Morning Brief: Bypoll Results In Four States; Yunus To Install Pro-ISI General As Deputy NSA; Iran's Nuclear Site Damaged, Not Obliterated; And More

Kick-start your morning with Swarajya’s Morning Brief – your news fix, curated for clarity and insight.

Bypoll Results Today In Four States

Counting is underway for bypolls held on June 19 in five assembly constituencies across Gujarat, Punjab, Kerala, and West Bengal. These contests are being closely watched as early indicators ahead of upcoming state elections.

In Gujarat, voting took place in Visavadar and Kadi. Punjab’s Ludhiana West saw a four-cornered contest between AAP, BJP, Congress, and the Akali Dal. Kerala’s Nilambur seat is a prestige test for the Congress within Priyanka Gandhi’s Wayanad stronghold.

In Bengal’s Kaliganj, TMC is hoping to retain the seat against a strong challenge from BJP and the Left-backed Congress. All five seats fell vacant due to either the death or resignation of sitting legislators.

Yunus To Install Pro-Pakistan General As Deputy NSA

Lieutenant General Zahirul Alam of the Bangladesh Army, known for his pro-ISI leanings and links to anti-India networks, is likely to be appointed deputy National Security Adviser by the interim regime of Mohammad Yunus, ET has reported. Alam is associated with former PM Khaleda Zia and members of Yunus’s inner circle, and had previously given Pakistan access to Bangladesh’s National Defence College.

The development is being closely monitored in New Delhi, with experts in Dhaka warning that it could damage India-Bangladesh relations. Alam’s associate, retired Major Sayeed Iskander, played a key role in arming insurgents in Mizoram and Assam during the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s earlier tenure.

Iran's N-Site Damaged, Not Obliterated: US, Israeli Officials

Despite President Donald Trump’s claim that Iran’s nuclear sites were “completely and totally obliterated,” early assessments from US and Israeli officials indicate that the Fordo enrichment facility, while damaged, was not destroyed in the strike. Reports confirmed that even with the use of 30,000-pound bunker-busting bombs, the underground site was only “severely damaged” and taken “off the table,” but not eliminated.

Israeli intelligence suggests that Iran may have moved uranium and key equipment out of the Fordo facility in the days leading up to the attack, possibly in anticipation of a strike. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said he believes Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile was relocated, noting that it was stored in special casks compact enough to fit into the trunks of roughly 10 cars.

Satellite imagery shows visible entry holes and structural disruption at the site, alongside activity involving 16 cargo trucks prior to the bombing.

Other Developments

ED Likely To Chargesheet Robert Vadra In Three Cases

The Enforcement Directorate is expected to file a final prosecution complaint against Robert Vadra—husband of Priyanka Gandhi and son-in-law of Sonia Gandhi—within three months in three money laundering cases involving land deals in Haryana and Bikaner, and a London property linked to arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari. After filing, the agency will seek court cognisance to initiate trials against Vadra and other accused.

The ED has completed Vadra’s questioning in the Haryana case and plans a final round in the Bikaner and Bhandari-linked probes. Vadra has dismissed the allegations as a political vendetta by the Bharatiya Janata Party. The agency may also move to confiscate properties allegedly acquired using illicit funds.

Govt Denies US Used Indian Airspace in Iran Strike

The government has firmly denied social media claims that American bombers used Indian airspace during Operation Midnight Hammer, the strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. The Press Information Bureau shared a video of US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen Dan Caine confirming that the bombers took a route that did not involve India.

According to the US military, the real strike team of seven B-2 stealth bombers flew eastward undetected for 18 hours, refuelling mid-air and maintaining radio silence. A decoy group was observed near Guam as part of a broader deception. The operation, which also involved submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter escorts, marked the one of the largest B-2 strike in history, the US has said.

Iranian President Calls PM Modi After US Strikes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (22 June) held a 45-minute phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss the aftermath of the US airstrikes on Iran’s three biggest nuclear facilities. Modi expressed deep concern over the escalating tensions in the region and reiterated India’s call for “immediate de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy” to restore regional peace and stability.

Pezeshkian, who initiated the call, thanked India for its balanced position and described New Delhi as a key partner for regional peace. The two leaders also discussed ongoing Indian evacuation efforts from Iran, with Modi thanking Tehran for its support.

Trump Hints At Regime Change In Iran

President Donald Trump on Sunday raised the possibility of regime change in Iran for the first time since the conflict began, writing on Truth Social: “If the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!”

The statement marks a sharp departure from his administration’s official position. Vice President JD Vance reiterated that the U.S. does not seek regime change, stating that the goal remains to end Iran’s nuclear program and pursue a long-term settlement. However, with the fate of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile and equipment still unclear, additional strikes or other interventions may soon be necessary.

From The States

Portrait Controversy Puts Spotlight on RJD’s 'Dalit Problem'

RJD chief Lalu Prasad is under fire after a video surfaced showing B R Ambedkar’s portrait placed on the floor during his birth anniversary event. The controversy has given the opposition fresh ammunition and brought focus to the RJD’s weak Dalit representation. Of the party’s 76 MLAs in the Bihar Assembly, only six belong to Scheduled Castes, despite Dalits making up nearly 20 per cent of the state’s population.

Over the years, key Dalit leaders like Shyam Rajak and Uday Narayan Choudhary have either left the party or faded from prominence, and efforts to woo Dalits, such as appointing Ramai Ram as state president in 2000, have largely been seen as symbolic. The RJD, while denying any disrespect to Ambedkar, is now facing renewed scrutiny.

Sena (UBT) Faces Wave of Defections

With defections mounting and top leaders voicing dissent, Shiv Sena (UBT) is facing a serious organisational crisis. The exodus gathered pace on Sunday with party secretary Sanjay Lakhe-Patil resigning and senior MLA Bhaskar Jadhav publicly questioning his decision to leave the NCP and backing Uddhav Thackeray.

Lakhe-Patil accused the leadership of betrayal over seat allocation, while Jadhav said he was denied ministerial recognition during the MVA tenure. The developments come amid a broader churn, with hundreds of local leaders already joining the BJP and Shinde Sena. Thackeray has been holding damage-control meetings, but insiders say the defections could severely dent the party’s prospects in the upcoming MLC polls.

BJP, DMK Spar Over Murugan Meet

The BJP on Sunday accused the DMK government in Tamil Nadu of trying to obstruct a major Murugan devotees’ conference held in Madurai. The event, organised by Hindu Munnani and backed by the BJP, faced restrictions from the police, including a cut from 11 days to three, but was cleared by the Madras High Court.

BJP state president Nainar Nagendran said the party got "justice from the courts" and that the turnout was proof of public support. Andhra deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan and AIADMK leaders also attended, framing the event as a cultural assertion.

You’re all caught up—until next time.