Late former President Pranab Mukherjee viewed Rahul Gandhi's 2013 move to suddenly trash a UPA ordinance as "politically immature", according to the Congress leader's daughter Sharmistha's upcoming book. "He felt he was perhaps losing the battle of perception," she quoted her father as saying about the ordinance aimed to shield convicted netas like Lalu Yadav. The book also reveals Pranab's unhappiness with Rahul's frequent absence from Parliament post the party's disastrous 2014 Lok Sabha poll performance. Sharmistha recounted her father sarcastically questioning if "Rahul Gandhi's office cannot differentiate between am and pm, how can he become the Prime Minister?" This was in reference to Rahul once improperly scheduling a meeting when Pranab was doing his morning walk.

After seizing Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh and maintaining dominance in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP grapples with appointing Chief Ministers in a crucial meeting at PM Narendra Modi's residence. The 12 MPs, resigning post-assembly victories, heightened anticipation for decisions. Sources suggest PM Modi favors candidates chosen by class, emphasizing youth, working classes, or women. The states, contributing 65 Lok Sabha seats, underscore the significance of strategic selections for the 2024 elections. Front-runners include Vasundhara Raje, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Shivraj Singh Chouhan, with speculation swirling around potential dark horses. The outcome holds substantial implications for the BJP's electoral trajectory.

The situation remains tense amidst the Rajasthan 'bandh' on Wednesday, called by Karni Sena over the murder of chief Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi shot dead at home Tuesday. The BJP has claimed the murder to be a "revenge plan" of the Congress for its poll loss. On December 3, Gogamedi wrote on social media X that the Congress lost Rajasthan because it 'ignored Karni Sena'. On Tuesday, three bikers came to Gogamedi's Jaipur house and shot him after having tea with him. The incident took the state by storm as CCTV footage of the shooting was made public. Calling for a Wednesday bandh Karni Sena supporters are resolute for a statewide stir if action is not taken. Congress and BJP figures like Ashok Gehlot and Vasundhara Raje slammed the violence amid BJP government formation. While the BJP pins the murder as Congress's 'revenge plan', Congress leader Supriya Shrinate termed it as the "return of jungle raj" with BJP taking over the reins of the state. 

As the BJP deliberates over Chief Ministers, Madhya Pradesh's four-time CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan appeared signaling his achievements without openly pushing for a fifth stint. Speaking at an event in Bhopal to  mark the death anniversary of BR Ambedkar, Chouhan stated: "We are working for the welfare of the last person under PM Modi, following the path shown by BR Ambedkar." Many perceived it as subtly spotlighting his pro-poor schemes like 'Ladli Behna' that powered the election victory. It comes as the BJP mulls new faces instead of veterans for the CM role in the state. Insisting "I'm not in the race," Chouhan highlighted his next aim was BJP's 2024 Lok Sabha sweep in Madhya Pradesh. Careful to avoid seeming to lobby for CM, he has avoided Delhi. Through a remark citing welfare delivery, Chouhan vaguely indicated his feats ahead of BJP's final leadership picks.

10 of 12 BJP Parliamentarians elected as MLAs in the November polls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chattisgarh - including Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Prahlad Patel - resigned from the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Multiple MPs from these states are in CM contention too, NDTV reports. Prahlad Patel, who is, for now, Minister of State for Food Processing, told news agency ANI, "I have resigned as MP and will resign from cabinet soon." The Constitution does not permit occupying both state and parliamentary positions simultaneously. Baba Balaknath and Renuka Singh are the two MP-MLAs yet to quit. Today's resignations intensified buzz around possible Chief Minister picks with BJP sources indicating a new face could replace 4-time Madhya Pradesh CM Chouhan. Announcements may come today itself. Amit Shah and Nadda huddled for five hours at the PM's residence Wednesday, further signaling critical leadership decisions are imminent.

The AICC concluded the meeting to decide Telangana's next CM. State chief Revanth Reddy seems set for the role after Rahul Gandhi confirmed "The decision has been taken, it was Revanth Reddy." The deliberations at AICC chief Kharge's home involved Venugopal, Thakare and DK Shivakumar. DK Shivakumar will soon fly to Hyderabad with the sealed cover, needing formal approval from Sonia Gandhi before a public announcement likely this evening. Meanwhile, the central observers also finalized cabinet portfolios and deputy CM candidates. MLAs were instructed to gather at a hotel for Assembly protocols and affairs briefing by ex-MP Chinna Reddy ahead of taking over. With Rahul Gandhi explicitly naming him CM, Revanth Reddy looks primed to steer Congress' return to power after toppling KCR.

In a compelling political narrative, Anumula Revanth Reddy, a prominent Congress leader, stands on the cusp of becoming Telangana's Chief Minister. Securing a significant victory with 64 seats in the recently concluded assembly polls, Reddy's journey from his days as an ABVP member to a contender for the state's top position is noteworthy. Having faced setbacks and triumphs, Reddy's political trajectory includes a stint with the Telugu Desam Party before joining Congress in 2017. The speculated oath-taking ceremony in Hyderabad's LB Stadium is expected to host key political figures. While awaiting official confirmation, Reddy's ascendancy signifies a potential paradigm shift in Telangana's political landscape.

West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, expresses ignorance about the scheduled December 6 INDIA alliance meeting in New Delhi, stating, "I don't know about the India alliance meeting. No one told me about the meeting nor a call came. No information." Despite earlier reports of Trinamool Congress' inclusion, Banerjee asserts no official communication. The meeting, crucial in the wake of BJP's gains in state elections, aims to strengthen the opposition against the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Banerjee's absence adds intrigue to the alliance dynamics ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, emphasizing the challenge in uniting diverse political entities under the INDIA banner.            

Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath, now Madhya Pradesh Congress chief, is reportedly under pressure to step down after the party's significant defeat in the state elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 163 seats out of 230, more than double the Congress's 66 seats. Despite anticipating anti-incumbency against the BJP, the Congress campaign lacked impact. Nath's decision to deny committed seats to ally Samajwadi Party further strained relations within the alliance. The defeat raises questions about the Congress strategy for the upcoming general elections against the BJP and has already shown signs of strained relationship among the INDIA bloc.

25 BJP legislators met former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, who is seen as a key contender for the CM post after the party surged to a dominant victory, winning 115 seats. No candidate was named ahead of polls. Nasirabad MLA Ramswaroop Lamba said people backed BJP due to PM Modi and Raje's work, adding MLAs will support the choice made by the party leadership. Union Ministers Shekhawat and Meghwal also remain in contention for the plum role apart from MPs Balaknath and Diya Kumari. According to HT sources, BJP state in-charge Arun Singh and state unit president CP Joshi are in Delhi for a meeting with the party high command. They met party president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, HT said.