‘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
Bahujan Samaj Party: Mayawati’s party, BSP, will contest the Bihar elections alone; who will prevail in the battle for Dalit votes?
In the 2000 assembly elections, the BSP fielded candidates in 294 seats and won five. This was the BSP’s biggest victory in the state. In the 2005 elections, the party fielded candidates in 283 seats and won two. In the October 2005 assembly elections, it fielded candidates in 212 seats and won four. Story continues below this ad Mayawati’s party, the Bahujan Samaj Party, has been steadily falling behind in Uttar Pradesh politics. In such a situation, Mayawati has once again increased her political activism. Troubled by the continued erosion of the Dalit vote bank, the BSP president has begun formulating her strategy for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. The party has announced that it will field candidates in all 243 assembly seats. This raises questions about whether Mayawati is preparing to re-launch her nephew, Akash Anand, in Bihar’s political arena. At the same time, a crucial question arises: will the BSP, which won just one seat in the UP Assembly elections, be able to attract the Dalit vote bank in Bihar? The BSP has been steadily lagging behind in Uttar Pradesh politics. Mayawati is striving to establish herself as a national-level Dalit leader. In this context, the Bihar elections present a significant opportunity for her. Party’s Performance in Bihar The Bahujan Samaj Party entered the Bihar Assembly elections in 1990. At that time, Bihar and Jharkhand were a united state, and the number of Bihar Assembly seats was 324. In the 1990 Assembly elections, the BSP fielded candidates in 164 seats. However, with a vote share of 0.7 percent, the party failed to win any seats. In the 1995 Assembly elections, the BSP contested 161 seats and won two seats with a vote share of 1.34 percent. In the 2000 Assembly elections, the BSP contested 294 seats and won five seats. This was the BSP’s biggest victory in the state. In the 2005 elections, the party fielded candidates in 283 seats and won two. In the October 2005 assembly elections, it fielded candidates in 212 seats and won four. In the 2010 and 2015 assembly elections, the party received 3.21 and 2.1 percent vote shares, respectively, but failed to win any seats. In the 2020 assembly elections, the party fielded candidates in 80 seats, but managed to win just one seat with a 1.5 percent vote share. Why the Bihar Elections Are Important Although the BSP is severely short of options, given that the Bihar assembly elections will be followed by panchayat elections in Uttar Pradesh, followed by assembly elections the following year. However, ahead of the 2027 assembly elections, the BSP is attempting to send a strong message to its party workers. Even if the BSP doesn’t win a single seat in the Bihar assembly elections, the party will aim to secure a 3 to 5 percent vote share. It’s worth noting that the BSP party’s influence has been evident in the border districts of Bihar before. Districts like Buxar and Gopalganj have seen the party’s MLAs elected to the Bihar Assembly several times. Consequently, the BSP appears to be making a significant bet on the Dalit vote bank. Ananya Mishra Courtesy: Hindi News
“When in power, they forgot Dalits and backward classes,” Sanjay Nishad lashes out at Tejashwi
Basti. Political rhetoric has intensified following a recent statement by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav. On Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh Minister Sanjay Nishad issued a scathing remark on Tejashwi Yadav’s assertion that if a Grand Alliance government were formed in Bihar, Muslims and Dalits would also be given opportunities. In an exclusive interview with IANS, Sanjay Nishad said that if Tejashwi Yadav and his family had worked for the backward classes and Dalits while in power, they wouldn’t have to ask for votes today. He asked why the plight of Dalits and backward classes didn’t change when they were in power. What can they change now that they’re out of power? They can only change their language. A lot can be accomplished in 20 years. Japan gained independence 20 years after us, and where has it reached today? These people held power for 20 years, but what did they do for the people? Minister Nishad said that the politics of Tejashwi Yadav and his family has always been based on caste equations, but whenever they came to power, the backward and Dalit classes were ignored. He further said that if these people had worked for the backward and Dalit communities, they probably would not have to seek votes today. These people forget the backward and Dalit communities when they come to power. It should be noted that Tejashwi Yadav recently said in a statement that if the Grand Alliance comes to power in Bihar, more than one Deputy Chief Minister will be appointed, ensuring representation from the Muslim and Dalit communities. This statement by Tejashwi Yadav has sparked a political debate, with leaders of the ruling party calling it an election promise. –IANS Courtesy: Hindi News
Ministers, Actor, Singer And Transgender Up For Election In Bihar Phase 1
The list, among others, includes Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, his estranged brother Tej Pratap Yadav who has formed his Janshakti Janata Dal, the state’s two Deputy Chief Ministers — Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha – and the party’s cultural face Maithili Thakur. New Delhi: The first phase of the assembly election in Bihar has begun with polling being held on 121 constituencies across 18 districts. The rest of the 243 constituencies will go to polls on November 11. The first phase will see many of the state’s heavyweights contesting. The list, among others, includes Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, his estranged brother Tej Pratap Yadav who has formed his Janshakti Janata Dal, the state’s two Deputy Chief Ministers — Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha – and the party’s cultural face Maithili Thakur. Some of the prominent candidates in this phase of election: Tejashwi Yadav (RJD): Raghopur Latest and Breaking News on NDTV Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tejashwi Yadav, the Chief Ministerial face of the Grand Alliance, is up for another contest from family turf Raghopur. His opponent is the BJP’s Satish Kumar. The contest in this Yadav-dominated constituency is seen by many as just a formality. The seta has been voting for the RJD since 1995, when Lalu Yadav came to power – the exception was the one time between 2010-2015, when the JD(U) held the seat. Tejashwi Yadav has been the sitting MLA here since 2025. Even so, the Jan Suraaj party of election strategist-turned politician Prahsant Kishor has pitched a candidate — Chanchal Kumar. Tejashwi Yadav’s promise of a government job for one member of every household is being seen by his party as a game-changer in this election. Tej Pratap Yadav (JJD): Mahua Latest and Breaking News on NDTV Tej Pratap Yadav, Lalu Yadav’s son, had formed his own party, Janshakti Janata Dal, after the very public estrangement with his family when his 12-year relationship with a woman came to light. Tej Pratap Yadav said the Facebook post that laid it bare was the result of hacking. But his family took exception to the situation and disciplinary action was taken against him. The elder brother of Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap was a minister in Nitish Kumar’s government when the Janata Dal United was part of the Grand Alliance. This time, he is up against RJD’s Mukesh Kumar Raushan, the sitting MLA in Vaishali district’s Mahua constituency. Sanjay Singh, leader of Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party, is also in fray. JJD comprises five regional parties – Vikas Vanchit Insaan Party (VVIP), Bhojpuria Jan Morcha (BJM), Pragatisheel Janata Party (PJP), Wazib Adhikar Party (WAP), and the Sanyukt Kisan Vikas Party. Maithili Thakur (BJP): Alinagar Latest and Breaking News on NDTV The BJP’s cultural pick in Bihar, folk singer Maithili Thakur, will contest her maiden election from Alinagar in Darbhanga district, the area from where her family hails. For long, Alinagar has been the territory of Lalu Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal. In 2020, the seat was won by Mishri Lal Yadav, who held the ticket from Vikassheel Insaan Party and then defected to the BJP. The singer expects to win the seat – which was formed in 2008 after delimitation. Darbhanga is one of the two districts that comprise Mithilanchal and the BJP now hopes that the 25-year-old Thakur will help rope in the young voters. Maithili Thakur joined the BJP in October, saying she wants to “carry forward the culture of the region”. She is facing RJD’s Binod Mishra and Jan Suraaj Party’s Biplaw Kumar Chowdhary. Samrat Choudhary (BJP): Tarapur Latest and Breaking News on NDTV The BJP’s Samrat Choudhary, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s deputy who handles the finance ministry, will contest his first election in 15 years from Tarapur in Munger district. His challenger is RJD’s Arun Shah, who has a tough battle on his hands in this constituency dominated by backward castes. Shah had lost the 2021 by-poll by a slender margin of less than 4000 votes to JD(U)’s Rajiv Kumar Singh. The JD(U) has been holding the seat since 2010, when the sitting MLA and three-time winner, RJD’s Shakuni Chowdhary, died. Samrat Choudhary, who joined the BJP after engineering a split in the RJD and walking out with his supporters, belongs to the Kushwaha community, seen as the state’s largest caste group after the Yadavs. Vijay Kumar Sinha (BJP): Lakhisarai Latest and Breaking News on NDTV Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s other deputy, Vijay Kumar Sinha, a five-time MLA, will be contesting for a sixth term from Lakhisarai in Munger district. His opponent will be Jan Suraaj Party’s Suraj Kumar. The constituency, dominated by Bhumihars, has been a BJP stronghold for the last 15 years. Sinha has been the sitting MLA there since 2010. He also won in the first assembly election in 2005 from Lakhisarai. But in the second one held later that year because of the fractured verdict, he was replaced by Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Fulena Sinha. Sinha, a Bhumihar leader and former RSS worker, had become the BJP’s first-ever Speaker in Bihar after the party came to power in alliance with the JD(U) in 2020. But he stepped down in 2022 after the Grand Alliance – following Nitish Kumar’s switch — moved a no-confidence motion against him. Bhojpuri actor Khesari Lal Yadav (RJD): Chhapra Latest and Breaking News on NDTV Bhojpuri superstar Khesari Lal Yadav, one of the best-known singers and actors in the most popular dialect of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, is RJD’s answer to Maithali Thakur. He is facing Chhoti Kumari from the BJP. The contest has become triangular with the entry of Independent candidate Rakhi Gupta. The actor, who appeared in more than 70 films, and had given his voice to over 5,000 songs, had drawn attention by taking on the BJP over temples during his campaign. One can build temples, but “will they decide our children’s future,” he had questioned. “If temples decide our children’s future, I want you to build 200
‘Transgender people deserve dignity:’ Jan Suraaj Transgender Candidate Priti Kinnar
A rare candidature marks a significant step for transgender visibility in Bihar politics, despite the continued stigma faced by the community. Social worker Priti Kinnar (Preeti Kinnar), a transgender activist, is the candidate fielded by Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. Her candidature is also a strong message of inclusion and signals the changing political engagement by the marginalized groups in Bihar. Transgender candidates have been contesting elections for over a decade in India, but not many win. Her victory may be historic like that of Shabnam Mausi, who remains the most-well known transgender MLA, representing Sohagpur assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh, elected in 1998. Speaking to Outlook, Priti stressed, that she believes that she will winning this election as she has complete faith in her community and the work she has done in the region. Priti faces a tough battle as she would be challenging the sitting Janta Dal (United) MLA currently the State Education Minister and former IPS office, Sunil Kumar as a candidate for the Bhorey constituency, Gopalganj district. What does she count as her strength? “My strength lies in the fact that I have been a part of every aspect of my constituency. I live here and take part in every activity here. I don’t think my opponent can challenge that. So, I am certain of my victory.” Originally from Sitamarhi district, Priti was forced to leave her parents’ home at the age of 20 after facing humiliation from the local residents. She lives in the Kalyanpur village of Bhore block, where her source of livelihood is farming and Badhai gana, the traditional celebratory singing. “Even the little money that I make from attending to the door-to-door celebrations, I give it back to the society. This is how I have lived my life since I left my home. That is why I have earned a lot of respect from people here. But having said that the stigma that I faced back then persists in the society even today for the transgender people,” he says. Bhorey, is a reserved seat for Scheduled Castes and falls under the Gopalganj Lok Sabha constituency. It’s located in northwestern Bihar, bordering UP. The region depends on agriculture for their livelihoods. There is hardly any industrial activity. “You can say, I have earned the trust of my people,” says Priti, 41, as she continues to talk about her social work and community engagement . “I have been engaged in social work for over two decades. Wherever someone needs help, I try and I reach them and provide whatever help I can. I go and meet those affected by distress and disaster,” Priti told Outlook. Although transgender vote in her constituency is limited, what made her decide on contesting the elections? “Even my decision to join politics is due to the suggestions given by the people of Bhorey Assembly constituency. I initially hoped to contest as an independent contestant with a focus on social justice, equality and empowerment of all the marginalized groups. I realised that my vision aligned with the Jan Suraag Party and that is when I decided to join them.” So, what is it that she truly wants to achieve through active politics? “Access to education, medical care and guaranteed employment should be granted to transgender people. At the same time, I want to speak on behalf of all the oppressed groups, who don’t get a fair representation. Meanwhile, the transgender community continues to face stigma and exclusion and I take it as my responsibility to do something about it. To begin with, equals rights and dignity with more access to education and medical care for the community. And it can be achieved through political engagement,” she says. For the Bihar 2025 Assembly elections, Prashant Kishor’s newly-formed Jan Suraaj party has fielded 239 candidates. The candidates include doctors and educators, with a focus on local identity and community contributions. Fozia Yasin Courtesy : Outlook India Note: This news is originally published on https:/outlookindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Rahul gives Gaya town a miss again, campaigns in 3 other seats in region
Gaya: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, while campaigning in Magadh division on Tuesday, emphatically said that if his alliance with the RJD and Left parties is voted to power, their govt would be like an umbrella, under which all disadvantaged and deprived sections, particularly dalits, EBCs and minorities, will get adequate cover, protection and participation. “It will not be the govt of any particular caste,” Rahul emphasised while holding public meetings in the Wazirganj constituency of Gaya district and neighbouring Aurangabad district’s Aurangabad and Kutumba seats. Though the LoP in Lok Sabha campaigned in both the seats of Aurangabad, he, like 2020 assembly election, gave Gaya town a miss once again this time, holding a meeting only in the Wazirganj constituency area of the district. Besides Wazirganj, Congress is contesting the Gaya town seat as well — the only two of the 10 seats in the district it has been allotted as part of the opposition Grand Alliance seat sharing. In Aurangabad district, Congress candidates are in the fray. The party’s state chief, Rajesh Ram, is contesting the Kutumba (Reserved) seat. Playing down Rahul’s failure to campaign for him, the Congress candidate from Gaya town, Akhauri Onkar Nath, alias Mohan Srivastava, said that it was not possible for a big leader like him to visit each and every constituency. “Rahul has already blessed my candidature by nominating me to contest the very important Gaya town seat,” said Srivastava, claiming he was very favourably placed in this election. Political observers believe that Rahul campaigned only in seats where the Congress performance has been good in the past. Both Aurangabad and Kutumba have sitting MLAs from the Congress. In 2015 too, the Congress won both Aurangabad and Kutumba. As far as Wazirganj is concerned, though the party lost the seat in 2020, it has been doing reasonably well in the elections here since 1980. Its candidate Awadhesh Kumar Singh won the seat six times between 1980 and 2015, five times as Congress candidate and once as an Independent (Feb 2005). But Gaya is a different ball game altogether. The last time the Congress won the seat was in 1985, when Jai Kumar Palit defeated his CPI rival Shakil Ahmad Khan. Political observers attribute this to the post-election analysis, which work out the strike rate of the top leaders. “Victory/defeat in the constituencies where the top leaders campaigned are examined threadbare. May be considering Gaya’s history, Rahul skipped the constituency,” feels an observer. The Congress leader, meanwhile, played to the gallery in all the three meetings. Deftly using the emotional card, Rahul alleged that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and CM Nitish Kumar have converted the state into a labour producing factory. “The people of Bihar live in sub-human conditions on footpaths all over the country,” the Congress leader said. Rahul also asked the youth whether they wanted to make reels or get decent jobs. “Job” was the reply in chorus. Rahul the said that even the reel-making offer was designed to “help PM Modi’s rich friends like Ambani”. Rahul was accompanied by Chhattisgarh’s former CM Bhupendra Baghel and BPCC chief Rajesh Ram in the meetings. 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
. ‘10% control the Army’: Rahul Gandhi’s caste claim at Bihar rally; BJP terms remark disgraceful
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday made a striking claim in Bihar, alleging that country’s 10 per cent, referring to upper castes, “hold control over the Army.” Addressing a poll rally in Aurangabad’s Kutumba, Rahul said, “90 per cent of the people come from extremely backward, backward, Dalit, and Adivasi communities.” He went on to assert that these groups – forming the vast majority of India’s population – remain largely excluded from power and privilege. “All the wealth goes to them, all the jobs go to them. Look at the judiciary – they have control there, and even in the army,” Rahul said, in one of his most direct attacks on the country’s social and institutional hierarchy.He further added, “90 per cent of India’s population is nowhere to be found,” suggesting that marginalised communities have been systematically denied access to leadership and opportunity. The BJP hit back at Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the Army. Party spokesperson Suresh Nakhua, in a post on X, said, “Rahul Gandhi is now searching for caste in the Armed Forces and says 10% of people control it. In his hate for PM Modi, he has already crossed the line into hating India.” Another BJP spokesperson, Sanju Verma, also hit out at Rahul Gandhi over his remarks, saying, “Rahul Gandhi is shamelessly devious and deviously shameless. Listening to him in this clip leaves no doubt that this failed, forever-in-waiting PM is desperately trying to polarize. Now he is trying to divide the Army on caste lines — what an unhinged wreck this Leader of Opposition is. Disgraceful.” Directing his attack to Bihar government, Rahul painted a picture of unemployment in the state, blaming the Nitish Kumar government for pushing its youth into low-paying, menial labour across the country. Follow live coverage on Bihar elections “The people of Bihar are doing manual labour across the entire country. In different parts of the country, people from Bihar are building large buildings, roads, tunnels, and factories,” he said. Accusing the state government of failing its people, Rahul added, “In other words, the truth is this—that Nitish Kumar has wiped out employment here and turned the people of Bihar into the country’s labourers.” 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 detonate a ‘hydrogen bomb’ amid Bihar elections, press conference to be held shortly
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to hold a press conference on Wednesday, ahead of the first phase of voting in the Bihar elections. It is believed that Rahul Gandhi may allegedly detonate a ‘hydrogen bomb’ during this press conference amid the election campaign New Delhi: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to hold a press conference at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi on Wednesday at 12 noon. Speculation is rife that he may make a major revelation, which was previously described as a ‘hydrogen bomb’ related to allegations of vote theft and voter list manipulation. On September 1, Rahul Gandhi warned the BJP of a major revelation, saying that he would soon detonate a ‘hydrogen bomb’ regarding its allegations of vote theft, as what was shown about Mahadevnagar was merely an ‘atom bomb’. Another scathing attack on the BJP Addressing a gathering on the last day of the “Voter Rights Yatra,” Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP. Rahul said, “The forces that murdered Mahatma Gandhi are now trying to destroy the Constitution of India.” The 16-day-long “Voter Rights Yatra,” led by Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, aims to raise awareness about voter rights and protest alleged “vote theft” and alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. The Prime Minister will not be able to show his face. Rahul Gandhi said in Patna that the same forces that murdered Mahatma Gandhi are trying to destroy the Constitution of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi. The Congress leader said, “We will not let them destroy the Constitution of India… We received tremendous support during the Yatra. We will bring it, let the BJP get ready. Their truth will be revealed to the country. I thank the people of Bihar for helping us.” Rahul said, “I guarantee you, after the hydrogen bomb, Narendra Modi will not be able to show his face to this country.” Edited by: Anil Kumar About the author Anil Kumar He is part of the homepage team at Navbharat Times Digital. He has nearly 16 years of experience in both newspaper and digital media. He has been with Navbharat Times Online since January 2021. He writes news and analysis on politics and current affairs for the India and Delhi sections of the homepage. Courtesy: Hindi News
Nitish gave my father recognition, Rahul… The son of the ‘Mountain Man’ turned his back on the Congress after being denied a Congress ticket.
Bhagirath Manjhi, son of Bihar’s ‘Mountain Man’ Dashrath Manjhi, praised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He said that Nitish Kumar recognized his father’s great work in cutting mountains, for which he is grateful. However, he expressed disappointment at not receiving a Congress ticket despite receiving assurances from Rahul Gandhi and having built a permanent house for him. Rahul Gandhi visited Bhagirath Manjhi’s house (file) Gayaji: Bhagirath Manjhi, son of Bihar’s Mountain Man Dashrath Manjhi, praised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He said that Nitish Kumar recognized, praised, and recognized his father’s monumental work in cutting mountains and building roads. He will always be grateful to Nitish Kumar for this. Bhagirath Manjhi also recalled his meeting with opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, who had built a permanent house for his family. He expressed disappointment at not receiving a Congress ticket despite receiving assurances from him. “The Mountain Man’s” son praises Nitish Kumar Bhagirath Manjhi said that the person who brought his father Dashrath Manjhi’s work to the world’s attention was Nitish Kumar. He was the one who brought his father’s achievements to public attention. When asked about his meeting with Rahul Gandhi, he said, “I met Rahul Gandhi for the first time some time ago. I didn’t know him before.” Notably, the “Mountain Man’s” son was approached by the Congress party before the elections and promised a ticket to contest the Bihar elections. Bhagirath Manjhi still makes this claim, and he expressed disappointment at not receiving the opportunity. Displeased with not receiving a ticket from the Congress He said, “I told Rahul Gandhi that if I don’t get the ticket, you will have to face severe criticism. I also told him that I will also have to face rebuke for supporting the Congress.” However, he said he was grateful to Rahul Gandhi for building a permanent house for his family, adding that neither the Congress MP nor anyone else had informed him about it in advance. ‘Rahul Gandhi built my house’ Bhagirath Manjhi said that about a week after meeting Rahul Gandhi, engineers came to his village and built a house for his family, which has four bedrooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen. Recalling the meeting, he said that Rahul spoke to him openly, sat on his bed, and even drank coconut water. Edited by: Sunil Pandey About the author Sunil Pandey is a senior journalist with Navbharat Times Bihar-Jharkhand. He has experience in print, TV, and digital, with 20 years of experience in politics, sports, business, and ground reporting. Courtesy: Hindi News
Rahul to address rally in Gaya today
Gaya: Rendered inactive for years, Congress workers have become energetically involved this time, particularly in Gaya town and Wazirganj assembly segments, as they campaign for the party’s candidates. With only eight days left for polling in the second phase (Nov 11), Rahul is set to address a public meeting at Bhindas in Manpur block, part of the Wazirganj assembly constituency, on Tuesday, Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee spokesman Bijoy Kumar Mithu said. In addition, either Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge or Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is expected to address a public meeting on Nov 7. The announcement for the Friday meeting was made on Sunday evening, when senior leaders Sachin Pilot, Imran Pratpgarhi and Subodh Kant Sahay urged voters to support their candidate Akhouri Onkarnath, also known as Mohan Shrivastava. Shrivastava contested as the party candidate in both 2010 and 2020. Earlier, industrialist and writer Sanjay Sahay — son of former Rajya Sabha member Dayanand Sahay, who served as a minister in the Karpoori Thakur govt, and Sarvodaya activist Sushila Sahay — and Priya Ranjan, also known as Dimple, contested the seat in 2005 but were defeated by BJP’s Prem Kumar. The last time Congress won the Gaya town seat was in 1984 and 1980, when Jai Kumar Palit was elected. Since 1951, the party has represented the constituency five times — Keshav Prasad in 1951, Sardar Mohan in 1957, Yugal Kishore in 1972 and Palit twice. The Gaya town constituency has a total of 2,78,559 electors, including 1,44,947 male and 1,33,609 female voters. The Wazirganj segment comprises 3,13,935 electors — 1,64,527 male and 1,48,407 female. 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