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Bihar Bypolls: Mahagathbandhan Alliance Announces Candidates

October 20, 2024, 7:19 pm

The Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) in Bihar revealed its candidates for the upcoming by-elections, scheduled to take place on October 20. The announcement was made during a press conference held at the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) state office, attended by key leaders of the alliance.

Candidates for the Bypolls

The alliance named the following candidates for the four assembly seats:

Roshan Kumar Majhi from Imamganj
Vishwanath Kumar Singh from Belaganj
Ajit Kumar Singh from Ramgarh
Raju Yadav from Tarari

These four seats are significant for the Mahagathbandhan, which comprises the RJD, Congress, and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP).

Bypolls Across 15 States

The by-elections will take place across 15 states, including Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal.

On October 15, the Election Commission announced the bypolls for 48 assembly constituencies, including nine seats in Uttar Pradesh and the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala. Polling for 47 assembly seats and the Wayanad seat will be held on November 13, while elections for one constituency in Uttarakhand and Nanded constituency in Maharashtra will be on November 20.

Uttar Pradesh will witness the largest number of by-elections, with the following seats going to polls:

Meerapur
Kundarki
Ghaziabad
Khair
Karhal
Phulpur
Katehari
Majhawan
Sishamau

Bihar Assembly Elections in 2025

While these by-elections are important for the immediate political landscape, the full Bihar assembly elections are expected to be held in October-November 2025.

RJD Stages State-Wide Sit-In to Demand Caste Census and Inclusion of Reservation in Ninth Schedule

September 1, 2024, 2:59 pm

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) held a state-wide one-day sit-in protest, demanding a nationwide caste census and the inclusion of a 65% reservation increase in Bihar in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.

Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, joined the protest at the party office on Beerchand Patel Path. Similar protests were organized across various districts, with visuals from Patna showing large gatherings of party officials and supporters at the demonstration site.

Speaking to the media, Tejashwi Yadav questioned the timing of the increased reservation limit, stating, “Why was the reservation limit increased only during our 17-month tenure in power? Why didn’t this happen during the NDA’s tenure? They are merely performing theatrics. Why hasn’t this reservation been included in the Ninth Schedule? Those who are now making statements were the same ones who stood with me, announcing the reservation.”

Yadav also highlighted the achievements of the RJD-JDU government, mentioning, “During that time, 5 lakh jobs were created, and both a sports policy and an education policy were established. The NDA, on the other hand, is negative. If you say anything positive, they are bound to get offended.”

Further criticizing the government’s stance on Bihar’s special status, Yadav alleged that members of the Janata Dal (United) were pleased when Bihar was denied special state status. He challenged JDU leaders to clarify their position on including the reservation in the Ninth Schedule, saying, “If they are in power, it is their responsibility. Why shouldn’t Bihar be given special state status? We challenge the JDU leaders to declare whether they support including the reservation in the Ninth Schedule or not.”

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticized the RJD’s protest, accusing the party of inaction on reservation issues while in power. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha countered by stating, “Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ensured that a caste census took place in Bihar and took all necessary actions. The opposition, when in power, didn’t even provide reservation in Panchayats.”

Bihar Deputy CM Accuses Lalu Yadav of “Destroying” State

August 25, 2024, 7:53 pm

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Sunday accused Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Yadav of “destroying” the state. His remarks responded to recent criticism by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who claimed that Bihar tops the charts in unemployment, poverty, inflation, corruption, and crime.

Choudhary criticized Yadav’s statements, asserting, “It was Lalu Prasad Yadav who destroyed Bihar. Nitish Kumar and the BJP have worked to improve the state’s situation. The negative reputation Bihar earned in the past is largely due to Lalu Yadav and his party.” He labeled the RJD as “looters and corrupt people.”

Tejashwi Yadav had earlier criticized the Bihar government, noting that despite the “double-engine government” (with NDA-led administrations at both the center and state), the state continues to struggle with significant socio-economic issues.

In response, Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor, a vocal critic of the Yadavs, advised Tejashwi Yadav to avoid commenting on development issues. Kishor questioned Yadav’s understanding of economic matters, stating, “It is laughable for Tejashwi Yadav to discuss Bihar’s development model when he does not even understand basic economic concepts like GDP.”

Kishor also highlighted what he perceived as Yadav’s inconsistent views on Bihar’s crime situation, noting, “When Tejashwi Yadav was Deputy Chief Minister six months ago, Bihar was like Switzerland to him. Now, it has become a ‘gutter’ in his view. If Nitish Kumar joins the Mahagathbandhan, Bihar will once again appear great to him.”

The exchange reflects ongoing political tensions and differing views on Bihar’s governance and development.

“Three To Four Shots Fired At Me…”: BJP’s Ram Kripal Yadav, Blames RJD

June 2, 2024, 2:02 pm

Recounting the attack on him on the day of the seventh phase of Lok Sabha polling in Bihar, BJP leader Ram Kripal Yadav said that three to four shots were fired at his convoy on the Patna-Jehanabad road.

In the Patliputra Lok Sabha seat, Ram Kripal Yadav is running against Misa Bharti, a leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the daughter of former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.

Narrating the attack on him, Yadav said, “Yesterday, while I was in my area, I heard about some issues with polling being disrupted at the Kineri booth. Some troublemakers were attempting to interfere with the voting process. I went there to find out more about what was going on. As soon as I left the Kineri village, some people were already there, and they fired three or four shots at me. I kept moving. Then my supporters began protesting.”
“Never in my life did I imagine that something like this could happen. They are trying to destroy democracy with a revolver, but they won’t succeed,” he said, directing an attack towards the RJD.
Yadav said that the RJD is disgruntled because they know that they are loosing these elections.

“They were workers of the the Rashtriya Janata Party, my supporters could easily identify them. All of this is happening out of fear of losing. Prior to this incident, my son was campaigning. A Dalit person was beaten severely to the extent that he had to be hospitalized, simply because he expressed his intention to vote for the BJP,” he added.
The convoy of BJP candidate from the Patliputra Lok Sabha seat in Bihar, Ram Kripal Yadav, was attacked in Patna and a party worker was injured by unidentified assailants after voting concluded on Saturday, police said.

“We received information that on the Patna-Jehanabad road, the convoy of (BJP MP) Ram Kripal Yadav was attacked and a party worker was injured in the incident. A written complaint was filed and we are investigating the matter…,” Patna East Superintendent of Police Bharat Soni said on Saturday.

Notably, Ram Kripal Yadav joined the BJP in 2014 following the division of the JD(U) and BJP. Riding high on the Modi wave, he defeated Misa Bharti in the previous two elections.
The greatest democratic festival came to an end on Saturday as voting in the final 57 parliamentary constituencies across seven states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh began at seven in the morning. This was the seventh and final phase of polling.

RJD’s Rabri Devi Confident: Predicts Victory in All 40 Bihar Seats

June 1, 2024, 9:43 am

Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, and their daughter Rohini Acharya exercised their voting rights at a polling booth in Patna during the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 on Saturday. Following casting her vote, RJD leader and former Bihar CM Rabri Devi expressed confidence in winning all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. “We will win all the 40 seats in Bihar. INDIA alliance will come to power,” Rabri Devi said. Rohini Acharya is the party candidate from the Saran Lok Sabha seat, pitted against BJP candidate Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

Elections in Bihar are contested in all seven phases. With 40 Lok Sabha constituencies, the fourth highest among all States and Union Territories, Bihar holds a crucial position in shaping Indian politics. The seventh phase marks a grand finish to the world’s largest polling marathon that began on the 19th of last month and has already covered six phases and 486 Lok Sabha seats. Voting started in the last 57 parliamentary constituencies at 7 am today across seven states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. According to the Election Commission of India, over 10.06 crore electors including approximately 5.24 crore male, 4.82 crore female, and 3574 third gender electors are expected to exercise their franchise.

The seven States in which polling is underway include Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Polling for the remaining 42 Assembly constituencies of the Odisha State Legislative Assembly will also take place simultaneously. Polling for the earlier six phases of Lok Sabha elections was held on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, and May 25. Assembly polls have also been held in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. Odisha is seeing simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and assembly in the last four phases.

“He Is My Uncle And Must Be Proud Of Me”: RJD Candidate Rohini Acharya On Rajiv Pratap Rudy

May 20, 2024, 11:39 am

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate from the Saran Lok Sabha seat, Rohini Acharya on Monday, addressed her BJP opponent, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, as “uncle” and sought his blessings for her electoral success.

She also appealed to voters to participate in the “grand festival of democracy” by voting in large numbers.

Acharya stated, “On this biggest festival of democracy, I urge all voters to come out in large numbers and cast their votes at nearby polling booths.”When asked about the challenge of contesting against Rudy, she expressed that he is her uncle and should be proud of her efforts.

“He is my uncle, and I am seeking his blessings. I am sure he must be proud of me and will bless me, especially today,” said Rohini Acharya.

Additionally, Acharya endorsed Tejashwi Yadav’s prediction that the INDIA coalition will garner more than 300 seats, attributing it to the public’s discontent with the existing administration regarding matters such as inflation and unemployment.

“I concur with Tejashwi’s assertion after observing the public’s animosity. The public, who are dealing with a number of problems, wants to see changes made to the administration. It’s a day for change, and I think the people of Saran, the state, and the country will win tonight.”

Regarding the BJP’s claim that the party would win over 400 seats, Acharya questioned the necessity of their extensive campaigning.

“If it is so, why are they campaigning extensively, holding rallies and roadshows? They are frightened, and this active campaigning reflects their fear,” she remarked. From Prime Minister to the Union Ministers and candidates, everybody is campaigning in fear.
Rohini Acharya, who is the daughter of former Chief Minister of Bihar Lalu Yadav, is contesting against BJP’s Rajiv Pratap Rudy, who recorded resounding wins in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

He overcame Saran’s previous chief minister Rabri Devi in 2014. She was Lalu Yadav’s wife. He defeated Chandrika Rai, the father-in-law of Lalu’s son Tej Pratap Yadav, in the 2019 polls.
Notably, elections are being held in all seven stages for the 40 seats in Bihar. Today, May 20, is the date of the fifth phase of voting for the Lok Sabha seats of Saran, Muzaffarpur, Hajipur, Sitamarhi, and Madhubani. Voting opened at 7 a.m. and will run until 6 p.m. Those who were in line at closing time could still cast ballots.
On June 4, the votes from all phases will be tallied.

With 39 of the 40 seats won in the 2019 elections, the BJP-led NDA almost completely swept the state polls.

“Do Not Know His Educational Qualifications”: BJP Chief JP Nadda Asks Rahul Gandhi ‘At Least Read’ Constitution

May 15, 2024, 5:32 pm

BJP national president JP Nadda took a jab at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his frequent displays of the Constitution, suggesting he should familiarize himself with its contents. Nadda’s remarks, made during a public address in Bihar’s Motihari, referenced Gandhi’s claims that the BJP would seek to alter the Constitution if it gains power in the 2024 elections. Nadda emphasized the BJP’s commitment to preserving the reservation system, as asserted by both Baba Saheb Ambedkar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Furthermore, Nadda criticized Rashtriya Janata Dal Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, questioning his involvement in the fodder scam and alleged land acquisitions. He derided the RJD as synonymous with corruption and accused them of promoting “bribery, lawlessness, and chaos.”

Nadda also targeted Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, referencing his bail in an excise policy case and suggesting his involvement in liquor and drug scandals. He highlighted Kejriwal’s impending return to jail and the incarceration of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh reiterated the BJP’s commitment to upholding law and order in Bihar, contrasting their leadership with what he described as the disarray within the opposition. Meanwhile, Lok Janshakti Party National President Chirag Paswan criticized the INDI alliance, emphasizing the strength of the National Democratic Alliance and asserting their dominance in Bihar.

Bihar, with 40 Lok Sabha seats, is undergoing polling in seven phases for the 2024 elections, with the BJP-led NDA aiming to replicate its success from 2019. The ongoing elections are set to conclude on June 1, with results expected on June 4 following a six-week voting period spanning from April 19.

BJP President Nadda Renames RJD: Rishwatkhor Jungle Raj Daldal

May 2, 2024, 3:57 pm

BJP National President JP Nadda Criticizes Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) as ‘Rishwatkhor Jungle Raj Daldal.’

“What is this RJD? It’s filled with bribery, jungle raj, and swamps. R stands for rishwatkhori (bribery), J stands for jungle raj, and D stands for daldal (swamp). This is where they have ended up,” Nadda made the statement during a public rally in Araria, Bihar, today.

He expressed apprehensions about the alliance between RJD and Congress, highlighting what he perceived as a deviation from the principles established during the Jayaprakash Narayan movement.

Nadda, drawing from personal experience, joined the movement initiated by Jayaprakash Narayan in 1975 when he was just fifteen years old. He recounted witnessing influential figures such as Lalu Prasad Yadav joining the movement and expressed disappointment at Yadav’s subsequent transformation.

“In 1975, I was 15 years old when I jumped into Jayaprakash Narayan’s movement at his call. I’ve witnessed those times and the involvement of people like Lalu Prasad. I saw the movement back then, and today, when I look at Lalu’s son Tejashwi and see how Lalu Ji is now teaching Rahul Gandhi how to prepare ‘mutton,’ it makes me wonder. I wonder what kind of alliance is this. The same Lalu Prasad Yadav who, during Jayaprakash’s movement, raised his voice against nepotism, favoritism, bribery, and corruption, has now, himself steeped in corruption, aligned with those Congress members against whom he fought during the Emergency. What kind of situation has this become?” Nadda stated.

Nadda further highlighted the efforts of the BJP-led central government, particularly the Ayushman Bharat program, aimed at improving the welfare of Indian citizens.
“Through Ayushman Bharat, 10 crore, 74 lakh families, 55 crore people, and 40 percent of India’s population, mostly the poor, are given medical insurance of Rs. 5 lakhs. Nobody was concerned about the transgender community. PM Modi has included them in the Ayushman Bharat scheme,” Nadda stated.

Nadda also stressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plans to extend comparable insurance benefits to individuals aged over 70 in the future.
“In the coming times, PM Modi is planning to give Rs. 5 lakhs insurance to people aged above 70,” Nadda stated.

Bihar, which elects 40 members to the Lok Sabha, will conduct polling in seven stages: April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. Saran is set to vote in the fifth phase on May 20.

In the 2019 elections, the BJP-led NDA secured victory in 39 out of the 40 seats, nearly sweeping the state polls.

Vote counting for all phases will take place on June 4.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: A Glimpse of the States and UTs Heading to Polls in the First Phase

April 18, 2024, 7:41 pm

The ongoing massive democratic process in India involves voters commencing their participation on Friday to select 543 Members of Parliament in a seven-phase election, remarkable for its scale and logistics, encompassing every voter across the vast and diverse country.

The first phase, occurring tomorrow, will cover 102 constituencies across 21 states and union territories. This year’s Lok Sabha election, taking place from April 19 to June 1, marks the second-longest polling period in India’s electoral history. The previous general elections in 2019 were also conducted in seven phases. The voting process will extend to April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1, with the election results announced on June 4.

Additionally, new assemblies will be elected in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Various political parties have vigorously campaigned, with the BJP-led NDA aiming for a third consecutive term under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, while the opposition INDIA bloc seeks to remove the BJP-led alliance from power. Rigorous security measures have been implemented by the Election Commission.

The first phase covers seats in multiple states and union territories, with Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh witnessing voting across all seven phases starting April 19. However, polling will occur in a single phase on April 19 in some regions such as Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Meghalaya, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The election schedule was announced by the Election Commission of India on March 16, which also includes bypolls to 26 assembly constituencies alongside the Lok Sabha and four state assembly polls. Bypolls will be held in the Ramnagar seat in Tripura and the Vilavancode seat in Tamil Nadu on April 19. The first phase boasts the highest number of parliamentary constituencies among all phases.

Approximately 8.4 crore male voters, 8.23 crore female voters, and 11,371 third-gender electors are eligible to vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls, according to the Election Commission’s estimates.

Key contenders and constituencies in the Phase 1 of Lok Sabha elections:

In Uttar Pradesh, voting will take place in eight out of the total 80 parliamentary constituencies on April 19.

1. Pilibhit: Jitin Prasada (BJP) faces Bhagwant Saran Gangwar (SP) and Anis Ahmed Khan (BSP).
2. Saharanpur: Raghav Lakhanpal (BJP) is pitted against Majid Ali (BSP) and Imran Masood (Congress).
3. Kairana: Pradeep Kumar (BJP) faces Sripal Singh (BSP) and Iqra Hasan (SP).
4. Muzaffarnagar: Sanjeev Balyan (BJP) is contesting against Harindra Malik (SP) and Dara Singh Prajapati (BSP).
5. Rampur: Ghanshyam Lodhi (BJP) faces Zeeshan Khan (BSP).
6. Moradabad: Sarvesh Singh (BJP) versus Mohd. Irfan Saifi (BSP).
7. Bijnor: Chandan Chauhan (RLD) is contesting against Vijendra Singh (BSP) and Yashvir Singh (SP).
8. Nagina: Om Kumar (BJP) faces Surendra Pal Singh (BSP), Manoj Kumar (SP), and Chandra Shekhar Azad (Azad Samaj Party).

Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats and voting will take place in five constituencies tomorrow.

1. Nagpur: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari (BJP) is pitted against Congress leader Vikas Thakare.
2. Chandrapur: Sudhir Mungantiwar (BJP) is contesting against Pratibha Dhanorkar (Congress).
3. Bhandara-Gondia: Sitting MP Sunil Mendhe (BJP) faces Dr. Prashant Patole (Congress).
4. Gadchiroli-Chimur: Ashok Nete (BJP) is facing Namdev Kirsan (Congress) and Hitesh Pandurang Madavi (VBA).

West Bengal has 42 Lok Sabha constituencies and voting will take place in three seats tomorrow.

1. Cooch Behar: Incumbent MP Nishith Pramanik (BJP) is pitted against Jagadish Chandra Burma Basunia (TMC) and Pia Roy Chowdhury (Congress).
2. Alipurduars: Manoj Tigga (BJP) is in the fray against Prakash Chik Baraik (TMC).
3. Jalpaiguri: Jayanta Kumar Roy (BJP) is contesting against Nirmal Chandra Roy (TMC) and Debraj Barman (CPI-M).

All 39 seats of Tamil Nadu and one seat of Puducherry will go in for polls tomorrow. Some of the key seats include

1. Coimbatore: State BJP chief K Annamalai is in fray against Ganapathy P Rajkumar (DMK) and Singai Ramachandran (AIADMK).
2. Thoothukudi: Kanimozhi (DMK) is contesting against R Sivasami Velumani (AIADMK).
3. Chennai South: BJP has fielded former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan. She is facing DMK leader and incumbent MP Thamizhachi Thangapandian. AIADMK has fielded Jayavardhan.
4. Krishnagiri: Vidhya Rani, the daughter of slain sandalwood smuggler Veerappan is contesting from Krishnagiri constituency. She has been fielded by Naam Tamilar Katchi and will face C Narasimhan (BJP) and K Gopinath (Congress).
5. Chennai Central: Dayanidhi Maran (DMK) is facing Vinoj P Selvam (BJP) and B Parthasarathy (DMDK).
6. Nilgiris: A Raja (DMK) is contesting against Union Minister and BJP leader L Murugan. AIADMK has given a ticket to Lokesh Tamilselvan.
7. Sivaganga: Devanathan Yadav (BJP) is in the fray against Congress sitting MP Karti Chidambaram and A Xavier (AIADMK).

In Assam, five out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats will undergo elections in the initial phase:

1. Dibrugarh: Sarbananda Sonowal (BJP) will compete against Lurinjyoti Gogoi (INDIA bloc).
2. Jorhat: Topon Kumar Gogoi (BJP) is challenging Gaurav Gogoi (Congress).
3. Kaziranga: Kamakhya Prasad Tasa (BJP) is facing Roselina Tirkey (Congress).
4. Lakhimpur: Pradan Baruah (BJP) is against Uday Shankar Hazarika (Congress).
5. Sonitpur: Ranjit Dutta (BJP) is contesting against Premlal Ganju.

In Bihar, four out of 40 Lok Sabha constituencies will go to the polls tomorrow:

1. Aurangabad: Sushil Kumar Singh (BJP) versus Abhay Kushwaha (RJD).
2. Gaya: Kumar Sarvjeet (RJD) versus Jitan Ram Manjhi (HAM).
3. Jamui: Archana Kumari (RJD) versus Arun Bharti (LJP-Ram Vilas).
4. Nawada: Shrawan Kumar (RJD) versus Vivek Thakur (BJP).

In Madhya Pradesh, six out of the state’s 29 Lok Sabha seats will see polling tomorrow:

1. Chhindwara: Nakul Nath (Congress) versus Vivek Bunty Sahu (BJP).
2. Balaghat: Bharti Pardhi (BJP) versus Samrat Saraswat (Congress).
3. Jabalpur: Ashish Dubey (BJP) versus Dinesh Yadav (Congress).
4. Mandla: Faggan Singh Kulaste (BJP) versus Omkar Singh Markam (Congress).
5. Shahdol: Himadri Singh (BJP) versus Phunde Lal Singh Marko (Congress).
6. Sidhi: Rajesh Mishra (BJP) versus Kamaleshwar Patel (Congress).

In Uttarakhand, all five Lok Sabha seats will have polling tomorrow:

1. Haridwar: Virendra Rawat (Congress) versus Trivendra Singh Rawat (BJP).
2. Pauri Garhwal: Ganesh Godiyal (Congress) versus Anil Baluni (BJP).
3. Tehri Garhwal: Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah versus Jot Singh Gunsola (Congress).
4. Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar: Ajay Bhatt (BJP) versus Prakash Joshi (Congress).
5. Almora: Ajay Tamta versus Pradeep Tamta (Congress).

Voting in 12 out of the 25 constituencies of Rajasthan will occur in the first phase tomorrow. Key contests include:

1. Bikaner: Arjun Ram Meghwal (BJP) versus Madan Gopal Meghwal (Congress).
2. Churu: Devendra Jhajharia (BJP) versus Rahul Kaswan (Congress).
3. Nagaur: Jyoti Mirdha versus Hanuman Beniwal (RLP).
4. Sikar: Swami Sumedhanand versus Amra Ram (CPI(M)).
5. Jhunjhunu: Shubhkaran Choudhary versus Brijendra Singh Ola (Congress).

In Andaman and Nicobar Islands, incumbent MP Kuldeep Rai Sharma (Congress) faces Bishnu Pada Ray (BJP).

Arunachal Pradesh’s two constituencies will have polling in the first phase:

1. Arunachal Pradesh West: Nabam Tuki (Congress) versus Kiren Rijiju (BJP).
2. Arunachal Pradesh East: Bosiram Siram (Congress) versus Tapir Gao (BJP).

In Chhattisgarh, which has 11 Lok Sabha seats, voting will take place in the first phase in the Naxal-affected seat of Bastar where Kawasi Lakhma (Congress) is against Mahesh Kashyap (BJP).

In Manipur, elections will take place twice in one constituency. Voters in Outer Manipur will cast their votes over two days due to the special situation owing to ethnic violence witnessed by the state.

While voting will take place in Inner Manipur constituency on April 19 (phase 1), outer Manipur will vote on two dates – April 19 (phase 1) and April 26 (phase 2).

Of the two Lok Sabha seats in Tripura, the constituency of Tripura (West), which includes the state capital of Agartala, will go to the polls tomorrow. BJP nominee Biplab Kumar Deb is contesting against state Congress chief Ashish Kumar Saha.

NDA, INDI Alliance set to finalise Bihar seat sharing formula for Lok Sabha election 2024

March 18, 2024, 11:20 am

Both the major political blocs – the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) – are busy finalising their seat sharing for Lok Sabha election 2024 in Bihar. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA, bolstered by the return of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal United, is confident pf repeating its sweep in the 2019 general election in the state when it had bagged 39 out of the 40 seats in the state.

On the other hand, the I.N.D.I Alliance is strategising on stopping the NDA electoral machine in the state. With the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, Communist Party of India (CPI), and Communist Party of India (Marxist), in the alliance, the seat sharing talks in the state are going to be tough nut to crack.

Senior RJD leaders incudling former Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav and the Congress top brass will meet in Delhi on Monday to discuss the seat sharing formula.

Later in the evening, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar will be in Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the same. The JDU in all probablity will get 16 seats to contest on while the BJP may keep 17 for itself while the remaining seven will be distriburted among the smaller partners.

The final NDA seat sharing formula for Bihar will most probably be announced by Tuesday evening and the the respective parties are expected to release the names of the candidates for Lok Sabha election 2024.

Bihar: Rahul Gandhi To Attend RJD’s Jan Vishwas Rally

March 3, 2024, 1:58 pm

As Rashtriya Janata Dal’s (RJD) ‘Jan Vishwas Rally’ in Patna draws near, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi left for Patna today. According to party sources, the entire city of Patna has been participating in the event since last night, and everyone is eager to hear from the leaders of Mahagathbandhan.

To participate in the RJD rally, Rahul Gandhi took a day off from his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Madhya Pradesh.

Akhilesh Prasad Singh, the president of the Bihar Congress, stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would lose this election.

“BJP is going to lose here. Since last night, the whole of Patna has been involved in the rally. There is not a single Panchayat who has not come here to attend it. Everyone is excited to listen to the leaders of Mahagathbandhan and to defeat all candidates of the BJP. Nitish Kumar’s relevance in Bihar politics has diminished, and he is not a factor affecting it anymore,” he said.

Shakeel Ahmad Khan, another Congressman, highlighted how the BJP is scared by the rally’s great success.

“This rally (RJD’s Jan Vishwas Rally) is a tremendous success and hence the BJP is rattled. CM Nitish Kumar has no value in what he says. He (PM Modi) must have made false promises in his rally that the people of Bihar have been listening for the last 10 years, no one trusts them now,” he said.

In the meanwhile, before the party’s Jan Vishwas Rally in Patna, supporters of the RJD gathered at the home of former Bihar CM and RJD leader Rabri Devi.
Former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad Yadav RJD leader was also present.
Jairam Ramesh, the Congress General Secretary in-charge of communications, provided details on the Patna rally in which the Congress leader will take part.

“Tejashwi Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav, the Congress president, and Rahul Ji will all be present. It can be said that this is a massive rally, essentially an India rally,” he said.

Bihar assembly speaker Awadh Bihari Choudhary removed ahead of trust vote

February 12, 2024, 1:27 pm

The floor test for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Bihar, led by Nitish Kumar, is set for Monday to establish its majority in the Assembly. However, the ruling Janata Dal-United (JD(U)) faced concerns as three of its MLAs were once again absent from the crucial legislators’ meeting in Patna on Sunday evening, following the non-attendance of six MLAs at the previous luncheon meeting on Saturday. Notable among the absent JD(U) MLAs were Rupauli MLA and former minister Bima Bharti, Sursand MLA Dilip Ray, and Barbigha MLA Sudarshan Kumar.

In response to this, the JD(U) moved its MLAs to a hotel near the Assembly, as seen in a video obtained by ANI showing them heading to the Chanakya Hotel in Patna.

The JD(U), with 45 MLAs, holds a significant position in the 243-member Bihar assembly, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has 79 MLAs. Alongside the alliance partner Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular (HAM-S) contributing four MLAs, and with the support of one independent, the NDA comprises 128 MLAs against the Grand Alliance’s (GA) 115. To secure the majority, an alliance needs 122 MLAs.

Key highlights include JD(U) MLA Gopal Mandal stating that the party is in contact with the three absent MLAs, emphasizing that there is no political maneuvering involved. Additionally, BJP MLAs were moved to a resort in Bodh Gaya for a two-day stay, returning to Patna on Sunday evening, with the party clarifying that this was for training purposes, not due to poaching concerns.

Meanwhile, RJD MLAs have been staying at Tejashwi’s residence since Saturday afternoon, depicted in social media videos enjoying music and a bonfire. On Sunday, Congress MLAs, who had been in Hyderabad, also arrived at Tejashwi’s residence. Reports suggested that JD(U) intended to transfer its MLAs to Hotel Chanakya in Patna for the night.

Amid political unrest, Bihar assembly speaker reaches Lalu Yadav’s residence

December 31, 2023, 5:35 pm

Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Yadav’s home was visited by state assembly speaker Awadh Bihari Choudhary on Sunday amid the political unrest in Bihar following Rajiv Ranjan Singh’s resignation as JD (U) chief. Tej Pratap, the environment minister, accompanied the speaker of the Vidhan Sabha. following Nitish Kumar’s assumption of leadership of the party following Singh’s resignation as party chief. Meanwhile, talk of Nitish’s potential move is rife in the state’s political circles. At a meeting of the party’s national executive in Delhi on Friday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was unanimously re-elected as the party’s president, ushering in a new era for the JD(U).

This came after Rajiv Ranjan Singh, popularly known as Lalan Singh, resigned from the post. It is not the first time Nitish Kumar has taken over as president of the party.
In 2016, he became party president after replacing Sharad Yadav. In 2013, he broke ranks with the NDA after a 17-year alliance following the announcement of Narendra Modi as BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.
Kumar, who harboured prime ministerial ambitions himself, took offence with BJP nominating Modi for the top post.
In 2017, Kumar forged a grand alliance with RJD and Congress and returned as chief minister in 2015. He walked out of the grand alliance in 2017, accusing the RJD of corruption and choking governance in the state.
In 2022, Nitish Kumar snapped ties with the BJP once again, alleging the BJP was conspiring against him and trying to influence JD-U MLAs to rebel against him.

CBI Raids Linked to RJD Leaders in Land-for-Jobs Scam: Multiple Locations Searched

May 16, 2023, 1:32 pm

In relation to the alleged land-for-jobs fraud, the CBI searched nine locations in Bihar’s Patna and Arrah associated to Rashtriya Janata Dal politicians Kiran Devi, an MLA, and Arun Yadav, a former MLA.

In connection with the same suspected land-for-jobs scam, the CBI also carried out searches at the residences of Rajya Sabha MP Prem Chand Gupta in Noida, Delhi, and Gurugram.The CBI said that irregular appointments of candidates were made at Central Railways, in violation of the rules and processes established by Indian Railways for hiring, in its chargesheet submitted earlier in connection with the suspected land-for-job scam.As a quid-pro-quo, the candidates directly or through their immediate relatives/family members, sold land to the family members of Lalu Prasad Yadav (then Union Railway Minister) at highly discounted rates up to one-fourth to one-fifth of the prevailing market rates, according to the CBI.

The agency further stated that investigation has revealed that Lalu Prasad Yadav during the period 2007-08, when he was Minister of Railways, with the intent to acquire the land parcels situated in Vill- Mahuabagh, Patna and Vill-Kunjwa, Patna which were located adjacent to the land parcels already owned by his family members; entered into a criminal conspiracy with his wife Rabri Devi, daughter Misha Bharati, officers of Central Railways namely Sowmya Raghvan the then General Manager, Kamal Deep Mainrai, the then Chief Personnel Officer, and residents of Vill-Mahjabagh, Patna and Vill-Bindaul, Bihta, Patna and Patna City namely Raj Kumar Singh, Mithlesh Kumar, Ajay Kumar, Sanjay Kumar, Dharmendra Kumar, Vikas Kumar, Abhishek Kumar, Ravindra Ray, Kiran Devi, Akhileshwar Singh, Ramashish Singh.According to the CBI, all the candidates were subsequently regularised after their engagement as substitutes.

Rift between JDU, RJD?

January 16, 2023, 3:13 pm

JDU and RJD have openly come face to face in Bihar on Ramcharitmanas controversy. After the statement of JDU spokesperson Abhishek Jha, there was a sharp reaction from the RJD. Mrityunjay Tiwari, spokesperson for the RJD, stated that our leader Tejashwi Yadav stated it clearly on Sunday and warned against making similar statements in the future. Tejashwi Yadav made it clear that we respect all religious scriptures.

Rift between RJD and JDU?

January 14, 2023, 8:11 pm

After the controversial statement of RJD quota minister Chandrashekhar regarding Ramcharitmanas, the dispute in the Grand Alliance is increasing. The leaders and workers of JDU are now openly making statements against the Rashtriya Janata Dal. The way the Rashtriya Janata Dal has defended Minister Chandrashekhar, resentment has increased in JDU. On Saturday, JDU MLC and former minister Neeraj Kumar as well as other party workers protested by reaching Hanuman temple located at Bailey Road, Patna.

RJD leader Sharad Yadav dies aged 75

January 12, 2023, 11:20 pm

Former Union Minister and RJD leader Sharad Yadav passed away on Thursday at the age of 75. Taking to Twitter his daughter Subhashini Yadav tweeted, “Papa nhi rahe (Papa is no more).”

RJD MLA Targets Nitish Kumar

January 3, 2023, 11:57 am

RJD MLA Sudhakar Singh slammed Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Monday. He said, Nitish Kumar is like the Mahabharata character ‘Shikhandi’, who has no standing of his own. Furthermore, he stated, Nitish Kumar’s name will not get featured in history as he has done nothing good for Bihar. Not only this, he went on to demand Kumar’s resignation while suggesting his post should be given to Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav.

The Tumultuous Journey of the Mahagathbandhan

December 21, 2022, 1:50 pm

The Mahagathbandhan or Grand Alliance was formed in 2015 prior to the Assembly elections in the state and was very successful, winning 178 out of the 243 seats. However, the BJP
managed to secure the highest vote share out of all the parties (24.4 per cent), although it only
managed to win 53 seats. Despite the huge victory, due to internal divisions, Nitish Kumar
led the JD(U) out of the alliance and joined hands with the BJP to secure power in the state.

Due to the internal division in the alliance and the corruption charges against RJD chief Lalu
Prasad Yadav, Kumar flipped sides and joined hands with the BJP, in a huge shift in a span of
14 hours. During the 2020 state elections, the BJP and JD(U)-led National Democratic Alliance
(NDA) fought against the Mahagathbandhan led by the RJD and secured the state with 125
seats. The Mahagathbandhan emerged as the principal opposition and managed to secure
110 seats. However, the NDA alliance in the state lasted for a little over a year, after which in
August 2022, Kumar left the BJP-led coalition again, and staked claim to the state with the
support of 164 MLAs as the head of the Mahagathbandhan. Kumar was elected as the Chief
Minister of Bihar for the eighth time following this manoeuvre.

Opposition parties walk out from Rajya Sabha

December 19, 2022, 3:08 pm

Over the India-China border clash joint opposition staged a walkout from Rajya Sabha on Monday. Opposition demand is to hold a debate over the recent clashes along the LAC between the Indian and Chinese forces at the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh.

Meanwhile, when the Zero Hour was being conducted in the Upper House these parties Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (CPI), the Trinamool Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Samajwadi Party (SP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Shiv Sena and the Kerala Congress were among other staged the walkout.

Moreover, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Mallikarjun Kharge sought a detailed debate on clashes along the LAC between the Indian and Chinese forces on December 9.

“They (China) are encroaching on our land. If we don’t discuss this issue then what else should we discuss? We are ready for discussion on this issue in the House,” LoP in Rajya Sabha said.

However, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar rejected the demand of the opposition and asked MPs to not convert it into a classroom. Even after staging a walkout from the house, the Chairman continued the Zero Hour.

After this, a press conference was held outside the House and attacked the government. RJD leader Manoj Jha said, “We don’t have doubt about the capacity of the Indian Army but your (government) diplomacy is completely failed.”

“Why Modi ji’s government is fleeing away from holding a discussion on India-China border clash issue?” AAP leader Sanjay Singh asked the question.

Furthermore, on 9 December 2022 a clash between Indian and Chinese troops took place along the LAC.

Singapore: RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav undergoes kidney transplant surgery

December 6, 2022, 7:10 am

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on Monday said Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav had gone through a successful kidney transplant surgery in Singapore.

At Mount Elizabeth Hospital, the surgery was performed in Singapore.

Taking to Twitter, Tejashwi Yadav tweeted, “After the successful operation of my father’s kidney transplant, he was shifted from the operation theatre to ICU. Donar elder sister Rohini Acharya and the party national president are both healthy. Thank you for your prayers and good wishes.”

Meanwhile, Lalu Prasad’s daughter gave her kidney to her father and, before the transplant, Acharya tweeted and said, “Ready to rock and roll. We wish me good luck.”

Moreover, Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav said in November that Rohini’s kidney was found to be the best match for the RJD chief’s transplant.

Talking to the media, Deputy CM Yadav said, “The doctors wanted someone from the family to donate a kidney to my father. My sister Rohini’s kidney was the best match, so we went ahead with it.”

Earlier, doctors advised Lalu about a kidney transplant as he had been suffering from acute kidney complications for some time.

However, Rohini Acharya is the daughter of Lalu Prasad Yadan and Rabri Devi. Rohini is married to Rao Samresh Singh, who is an engineer by profession and lives in Singapore. The couple have two sons and a daughter.

Earlier in November, Lalu Prasad Yadav’s daughter Rohini took to Twitter and informed everyone about donating her kidney to the RJD chief.

“My father brought me up and means everything to me. I will consider myself to be extremely fortunate to contribute a small part of my life to saving his,” Rohini tweeted.

Tejashwi slams PM over Rozgar Mela, asks how many job have they given

November 22, 2022, 7:50 pm

Tejashwi Yadav, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister took a dig at PM Modi on Tuesday over the distribution of appointment letters through the ‘Rozgar Mela.’

The Rashtriya Janata Dal leader in a jibe at PM Modi said, “How many jobs are they (BJP government) giving to the people of this country?” PM Modi distributed 71,056 appointment letters to recruits via video conferencing. PM Modi claims the Rozgar Mela aims at showing the Centre’s commitment to providing government jobs to the youth.

Tejashwi said, “Despite providing appointment letters, the central government has been unable to provide jobs to the country’s youth.”
Earlier this month, the Bihar government nominated 11,329 new panchayat secretaries. In November, appointment letters for 10,459 new police recruits were also distributed.
Over 75,000 central government officials received appointment letters from the PM in October as part of the Rozgar Mela.
Tejashwi responded, “How many jobs have they given to the vast population of this country,” in response to Samrat Choudhary, the leader of the BJP’s opposition in the Bihar Assembly, who claimed that only a small number of the state’s 11,329 new panchayat secretaries had received appointment letters.
He continued to criticise the BJP, claiming that people who preached violence were now making baseless accusations against his administration.

Tejashwi responded, “He will be departing for Singapore by the end of this month for his treatment,” in response to a question regarding his father, former chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, who will receive a kidney transplant from his daughter.
The RJD head has not been feeling well lately, and the medical professionals caring for him recently suggested a kidney transplant.
The former chief minister will travel to Singapore for the kidney transplant and get a kidney from his daughter Rohini.

Assailants in Bihar’s Hajipur shot women

September 18, 2022, 12:50 pm

In Hajipur, in the Vaishali district of Bihar, a mother who went to pick flowers with her kid was shot and hurt by bike-riding bandits.

The incident took place in the village of Andharavar in the Barati OP region. As the police patrol car drew up, the thieves shot the woman and then sped away. The injured woman was transported to the Sadar Hospital with the son’s help. According to reports, the woman’s health is critical.

The police said, “Baby Devi (46), along with her son Manish, had left the house early in the morning to pluck flowers. Meanwhile, seeing the deserted area, three criminals riding a bike tried to snatch the mobile from the mother and son. Then, seeing the police patrol vehicle approaching, the criminals shot the woman and fled from the spot.”

With the assistance of the police, the injured woman was transported by her son to the Sadar Hospital, where after administering first aid, the physicians advised that she be moved to Patna PMCH.

The incident’s eyewitness and her son, Manish Kumar, who went outside with her to gather flowers, stated, “We typically left the house in the morning to gather flowers in this order.”

When questioned over the incident, ASI Vinay Kumar, who was riding in the same police car, said, “We were going on patrol. At the same time, some thieves were trying to snatch mobile phones from them. When they saw the police car, they shot the woman and then fled away from the spot.”
A case has been registered and further investigation is underway.

Mass shooting in Begusarai; 1 killed, 10 injured

September 14, 2022, 11:03 am

A 25-year-old man died and 10 others were injured after two unidentified bike-borne men open fired at 10 locations in Bihar’s Begusarai district on Tuesday evening. The police said that the accused are yet to be arrested.

The police informed that the first firing was reported from an area under the Teghra police station. A senior police officer said the assailants were heading towards Begusarai from the adjoining Samastipur district on the National Highway-28.

The officer added, requesting anonymity, “The other nine firings were reported from Bachhwara, Phulwaria, Barauni and Chakia police station areas in the next 40 minutes.”

All the 10 firings took place within a radius of 30 kilometers, and the investigation is going on to identify the accused. The officer said, “We are looking into the CCTV footage from one of the firing spots.” In the footage, the man driving the bike can be seen with a helmet while the person sitting on the back has his face covered with a cloth.

Satyaveer Singh, deputy inspector general of police, Begusarai said, “We have intensified raids to find the accused. Their identity is yet to be ascertained,” said Singh. “A high alert has been sounded in Begusarai and Patna districts.”

The deceased is identified as Chandan, who is 25 years old and is a resident of Pipra village in Begusarai. He succumbed to his bullet injuries in a local hospital. Others who were injured have been taken to different hospitals for treatment and four are stated to be critical.

Soon after the incident, the BJP hit out at the grand alliance government in Bihar. Union minister Giriraj Singh, the BJP MP from Begusarai, said, “There is no government in Bihar, and no fear of law among criminals.”

The Spokesperson of the RJD, Chitranjan Gagan, said, “This incident has been committed to tarnish the image of Bihar.”

BJP leaders to visit Bihar in September

September 8, 2022, 12:37 pm

Leading members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are scheduled to visit Bihar in September. The state saw the party lose power there in August after Nitish Kumar, the state’s chief minister, broke off his alliance. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and the Left parties joined together to form the state’s administration.

Prior to the 2024 presidential elections, Bihar was still the BJP’s top priority, according to people with knowledge of the situation. The only state in the Hindi Belt where the BJP has been unable to create a government on its own or grow the organisation is Bihar, which sends 40 members to Parliament.

On September 23, Bihar will be visited by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. On September 18, his cabinet colleague Smriti Irani is scheduled to attend a book launch there to promote Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Irani’s visit is a separate one. Shah’s visit is part of the BJP’s regular outreach. Programmes in Seemanchal were planned long ago…programmes after that are also planned. Our activities never stop,” said Bihar BJP chief Sanjay Jaiswal.

He denied any connection between Shah’s visit to the predominantly Muslim state of Seemanchal and the BJP’s reported efforts to divide the region along religious lines.

The BJP, according to Jaiswal, will host a fortnight-long outreach programme commencing on September 17, the day after Prime Minister Modi’s birthday, to engage the public. A special COVID vaccination push to distribute three million doses in honour of Prime Minister Modi’s birthday was announced by the chief minister, Nitish Kumar, last year.

Shah will make his first trip to Seemanchal since Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), or JD (U), severed ties with the BJP. He will speak at two rallies in Purnea and Kishanganj, in addition to attending a meeting of the BJP’s core committee.

In Bihar, the BJP aims to get 35 seats in the national elections in 2024. In an alliance with the JD (U) and other parties, the BJP won 39 of the 40 seats in 2019.

Analyst DM Diwakar said Shah’s visit shows the BJP is working on a plan and may like to polarise votes. “…Seemanchal has constituencies with significant Muslim population and where a party like the AIMIM [All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen] managed to win seats in 2015 [assembly polls].”

In order to energise the party before Shah’s visit, Union Minister Nityanand Rai, Jaiswal, and former Deputy Chief Minister Tarkeshwar Prasad travelled to Seemanchal and held talks.

“Nitish Kumar has lost credibility. No matter where he goes, he has to follow the template of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. He is no longer a factor for us. We are a worker-based party and we will keep working for Bihar’s progress, not to suit the interests of individuals. We have the utmost regard for Kumar despite his constantly falling graph, but, perhaps, he did not deserve it,” said Rai.

Nitish blames BJP for defector MLAs, talks about oppositions’ unity

September 3, 2022, 4:38 pm

Nitish Kumar, the chief minister of Bihar and leader of the Janata Dal-United (JD-U), stated on Saturday that it is important to consider how the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is severing MLAs from other parties and whether this is legal. His remarks came shortly after at least five JDU lawmakers switched allegiances to the saffron camp in Manipur.

All six JDU MPs in Manipur, according to Kumar, met with him after he withdrew from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) a few weeks prior and assured the leadership of their dedication to the party.

Kumar added that the opposition would be united for the general election in 2024.

“When we parted ways from the NDA, all our six Manipur MLAs came and met us and assured us they were with JDU. We need to think about what’s going on. They’re breaking away the MLAs from the parties, is it constitutional?… The Opposition will unify for the 2024 elections,” the Bihar CM told reporters.

The Manipur development occurred while the JD(U), which had reestablished connections with Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in order to reinstate the Mahagathbandhan government in power, was attempting to position Kumar for a larger role. The JD (U)’s executive meeting is held in Patna, the location of the JD(U).

When we parted ways from NDA, all our six Manipur MLAs came & met us & assured us they were with JDU. We need to think about what's going on. They're breaking away the MLAs from the parties, is it
constitutional?… Opposition will unify for 2024 elections: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar pic.twitter.com/igjWmfombR
— ANI (@ANI) September 3, 2022

The BJP was criticised earlier in the day by the national president of the JDU, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan, for using “dhan bal” (money power) to lure lawmakers away from other parties. He added that the saffron party’s deceptions would not be enough to prevent the Kumar-led party from achieving national status by 2023.

“Whatever tricks the BJP may play, it will not be able to stop JD(U) from becoming a national party by 2023,” Singh said.

“Our MLAs in Manipur have defeated BJP candidates at the hustings. Ditto in Arunachal Pradesh, where our MLAs were poached while we were still in the NDA,” he added.

BJP mocks Nitish as MLAs resigns in Manipur

September 3, 2022, 11:20 am

The BJP mocked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s ‘speculated’ desire to run for Prime Minister in the 2024 Lok Sabha election as five of Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) MLAs in Manipur joined the BJP on Friday. Nitish Kumar, who the BJP’s Amit Malviya referred to as a “lame duck chief minister,” is “witnessing the decline of his party’s support in Bihar and elsewhere, but he still has aspirations of becoming prime minister,” Malviya added.

In order to become the chief minister of the Mahagathbandhan government, Nitish Kumar broke his alliance with the NDA in Bihar and formed a new coalition with the RJD and the Congress. Nitish Kumar was said to be considering running for prime minister in the unified opposition in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when the Grand Alliance was renewed, but he downplayed these discussions.

Kh Joykishan, N Sanate, Md Achab Uddin, former DGP L M Khaute, and Thangjam Arunkumar joined the BJP in Manipur during the ongoing BJP-JD(U) turf battle. Prior to joining the JD(U), Khaute and Arunkumar had attempted to vie for office as BJP candidates in the assembly elections.

Mamata Banerjee’s attempts to gain acceptability beyond West Bengal, backfired miserably. Nitish Kumar, a lame duck Chief Minister, is seeing his party’s footprint shrink, not just in Bihar, where it is the third largest, but also outside.

पर ख़्वाब प्रधानमंत्री बनने के हैं… https://t.co/Phxr8yJIpK
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 2, 2022

Following his reappointment as the Mahagathbandhan government’s chief minister, Nitish Kumar has refuted rumours regarding his aspirations for the country. Leaders of the Bihar JD(U) aren’t at all dismissive of the prospects, either. In fact, a banner advertising the party’s two-day national convention in Patna stated, “Pradesh mein dikha, desh mein dikhega,” suggesting that the nation will witness Nitish Kumar’s “excellent governance” and seemingly projecting him for a national position.

After the convention, Nitish Kumar will travel to Delhi to meet with senior Congress officials and express his gratitude for the coalition in Bihar.

The chief minister of Telangana, who met Nitish Kumar in Patna, stated that the opposition parties had not yet gathered to discuss their future strategy for the general election of 2024.

Amid Jharkhand crisis CM Hemant Soren takes MLAs from the ruling coalition to a guest house in Khunti

August 27, 2022, 3:19 pm

On Saturday, legislators of the ruling coalition in Jharkhand were relocated to a guest house in the neighbouring capital, Ranchi’s Khunti district. Hemant Soren, the chief minister and leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), reportedly led the MLAs in two strongly guarded buses.

The change occurred following a lengthy third round of negotiations between United Progressive Alliance (UPA) lawmakers and the chief minister of Ranchi to devise a plan of action for the new situation.

The Congress and Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), in addition to the JMM, make up the ruling alliance.

Rajesh Thakur, the state Congress president, previously indicated that his party’s MLAs had been instructed to bring their bags to the meeting of the ruling alliance.

When asked about the most recent political developments in the eastern state, the Jharkhand Congress president responded, “We’ll let you know if MLAs are requested to transfer anywhere.”

On Saturday, at 8.30 p.m., the Jharkhand Congress Legislative Party will meet. Avinash Pande, state coordinator for the party, will preside over the gathering.

Floor test of Nitish-led government begins in Bihar’s Assembly

August 24, 2022, 3:21 pm

To prove the majority of Chief Minister Kumar-led government the floor test began in the Bihar Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

Earlier, the Bihar Legislative Assembly adjourned the proceedings of the assembly till 2 PM.

Meanwhile, the proceedings of the house will be further handled by Deputy Speaker Maheshwar Hazari.

“According to the rules, after the resignation of the Speaker, all the work of the Assembly will be handled by the Deputy Speaker,” said Hazari.

Ahead of a floor test to prove the majority of the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ alliance government Bharatiya Janta Party’s Vijay Kumar Sinha resigned as the Speaker of the Bihar Assembly on Wednesday.

Moreover, the floor test will be chaired by JD(U)’s Narendra Narayan Yadav. Sinha’s resignation came after a no-confidence motion was moved by the MLAs of ‘Mahagathbandhan’.

“I would like to tell you that your no-confidence motion is unclear. Eight of the nine letters, which were received were not as per rule,” Sinha said.

“The Chair is ‘Panch Parmeshwar’. What message do you want to give by casting suspicions on the Chair? People will make a decision,” Sinha said addressing the House

However, the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ alliance government comprises JD(U), RJD, Congress, CPI (ML), CPI, and CPI(M). The Nitish-led government has a strength of more than 160 in the 243 strong houses.