Overview
- In his New Year post, Mallikarjun Kharge urged a mass movement to defend the right to work, to vote and to live with dignity, emphasizing constitutional safeguards and social harmony.
- A day earlier he catalogued grievances about the BJP-led government's 2025 record, prompting BJP president J. P. Nadda to dismiss the claims as false.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished citizens good health, prosperity and peace, while Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra extended similar greetings on X.
- Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan to exchange New Year wishes, as Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta reaffirmed a development-focused agenda for the capital.
- Cities across India marked the arrival of 2026 with fireworks, heavy footfall at major landmarks and tighter security and traffic controls, including gatherings at India Gate, Connaught Place and Mumbai’s CSMT.