Political new: Regional Leaders might be the main attraction
Political news: Despite their state-based roots, their opinions constantly influence discussions. Some of them have shifted from the periphery to the center in anticipation of the 2026 elections. By adopting stances outside of state boundaries, Mamata Banerjee, M K Stalin, Akhilesh Yadav, and Pinarayi Vijayan stand apart. However, while K C Venugopal and Shashi Tharoor have taken center stage, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is redefining her place on the national scene.
After Rahul Gandhi decided to keep Raebareli, Priyanka ran in the 2024 Wayanad by-election and was elected to Parliament. Although her position has grown, she explained the decision as support for her brother. Her public appearances and comments in Parliament gave the Congress narrative more impetus. She has indicated the possibility of a more expansive position without attempting to compete with Rahul Gandhi. Although she garnered attention for her encounter with the prime minister during the winter session, her challenge in 2026 will be transforming her reach into outcomes.
M K Stalin has promoted concerns about federal balance in Tamil Nadu. His administration has campaigned for control over education, contested the governor’s authority, changed tax sharing, and filed a lawsuit on the SIR. His record will be scrutinized as the state gets ready for elections, which will have an impact outside of the state.
Following defeats in local body elections, Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan moves on to the next election cycle. He has spearheaded demonstrations against central policies pertaining to budgetary issues, voter revision, and citizenship. Responses to the epidemic and floods have been part of his term. The Left was able to win a second term thanks to welfare programs, but expectations for a third term may be impacted by exhaustion and a challenge from Congress.
Mamata Banerjee continues to be a key figure in the Trinamool Congress campaign in West Bengal. She has depended on grassroots mobilization and assaults on the BJP despite criticism over allegations of corruption and minority politics. Although she maintains her distance from the INDIA bloc, she is seen as a national figure by opposition voices. Her grip would be put to the test if the party’s foundation weakened.
Shashi Tharoor attracts attention by making remarks that challenge Congress’s stance and sometimes recognize government initiatives. He remains loyal to the party and is considered a potential candidate for Kerala’s chief ministership, despite ongoing rumors of a change. 2026 may provide guidance for him.
K.C. Venugopal is in charge of organization and alliances as Congress gets ready for elections. He develops strategies in spite of defeats and is listed as a candidate for Kerala leadership in the event that the party resurrects.
Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh prepares for the elections in 2027. He has to deal with caste movements related to a census issue after the SP-Congress combine gained 43 Lok Sabha seats in 2024. If Akhilesh Yadav can learn from the Opposition alliance’s defeat in Bihar to lead his coalition to victory in Uttar Pradesh, he will be the leader to watch when complicated caste dynamics emerge in the 2027 elections, especially with the planned caste census.