The Congress on Monday mounted one of its sharpest attacks yet on both the ruling BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the wake of the dramatic defection of seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, who first split to form a separate bloc and subsequently merged with the BJP.

The Congress has casted the episode as politically consequential beyond the Rajya Sabha gambit.

Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters in Delhi, Congress treasurer Ajay Maken—among the party’s most trenchant critics of AAP despite the two parties being partners in the INDIA bloc—framed the development as the merger of the BJP’s B team in to team A.

He also said that BJP’s latest political move could have serious implications in Punjab. Maken argued that the shift in Rajya Sabha representation from Punjab could fuel separatism in Punjab and the “imbalance” could be exploited by separatist elements.

“Punjab’s separatist forces have long claimed that their voices are not heard and justice is denied to them. What the BJP has done now risks reinforcing that narrative,” he said.

Citing data, Maken pointed out that the BJP had secured just 6.6 per cent of the vote in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, winning only two out of 117 seats.

“Despite that, the BJP now effectively controls 85.7% of Punjab’s representation in the Rajya Sabha—six out of seven MPs. How will Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP leaders justify this to the people of Punjab?” he asked.

Turning his attack on AAP, Maken said the defections had “exposed the party’s true face”. He further questioned AAP’s self-description as a party of the common man, citing the financial disclosures of the defecting MPs.

“When I looked at their affidavits, I found out that the average net worth per Rajya Sabha MP is 818 crore 50 lakh 35 thousand 420 rupees. Where does the ‘Aam Aadmi’ fit into this? In reality, this is a party of billionaires,” Maken said.

 “The mask is off. A party born out of an anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare is now playing the role of the BJP’s B-team,” he alleged, adding, “and now that B-team is steadily becoming the A-team.”

The Congress remarks come amid escalating political tensions over the high-profile defections, which have triggered a fresh war of words between opposition parties and the ruling BJP.

For the Congress, the attack serves a dual purpose: reclaiming political space in Delhi –  and Punjab, where it lost power to AAP in 2022.

For AAP, the defections raise uncomfortable questions about internal cohesion and ideological consistency, especially as it seeks to position itself as a national alternative. Maken also said that the 14 years old party may face another split in coming times.

In a major political setback for the AAP, seven of its ten Rajya Sabha MPs on Friday (24 April) revolted against the leadership and joined BJP.

The development came at a politically sensitive moment. Assembly elections are underway in Trinamool Congress-ruled West Bengal, where AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee are seen as part of a broader anti-BJP political alignment, both inside and outside Parliament.

In a significant political shift in the Upper House, Rajya Sabha chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan on Monday formally accepted the merger of seven Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), dealing a major blow to Arvind Kejriwal’s party.

With the development, the BJP’s strength in the Rajya Sabha has risen to 113, while the AAP’s presence has been reduced to just three members.

The MPs who have now aligned with the BJP are Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Sandeep Pathak, Vikramjit Sahney, Swati Maliwal, and Rajinder Gupta. The Rajya Sabha website has since updated its records to reflect their inclusion in the BJP’s list of members.

The move follows a petition submitted by the seven MPs on Friday, requesting the Chairman to recognise them as BJP members post-merger—a request that has now been approved.

The AAP, however, has strongly contested the development. On Sunday, the party approached the Chairman seeking the disqualification of the defecting MPs. Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh said he had filed a formal petition urging action against the seven members for switching sides.

The political upheaval began last week when the MPs announced their exit from the AAP, alleging that the party had drifted away from its founding principles, values, and core ideology.

The episode marks a major churn in the Rajya Sabha’s political arithmetic, intensifying the contest between the ruling BJP and opposition forces in the Upper House.

With PTI inputs

The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered an FIR in a corruption case linked to a now-deceased contractor said to be a relative of former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, officials said on 26 April.

The case pertains to alleged irregularities in the award and execution of a government contract for construction of a drain during 2015–16.

FIR details and allegations

According to officials, the FIR names contractor Surender Kumar Bansal, who allegedly secured contracts in the name of multiple firms, received payments, but did not execute the work.

Investigators alleged that one such firm was listed under the name Kamal Singh, and that fake invoices linked to Bhardwaj Enterprises were used to draw funds from the public exchequer.

A second FIR has also been registered naming Kamal Singh as an accused.

The case was initially investigated by the Delhi government’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and was later transferred to the CBI by the Ministry of Home Affairs in September last year.

According to the FIR, the contract was allegedly awarded at a price 46 per cent below market rates, with claims that technical parameters were manipulated.

The complaint has sought examination of the role of Kejriwal, alleging that “substantive gains” were made by the contractor through influence. These allegations are part of the complaint and have not been established in court.

Bansal passed away in 2017. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had earlier dismissed the allegations as “baseless” and termed the case a “witch-hunt”.

The case relates to public works contracts awarded during the period when the AAP government was in power in Delhi.

The CBI investigation is at a preliminary stage, and further details are expected as the probe progresses.

Congress leader Pawan Khera on 26 April moved the Supreme Court challenging the Gauhati High Court’s rejection of his anticipatory bail plea in a case arising from allegations he made against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma.

According to the Supreme Court’s case status, the matter is yet to be listed before a bench.

The Gauhati High Court on 24 April dismissed Khera’s anticipatory bail application after the Supreme Court had earlier asked him to approach the High Court.

The case stems from allegations made by Khera that Sharma possessed multiple passports and undisclosed properties abroad. These claims have been denied, and criminal proceedings were initiated against him.

Khera alleges political vendetta

Khera has maintained that the allegations were raised in public interest and that the cases registered against him are politically motivated.

In his petition before the Supreme Court, he is expected to argue that the charges are retaliatory in nature and that he faces the risk of coercive action.

Following the allegations, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma filed complaints at the Guwahati Crime Branch police station under various provisions of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita).

The legal proceedings have since moved across jurisdictions, with multiple courts involved at different stages.

Earlier relief, later stayed

The Telangana High Court had earlier granted Khera a seven-day transit anticipatory bail, offering temporary protection.

However, the Assam Police challenged the order in the Supreme Court, which stayed the relief and directed Khera to seek appropriate remedy before the Gauhati High Court.

The case has triggered sharp political reactions, with the Congress alleging misuse of legal processes to target Opposition leaders, while the ruling side has not publicly responded to these claims in detail.

The matter now awaits listing before the Supreme Court, which will decide on Khera’s plea for anticipatory bail and examine the circumstances surrounding the case.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday strongly condemned the killing of Congress worker Debdeep Chatterjee in Asansol, accusing the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (AITMC) of fostering a “reign of terror” in West Bengal.

Chatterjee was allegedly beaten to death on 24 April, amid reports of violence following the first phase of assembly elections. The Congress has claimed that “TMC-affiliated thugs” were behind the attack.

In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi described the killing as “utterly reprehensible,” extending condolences to the bereaved family. “In West Bengal today, it is not democracy but TMC’s reign of terror that prevails. Intimidating, attacking, and eliminating opposing voices after votes are cast — this has become the defining character of TMC,” he said.

Reiterating the Congress party’s stance, Rahul Gandhi added, “Congress politics has never been based on violence, nor will it ever be. We, too, have lost our workers, yet we have always chosen the path of non-violence and the Constitution. This is our legacy, this is our resolve.”

He demanded swift action from authorities, calling for the “immediate arrest of all the guilty, the harshest punishment, and full security and compensation” for Chatterjee’s family. “We will not bow before this politics that stains India’s non-violent tradition. Justice will be done,” he asserted.

According to the Congress, Chatterjee had been working closely with Asansol north candidate Prasenjit Puitandi. The party alleged he was attacked by individuals linked to the TMC and later succumbed to his injuries.

In a separate statement, the Indian National Congress’s West Bengal unit described the incident as evidence of a “complete collapse of law and order” in the state. It raised concerns over the safety of opposition workers, especially in the immediate aftermath of polling.

The party also alleged “administrative apathy”, claiming that an FIR had not been registered promptly in the case. “Democracy cannot survive in an atmosphere of fear and violence. We will continue to raise our voice against such atrocities and fight to ensure justice for every victim,” it said.

The incident has further intensified the political confrontation in the state, with the opposition accusing the ruling party of intimidation, while tensions remain high in the wake of the ongoing assembly elections.

With IANS inputs

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Indian National Congress have criticised the Odisha government’s decision to convene a special assembly session on 30 April to discuss women’s participation in democracy, calling it “politically motivated” and a “drama.” The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, has accused the Opposition of obstructing efforts to implement women’s reservation.

The special session comes days after a Constitution Amendment Bill — aimed at operationalising 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures by 2029 and increasing the strength of the Lok Sabha to 816 — was defeated in Parliament’s Lower House.

BJD MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo questioned the need for such a session, arguing that a women’s reservation law had already been passed in 2023. “What is the need for holding a special session now?” he asked, alleging that the BJP was attempting to mislead the public after the recent setback in Parliament.

Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik had earlier demanded a special session to discuss Odisha’s political rights in light of the proposed delimitation exercise. Patnaik, a former chief minister, had also raised concerns about linking women’s reservation with delimitation, warning it could reduce the state’s representation in Parliament.

Sahoo alleged that the BJP ignored earlier calls for a session but is now staging “drama” through rallies and the assembly meet following the bill’s defeat. Another BJD MLA, Ganeswar Behera, echoed the charge, claiming the move was aimed at misleading women voters in the state.

Congress leader Ashok Das also criticised the session, calling it unnecessary and politically driven. He pointed out that the party had supported the 2023 women’s reservation law and now seeks its implementation rather than symbolic gestures.

Responding sharply, senior BJP leader and state minister Gokulananda Mallik said the special session was intended to deliberate on extending 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies. He accused the BJD and Congress of hypocrisy, alleging they were “blocking the means” to implement the quota while claiming to support women’s empowerment.

In the Lok Sabha vote, 298 members supported the amendment bill, while 230 opposed it — falling short of the required two-thirds majority of 352 votes. The proposed legislation also sought to increase Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816 to accommodate the reservation policy, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census.

With political sparring intensifying, the upcoming special session is set to become a fresh flashpoint in Odisha’s evolving electoral landscape, with both sides vying to claim the mantle of championing women’s representation.

With PTI inputs

Independent Rajya Sabha MP and former Union law minister Kapil Sibal on 25 April termed the merger of seven AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) MPs with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) “unconstitutional”, arguing that it violates provisions of the anti-defection law.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Sibal said the merger of MPs cannot take place without a prior decision by the political party itself.

“The Constitution says that first the political party must take a decision at the organisational level… and only then can it be done. The party merges first and then the MPs. The opposite cannot happen,” Sibal said.

He argued that the move is contrary to the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which governs disqualification on grounds of defection.

The remarks came a day after seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs — including Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Swati Maliwal and Vikramjit Sahney — announced their merger with the BJP.

Sibal also raised questions over the role of the Rajya Sabha chairman in deciding on potential disqualification petitions against the MPs.

“What courage will the Rajya Sabha chairman have in deciding a disqualification petition if the prime minister does not have the courage to even respond to President Trump?” he said.

Criticism over PM’s response to Trump remarks

The senior advocate criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not responding to remarks attributed to US President Donald Trump regarding India.

“If somebody outside can dare to say to this country that this is a hellhole and the prime minister of India doesn't respond… can you imagine?” he said.

Allegations on political practices

Sibal alleged that unconstitutional practices have increased in recent years, claiming that elected governments have been destabilised and institutions have failed to act promptly.

He referred to instances of delayed judicial decisions and alleged misuse of investigative agencies in political matters.

“When businessmen become Members of Parliament… the ED will reach, and when the ED reaches, then parties will be switched. This is called political conspiracy,” he said.

Under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, a merger is recognised if at least two-thirds of legislators of a party agree to it, and typically follows a formal decision by the political party.

The developments involving AAP MPs have triggered political debate over the interpretation of anti-defection provisions.

There was no immediate response from the BJP on Sibal’s allegations.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee on 25 April alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has deployed its “entire machinery” in West Bengal to defeat her party in the ongoing Assembly elections, asserting that such efforts would not translate into victory.

Addressing a rally in Uttarpara in Hooghly district, Banerjee claimed that senior BJP leaders, including members of the Union Cabinet and chief ministers of NDA-ruled states, were extensively campaigning in the poll-bound state.

‘Entire machinery deployed’, says Banerjee

“The BJP is desperate, with 50 helicopters flying into West Bengal as almost the entire Union Cabinet, from the Prime Minister to home, railway and defence ministers, as well as CMs of 19 NDA-ruled states camping in a single state – West Bengal,” she said.

She contrasted this with her party’s campaign resources, stating that the TMC was using only three helicopters across the state.

“All this hype and sound and fury will end in a whimper on May 4,” Banerjee said, referring to the counting day.

Banerjee also alleged extensive deployment of central forces during the campaign.

“On top of this, we are seeing central forces wherever we are going. They are bringing in armoured vehicles which are not put to use where such vehicles are needed,” she said.

Referring to remarks attributed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Banerjee criticised the language used and said her party would document such statements for possible legal recourse.

“As a Union minister and a responsible leader, you cannot utter such words. You are speaking in the language of terror… I have asked our men to videograph his speech and submit the same to the court,” she said.

Claims of outsiders, campaign optics

The TMC leader alleged that individuals from outside the state were brought into her Bhabanipur constituency.

“They were driven out. I will ask everyone to keep a tab on every hotel and guest house to identify such people who are helping the BJP,” she said.

In a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Banerjee alleged that a recent public appearance on the Hooghly river was “scripted”.

“You said we have been peeved at your eating ‘jhalmuri’ but we know you had got it prepared at home and everything was scripted,” she said.

West Bengal is witnessing a high-intensity electoral contest, with multi-phase polling underway and results scheduled for 4 May.

The BJP has mounted an extensive campaign in the state, while the ruling TMC is seeking to retain power.

There was no immediate response from the BJP to Banerjee’s allegations.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on 25 April criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the defection of AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) Rajya Sabha MPs, likening the party to the mythological demon “Bakasur” with “insatiable hunger”.

The remarks came a day after seven AAP MPs, including Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak, resigned from the party and announced their merger with the BJP.

“In Mahabharat, there is a demon called Bakasur whose hunger was insatiable. The BJP has become a party of Bakasur. It can eat anything,” Raut told reporters in Mumbai.

He alleged that many of the defecting leaders were “Page 3 leaders” who switched sides due to fear and personal interests.

“Let the garbage from other parties go to the BJP so that it becomes a dumping ground,” he said.

Allegations on pressure, investigations

Raut claimed that some leaders who joined the BJP had faced investigative action earlier, referring to cases involving business entities linked to Ashok Mittal.

He also alleged that political pressure is exerted on leaders to switch sides, citing his own experience of arrest in a money laundering case in 2022, in which he was later granted bail.

Wider political criticism

The Sena (UBT) leader accused the BJP of engaging in what he termed “shameless politics” and criticised the broader political environment.

He also referred to recent remarks attributed to Donald Trump, linking them to his criticism of the ruling party, though no direct connection was established.

The defection of seven AAP MPs marks a significant political development in the Rajya Sabha, reducing the party’s strength in the Upper House.

Party-switching by elected representatives has remained a recurring issue in Indian politics, often triggering debates over anti-defection laws and political ethics.

There has been no immediate response from the BJP on Raut’s remarks.

The second phase of West Bengal’s Assembly elections is shaping up as a challenging contest for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) holding a clear advantage across most of the constituencies going to polls on 29 April.

A total of 142 seats spread across seven districts will vote in this phase, many of which have historically favoured the TMC. This presents a stark contrast to the first phase, where the BJP had entered relatively favourable territory, having performed strongly in the 2021 Assembly elections.

In districts such as Nadia, which has 17 Assembly segments, the BJP’s performance has been uneven. While it managed to retain pockets of influence — including the Ranaghat Lok Sabha seat — the TMC continues to dominate large sections, including areas represented in Parliament by Mahua Moitra.

The picture is even more challenging for the BJP in North and South 24 Parganas. The TMC swept the majority of Assembly segments in these districts in 2021 and maintained its dominance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, despite isolated BJP victories in constituencies such as Bongaon and Barrackpore.

South 24 Parganas, in particular, remains a stronghold of the ruling party, which secured nearly all Assembly seats in the previous election cycle. Similarly, in Kolkata and adjoining districts like Howrah and Hooghly, the TMC has consolidated its position, leaving the BJP with limited gains in earlier contests.

In Purba Bardhaman, the TMC achieved a clean sweep in the 2021 Assembly elections and carried that momentum into the parliamentary polls, further underlining its organisational strength in the region.

However, the electoral landscape has been influenced by subsequent by-elections, where the TMC regained some ground from the BJP in seats such as Santipur and Ranaghat Dakshin.

A key factor in phase two is the Matua community vote, particularly in North 24 Parganas. The community, with roots in the Namasudra reform movement led by Harichand Thakur, represents a significant electoral bloc in the state.

Recent revisions to electoral rolls have triggered controversy, with over 1.2 million names reportedly removed across phases. Constituencies in the Bongaon subdivision — considered Matua strongholds — have been especially affected, leading to allegations of disenfranchisement among voters.

The issue has sparked a political tussle, with the TMC accusing the BJP of failing to deliver on promises of citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act, while BJP leaders have urged affected voters to pursue legal remedies.

The Matua vote remains crucial, as both parties attempt to consolidate support among marginalised communities whose concerns over citizenship and representation continue to influence electoral outcomes.

With the TMC maintaining a strong base across key districts and the BJP striving to improve on its previous performance, the second phase is expected to play a decisive role in shaping the broader electoral narrative in West Bengal.

With IANS inputs

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Saturday called for a high-level investigation into the alleged rape and murder of a girl from the Vishwakarma community in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur, seeking immediate justice and action against those responsible.

In a post on X, Gandhi said that in a country where parents have to plead even to register an FIR for their daughter, the government has no moral right to remain in power. He also demanded action against police officials accused of inaction and said the victim’s family must be provided protection.

“In Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, the rape and brutal murder of a daughter from the Vishwakarma community — and then threats and violence to stop the family from filing an FIR.

“Hathras, Kathua, Unnao, and now Ghazipur — this is a pattern. The daughter from Manipur breathed her last while waiting for justice,” he said in his post in Hindi.

He added that the victims in such cases are often from marginalised communities. “Every time, it is the same face and the victim is Dalit, backward, tribal or poor.

“Every time, the same truth — protection for the criminal, persecution for the victim. Every time, the same silence — from those in power who should have spoken.

“In a country and state where parents have to beg even to get an FIR filed for their daughter, that country’s government has no moral right to remain in power,” Gandhi said.

Calling for immediate intervention, he said, “Action must be taken against the guilty police officers, the family must get protection — a high-level investigation must happen, and justice must be delivered immediately.”

Posing questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, Gandhi asked, “Modi ji, chief minister ji, give a response — why are daughters so unsafe in your rule?”

“In such circumstances, justice isn’t begged for — it is snatched. And we will snatch it,” he added.

Congress MP and general-secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also criticised the handling of the case, alleging that reluctance to file a complaint, followed by threats to the victim’s family and attempts by powerful actors to create disorder, reflected a worsening situation for women in the state.

“In BJP rule, this has now become the unspoken law: whenever any woman faces atrocity, the victim herself is further tormented,” she said.

“The Prime Minister’s grand statements about women are mere show. Be it Unnao, Hathras, Prayagraj, or Ghazipur — wherever women have faced injustice, the BJP has stood with the oppressor against the victim, using its full power. Women across the country are witnessing this reign of darkness,” Vadra said in her post in Hindi.

The case relates to a teenage girl whose body was found in the Karanda area of Ghazipur district on 15 April. Her family has alleged sexual assault and murder. Police have said the matter is under investigation, while relatives and local residents have been demanding justice.

With PTI inputs

A stray admission, a swift apology, and then a carefully worded clean-up act — the RSS found itself doing some on-the-spot damage control in Washington after senior leader Ram Madhav’s remarks appeared to hand the Opposition a ready-made attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Congress on Friday said Modi has lost his authority to continue as prime minister, claiming that a senior RSS leader had made a “clear admission” that the prime minister is “dancing to Washington’s tunes”.

Congress MP and general-secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal shared a video of Madhav on X in which the latter said India agreed to stop buying oil from Iran and Russia and also agreed to higher tariffs imposed by the US.

In the video, Madhav is heard saying: “India agreed to stop buying oil from Iran. We agreed to stop buying oil from Russia, facing so much criticism from our Indian Opposition. We agreed to a 50 per cent tariff...Agreed means, we did not say anything. We maintained our patience. 50 per cent tariffs we agreed. Today, in the new trade deal also we agreed for 18 per cent tariffs higher than what it used to be.... I mean, average tariff.

“So, where is India lagging behind in that. What are those issues where India is not doing enough?”

The remarks, made during an interactive session at the Hudson Institute in Washington, were quickly seized upon by the Congress, which framed them as an admission of policy capitulation.

In his post on X, Venugopal said, “Clear admission by a senior RSS leader — PM Modi is dancing to Washington’s tunes. There was once a time when the US’ 7th Fleet was in the Bay of Bengal, and India didn’t budge. And then there is today, where a Compromised PM has handed over India’s sovereignty to the US.”

He added that this is exactly what Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and the broader Opposition have been arguing: “India has lost its independent voice on the world stage. After this surrender, it’s clear that Narendra Modi has lost his authority to continue as Prime Minister.”

Madhav, however, moved quickly to walk back his comments. “What I said was wrong as India did not agree to stop import of oil from Russia. What I said was wrong. India didn’t agree to stopping import of oil from Russia anytime. Also it vigorously protested 50 per cent tariff imposition. I was trying to make a limited counterpoint to the other panellist. But factually incorrect. My apologies,” he said in a post on X while sharing his video.

But by then, the political damage had been done — and it fell to Dattatreya Hosabale, also in Washington, to offer a more measured and flattering articulation of the RSS-government relationship.

In an interview with PTI, Hosabale said Modi propagates the values of the RSS “in his own unique ways” and is “the best representative” of the organisation. “He (PM Modi) is doing these things in his own unique ways, all of them. He may not express the same words. For example, he said ‘Ek Ped Maa ke Naam’. We have said, ‘plant a tree’,” Hosabale said.

The RSS leader stressed that many government programmes reflect the organisation’s thinking. “Many government programmes reflect the values espoused by the RSS,” he said, citing ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and the Five Resolves (Panch Pran) outlined by the prime minister in his 2022 Independence Day address. “So, being a swayamsevak (the RSS term for volunteer), he has these things naturally,” Hosabale said.

He also underscored the ideological continuity between the RSS and the BJP, recalling the party’s origins. “They wanted to retain the relations of RSS. That was the prime reason for the formation of the political party, coming away from the Janata Party. That way, that umbilical cord relationship cannot be disturbed.”

Hosabale added that while Modi is “an elected prime minister in a democracy”, he “knows very well what his cultural roots are and what this organisation stands for… He knows very well. He is the best representative.”

The sequence — an unguarded remark, a hurried apology, and a subsequent reaffirmation of ideological alignment — has left the ruling establishment batting away Opposition claims, even as it insists nothing of substance has changed.

With PTI inputs