Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is likely to fly to Himachal Pradesh tomorrow to handle the political crisis erupted in the state after cross-voting during the Rajya Sabha polls. He’s being sent as observer from the All India Congress Committee (AICC).

As per sources, the AICC has deputed Deputy CM DK Shivakumar as observer in Himachal, who will leave for Himachal tomorrow morning. 

Congress leaders KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala have reportedly briefed Shivakumar about the political unrest that has erupted in the state after Rajya Sabha polls. 

Not only this, the Karnataka deputy CM has also held talks with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who also briefed him about the latest developments in the state. 

Shivakumar has been tasked by the top Congress leaders to ensure that the disgruntled Congress MLAs should be back to the party. 

Amid reports that the Ministry of Home Affairs could notify the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) before the implementation of Model Code of Conduct on pretext of the Lok Sabha polls, the Assam government appears to be on standby for any situation. Reports claim that the security it he state is being heightened and leaves of all Assam Police personnel has been cancelled.

A highly placed source of Assam Police have confirmed to Republic that all leaves of police personnel including those in Battalions have been cancelled keeping in view the expected notification on the CAA.

CUET-UG to be conducted in 13 languages at exam centres in 380 cities including 26 cities abroad, news agency PTI reports, citing the National Testing Agency. 

Industries are fleeing West Bengal while traditional businesses have already left the state, says Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Kolkata.

Former justices Lingappa Narayana Swamy, Sanjay Yadav and Ritu Raj Awasthi have been appointed as judicial members of the Lokpal, news agency PTI reported, citing the Rashtrapati Bhavan. 

The Ministry of Home Affairs today extended the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu and Kashmir for the next five years with immediate effect declaring it as an ‘unlawful association’, news agency ANI reported. The organisation has been found continuing its activities against the security, integrity and sovereignty of the nation. The outfit was first declared an 'Unlawful Association' on February 28, 2019.
 

Two workers have lost their lives in a landslide in an iron ore mine area and two others are trapped under the debris in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, news agency PTI reported, quoting the police. The incident occurred in the mining area of the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) in the afternoon. Fourteen workers were constructing a retaining wall as a part of the Screening Plant-3 extension project of the NMDC under Kirandul police station limits, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai told PTI.

A special NIA court in West Bengal has sentenced one more accused to seven years of rigorous imprisonment in a case pertaining to a seizure of fake Indian currency in the state four years ago, news agency PTI reported today, quoting an official. With this, the total number of convictions in the case has gone up to three. Akramul, a resident of West Bengal's Malda district, has been sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 10,000 under different sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) . He has also been sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 10,000 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), a spokesperson of the federal agency told PTI.

Asserting that the INDI bloc has accepted defeat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a public rally in Tamil Nadu, said, “No INDI bloc member speaks about development and education as they are only bothered about their families”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding a road show in Tamil Nadu's Tiruppur. Thousands have gathered to attend the prime minister's rally at the closing ceremony of 'En Mann Ek Makkal' padayatra in Tiruppur.

Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and S Jaishankar will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha 2024 elections, said Union Minister Pralhad Joshi.
 

“After initial discussions held in Delhi, several proposals from the Congress were presented for further consideration within the National Conference party. However, one specific proposal put forth by the Congress did not garner acceptance from the senior leadership of the National Conference. We will return for a second round of discussions to explore alternative avenues and potential agreements,” said Omar Abdullah, National Conference member and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister.

PM Narendra Modi while speaking in Kerala today remarked on the Congress party's allegations of scams against the Communist Party of India (CPI). The PM said that it was time for "new kind of politics in Kerala" now.

"Communists are now suggesting Congress' prince stay out of Kerala. But in the INDI Alliance meeting, they sit together. The Congress and communists tried to give Kerala an identity of scams and anarchy. Congress and communists prevented industries from coming into Kerala. Only governments change in Kerala, not the circumstances. This election is a chance for the rise of a new kind of politics in Kerala...We will continue to serve you in our third term," said PM Modi.

Farooq Abdullah has remarked on National Conference (NC) leaders joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “People will come and go. Some will join BJP, many will leave and this will happen during the elections. This wouldn’t trouble us, we will fight on our strength,” he said. 

“We have to form a pre-poll alliance with the Congress. Omar (Abdullah) is talking to them and a decision will be out very soon. We will fight together and will strengthen INDIA bloc. If we don’t strengthen them, our country will be in trouble,” he said. 

“The Assembly elections will happen, too. When parliamentry elections can happen, then why not state elections?” asked Farooq Abdullah.

PM Modi while speaking in Thiruvananthapuram today reiterated confidence in his government's victory in the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. "India is discussing Modi's third term," he said.

"In 2024, the Opposition has accepted its defeat. The Opposition is clueless now. They don't any have roadmap. The Opposition's agenda is to abuse Modi. Kerala will never support such negative idealogy. Kerala will support NDA for nation building," said PM Modi in Kerala today.

“Women are an important part of space missions like Chandrayaan and Ganganyaan. Any of this wouldn't have been possible without them,” said PM Modi at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.

India will have its own space station by 2035, said PM Modi in Kerala while at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Kerala today. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today revealed the names of the four astronauts of the Gaganyaan Mission at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Kerala. PM Modi met the astronaut-designates for the Gaganyaan Mission, who have been named as: Group Captain Prasnath Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla.

On rumours of his switch to BJP, Congress leader Kamal Nath says, "Have you ever heard this from my mouth? You (media) run this news and then ask me about it. First, you (media) should refute it."

“Not everybody has the guts to stand against the government. There is pressure on everybody. Is there anyone who doesn't know that BJP would go to any extent to win? BJP was dishonest during Chandigarh Elections also. When it comes to UP, the BJP did everything to get votes and those who left, might not have had the guts to stand against the government. Action will be taken because our party leaders want such people to be kept away from the party,” said Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav on Rajya Sabha Elections 2024.

“Rapid expansion of space economy is happening. We are going to have an Indian on the moon by 2040,” said ISRO Chief S Somanath.

The CPI Polit Bureau meeting has commenced and all party leaders, including Annie Raja, D Raja and the state secretary discussed having more candidates in the states for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

Rebel MLAs of the Samajwadi Party (SP) met with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today at the Assembly office.

In Himachal Pradesh, out of a total of 68 legislators, at least 64 have cast their votes so far in the Rajya Sabha Elections 2024.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Vikram Sarabhai Space centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala today. The PM will inaugurate three important space infrastructure projects worth about Rs 1,800 crore at the space centre. The prrojects include the PSLV Integration Facility at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, the Semi-cryogenics Integrated Engine and Stage Test Facility at ISRO Propulsion Complex at Mahendragiri, and the Trisonic Wind Tunnel. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has landed in Thiruvananthapuram ahead of his Kerala visit today.

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar has ordered an SIT probe over Maratha quota activist Jarange Patil's claims of death threat from Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, after BJP MLA Ashish Shelar raised the demand for a probe.

At least 16 FIRs have been filed in a raid by the Enforcement Directorate on former RJD MLA Arun Yadav's residence in money-laundering probe linked to illegal sand mining. The raids were conducted at two other locations.

MLAs from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) are protesting outside the Maharashtra Assembly against Chief Mininster Eknath Shinde and the state government, claiming a 'deteriorating law and order situation' in the state.

Naushad Siddiqui, an MLA of the Indian Secular Front (ISF), has been arrested in Sandeshkhali this morning.

Six Indian fishermen were repatriated this morning from Sri Lanka to Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a visit to the three states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra on February 27-28, 2024.  The PM will be launching various projects and also review the progress of Gaganyaan.