PM Bids Farewell as 59 Rajya Sabha MPs Retire
Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered an emotional address in the Upper House today, bidding farewell to 59 retiring members from 20 states. He described Parliament as an “open university” where experience is the greatest teacher. Highlighting that “there are no full stops in politics,” the PM urged outgoing leaders, including veterans like Sharad Pawar and Mallikarjun Kharge, to continue contributing to national life. He noted that their wisdom remains a vital asset for the country’s democratic journey.
The Congress party has made a strategic move for the upcoming 2026 Assam Assembly elections by fielding Gaurav Gogoi from the Jorhat constituency. This decision marks a significant shift as the sitting MP makes his debut in state-level polls. The party high command, led by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s screening committee, reportedly views Gogoi as a potential Chief Ministerial face. This move is seen as an attempt to reclaim the legacy of his father, the late Tarun Gogoi, and challenge the current BJP-led administration.
In a move to restore decorum, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla revoked the suspension of eight opposition members following a unanimous resolution. However, the Speaker issued a stern warning against the use of “fake and AI-generated posters” inside the chamber. He emphasized that maintaining the dignity of the House is a shared responsibility of all political parties. The session also saw the tenure of the high-level committee on “One Nation, One Election” being extended to finalize its comprehensive report.
The political crisis in the Congress deepened as the party publicly named four Haryana MLAs for cross-voting in the recent Rajya Sabha elections. Party in-charge BK Hariprasad identified the legislators who reportedly supported the BJP candidate, leading to the initiation of strict disciplinary proceedings. Similar rifts were reported in Bihar and Odisha, where the opposition struggled to keep its flock together. These internal divisions have sparked a fresh debate over the influence of governing parties on opposition ranks.
The Election Commission of India has intensified its oversight for the upcoming five-state Assembly polls by deploying 1,111 observers. West Bengal has received the highest concentration of officials, with one general observer assigned to each of its 294 constituencies. Simultaneously, a major administrative reshuffle saw 13 IAS and 19 senior police officers transferred in poll-bound states. These measures are intended to ensure an even playing field and strictly enforce the Model Code of Conduct during the high-stakes electoral battle.
