Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Y.S. Sharmila has launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, accusing him of destroying the legacy of his father, late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR). She alleged that Jagan’s YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has abandoned the principles of YSR and is now merely a tool to appease voters and further the interests of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Congress party, once a dominant force in Andhra Pradesh, is set to make a comeback, according to party observer Manoj Chauhan. Citing the strong anti-incumbency sentiment and corruption prevailing in the state, Chauhan believes the Congress will emerge as a viable alternative to the ‘corrupt’ ruling YSRCP and the ‘opportunistic’ alliance of TDP, BJP, and JSP. He also highlights Congress’s consistent stand on granting Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh as a key factor in its resurgence.
Senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel is contesting the Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat in Chhattisgarh for the third time, aiming to redeem his political standing after the party’s loss in the 2023 Assembly election. Despite the Congress’s modest performance in previous Lok Sabha elections in the state, the party is banking on Baghel’s experience and appeal to boost its prospects in the upcoming polls.
The upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Kerala have garnered national attention due to several factors. The two primary alliances, the Congress-led United Front and the CPI(M)-led Left Front, have an alliance outside Kerala as part of the anti-BJP INDIA bloc. Despite this partnership, their contest in Kerala remains intense. The BJP has made significant efforts to woo the Christian community by leveraging anti-Muslim sentiments and the ‘love jihad’ narrative. Moreover, the elections are held amidst the backdrop of widespread anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in the state, with the Left Front taking a more vocal stance on the issue.
The Madras High Court has dismissed a petition seeking an Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation into seizures of over ₹4 crores from train passengers and the DMK office in Tamil Nadu. The court ruled that the offenses under which the police registered the case did not fall under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which limits the ED’s jurisdiction. The judges stated that a detailed order explaining the reasons for dismissal will be released later.
Indian Overseas Congress Chairman Sam Pitroda has advocated for an inheritance tax law and criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comments on Congress’s manifesto, suggesting concerns about his ‘brain.’ Pitroda believes that an inheritance tax would ensure fairer distribution of wealth in India, where the wealthy often pass on significant fortunes to their heirs without contributing to the public good.
Raksha Ramaiah, the Congress candidate for the Chickballapur Lok Sabha seat, outlines his vision for the constituency if elected, focusing on education, healthcare, and infrastructure development to address key issues such as water scarcity, female literacy, and fluoride-related health problems.
The Congress party has announced its candidates for the Faridkot and Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha seats in Punjab. Amarjit Kaur Sahoke will contest from Faridkot, replacing incumbent MP Mohammad Sadiq. Yamini Gomar will contest from Hoshiarpur. With this announcement, the Congress has now declared candidates for eight of the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab.
Congress leader Velichala Rajender Rao submitted his nomination papers as the party’s candidate for the Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat, resolving a prolonged stalemate within the party over the constituency’s representation. The nomination process witnessed a grand rally led by Rajender Rao and attended by senior party officials. Minister Ponnam Prabhakar criticized the BJP for resorting to political tactics amid public dissatisfaction with the Modi government. He also slammed the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) for alleged financial mismanagement and urged voters to support Rajender Rao for comprehensive development of the Karimnagar Parliamentary constituency.
