Moneycontrol Selects National News Edition: Top stories of the day

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directed on March 21.

Here are our big political stories of the day:

Delhi liquor policy case: HC dismisses Kejriwal plea against his arrest, says CM involved in taking kickbacks

The Delhi High Court on April 9 dismissed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea against his arrest in the liquor policy case, saying the material collected by the ED revealed he was actively involved in the use of proceeds of crime. It upheld that Kejriwal’s arrest was not illegal. The court also noted that Kejriwal had no objection to him being sent to judicial custody.  Read more

Former Union minister Birender Singh, wife Prem Lata join Congress

Former Union minister Birender Singh along with his ex-MLA wife Prem Lata on Tuesday joined the Congress party in Delhi. Singh, who was the Union minister for steel in the Modi government, and his wife resigned from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on April 8. Their joining comes a month after their son Brijendra Singh joined the party after quitting the BJP. Birender Singh, 78, is the maternal grandson of the farmer leader Sir Chhotu Ram and had quit the Congress in 2014 to join the BJP. Read more

Maharashtra seat-sharing deal: Uddhav Thackeray’s Sena to contest 21 seats, Congress 17, NCP 10

Ending days of speculation regarding the seat-sharing arrangement in Maharashtra, the Maha Vikas Aghadi has finalized the pact with Shiv Sena (UBT) faction contesting on 21 seats, NCP (Sharad Pawar) faction on 10 seats and Congress on 17 seats. Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the second highest after Uttar Pradesh (80). NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and state Congress president Nana Patole announced the poll pact for the 48 parliamentary seats in the state at a press conference after weeks of negotiations. The Lok Sabha polls will be held in the state in five phases from April 19 to May 20. Read more

AAP bolsters Lok Sabha poll drive without CM via ‘Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se’ slogan

As the Delhi High Court is poised to deliver its verdict on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on April 9, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is rebooting its Lok Sabha campaign titled 'Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se'. The AAP has prominently displayed a large hoarding at its headquarters featuring Kejriwal's face behind bars, accompanied by the caption 'Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se'. The CM's arrest on March 21 by the central probe agency, in connection with a money laundering case associated with the now-defunct excise policy, has been highlighted on the hoarding. Read more

Tejashwi Yadav tries to emerge as his own man in a grim political battle

Lalu Prasad Yadav is the titan in twilight. That is if one were looking at him through a charitable prism. He has had a pretty good run in Indian politics as well as ruled Bihar via his party - Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Now saddled with illness and serious charges of alleged graft, he knows time is at a premium. But this isn’t about Lalu. It is about his son Tejashwi who has adroitly grabbed the baton and is sprinting away in the fast lane. Read more

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Robert Vadra hints at political entry, amid uncertainty over Congress's Amethi candidate

Amid widespread speculation surrounding businessman Robert Vadra's potential entry into politics from Uttar Pradesh's Amethi, Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law has once again hinted at his aspirations for a political career. Vadra told a news agency that the residents of Amethi believe that if he contests from the constituency, they will have the opportunity to "correct their mistake" of electing Smriti Irani. Read more