A severe heatwave continues to impact Delhi and large parts of north and central India, with temperatures soaring well above normal levels. The capital recorded a maximum temperature of 41.9°C on Friday, which is 4.2°C above the seasonal average, marking a steady rise in heat intensity.

The Ridge station in north Delhi recorded an even higher temperature of 43.1°C, making it one of the hottest spots in the city. Meanwhile, Lodhi Road reported 41.8°C, and both locations met the official criteria for a heatwave.

🔥 Heatwave Conditions Intensify

According to the India Meteorological Department, a yellow alert has been issued for Delhi, indicating continued heatwave conditions through the weekend. Daytime temperatures are expected to range between 42°C and 44°C, with hot, dry winds (up to 35 km/h) offering little relief.

Across the country, the situation is equally intense:

• Sri Ganganagar (Rajasthan) recorded 44.5°C, among the highest in India.
• Several states, including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, are seeing temperatures between 40°C and 44°C.
• The IMD has warned that temperatures may rise by an additional 2–3°C by April 29.

🌬️ Why Is It So Hot?

The ongoing heatwave is driven by:

• Dry continental winds from western regions
• Lack of cloud cover
• Delayed pre-monsoon activity

Additionally, a developing cyclonic circulation over Rajasthan is influencing weather patterns, though its cooling effects are expected to be limited initially.

🌦️ Relief on the Horizon?

Weather experts, including those from Skymet Weather, suggest that no immediate relief is expected on Saturday. However, a gradual change is likely beginning April 26–28, when:

• Light rainfall and thunderstorms may occur in parts of northwest India
• Delhi could see partly cloudy skies by Sunday
• Thundery activity is expected Monday evening
• Light rain may follow on Tuesday and Wednesday

This could bring a slight dip in temperatures, though not a dramatic cooldown.

🌡️ Widespread Heat Across India

The heatwave is affecting multiple regions:

• North & Central India: Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh
• Western & Southern regions: Gujarat, Vidarbha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, north Karnataka
• Eastern states: Odisha, Jharkhand

Even typically humid regions like Kerala are experiencing unusually high temperatures.

🌧️ Contrasting Weather: Heavy Rain in Other Regions

While northern India bakes under extreme heat, other regions are witnessing heavy rainfall:

• Northeast India (Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh): Heavy to very heavy rain expected till April 29
• Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura: Rain with thunderstorms and strong winds
• Himalayan states (Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh): Rainfall between April 25–30

📊 What Counts as a Heatwave?

The IMD defines a heatwave when:

• Temperature exceeds 40°C, and
• It is at least 4.5°C above normal, or
• It reaches 45°C or more, regardless of normal levels

In a major political development, opposition parties have submitted a fresh notice in the Rajya Sabha seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Around 73 Members of Parliament (MPs), mainly from parties like the Indian National Congress and Trinamool Congress, backed the motion.

The notice was submitted to the Rajya Sabha Secretary-General, and it proposes that the House send a formal resolution to the President of India recommending Kumar’s removal.

⚖️ Legal basis for removal

The opposition is invoking multiple legal provisions, including:

• Article 324(5) of the Constitution of India
• Article 124(4) of the Constitution of India (used as a reference framework)
• Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023
• Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968

👉 These laws together outline a process similar to the removal of a Supreme Court judge—meaning it’s very difficult and requires strong proof and parliamentary approval.

📌 What are the allegations?

The opposition claims “proved misbehaviour” and has listed nine detailed charges. Key accusations include:

• Biased enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC)
• Failure to act on complaints against Narendra Modi, especially regarding his April 18 “address to the nation”
• Alleged “partisan asymmetry”—meaning rules are applied unevenly between ruling and opposition parties

The Congress has gone further, alleging that Kumar is acting under the influence of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, calling his continuation in office “an assault on the Constitution.”

🏛️ What happens next?

This notice is just the first step. For removal to actually happen:

1. The motion must be admitted in the Rajya Sabha
2. It requires investigation and debate
3. It must be passed by a special majority in both Houses of Parliament
4. Finally, the President would act on Parliament’s recommendation

👉 In practice, such removals are extremely rare and politically difficult.

🧭 Why this matters

• The Election Commission of India is supposed to be independent and neutral
• Any allegation of bias can affect public trust in elections
• This reflects growing tensions between the government and opposition ahead of key political events

🧾 Big picture

This move is less about immediate removal (which is unlikely quickly) and more about:

• Political pressure
• Raising concerns about institutional neutrality
• Setting the stage for larger electoral debates

In a dramatic political development, Raghav Chadha on Friday claimed that two-thirds of the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Rajya Sabha MPs have decided to merge with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, Chadha said the group has formally submitted documents to the Rajya Sabha Chairman invoking constitutional provisions related to party mergers.

⚖️ The Claim and Its Implications

According to Chadha:

• AAP has 10 MPs in the Rajya Sabha
• 7 MPs (more than two-thirds) are supporting the merger
• A signed letter has been submitted to the Chairman

If verified, such a move could fall under provisions of the anti-defection law, where a merger supported by at least two-thirds of legislators can be legally recognised without disqualification.

📋 MPs Named in the Alleged Split

Chadha listed the following MPs as part of the group:

• Raghav Chadha
• Sandeep Pathak
• Ashok Mittal
• Harbhajan Singh
• Rajinder Gupta
• Vikramjit Singh Sahney
• Swati Maliwal

These names include a mix of politicians, industrialists, and public figures who entered Parliament via AAP.

🧭 Missing Pieces & Unanswered Questions

Despite the scale of the claim, several key aspects remain unclear:

• No official confirmation yet from Aam Aadmi Party leadership
• No public response from Arvind Kejriwal
• No formal acknowledgment yet from the Rajya Sabha Secretariat
• The BJP has not issued an official statement confirming acceptance of such a merger

⚠️ Political and Legal Significance

If true, this would be one of the largest parliamentary shifts involving AAP since its formation. It could:

• Reduce AAP’s strength significantly in the Rajya Sabha
• Strengthen BJP numerically in the Upper House
• Trigger legal scrutiny under the Tenth Schedule (anti-defection law)

However, until verified by parliamentary authorities, the development remains a claim made at a press conference.

🧠 Context

AAP has emerged as a major regional force over the past decade, especially in Delhi and Punjab. Any internal split at the parliamentary level would have major political consequences, both nationally and within the party structure.

🧾 Bottom Line

The announcement by Raghav Chadha signals a potentially major political shift—but confirmation from official institutions and party leadership is still awaited. Given the scale of the claim, further developments are expected soon.