LIVE News Updates: BJP’s Pragya Thakur refers to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin as ‘deshbhakt’ in Lok Sabha

BJP member Pragya Thakur referred to Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse as a "deshbhakt" during a debate in Lok Sabha, triggering a protest by opposition members.

Pragya Thakur is an accused in Malegaon bomb blast case.

Former Navy Chief Admiral (retd) Sushil Kumar passed away at a military hospital on Wednesday morning following a brief illness, his family said. He was 79. Kumar was Navy Chief from 1998-2001.

Known for his strategic thinking, Kumar had pushed for significantly expanding Indian Navy's presence in the Indian Ocean Region. He was also part of the high-level group devising strategy during the Kargil war in 1999.

Kumar was Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC) when India had planned Operation Parakram in the wake of the terror attack on Indian Parliament. The CoSC comprises the Army, Navy and IAF chiefs.

Former Union minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday hit out at the Modi government's functioning and said that it is said that even the President of India was involved in the midnight affair in Maharashtra.

"Governor, PM and President were all responsible for midnight Maharashtra affair (Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar oath). It is sad that the President is involved, deeply sad that he is woken up at 4 am in the morning," Chidambaram said while being taken to jail after hearing at a special court in Delhi.

Maharashtra Governor BS Koshyari swore in BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis and NCP rebel Ajit Pawar in a clandestine early morning ceremony after lifting the President’s Rule at 5:47 a.m.

Chidambaram has been in custody since August this year in the INX media case.

A Delhi court Wednesday extended the judicial custody of former finance minister P Chidambaram till December 11 in connection with the INX Media money laundering case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate.

Special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar passed the order after the ED sought extension of Chidambaram's judicial custody by 14 days saying probe is on.

The counsel for the 74-year old senior Congress leader did not oppose ED's plea.

Congress leader Manish Tewari on Wednesday cornered the Narendra Modi government over withdrawal of the Special Protection Group (SPG) security cover to the Gandhi family.

Speaking in the in Lok Sabha, Tewari said that SPG protectees were told in June that their threat assessment was increasing.

"I want to ask that what changed between June and November that SPG protection was removed without amending the law," he said.

NCP leader Ajit Pawar, who joined hands with the BJP last week to form government in Maharashtra but quit it later, attended a meeting of his party legislators on Wednesday and guided them on various issues, party MLA Dhananjay Munde said.

The leaders discussed issues relating to Thursday's swearing-in ceremony of Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray as chief minister, Assembly Speaker's election, confidence motion and programmes to be organised to mark NCP chief Sharad Pawar's 80th birthday on December 12, he said.

The BJP made "aghori" (barbaric) attempts to retain power in Maharashtra, but the state's people foiled it, marking the beginning of a change in the country's politics, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said on Wednesday.

Raut also said it will not be surprising if the Shiv Sena forms government at the Centre after having installed its chief minister (Uddhav Thackeray) in Maharashtra.

The BJP last Saturday formed government in Maharashtra with the support of NCP's Ajit Pawar, after refusing to do so initially for want of numbers.

The government led by Devendra Fadnavis collapsed on Tuesday after Pawar resigned as his deputy, citing "personal reasons".

"The BJP could not impose its CM despite its 'aghori' attempts in Maharashtra. This is because there is a dissent among the people of Maharashtra," Raut told reporters here.

"The beginning of change is taking place from Maharashtra...Maharashtra has shown a new dawn to the country," the Rajya Sabha member said.

Congress MP B K Hariprasad on Wednesday staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha after Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu cut short his speech as he raised the issue of floods in North Karnataka.

Naidu ordered that Hariprasad's remarks would not go on record the moment the Congress lawmaker began stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets on every issue but had ignored the floods in North Karnataka.

What has happened in Maharashtra is a slap on the face of BJP. How could Fadnavis take oath knowing he did not have majority? It was a violation of the constitution. Narendra Modi was equally involved in this insult to democracy, he was also hand in glove, says Siddaramaiah,Congress

Senior journalist Madhu Shetye died here on Wednesday after prolonged illness. He was 89, family sources said.

Shetye was a founding member of the Mumbai Press Club.

He was a former corporator in the Mumbai municipal corporation and had participated in the Samyukta Maharashtra and Goa liberation movements.

We are committed to making a new Maharashtra. There are several first time MLAs and we all felt proud while taking oath. Want to serve the people of the state

I have already said that I was with NCP and I am with NCP. Have they expelled me? Have you heard or read this anywhere? I am still with NCP, says Ajit Pawar

Talking to reporters, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that the "suryayaan" has landed safely on the Mantralaya in Mumbai.

"You shouldn't be surprised if this Suryayaan now lands in Delhi as well," he said.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that the real test of the government lies ahead of them and that it is a long path ahead.

Maharashtra Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat on Wednesday said the sharing of portfolios among the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress in the next state government will be finalised in a couple of days.

The 'Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi', comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress along with some small parties and Independents, has decided to stake claim for government formation in the state after the BJP-led government collapsed on Tuesday.

Maharashtra CM-designate and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhavan here on Wednesday.

Thackeray, to be sworn-in as CM on Thursday, was accompanied by wife Rashmi, an official said.

The Shiv Sena chief will be the first from the Thackeray family to be sworn in as the chief minister.

The Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress on Tuesday named Thackeray as their chief ministerial face.

The three parties have claimed support of 166 MLAs in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly.

Devendra Fadnavis resigned as CM on Tuesday, barely 80 hours after taking oath for the second time, the move necessitated by his deputy Ajit Pawar's resignation citing "personal reasons".

A special session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly began on Wednesday morning to administer oath to members in the 288-member House.

Pro tem Speaker Kalidas Kolambkar is administering the oath to the legislators at the session.

Among those sworn in early were Ajit Pawar, Chhagan Bhujbal, Ashok Chavan and Prithviraj Chavan. Names of members were called out on basis of seniority.

Kolambkar was appointed pro tem Speaker by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Tuesday evening.

All the 287 newly-elected legislators of different political parties and Independents trooped down to the Vidhan Bhavan for the Special Session of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly where they will be sworn-in by Pro Tem Speaker Kalidas N. Kolambkar, on Tuesday.

They were warmly welcomed with smiles and handshakes by Shiv Sena MLA Aditya Thackeray, Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule-Pawar, several Congress leaders, irrespective of the parties they belonged to, as they entered the Vidhan Bhavan.

The sulking former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar created a flutter when he arrived with a wide grin, was greeted by his cousin Supriya Sule and then he gave her a warm hug as the cameras went into a frenzy.

She also greeted former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis with warmth and folded hands, touched him on the shoulder as he proceeded with a smile -- a never-before witnessed camaraderie among political stalwarts.

Supriya Sule also received former Speaker and senior BJP leader Haribhau Bagade and other leaders with warmth, presenting a relaxed atmosphere, in sharp contrast to the tension-filled political turbulence of the past one month.

Chief Minister-designate Uddhav Thackeray will pay a courtesy call on Governor B.S. Koshyari at Raj Bhavan before arriving at the Vidhan Bhavan to meet the legislators.

Uddhav Thackeray was unanimously elected the leader of the Maha Vikas Aghadi for Chief Minister's post by the top leaders of the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress.