The Samajwadi Party (SP) chief, Akhilesh Yadav, decided not to be cooperative in the ongoing inquiry by refusing to cooperate with the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) summons over the illegal mining case.

It is uncertain that Akhilesh Yadav will visit Delhi tomorrow since, according to a close colleague of his and a senior party official, the party office is already busy with multiple meetings about the preparations for the next Lok Sabha elections.

According to sources, Yadav has an important PDA (Picchda, Dalit, and Alpsankhyak) meeting scheduled at the party’s Lucknow headquarters later today. The party official stated that Yadav has no intention of going anywhere.

Samajwadi Party spokesperson Rajendra Chowdhury confirmed Yadav’s intention to attend the planned gathering in Lucknow. He denied any possibility of Yadav traveling to Delhi for the CBI investigation.

He said, Akhileshji will attend a meeting of PDA at the party office today. He will not be going anywhere. In Lucknow, he is scheduled to attend a meeting, said Rajendra Chowdhury.

Officials explained that Yadav is being called as a witness in the illicit mining cases that date back to his time as Uttar Pradesh’s chief minister, not as an accused party.

The cases under investigation concerned purported irregularities in the mining lease issuing, which took place between 2012 and 2016, with charges that permits were given for illicit mining activities even in the face of a National Green Tribunal prohibition.

In response to the CBI’s notice, Yadav attacked the BJP and said that the timing of the investigation was motivated by politics. He hinted that these kinds of notices, which cast doubt on the BJP’s actions and intentions, frequently occur during election seasons.

Yadav’s comments alluded to the Samajwadi Party and the ruling BJP’s continued political tensions, with charges and denials frequently occurring in the run-up to elections.

6 Congress MLAs who cross-voted for BJP in the Rajya Sabha election were disqualified by the speaker from the Himachal assembly on Thursday. The members have been disqualified under the anti-defection law. Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania announced 6 MLAs, who contested on Congress symbol, attracted provisions of the anti defection law against themselves. He declared that 6 people cease to be members of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly with immediate effect.

The Congress government has managed to contain the political crisis that rose due to cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha elections and the revolt by a minister. Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu passed the budget on Wednesday, and Minister Vikramaditya Singh said he will not press for resignation until talks with leaders conclude.

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi was defeated by BJP’s Harsh Mahajan through a draw of, after the two candidates won 34 votes each in the fight for the lone Rajya Sabha seat following cross-voting by the  6 MLAs. According to reports the Congress and 3 independent MLAs are reportedly camping at a guest house in Panchkula, located in BJP-run Haryana, after voting against the Congress candidate. They attended the assembly session on Wednesday.

Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on Wednesday expelled 15 BJP MLAs, including leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, for misconduct and allegedly shouting slogans in the Chamber of the Speaker. Chief Minister Sukhu dismissed speculation that he was resigning. He said neither the high command, nor anyone else has asked him for resignation and added the Congress government will complete its 5-year term in the state.

Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh, who had announced his resignation as a minister, on Wednesday evening said he wouldn’t press his resignation until a dialogue with party leaders was not completed. He, after meeting party central observers said the government was never in a crisis.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and dedicated to the country multiple infrastructure projects worth more than Rs 4900 crore in Yavatmal, Maharashtra. He also released benefits under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) and other schemes during the programme.

The instalment amount of over Rs 21000 crore under the PM-KISAN was released through direct benefits transfer to beneficiaries. A press release said with this release, an amount of more than 3 lakh crore, has been transferred to more than 11crore farmers’ families.

The Prime Minister also disburse 2^nd and 3^rd instalments of Namo Shetkari MahaSanman Nidhi, worth about Rs 3,800 crore. The scheme provides an additional amount of Rs 6000 per year to the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri  Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana in Maharashtra.

The press release said Rs 825 crore of Revolving Fund was released for 5.5 lakh women Self Help Groups (SHGs) across Maharashtra. This amount is additional to the Revolving fund provided by the government of India under National Rural livelihood Mission (NRLM).

The prime minister also distributed 1 crore Ayushman cards and launched the Modi Awaas Gharkul Yojana for the OBC. Rail projects launched by PM Modi included New Ashti Amalner broads gauge line (part of Ahmednagar-Beed-Parli new broad gauge line project) and Wardha-Kalamb broad gauge line (part of Wardha-Yavatmal-Nanded new broad gauge line project).

The Prime Minister to virtually flagged off two train service during the programme. This included train services connecting Kalamb and Wardha; and train service connecting Amalner and New Ashti. The new train service will help improve connectivity and benefit students, traders and daily commuters of the region.

Addressing the people of Yavatmal, the prime minister said he bowed down to the land of Chhatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj. He said he also bowed down to Baba Saheb Ambedkar. He said he had received their blessings when he had come for Chai pe Charcha 10 years ago.