VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Delhi High Court disposes plea on ‘Lawrence of Punjab’ OTT release, notes centre’s advisories Meet the most cheerful zodiac signs with positive energy Spicy jhalmuri politics, EVM fears & PM Modi’s letter – Key highlights from West Bengal phase II campaigning | West Bengal Election News The political arena heats up as Congress voices its discontent over AAP’s Rajya Sabha nominees, branding them as elitists with an impressive average net worth of Rs 818 crore. Ajay Maken argues that AAP functions as a puppet for the BJP, orchestrated to disrupt Congress’s support in upcoming state elections. NEW DELHI: With AAP’s seven Rajya Sabha MPs joining BJP, Congress said Arvind Kejriwal nominated members to the upper House based on their monetary muscle, claiming the average worth of the present defectors stands at Rs 818 crore.Congress treasurer Ajay Maken told a press conference that all seven who left AAP for BJP were millionaires who had never even issued a statement in favour of AAP till they were nominated to Parliament. “What kind of Aam Aadmi is this? Kejriwal should change the party’s name to ‘crorepati aadmi’,” he said.“I tried to calculate the net worth of the seven MPs, but the sum was mind boggling. So, I settled for an average. And, it crosses Rs 818 crore per MP,” Maken said.Maken claimed he always knew about RS nominations in AAP, as Sushil Gupta, who was a Congress office-bearer, had come to him in 2017 and asked to be relieved of the party membership because “he had a ‘setting’ in AAP and would be made an RS MP”.He said the mass defection to BJP has exposed the reality that BJP had created AAP as a proxy to counter Congress, which it was not able to fight till 2014. “The two best administrators seen by India were Sheila Dikshit and Manmohan Singh, and Kejriwal was used to defame them…it led BJP to come to power,” he said.Maken said AAP fights elections in states where Congress and BJP are locked in direct contests and benefits BJP by splitting votes, naming Haryana, Goa, Gujarat as some of them.“We always knew the reality but the mask has now fallen for INDIA bloc partners and we hope they will see AAP’s reality,” he said, as he underlined that Congress stitched an electoral tie-up with Kejriwal under pressure from INDIA allies.He claimed BJP is playing a dangerous game through defections as it now has 86% of MPs from Punjab while it got just 6.6% votes in the 2022 state elections. “Separatists use the claim that voice of Punjab is being suppressed. BJP’s game of usurping MPs from Punjab is only giving a handle to separatists,” he said, adding there is already a pattern in play that precedes separatism and terrorism – drugs, gang wars, criminals, that is rampant in AAP-governed Punjab now.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Once-in-a-Generation’ India Signs Free Trade Agreement With New Zealand After a Decade of Talks’Attack By BJP Goons’: TMC MP Mitali Bag’s Car Vandalised In Hooghly, BJP Denies TMC’s Charge’You Are Married Because AAP Made You Rajya Sabha Member’: Saurabh Bharadwaj Attacks Raghav ChadhaNDA Surges In Rajya Sabha After Chadha-Led AAP Exodus, BJP Nears Majority“Right Man, Wrong Party”: Raghav Chadha Defends Exit From AAP In New Video“Bound To Happen”: Congress MLA’s Take On Trump Event ShootingArvind Kejriwal Shocks Court With Refusal To Appear In Excise Case“Hope Of Justice Shattered”: Kejriwal Skips Court, Sends Letter To Justice Swarana KantaAAP Workers Detained Outside Raghav Chadha’s House During Mumbai Protest“Fix Delhi And Pahalgam First” West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Launches Fierce Attack On BJP123PhotostoriesHow Brahma Muhurta Routines Can Improve Focus, Clarity, and Discipline8 historic landmarks in Mumbai that are more than 100 years old: Why you should visit themTop 5 residential areas of Nashik for quality living and investmentAC vs cooler: What works best for DelhiAamir Khan tears up at son Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi’s ‘Ek Din Ki Mehfil’ event: 5 times the actor got emotional in publicGreen and red food combinations that boost nutrient absorption instantlySummer Special: How to make Kaache Aam ki Launji at homeOTT releases this week (April 27-May 3, 2026): ‘Glory’, ‘The Kerala Story 2, ‘Wuthering Heights’, ‘Aadu 3’ and more7 British vegetables that can grow in the balcony during this season‘Hera Pheri’, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’, ‘Malamaal Weekly’, ‘Chup Chup Ke’: Priyadarshan’s comedy classics to watch on OTT123Hot PicksWest Bengal PollsPM ModiMamata BanerjeeRahul GandhiBengal RallyWest Bengal ElectionsMatua CommunityTop TrendingRussini Mike Photo ControversyTamil Nadu electionNFL Trade RumorsPetrol Diesel PriceAssam HS 12th ResultJac Class 12 ResultPatrick MahomesBengal PollsJack GrealishIPL Orange Cap IPL 2026: 8/6 horror! 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Delhi’s strict new fuel rule is now permanent: What it means for you Travis Kelce drops subtle hint about their wedding date as Taylor Swift seeks privacy ahead of the big day World’s hottest cities: India transforms into a scorching furnace with cities shockingly hitting 46°C Raghav Chadha (File photo) NEW DELHI: In 2022, when Raghav Chadha entered the Rajya Sabha as a newly elected AAP MP from Punjab, he raised concerns about how India’s anti-defection law was functioning in practice and had its an infirmities.Introducing a Private Member Bill, he argued that the law had failed to curb political switching and instead made it easier for legislators to change sides, calling it a “nefarious floor crossing by legislators in total disregard of the democratic wishes of the electorate who returned them”.He said he wanted to see “the prevention of horse-trading” of elected lawmakers, and argued that strengthening the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India would remove a “blot on our democracy”.“The law that was made to end the politics of defection, currently facilitates defection,” he said in the Rajya Sabha then.A key part of his proposal was to raise the threshold required for a group of MPs to defect without disqualification. Under the existing framework, the number is two-thirds of a party’s strength in the House. Chadha proposed increasing it to three-fourths.However, the proposal was never taken up for a vote.In a major political development, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Friday quit the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The move comes days after an open rift with the AAP leadership.Announcing his decision at a press conference, Chadha said the party had strayed from its founding principles. “The Aam Aadmi Party, which I nurtured with my blood and sweat and to which I gave 15 years of my youth, has now completely deviated from its principles, values, and core morals. The party is no longer working for the country or in the national interest, but for personal gain.”He added that his differences with the party had been building over time. “Many of you have been telling me this for the past few years, and I too have personally felt that I am the right man in the wrong party. I repeat, ‘I am the right man in the wrong party.’ Therefore, today I announce that I am distancing myself from the Aam Aadmi Party and going to the people.”Chadha said that along with him six other fellow Rajya Sabha members has quit the party and joined BJP, including Swati Maliwal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta ,Vikram Sahni, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal.The Rajya Sabha member said that more than two-thirds of the party’s Upper House members have decided to merge with the BJP under constitutional provisions.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 MediaVideosNDA Surges In Rajya Sabha After Chadha-Led AAP Exodus, BJP Nears Majority“Right Man, Wrong Party”: Raghav Chadha Defends Exit From AAP In New Video“Bound To Happen”: Congress MLA’s Take On Trump Event ShootingArvind Kejriwal Shocks Court With Refusal To Appear In Excise Case“Hope Of Justice Shattered”: Kejriwal Skips Court, Sends Letter To Justice Swarana KantaAAP Workers Detained Outside Raghav Chadha’s House During Mumbai Protest“Fix Delhi And Pahalgam First” West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Launches Fierce Attack On BJP“TMC’s Time Is Over” Amit Shah Tears Into TMC Over Infiltrators During Bengal RallyPassport Row Escalates: Pawan Khera Approaches Supreme Court After Gauhati HC Rejects Bail PleaBJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi Attacks TMC, Raises RG Kar Case And Law And Order Concerns123PhotostoriesAamir Khan tears up at son Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi’s ‘Ek Din Ki Mehfil’ event: 5 times the actor got emotional in publicSummer Special: How to make Kaache Aam ki Launji at homeOTT releases this week (April 27-May 3, 2026): ‘Glory’, ‘The Kerala Story 2, ‘Wuthering Heights’, ‘Aadu 3’ and more7 British vegetables that can grow in the balcony during this season‘Hera Pheri’, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’, ‘Malamaal Weekly’, ‘Chup Chup Ke’: Priyadarshan’s comedy classics to watch on OTT‘Amar Singh Chamkila’, ‘Elvis’, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’: Must-watch music biopics streaming on OTT platforms5 Indian beaches where visitors may witness turtle hatchings in April-May10 fruits that help bring triglycerides naturally and the 3 heart-healthy recipesMumbai Metro Line 6’s boldest move yet: 42-metre steel span placed over live tracksInside Deepti Sharma’s Agra house on ‘Deepti Sharma Marg’: A two-storey home filled with cricket memories, trophy-lined walls and strong family support123Hot PicksWest Bengal PollsPM ModiMamata BanerjeeRahul GandhiBengal RallyWest Bengal ElectionsMatua CommunityTop TrendingRussini Mike Photo ControversyTamil Nadu electionNFL Trade RumorsPetrol Diesel PriceAssam HS 12th ResultJac Class 12 ResultPatrick MahomesBengal PollsJack GrealishIPL Orange Cap ‘Mam ek match mein open…’: Chahal’s hilarious plea to Preity Zinta leaves fans in splits Assam HS Class 12th result 2026: Official vs unofficial websites to download scorecards Sanjay Dutt appears before NCW regarding the summons issued for ‘Sarke Chunar’ song with Nora Fatehi, actor issues an apology ‘Jab tum chhote the… mujhe bharosa tha tum kuch bada karoge’: Grandfather’s Words at Google Campus Leave Bengaluru Techie Emotional James Webb Telescope spots rare “buckyballs” around a dying star and scientists are puzzled Elon Musk vs Sam Altman’s OpenAI: The courtroom battle begins Mental health crisis in UK: Nurses’ workload ‘unmanageable’ as patients face risk of harm, poll finds ‘He realised he had beaten me in ‘Sarfarosh’’: Nawazuddin recalls moment with Aamir Khan; REVEALS he is fan of Dada Kondke Vaibhav Suryavanshi: “Mere papa ne kaam chhor diya, meri maa…”: Cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi reveals why he will always remain indebted to his parents How this London designer fell hard for Jaipur Block Prints and then never looked back ‘Fear has ruled Bengal, now it needs BJP’: PM Modi’s final pitch to voters calling for ‘Viksito Bangla’ | West Bengal Election News – Iran attacked a chemical tanker with 12 Indian crew members near Oman; all crew are safe.AAP has accused Raghav Chadha of conspiring with the BJP to build a “neutral” image before defecting; Chadha has lost nearly 2 million Instagram followers since his exit.Eight live bombs were found near a primary school in West Bengal’s Habra area on Monday; 79 crude bombs were recovered in Bhangar on Saturday prompting an NIA probe.A gunman got dangerously close to Trump at the White House Correspondents’ dinner after checking into the hotel days earlier; “all he needed was a room key,” a former FBI official said.Virat Kohli needs just 11 runs to become the first player in IPL history to reach 9000 runs; RCB faces Delhi Capitals on Monday.Here are the top 5 stories of the dayIran attacks chemical tanker with 12 Indian crew members near Oman, all safeA Togo-flagged chemical tanker carrying 12 Indian crew members was intercepted by the Iranian Coast Guard near the outer port limits of Shinas in Oman, which fired warning shots at the vessel, the shipping ministry said. The vessel, identified as MT Chiron, was sailing along with other ships when it was approached by Iranian forces. All 12 Indian crew members are reported safe. Follow live updates.AAP alleges Raghav Chadha conspired with BJP to build ‘neutral’ image before exitAAP has accused Raghav Chadha of conspiring with the BJP to build a “neutral” image before defecting, claiming he was fed central government issues to raise publicly while the BJP stayed silent to boost his popularity. Party spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said Chadha entered into this conspiracy after the ED tightened its grip on him, contrasting it with Chadha’s defence that he left AAP out of “disappointment, disenchantment and disgust” after 15 years. Chadha has reportedly lost nearly 2 million Instagram followers since his exit. Read full story.Panic in Habra as 8 live bombs found near primary school weeks before Bengal pollsEight live bombs were found near a primary school in West Bengal’s Habra area, triggering panic among locals and prompting a swift security response, officials said. Police rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area after the recovery. The incident comes amid heightened concern over explosives in the poll-bound state, following the recovery of 79 crude bombs in Bhangar on Saturday, which prompted the Centre to order an NIA probe. Investigations are underway in both cases. Read full story.’All he needed was a room key’: How gunman got close to Trump at White House dinnerA gunman got dangerously close to Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ dinner because he had checked into the hotel days earlier, bypassing external security. “They built that perimeter to stop an army. Turns out all he needed was a room key,” a former FBI official told WSJ. Tickets were not always scanned and IDs were not consistently required at entry. Read full story.Kohli on brink of IPL history, 11 runs from 9000 milestoneVirat Kohli needs just 11 runs in RCB’s clash against Delhi Capitals today to become the first player in IPL history to reach 9000 runs. Kohli has 8989 runs from 274 matches, well ahead of Rohit Sharma (7183) and David Warner (6565). RCB batting coach Dinesh Karthik said, “I marvel at how he rediscovers himself every year.” Read full story.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 MediaVideos“Right Man, Wrong Party”: Raghav Chadha Defends Exit From AAP In New Video“Bound To Happen”: Congress MLA’s Take On Trump Event ShootingArvind Kejriwal Shocks Court With Refusal To Appear In Excise Case“Hope Of Justice Shattered”: Kejriwal Skips Court, Sends Letter To Justice Swarana KantaAAP Workers Detained Outside Raghav Chadha’s House During Mumbai Protest“Fix Delhi And Pahalgam First” West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Launches Fierce Attack On BJP“TMC’s Time Is Over” Amit Shah Tears Into TMC Over Infiltrators During Bengal RallyPassport Row Escalates: Pawan Khera Approaches Supreme Court After Gauhati HC Rejects Bail PleaBJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi Attacks TMC, Raises RG Kar Case And Law And Order ConcernsPM Narendra Modi To Inaugurate 594 Km Ganga Expressway In Uttar Pradesh On April 29123PhotostoriesOTT releases this week (April 27-May 3, 2026): ‘Glory’, ‘The Kerala Story 2, ‘Wuthering Heights’, ‘Aadu 3’ and more7 British vegetables that can grow in the balcony during this season‘Hera Pheri’, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’, ‘Malamaal Weekly’, ‘Chup Chup Ke’: Priyadarshan’s comedy classics to watch on OTT‘Amar Singh Chamkila’, ‘Elvis’, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’: Must-watch music biopics streaming on OTT platforms5 Indian beaches where visitors may witness turtle hatchings in April-May10 fruits that help bring triglycerides naturally and the 3 heart-healthy recipesMumbai Metro Line 6’s boldest move yet: 42-metre steel span placed over live tracksInside Deepti Sharma’s Agra house on ‘Deepti Sharma Marg’: A two-storey home filled with cricket memories, trophy-lined walls and strong family supportWhy kidney stones spike in summer: The hidden impact of heat and dehydration”My idlis always turn hard, grainy, and dry”: South Indian caterer shares 4 secrets to make soft and fluffy idlis at home123Hot PicksWest Bengal PollsPM ModiMamata BanerjeeRahul GandhiBengal RallyWest Bengal ElectionsMatua CommunityTop TrendingRussini Mike Photo ControversyTamil Nadu electionNFL Trade RumorsPetrol Diesel PriceAssam HS 12th ResultJac Class 12 ResultPatrick MahomesBengal PollsJack GrealishIPL Orange Cap Taylor Swift’s ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ becomes her 35th song to reach top 10 in Adult Pop Airplay – Report The DIY ‘cure-all’ in your pantry: What science says about mixing banana peels and vinegar | Trump wants to rename ICE as ‘NICE’, and the reason is… UP fuel supply under strain? Rising demand and LPG delays surface in three weeks | India News