Students, parents and young professionals gathered at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Saturday for the first major street protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led movement that began online. The protesters demanded accountability over alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment tests and sought the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.   Wearing cockroach masks and carrying books, flowers and the national flag, participants called for greater transparency in exams such as NEET, CBSE, CUET and SSC.   Activist Sonam Wangchuk backed the protest and urged participants to remain peaceful. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke also appealed for non-violence as heavy security was deployed across the national capital. (PC: India Today)

"Who gained from communal politics?" Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke asked supporters at a rally in Delhi's Jantar Mantar, where he renewed his demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.   Addressing a large gathering, Dipke said the focus should shift to issues affecting young people. "We should ask what happened to jobs, education and the future of students," he said, while criticising alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment processes.   The protest, held under heavy security, drew students and young professionals from different states. The CJP also called for greater accountability, transparency and reforms in the education system. (PC: HT)

  Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has denied reports that he acted as an intermediary for Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee to ask Baharampur MP Yusuf Pathan to resign from his Lok Sabha seat.   In a signed statement, Ganguly said he was never asked by Banerjee to convey any message to Pathan and had never contacted the former cricketer over the matter. He described the claims as being made in "reckless disregard of the truth".   The clarification comes amid speculation over Banerjee's possible return to Parliament and a political crisis within the TMC following the party's poor performance in the West Bengal Assembly elections.  

A report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) reveals that 13 out of 14 ministers in the Karnataka cabinet are crorepatis, showing high wealth concentration among top leaders. The study also notes that several ministers have declared criminal cases in their election affidavits. Based on candidate disclosures, the report highlights concerns over transparency and accountability in public office. It includes details on assets, liabilities, and legal records submitted during elections. The findings have renewed debate on electoral reforms and the growing presence of wealthy individuals with legal challenges in India’s political system. (PC: ANI)

Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai has resigned from the Bharatiya Janata Party and announced a new political movement aimed at reshaping the state’s political landscape. In a social media address, he said the initiative is inspired by the ideals of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, focusing on youth empowerment, clean governance, and development-oriented politics. Annamalai stated that he wants to move beyond traditional party frameworks and build a people-centric platform. His exit marks a significant shift in Tamil Nadu politics, with several BJP leaders reportedly following him. The BJP, however, downplayed the impact, calling it politically insignificant. (PC: India Today)

A fresh political row has erupted in West Bengal after Abhishek Banerjee accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating protests and an attack against him during a recent visit. The Trinamool Congress has claimed the incident was politically motivated and part of a broader campaign to intimidate opposition leaders. The controversy has intensified the already sharp rivalry between TMC and BJP following the state's turbulent political developments. TMC leaders have demanded action against those involved, while the BJP has rejected the allegations. The episode has further heightened tensions in West Bengal's increasingly polarized political landscape. (PC: The Indian EXPRESS)

A major political development has shaken West Bengal as Firhad Hakim, a close aide of Mamata Banerjee, resigned from his post as Mayor of Kolkata amid the ongoing internal crisis within the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). His resignation comes at a time when the ruling party is facing growing factional tensions and challenges from rebel leaders. The move has intensified speculation about widening divisions within the party and could have significant implications for TMC's leadership structure and political strategy ahead of future electoral battles in West Bengal. (PC: X)

The Trinamool Congress crisis has intensified, with the rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee reportedly reaching out to Lok Sabha MPs amid an escalating power struggle within the party. After securing support from a large group of rebel MLAs and gaining recognition in the Assembly, the dissidents are now eyeing TMC's parliamentary wing. The rebels maintain that their fight is not against Mamata Banerjee but against the growing influence of Abhishek Banerjee. Reports suggest efforts are underway to win over MPs, raising the possibility of a leadership challenge in Parliament and further deepening the biggest internal split in TMC's 28-year history. (PC: India Today)

In a major setback for the newly formed Karnataka government led by D. K. Shivakumar, senior Congress leader R. Ramalinga Reddy resigned from the state cabinet just two days after taking oath. Reddy claimed he had been assured the Bengaluru Development portfolio by the Chief Minister but was instead assigned the Irrigation Department, which he found unacceptable. Calling the decision a breach of trust, he submitted his resignation, triggering embarrassment for the new administration. Shivakumar described Reddy as a close friend and senior leader, expressing confidence that the issue would be resolved through discussions. The episode has exposed early signs of discontent within the newly constituted cabinet. (PC: NDTV)

The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has urged supporters not to gather at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on June 6 to receive founder Abhijeet Dipke, citing concerns over public inconvenience and security challenges. The appeal marks a shift from Dipke’s earlier call for supporters to meet him upon arrival from the United States ahead of a planned protest seeking Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the NEET paper leak controversy. Instead, Dipke will proceed to Parliament Street Police Station to personally seek permission for a demonstration at Jantar Mantar. CJP stressed peaceful, lawful conduct and expressed confidence that authorities would approve the protest.