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K Annamalai likely to quit BJP after declining Rajya Sabha offer, sources say

Former Tamil Nadu leader K Annamalai is set to exit the BJP after rejecting a Rajya Sabha seat offer. Sources indicate he will launch a new public movement following strategic disagreements over assembly election alliances.

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K Annamalai

Former Tamil Nadu party chief K Annamalai is expected to resign from the Bharatiya Janata Party following a scheduled meeting with party president Nitin Nabin in Delhi. According to media sources, the former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer believes that his growth and opportunities within the national party have reached a dead end.

The developments follow a reported offer by the leadership to secure a Rajya Sabha seat for him, which he chose to decline. Instead of continuing his journey within the party, he is highly anticipated to introduce a fresh public movement in the state. This grassroots initiative will focus on mobilizing a broad network of volunteers and connecting with like-minded individuals across diverse professional and social spectrums. When questioned regarding the ongoing speculation about establishing his own political platform, he responded, “Please wait. We will sit down and talk in two days.”

The root of tactical disagreements

The impending departure highlights a growing divide concerning the party’s electoral approach leading up to the 2026 state assembly polls. He had strongly advocated for the party to contest the elections independently, relying on the significant grassroots momentum built during his tenure. Conversely, the central leadership opted to resurrect its alliance with the AIADMK, seeking to unite opposition votes against the governing DMK.

This strategic pivot coincided with structural alterations in the state unit’s administration. Media reports indicate that AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami explicitly requested structural changes in leadership as a prerequisite for the partnership, leading to his replacement as the state president. Consequently, he did not contest the assembly elections or play an active role in the frontline campaigning. The alliance ultimately managed to secure just a single seat in the assembly elections.

A rapid political trajectory

He entered the political sphere in 2020 after stepping away from the civil services, quickly advancing through the local party hierarchy. He was appointed as the state vice-president shortly after his entry and ascended to the position of state president within a single year.

As the state chief, he became one of the most prominent faces for the party in a region traditionally dominated by regional Dravidian parties. Through extensive mass outreach programs, aggressive digital campaigns, and high-visibility public interactions, he substantially enhanced the national party’s presence in the state. Despite the momentum, his opposition to traditional alliances and subsequent exclusion from national organizational roles created friction, paving the way for his expected departure.

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Mallikarjun Kharge warns action against workers over DK Shivakumar slogans

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge warned party workers of disciplinary action after pro-DK Shivakumar slogans disrupted a Congress programme in Bengaluru.

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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday strongly reprimanded party workers after a section of the audience raised slogans in support of DK Shivakumar during a party programme in Bengaluru. Kharge also warned that disciplinary action could be taken against those responsible for disrupting the event.

The incident took place during the ‘Sankalpa Samavesha’ programme, where party leaders had gathered for an organisational event. According to reports, some workers repeatedly chanted “DK-DK” slogans, prompting Kharge to intervene and ask them to maintain discipline.

Visibly upset by the sloganeering, Kharge reminded workers that the gathering was meant for the party and not for promoting individual leaders.

“This is not an individual’s programme, it is a party programme,” Kharge said while stressing that Congress functions as an organisation rather than around personalities.

The veteran leader also expressed displeasure over the disruption, questioning why a few people should dominate proceedings when many others had attended the programme. Referring to his long political career, Kharge said the party had contributed significantly to the rise of many leaders and emphasised the need to uphold organisational discipline.

Warning the workers against similar behaviour in the future, Kharge said footage from the event would be examined and action would be taken if necessary.

“Discipline is always necessary for the party. Whoever is shouting here, there will be footage. I will take disciplinary action after reviewing the footage,” he said.

The episode once again highlighted the importance the Congress leadership places on party discipline during organisational events in Karnataka.

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Delhi likely to see more rain and thunderstorms as IMD forecasts pleasant weather

Delhi-NCR is likely to witness light to moderate rainfall and thunderstorms as IMD forecasts pleasant weather and continued relief from heat.

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weekend curfew

Residents of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) may continue to get relief from intense summer heat as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds in the coming days.

The weather department said changing weather conditions are expected to persist across Delhi-NCR, with intermittent rain and thunderstorm activity likely to keep temperatures under control. The maximum temperature in the national capital settled slightly above the seasonal average, while cloudy skies and moisture-laden winds are expected to bring further relief.

Rain forecast for Delhi-NCR

According to IMD, Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad are likely to witness light rainfall and thunderstorms. The weather agency said the spell of rain could be accompanied by gusty winds, leading to a drop in temperatures across the region.

Officials said the prevailing weather pattern is being influenced by favourable monsoon conditions and local weather systems, which are helping maintain relatively pleasant conditions in the region. The maximum temperature in Delhi is expected to remain below or around the 40 degrees Celsius mark over the next few days.

Monsoon advances over northern India

The southwest monsoon has advanced further into several parts of northern India, including areas of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Weather officials have indicated that conditions remain favourable for the monsoon’s further advance across more regions in northwestern India.

Meanwhile, different parts of Uttar Pradesh are expected to experience varied weather conditions, with eastern districts likely to receive rainfall while some areas in eastern UP may continue to experience heatwave conditions. Rajasthan is also expected to witness rain and thunderstorm activity in several districts.

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Four killed after temple roof collapses at Maharashtra’s Yashwadi shrine

Four devotees were killed and several others injured after a portion of an under-construction roof collapsed at the Yashwadi temple in Maharashtra’s Parbhani district.

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Temple roof collapse

A tragic accident at a prominent temple in Maharashtra’s Parbhani district claimed four lives on Saturday after a portion of an under-construction roof collapsed on devotees gathered at the site.

The incident took place at the Yashwadi temple in Yashwadi village, around 190 km from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Authorities launched a large-scale rescue operation after devotees were trapped beneath the debris following the collapse.

According to local officials, the roof section in front of the sanctum, part of an ongoing construction project, gave way during the afternoon. MLA Rajesh Vitekar said 27 people were trapped under the rubble. All those trapped were later rescued, but four people lost their lives in the incident.

Several injured devotees were shifted to nearby medical facilities for treatment. Three people were admitted to the District General Hospital, while around 20 others received treatment at RP Medical College, according to officials.

Rescue teams rushed to the site

Police, district administration personnel and emergency responders reached the temple soon after the collapse was reported. Rescue efforts continued for several hours as teams worked to remove debris and locate those trapped underneath.

Officials said the structure that collapsed was the temple’s sabhamandap, or outer assembly hall, where construction work was nearing completion. Initial assessments suggest there may have been a structural issue linked to a pillar being erected at the site, though the exact cause remains under investigation.

Popular pilgrimage site draws huge crowds

The Yashwadi temple is among the most visited religious sites in the Parbhani region and attracts thousands of devotees every Saturday. The accident occurred on a day when large numbers of worshippers had gathered at the shrine, increasing concerns about the scale of the tragedy.

Authorities are expected to conduct a detailed inquiry into the collapse and examine whether construction safety norms were followed during the expansion work.

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