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Two days after the Congress lost to the BJP in the Rajasthan assembly election, a political slugfest started over the murder of Karni Sena chief Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi who was shot dead in his home in Jaipur on Tuesday. Karni Sena called Rajasthan bandh on Wednesday over the murder while the BJP which is going to form the government in the state claimed that it was a "revenge plan" of the Congress after losing the state. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala shared a video of Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi saying that police had input about his security threat but Congress CM Ashok Gehlot reduced his security.

Kamal Nath is likely to step down as the Congress state president in Madhya Pradesh, in the wake of the party's drubbing in the assembly elections, the results of which were announced on December 3. 

According to news agency ANI, Kamal Nath was directed to appoint a new state president after he met the Congress high command in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sudhanshu Trivedi on Tuesday credited the robust GDP numbers to the shift from the derided 'Hindu Growth Rate' to what he coined as the 'Hindutva Growth Rate.' During a discussion in Rajya Sabha on the state of the Indian economy, Trivedi said the Indian economy was striving to go beyond 2 per cent, which was jokingly labelled as the "Hindu rate of growth".

"With respect to the Indian economy, I am being reminded of the days when the country was under Congress rule. Our country was made fun of back in those days and it was said, in a jocular vein, that our economy couldn't grow beyond 2 per cent. It was ridiculed as the 'Hindu Growth Rate'," he said.

Drawing a sharp contrast, the BJP MP asserted that under Prime Minister Modi's governance, India has soared to new economic heights.

"At 7.8 percent, we now have the highest growth rate among all the major economies of the world," he declared proudly. The MP attributed this turnaround to the faith placed in Hindutva, suggesting that those critical of the term were the same individuals content with a meagre two per cent 'Hindu Growth Rate.'

"Now, it is no more a 'Hindu Growth Rate' but a 'Hindutva Growth Rate.' Now, the people (who are in power) have faith in Hindutva," the MP remarked.

Reinforcing his 'Hindutva growth' argument, he added that India's fastest growth rate coincides with the 'pran prathistha' of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya next month.

The Rajya Sabha is likely to continue the discussion on the prevailing economic situation in the country on the third day of the ongoing Winter Session. The discussion on a short-duration notice on the economic situation in the country, which was initiated by Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien on Tuesday, is to be continued in the Upper House on Wednesday, reported ANI.

(With inputs from agencies)

The controversy triggered by attempts to draw a "north-south" divide in the wake of Congress's defeat in three state polls intensified on Tuesday after its partner DMK's MP DNV Senthilkumar made a disparaging reference to the swathe on the northern side of the Vindhyas, triggering an aggressive response from BJP.

Speaking in Lok Sabha during the debate on a bill related to J&K, Senthilkumar used a controversial description for north India to argue that BJP's appeal was limited to the region where the cow is revered and it could not win elections in the south. BJP leaders hit back at DMK and asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi if he agreed with the insulting remarks of its INDIA bloc partner against north Indians.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured a decisive victory in the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, paving the way for the party to form a government in the state. As discussions intensify about the potential candidate for the post of chief minister, various prominent figures emerge as contenders.

Dr. Raman Singh: A seasoned politician, has served as the chief minister of of the state on three occasions, showcasing his leadership acumen. With the looming Lok Sabha elections, the BJP may consider him for another term, aiming for substantial success in Chhattisgarh.