The Aam Aadmi Party has appointed its MP Raghav Chadha as the leader of the party in Rajya Sabha in place of Sanjay Singh, PTI sources said. In a letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairman, the AAP party leadership has said that in the absence of Sanjay Singh, who has "health issues", Raghav Chadha will henceforth be the party's leader in the Upper House. AAP MP Sanjay Singh is currently behind bars in the Delhi liquor policy case. Sources in the Rajya Sabha secretariat confirmed that a letter had been received from the AAP regarding appointing Chadha as its floor leader. The AAP has the fourth largest strength in Rajya Sabha after the BJP, the Congress and the TMC.

During Income Tax raids on premises linked to Congress MP Dhiraj Sahu, over Rs 351 crore in cash was recovered. Disassociating it from the Congress or any political party Sahu firmly stated, "The cash that has been recovered is related to my liquor firms. It is the proceedings from the sale of liquor." He emphasized family involvement, saying, "The money is not all mine, it belongs to my family and other related firms. I will give an account for everything." In addressing BJP claims of black money, Sahu insisted, "Let the Income Tax department decide if the seized cash is 'Kaala Dhan' or 'Safed Dhan.'" The raids concluded after seizing substantial cash and three kg of gold across Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. Congress maintains distance, awaiting investigation results.

An Uttar Pradesh court on Friday convicted sitting BJP MLA Ramdular Gond of raping a minor girl in 2014, sentencing him to 25 years in prison. The MP-MLA court in Sonbhadra also ordered the Duddhi constituency legislator to pay a steep fine of Rs 10 lakhs. The case dates back to 2014 when the survivor's brother filed a police complaint under the POCSO Act, alleging that Gond, who was not an MLA at the time, had raped his sister. After a prolonged legal battle, Gond was found guilty earlier this week. The judge handed down the punishment on Friday. As per the law, Gond now faces imminent disqualification from the state legislative assembly due to the over two-year sentence. The survivor's family expressed relief over finally getting justice after a difficult struggle.

The Supreme Court has postponed the hearing on Mahua Moitra's expulsion plea, alleging cash-for-query charges, till January 3. The Trinamool Congress leader, expelled from Lok Sabha on December 8, defends herself, citing "substantial illegality" and "arbitrariness" by the ethics committee. Moitra, elected from Krishnanagar, accuses the committee of unethical conduct. The court session, led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna, took place on the last working day before the winter break. The controversy arose from allegations of sharing login details and receiving gifts and cash from businessman Darshan Hiranandani, with the CBI filing a preliminary FIR.

In the aftermath of a shocking security breach in Parliament, 14 opposition MPs, including one from the Rajya Sabha, were suspended for disrupting proceedings. The incident, marked by smoke canisters and intruders in the Lok Sabha, led to multiple adjournments. Key accused Lalit Mohan Jha was arrested, facing terrorism charges under UAPA. The Delhi Police suspended eight personnel and disclosed the involvement of six individuals. The disruption coincided with the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 terror attack on Parliament. Amidst the chaos, Sonia Gandhi met suspended MPs, seeking resolution as both Houses adjourned till 2 pm.

Rajasthan will get a new government today led by first-time MLA Bhajan Lal Sharma who will take oath as the Chief Minister on his 56th birthday. PM Modi, Amit Shah and JP Nadda will attend the swearing-in along with Deputy CMs Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa at Jaipur's Albert Hall. Governor Kalraj Mishra will administer the oath to the trio at the heavily secured venue that has invited CMs from BJP-ruled states too. Roads are dotted with welfare scheme posters as final touches get done before the high-profile 12 pm ceremony. Sharma welcomed the VVIP guests' arrival on X while BJP state unit wished him birthday blessings that he acknowledged, thanking them ahead of his greatest political feat so far.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav in his inaugural move after assuming office, has issued a ban on the open sale of meat and eggs. Following guidelines from the Government of India on food safety, CM Yadav emphasized strict adherence to these rules during a press conference in Bhopal. The ban, effective from December 15 to 31, will be enforced through a collaborative campaign involving the food department, police, and local urban bodies. Additionally, Yadav introduced directives on regulating loudspeakers at religious places and upgrading government colleges to 'PM Colleges of Excellence' with modern amenities.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's courageous moment unfolded during a security breach in Parliament, as captured by National Spokesperson Supriya Shrinate's shared photo. Two intruders released yellow gas inside the Lok Sabha chambers, causing chaos. Despite the disturbance, Gandhi stood undeterred, symbolizing resilience. The intruders, identified as Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D, were overpowered by MPs. Another duo, Anmol and Neelam, staged a parallel protest outside. All four detainees, connected through social media, planned the breach coinciding with a significant historical date. Investigations reveal their acquaintance and premeditation. Security measures have been heightened in the aftermath.    

Today, 58-year-old Mohan Yadav took the oath as Madhya Pradesh's Chief Minister, joined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. In a significant political move, Jagdish Devda and Rajendra Shukla were sworn in as deputy chief ministers. The BJP's unanimous choice for the top role, Yadav, an OBC community member, visited a temple and BJP office before the ceremony. This decision marks a shift from Shivraj Singh Chouhan's longstanding leadership. Yadav, with a diverse academic background, including a PhD, LLB, and MBA, adds a unique dimension with his sword-fighting skills.

In an unexpected move, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appointed first-time MLA Bhajan Lal Sharma as the new Chief Minister of Rajasthan, following the party's recent overwhelming victory. This decision diverged from speculations favoring Vasundhara Raje and other prominent names. Sharma, a relatively unknown figure outside Rajasthan BJP circles, promptly expressed gratitude to Vasundhara Raje for proposing his name. The deputy chief ministers, MP-turned-MLA Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa, aim to balance caste equations. The surprising selection reflects the BJP's strategy in the lead-up to the upcoming general elections.