trust in the NDA under PM Modi’s leadership. Zuckerberg’s claim is factually incorrect,” Vaishnaw posted on X.

He also highlighted Modi’s governance during Covid, emphasizing free food for 800 million citizens, 2.2 billion free vaccines, and economic recovery efforts that positioned India as a fast-growing economy. Vaishnaw expressed disappointment in Meta for allowing such misinformation, urging the platform to prioritize factual reporting.

While the BJP saw a slight dip in seats during the 2024 elections, the NDA comfortably retained power with its allies’ support. This marked Modi’s historic third consecutive term as Prime Minister, making him only the second Indian leader after Jawaharlal Nehru to achieve this milestone.

The controversy surrounding Zuckerberg’s remarks underscores the growing scrutiny of social media platforms in influencing political discourse and the need for accountability in the digital space.