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No relief for Rahul Gandhi as Surat court dismisses plea for stay on his conviction in Modi surname defamation case

A sessions court in Gujarat’s Surat city today dismissed Congress scion Rahul Gandhi’s plea seeking a stay to his conviction in the “Modi surname” remark criminal defamation case.

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A sessions court in Gujarat’s Surat city today dismissed Congress scion Rahul Gandhi’s plea seeking a stay to his conviction in the “Modi surname” remark criminal defamation case.

On April 13, the court, after hearing arguments from both sides, had reserved its order on Rahul Gandhi’s plea and said the verdict will be pronounced on April 20.

Additional Sessions Judge RP Mogera had heard arguments from both sides and decided to hold the order till next hearing on April 20.

On Thursday, dismissing the Gandhi scion’s plea Justice Mogera said that Rahul Gandhi failed to demonstrate that by not staying the conviction and denying an opportunity to contest the election, an irreversible and irrevocable damage will be caused to him.

The trial court judge also quoted the Supreme Court as saying that decisions to pause conviction should be exercised with caution and “not in a casual and mechanical manner… that will shake public confidence in the judiciary”.

Rahul Gandhi’s counsel had told the sessions court that the trial in “Modi surname” remark was “not fair” and there was no need for maximum punishment in the case.

Senior advocate R S Cheema, the counsel for the Gandhi scion, told the judge that the trial was not “fair” and the judgement by the magistrate was “strange” because the trial court judge “made a hotchpotch of all the evidence on record”.

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Rahul Gandhi had filed a plea in the Surat sessions court seeking a stay on his conviction in a criminal defamation case over the 2019 “Modi surname” remark.

On March 23, a magistrate court in Surat convicted the Congress leader in the criminal defamation case and sentenced him to two years in jail. The conviction led to his disqualification from the Lok Sabha and losing his MP status.

After being disqualified from the House, Gandhi was asked to vacate the official bungalow allotted to him as the MP by April 22.

If the order by the sessions court goes in favor of the former Wayanad MP, it may pave the way for him to his reinstatement as a Member of Parliament.

The disqualification which will prevent 52-year-old Gandhi, a four-time MP, from contesting elections for eight years unless a higher court stays the conviction, has kicked up a political storm with the Congress staging a countrywide satyagraha last month to protest the decision.

Congress releases final list of candidates for Karnataka elections. Check here.

Surat court to pronounce verdict on Rahul Gandhi’s plea against conviction in Modi surname remark defamation case today

India News

Vijay expresses gratitude to Modi, Rahul Gandhi for congratulatory messages after poll victory

Vijay thanked PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi after his party’s strong Tamil Nadu poll performance, promising governance focused on public welfare.

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Actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for congratulating him on his party’s strong performance in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections 2026.

Vijay, who leads the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), acknowledged the wishes shared by both leaders following the party’s impressive electoral debut, which has significantly altered the political landscape of Tamil Nadu.

Responding to the Prime Minister on social media platform X, Vijay said that his party’s focus would remain on public welfare and development. He emphasised that governance should rise above political differences and aim at improving the lives of the people.

“The well-being of our people remains our only goal… we shall focus on the state’s progress and welfare,” he said, while also expressing hope for support from the Union government in achieving these objectives.

The TVK has emerged as a major political force in the state, breaking the long-standing dominance of traditional parties and marking a major shift in Tamil Nadu’s political dynamics.

According to early developments, the party has staked claim to form the government and may seek additional support if required to prove its majority in the assembly.

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Mamata Banerjee questions poll process, targets Election Commission after defeat

Mamata Banerjee accuses the Election Commission of misconduct after BJP’s historic win in West Bengal, questioning the fairness of the electoral process.

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TMC chief alleges irregularities in electoral process as BJP secures decisive victory in West Bengal

Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission of India, accusing it of playing “nasty games” during the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections.

Reacting to her party’s defeat, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief alleged that the electoral process was not conducted fairly and raised serious concerns over the role of authorities in the outcome.

According to reports, Banerjee claimed that the mandate did not reflect the true will of the people, suggesting that irregularities and manipulation may have influenced the results. She questioned the credibility of the election process and indicated that her party would review the situation further.

The remarks came after the Bharatiya Janata Party registered a historic win in West Bengal, marking a major political shift in the state.

Banerjee’s criticism adds to a series of allegations made during and after the election period, where she had earlier also raised concerns about counting procedures and the conduct of central agencies.

Despite the setback, the TMC leadership has signalled that it will continue to challenge the results politically, while maintaining that democratic norms must be upheld.

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Himanta Biswa Sarma attacks Congress after Assam win, says people made Pawan Khera eat Pera

Himanta Biswa Sarma targets Congress after BJP’s Assam win, saying voters made Pawan Khera eat pera.

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Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched a sharp attack on the Congress after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance secured a decisive victory in the 2026 Assam Assembly elections.

Reacting to the results, Sarma took a swipe at Congress leader Pawan Khera, saying that the people of Assam had made him “eat pera,” a remark aimed at highlighting the party’s defeat in the state.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) registered a commanding win, marking its third consecutive term in Assam. The BJP itself won a significant number of seats, while its allies — the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) — also contributed to the alliance’s strong tally.

The victory underlines the BJP’s continued dominance in the northeastern state, with Sarma emerging as the central figure in the party’s campaign and governance narrative.

Political observers note that the scale of the mandate reflects voter support for the party’s leadership and its governance approach, even as the opposition struggled to mount an effective challenge.

With this result, the BJP has further strengthened its position in Assam’s political landscape, while the Congress faces renewed questions over its performance in the state.

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