India news: Delhi to get respite, heat wave persists in other parts

https://p.dw.com/p/5Crcw

AdvertisementSkip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

• The weather office has forecast thunderstorms and rain in Delhi over the next two days
• On Monday, the capital remained hot with the maximum temperature around 42.1 degrees Celsius
• States including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Odisha have recorded above-normal temperatures

Here is a roundup of the latest developments from across India on Monday, April 27:

Skip next section BJP gains ground in Parliament with AAP defections 04/27/2026April 27, 2026

BJP gains ground in Parliament with AAP defections

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strengthened its position in Parliament's upper house after seven opposition lawmakers from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) joined the ruling party, according to a parliamentary list published on Monday.

The defections reduce the AAP, led by Modi critic Arvind Kejriwal, to three seats in the Rajya Sabha, while the BJP's tally rose to 113, still 10 short of a simple majority in the 245-member chamber. Modi's National Democratic Alliance coalition holds about 140 seats.

The defections could make it easier for Modi's government to pass legislation in the upper house, where members are elected by state legislatures for six-year terms.

The defectors include senior AAP leader Raghav Chadha, who accused the party of being run by "corrupt and compromised" people.

In a video posted on Instagram on Monday, Chadha accused the AAP of harboring a "toxic work environment" where people are "stopped from working and speaking in Parliament."

The AAP dismissed Chadha's move as opportunistic.

https://p.dw.com/p/5CryESkip next section Kejriwal refuses to appear before Delhi High Court04/27/2026April 27, 2026

Kejriwal refuses to appear before Delhi High Court

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday he would no longer participate, either personally or through legal counsel, in proceedings before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court in a pending case, citing a lack of faith in the fairness of the process.

In a letter to the judge, Kejriwal said the proceedings in the Delhi excise policy case did not "satisfy the fundamental principle that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done."

"My participation in these proceedings, either myself or through a counsel will not achieve anything meaningful," Kejriwal said.

Why did Kejriwal ask for Justice Sharma to recuse?

Kejriwal repeated allegations previously raised in an earlier recusal plea, referring to Justice Sharma's alleged public association with a group linked to the right-wing Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the Bharatiya Janata Party's ideological parent.

He said he and his party are ideological opponents of the RSS, raising fears of bias.

The former Delhi chief minister also pointed to a perceived conflict of interest arising from the judge's family members serving on Indian government legal panels, while the central government and the CBI were opposing parties in his case.

He said the rejection of his earlier recusal request had deepened his concerns and left him unable to expect an impartial hearing.

"I must also state that the judgment rejecting recusal has itself become an additional and independent reason for my loss of confidence in the fairness of further proceedings before this Bench," Kejriwal said.

https://p.dw.com/p/5Crv0Skip next section Rains forecast in Delhi expected to ease heat wave04/27/2026April 27, 2026

Rains forecast in Delhi expected to ease heat wave

The severe heat waveaffecting Delhi is expected to ease over the next few days, with temperatures forecast to fall and bring slight respite, India’s weather office said.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted thunderstorms and rain in Delhi on April 28 and 29. The capital remained hot on Monday, with a maximum temperature of about 42.1 degrees Celsius.

Last week, the IMD issued a yellow heat wave alert for New Delhi. A heat wave is declared when the maximum temperature crosses 40 degrees.

The agency said no major change in Delhi’s maximum temperature was expected over the next 24 hours, followed by a decline of 4-6 degrees Celsius over the subsequent three days.

Temperatures exceeded 45 degrees Celsius in several places across northern India over the past week.

States including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Odisha recorded above-normal temperatures, with several districts facing hot to extremely hot conditions.

On Sunday, temperatures in Akola, in western Maharashtra, reached a scorching 46.9 degrees Celsius, according to the IMD.

"Scorching conditions to continue over parts of Northwest & Central India for the next 3 days," the IMD said on X on Sunday.

. 

https://p.dw.com/p/5CrgNSkip next section Welcome to our coverage04/27/2026April 27, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

Shakeel Sobhan | Louis Oelofse Editor

Hello! This is Shakeel from DW's New Delhi studio, bringing you the latest updates from across India.

A respite from the record-breaking heat wave, which pushed temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius, is expected in the coming days. North India has borne the brunt of the extreme conditions.

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has refused to appear in court, deepening his standoff with the judiciary after voicing distrust in the judge overseeing his case.

Meanwhile, Kejriwal's former party colleague Raghav Chadha has responded to the backlash over his decision to join the BJP.

For all this and more, follow our India live blog.

https://p.dw.com/p/5CreOShow more posts