India Political Highlights: Bengal BJP chief, other workers detained by cops during 'Ganga Aarti' march

Here are today's top political stories from India.

Bengal BJP chief, other workers detained by cops during 'Ganga Aarti' march

PDP chief Mufti says BJP surrendering people's interests to benefit corporates

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday claimed thatJammu was the worst victim of the BJP's political gimmicks, alleging that thesaffron party was surrendering the interests of people of the region to benefit big corporate houses.

Congress takes swipe at Azad, calls DAP 'Disappearing Azad Party'

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday took aswipe at Ghulam Nabi Azad's Democratic Azad Party (DAP), calling it "Disappearing Azad Party" over the recent exodus of leaders from the newly-formed outfit.

Rahul being flaky, indeed a 'pappu': Haryana CM Khattar

Prez Murmu holds talks with President of Guyana at 17th PBD Convention in Indore

Cong says RSS chief's visit to masjid effect of Bharat Jodo Yatra

BJP's main target to destabilize Bengal govt: TMC's Madan Mitra

Congress leaders and workers protest in Bengaluru against the book "Siddu Nija Kanasugalu" on party leader Siddaramaiah.

Meghalaya government transfers district officials, SPs ahead of polls

In a major reshuffle ahead of the assembly elections, the Meghalaya government on Monday effected transfers of 2 IAS officers and 10 senior district police officers, according to a notification.

East Khasi Hills district Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo has been transferred and SC Sadhu has been posted in her place. The district SP Sylvester Nongtynger has also been replaced with Dr Raghavendra Kumar.

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Kerala Congress leaders turn jittery as Shashi Tharoor's popularity grows

Shashi Tharoor's popularity cuts across all classes of people in Kerala as he is the most sought-after person, even in social groups. This phenomenon does not go down well with a majority of the top brass in the state Congress; the trend is now to 'call Tharoor to save Congress'.

Ever since he returned from Delhi after losing to MalikarjunKharge, while many of his adversaries in the party expected Tharoor will beat a hasty retreat, they were wrong, as in Kerala, his stock went up significantly.

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Tamil Nadu Governor at it again; removes state symbol from Pongal invitation

With the dust over his walking out in a huff from the Assembly yet to settle down, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi has stoked yet another controversy by replacing the state government’s emblem with that of the Union Government’s in invitations sent out for Pongal celebrations at the Raj Bhavan.

The invitations, sent out to VVIPs and other dignitaries, also address Ravi as “Tamizhaga Governor” instead of the standard “Tamil Nadu Governor.” The development comes days after Ravi told a meeting that Tamizhagam was a more appropriate name for the state than Tamil Nadu, inviting criticism from almost all political parties, including AIADMK, BJP’s ally.

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Country needs Kejriwal model, says AAP

AAP’s national joint secretary and in-charge of the party’s Maharashtra unit Gopal Italia and national executive member Mumbai president Preeti Sharma-Menon held discussions on the future strategy on Monday.

“No party is serious about solving the problems of Mumbaikars. All parties have failed and now people have an alternative in the form of AAP,” Italia said.

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Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) workers protest in Coimbatore demanding removal of Governor RN Ravi from his post by Centre

Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) workers protest in Coimbatore demanding removal of Governor RN Ravi from his post by Centre, in wake of him reportedly skipping certain parts of his speech in Assembly y'day& Tamizhagam remark row. Protesters also burnt his effigy

Supreme Court to hear on February 14 the hearing of a batch of petitions filed by rival faction between Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of Shiv Sena group in relation to the Maharashtra political crisis.

President Droupadi Murmu arrives in Indore; Governor Mangubhai Patel and CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan receive her.

She will address the valedictory session of the 17th edition Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention today.

Guyana seeks India’s help to modernise its defence: President Irfaan Ali

The meeting of BJP General Secretaries, chaired by the party's national president JP Nadda, under way at the party HQ.

CPI(M) MP Su Venkatesan tweets that invitation from Gov House for Pongal festival mentions the Gov as Tamilzagam Governor, while he was mentioned as Tamil Nadu Governor in invitation for the portrait ceremony earlier.

Uttar Pradesh: BJP announces names of candidates for MLC elections

The meeting of BJP General Secretaries, chaired by the party's national president JP Nadda, begins at the party HQ.

'Get out Ravi' posters seen around Valluvar Kottam and Anna Salai in Chennai

Raj Babbar joins Bharat Jodo Yatra

Siddu will be defeated by his own party leaders: Varthur Prakash

Former minister Varthur Prakash on Monday insisted that he would contest as the BJP’s candidate from the Kolar Assembly constituency against Congress leader Siddaramaiah. “Siddaramaiah will be defeated by his own party leaders in this constituency. I will win from this seat with the highest margin,” Prakash told DH.

Prakash was Kolar MLA twice winning in 2008 and 2013 as an independent candidate. Once Siddaramaiah’s protege, Prakash joined the BJP in May last year.

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Prachanda to seek trust vote today; Oli takes a jibe at India

With Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal set to seek trust vote in the Nepalese Parliament on Tuesday, the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist) has issued a whip to its members to vote for the ruling coalition even as its leader K P Sharma Oli recently took a jibe at India.

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I want NPP to be the voice of Northeast region in national politics: Meghalaya CM Sangma

National People’s Party (NPP) president and Meghalaya Chief MinisterConrad Sangmais fighting for re-election next month. While the primary Opposition, Congress, is seen to have disintegrated, Sangma tellsDH’sAmrita Madhukalyathat underestimating Congress would be unwise and that NPP is looking at a larger role in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

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How Governor Ravi came under the DMK’s line of fire

Ravi’s honeymoon with the DMK government and Chief Minister M K Stalin didn’t last even three months. The first stand-off began after the Governor sent back the NEET bill to the state Assembly – it was swiftly returned to his office within a week after reenacting it in the House.

His penchant for deviating from the prepared speech and peppering it with quotes from ancient texts might have prompted the Governor to attempt the same in the Assembly on Monday. Constitutional experts say Ravi has erred by deviating from the prepared text of the speech.

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Bharat Jodo Yatra resumes from Shahpur, Ambala Cant

Rahul Gandhi on his T-shirt

BJP blames Kejriwal for spending money on campaigning insteda of finding solutions to Delhi's pollution

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar says 'Mahagathbandhan' govt trying to set up at least one medical college and hospital in every district of state