Stalin reiterates commitment to Cong alliance, talks about bond with Rahul
Chennai: Chief minister M K Stalin said on Monday that his bond with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi transcends politics. The alliance between DMK and Congress was for Tamil Nadu’s growth and India’s unity, he said. “DMK and Congress may have travelled different paths in the past. But today, we are travelling together, with the same ideals, for the welfare of the nation, for the growth of Tamil Nadu, and above all, for the unity of India. That is what makes this alliance significant,” he said speaking at the wedding ceremony of former Congress MLA Chokkar’s grandson in Chennai. Stalin’s remarks come amid growing demand among Congress functionaries for more seats in 2026 assembly elections. Stalin said his bond with Rahul Gandhi was defined by national welfare rather than individual interest. “I cannot express in words the affection he showers on me. When I speak about or refer to other political leaders, I have never used the word brother. But when I refer to Rahul Gandhi, I always call him my dear brother,” Stalin said. Stalin said it was because Rahul always addresses him as ‘Anna, as elder brother.’ Whether on phone calls or when they meet in person, Rahul greets him as ‘my dear brother,’ he said. “I am saying this because the bond between us goes far beyond political friendship; it has evolved into a deep ideological relationship that has today emerged as the united voice of India,” he said. Stalin said he expected the same spirit — that the welfare of the nation must come before personal interests — from everyone. “The friendship between the two movements, built on mutual understanding and shared ideals, will surely protect the future of this country. That is certain,” he said, as a reiteration that the alliance would not be disturbed by voices of discontent in Congress. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Bihar polls: Congress to launch campaign after Chhath Puja; set to address ticket distribution allegations
NEW DELHI: Congress will launch its Bihar election campaign immediately after Chhath Puja, intensifying efforts for the INDIA bloc with Rahul Gandhi leading the charge on October 29 and 30. Senior leaders Priyanka Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will also tour key constituencies across the state. Speaking to reporters Sunday, senior party leader KC Venugopal emphasised the momentum gained from the August Voter Adhikar Yatra, stating, “Our campaign will kick off right after Chhath Puja, with Rahul Gandhi’s visit on October 29 and 30. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Mallikarjun Kharge will also be actively touring Bihar to connect with voters.” The party is focused on fine-tuning campaign strategies and resolving internal challenges, particularly addressing allegations from some workers about ticket distribution irregularities. Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot acknowledged this issue but urged restraint, saying, “In every election, many aspire for tickets and get disappointed when those hopes aren’t fulfilled. I appeal to all party workers to hold back grievances until the elections conclude,” as quoted by PTI. Gehlot underscored the significance of the Bihar polls, calling them a “crucial contest” under national scrutiny. “The entire nation is watching Bihar, eager to see the arrogant BJP-led NDA defeated. This is a historic opportunity for us, and party workers must realize the pivotal role they play,” he said. The Election Commission has scheduled the Bihar Assembly elections across 243 seats in two phases — November 6 and November 11 — with vote counting slated for November 14, setting the stage for a fiercely contested battle. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Shilpi Neha Tirkey Appointed as Observer by All India Adivasi Congress for Bihar Elections
Ranchi: State agriculture minister and Congress leader Shilpi Neha Tirkey was appointed observer on behalf of the All India Adivasi Congress to oversee and support the election campaign during the Bihar assembly election. In a letter issued to Tirkey, the chairman of the All India Adivasi Congress, Dr Vikrant Bhuria, on Sunday, appealed to her to make all possible efforts to reach out to every tribal household and group before the election as an observer to strengthen the party’s base. “Adivasi Congress is expecting your support and dedication in strengthening the hands of Congress president, Mallikarjun Kharge, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, MP and Leader of the Opposition (Lok Sabha), Rahul Gandhi,” the letter stated. After assuming the charge, Tirkey expressed her gratitude to the Congress high command for entrusting her with the responsibility. “I will devote all my efforts to ensure that every vote of the Adivasi community in the Bihar Assembly elections goes in favour of the INDIA bloc. This time, winds of change are blowing in Bihar, and a coalition govt is going to be formed in Bihar with the support of the Congress,” Tirkey said. BJP MP from Jharkhand, Deepak Prakash, who is the co-incharge of Bihar, said that there is no doubt that the NDA alliance will come back to power in Bihar. The party’s top leaders from Jharkhand will carry out an extensive campaign in Bihar in favour of the NDA alliance candidates there after the Chhatch festival is over. “You can say there is an ongoing wave in favour of the NDA alliance in Bihar. The Modi-Nitish pro-poor welfare schemes will turn out to be successful,” he said. People will go with the development that has happened in the state, especially development in the field of education, roads, electricity, and water, to mention a few, he said. “When I was a student, we waited for four to six years to sit for the graduation examination. The exams used to get postponed. People used to get older and could not go for higher education or sit for various entrance exams. All those days are gone,” Deepak Prakash explained. Students used to go out of the state. Mostly, they used to go to Delhi. Now that has stopped. The same thing has happened in the case of businessmen, he claimed. The BJP in Jharkhand will be issuing a list of candidates who will campaign in Bihar soon. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
TNCC to invite Rahul, Priyanka to visit TN frequently for upcoming polls
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) has planned to invite Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi to visit TN frequently to strengthen the party ahead of 2026 assembly election. The party took a decision to this effect at an executive committee meeting. AICC Tamil Nadu in-charge Girish Chodankar and AICC secretary for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Suraj Hegde participated in the meeting, chaired by state president K Selvaperunthagai, in Chennai. TNCC functionaries who attended the meet said it focused on strengthening the party for the upcoming election. “We feel that Rahul and Priyanka would rejuvenate cadres and draw people to Congress. We want them to visit TN frequently to increase our chances of winning more seats. We have also planned to strengthen our booths,” a functionary said. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Congress releasesstar campaigners’list for Bihar polls
Lucknow: Ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, the Congress has released a list of 40-star campaigners, blending leadership with youthful energy. The list is headlined by Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge. The list also has UP Congress president Ajay Rai. Other prominent names include Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel, and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu alongside veterans such as Digvijaya Singh, Adhir Ranjan Choudhary, and Meira Kumar. The inclusion of youth icons like Kanhaiya Kumar, Jignesh Mevani, and Alka Lamba reflects Congress’s push to connect with first-time voters and the younger demographic. The list also features regional heavyweights like Pappu Yadav, and Rajesh Ram, aiming to consolidate local support. Strategists like Randeep Surjewala, Pawan Khera, and Imran Pratapgarhi are expected to shape the narrative on key issues. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Phaltan doctor’s death institutional murder, not suicide: Rahul Gandhi
Kolhapur: Rahul Gandhi, the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, posted a message on X on Sunday morning stating that the death of the doctor at the Phaltan sub-district hospital in Satara district exposes the “inhuman and insensitive” face of Maharashtra’s BJP-led govt. Gandhi wrote the death is “not a suicide but an institutional murder and a shameful example of crime by power-protected ideology.” “A person who was entrusted with the responsibility of protecting people from criminals, himself committed a heinous crime like rape and exploitation,” the message read, citing media reports about “BJP-linked influential people trying to put pressure on the doctor, in the past, to achieve their corrupt objectives.” He stated that the suicide, “driven by unbearable harassment and sexual assault”, is a tragedy that has shaken the conscience of civilised society. Gandhi described the victim as a promising doctor who aspired to heal the pain of others. “She became a victim of the torment inflicted by criminals entrenched within a corrupt system and power structure,” he wrote. “When people in power become the shield of criminals, then from whom should one expect justice?” the message continued. “We firmly stand by the doctor’s family in this fight for justice and want justice and not fear for each daughter of India,” Gandhi concluded. The 28-year-old doctor was found dead in a hotel in Phaltan city on Thursday night. Police discovered a note on her palm, purportedly written by her, leading to a case of rape and abetment of suicide being lodged against a police sub-inspector and a techie, both of whom are now under arrest. The opposition in Maharashtra is highlighting the doctor’s earlier letters to authorities, in which she allegedly claimed that personnel from the Phaltan Rural police station forced her to alter postmortem report and declare the accused “fit”. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Institutional murder’: Rahul Gandhi on Maharashtra doctor’s suicide case; accuses govt of ‘shielding criminals’
NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Sunday condemned the alleged rape and suicide of Maharashtra doctor , calling it “a tragedy that should shake the conscience of any civilised society”. The Congress leader accused the ruling BJP government for creating an environment where “criminals are shielded by power.” “A promising doctor daughter, who aspired to alleviate the suffering of others, fell victim to the torment of criminals entrenched in a corrupt system and power structure. The very authorities tasked with protecting the public from criminals committed the most heinous crime against this innocent woman—raping and exploiting her. According to reports, some influential individuals linked to the BJP also attempted to pressure her into corruption,” Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X. Rahul said that the case revealed “the inhumane and callous face of this BJP government.” The Congress leader expressed support for the family and demanded justice for the doctor. “We stand firmly with the victim’s family in this fight for justice. For every daughter of India—no more fear, only justice,” he said. The doctor, hailing from Beed district in the Marathwada region of central Maharashtra and posted at a government hospital in Satara district, was found hanging in a hotel room in Phaltan town. In the suicide note written on her palm, she alleged that police sub-inspector Badane raped her on multiple occasions, while Bankar, a software engineer, mentally harassed her. Police have arrested sub-inspector Gopal Badane and software engineer Prashant Bankar in connection with the case. A case of rape and abetment of suicide had been registered against the duo in Phaltan in Satara district. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
GMCH, IGGMCH residents join black ribbon protest
Nagpur: Resident doctors at Nagpur’s Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH) joined the statewide black-ribbon protest called by the Central Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (Central MARD) on Saturday. The demonstration was held to condemn the death of a medical officer posted at the Phaltan Sub-District Hospital in Satara district. According to the association, the woman medical officer had been harassed by a police personnel named in her suicide note. Wearing black ribbons while on duty, resident doctors across Maharashtra expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and demanded the immediate arrest of the accused police officer, transfer of the investigation to the Maharashtra Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and the implementation of effective safeguards to ensure the safety of medical professionals. The protest emphasized that although the symbolic gesture was widespread, patient care at hospitals remained unaffected and work continued uninterrupted. Central MARD warned that unless authorities intervene promptly and deliver justice without delay, the agitation would be escalated into a full-scale non-cooperation movement and further statewide protests. The demonstration underscored mounting concerns among resident doctors that their safety and occupational dignity are under threat—and that institutional mechanisms must respond robustly to protect them. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Bihar train trips inhuman: Rahul; 12k spl trains running, 1.5cr travelled: Rlys
NEW DELHI: As Congress MP Rahul Gandhi slammed the rush in trains to Bihar, the railways reiterated it was running 12,000 special trains for Diwali, Chhath and Bhai Dooj to ease travel during the festive season. Rahul Saturday claimed on X that trains to Bihar are “packed, tickets are impossible to get, and the journey has become inhuman” during the festival season. “Where are the 12,000 special trains?,” he asked the Centre, as he also shared a video showing overcrowded trains at railway stations on one hand and PM Minister Narendra Modi flagging off trains on the other on a split screen. In response, railways asserted, “Crowds are natural during festivals, but Indian Railways is striving for the convenience of passengers.” Listing its efforts for passenger safety and comfort, railways mentioned holding areas at 30 stations in Bihar for return journeys after Chhath Puja, war rooms and mini control rooms in every zone, and war room at the board level. The Congress neta alleged in his post, “These are not just helpless passengers, they are living proof of the deceitful policies and intentions of the NDA.” Railways in its rebuttal said over 1.5 crore passengers have travelled on special trains; holding areas have been created at major stations, additional ticket counters have been set up, and there is 24×7 deployment for cleanliness, security and ensuring smooth travel. “It is a month of festivals – Diwali, Bhai Dooj, Chhath. In Bihar, these festivals do not just mean faith, they also mean a longing to return home – the smell of soil, the affection of family, the feeling of belonging in the village. But this desire has now become a struggle,” Rahul said. Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh highlighted that Chhath is very special for Bihar and its people. “There was initially a great deal of relief when (PM) Modi and railway minister announced that 12,000 trains would be used to transport people to their homes, but only 1,500 trains were actually run,” he said. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Gandhi family ‘stole’ Sitaram Kesri’s Cong presidency: PM
NEW DELHI: PM Modi on Friday invoked the “insults” heaped on former Congress president Sitaram Kesri by the Gandhi family to accuse the party of denying rights to SCs and OBCs, as he launched his Bihar poll campaign attacking the opposition over backward-class welfare. Recalling Kesri’s controversial removal in 1998 to make way for Sonia Gandhi, Modi said country would never forget how the family insulted the “pride of Bihar”. “This family stole Kesri’s presidency of Congress,” he said at a rally in Begusarai – a pointed twist on Rahul’s charge of “vote theft”. The PM’s attack came on Kesri’s 25th death anniversary. Earlier in the day, Rahul, along with Congress general secretary K C Venugopal, paid tributes to Kesri at the Congress headquarters on Akbar Road – ironically, the venue of his ouster as party chief. Kesri, a freedom fighter from the OBC Bania community, headed Congress from 1996 to 1998 and earlier served as Bihar PCC chief and party treasurer. When many in the party sought Sonia’s elevation, veterans insisted Kesri be allowed to complete his term. But the Congress Working Committee appointed Sonia, claiming Kesri had resigned – a charge he denied. His removal under controversial circumstances reportedly saw his nameplate tossed away and the octogenarian forced out of AICC office. “This family locked Kesri inside a bathroom and threw him to footpath,” Modi alleged. Kesri had taken over from P V Narasimha Rao after Congress lost power in 1996, but as Sonia decided to enter active politics ahead of the 1998 polls, loyalists pushed him out in what many called a “coup”. Congress has denied any mistreatment of Kesri. TNN Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights