NEW DELHI: AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Monday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may not continue in office beyond 2026, as opposition leaders launched a broad attack on the BJP-led Centre at the launch of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut’s book ‘Unlikely Paradise’ in the national capital.Speaking at the event, Kejriwal said, “PM Narendra Modi might not be the Prime Minister by the end of 2026. He and Amit Shah are about to go, and their rule is about to end…”He added that his “heart and political understanding” suggest that PM Modi may not continue as prime minister through 2026, asserting that both “Modi’s and Shah’s reign will end.”Kejriwal also accused the government of losing its grip over public discourse, particularly on social media. Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Amazon Web Services ‘disrupted’ following drone attack in Bahrain; Saudi, UAE mull joining Iran warPossible US-Iran Talks In Islamabad: White House calls situation ‘sensitive’ and ‘fluid’; oil prices tumbleTrump Shifts Iran War Push: says Hegseth urged early strikes; extends deadline for attacks“At one time, people were jailed even for memes against PM Modi. Today, social media is full of criticism, reflecting a decline in his popularity,” he said.Targeting the electoral process, the former Delhi chief minister alleged that elections are being “won through corruption” and cited his own experience. He claimed that before his imprisonment, he secured around 1.48 lakh votes, but after his release, nearly 42,000 votes were “deleted,” resulting in a narrow defeat margin of about 3,000 votes. He added that he had earlier won the same seat by a margin of 30,000 votes and accused the ruling party of “cheating to win elections.”Kejriwal also criticised institutions, saying, “Modi’s popularity is declining, but he is still winning elections. Who is responsible for it? It’s the EC.”He further said, “Everyone should read this book. The Modi government includes all the dishonest people in its party and puts all the honest ones in jail. The way they (BJP) win the election by misusing the Election Commission is not good for the country.”Several opposition leaders echoed similar concerns at the event held at Mavalankar Hall, Constitution Club of India, which was attended by Kapil Sibal, Digvijaya Singh, Jaya Bachchan and Derek O’Brien.TMC Rajya Sabha leader Derek O’Brien said, “On May 4, the people of Bengal will not defeat, but humiliate Modi and Shah… The next big one will be in February 2027 in Uttar Pradesh… These two are going to happen.” He also claimed that in West Bengal, his party “did not allow the EC to do the jugglery.”Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said the ED and the EC are “two faces of the same coin.” He added, “If EC prepares machine-readable voter lists and holds elections on ballots, Modi and Shah can never win.”AAP leader Sanjay Singh, who was also arrested in the liquor policy case, said, “This is the biggest slap on the face of the government,” noting that not a single rupee was found at the residence of Kejriwal or any AAP leader.Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal questioned the role of the Enforcement Directorate, saying, “They are actually violating the law because they have no concern with human rights.”Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, whose book is based on his jail experiences, said, “We will wait, and those who are responsible for this will also be sent there (jail) someday.”Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant defended Raut, saying, “Sanjay Raut is a ‘sher’ (lion). The atrocity inflicted upon him was not a lawful proceeding. It was sheer oppression. Even the British never committed such atrocities as these people are committing.” Referring to the book, he added, “The book he wrote recounting this experience was read out in both Hindi and English on the stage today…”Separately, Raut also criticised the Centre over its silence on the escalating US-Israel versus Iran conflict. “No one can say what India’s role is. This war (the US-Israel versus Iran conflict) has reached a very dangerous turning point. India is a country of 1.4 billion people, but to date, Prime Minister Modi has not expressed his opinion on this war. What is the fear? They should tell us what our role is and what we are going to do next,” he said.O’Brien also alleged that several individuals facing legal action avoided jail after joining the BJP. He said he meets “15-20 people in Parliament every day, who were supposed to be in jail, but joined the BJP and did not go to jail.”About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDelhi Budget: Rekha Gupta Govt Promises Free LPG Cylinders Twice A Year Amid Rising Energy CostsPM Narendra Modi Reveals How Much Oil India Has As West Asia War Disrupts Global Oil SuppliesPM Modi Urges Peace, De-escalation As India Engages Iran, Israel And US To Resolve Energy CrisisManish Tewari Questions Relevance of Budget 2026 Amid Rising West Asia TensionsSupreme Court Raps Forces Over Gender Bias, Orders Justice For Women Officers In Historic RulingGovt Tightens Grip On GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Amid Rising Concerns Over Unauthorised SalesIndia, US Step Up Defence Talks As Elbridge Colby Visit And Jaishankar-Rubio Call Focus On West Asia“Pak Is Just Dysfunctional”: Fareed Zakaria Explains India-Pakistan Growth GapCentre’s Nod To 114 Rafales, 60 Transport Aircraft, And AEWC Systems In Major Air Force Upgrade PushIndia Issues RFI for Engine Test Complex, Facility To End India’s Foreign Engine Testing Dependency123Photostories8 satvik foods to eat during Navratri for energy and balanceTop 7 tallest buildings of Mumbai that define the city’s skyline8 high-protein meal ideas for Navratri Ashtami fasting4 meditation practices from Hindu wisdom that guide the mind towards peaceFrom Divyanka Tripathi to Dipika Kakar: TV actresses who proved it’s never too late to embrace motherhood10 heat-tolerant plants that thrive in Indian summers9 fruits you should eat with the peel and how to remove pesticides safelyChennai Metro plans 500m-radius multimodal hubs to boost last-mile connectivityPune’s 23-km IT corridor metro nears completion; full rollout expected by July5 healthy and rich sources of vitamin D123Hot PicksTrump Iran DealMohammad Bagher GhalibafSan Francisco AirportGold rate todayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingGolden state warriors vs dallas mavericks injury reportPatrick MahomesJoe MazzullaColombian Military Plane CrashBrittany MahomesWWE Raw News RoundupSilver Rate TodayRajasthan 8th Class ResultTrump Iran DealBihar Board Science Topper
NEW DELHI: AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Monday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may not continue in office beyond 2026, as opposition leaders launched a broad attack on the BJP-led Centre at the launch of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut’s book ‘Unlikely Paradise’ in the national capital.Speaking at the event, Kejriwal said, “PM Narendra Modi might not be the Prime Minister by the end of 2026. He and Amit Shah are about to go, and their rule is about to end…”He added that his “heart and political understanding” suggest that PM Modi may not continue as prime minister through 2026, asserting that both “Modi’s and Shah’s reign will end.”Kejriwal also accused the government of losing its grip over public discourse, particularly on social media. “At one time, people were jailed even for memes against PM Modi. Today, social media is full of criticism, reflecting a decline in his popularity,” he said.Targeting the electoral process, the former Delhi chief minister alleged that elections are being “won through corruption” and cited his own experience. He claimed that before his imprisonment, he secured around 1.48 lakh votes, but after his release, nearly 42,000 votes were “deleted,” resulting in a narrow defeat margin of about 3,000 votes. He added that he had earlier won the same seat by a margin of 30,000 votes and accused the ruling party of “cheating to win elections.”Kejriwal also criticised institutions, saying, “Modi’s popularity is declining, but he is still winning elections. Who is responsible for it? It’s the EC.”He further said, “Everyone should read this book. The Modi government includes all the dishonest people in its party and puts all the honest ones in jail. The way they (BJP) win the election by misusing the Election Commission is not good for the country.”Several opposition leaders echoed similar concerns at the event held at Mavalankar Hall, Constitution Club of India, which was attended by Kapil Sibal, Digvijaya Singh, Jaya Bachchan and Derek O’Brien.TMC Rajya Sabha leader Derek O’Brien said, “On May 4, the people of Bengal will not defeat, but humiliate Modi and Shah… The next big one will be in February 2027 in Uttar Pradesh… These two are going to happen.” He also claimed that in West Bengal, his party “did not allow the EC to do the jugglery.”Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said the ED and the EC are “two faces of the same coin.” He added, “If EC prepares machine-readable voter lists and holds elections on ballots, Modi and Shah can never win.”AAP leader Sanjay Singh, who was also arrested in the liquor policy case, said, “This is the biggest slap on the face of the government,” noting that not a single rupee was found at the residence of Kejriwal or any AAP leader.Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal questioned the role of the Enforcement Directorate, saying, “They are actually violating the law because they have no concern with human rights.”Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, whose book is based on his jail experiences, said, “We will wait, and those who are responsible for this will also be sent there (jail) someday.”Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant defended Raut, saying, “Sanjay Raut is a ‘sher’ (lion). The atrocity inflicted upon him was not a lawful proceeding. It was sheer oppression. Even the British never committed such atrocities as these people are committing.” Referring to the book, he added, “The book he wrote recounting this experience was read out in both Hindi and English on the stage today…”Separately, Raut also criticised the Centre over its silence on the escalating US-Israel versus Iran conflict. “No one can say what India’s role is. This war (the US-Israel versus Iran conflict) has reached a very dangerous turning point. India is a country of 1.4 billion people, but to date, Prime Minister Modi has not expressed his opinion on this war. What is the fear? They should tell us what our role is and what we are going to do next,” he said.O’Brien also alleged that several individuals facing legal action avoided jail after joining the BJP. He said he meets “15-20 people in Parliament every day, who were supposed to be in jail, but joined the BJP and did not go to jail.”
