India Political Highlights: Mallikarjun Kharge to formally take over as Congress president on Wednesday

Here are the latest political highlights from across India.

BJP MP's meeting with CPI(M) leader in north Bengal part of design to destabilise region, govt: TMC

A meeting between two BJP lawmakers and a CPI(M) leader in north Bengal has raised eyebrows in the TMC camp, with ruling party claiming that it was part of a "greater design to destabilise" the region and the state government.

Both the saffron party leadership and CPI(M)'s Ashok Bhattacharya, however, refuted the claims and speculations, and said it was just a "courtesy visit".(PTI)

Congressmen plan bus tour ahead of Karnataka Assembly polls

Amid buzz that Karnataka Congress leaders are planning a State-wide bus tour ahead of Assembly polls next year, party president D K Shivakumar on Tuesday gave an indication in this regard by stating that the next plan of action is for taking forward the momentum of the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' at the State-level.(PTI)

TRS working president K T Rama Rao attacks NDA govt 'Rozgar Mela'

Stepping up his attack on the NDA government at the Centre, ruling TRS working president in Telangana K T Rama Rao on Tuesday alleged that the Centre's recent 'Rozgar Mela' (an online job fair) is a cruel joke on the unemployed youth.(PTI)

Cabinet expansion soon in Maharashtra, most of new entrants will be MoS: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said the state cabinet would be expanded soon. Talking to reporters at his official residence here, he also said that most of the new members will be Ministers of State.(PTI)

BJP changes Kullu Sadar candidate on last day for filing of nominations

The BJP changed its Kullu Sadar candidate on the last day for the filing of nominations for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls after his son submitted papers as an independent against the party choice in the state’s Banjar.

Narottam Thakur, a retired teacher, filed his papers as the BJP candidate in place of Maheshwar Singh, a party leader said.(PTI)

Mallikarjun Kharge to formally take over as Congress president on Wednesday

Veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge will formally take over as Congress president on Wednesday after he is handed over the certificate of election and the baton by Sonia Gandhi at a function here.

Hectic preparations were underway at the Congress headquarters for the ceremony where party president Sonia Gandhi will hand over the baton to her successor, Mallikarjun Kharge, the first non-Gandhi to head the outfit in 24 years.(PTI)

BJP is actually against Muslim identity: AIMIM chief A Owaisi

Amit Shah meets BJP leaders from Saurashtra ahead of Gujarat polls

Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah on Tuesday met party leaders from the Saurashtra region of Gujarat to formulate strategy for the coming Assembly elections in the state. The meeting, which lasted for several hours, took place at Veraval in Gir Somnath district, party sources said.(PTI)

Firecracker ban flouted, AAP govt should accept it has 'failed' to curb pollution: BJP

BJP leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga shared on social media several videos of people defying the firecracker ban on Diwali to take a dig at the AAP government, while his party said the Arvind Kejriwal dispensation should accept that it has "failed" to curb pollution.

Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana claimed that the air quality index (AQI) was in the "hazardous" category on the day of the festival and on Tuesday.(PTI)

Tharoor, after Sunak's PM appointment, questions if BJP can accept a PM or state CM of Islamic, Christian faiths

Bharat Jodo Yatra achieving desired objectives, has covered one-third distance: Congress

The Congress on Tuesday said the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which has completed one-third of the 3,570-km route, has achieved its desired purpose with people raising their voice against the issues of price rise, unemployment and divisiveness.

AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the yatra has so far covered four states and a total of 18 districts and will cover another eight in Telangana in the next 11 days, after which it will move towards central India. It will resume after the Diwali break on Thursday from Mehboobnagar in Telangana.(PTI)

SKM gives call for 'Raj Bhavan marches' across India on Nov 26 to mark 2nd anniversary of farmers' protest

The Samtyukta Kisan Morcha Tuesday gave a call for 'Raj Bhavan marches' across the country on November 26 to mark the second anniversary of the farmers' agitation against the now-repealed three farm laws.

In a statement, the Samtyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of several farm unions, said that it will hold a meeting in Delhi on November 14 to give the final form to the Raj Bhavan marches and to finalise the memorandum to be submitted to the governors across the country.(PTI)

Previous govts plundered Punjab of its resources, trying to undo damage: CM Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday claimed that previous government "mercilessly plundered" the state’s resources and his regime is trying to undo the damage.

"The Aam Aadmi Party government will overhaul the entire system in the state to ensure its progress and prosperity of people," said Mann addressing a gathering at a state-level function to mark Vishwakarma Day.(PTI)

Goalpara dist administration today sealed Miya Museum inaugurated in Assam

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sharma threatens government action after private Miya Museum inauguration

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sharma slams inauguration of private Miya Museum in Goalpara district

Tejashwi rubbishes speculations about Nitish's return to BJP-led NDA

Speculations about Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's return to the BJP-led NDA have received a thumbs down from his deputy Tejashwi Yadav, who asserted that the 'Mahagathbandhan' is going strong.(PTI)

Jairam Ramesh thanks 'media colleagues' for Bharat Jodo Yatra coverage

Himachal Polls: Rebels in ruling BJP may play spoilsport

Rebels within the ruling BJP may cost it more than the main opposition Congress for the elections to the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly on November 12.Politicalobservers say the rebels are more vocal in the BJP compared to the Congress, though both parties have been gripped with infighting, besides the ruling party facing anti-incumbency.

India 'need not learn diversity and inclusivity from other country,' Malviya retorts as Mufti, Tharoor hail minority Sunak as UK PM

Congress needs serious introspection; CPI must consolidate and expand: D Raja

D Rajawas elected as the General Secretary of CPI at the Party Congress in Vijayawada earlier this month. Raja, the first Dalit to assume the chair of General Secretary in any of the Communist parties in India, first assumed the post after S Sudhakar Reddy, who was re-elected in the 2018 Party Congress, decided to hang his boots in 2019 owing to health reasons. Raja spoke toDH’s Shemin Joyon the way ahead for the CPI, plans for Lok Sabha polls and other political issues.

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Sunak's rise a lesson for parties backing majoritarianism: P Chidambaram

Congress leader and former Union Minister PChidambaram on Monday used thevictory of Rishi Sunakin the race to become the UK's next Prime Minister to take a swipe at the BJP, remarking that there is a lesson to be learned by the parties that practise majoritarianism.

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Govt should solve hunger problems rather than discrediting bodies: Cong chief Mallikarjun Kharge

Newly-elected Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday attacked the Centre over India sliding down on hunger index, and said the government should solve the problem rather than discrediting the organisation.

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Sushil Modi blames Bihar govt for dengue outbreak

SeniorBJPleader Sushil Kumar Modi on Monday squarely blamed the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar for the outbreak of dengue which, he claimed, was "breaking all records" in the state.

His alarm over the outbreak comes in the backdrop of the number of people afflicted with the vector-borne infection inching close to the 8,000 mark in the state.

Congress seeks disqualification of five Manipur JD-U MLAs who joined BJP

The Congress on Monday filed a disqualification petition in Manipur Assembly Speaker's tribunal against five Janata Dal-United MLAs, who joined the ruling BJP last month.

Manipur state Congress Vice-President Hareshwar Goshwami, accompanied by lawyer Ningombam Bupenda Meitei, filed disqualification petitions against the five MLAs. (IANS)