Bihar polls: AP minister Lokesh steps onto national stage, urges voters to support NDA
Vijayawada: By participating in the Bihar election campaign, the TDP national general secretary and minister for ITEC&HRD, Nara Lokesh, not only made his presence felt at the national level but also hinted at the leadership transition in the party. In the recent past, Lokesh made several whirlwind tours to the national capital, Mumbai, and also abroad, a trademark working style of his father and chief minister, N Chandrababu Naidu. Lokesh took on the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, who has been levelling allegations of vote chori. “On one hand, he alleges vote chori, and on the other hand, he fights against SIR, which is meant to correct the mistakes in voter lists. He should stick to one thing as both cannot be possible at once,” Lokesh said, adding that the voter list is one thing which every political party monitors very closely. “I am quite surprised Rahul Gandhi realised the importance of the voter list now,” he said. Lokesh stressed the continuation of the govt and appealed to the people of Bihar to continue the NDA govt for the continuation of development. He said that in Andhra Pradesh, people voted for change once but paid a heavy price. Now, they have voted for NDA again with a 94% strike rate. He said that a double engine sarkar will help the state to grow at a faster rate. The TDP national general secretary further said that while NDA is talking about empowering people by promoting one entrepreneur in every house, the opposition is promoting dependence by promising one govt job in every house, which is an impossible task. He appealed to the people of Bihar to choose wisely between the political parties. Before leaving for Patna, Lokesh participated in a meeting in Kalyandurg marking the 538th birth anniversary of Bhakta Kanakadasa and unveiled a statue of the saint. Lokesh said the TDP has been a party for the Backward Classes since its formation and that BCs have stood by the party throughout. He said the govt is committed to the empowerment of BC communities and announced that Kanakadasa Jayanthi would be celebrated as a state festival. He said Kanakadasa’s life and teachings continue to guide society. 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
Bawankule Slams Rahul Gandhi Over ‘Duplicate Voter List’ Remark
Nagpur: Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Thursday launched a sharp counterattack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of duplicate names in the state’s voter list, calling them ‘absurd’ and politically motivated. “Rahul Gandhi should first study the state’s voter lists before making such foolish claims. Duplicate names aren’t new; they exist everywhere. In Kamptee, Congress-MVA candidate Suresh Bhoyar — who contested against me in the 2024 assembly polls — himself has a duplicate entry. Why doesn’t Rahul see that?” Bawankule asked. The guardian minister dismissed Gandhi’s charge as “a desperate attempt to create confusion” ahead of the upcoming civic elections. “Even if a name appears twice, only one person can vote since indelible ink is applied. The same voter list elected 31 MPs of the MVA, but now after losing the assembly polls, they are calling it faulty. This is a pathetic effort to spread a fake narrative,” he remarked. Bawankule accused Gandhi and the opposition of lacking any positive agenda. “In the last nine months, they haven’t presented a single constructive idea. Rahul Gandhi keeps attacking the Election Commission and the Supreme Court, playing the same old, worn-out cassette. He’s restless because he knows that the NDA under Modi will rule till 2047,” he said. Turning his fire on Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, Bawankule termed him a “penless chief minister”. “In my 22 years of politics, I’ve seen many CMs, but Uddhav Thackeray was the only one who never carried a pen. He wouldn’t sign MLAs’ letters for months; that’s why his legislators deserted him. He barely visited Mantralaya during his two-and-a-half-year tenure,” he alleged. He dismissed Thackeray’s ongoing Marathwada tour as a purely political exercise. “It’s an off-season tour driven by electoral motives. As chief minister, he never visited farmers’ fields or cared about flood relief. He doesn’t even know what assistance victims receive. He’s touring only to criticise Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis,” Bawankule said, in a statement released to the media. 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
Rahul Gandhi to visit Pachmarhi today for Cong training camp
Bhopal: Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi, is set to reach Pachmarhi on Saturday as part of a two-day visit and will halt for the night at a local hotel. He will arrive in Bhopal on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 pm and leave by helicopter to Pachmarhi, where he is scheduled to spend three hours interacting with the Congress’ newly elected district presidents at the party’s training camp. According to the state PCC office, after reaching Pachmarhi he is expected to address the district presidents on “Global Politics of India” and may discuss his recent vote-theft allegations against the ruling BJP. The Congress MP from Rae Bareilly last visited the state on June 3 this year to inaugurate the Sangathan Srajan organisation restructuring Abhiyan in Bhopal, during which 72 new district presidents were appointed. Sources said Rahul Gandhi will hold one-on-one meetings with senior party leaders including Digvijaya Singh, Kamal Nath, PCC chief Jitu Patwari, LOP Umang Singhar and former Union minister Arun Yadav. Following his overnight stay, he will meet party workers again on Sunday morning before departing for New Delhi at around 1 pm. 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
GA to secure majority and form govt in state: Rahul
Bhagalpur: In a scathing attack on the BJP and an oblique reference to the Election Commission of India (ECI), Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged large-scale electoral fraud in recent polls, describing it as “vote chori”. Rahul claimed that the Congress has gathered evidence of “vote chori” in the Haryana and other state assembly polls and accused the ECI of ignoring the issue. Expressing confidence that the people of Bihar would resist any such irregularities, he said, “Bihar badla ja sakta hai… hum badlenge Bihar” (it is possible to bring changes in Bihar… we will ensure positive changes in Bihar). Alleging that cases of “vote chori” were also emerging from Bihar, Rahul said those responsible for safeguarding the electoral rights of citizens had “turned a blind eye towards the theft of your votes and future.” The Congress leader made these remarks during election rallies held at Amarpur in Banka district, Bhagalpur and Kahalgaon. He said Bihar would rise and prosper under the Mahagathbandhan (GA) once it came to power, adding that the alliance would secure a majority in the assembly elections and form the govt. Describing Bihar as “a land of knowledge” with ancient seats of learning like Nalanda and Vikramshila Mahavihara, Rahul accused successive NDA govts of neglecting the state’s development. “Progress has taken a backseat in Bihar,” he said, adding that the GA would “ensure the development of Bihar and connect its ancient institutions with a tourist circuit to make the state a global tourist hub.” Referring to local products such as makhana and other farm produce, Rahul said, “We will establish food processing industries to promote agricultural products, boost the tussar industry and strengthen educational institutions and health services in Bihar.” He said the Mahagathbandhan’s goal was to promote ‘Made in Bihar’ products across India and globally, replacing ‘Made in China’ goods. “Industrial establishments will generate employment for the youth, making them and the state self-reliant,” he added. Rahul also criticised PM Narendra Modi and the NDA govt for “favouring large industrial houses while neglecting the poor”. Without naming anyone, he alluded to prominent business figures, saying the NDA govt had “done nothing for the poor and downtrodden, including not waiving loans of farmers and small borrowers.” He accused PM Narendra Modi, CM Nitish Kumar and Union home minister Amit Shah of “turning Bihar into a labourers’ colony of India,” referring to the large number of Bihari workers employed across the country. “Why is it that the home minister’s son, Jay Shah, who does not even know how to hold a cricket bat, has become an authority in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and other associations?” he asked. 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
Govt formed by way of ‘vote theft’ involved in ‘land theft’: Rahul
Pune: Leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha and senior Congress member Rahul Gandhi reacted to the Mundhwa land deal involving a private firm linked to deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar’s son Parth. He said, “The govt which was formed by way of ‘vote theft’ is involved in ‘land theft’.” Rahul took to his ‘X’ handle to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the controversial land deal and stated that Modi’s silence on the issue speaks a lot. “Are you silent (on the land deal issue) as the govt led by your party is dependent on those who have grabbed the rights of dalits?” he wrote on Friday. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday ordered an inquiry into the controversial deal of a 40-acre govt land in Pune’s Mundhwa area notified as ‘Mahar Watan’. Such land cannot be sold unless the govt allows it. According to the opposition, the value of the land is at least Rs 1,800 crore, but it was illegally sold at Rs 300 crore to a private firm, Amadea Enterprises LLP, in which Ajit Pawar’s elder son, Parth, is one of the two partners. An FIR was registered late on Thursday in connection with the land deal, where the revenue officials named in the case are accused of waiving stamp duty amounting to Rs 21 crore. While the opposition in the state has targeted the state govt over the alleged involvement of Ajit Pawar’s son in the controversial land deal, Rahul Gandhi jumped into it on Friday. He said, “In Maharashtra, a govt land valued at Rs 1,800 crore and reserved for dalits was sold to a company owned by a minister’s son. Additionally, the stamp duty was also waived, which means a discount was given while legalising the loot. They know that they can continue with unlimited loot and still can form the govt by stealing votes. They do not care about democracy, people, and rights of dalits.” 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
Rahul Gandhi attacks Maha govt over ‘land theft’ for Parth Pawar
Rahul Gandhi attacked the Maharashtra govt over a land deal involving Parth Pawar, alleging Dalit-reserved land worth Rs 1800 cr was sold for Rs 300 cr. He called it ‘land theft’ by a govt formed through ‘vote theft’. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Maharashtra government after it was reported that Parth Pawar, son of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had acquired government land without allegedly paying stamp duty. He said the government sold Dalit-reserved land worth Rs 1,800 crore in Pune’s Koregaon Park area for just Rs 300 crore, calling it “land theft” and alleging the same government came to power through “vote theft.” Gandhi Alleges ‘Land Theft’ by ‘Vote Theft’ Government In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi wrote, “In Maharashtra, government land worth ₹1800 crore, which was reserved for Dalits, was sold to the minister’s son’s company for just ₹300 crore. On top of that, the stamp duty was also waived – meaning not only is it a robbery, but even a legal stamp of approval on the theft! This is ‘land theft’ by that government, which itself was formed through ‘vote theft’. They know that no matter how much they loot, they will return to power by stealing votes again.” He also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his silence, questioning whether the central government is supporting those who “usurp the rights of Dalits and the deprived.” “No regard for democracy, nor for the public, nor for the rights of Dalits. Modi ji, your silence speaks volumes -Are you staying silent for this reason, because your government is propped up by those very looters who usurp the rights of Dalits and the deprived?” the post read. A company allegedly owned by the son of the National Congress Party (NCP) chief is facing major allegations over a land deal worth crores. Further, the Inspector General of Registration in Pune has submitted an interim report to the Additional Chief Secretary in Mumbai on the alleged land scam. According to the interim report, a property, allegedly valued as high as 1,800 crore rupees, was sold to a company linked to Parth Pawar for just Rs 300 crore with a nominal stamp duty of only Rs 500, allegedly bypassing proper procedures for government-linked land. Following the submission, one official has been suspended, and the government has ordered a high-level committee to conduct a full investigation into the irregularities and financial losses to the state. The final report from the investigation committee is expected within eight days. (ANI) (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Courtesy : Asianet News Note: This news is originally published on https:/asianetnews.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Bihar Elections 2025: Voting for the BJP proved costly in Gopalganj, RJD supporters brutally beat a Dalit family, injuring three.
Bihar Elections 2025: Following the first phase of voting in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, shocking news has emerged from Gopalganj. A Dalit family was attacked by RJD supporters for voting for the BJP in the Baikunthpur Assembly constituency. Three people were seriously injured. Bihar Elections 2025: Following the first phase of voting in the Bihar Assembly elections on November 6th, a shocking incident has emerged from the Baikunthpur Assembly constituency in Gopalganj. Three members of the same family were fatally attacked while returning after casting their votes. According to reports, the attackers allegedly asked them which party they had voted for. When the three mentioned the BJP, they became enraged and brutally beat them with sticks and rods. Beaten for Voting for the BJP This incident occurred with Mukesh Ram (28), his father Chhattu Ram, and his brother Chhotu Ram. All three live in the Dalit settlement of Bucheya village. Mukesh, describing the incident, said that yesterday (November 6th), late in the evening, they were returning from the Sidhavaliya polling booth in the Baikunthpur Assembly constituency. On their way to the Dalit settlement, some dominant villagers stopped them and asked whom they had voted for. According to Mukesh, as soon as they revealed that they had voted for the BJP, the men became enraged. They attacked them with deadly weapons and beat them with sticks. The attackers turned out to be RJD supporters Mukesh and his family have accused Akhilesh Yadav, Vishal Yadav, and his father, along with about half a dozen other people from the village, of the attack. Mukesh stated clearly that these people attacked them because they did not vote for the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). All three men sustained serious injuries in the attack. He was immediately admitted to the Sidhavaliya Community Health Center (CHC), where he received initial treatment. Later that evening, he was referred to the emergency ward of Gopalganj Sadar Hospital for better treatment. BJP candidate also reached the hospital Upon learning of the incident, BJP candidate Mithilesh Tiwari reached Gopalganj Sadar Hospital late at night and inquired about the well-being of the victims. Mithilesh Tiwari has accused supporters of RJD candidate Premshankar Prasad of assaulting him. Police taking action Gopalganj SDPO 2 Rajesh Kumar confirmed the incident. He stated that, after voting concluded in the Baikunthpur Assembly constituency, incidents of assault were reported at three locations: Bangra in Baikunthpur, Devkuli in Mohammadpur, and Bucheya in Sidhavaliya. The SDPO also stated that written complaints from the injured individuals are being taken and legal action will be taken after investigation. These incidents have raised serious questions about the security arrangements during the elections. Sunil Kumar Tiwari Courtesy: Hindi News
Modi and Shah have ‘unleashed real jungle raj’ across India: Rahul
PATNA: Slamming NDA over its “jungle raj” jibe, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi Thursday alleged that PM Modi and home minister Amit Shah have unleashed real jungle raj across India by misusing ED, CBI & Income Tax dept. Addressing a rally in Bihar’s Araria, Rahul said INDIA bloc would form an inclusive govt in the state, with focus on generating employment, providing quality education, including establishing a world-class university, and ensuring better healthcare facilities. He added Bihar’s tourist circuit would be developed in a way that directly benefits locals. Rahul accused Modi of spreading hatred to win elections. Alleging that BJP indulged in vote theft in Haryana, Maharashtra, MP and Chhattisgarh, he urged people to ensure such malpractice does not occur in Bihar. His sister, Priyanka Gandhi, addressed separate rallies in Bihar and accused NDA functionaries of vote theft in collusion with EC. “On Thursday, Rahul Gandhi showed you how BJP stole the entire govt in Haryana. They stole 25 lakh votes. The Constitution your ancestors fought for is being weakened today. Their arrogance has grown so much that they don’t even respect your vote. They cut 65 lakh votes in Bihar. I can confidently say that if this election is fair, you will oust them and install a govt that respects you,” she said. Alleging a rise in crime graph in Bihar. she said:”Modi govt has no respect for the people of Bihar or its CM. In fact, Kumar is not even invited to the stage by BJP netas.” The Congress MP promised free medical treatment up to Rs 20 lakh if INDIA bloc comes to power, along with Rs 2,500 per month assistance for every poor woman. (With inputs from CS Jha Azad & CB Pandey) 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
‘What craziness is this’: Brazilian ‘model’ reacts after Rahul Gandhi’s Haryana voter-fraud allegation; claims old photo used
NEW DELHI: A Brazilian woman named Larissa reacted after discovering that her photograph was allegedly used multiple times in the Haryana voter list — a claim highlighted by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi while alleging large-scale voter fraud in the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections. In a video reaction, model Larissa said, “Guys, I’m gonna tell you a joke — it’s too horrible! They’re using an old picture of me for elections in India, showing me as Indian. What a mess! A reporter even reached out to my workplace for an interview. I couldn’t believe it when a friend sent me the photo again.” Rahul, addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters on Wednesday, unveiled what he called the ‘H-Files’, alleging that one in eight voters in Haryana were fake. He claimed that around 25 lakh voter records were either duplicate, non-existent, or manipulated. During the briefing, the leader of opposition of Lok Sabha displayed a section of a voter list showing the same woman’s photograph used repeatedly under different names — including Seema, Sweety, Saraswati, Rashmi, and Vilma. “Who is this lady? Where does she come from?” he asked, before asserting that the woman was not Indian but a Brazilian woman whose stock photograph had been misused. Fact-check by Aos Fatos: Photo used in Haryana voter list was free stock image The Congress also posted the image on X, saying, “A Brazilian citizen, Matheus Ferroro’s photo, has been used 22 times in Haryana under different names — from Sweety to Saraswati.” According to Brazilian fact-checking agency Aos Fatos, the image was originally taken by photographer Matheus Ferrero, who lives in Belo Horizonte, and was first published in 2017. The photo had been uploaded to free stock image platforms such as Unsplash and Pexels, which allow anyone to use images provided proper credit is given. As a result, the same image has appeared in numerous articles, advertisements, and websites across different countries — not just India. After the controversy erupted, the picture was deleted from those platforms. Aos Fatos also found that the image had been used to create fake profiles on social media. The woman’s identity was not listed on the stock platforms, but the agency confirmed — through reverse image search and by examining Ferrero’s social media — that the person is a hairdresser from Belo Horizonte who participated in a photoshoot with the photographer in March 2017. Rahul accused Haryana of stealing 25 lakh votes: Rahul alleged that 1 in 8 voters in Haryana are fake, claiming large-scale voter fraud and pointing to unexplained differences between postal and booth votes. “We have crystal clear proof that 25 lakh voters (in Haryana) are fake, that they either don’t exist or they are duplicate or are designed in a way for anybody to vote…1 in 8 voters in Haryana are fake, that’s 12.5%.” Rahul claimed that a plan was set in motion to turn a predicted Congress win into a loss and also urged young voters to pay attention, citing claims backed by strong evidence. “All (exit) polls pointed to a Congress victory (in Haryana). The other thing that was surprising to us was that, for the first time in Haryana’s electoral history, postal votes differed from the actual voting. This had never happened in Haryana before. So, we thought, ‘Let’s go into the details.’ When I first saw this information, I struggled to believe it. I was in shock. I told the team to cross-check multiple times,” he said. “I want the young people, GenZ of India to understand this clearly because this is about your future…I am questioning the EC and the democratic process in India, so I am doing it with 100% proof. We are pretty sure that a plan was put in motion to convert Congress’ landslide victory into a loss…Please note the smile on his face (CM Nayab Saini) and notice the ‘vyavastha’ that he is talking about. This is 2 days after election when everybody is saying that the Congress is sweeping the elections,” he said. Rahul’s Hydrogen bomb is just a small cracker: BJP Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini hit back, dismissing the charges, saying, “Rahul Gandhi is doing the work of misleading the nation. The way Congress has become agenda-less, they are misleading the nation by spreading lies.” Union minister Kiren Rijiju also ridiculed Rahul’s allegations and said, “Why doesn’t his atom bomb ever explode? Rahul Gandhi says that the atom bomb is going to explode, but why doesn’t his atom bomb ever explode? He doesn’t take any subject seriously and even says that a hydrogen bomb will explode.” Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis says, “What Rahul Gandhi called a ‘Hydrogen bomb’ was not a bomb at all. It was just a small cracker. It had no noise or energy. Rahul Gandhi is now pursuing an agenda to not let democracy function properly. Rahul Gandhi’s agenda matches the agenda of external forces. All these external forces are striving to erode faith in India’s democracy and the Indian Constitution. These external forces are creating a false atmosphere and narrative that calls into question the various institutions created by the Indian Constitution. Rahul Gandhi is fueling this narrative. What could be more tragic than this? While Rahul Gandhi attempts to view our army through caste lines, I don’t understand who he is working for. He raises a question mark on the army, the Constitution and the system established by the Constitution’s institutions. Whose agenda is Rahul Gandhi pursuing?” 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
‘Fake vote, fake photo’: Rahul Gandhi’s ‘wholesale chori’ charge at BJP; claims party will repeat it in Bihar
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a sharp attack at the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Election Commission, alleging large-scale electoral malpractice and claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “became the PM through chunav chori.” Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Rahul said his party had gathered extensive evidence to expose what he described as a pattern of election manipulation. “We have a lot of material, we will continue this process. We will clearly show India’s GenZ and youth that Narendra Modi became the PM through ‘chunav chori’ and BJP indulges in ‘chunav chori’,” he said. Referring to recent reports of a BJP leader allegedly casting votes at two different locations, Rahul claimed that electoral fraud was not isolated but systematic. “I gave a presentation that Haryana elections were not elections at all. A ‘wholesale chori’ occurred there. There was no response by the EC to the allegations levelled by me – fake vote, fake photograph,” he said. According to Rahul, the BJP’s defence of the incident without denial only reinforced his charge. “BJP is defending this but not negating what I said. Media is picking up small examples, like a Brazilian woman voted. How was voting done on the photo of a Brazilian national?” he asked. The Congress leader went on to accuse the Prime Minister, home minister Amit Shah, and the Election Commission of jointly undermining the Constitution. “The reality is that Narendra Modi ji, Amit Shah ji and EC are attacking the Constitution together. Constitution says ‘One man, one vote’. Haryana shows that there was no ‘One man, one vote’ there. It was ‘One man, multiple votes’,” he said. He alleged that the same pattern of electoral malpractice was being repeated across states. “They are going to do the same in Bihar. It happened in MP, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Gujarat,” he said, adding that his party would continue to raise the issue to “protect the Constitution and the people’s vote.” The Election Commission has not yet responded to Rahul Gandhi’s latest allegations. The BJP, meanwhile, has dismissed earlier claims by the Congress leader as politically motivated attempts to discredit the electoral process. 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