Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expanded his cabinet, inducting 39 ministers in a swearing-in ceremony in Nagpur. Leaders from BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) took the oath. Key figures include BJP’s Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Pankaja Munde, Shiv Sena’s Gulabrao Patil, Uday Samant, and NCP’s Dhananjay Munde, Babasaheb Patil. Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde also attended. The BJP is likely to retain crucial departments like revenue and power, while Shiv Sena and NCP are expected to keep their previous portfolios. Fadnavis confirmed a consensus on portfolio allocation, to be revealed soon.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expanded his cabinet in Nagpur today. Thirty-nine ministers, including leaders from the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, took oath. The cabinet now has 42 members, one short of the state’s limit. Nineteen ministers are from the BJP, eleven from the Shiv Sena, and nine from the NCP. Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar attended the event. The expansion was delayed due to a tussle over key portfolios. The BJP-led alliance won 235 seats in the assembly polls earlier this year, with the BJP securing 132 seats. Fadnavis continues to hold the home portfolio.

The swearing-in of the Maharashtra Mahayuti cabinet took place in Nagpur with 39 MLAs inducted, including 20 from BJP, 13 from Shiv Sena, and 10 from NCP. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, presided over the ceremony. BJP’s Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Radhakrishna Vikhepatil were among the first to take oath. Shiv Sena retained leaders like Uday Samant and Gulabrao Patil, while new faces joined. The BJP is expected to retain major portfolios, including home and revenue, while Shiv Sena gains one additional ministry. NCP will manage finance, agriculture, and sports portfolios.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) released its final list of 38 candidates for the Delhi Assembly elections, completing nominations for all 70 constituencies. Arvind Kejriwal will contest from the New Delhi seat, facing Congress’ Sandeep Dikshit in a high-stakes rivalry. Atishi has been fielded from Kalkaji, while Saurabh Bharadwaj will represent Greater Kailash. AAP denied tickets to 20 sitting MLAs, replacing some with family members. Kejriwal criticized BJP’s lack of leadership, stating AAP’s accomplishments in healthcare, education, and governance are unmatched. Delhi elections are expected in January 2025, with AAP aiming to defend its turf through grassroots outreach.

The arrest of Telugu actor Allu Arjun, following a fatal stampede during the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule in Hyderabad, has sparked political controversy in Telangana. Congress defended the arrest, citing adherence to the law, while BJP and YSRCP leaders criticized it as unjust. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw blamed poor event management, calling the arrest a "publicity stunt." YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy supported Arjun, urging authorities to focus on aiding victims. Arjun, granted interim bail by Telangana High Court, expressed grief over the tragedy and pledged support to the bereaved family. The incident highlights lapses in crowd control.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a 110-minute speech in Parliament, slammed the Congress and the Nehru-Gandhi family for repeatedly undermining India's Constitution. He accused the family of sowing divisive seeds during their 55 years in power, referencing amendments made by Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi's Emergency, and Rajiv Gandhi's disregard for the Shah Bano verdict. Modi emphasized his government's commitment to strengthening the Constitution, pointing to the repeal of Article 370 and the implementation of GST. He also laid out 11 proposals, including ensuring that reservations are not based on religion.

The One Nation, One Election Bill proposes holding Lok Sabha and state assembly polls together but delays implementation until 2034. Approved by the Union Cabinet, the bill seeks to amend Articles 83, 172, and 327 of the Constitution to align assembly terms with the Lok Sabha. Elections after 2029 will synchronize terms, with mid-term polls filling unexpired terms if assemblies dissolve early. The bill also includes changes for Union Territories like Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir. Based on recommendations by the Kovind Committee, the proposal will be presented in the Lok Sabha on Monday for discussion and approval.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized Congress in the Lok Sabha, recalling the 1975 Emergency as a period when "constitutional rights were snatched" and "India was turned into a jail." He accused the Gandhi family of damaging the Constitution with "wrong policies and deeds." Hailing India’s democratic legacy, Modi referred to the nation as the "Mother of Democracy," emphasizing its ancient republican traditions. He praised the Constitution makers for respecting India’s heritage and noted that women-led development has flourished since women were granted voting rights. Modi’s speech marked 75 years of the Constitution's adoption, celebrating its enduring significance.

Rahul Gandhi, in a Lok Sabha debate, criticized Hindutva ideologue Savarkar’s belief that the Constitution should be replaced by the Manusmriti. He accused the BJP of undermining the Constitution, sharing Savarkar’s remarks that called it "un-Indian." In response, BJP minister Kiren Rijiju shared a letter from Indira Gandhi, praising Savarkar as a "remarkable son of India." Gandhi also accused the BJP of stifling the youth's aspirations and aiding business tycoons like Adani. BJP MP Anurag Thakur hit back, citing the Constitution's role in ending the Emergency.

BJP veteran and former deputy prime minister LK Advani, 97, was admitted to Apollo Hospital in Delhi on December 14. Hospital sources confirmed his condition is stable, with Advani being treated by Dr. Vinit Suri, a senior neurology consultant. Although the reason for his hospitalization has not been disclosed, this marks Advani's latest stay at the hospital after a series of previous admissions, including one for routine follow-up tests in August. Earlier this year, he was briefly hospitalized at AIIMS. He remains under observation at Apollo Hospital.