The political row between Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal escalated after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused the Congress leader of abusing Kejriwal during a Delhi rally. AAP Haryana president Sushil Gupta alleged Gandhi hurled insults and compared his campaign to BJP's. Gupta predicted Congress would fail again in Delhi elections. Congress refuted the claims, with leader Abhishek Dutt stating Gandhi merely called Kejriwal a "liquor mafia" linked to the liquor scam. He accused Kejriwal of making false promises and swearing falsely on his children. Delhi polls on February 5 will test AAP's dominance and Congress's comeback hopes.

Rahul Gandhi, at a rally in Delhi's Seelampur ahead of the February 5 assembly elections, accused Arvind Kejriwal of making "fake promises" akin to Prime Minister Modi. Gandhi criticized Kejriwal’s claims of transforming Delhi into "Paris" and eradicating corruption, saying, “Pollution and inflation are rising under AAP's governance.” He alleged that both Kejriwal and Modi failed to address issues like caste census and welfare for the backward classes. Kejriwal retaliated, calling Gandhi’s remarks baseless and reaffirming his commitment to improving Delhi's infrastructure. The Congress and AAP, despite being INDIA bloc allies, are contesting the Delhi polls separately.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that infrastructure projects in the Valley are unrelated to the abrogation of Article 370, which occurred on August 5, 2019. Speaking to India Today TV, Abdullah emphasized that these projects were initiated before 2019 and would have been completed regardless. While acknowledging reduced protests and stone-pelting incidents, he noted that the improvements are due to stringent government measures, not solely Article 370’s removal. His remarks precede Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to inaugurate the 6.5-km Z-Morh tunnel in Sonamarg, expected to enhance tourism and connectivity in the region.

The BJP has unveiled its second list of 29 candidates for the Delhi Assembly elections, covering 58 constituencies out of 70. Former MLA Kapil Mishra will contest from Karawal Nagar, alongside incumbent Abhay Verma from Laxmi Nagar. Harish Khurana, son of ex-Delhi CM Madan Lal Khurana, will stand in Moti Nagar. Neelam Pahalwan, former AAP minister Kailash Gahlot's opponent in Najafgarh, highlights the BJP's strategic candidate choices. Gahlot, who switched parties last year, will contest from Bijwasan. The move underscores BJP's bid to strengthen its electoral base in Delhi amidst competitive assembly polls.

A leaked Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on Delhi’s scrapped liquor policy reveals a staggering Rs 2,026 crore revenue loss due to irregularities in issuing licenses. The report highlights lapses, violations, and policy deviations, including ignoring expert panel recommendations and issuing licenses to financially unfit entities. It also claims that some violators were not penalized, and key decisions were made without proper approvals. The report attributes the losses to exemptions, waivers, and unfulfilled infrastructure promises. AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, face legal challenges in connection with the policy's alleged corruption.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the viral "Melodi memes" featuring him and Italy's Giorgia Meloni during his podcast debut on People by WTF, hosted by Nikhil Kamath. Modi dismissed the memes, saying, “Wo toh chalta rehta hai,” and added he doesn’t focus on online trends. Revealing his simple eating habits, Modi admitted to struggling with menus, recalling how late Arun Jaitley often helped him order vegetarian meals during RSS days. The podcast covered his childhood, stress management, and policy insights, offering a glimpse into Modi’s personal and professional journey.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his podcast debut on Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath's "People by WTF" series. In the candid two-hour episode, PM Modi stated, "I am also human, not god," acknowledging his susceptibility to mistakes. The conversation covered his childhood, education, political journey, and handling stress. Kamath shared his apprehension about speaking Hindi, to which Modi responded reassuringly, "Hum dono ki aise hi chalegi" (We will manage together). Modi also recalled washing family clothes to earn time at the pond. Sharing the trailer on X, he wrote, "I hope you enjoy this as much as we did creating it!"

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused widespread destruction, killing at least five people and forcing 130,000 residents to evacuate. The fires, fueled by strong winds, destroyed over 2,000 structures, including celebrity homes in Malibu and Pacific Palisades. Thousands of people fled as the fires spread from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena. Over 250,000 people were left without power. The city faces an estimated $57 billion in damages. Firefighters continue to battle the flames, with support from neighboring states. Governor Gavin Newsom has mobilized thousands of firefighters to contain the fires.

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah criticized the INDIA bloc's disunity amid Congress-AAP clashes before Delhi polls. Abdullah, whose party is part of the alliance, lamented the absence of clarity on INDIA's future post-2024 Lok Sabha elections. He suggested disbanding the alliance if it was formed only for the general elections, urging a meeting after Delhi polls for resolution. While AAP claims the contest is against BJP, allies like Shiv Sena (UBT) and Trinamool Congress back AAP, isolating Congress. The escalating feud, marked by fiery exchanges and accusations, raises questions about the alliance's purpose and longevity in upcoming elections.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal announced the backing of Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Samajwadi Party for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. The move isolates Congress, which lacks support from INDIA bloc allies in the polls. Sources reveal Uddhav Thackeray plans to campaign for AAP, reinforcing its position. Despite collaborating with Congress in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, AAP is contesting solo in Delhi, aiming for a third consecutive victory. Kejriwal’s party previously won 67 and 62 seats in the 2015 and 2020 elections, respectively, and now enjoys backing from significant opposition forces in the capital.