The Times of India

India's electricity demand hit a record 252 GW on April 24. Soaring temperatures across the nation drove this surge. Air conditioner usage increased significantly in homes and businesses. This peak demand surpassed previous records. The power ministry anticipates further increases as heatwaves continue. Officials expect demand to rise even higher in the coming days.

Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu advocated for women's reservation and growth-led welfare, emphasizing wealth generation through reforms and investment. He also suggested encouraging a higher birth rate to maintain India's demographic advantage, urging a collective approach to structural challenges.

Punjab CM seeks time from President, wants recall of MPs.

At the IIT2026 Global Conference, Sadhguru urged viewing India as a civilization, not just a nation, emphasizing its spiritual and scientific heritage. He highlighted rapid global change driven by AI, stressing the need for human clarity and understanding our own potential beyond mere data processing. The conference celebrated 75 years of IITs, focusing on AI, innovation, and collaboration.

Former Arvind Kejriwal aide Swati Maliwal has accused the former Delhi chief minister. She claims Kejriwal began his political journey in torn pants and with limited resources. Maliwal alleges that after coming to power, he constructed a house valued at one hundred crore rupees. She also criticized the AAP's governance in Punjab. The remarks follow a significant party exodus.

This of RS MPs comes just a little over 14 months after AAP faced a rout on its homeground Delhi and when the party is bracing itself for a tough battle to save its govt in Punjab. The defection takes away the bounce the party enjoyed following Kejriwals discharge in the liquor case. The departures, besides denting AAPs presence in Parliament also brings out its vulnerability as it now faces the big challenge of keeping its flock together MLAs in Punjab ahead of the 2027 assembly.

Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal, now with the BJP, revealed she was intimidated and threatened after alleging an assault by an AAP aide at Kejriwal's residence in 2024. She claimed immense pressure to withdraw her FIR, leading to her being sidelined by the party. Maliwal also criticized AAP's governance in Punjab and praised PM Modi's leadership.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will meet President Murmu to seek the recall of seven AAP MPs, including six from Punjab, who have joined the BJP. This move follows Raghav Chadha's announcement that two-thirds of AAP's Rajya Sabha members are merging with the BJP, citing the party's deviation from its principles.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seized upon remarks by RSS leader Ram Madhav to criticize Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Madhav's initial comments suggested India yielded to US pressure on oil imports and tariffs, which he later retracted and apologized for. Congress claims this indicates Modi has lost his authority and India's sovereignty is compromised.

K Kavitha is launching a new political party in Telangana, aiming to fulfill the region's unfinished agenda. She stated her supporters were expelled from the BRS, not that they left. Kavitha emphasized her deep connection to Telangana and its people, viewing them as her family, despite strained ties with her father's party and family.

Veteran activist Anna Hazare criticized AAP leadership following the departure of Raghav Chadha and six other Rajya Sabha MPs, suggesting their exit stemmed from the party deviating from its original principles. Chadha announced the group's decision to merge with the BJP, citing constitutional provisions and claiming a significant portion of AAP's Rajya Sabha members had left.

Bharatiya Janata Party has sharply criticized Arvind Kejriwal, labeling him the Rahman Dakait of Delhi and accusing him of lavish living. BJP leader Parvesh Verma alleged Kejriwal built a Sheesh Mahal 2 while Delhi suffered during the Covid wave and has now moved into a luxurious bungalow, abandoning his image of simplicity.

Tenth Schedule Sterile, Replace It, Says Singhvi

Seven Rajya Sabha MPs, led by Raghav Chadha, have defected from AAP to the BJP, significantly boosting the ruling party's numbers to 113 and reducing AAP to just three members. This move weakens the opposition bloc's strength to 77, marking a substantial shift in the Upper House's political landscape and impacting AAP's national presence.

Aam Aadmi Party faces a significant internal crisis as Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha leads a mass exodus of seven MPs to the Bharatiya Janata Party. This move, following Chadha's removal as deputy leader, marks a severe blow to AAP's presence in Parliament and raises questions about its core principles.

RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale clarified the organization's identity as a civilizational movement, not religious, emphasizing cultural values and societal betterment. He addressed regional tensions, advocating for dialogue, and refuted claims of Hindu supremacy, highlighting India's global image beyond common misconceptions.

Raghav Chadha's defection from AAP to BJP, along with six other Rajya Sabha members, significantly weakens the party's parliamentary strength and national positioning. This move, which qualifies as a merger under anti-defection rules, erodes AAP's credibility and its ability to represent Punjab's interests nationally, potentially impacting upcoming elections.

Raghav Chadha, formerly of AAP, has joined the BJP, a party he previously labeled as 'illiterate goons.' Chadha cited AAP's deviation from principles for personal gain as his reason for leaving. He now praises PM Modi's leadership and vows to continue raising citizen issues under the BJP banner.