Maharashtra’s junior Home Minister Yogesh Kadam said “Marathi must be spoken in Maharashtra” after a shopkeeper in Mira Road was slapped by MNS workers for not using the language. The minister warned of action against those who “disrespect Marathi” but did not strongly condemn the attackers. Babulal Khimji Chaudhary, who owns a 20-year-old sweet shop, was assaulted on Sunday night. A video of the incident went viral, causing public outrage. So far, four of the seven MNS workers have been questioned but not arrested. Bollywood actor Ranvir Shorey and others have spoken in support of the victim. (PC: NDTV)

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said he will remain Chief Minister for five years, ending rumours of a leadership change. “Why do you doubt it? I’ll be CM,” he told reporters. His deputy, DK Shivakumar, also said there is no conflict in the Congress and that he has not asked to become CM. Both leaders said they are united and working together. Siddaramaiah hit out at the BJP and JD(S) for spreading false claims. Shivakumar added that leaders making public statements on leadership change will face action. Congress said it is strong and will complete its full term. (PC: PTI)

A leaked phone call of senior Karnataka Congress MLA BR Patil has gone viral. In the call, he claims, “Siddaramaiah won the lucky lottery and became Chief Minister. I was the one who made him meet Sonia Gandhi.” Patil expressed frustration over party politics, saying, “There is no God or father for us.” He added that Siddaramaiah’s rise was due to “favourable planetary alignment.” Patil said he recently met AICC leader Randeep Surjewala, who told him, “I’m grateful to you.” The leak follows another clip where Patil alleged corruption in a housing scheme, questioning, “Is this a business?” (PC: India Today)

A Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA, Madan Mitra, sparked outrage over his comments on the rape of a 24-year‑old law student at South Calcutta Law College, suggesting the crime “could have been avoided” if she hadn’t gone alone or informed someone. He later clarified and condemned the act, stating the accused—who filmed and gang‑raped the victim in a guard room—are no longer associated with TMC. The party officially distanced itself, calling the remarks “personal,” and reaffirmed zero tolerance for crimes against women. A five‑member SIT led by ACP Pradip Ghosal is probing the case. With four arrests made, intense public and political backlash continues.

Congress candidate Aryadan Shoukath secured a significant victory in Kerala’s Nilambur Assembly bypoll, defeating CPI(M)'s M Swaraj by 11,077 votes. Shoukath led from the first round of counting and eventually won his first legislative seat. Former MLA PV Anvar, contesting as an Independent, came third with 19,946 votes. BJP’s Mohan George received 8,648 votes, while SDPI's Sadik Naduthodi got 2,075. There were 630 NOTA votes. Shoukath, a former Nilambur municipality chairman and award-winning filmmaker, is the son of late Aryadan Muhammed, an eight-time Congress MLA. His win marks a notable Congress comeback in this key Kerala constituency. (PC: India Today)

The Uttarakhand High Court has stayed the state’s Panchayati Raj elections, citing ambiguity in the government’s reservation policy. The interim order came just a day after the State Election Commission announced polling across 12 districts on July 10. The court stated the government had failed to clarify its stance on seat reservations in panchayat bodies, prompting the halt. Nomination filings were set to begin June 25. With the schedule notified, the Model Code of Conduct had already come into effect. The stay disrupts the entire election timeline and demands urgent policy clarity from the state government before polls can proceed.

A crude bomb exploded in Barochandgar village, Nadia district, West Bengal, on June 23 during the Kaliganj bypoll vote count, tragically killing a 10‑year‑old girl identified as Tamanna Khatun. Amid a Trinamool Congress victory celebration, the crude bomb blast struck near the counting centre, raising alarms over electoral violence. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep sorrow, assured a thorough investigation, and vowed “strong and decisive legal action” by police. The Bharatiya Janata Party criticized the TMC, accusing its supporters of using violence during celebrations. The incident has cast a shadow on the otherwise peacefully conducted bypoll, highlighting persistent security concerns during political events. (PC: CNBC & Mathrubhumi)

In the latest Assembly bypolls, AAP won Gujarat’s Visavadar seat, reclaiming it after ex-MLA Bhupendra Bhayani defected to BJP. Gopal Italia defeated BJP’s Kirit Patel by over 17,500 votes. AAP also retained Ludhiana West in Punjab. Congress won Kerala’s Nilambur seat, where Aryadan Shoukath, son of veteran Aryadan Mohammed, beat CPI(M)’s M Swaraj by 11,000 votes. In West Bengal, TMC’s Alifa Ahmed led Kaliganj by over 50,000 votes, almost confirming victory. BJP retained Kadi in Gujarat. These results are a boost for AAP and Congress ahead of key state polls, despite alliance tensions within the INDIA bloc. (PC: NDTV)

The Election Commission (EC) has declined Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s plea to release CCTV footage from Maharashtra polling booths, citing privacy, legal, and electoral‑law concerns. It argued that public access to footage would enable identification of who voted or didn’t potentially exposing electors to pressure, discrimination, or intimidation. The EC emphasized that such recordings are for internal monitoring and would only be shared with courts, and mandated destruction of all video records within 45 days if no legal challenge arises. Rahul Gandhi, accusing the EC of “deleting evidence” and calling the election a “fixed match,” demands full transparency via voter rolls, video footage, and polling data. (PC: Deccan Herald)

A helicopter crash near Gaurikund, Uttarakhand, killed seven people on Sunday, including one infant and the pilot. The chopper was returning from Kedarnath and went down due to poor visibility. Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi expressed sorrow and demanded a detailed investigation. Kharge said it was the fifth such crash in six weeks and called for accountability. Gandhi urged a review of safety rules for pilgrims. The Civil Aviation Ministry said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau will look into the cause. As a safety step, the DGCA has reduced chopper trips to the Chardham shrines. (PC: ANI)