Tejashwi meets Congress netas in Delhi to strike seat deal
Patna: RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Monday met senior Congress leaders in New Delhi to finalise the seat-sharing arrangement among INDIA bloc allies ahead of the Bihar assembly elections. Insiders in the Congress said Yadav held discussions with Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal and the party’s incharge for Bihar, Krishna Allavaru, in the national capital. Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram was also present at the meeting. Tejashwi was expected to meet Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, though the meeting did not take place. Meanwhile, Rajesh Ram and Congress leaders Shakeel Ahmad Khan and Syed Naseer Hussain met Kharge separately and briefed him on their discussions with Yadav.The two principal allies — RJD and Congress — are in talks to finalise the distribution of seats among Mahagathbandhan partners amid claims and counterclaims over stronghold constituencies. Sources said despite multiple rounds of discussions between Congress, RJD and Left leaders, the INDIA bloc has not yet settled its seat-sharing formula. “Tejashwi and Congress leaders may finalise seat-sharing in the next few days and could announce their candidates along with a joint manifesto this week,” an RJD functionary said. Bihar Congress incharge Krishna Allavaru said, “Seat distribution is being finalised. The list of candidates will be released soon. Our effort is to form a good govt for the people of Bihar so that the alliance is not harmed and Bihar benefits.” The Congress is expected to receive fewer seats this time, given its poor performance in the 2020 assembly polls when it won 19 of the 70 seats it contested. The RJD had contested 144 seats, winning 75 in the 243-member assembly. Earlier on Monday, the Congress held its Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting in New Delhi to discuss Bihar seat-sharing. Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, K C Venugopal, and BPCC chief Rajesh Ram attended the meeting. Rajesh Ram said, “All issues were discussed in the INDIA alliance meeting, in which Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders participated. The discussions were positive, and preparations for seat announcements are underway. There is a possibility of a meeting with Tejashwi Yadav soon.” According to sources, VIP chief Mukesh Sahni has been offered 18 seats by the RJD, of which 10 would have RJD’s own candidates contesting on the VIP symbol. Meanwhile, the RJD has asked its likely candidates to start filing nominations for the first phase of polling. 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 elections: All eyes on seat-sharing deal; internal tussle delaying INDIA bloc’s announcement?
NEW DELHI: With the Bihar Assembly elections fast approaching, seat-sharing negotiations within both the ruling NDA and the opposition Mahagathbandhan have intensified, but while the NDA seems close to sealing its deal, uncertainties continue to plague the INDIA bloc in the state. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left, partners in the INDIA bloc, have yet to finalise seat allocation, even as the nomination process for the first phase of polling ends on October 17. On Sunday, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, along with son and heir-apparent Tejashwi Yadav, left for Delhi, triggering speculation of high-level talks with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to resolve the deadlock. The RJD recently “authorised” Prasad to decide seat distribution and candidate selection. The party holds the dominant position in the alliance, which was known as the Mahagathbandhan before the formation of the nationwide INDIA bloc. When the father-son duo, accompanied by Rabri Devi, left their residence in Patna, disappointed aspirants gathered outside, hoping for a final word on ticket distribution. At the airport, Tejashwi Yadav maintained that “all is well,” though reports suggest otherwise. Congress’s assertiveness, boosted by its recent Voter Adhikar Yatra, has annoyed the RJD, as the party now seeks to contest 70 seats like it did in 2020, despite winning only 19. A close aide of Lalu Prasad, speaking on condition of anonymity, downplayed the political tension, saying, “Lalu ji and Tejashwi ji have left for Delhi because tomorrow is the date of hearing in the land-for-jobs scam. Of course, while in the national capital, meetings with senior leaders cannot be ruled out.” He added, “Our mind is made up. We will keep for ourselves not less than half of the 243 seats. Compared with 2020, when we contested more than 140 seats, that is still somewhat of a sacrifice to accommodate new allies. It is not just for the Congress, but for all smaller parties to realise that there is a need to keep vaulting ambitions in check. Only then can a credible challenge be posed to the ruling NDA.” Congress leader Pawan Khera, however, dismissed reports of friction within the Mahagathbandhan over seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, asserting that the BJP’s hopes of a rift are being “dashed.” His remarks came in response to the BJP’s claims that internal disagreements were delaying the INDIA bloc’s seat-sharing announcement in Bihar. Speaking to reporters in Ranchi, Khera said, “There is no complication or snag. Discussions will happen first, and only then will the seat announcement be made. So, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s hope that there is some complication is getting dashed. Everyone has the right to express their views, and all parties do so. There is no complication on our side.” Meanwhile, the NDA has almost completed its seat-sharing exercise. Janata Dal (United) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan said on Sunday there was “a huge turmoil within the Mahagathbandhan over the Chief Minister’s post,” adding confidently that “the alliance knows that the NDA will form a government in Bihar.” He dismissed Tejashwi Yadav’s claim that the JD(U) might merge with the BJP after the elections, saying, “Now he has started making prophecies. He will have plenty of time after the elections. We believe that after the elections, there are very good politicians who need to make alternative arrangements, so they have found a solution.” Ranjan asserted that the JD(U) under Nitish Kumar remains strong and united. “The JD(U) is known for its values. Just as Nitish Kumar ran the coalition government in Bihar effectively for 20 years, the party grew and flourished. Today, the party’s base has become the largest in the state. Our workers are the most dedicated, and the people’s support remains firmly with Nitish Kumar,” he said, calling Tejashwi’s remarks a “reflection of mental bankruptcy.” Within the NDA, the JD(U) is likely to contest 103 of the 243 seats, while the BJP is expected to field candidates in 102. Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has demanded more than the 20-22 seats earlier offered, while allies like Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM and Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha are negotiating respectable numbers, reported news agency PTI. “Everything is fine in the NDA… seat-sharing arrangements and list of candidates will be decided by the party’s central leadership in a day or two,” a BJP leader said. On the opposition front, Congress leader Akhilesh Prasad Singh admitted that “the seat allocation is almost done, but at the last moment, some difficulties arise in all parties, these are there in the NDA as well and here too. Everything will be announced in 1-2 days.” 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
Who Is Preeti, Jan Suraaj’s Transgender Candidate For Bihar Assembly
PollsPrashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj fielded Preeti from Bhorey, a constituency in Bihar’s Gopalganj. The 51 candidates unveiled Thursday by Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party showcased a sparkling collection of doctors, lawyers, retired bureaucrats and police officers. The party also fielded Preeti Kinnar, a transgender woman. Preeti has been named as the candidate from Bhorey, a constituency in Bihar’s Gopalganj. Preeti, a social activist, has been pitted against a high-profile incumbent minister of the state. The sitting MLA of Bhore is Sunil Kumar, Nitish Kumar’s minister of education. In an interview with NDTV Thursday, Kishor, a poll strategist-turned politician, said his candidates were chosen on basis of their work for the people and if they were not elected, it would reflect on the people of Bihar and not him. “If you don’t vote for such people, then it is not a burden on Prashant Kishor. This is a burden on the shoulders of the people of Bihar,” said the chief of Jan Suraaj Party, which is contesting its maiden election and is seen as a wild card. Among the candidates the party chose is well-known mathematician KC Sinha, who served as the Vice Chancellor of Patna University. The books he authored have been followed in Bihar’s schools for decades. There is also YB Giri, the candidate from Manjhi, a former Additional Advocate General of Bihar and Additional Solicitor General of India for central government cases that came up in Patna High Court. Reports said Preeti, a resident of Kalyanpur village of Bhore block, has been associated with social work for long. The party believes that her understanding of local issues will help her bring the concerns of the common man to the House of Assembly, reports said. Transgender candidates have been contesting elections for over a decade in India, but not many win. Early this year, a transgender candidate who contested the assembly elections in Delhi as an Independent secured 85 votes. Last year, all three transgender candidates who contested the Lok Sabha elections lost their security deposits, highlighting the challenges faced by the community in gaining political representation in the country. Reported by : Somu Anand Edited by : Anindita Sanyal Courtesy : NDTV Note: This news is originally published on https:/ndtv.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Bihar polls: Tejashwi new Rahul? Prashant Kishor says RJD leader could meet Amethi fate on Raghopur seat
NEW DELHI: Jan Suraj founder Prashant Kishor on Saturday took a dig at RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, saying Tejashwi would have to contest from two seats if Kishor decided to fight from Raghopur. He also predicted that Tejashwi would lose Raghopur, drawing a comparison with Rahul Gandhi’s loss in Amethi. “If I contest from Raghopur, Tejashwi Yadav will face the same situation Rahul Gandhi faced in Amethi,” Kishor told journalists. “Tejashwi Yadav, who was voted by the people of Raghopur – they made his parents the CM, and him the deputy CM. Now, the people there are in trouble, but Tejashwi doesn’t care about it. He must be scared because of this,” he added. — PTI_News (@PTI_News) Kishor’s remarks come amid recent reports that Tejashwi may contest from two seats and the talk of Kishor himself contesting from Raghopur. Raghopur has long been an RJD stronghold. Tejashwi Yadav won the seat in 2015 and 2020. The seat was earlier represented by his father Lalu Prasad Yadav and mother Rabri Devi. Kishor was speaking in Patna before launching his party’s campaign in Raghopur. “I am going to Raghopur to get feedback from the people, who want an end to the supremacy of one family. Despite being represented by Tejashwi, a second-term MLA, and earlier by Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi, the constituency still lacks basic amenities,” he alleged. Kishor, who had earlier said he would not contest elections, recently hinted that he may do so if CM Nitish Kumar, whom he alleges has deteriorated mentally, contests this year’s elections. “If he contests, I will definitely contest against him, even confronting party leaders,” he had 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
Tejashwi will meet Rahul’s Amethi fate: PK at Raghopur
Patna: Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Saturday kicked off his party’s poll campaign from Raghopur assembly constituency in Bihar but the poll strategist appeared “vague” on whether he will contest elections from this high-profile seat which has given two chief ministers–Lalu Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi. Currently, Raghopur is represented by RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, scion of the Yadav family and widely perceived to be the opposition’s CM face. Tejashwi has been representing this seat since 2015 but Raghopur further attracted attention with reports that Kishor, more popular as PK, could join the poll fray from there this time. “Agar ladenge toh Tejashwi ke khilaf hi ladenge. Dusre jagah se ladane ka kya matlab hai (If I contest elections, it will be against Tejashwi only. What is the point in contesting from a place other than Raghopur)?” he asked, talking to reporters last month. On Saturday, however, he ducked all questions on joining the poll fray against Tejashwi. He said he is rushing to Raghopur to interact with the people on ground and hear their opinion about who could be a suitable candidate against Tejashwi. “Jan Suraaj Party’s central election committee (CEC) meeting is scheduled for Sunday, and the feedback I receive from Raghopur will also be up for discussion. Based on that, the most suitable candidate will be decided. The decision will be taken by the party. I do not decide,” Kishor told reporters before kickstarting his campaign. On reaching Raghopur, he sounded a little bit “forthright” but again kept his card close to his chest. On being asked if PK’s name could also be discussed as a candidate at the CEC meeting, he said, “Bilkul charcha hogi…Charcha hai tabhi aaye hain (There will definitely be a discussion at the CEC meeting… I have come because there is a discussion), he said. Taking potshots at Tejashwi for mulling the options of contesting from two assembly seats this time, Kishor said the former is working on this idea because he is scared of JSP. “Tejashvi is running away from Raghopur just after the speculation that PK or Jan Suraaj will contest from the seat,” Kishor ridiculed, adding the RJD leader would also meet the same fate as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. “Tejashwi’s fate in Raghopur will be the same as that of Rahul Gandhi in 2019 Lok Sabha polls when the Congress leader fought two seats, but ended up losing his stronghold of Amethi,” PK said. “The game has just begun…Aage-aage dekhiye hota hai kya (Let’s see what happens next),” Jan Suraaj founder hinted. PK’s derisive comments come amid reports that Tejashwi may contest from two assembly seats in Bihar this time. So far, he has contested the elections from one seat only—Raghopur (Vaishali), considered his family turf, but now there are reports that he could also contest from Phulparas seat in Madhubani district in the light of a suggestion provided by party leadership. Sources said Tejashwi’s candidature from Phulparas could send a strong message to the EBC community and bolster the RJD’s prospects in the region and also establish his presence in the Mithilanchal region where the NDA has traditionally held its dominance. 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: CM face confusion in Mahagathbandhan, seat chaos in NDA – decoding political drama
NEW DELHI: As Bihar gears up for another high-stakes assembly election, the political landscape is once again abuzz – not with Nitish Kumar’s next move – but with poetry, posturing, and power plays. From poetic pleas for justice to sharp rebukes over “dignity” in seat offers, alliance partners across the spectrum are flexing muscles and testing loyalties. In the NDA camp, Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has invoked Dinkar’s Rashmirathi to press for a fair share, while in the Mahagathbandhan, Left allies are growing restless over what they deem “insulting” proposals. Amid the flurry of negotiations, one thing is clear — in Bihar’s shifting sands of coalition politics, every seat counts, and every word carries weight. Yet, beneath the poetic appeals and fiery rejections lies a deeper churn: the absence of a clear chief ministerial face, the confusion over leadership within alliances, and the persistent tug-of-war between old guards and rising heirs. ‘Ho Nyay Aagar To Aadha Do … ‘ Union minister and former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi struck a poetic yet pointed note as he expressed his seat-sharing expectations. Hinting that his party, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), had once aspired to contest half of the state’s 243 constituencies, Manjhi said he was ready to settle for 15 seats in the spirit of coalition unity. Taking inspiration from Ramdhari Singh Dinkar’s Rashmirathi, he invoked Lord Krishna’s appeal for justice before the Mahabharata war, writing on X, “Ho Nyay Aagar To Aadha Do” — a plea for fairness seemingly directed at the BJP. Continuing in the same poetic vein, Manjhi added that if full justice was not possible, HAM would be content with “15 villages” — a metaphor for 15 constituencies — and would not “raise arms against kin,” underscoring his commitment to the NDA alliance. The statement came shortly after BJP leaders Dharmendra Pradhan and Vinod Tawde visited his residence to deliberate on seat-sharing. — jitanrmanjhi (@jitanrmanjhi) The Mahagathbandhan’s not so ‘dignified’ proposal After putting up quite a show in the last assembly elections, the CPI (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation did not find the proposal to contest on 19 seats “dignified” enough. In 2020, CPI (ML) won 12 seats of the 19 contested. This time, it demanded 40 seats initially, later bringing it down to 30, PTI reported citing a party source. The party has kept “all its options open” in case its demands are rejected. “CPI(ML) rejected the offer as it was not a dignified proposal, and we are going to make a fresh proposal to fight around 30 seats. We are reducing the number of seats by almost 25 per cent,” the source said. In 2020, RJD contested 144 seats and won 75, while the Congress contested 70 seats and won 19. Meanwhile, Congress’ central election committee is set to meet today to finalize its candidates. What does Chirag want from NDA? Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan has made headlines for calling out Bihar administration, ruled by ally Nitish Kumar’s JDU, on rising crime levels and his recent war cry of “Abki baari, yuva Bihari,” as unemployment remains major poll attack agenda of the opposition this time. It had left the NDA in 2020 over disagreements with chief minister Nitish Kumar, dealing a significant blow to the JD(U), despite managing to win only one of the more than 135 seats it contested. This time, while he has explicitly ruled out any CM ambitions, his party is eyeing specific constituencies considered favorable and has requested a few assembly seats in each of the five Lok Sabha constituencies it won in 2024, PTI reported citing a party source. — LJP4India (@LJP4India) Tejashwi for CM, Tejashwi for CM not Whether RJD patriarch is in “dilemma between his sons and daughters” or not, Congress has clearly stated its stance. Tejashwi Yadav could be RJD’s CM face, but not INDIA bloc’s, at least not for now. “Tejashwi Yadav may be CM face for RJD but INDIA bloc’s CM face will be decided collectively,” Congress leader Udit Raj said. This came after Tejashwi posted on X, a poster which implied him as the CM face: “When Tejashwi becomes the CM, none of our brothers and sisters in Bihar household would be unemployed.” — yadavtejashwi (@yadavtejashwi) BJP was quick to catch on to this mocking Tejashwi saying that while “he called Rahul Gandhi PM several times but Rahul Gandhi did not call him (CM candidate).” “He is presenting himself but people of his alliance are not saying the same. He called Rahul Gandhi PM several times but Rahul Gandhi did not call him (CM candidate). Let alone the alliance, now the situation is different even within the family. Lalu Yadav is in dilemma between his sons and daughters. There is a crisis in the family,” BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said. A throwback to Nitish’s flips but no flops In the 2020 Bihar elections, Nitish Kumar led the NDA to a 125-seat majority. In August 2022, he broke with the BJP to form a government with the RJD-Congress-led Mahagathbandhan and became a key figure in the INDIA bloc. However, in January 2024, ahead of the Parliamentary polls, Kumar returned to the NDA, which now includes JD(U), BJP, Chirag Paswan’s LJP (Ram Vilas), Jitin Manjhi’s Hindustan Awami Morcha, and Upendra Khushwaha’s RLSP. This time, the NDA faces the INDIA bloc, led by Tejashwi Yadav, along with Congress, Left parties, Mukesh Sahani’s VIP, and newcomer Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj. Well, there’s a saying in Bihar. No matter the poll outcome, the winner is always Nitish Kumar. Let’s see if it holds true this time. 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 elections 2025: The key players and what’s at stake for them
NEW DELHI: The countdown to the Bihar assembly elections has officially begun. The Election Commission on Monday announced that the polls will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. The result will be declared on November 14. With this announcement, Bihar has entered full-fledged election mode, and political parties are already ramping up their campaigns. A lot is at stake for the state’s key players. Here’s a look at it: Nitish Kumar The 2025 Bihar assembly election is an obvious make-or-break moment for incumbent chief minister Nitish Kumar, with both his personal legacy and his party relevance on the line. This will be Nitish’s tenth bid for the chief minister’s post after two decades of rule marked by governance reforms, social welfare programs, and, of course, the dramatic alliance shifts that earned him the nickname ‘Paltu Ram’. Switches of Nitish This time, voters will judge whether his image of the ‘Vikas Purush’ (development man), known for stability and law-and-order credibility, still holds – or whether political fatigue, policy stagnation, and repeated flip-flops have eroded his mandate. The biggest challenge Nitish will face is to fight the anti-incumbancy wave. The biggest challenge for Nitish is indeed to combat the strong anti-incumbency wave against his government. After almost 20 years in office, he will now have to fight the fatigue among the voters. At 74, questions about his age and mental fitness have also entered the political debate, with opposition leaders openly raising doubts about his ability to govern effectively. Bihar assembly elections 2025. The 2025 election will therefore determine not just whether Nitish secures another term, but whether it’s time for him to finally hang up his boots. It is equally significant for the Janata Dal (United)’s survival as a major force in Bihar. The results will decide whether Nitish’s party maintains its independent clout or is relegated to a secondary role behind its ally, the BJP. Tejashwi Yadav For Lalu Yadav’s son and former deputy CM, Tejashwi Yadav, the 2025 Bihar assembly elections are a pivotal test of both his personal leadership and the prospects of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). This appears to be Tejashwi’s best chance yet to become chief minister for the first time as the anti-incumbency fatigue against Nitish creates a significant gain. Many voters tired of Nitish Kumar’s long tenure of almost 20 years are looking for a fresh alternative, which Tejashwi, as a young, dynamic leader, offers. This attracts both traditional RJD supporters and undecided or anti-establishment voters. In the 2020 elections, under his leadership, the RJD won 75 seats, making it the single-largest party in the state and positioning him as the primary face of the opposition in Bihar. Notably, the Mahagathbandhan’s vote share lagged narrowly behind that of the NDA by just 0.03%, approximately 12,768 votes out of around 3.14 crore. Given this near-miss, the stakes and expectations for Tejashwi are even higher in 2025 and his performance will also determine the viability of the opposition in the state. Managing coalition friction and addressing the aspirations of a broad base, especially youth and non-Yadav OBCs, remains a critical challenge. This election will test his ability to withstand the NDA’s political machinery, carry forward his father’s legacy, and present himself as a pro-development alternative to Nitish Kumar in the state. Rahul Gandhi For Rahul Gandhi, this election is a crucial test of his national leadership and the revival prospects of the Congress party, with far-reaching implications for the INDIA bloc and Congress’s place in opposition politics. Given the recent repeated losses in Maharashtra, Haryana and Delhi, Rahul faces immense pressure to secure substantive gains in Bihar. His direct involvement this time, rallying (Voter Adhikar Yatra), crafting manifestos like the ‘Atipichhda Nyay Sankalp’ for EBCs, and public campaigns, puts his leadership credibility on the line, especially after past performances. The results will reveal whether Rahul can translate high-profile campaigning into votes, or whether the JD(U)-BJP, and his ally RJD continue to dominate state politics. The Bihar elections will also be the test of Congress’s groundlevel organisational skills, showing if Rahul could actually appeal to the Hindi heartland and mobilise backward and marginalised groups. Chirag Paswan Chirag Paswan’s victories in Bihar have dazzled on paper but left his influence on the ground wanting. Sweeping six Lok Sabha seats in 2014, repeating the feat in 2019, and clinching all five in 2024, he has made headlines in New Delhi. Yet in the Hindi heartland, these wins have often felt more like hollow victories than a true mandate. This time, his biggest test is to prove if he can translate national-level clout and Dalit support into a substantial assembly presence, moving beyond being a “spoiler” or a junior partner to becoming a genuine regional force in the state’s power structure. Success would elevate the LJP from relying on bargaining chips in Delhi to wielding real legislative strength in Patna, giving the party leverage in coalition negotiations, government formation, and policy direction. The outcome will reveal whether his strategy of public bargaining and “kingmaker” posturing can convert into actual MLAs, or if it risks repeating the 2020 pattern of undermining allies without building his own base. Bihar Key Players & What’s At Stake Prashant Kishor What’s at stake for Prashant Kishor? Everything and nothing! The strategist-turned-politician is making his electoral debut in Bihar, attempting to disrupt an already established caste-based politics and carve a meaningful role for his Jan Suraaj Party (JSP). Kishor has announced that his party will contest all 243 assembly seats independently, refusing alliances and positioning JSP as a radical alternative aiming to break the longstanding political duopoly of JD(U)-BJP and RJD-Congress. For him, it’s a low-risk, high-reward gamble. He has declared that his party will either finish first or last, leaving no room for compromise. So this time, he will either create a new force in Bihar or fade into political irrelevance. The key challenge lies in converting Kishor’s personal brand and strategic expertise into actual legislative seats. The outcome
Bihar election: How Rahul Gandhi tuned Congress’ Bihar pitch
PATNA: Until June this year, Congress looked desperate. It first replaced the party’s 74year-old Bihar in-charge Mohan Prakash by a rather young Krishna Allavaru and then appointed Rajesh Kumar, a Dalit face, as state president, removing Akhilesh Prasad Singh, who came from the upper caste Bhumihars. But nothing seemed to make a difference. Then came EC’s decision to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Congress found a cause, dubbing the exercise as a conspiracy to strike opposition voters off electoral rolls. Congress fused it with its broader claim that all BJP victories since 2014 were facilitated by “vote fraud”. Rahul Gandhi started Voter Adhikar Yatra, invited INDIA bloc big names like M K Stalin and Akhilesh Yadav. But will it influence voters? One clue comes from the subdued response of Congress and other opposition parties to the final electoral roll published on Sept 30. That reaction was anticlimactic. And this, when SIR did result in the deletion of 0.4 million “ineligible” names from the draft voters’ list. Significantly, even during the Voter Adhikar Yatra, grumbles could be heard about how it pushed “bread-and-butter” issues off centre stage, giving Nitish Kumar crucial time to repair a potential point of vulnerability. But the Yatra helped Congress acquire a profile it lacked. It upstaged RJD, its senior partner, which had planned to launch its own protest against SIR. Congress’s enhanced confidence is indicated by its refusal to defer to RJD’s insistence that Tejashwi should immediately be projected Mahagathbandhan’s CM candidate. 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 elections: BJP takes dig at Lalu Prasad Yadav over PM face; mocks ‘family problems’
NEW DELHI: A day after the Election Commission announced the Bihar Assembly election schedule on Monday, the BJP targeted RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav over his claim of being the Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial face, alleging that neither his party nor the alliance partners have officially endorsed him for the top post. BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said Tejashwi was projecting himself as the CM candidate without support from his alliance partners and accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of avoiding a clear endorsement. “He is representing them, but neither his party members nor his alliance partners are speaking up. Just think, they travelled together for so many days during the yatra, and repeatedly called Rahul Gandhi ‘PM, PM’. But you must remember that press conference when Rahul Gandhi was asked who would be the chief ministerial face of the alliance. Tejashwi ji was sitting right next to him, looking at him with hopeful eyes, but Rahul ji did not respond, and his face fell,” Trivedi said. — ANI (@ANI) He also took a swipe at RJD Supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, describing the situation as a leadership crisis within the family. “Lalu Prasad Yadav ji once used to say he was the leader of the poor and the marginalised. But today, he faces the dilemma of whether to be the leader of this son or that son, this daughter or that particular daughter. In other words, even within the family, problems have emerged,” he added. Trivedi expressed confidence that the BJP-led NDA would secure a strong mandate. “People of Bihar and the entire country are watching how there has been a positive change under PM Modi and CM Nitish Kumar. We are confident that a strong and effective mandate will be given in favour of the BJP-NDA,” he said. The Election Commission announced that voting for Bihar’s 243 Assembly seats will be held in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with counting on November 14. A Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists will be carried out nationwide. In the 2020 Assembly elections, Nitish Kumar led the NDA to victory. He broke ties with the BJP in 2022 to join the RJD-Congress alliance but returned to the NDA ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. This time, the NDA will face the INDIA bloc led by Tejashwi Yadav’s RJD, Congress, Left parties, and Mukesh Sahani’s VIP. Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj is also entering the fray. The total number of electors stands at 7.42 crore. Patna recorded an addition of over 1.63 lakh voters across 14 constituencies, while Madhubani and Nalanda districts also saw major increases. 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 Politics: Tejashwi Yadav’s promise: If voted to power, SC/STs will receive social justice, reveals full form of ‘DALIT’
Tejashwi Yadav accused the BJP of ending reservations and said this wouldn’t happen under the RJD. He promised to give voice to the underprivileged and ensure justice for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Extremely Backward Classes if he came to power. He promised to provide jobs and foreign education opportunities to degree holders. He also promised to withdraw cases against SC/ST Act supporters. State Bureau, Patna. Accusing the BJP of intending to end reservations and the Constitution, Tejashwi Yadav said on Sunday that this would not be possible under the RJD. Lalu Prasad Yadav gave voice to the underprivileged. If he came to power, the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Extremely Backward Classes would receive economic justice. A committee will be formed under the Chief Minister’s leadership to ensure the social and educational progress of these classes. Upon forming the government, all degree holders will be given jobs. Releasing the Nyay Sankalp Patra at the Ambedkar Dalit-Tribal Rights Dialogue held at the Veterinary College grounds, Tejashwi expressed his commitment to work on 17 aspects for the upliftment of specific communities. He promised that if he comes to power, talented students from Scheduled Castes and Tribes will be given the opportunity to study abroad. A fund of five thousand crore rupees will be created for entrepreneurship, contracting, and business. The cases against those protesting in support of the SC-ST Act will be dropped. The protesters will be declared Ambedkar fighters and will be honored and awarded. Tejashwi also explained the full form of Dalit in his own way. He said that D stands for determination, A for self-respect, L for leadership, I for justice, and T for progress. Bahujans are humble, but not weak. RJD SC-ST Cell National President Shivchandra Ram, State President Anil Kumar Sadhu alias Sadhu Paswan, and others were present at the event. Later, speaking to the media, Tejashwi said that some retired officials were misusing the Chief Minister’s image for their own benefit. One day, everyone’s secrets will be revealed. Regarding the Prime Minister’s criticism of the Lalu-Rabri regime, he said that since he had no achievements to point to regarding his own government, he was resorting to abuse. BY VIKASH CHANDRA PANDEY EDITED BY: SHASHANK BARANWAL Courtesy: Hindi News