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Over the past few years, he has been seen to be aggressive against the Centre. Be it his protest against industrialists like Vijay Mallya or issues like farmers' suicides under the pressure of debts - Varun Gandhi has repeatedly slammed the Modi government. This time, the controversial MP has also spoken about 'Agnipath' in the same way. Raising his demand for pension for Agniveers, Varun said he will also give up the pension if the pension for Agniveers are not introduced. 

The July 18 presidential election was an opportunity for India's fragmented political opposition to consolidate and expand its base across regions. But it has seemingly failed to rise to the occasion adequately.

In 2002, the BJP-led ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) fielded India's 'Missile Man', APJ Abdul Kalam (a Muslim). During the last election in 2017, the coalition picked then-Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind (a Dalit). Given the NDA's penchant for political import and candidates that mean support even from some of the opposition constituents, a tribal face was a strong possibility this time. And the opposition was expected to be politically astute.

But Yashwant Sinha was fielded by the West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee-driven opposition grouping that comprises a reluctant Congress and a sulking Left but is shunned by key non-NDA constituents such as the AAP (Delhi and Punjab), the TRS (Telangana), the YSRCP (Andhra Pradesh), the SAD (Punjab) and the BJD (Odisha).

In the race to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the opposition bloc’s presidential nominee Yashwant Sinha will face his first hurdle when he visits Jharkhand on June 24 to seek support from UPA ally Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).

Even though the Shibu Soren-led JMM attended the June 15 meeting of opposition leaders convened by Mamata Banerjee to decide on a presidential candidate, the party has still not announced its support to Sinha’s candidature. With NDA announcing Droupadi Murmu, who is not only the first tribal woman to be nominated for the highest constitutional office, but has also served as Kharkhand governor, all eyes are now set on JMM to see which way the UPA ally may vote.

Senior BJP minister in Karnataka Umesh Katti has reignited an old and controversial demand by saying that the state will be divided into two soon after Narendra Modi returns to power after the 2024 elections.

He also said that Modi has plans to create 50 new states for better administration.

Katti, who is Food and Civil Supplies Minister, said: “It is not our party's stand but it should definitely happen this time. Let us all unite and make this happen. After the upcoming 2024 elections, PM Modi will return to power. Maharashtra will be divided into two, Karnataka will also be divided into two, and Uttar Pradesh will be divided into four. There are talks to create 50 states in total. Uttar Kannada should become a separate state," he added.

The BJP seems to be exploring the possibility of government formation in Maharashtra amid a crisis in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi ruling coalition due to the rebellion by Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde. According to reports, led by former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, the BJP may stake claim to form a government in the state today, said sources. If sources are to be believed, Fadnavis is likely to meet the state's governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari on Thursday and hand him over the list of party MLAs and also apprise the latter of the possible assurance of support the party has received from the independent and non-BJP MLAs.