politics

"Yes, I have left the party," Tyagi confirmed when asked, adding that his "further course of action" will be decided soon in consultation with "all required people".

The defection, attributed to growing internal discontent following the recent delimitation exercise, highlights emerging cracks within the Congress’s state unit.

Among those who joined the party were former cricketer Shiv Shankar Pal, noted academic and Santhal community figure Tanushree Hansda, and Islamic scholar Abdul Matin.

The move of the Chief Minister into the Rajya Sabha was ensured by the ruling coalition with the help of cross-voting and the absence of opposition members.

The five successful candidates include Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is set to make his debut in the Upper House, alongside BJP national president Nitin Nabin, Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur, Shivesh Kumar, and Upendra Kushwaha.

Seven Congress and a CPI(M) MP were suspended on February 3 for unruly behaviour, following a resolution passed by the Lok Sabha in the first part of the Budget session.

Kharge pointed out that the government had enough time to prepare, noting that an advisory had been issued to Indian citizens the moment hostilities broke out.

Leading the NDA’s charge, Bihar BJP president Sanjay Saraogi dismissed any possibility of an upset, stating that all five of their candidates would leave the assembly as members of the Upper House.

The bureaucrat-turned politician also said he is called the "child of Macaulay" for speaking English and questioned whether Modi knows Tamil.Reacting to Aiyar's remarks, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and workers held a protest in Jaipur on Sunday and burnt his effigy.

  "The University of Delhi implements all its statutory mandates in the true spirit of the Constitution of India, as clearly reflected in our transparent admission and recruitment processes," the University officials said in a post on X.

Among those seeking re-election are four current ministers— GR Anil, J Chinchurani, K Rajan, and P Prasad.

While Chief Minister Omar Abdullah questioned possible security lapses, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti expressed shock over the grave attack.