Rahul dives into Begusarai pond, joins locals in catching fish
Begusarai: In a strikingly spontaneous moment on Sunday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi swapped the political stage for a splash in a village pond, joining local fishermen in catching fish after addressing an election rally in Begusarai. After concluding his speech, Rahul travelled about 3km to Bharra village in the Begusarai assembly constituency, accompanied by Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar and Vikassheel Insaan Party chief Mukesh Sahani. Upon reaching the pond, Rahul boarded a small boat to meet fishermen casting their nets. When Kanhaiya jumped into the water, Rahul followed suit, drawing cheers from the locals gathered around. Even the SPG personnel waded into the pond to ensure his security as the Congress leader wove through the water, laughing and chatting with the fishermen. Begusarai Congress candidate Amita Bhushan said Rahul’s gesture was completely impromptu. “After Rahul ji concluded his speech, he was curious about some fishermen nearby. When told they were heading to catch fish in a pond close by, he immediately decided to follow them and reached Bharra village pokhar,” she said. During his time at the pond, Rahul not only displayed his swimming skills but also helped pull in fishing nets alongside the locals. Afterwards, he headed to the nearby home of Mahadev Sah, where he took a bath at a handpump in an open bathroom before changing clothes inside one of the rooms. Savita Devi, a member of Mahadev Sah’s family, said the experience was unforgettable. “It was amazing to have Rahul come to our house. After taking a bath at the handpump, he changed his clothes and chatted with us briefly. My daughters and I even took a selfie with him. He stayed for about 10 minutes and asked how we were before leaving,” she 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
RJD put ‘katta’ to Cong head to push Tejashwi as CM face: PM
Patna: Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the INDIA bloc, alleging that the Congress accepted Tejashwi Prasad Yadav as the INDIA bloc’s chief ministerial candidate in Bihar only after the RJD pointed a “katta” (a country-made gun) at its head. Addressing packed election rallies in Ara and Nawada, the PM accused the RJD of using strong-arm tactics to dominate the alliance. “The Congress never wanted to announce the chief ministerial candidate in favour of the RJD. The RJD secured it by placing a ‘katta’ on the head of the Congress. They have learned their lessons in the school of ‘jungle raj’. Such elements can never do good for Bihar,” he said. Modi’s remarks came amid persistent speculation that the Congress had initially been reluctant to project Tejashwi as the INDIA bloc’s CM face, agreeing only after sustained pressure from the RJD. The apparent strain between the allies continues to show with Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi having shared the stage only twice so far — in Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga on Oct 29. Since then, Rahul has campaigned separately in Begusarai and Khagaria, while Tejashwi has held over 15 rallies across the state. RJD functionaries, however, have maintained that the two leaders were splitting campaign duties to cover the 121 constituencies going to the polls in the first phase on Nov 6. “Even NDA stalwarts like PM Modi and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar are not campaigning together,” they said. Speaking in Ara, Modi urged voters to “wait for the second phase of polling on Nov 11 to see them fighting”. Without naming either Rahul or Tejashwi, he said, “The crown prince of ‘jungle raj’ fears that the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ of the other ‘yuvraj’ may dent his prospects. Hence, the RJD has put up its candidate against the state president of the Congress. Let the polls be over. The two allies will be breaking each other’s heads.” The remark referred to the Kutumba seat, where the RJD had initially announced a candidate against sitting MLA and state Congress president Rajesh Kumar, before withdrawing the move. Despite this, the two allies are locked in friendly contests in several constituencies. Claiming that the NDA was poised for a “record victory,” Modi said the ruling alliance would continue to provide an “upright and farsighted” govt and work towards a “developed Bihar” essential for “Viksit Bharat”. He said, “The jungle raj wallahs are set to get the worst drubbing in history.” Visibly pleased with the turnout, the PM said, “Analysts sitting in Delhi, who are racking their brains over poll arithmetic, would do well to come here and experience for themselves which way the wind is blowing.” Touting the NDA manifesto released last week, Modi described it as “honest” and visionary, in contrast to the INDIA bloc’s charter, which he dismissed as “a dossier of lies”. He envisioned a future where “the youth of Bihar will work in Bihar and make their motherland proud”, without migrating under economic duress. Listing his govt’s achievements, he said, “The condition of power connectivity was such that people used to dry clothes on electrical wires, but we changed it.” Highlighting the contribution of Bhojpur and neighbouring districts to the armed forces, Modi said national security and soldiers’ welfare were top priorities. “One rank one pension (OROP) has resulted in the disbursement of Rs 1 lakh crore, benefitting families of servicemen,” he said. He accused the RJD and Congress of serving “just two families — one most corrupt in Bihar and another most corrupt in the country”. Referring to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Modi said, “It was around the same time of the year, on Nov 1-2, when Sikhs were massacred in Delhi. Those who were guilty are being promoted by the party. The Congress has been unapologetic about the carnage.” In an apparent dig at Voter Adhikar Yatra, Modi alleged it was meant to protect “infiltrators (ghuspaithiye)” who must be driven out before they seize the resources meant for the people of Bihar. Recalling the abduction of a doctor in Tarari near Ara two decades ago and the Naxal insurgency that devastated Dalmia Nagar in Rohtas, he said the NDA had worked to restore peace and stability in these regions. Concluding his speech, Modi announced plans to develop the birthplace of Veer Kunwar Singh, the 1857 freedom hero, as part of the NDA’s commitment to combine development with cultural heritage. In Nawada, he lauded the NDA’s success in curbing Maoist insurgency and warned against “urban naxals” sympathetic to extremist ideologies, urging voters to reject those who “romanticise unrest”. (With inputs from Praveen in Ara) 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 warns of ‘vote theft’, calls for vigilance at booths
Patna: Reiterating his charge that the BJP-RSS combine was attempting to “steal votes” in the Bihar assembly elections, leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Sunday urged voters to remain vigilant at polling booths and resist any effort by rival parties to rob them of their democratic rights. He alleged that the NDA had “set its eyes on capturing Bihar” after forming govts in four states through “fraudulent means.” Addressing election rallies in Begusarai and Khagaria, Rahul cautioned the crowd against what he termed “vote chori” in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. He recounted that during the Special Intensive Revision conducted by the Election Commission, the names of a large number of voters believed to be supporters of the INDIA bloc were deleted from the voters’ list. “BJP-RSS together have stolen election after election. They did it in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh, and now they have set their eyes on Bihar. So, be alert at the polling booths and check the voters’ list so that they don’t snatch away the govt again,” Rahul told the gathering. Calling upon people to oppose ‘vote chori’ firmly, he described it as an attempt to “reject the Constitution and murder the ideology of B R Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi.” “Stay vigilant at polling and oppose any attempt for vote chori,” he said. He also accused chief minister Nitish Kumar of being powerless in his own administration, alleging that a group of “three or four bureaucrats” were running the state govt under “instructions from Delhi.” Rahul further charged that the NDA regime had turned Bihar into a “market of labourers” over the past two decades, forcing the state’s youth to migrate in large numbers in search of petty jobs. “But if the INDIA bloc comes to power, we will set up the world’s best university in Bihar, where students from across the world will come to study,” he promised, adding that his opposition alliance’s first priority would be to strengthen the education sector. The Congress leader also attacked the Modi govt’s major economic decisions, claiming that “policies like GST and demonetisation were aimed at destroying small businesses and benefiting big ones.” Renewing his jibe about Prime Minister Modi’s “56-inch chest,” Rahul claimed that “Operation Sindoor” was suspended under pressure from the United States. “PM Modi has a 56-inch chest, but the truth is that we don’t get to know a person’s courage from the size of his chest. (Mahatma) Gandhi ji fought against the British, he didn’t have a big chest but he was not afraid. There are many such people who don’t have a big chest but are not cowards, and there are others with a 56-inch chest who are cowards,” Rahul said. Continuing his attack on Union home minister Amit Shah, he said, “Shah claims there is no land in Bihar to set up industries, but strangely he gave away lands to his industrialist friend at throwaway prices in Bhagalpur.” 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
NDA has turned Bihar into ‘market of labourers’: Rahul Gandhi
PATNA: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi intensified Sunday his attack on BJP and RSS, warning they were attempting to “steal votes” in the Bihar elections. Urging voters to stay alert at polling booths, he claimed NDA had “set its eyes on capturing Bihar” after forming govts in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh “through fraudulent means”. Addressing rallies in Begusarai and Khagaria, the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha said: “BJP and RSS together have stolen election after election. They did it in four states, and now they want to do the same in Bihar. So be vigilant at polling booths and check the voters’ list carefully so that they don’t snatch your govt again.” Rahul alleged during EC’s SIR of electoral rolls, the names of thousands of people believed to be INDIA bloc supporters were deleted from voters’ lists. Calling on people to resist “vote chori” firmly, he said: “This is not just theft of votes but an attempt to reject the Constitution and murder the ideology of BRAmbedkar and Mahatma Gandhi. Stay vigilant and oppose it at every polling station.” Rahul also accused CM Nitish Kumar of losing control over his administration. “Nitish Kumar is CM only in name. Bihar is being run by three or four bureaucrats taking instructions from Delhi,” he said. He added that NDA had turned Bihar into a “market of labourers” over the past two decades, pushing young people to migrate in search of small jobs. Promising a reversal if INDIA bloc is elected to office, Rahul said his alliance would establish “the world’s best university in Bihar”, attracting students from across the world. “Education will be our first priority,” he said, asserting that a strong education system would stop mass migration. Renewing his jibe about Modi’s “56-inch chest”, Rahul alleged Operation Sindoor was halted under US pressure. “Courage isn’t measured by the size of a chest. Gandhi didn’t have a big chest, yet he wasn’t afraid. Many without big chests are brave. Others with 56-inch chests are cowards.” Taking on Union home minister Amit Shah, Rahul also said, he added: “(Home minister Amit) Shah says there’s no land in Bihar for industries, but he gave land to his industrialist friend in Bhagalpur at throwaway prices. This is BJP’s model of development.” Rahul also slammed economic decisions by PM Narendra the Modi’s govt, saying that policies like GST revisions and 2016 demonetisation were “crafted to destroy small traders and benefit big industrialists”. IMPROMPTU SPLASH: Rahul dived into a village pond to join fishermen in Begusarai on Sunday. He was accompanied by colleague Kanhaiya Kumar and VIP chief Mukesh Sahani. Rahul displayed his swimming skills as he helped the locals pull in their fishing nets 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: Tejashwi Yadav CONFIRMS deputy CM from Muslim, Dalit community, says, ‘everyone will get fair chance…’
Ahead of Bihar elections, Mahagathbandhan CM face and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has confirmed that if they come to power after winning elections, there will be multiple deputy CM including one from Muslim community. Ahead of Bihar elections, Mahagathbandhan CM face and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has confirmed that if they come to power after winning elections, there will be multiple deputy CM including one from Muslim community. In an interview with India Today, Tejashwi Yadav responded, “Yes, definitely,’ when asked will there be a Deputy CM from Muslim community. Muslim community constitutes nearly 17% of the electorate and could play a decisive role in the formation of next government in Bihar. During the announcement of Tejashwi Yadav as CM face for Mahagathbandhan Alliance, Mukesh Sahani was named as the deputy CM face. Mukesh Sahani ‘Son of Mallah’ belongs to the Extremely Backward Class. EBCs comprise 30% of Bihar’s voters.Following this, demand of Muslim deputy CM were raised. What did Tejashwi Yadav Said? RJD Leader Tejashwi Yadav confirmed that there will multiple deputy CM. He said, ‘The day this announcement was made, Ashok Gehlot ji had said that if Mukesh Sahani would be made Deputy Chief Minister, there would also be others. The concerns raised by various sections will be addressed.’ He also said, ‘Yes’, when asked if there will be deputy CM from two of the major communities from Bihar, Muslims and Dalits. ‘We will take everyone along, and everyone will get a fair chance of representation, ‘ he added. Bihar elections 2025 Both Mahagathbandhan and NDA have released their Manifesto for the upcoming polls. NDA in Bihar released their manifesto ‘Sankalp Patra’ in Patna on Friday. Few days earlier, the Mahagathbandhan has released its manifesto, Tejashwi ka Prann. The first phase of the Bihar Assembly polls will take place on November 6, and the second phase will happen on November 11. The counting of votes will take place on November 14. This upcoming electoral contest will be between the NDA, led by the BJP, and Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), and the INDIA bloc, led by Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj is also contesting on all 243 seats in this high-stake battle. Vanshika Tyagi Courtesy : DNA India Note: This news is originally published on https:/dnaindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Bihar Polls: 32% of First-Phase Candidates Face Criminal Cases, Says ADR Report
A new report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch has revealed that 32 percent of candidates contesting in the first phase of Bihar Assembly elections have declared criminal cases against themselves. Out of these, 27 percent face serious charges such as murder, attempt to murder, and crimes against women. The analysis covered 1,303 out of 1,314 candidates who are contesting in the first phase of the elections scheduled for November 6 and November 11. The votes will be counted on November 14. According to the report, 423 candidates admitted to having criminal cases, while 354 are accused in serious offences. “Serious criminal cases are those that involve non-bailable offences, electoral crimes, or crimes such as murder, kidnapping, rape, or those punishable with at least five years in prison,” ADR said. Among the major political parties, 76 percent of Rashtriya Janata Dal candidates have criminal cases, followed by 65 percent from the BJP, 39 percent from JD(U), and 65 percent from Congress. In smaller parties, 93 percent of CPI(ML) Liberation candidates, 54 percent from LJP (Ram Vilas), and all candidates from CPI and CPI(M) have declared criminal records. The report also found that 33 candidates are accused in murder cases, 86 in attempted murder cases, and 42 in crimes against women, including two who face rape charges. ADR also highlighted the increasing influence of money in elections. About 40 percent of all candidates have declared assets worth over ₹1 crore. Among the major parties, 97 percent of RJD candidates are crorepatis, followed by 92 percent in BJP, 91 percent in JD(U), and 78 percent in Congress. Educational qualifications also vary widely. Around half of the candidates are graduates or have higher degrees, while 40 percent studied between Class 5 and Class 12. Only 9 percent of the total candidates are women. The watchdogs urged immediate action to curb the growing criminalisation of politics. “The Supreme Court of India, being the ultimate guardian of justice, should reprimand political parties for their complete lack of will and failure to act,” ADR said in a statement. The report recommended that candidates convicted of heinous crimes like murder, rape, smuggling, or kidnapping should be permanently disqualified. It also suggested disqualifying candidates charged with serious offences punishable by at least five years in jail if the case was filed six months before the election. ADR and National Election Watch further called for cancellation of tax benefits to political parties that field such candidates and demanded that all parties be brought under the Right to Information Act. “Any political party that knowingly gives a ticket to a tainted candidate should be deregistered and derecognised,” the report concluded. Courtesy : TOP Note: This news is originally published on https:/theobserverpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Bihar Votes On Caste, Not Change: Dalits Still Left Out Of Power
The political foundation in Bihar is caste which carries the burden of its own class Bihar’s politics continues to be shaped by deep caste hierarchies where class and caste intersect, with Dalits remaining at the bottom of both social and economic structures. Despite their sizable population and history of political assertion, Dalits remain fragmented by sub-caste divisions and largely excluded from real power, even under leaders promising social justice. Ahead of the 2025 Assembly polls, Chirag Paswan’s LJP (RV) faces the challenge of expanding beyond its Paswan-Dalit base and balancing its alliance with the NDA against its claim of representing Dalit interests. The more things change in Bihar, the more they remain the same. Not because people are averse to change, but their level of acquiescence to the so-called ‘system’ is such that they accept, at the end of the day, the status-quo as something which has been ordained to them. This could be seen in the formation and the affectivity of the caste-based associations and groups. The power-relations, embedded in the caste-ties, controls impulses, emotions and motivations so firmly that any socio-cultural transformation is met either with oppression or political violence. The caste wars in Bihar are replete with the stories of tyranny and hope. Bihar is, to put it succinctly, a history of a ‘surrealistic tale of violence’, a politics of ‘an inversion of insurgent citizenship’, a sociology of the ‘construction of docile bodies through hegemony’ and an economics of ‘a behavioural irrationalism in the dismal rules of the game’. The stakes of State-power, caste and class essentially try to sustain, what Jeffrey Witsoe once remarked about Bihar, a ‘feudal democracy’. Typically, Bihar is a case of ‘class-in-caste’ politics, wherein the political foundation is caste which carries the burden of its own class. Tanvir Aeijaz 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
Bihar Elections 2025: 8 Key Constituency and Candidates to Watch in the Two-Phase Poll Battle
From Raghopur to Purnia, Bihar gears up for a fierce fight as top leaders of BJP, RJD, JD(U) and Congress face off in key constituencies ahead of the November 6 and 11 polls. The 2025 Bihar Assembly Election is scheduled to be held in two phases — the first on 6th November 2025 and the second on 11th November 2025. The counting will be done on 14th November 2025. The election will be held for the Bihar Legislative Assembly to elect all 243 members. The tenure of the current assembly will end on 22nd November 2025. Bihar is facing issues related to unemployment, migration, and electoral rolls, and the election at this time has made it stand out, with the whole country’s eyes on it. It would be interesting to see how the state’s huge population of youth shapes the outcome, as a major part of them are first-time voters. Political campaigns are mainly focusing on development, welfare schemes, and governance records. It would be an interesting contest, with one side being the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United), and the other side being the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Indian National Congress (INC). Raghopur Former Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav wearing a white kurta and giving interview to the press. Several mikes can be seen infront of him. Former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav from RJD is contesting from Raghopur constituency for the third time.X The most talked-about constituency in the 2025 Assembly election of Bihar’s Vaishali district is Raghopur. Earlier, it was represented by Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi, highlighting the traditional stronghold of the Yadav family. Former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav from RJD is contesting again, hoping for a third win. BJP’s Satish Kumar Yadav is his main rival in the constituency, whereas Chanchal Singh is contesting from the Jan Suraaj Party. The election will be a test of Tejashwi’s enduring influence on his own family’s political fort. Tarapur Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary wearing a grey Nehru coat and an orange shawl and giving speech standing before a mike. Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary is contesting this time from the Tarapur constituency, bringing the region into focus.X The Munger district constituency will go to polls in the first phase of the 2025 Assembly election on 6th November 2025. Earlier, it was represented by Rajeev Kumar Singh of the JD(U), who won in the 2020 election. However, there may be a shift in power as Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Samrat Choudhary is contesting from Tarapur, bringing the region into focus. It falls under the Jamui Lok Sabha seat, with issues ranging from employment to road connectivity. It seems like the NDA has its eye on this area, and it will be interesting to see how the election develops. Lakhisarai Image of BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha facing the camera wearing a green Nehru jacket and wearing a shawl. He even has vermilion on his forehead. Vijay Kumar SInha from BJP has held the seat from the Lakhisarai constituency since 2010, and has geared up for this year election as well. https://dpl.rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in/public/uploads/upload_files/125c0e943c73bb8a0840ab524fdcbd08.jpg (GODL-India), GODL-India, via Wikimedia Commons Lakhisarai is all set to witness a high-profile contest in the 2025 Assembly election. This seat has been a stronghold for the BJP, as the party’s senior leader Vijay Kumar Sinha has held it since 2010. He will be facing Amaresh Kumar from Congress and Suraj Kumar from the Jan Suraaj Party this year. Sinha retained the seat in 2020 with over 74,000 votes, defeating Congress by a margin of 10,000 votes. It will be interesting to see if Sinha’s personal rapport helps him retain his leadership in the area. Mahua RJD’s Mukesh Kumar Raushan wearing a white kurta and covering his head by a white cloth and seeing sideways. Mukesh Kumar Raushan of the RJD is contesting from the Mahua constituency of the Vaishali district, he is currently representing the area. X The Vaishali district constituency has often drawn attention owing to its political legacy and high-profile candidates. The seat is currently held by Mukesh Kumar Raushan of the RJD, who won by a margin of 13,700 votes, defeating JD(U)’s Ashma Parveen. This year, Mahua will see a fierce competition among JD(U), BJP, and Jan Suraaj’s Indrajeet Pradhan. It has always remained a closely watched constituency with its changing local aspirations. Alinagar Singer Maithili Thakur posing for a picture by joining her hand in “Namaskar” and smiling. She is wearing a saree and has a shawl, standing before a gate. The folk singer Maithili Thakur is debuting from Alinagar which comes under Darbhanga Lok Sabha constituency, adding a touch of culture to the election. X The area comes under the Darbhanga Lok Sabha constituency, having a mix of Brahmin, Yadav, and Muslim voters. It gives equal importance to local alliances as well as caste equations. Mishri Lal Yadav won the seat from this constituency in the 2020 election; he was then with VIP and later joined BJP. This time, folk singer-turned-politician Maithili Thakur is contesting in this area. Frequent flooding and poor road conditions pose major challenges here. The parties are holding campaigns focused on development and better infrastructure. Hasanpur RJD’s Tej Pratap Yadav looking backward wearing a yellow cap and a white kurta and has tilak in his forehead. He is in a ralley and several people have joined him as seen in the picture. The Hasanpur constituency in Samastipur district is currently represented by RJD’s Tej Pratap Yadav, but this time, Mala Pushpam will be contesting from the seat on a BJD ticket.X Hasanpur is again in the spotlight ahead of the 2025 Assembly election, located in the Samastipur district. The constituency is represented by Tej Pratap Yadav of the RJD, who defeated Raj Kumar Ray of the JD(U). However, RJD has fielded Mala Pushpam for the upcoming battle, generating interest
Bihar Election 2025: Jan Suraaj Fields Transgender Social Worker Preeti Kinnar from Bhore Assembly Seat in Bihar
Jan Suraaj Party nominates transgender social worker Preeti Kinnar from Bhore Assembly seat to showcase the party’s image of inclusivity. The Bhore Assembly constituency in Gopalganj district is emerging as one of the most closely watched seats in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. Reserved for Scheduled Castes, Bhore has long been a stronghold of traditional political faces. But this time, the contest has taken a new turn with the Jan Suraaj Party fielding Preeti Kinnar, a transgender social worker, as its candidate — a move that has drawn both attention and controversy. The Bhore Constituency Bhore, located in southern Gopalganj, has a mixed voter base of Dalits, Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), and minorities. The constituency has seen tough contests in the past, with narrow victory margins. In the 2020 Assembly elections, JDU’s Sunil Kumar, who also serves as Bihar’s Education Minister, defeated CPI (ML)’s Jitendra Paswan by just 462 votes — one of the slimmest margins in the state. The tight race reflects how volatile and unpredictable Bhore’s political mood can be. This time, the entry of the Jan Suraaj Party, led by political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor, has added a new dimension. Kishor’s party has positioned itself as an alternative to Bihar’s mainstream players — JDU, RJD, and BJP — by focusing on grassroots leaders and social workers instead of established politicians. On October 9, 2025, Prashant Kishor released Jan Suraaj’s first list of 51 candidates. Among doctors, lawyers, retired bureaucrats, and community leaders, one name stood out — Preeti Kinnar. Her nomination from Bhore symbolized Kishor’s promise of giving space to people from underrepresented and marginalized groups. Who is Preeti Kinnar? Preeti is from Khap village of Sonbarsa block in Sitamarhi district. Aged 41, she has been living in Kalyanpur village of Bhore block for the past 22 years. A matriculate by education, she earns her living through singing devotional songs and animal rearing. But what defines her most is her long-standing commitment to social service. Since 2008, Preeti has been actively working for the poor, especially women and girls. She has arranged marriages for over 27 underprivileged couples and provided food and essentials to hundreds of families during the COVID-19 lockdown. During natural calamities and accidents, she has often stepped in with relief materials, using her personal funds and community donations. Preeti’s nomination has not come without controversy. Jan Suraaj leader Vijay Aman has accused her of falsely claiming Dalit status to contest from the reserved constituency. He alleges that Preeti belongs to an upper-caste family and that her Scheduled Caste certificate was obtained fraudulently. Some of Preeti Kinnar’s caste is listed as Paswan on some documents, while official records like land registries list her father’s name as Harischandra Srivastava. This is why questions are being raised about her caste. Preeti has strongly denied these allegations. According to Jan Suraaj officials, a party team had visited her village in Sitamarhi and found no grounds to doubt her caste identity. Despite the controversy, Preeti’s candidacy has been welcomed by many locals. People believe that this could be a good strategy by Jan Suraaj to showcase its inclusive image. There are only 13 transgender voters in Bhore and 67 in the entire district, but the symbolic importance of her nomination goes beyond numbers. The representation of the third-gender community in politics is still very low. For Jan Suraaj, the move signals its commitment to a politics of inclusion. For Preeti, it’s a chance to transform years of grassroots work into legislative action. [Rh] Author: Varsha Pant Courtesy : News Gram Note: This news is originally published on https:/newsgram.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
CM Yogi: Rahul’s entry in campaign is guarantee of NDA’s victory in Bihar
Lucknow: Taking potshots at Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said the Congress MP’s joining Bihar poll campaigning itself would ensure NDA’s victory. “Rahul Gandhi’s entry has happened in Bihar elections. This itself is the guarantee of BJP and NDA candidates’ victory. Whenever he campaigns, NDA’s victory becomes certain. He is the biggest guarantee of BJP and NDA’s victory,” he said during his three public meetings. At Siwan, Yogi warned people against the attempt by a mafia family to regain power in Bihar, giving the example of UP where he used the bulldozer to crush the mafia. “I came to Raghunathpur earlier because a dynastic mafia wants to capture power there again. In UP, we have crushed such mafiosos with bulldozers. No Marich and Subahu should be able to raise their heads again on the land of our Sita Maiya,” he said. He added that people across the world have acknowledged the intelligence and talent of Bihar’s youth which has been nurtured by the Nitish Kumar govt over the last 20 years. Promising that NDA would bring back the glory days of Chandragupta and Chanakya, the CM said during that era, India’s contribution to the world economy was 40% and the country was seen as a golden bird. “Foreign invaders destroyed Nalanda University, and their current descendants are using political Islam to obstruct development. The British forced the craftsmen, artisans and farmers to starve to death. As their heirs, Congress first created a crisis in Bihar and then obstructed development. Whatever was left to destroy, RJD completed it,” Yogi said. In Bhojpur, the CM hit out against Naxalism and said chants of ‘Lal Salaam’ would be replaced by ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and that communists were being wiped out not just in India but across the world. During a rally in Vaishali, he said if the Congress-RJD alliance was allowed to come to power, the era of mafia raj, loot and kidnapping would return to Bihar. “The INDIA bloc has come here to rob poor people’s rations. They are experienced in this kind of loot. They also stole fodder for cattle. These people will talk about the poor and will work to suppress them. They won’t give jobs but will grab land. They will force farmers to migrate. The mafia raj will create a crisis of identity and security,” he said. Targeting the Opposition, Yogi said RJD, CPI(ML) and Congress were birds of the same feather. They supported slavery, opposed India’s heritage, opposed the Ram temple in Ayodhya, opposed Sita’s temple in Sitamarhi, divided Indians, and tried to create riots before festivals. “Earlier, the road to Kashi Vishwanath temple was very narrow, but now 50,000 people can have darshan together. More than 10 lakh devotees have darshan together in Kashi and Ayodhya. Congress used to say that Ram never existed. RJD used to stop Ram temple’s chariot. SP people used to fire on Ram devotees and communists think about some other world. Those who do not accept Ram are of no use to us. Those opposing Ram are opposing the nation. Those opposing the nation are of no use to us. They need to be shown the way out of the nation,” the CM 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