Election wrap: Prajwal Revanna seeks time, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's video sparks row and more

Prajwal Revanna, Karnataka MP and Janata Dal Secular leader, who is currently embroiled in a controversy after leaked explicit videos allegedly showing him sexually assaulting multiple women, denied allegations and said that he has informed the criminal investigation department (CID) that he is currently not in Bangalore, but will join the probe soon.

Here are the other top developments of the day:

• 'Truth will prevail soon': Prajwal Revanna's first reaction as obscene videos row escalates

Suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, accused of sexually assaulting multiple women, broke his silence on Wednesday and said that "truth will prevail soon". Revanna, who is the grandson of former PM HD Deve Gowda, reportedly fled the country as allegations against him gathered heat.

In a letter to the police on Prajwal's behalf, his advocate said that the suspended JD(S) leader will need 7 days time to appear before the probe team since he is currently not in Bengaluru.

Prajwal is accused in an alleged sex scandal which is being investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Karnataka government.

In his first response since the controversy erupted, Prajwal said on X that he is not in Bengaluru currently and has communicated the same to CID.

• Congress leaders held secret meetings voicing discontent over Sonia Gandhi's leadership in 1999: Praful Patel

During the initial years of Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Sonia Gandhi's leadership, there was frustration among some Congress leaders, including former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma, who openly criticised her foreign origin and credentials.

This sentiment was shared by many leaders within the party, who held secret meetings at the homes of Sangma, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sharad Pawar, former Congress MP Rajesh Pilot, and former Union Minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi to express their discontent, according to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Praful Patel.

"PA Sangma, Rajesh Pilot, Sharad Pawar, and Jitendra Prasada took part in secret meetings against Sonia Gandhi's leadership," stated Patel while elaborating on how the NCP was formed in 1999, in an exclusive interview with ANI.

• Shiv Sena fields ex-mayor Naresh Mhaske and MP Hemant Godse from Thane and Nashik LS seats

The Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday nominated ex-mayor Naresh Mhaske and sitting MP Hemant Godse as its candidates from Thane and Nashik Lok Sabha constituencies, respectively, ending weeks of suspense. The party also officially declared the candidature of CM Shinde's son and sitting MP Shrikant Shinde from Kalyan constituency.

Godse's renomination from Nashik constituency in north Maharashtra indicates that the Shiv Sena prevailed over its allies BJP and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, which were coveting this seat.

A former mayor of Thane, Mhaske will take on Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate and incumbent MP Rajan Vichare. A straight fight is on the cards between Godse and Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Rajabhau Waje.

Thane is the stronghold of CM Shinde who represents the Kopri-Pachpakhadi assembly constituency in the city.

• Arvinder Lovely’s decision will have no bearing on AAP-Congress prospects in Delhi, say Congress leaders   

As senior leaders of Congress and Aam Aadmi Party firm up campaign strategy in Delhi, former Delhi Congress President Arvinder Singh Lovely’s resignation has once again turned the focus on the viability of the alliance of the two key INDIA bloc constituents in the national capital. On Wednesday, two key Pradesh Congress leaders and observers for two Lok Sabha seats in the national capital Neeraj Basoya and Naseeb Singh resigned citing differences over appointment of interim Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav and party’s alliance with Aam Aadmi Party. Lovely quit as Delhi Congress chief on April 28.

• 'Better to vote for BJP than ...': TMC seizes on purported video of Congress's Adhir Chowdhury

Former TMC MP Sushmita Dev has posted a purported video of Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, in which he can be heard telling people that it is better to vote for BJP than TMC in West Bengal.

In an undated video posted by Dev, Chowdhury, who is the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, can be heard saying in Bengali: "Why vote for TMC ...better to vote for BJP".

"Meet the ⁦ @INCIndia ⁩ star campaigner for BJP in Bengal. ⁦ @adhirrcinc ⁩ Leader of the House of Lok Sabha," Dev, who was earlier president of All India Mahila Congress before joining TMC, said.