Congress leader Pawan Khera is set to make his Rajya Sabha debut after the Congress named him among its candidates from Karnataka for the upcoming Upper House elections. The party has also nominated Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Mansoor Ali Khan from the state.&nbsp;Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar confirmed that Kharge will file his nomination papers on Friday in the presence of senior party leaders.&nbsp;"Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge is filing the nomination tomorrow at 12.30 pm. Rahul Gandhi is also coming here tomorrow. He'll file the nomination. Then the rest of the candidates, the MLCs, will also file the nomination," Shivakumar told reporters.&nbsp;Besides Khera, Kharge and Mansoor Ali Khan, the Congress has nominated Meenakshi Natarajan from Madhya Pradesh, Neeraj Dangi from Rajasthan, Praveen Chakravarty from Tamil Nadu and Pranav Jha from Jharkhand for the Rajya Sabha elections and bypolls.&nbsp;Polling for 24 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states, including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, is scheduled for June 18. Bypolls for one seat each in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Odisha will also be held on the same day. The last date for filing nominations is June 8.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/futile-to-try-pressuring-pm-modi-putin-says-india-us-relations-do-not-affect-ties-with-russia-1780597993055">‘Futile to try pressuring PM Modi’: Putin says India-US relations do not affect ties with Russia</a>&nbsp;Khera's nomination comes against the backdrop of a recent legal battle involving Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his family. The controversy erupted after Khera alleged that Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, possessed multiple passports and held undisclosed foreign assets. He also shared documents that he claimed were linked to foreign entities, though Sharma later alleged that the documents were forged.&nbsp;Both Riniki Bhuyan Sharma and the Assam chief minister dismissed the allegations as baseless and politically motivated.&nbsp;&nbsp;Following a complaint filed by Sharma in Guwahati on April 5, the Guwahati Crime Branch registered a case against Khera under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges related to forgery, cheating, defamation and the use of forged documents.&nbsp;The dispute soon escalated into a wider political confrontation. Assam Police visited Khera's residence in New Delhi on April 7 in connection with the case, although he was not present at the time.&nbsp;Khera subsequently moved the Supreme Court seeking protection from arrest. On May 1, a bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and AS Chandurkar granted him anticipatory bail, observing that the allegations and counter-allegations in the matter appeared, prima facie, to be driven by political rivalry.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Mansoor Ali Khan have also been named as Rajya Sabha candidates from Karnataka, along with Pawan Khera.

Congress leader Pawan Khera is set to make his Rajya Sabha debut after the Congress named him among its candidates from Karnataka for the upcoming Upper House elections. The party has also nominated Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Mansoor Ali Khan from the state. Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar confirmed that Kharge will file his nomination papers on Friday in the presence of senior party leaders. "Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge is filing the nomination tomorrow at 12.30 pm. Rahul Gandhi is also coming here tomorrow. He'll file the nomination. Then the rest of the candidates, the MLCs, will also file the nomination," Shivakumar told reporters. Besides Khera, Kharge and Mansoor Ali Khan, the Congress has nominated Meenakshi Natarajan from Madhya Pradesh, Neeraj Dangi from Rajasthan, Praveen Chakravarty from Tamil Nadu and Pranav Jha from Jharkhand for the Rajya Sabha elections and bypolls. Polling for 24 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states, including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, is scheduled for June 18. Bypolls for one seat each in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Odisha will also be held on the same day. The last date for filing nominations is June 8. Also Read: ‘Futile to try pressuring PM Modi’: Putin says India-US relations do not affect ties with Russia Khera's nomination comes against the backdrop of a recent legal battle involving Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his family. The controversy erupted after Khera alleged that Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, possessed multiple passports and held undisclosed foreign assets. He also shared documents that he claimed were linked to foreign entities, though Sharma later alleged that the documents were forged. Both Riniki Bhuyan Sharma and the Assam chief minister dismissed the allegations as baseless and politically motivated. Following a complaint filed by Sharma in Guwahati on April 5, the Guwahati Crime Branch registered a case against Khera under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges related to forgery, cheating, defamation and the use of forged documents. The dispute soon escalated into a wider political confrontation. Assam Police visited Khera's residence in New Delhi on April 7 in connection with the case, although he was not present at the time. Khera subsequently moved the Supreme Court seeking protection from arrest. On May 1, a bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and AS Chandurkar granted him anticipatory bail, observing that the allegations and counter-allegations in the matter appeared, prima facie, to be driven by political rivalry.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Mansoor Ali Khan have also been named as Rajya Sabha candidates from Karnataka, along with Pawan Khera.

Pawan Khera to make Rajya Sabha debut after Assam FIR row; Congress releases list of candidates

The Aam Aadmi Party suffered a big blow on Friday as Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha and two other Rajya MPs, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, announced that they were breaking away from AAP and joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Moreover, over two-thirds of the party’s Rajya Sabha MPs, including former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, and Rajinder Gupta, are set to back Chadha’s switch to the BJP.&nbsp;&nbsp;Chadha, who was once among AAP’s most prominent young leaders and a key face, had played a central role in the party’s outreach beyond Delhi and Punjab.&nbsp;<h2>‘AAP completely deviated from its principles, values, and core morals’</h2>&nbsp;Addressing a press conference with two other Rajya MPs, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, Chadha said, “The Aam Aadmi Party, which I nurtured with my blood and sweat and to which I gave 15 years of my youth, has now completely deviated from its principles, values, and core morals. The party is no longer working for the country or in the national interest, but for personal gain.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">VIDEO | Delhi: During a press conference, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha (<a href="https://twitter.com/raghav_chadha?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@raghav_chadha</a>) says, “The Aam Aadmi Party, which I nurtured with my blood and sweat and to which I gave 15 years of my youth, has now completely deviated from its principles, values, and core morals. The… <a href="https://t.co/l8J9e9gspF">pic.twitter.com/l8J9e9gspF</a>&mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/2047618899055968414?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Many of you have been telling me this for the past few years, and I too have personally felt that I am the right man in the wrong party. I repeat, ‘I am the right man in the wrong party.’ Therefore, today I announce that I am distancing myself from the Aam Aadmi Party and going to the people,” he added.&nbsp;“We, two-thirds of the Members of Parliament belonging to the Aam Aadmi Party in the Rajya Sabha, will exercise the provisions of the Constitution of India and merge with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),” Chadha announced.&nbsp;Addressing the joint press conference, Pathak said he was going to join the BJP. Chadha said that nearly two-thirds of AAP's Rajya Sabha MPs have quit the party and will join the BJP as a faction. He added that several Rajya Sabha MPs, including Swati Maliwal, Harbhajan Singh, Vikram Sahney, and Rajinder Gupta have also quit AAP. The three MPs claimed before the press that seven out of 10 Rajya Sabha MPs of AAP have quit the party.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">VIDEO | Delhi: Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha (<a href="https://twitter.com/raghav_chadha?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@raghav_chadha</a>) says, “We, two-thirds of the Members of Parliament belonging to the Aam Aadmi Party in the Rajya Sabha, will exercise the provisions of the Constitution of India and merge with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). (Full… <a href="https://t.co/YBQOex17CD">pic.twitter.com/YBQOex17CD</a>&mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/2047619973770575995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Chadha said AAP had strayed from its founding principles.Earlier this month, AAP leadership had removed Chadha as its deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, signalling a clear breakdown in ties with the party leadership. <h2>AAP attacks Chadha, other MPs</h2> AAP leader Sanjay Singh attacked Raghav Chadha and said the party made him an MLA and then elevated him to a Member of Parliament and had “given him a lot.” Singh said, “Look at the history of Rajender Gupta, Ashok Mittal and Swati Maliwal—the party did a lot for them.” He further said that “all these MPs have betrayed the Punjab government and its people,” adding that “the people of Punjab will never forgive them.” AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal also reacted to the split and said in a post on X, “The BJP has once again given Punjabis a shove.”

Over two-thirds of AAP’s Rajya Sabha MPs, including Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, and Rajinder Gupta, are set to back Raghav Chadha’s switch to the BJP. Chadha made the announcement in a press briefing and said AAP had strayed from its founding principles.

The Aam Aadmi Party suffered a big blow on Friday as Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha and two other Rajya MPs, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, announced that they were breaking away from AAP and joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Moreover, over two-thirds of the party’s Rajya Sabha MPs, including former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, and Rajinder Gupta, are set to back Chadha’s switch to the BJP. Chadha, who was once among AAP’s most prominent young leaders and a key face, had played a central role in the party’s outreach beyond Delhi and Punjab. ‘AAP completely deviated from its principles, values, and core morals’ Addressing a press conference with two other Rajya MPs, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, Chadha said, “The Aam Aadmi Party, which I nurtured with my blood and sweat and to which I gave 15 years of my youth, has now completely deviated from its principles, values, and core morals. The party is no longer working for the country or in the national interest, but for personal gain.”

Over two-thirds of AAP’s Rajya Sabha MPs, including Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, and Rajinder Gupta, are set to back Raghav Chadha’s switch to the BJP. Chadha made the announcement in a press briefing and said AAP had strayed from its founding principles.

Raghav Chadha, 2 other MPs quit Aam Aadmi Party, announce split with 2/3rd MPs set to join BJP

About 12% of sitting MPs of Rajya Sabha are billionaires with Andhra Pradesh and Telangana having the highest percentage of such parliamentarians, according to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

The ADR and the National Election Watch (NEW) have analysed and updated the criminal, financial and other background details of 225 out of 233 Rajya Sabha MPs.

In the current Rajya Sabha, one seat is vacant. According to the report, 5 (45%) out of 11 MPs from Andhra Pradesh, 3 (43%) out of 7 MPs from Telangana, 3 (16%) out of 19 MPs from Maharashtra, 1 (33%) out of 3 MPs from Delhi, 2 (29%) out of 7 MPs from Punjab, 1 (20%) out of 5 MPs from Haryana and 2 (18%) out of 11 MPs from Madhya Pradesh have declared assets worth more than ₹100 crore.

The total assets of seven Members of Parliament (MPs) analysed from Telangana is ₹5,596 crore, that of 11 MPs from Andhra Pradesh is ₹3,823 crore, and 30 MPs analysed from Uttar Pradesh have total assets worth ₹1,941 crore.

Out of the 225 Rajya Sabha sitting MPs analysed, 75 (33%) have declared criminal cases against themselves.

Also about 41 (18%) Rajya Sabha sitting MPs have declared serious criminal cases and two members have declared cases related to murder (IPC section 302).

Out of 4 MPs, one Rajya Sabha sitting MP — Congress' K.C. Venugopal — from Rajasthan has declared case related to rape (IPC section 376).

About 23 (27%) out of 85 Rajya Sabha MPs from BJP, 12 (40%) out of 30 MPs from Congress, 4 (31%) out of 13 MPs from AITC, 5 (83%) out of 6 MPs from RJD, 4 (80%) out of 5 MPs from CPI(M), 3 (30%) out of 10 MPs from AAP, 3 (33%) out of 9 MPs from YSRCP, and 2 (67%) out of 3 Rajya Sabha MPs from the NCP have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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About 12% of sitting MPs of Rajya Sabha are billionaires with Andhra Pradesh and Telangana having the highest percentage of such parliamentarians, according to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

About 12% of sitting MPs of Rajya Sabha are billionaires with Andhra Pradesh and Telangana having the highest percentage of such parliamentarians, according to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). The ADR and the National Election Watch (NEW) have analysed and updated the criminal, financial and other background details of 225 out of 233 Rajya Sabha MPs. In the current Rajya Sabha, one seat is vacant. According to the report, 5 (45%) out of 11 MPs from Andhra Pradesh, 3 (43%) out of 7 MPs from Telangana, 3 (16%) out of 19 MPs from Maharashtra, 1 (33%) out of 3 MPs from Delhi, 2 (29%) out of 7 MPs from Punjab, 1 (20%) out of 5 MPs from Haryana and 2 (18%) out of 11 MPs from Madhya Pradesh have declared assets worth more than ₹100 crore. The total assets of seven Members of Parliament (MPs) analysed from Telangana is ₹5,596 crore, that of 11 MPs from Andhra Pradesh is ₹3,823 crore, and 30 MPs analysed from Uttar Pradesh have total assets worth ₹1,941 crore. Out of the 225 Rajya Sabha sitting MPs analysed, 75 (33%) have declared criminal cases against themselves. Also about 41 (18%) Rajya Sabha sitting MPs have declared serious criminal cases and two members have declared cases related to murder (IPC section 302). Out of 4 MPs, one Rajya Sabha sitting MP — Congress' K.C. Venugopal — from Rajasthan has declared case related to rape (IPC section 376). About 23 (27%) out of 85 Rajya Sabha MPs from BJP, 12 (40%) out of 30 MPs from Congress, 4 (31%) out of 13 MPs from AITC, 5 (83%) out of 6 MPs from RJD, 4 (80%) out of 5 MPs from CPI(M), 3 (30%) out of 10 MPs from AAP, 3 (33%) out of 9 MPs from YSRCP, and 2 (67%) out of 3 Rajya Sabha MPs from the NCP have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

12% of sitting MPs of Rajya Sabha billionaires, highest percentage from A.P., Telangana: ADR

The politically contentious Delhi Services Bill, which will replace the Ordinance on control of services in the national capital, will be tabled in Rajya Sabha today. The bill is listed for final consideration after the Question Hour.

India: Delhi services bill: AAP issues whip for Rajya Sabha MPs to be present in House

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/gun-violence-in-united-states-student-led-protests-draw-huge-crowds-36966" target="_blank">Over 1 million Americans pour out onto streets, demand tighter gun control</a>

More than a million Americans flooded the streets of cities nationwide for emotional protests demanding tighter gun control on Saturday, protests spearheaded by teenagers from a Florida high school where 17 people were shot dead last month.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/90-rajya-sabha-mps-are-crorepatis-adr-report-36972" target="_blank">90% Rajya Sabha MPs are crorepatis: Report</a>

Nearly 90 per cent of the Rajya Sabha MPs are crorepatis while the average of total assets Upper House parliamentarians is Rs 55 crore, says a report.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/granddaughter-of-martin-luther-king-jr-energizes-march-for-our-lives-crowd-36969" target="_blank">US protests: Martin Luther King&#39;s granddaughter leads crowd calling for gun reform</a>

The granddaughter of the late civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. energised the crowd in Washington on Saturday (March 24) during the March For Our Lives Rally demanding tighter gun laws, led by survivors of last month&#39;s Florida school massacre which reignited public anger over mass shootings.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-takes-full-control-of-syrias-afrin-military-source-36971" target="_blank">Turkey takes full control of Syria&#39;s Afrin: Military source</a>

Turkey&rsquo;s military and its Syrian rebel allies have taken full control of northwest Syria&rsquo;s Afrin region, a Turkish army source said on Saturday, as aid workers distributed food to people in the area.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/australia-captain-smith-fights-for-job-as-ca-announce-ball-tamper-probe-36980" target="_blank">Australia captain Steve Smith fights for job</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/australia-captain-smith-fights-for-job-as-ca-announce-ball-tamper-probe-36980" target="_blank"> as CA announce </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/australia-captain-smith-fights-for-job-as-ca-announce-ball-tamper-probe-36980" target="_blank">ball-tampering</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/australia-captain-smith-fights-for-job-as-ca-announce-ball-tamper-probe-36980" target="_blank"> probe</a>

Australia captain Steve Smith was fighting to save his job and reputation on Sunday after admitting he was the chief plotter in the ball-tampering scandal which has plunged the game into crisis and sparked a Cricket Australia probe.

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Over 1 million Americans pour out onto streets, demand tighter gun control More than a million Americans flooded the streets of cities nationwide for emotional protests demanding tighter gun control on Saturday, protests spearheaded by teenagers from a Florida high school where 17 people were shot dead last month. 90% Rajya Sabha MPs are crorepatis: Report Nearly 90 per cent of the Rajya Sabha MPs are crorepatis while the average of total assets Upper House parliamentarians is Rs 55 crore, says a report. US protests: Martin Luther King's granddaughter leads crowd calling for gun reform The granddaughter of the late civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. energised the crowd in Washington on Saturday (March 24) during the March For Our Lives Rally demanding tighter gun laws, led by survivors of last month's Florida school massacre which reignited public anger over mass shootings. Turkey takes full control of Syria's Afrin: Military source Turkey’s military and its Syrian rebel allies have taken full control of northwest Syria’s Afrin region, a Turkish army source said on Saturday, as aid workers distributed food to people in the area. Australia captain Steve Smith fights for job as CA announce ball-tampering probe Australia captain Steve Smith was fighting to save his job and reputation on Sunday after admitting he was the chief plotter in the ball-tampering scandal which has plunged the game into crisis and sparked a Cricket Australia probe.

WION Morning News Brief, March 25, 2018

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Pawan Khera to make Rajya Sabha debut after Assam FIR row; Congress releases list of candidates

Raghav Chadha, 2 other MPs quit Aam Aadmi Party, announce split with 2/3rd MPs

12% of sitting MPs of Rajya Sabha billionaires, highest percentage from A.P., Telangana: ADR

India: Delhi services bill: AAP issues whip for Rajya Sabha MPs to be present in House

WION Morning News Brief, March 25, 2018