The Marxist Communist Party of India has said that it will not be attending the opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. Leading party figure Brinda Karat stressed the need of respecting religious convictions but accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of politicising the sacred occasion. The BJP’s strategy was also scorned by Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, who described the opening of the Ram Temple as a “show-off” that went against Lord Ram’s teachings. A direction from the BJP calls for active involvement in associated programmes, and the consecration ceremony is set for January 22. Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, has ordered decorative arrangements to be made in Ayodhya for the event.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has come under fire from Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan for allegedly mishandling the flood situation in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. While visiting the damaged areas, Chief Minister MK Stalin was called a “one-hour chief minister” by Soundararajan. She asserted that her involvement was necessary since the state government had not adequately prepared for the intense rains. The DMK chastised Soundararajan for her remarks, calling them unconstitutional and unfit for a governor. Thirteen people lost their lives in the flood that occurred in Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Kanyakumari due to heavy rains.