'Election Weapons': Congress Targets BJP Over Padma Awards

A political row has erupted over the announcement of the Padma Awards, with the Congress accusing the BJP of using the honours for electoral gains. The party alleged that a significant number of awardees are from poll-bound states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Congress leader Praveen Chakravarty claimed the Modi government has turned the Padma Awards into "election weapons," while Karti Chidambaram said the selection process has become predictable under the BJP. The BJP has rejected the allegations, countering that the Congress has a history of favouring its own family.