Wayanad

On this Special Report, senior journalist Aarti Jerath analyzes the growing friction between Shashi Tharoor and the Congress leadership ahead of the Kerala assembly polls. Jerath observes that Tharoor 'has been needling his party for a long, long time' in an attempt to project himself as a chief ministerial candidate. The discussion highlights Tharoor's recent statements on Operation Sindoor and his praise for L.K. Advani, which have reportedly miffed the party high command. Jerath points out that while Tharoor maintains a profile in Thiruvananthapuram, he has struggled to carry the local Kerala unit with him, leading to a strategy where the party has begun to ignore his unilateral actions. The panel, including BJP's Tuhin Sinha and political consultant Nikhil Jain, debates whether Tharoor remains indispensable to the Congress or if the BJP is successfully 'stirring troubled waters' to exploit internal rifts within the opposition party.

On this Special Report, the focus is on the internal dynamics of the Congress party following a high-level strategy meeting in Delhi. Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala addressed the absence of Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor from the session, which was attended by Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to discuss Kerala poll preparedness. Chennithala clarified the situation, stating, 'Mr. Shashi Tharoor had a program in Calicut. It's a Kerala Literary Forum program. He has fixed it much earlier.' He dismissed speculations of a rift or internal discord, asserting that Tharoor remains a committed member of the party and had recently attended events in Wayanad and Cochin. The discussion also highlighted the party's confidence in the United Democratic Front (UDF) performance, with leaders aiming to cross the 100-seat mark in the upcoming elections. The programme explores the Congress's efforts to maintain a united front amidst seat-sharing talks and campaign planning for the Kerala assembly polls.

This edition of India First, anchored by Gaurav Sawant, examines Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s blistering attack on the Congress party in Kerala as he sounded the BJP's poll bugle for the upcoming assembly election.

This episode of India First features a debate regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's criticisms of the Congress party in Kerala. Congress representative Dr. Karuna Sagar accuses the Prime Minister of communal polarisation and cites 1,318 alleged hate speeches by BJP leaders in 2025. In response, BJP National Spokesperson Sanju Verma defends the government’s economic record, noting India has overtaken Japan as the world's fourth-largest economy with a growth rate exceeding 7.5%. Verma highlights the success of the Ujjwala Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, claiming multidimensional poverty has dropped to 1.3%. Panelists Suman C. Raman and Abhijit Iyer-Mitra analyze Kerala's political dynamics, the influence of Jamaat-e-Islami, and the 'Urban Naxal' narrative. The discussion contrasts the BJP's electoral strike rates in Maharashtra and Haryana against the ideological shifts between the Left and Congress. This news segment examines the intersection of economic data, welfare schemes, and communal rhetoric ahead of regional political contests.

This report examines the widening rift within the Kerala unit of the Congress party as Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor decided to skip a crucial high command meeting. Tharoor reportedly felt 'insulted' during a recent Mahapanchayat event in Kochi, where he was allegedly ignored by Rahul Gandhi and faced protocol issues regarding seating and speaking orders. Despite previously stating, 'I am always a Congress party worker, and I will continue to work with the party for the Assembly elections,' Tharoor’s decision to attend the Kerala Literature Festival instead of the strategy session signals renewed friction. The transcript highlights that while the party recently sought unity during a camp in Wayanad, tensions between Tharoor and the state leadership have resurfaced. This development comes at a critical time as the party prepares for upcoming Assembly elections, following successes in local body polls. The report suggests that Tharoor's history of praising the LDF government's 'ease of doing business' continues to be a point of contention with the state leadership.

In this Special Report, India Today’s Akshita Nandagopal anchors a debate on the political fallout of the Bengaluru demolition drive. The controversy intensified after AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal urged the Karnataka government to pause evictions on 'humanitarian grounds.' BJP Spokesperson Dr. Sudha Halkai attacks the move, terming it 'appeasement politics' and asking, 'Why these flats which were not given to the people of Karnataka?' She highlights the lack of relief for flood victims in Kalburgi. Countering her, KPCC Spokesperson Raghu Dodderi defends the government's stance, asserting, 'We consider them as Kannadigas' and emphasizing the state's duty to rehabilitate the displaced. The discussion explores the intersection of Karnataka's governance and the upcoming Kerala elections.

In this report, India Today correspondent Rahul Gautam analyses the political fallout of Congress MP Imran Masood's statement backing Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as the Prime Minister face.

Congress MP from Saharanpur, Imran Masood, has pitched Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as the Prime Minister face for the party. Speaking on the issue, Masood said, 'make Priyanka PM see what she does'. The Saharanpur MP, who is considered close to the Gandhi family, lauded Priyanka for her recent stand on the 'issue of Atrocities in Gaza' in Parliament. The statement has sparked a debate on whether the Congress is 'losing faith in Rahul Gandhi's post' after a series of electoral defeats.

A Congress MP has publicly advocated for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to be projected as the Prime Ministerial face of the party. The leader cited her recent stance on the Gaza conflict and her potential to lead the country as reasons for this endorsement. The MP also expressed concern over the situation in Bangladesh, describing it as becoming an 'anti-Indian den'. The statement comes amidst discussions on the party's leadership dynamics and recent electoral performances.

The concerns over the Aravallis are only the latest wake-up call for India's growing insensitivity to environmental concerns, or at least the government of India's growing insensitivity.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra raised safety concerns regarding the Chandigarh-Shimla highway during her speech in Lok Sabha and sought an appointment with Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to discuss highway issues in her Wayanad constituency as well.

The India Today Group bagged top honours at the 25th ITA Awards, winning nine prestigious awards, including the Popular Channel of the Year Award for both India Today and Aaj Tak, at a glittering ceremony in Mumbai.

In this Special Report, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attacks the Centre's new VB-G RAM G Bill, which replaces MNREGA. Speaking outside Parliament, she questions the removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme, calling him the 'Father of the Nation'. She argues that increasing work days from 100 to 125 is meaningless if the Centre reduces its funding share, burdening states. She warns the scheme will collapse and alleges the government favors 'Adani Ambani' over the poor. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan defends the move, citing 'Ram Rajya'.

In a massive 'Vote Chor' rally at Ramlila Maidan, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission, naming Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, and Vivek Joshi. He stated, 'You are the election commissioner of India, you are not the election commissioner of Narendra Modi.' Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also addressed the gathering, alleging that 65 lakh votes were deleted in Bihar through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Meanwhile, the Congress expelled former Odisha MLA Mohammad Mukeem for anti-party activities after he wrote to Sonia Gandhi questioning the leadership.

In a massive show of strength at Ramleela Maidan, the Congress party held a 'Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod' rally to protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission, specifically naming Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. Addressing the gathering, Rahul Gandhi warned, 'Narendra Modi ji changed the law for the Election Commissioner... but they can't take any action on them.' He accused the poll body of working with the Centre in a 'fight for truth and untruth' and vowed to remove the BJP-RSS government.

In a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI) during the 'Vote Chor Gaddi Chor' rally in Delhi, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi named Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, alleging they are 'working in cahoots' with the BJP. Addressing the gathering at Ramlila Maidan, Gandhi warned the officials, stating, 'You are not the Election Commissioner of Narendra Modi.' Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also addressed the rally, claiming that the recent Bihar election loss was due to 'vote theft' via the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, alleging 65 lakh votes were deleted. The India Today report by Moshmi Singh highlights the Congress party's 'Sansad se sadak tak' campaign strategy.

In this special report, a senior NDA leader addresses the Lok Sabha, questioning the Opposition's stance on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the electoral process. The speaker highlights the alliance's success, claiming victories in '3 Lok Sabha elections' and '41 states' since 2014. The address references a legal change made on '15th March 1989' regarding EVMs during Rajiv Gandhi's tenure. The leader criticizes the Opposition for blaming EVMs for electoral losses while accepting victories, and defends the Prime Minister's work ethic.

A special discussion on the 150th anniversary of the national song 'Vande Mataram' is set to take place in the Lok Sabha today, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The debate, scheduled for 10 hours, will explore the song's history and significance. Prime Minister Modi has accused the Congress of 'sowing the seeds of partition' by removing key stanzas of the song in 1937, a move he claims divided the song's soul. In response, the Congress, represented by Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi, has defended the decision as one based on Rabindranath Tagore's advice to ensure inclusivity. Opposition leaders have stated they respect the song but will oppose any 'monolithic illiberal communal agenda' imposed by the ruling government. The discussion follows the song's 150th anniversary, which was observed on Sunday.

In this edition of Newstrack, the focus is on the Government versus Opposition showdown on the first day of the Winter Session of Parliament.

On this Special Report, the focus is on the stormy start to the Winter Session of Parliament. Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the opposition of 'drama' and stalling proceedings due to electoral setbacks. Countering this, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stated, 'Speaking about issues, raising issues is not drama. Drama is not allowing discussion.' The opposition, represented by Congress MP Manikam Tagore and TMC MP Sushmita Dev, demanded a discussion on the 'Special Intensive Revision' (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging the deletion of legitimate voters in Bihar. BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi defended the government, suggesting a debate on 'Vande Mataram' instead.