A major political shift unfolded in New Delhi on Friday, April 24, 2026, as Raghav Chadha, along with fellow Rajya Sabha MPs Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak, officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party after resigning from the Aam Aadmi Party. The leaders were inducted into the BJP in the presence of party chief Nitin Nabin at the party office in Delhi, where they were welcomed with bouquets and greeted senior party members. Earlier in the day, Chadha, aged 37, announced his resignation from AAP along with six other MPs, stating their intention to merge with the BJP by invoking constitutional provisions that allow such a move when two-thirds of a party’s members agree. The group submitted a formal letter along with required documents to Rajya Sabha Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan. With seven out of ten AAP MPs in the Rajya Sabha switching sides, the anti-defection law is unlikely to apply. As a result, only three AAP MPs—Sanjay Singh, Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, and N. D. Gupta—remain in the Upper House. Chadha explained that his decision was driven by growing dissatisfaction with the party’s direction, stating that he increasingly felt like “the right person in the wrong party.” His exit comes after a series of developments, including his removal as Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha and replacement by Ashok Mittal. Reports also highlighted his absence from key opposition actions, refusal to sign certain notices, and exclusion from the party’s star campaigner list in multiple state elections. Meanwhile, Sandeep Pathak expressed emotional difficulty over leaving the party after a decade-long association. The move has triggered sharp reactions from AAP leadership. Senior leader Sanjay Singh accused the BJP of orchestrating defections through what he described as “Operation Lotus,” alleging misuse of state machinery and investigative agencies to weaken opposition parties. Arvind Kejriwal also reacted, stating that the development represents a betrayal of public trust, particularly ahead of the Punjab elections scheduled for early 2027, where AAP currently holds power. This high-profile political realignment is expected to significantly alter the balance of power in the Rajya Sabha, strengthening the BJP’s position while dealing a major setback to AAP’s parliamentary presence.

Raghav Chadha sparked fresh political buzz after taking a pointed dig at his own party, Aam Aadmi Party, during a Rajya Sabha session. Highlighting the absence of senior leadership, Chadha remarked that neither the party’s leader nor the newly appointed deputy leader was present in the House, even as he himself attended despite recently being removed from the deputy leader position. In h

Raghav Chadha, Rajya Sabha MP from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has been granted Z category security by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs following a threat assessment. The decision comes after the Punjab government, led by AAP, withdrew his earlier Z+ security cover, sparking political controversy. According to sources, the Intelligence Bureau's report highlighted the need for enhanced security for Chadha, which prompted the Centre to step in, assigning paramilitary forces to provide protecti

A new pilot program by Chicago’s commuter rail system, Metra, is set to change how passengers present tickets at select downtown stations, marking a shift in boarding procedures aimed at improving efficiency. The initiative began after the morning rush hour on Monday, though officials did not specify the exact start date in the announcement. Under the pilot, passengers traveling during off-peak hours at Millennium Station, Union Station, and Ogilvie Transportation Center will be req

Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and former Delhi Chief Minister, has moved a recusal application before the Delhi High Court, requesting that Justice Swarn Kanta Sharma recuse herself from hearing the excise policy case. This legal maneuver follows the court’s previous decision on March 16, granting Kejriwal and 22 others more time to respond to the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) plea challenging their discharge in the case. Kejriwal has stated his intent to p

Travelers flying through Texas airports have recently experienced significant security delays, with airport wait times exceeding one hour amid a partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security. At some major airports in Texas, security lines stretched over three hours, prompting officials to recommend that passengers arrive up to five hours before their scheduled flights to avoid missing departures. The length of the shutdown remains uncertain as congressional negotiati

In a major development for obesity treatment, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved the first oral version of Wegovy, marking a significant shift in how weight-loss medications can be administered. The approval was announced by Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, which described the tablet

Indian applicants planning travel to the United States for study, employment or tourism are experiencing notable changes in visa wait times, with several US consulates across the country reporting shorter delays. According to the latest data from the US State Department’s Global Visa Wait Times portal, appointment backlogs for student, work and visitor visas now vary widely by location but show meaningful improvement compared with previous months. Applicants are being encouraged to monitor

Punjab is grappling with its worst floods since 1988, with the devastating effects of swollen rivers causing massive destruction across the state. As of today, 37 lives have been lost, and all 23 districts of Punjab have been affected by the floodwaters, which have been exacerbated by heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The floods have

Dinesh K Patnaik has officially been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to Canada, according to a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday, August 28. His appointment comes at a significant moment in the evolving relationship between India and Canada, as the two countries attempt to stabilize and reshape their diplomatic ties after months of heightened tension. The appointment f

Arvind Kejriwal, the former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader, responded sharply to Amit Shah's remarks questioning the appropriateness of a chief minister running a government from jail. The Union Home Minister had earlier raised concerns over ministers or chief ministers holding office while incarcerated for serious criminal charges. Kejriwal, who was imprisoned in connection with the liquor policy scam case, fired back at Shah, claiming that the case

Instagram has recently introduced a repost feature for feed posts, much like the retweet feature from X (formerly Twitter), which has sparked conversation among users and critics alike. This new feature allows users to amplify content from others to their followers without creating original content, effectively turning Instagram into a one-stop platform for various content styles. While this move is seen by some as a brilliant strategic adaptation, others ques

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates recently spent a day working at his daughter Phoebe Gates’ AI-powered fashion startup Phia, taking on the role of a customer service representative. This temporary role was not as an investor, but as a hands-on supporter of his daughter’s entrepreneurial journey. Phoebe Gates, who co-founded Phia with environmental activist Sophia Kianni, asked her father to assist users and gain insights into customer behavior. In a detailed LinkedIn po

President Donald Trump has appointed current Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy as interim administrator of NASA, signaling a renewed push to align the agency with his administration’s broader national agenda. The decision, announced Wednesday, highlights the increasing strategic importance of space in U.S. defense, technological innovation, and economic development. Trump made the announcement through his official communication channels, calling Duffy a proven leader an

Arvind Kejriwal, former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader, sparked a fresh political storm after declaring that he deserves a Nobel Prize for governance. Speaking at the launch of the Punjabi edition of the book The Kejriwal Model in Chandigarh, Kejriwal said his administration achieved success despite consistent interference from Delhi's lieutenant governor and central authorities. “Despite being stopped from working, we performed,”

Australia has announced a significant increase in its student visa application fee, raising it to AUD 2,000, effective July 1, 2025. This sharp hike, now making Australia the most expensive destination for student visas among major English-speaking countries, is expected to generate AUD 760 million over the next four years. The government justifies this increase as part of its efforts to manage the growing international education sector sustainably, ensuring equi

When moving to the USA, one of the first decisions NRIs need to make is where to live. Should you go for shared housing or rent a full apartment? Both have their benefits and drawbacks. Let’s break down both options so you can make the best choice based on your budget and lifestyle. Shared Housing for NRIs: A More Affordable Option

Fifteen people were taken to a hospital on Wednesday evening after a skydiving aircraft veered off the runway and crashed into a wooded area near a southern New Jersey airport, authorities confirmed. The incident occurred at Cross Keys Airport, located approximately 21 miles southeast of Philadelphia. The aircraft involved was identified as a Cessna 208B, a single-engine utility plane often used for skydiving operations. The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into t

Finding the right apartment is important, especially if you're an Indian family or someone who values proximity to Indian stores and good schools. Here’s a simple guide to help you choose the perfect apartment in the USA that’s close to Indian stores and schools. 1. Look for Areas with a Large Indian Community Indian Culture:Cities like New Jersey, Fremont, Dallas, Chicago, and Atlanta have a big Indian population. These areas often have Ind

  The United States has implemented a new directive requiring all nonimmigrant student visa applicants to make their social media accounts publicly accessible as part of enhanced background checks. The announcement, which stems from ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to reinforce visa vetting, mandates applicants for F, M, and J category visas to adjust privacy settings across their social media profiles. This change is designed to allow American consular officials to