‘Distractions’: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra slams Rajnath’s ‘Nehru-Babri’ remark; how Rahul responded
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday dismissed defence minister Rajnath Singh’s “Nehru–Babri Masjid” remark as a “distraction” from the issues that matter. “These are all distractions. There are many real issues that need discussion. They create a new distraction every day so that we are unable to talk about the people’s concerns,” she told reporters outside Parliament. Her brother, and Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, declined to comment, saying reporters were “wasting their time” by asking him for a reaction. The siblings are great-grandchildren of Jawaharlal Nehru, the country’s first prime minister. Addressing the ‘Sardar Sabha’ in Vadodara, Gujarat, on Tuesday, Rajnath Singh alleged that Jawaharlal Nehru wanted to use government funds to build the Babri Masjid. He added that it was then-home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who opposed the plan, and described Patel as “truly secular.” “Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was truly secular. He never believed in appeasement. When Jawaharlal Nehru spoke about spending government funds on the Babri Masjid issue, it was Patel, a son of Gujarat, who opposed it. He did not allow the Babri Masjid to be built with government money,” the senior BJP leader remarked. He added, “Nehru raised the question of reconstructing the Somnath Temple. Patel clarified that the Somnath case was different: the public had donated Rs 30 lakh, a trust had been formed, and not a single rupee of government money was used,” referring to the temple’s reconstruction in Veraval, Gujarat. Singh’s remarks came ahead of December 6, marking the 33rd anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. In November 2019, a Constitution bench of the Supreme Court delivered a unanimous verdict paving the way for the construction of Lord’s Ram temple in the city. The temple was inaugurated on January 22, 2024. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/limesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘He couldn’t walk’, Bengaluru Dalit woman says police torture killed son
The Vivek Nagar Police took Darshan into custody after he was involved in an altercation with his neighbours in Sonnenahalli on 12 November. Synopsis: On 26 November, the mother was informed that Darshan had died at the Nelamangala government hospital. The rehab centre authorities admitted him to the hospital after he had complained of difficulty in breathing. The Criminal Investigation Department of the Karnataka police are investigating a case of alleged custodial torture that led to the death of a 22-year-old Dalit man. The death came just under a month after three police personnel attached to the Varthur Police Station in eastern Bengaluru were suspended for assaulting a domestic worker and her husband in a theft case. The Vivek Nagar Police took the man, Darshan, into custody after he was involved in an altercation with his neighbours in Sonnenahalli on 12 November. Darshan’s mother, Adilakshmi, alleged that the police did not allow her to visit him despite repeated requests. Three days later, the police admitted him to the Unity Rehabilitation Centre at Adakamaranahalli, after reportedly taking ₹2,500 from his mother. Adilakshmi said the police ignored her offer to admit him to the rehab centre. Darshan was reportedly an alcohol addict. The mother said Darshan was assaulted in police custody. “My son was tortured and beaten in custody and later admitted to the rehab. Due to the torture, my son was unable to walk. Police forced me to pay ₹2,500 for his admission to the rehab,” Adilakshmi told reporters on Friday, 28 November. She accused Assistant Sub-Inspector Pawan and two other policemen of assaulting her son inside the station. On 26 November, the mother was informed that Darshan had died at the Nelamangala government hospital. The rehab centre authorities admitted him to the hospital after he had complained of difficulty in breathing, she was told. Police said no case was registered against Darshan. However, they added that the man had gotten into a fight with the personnel at the station. Bengaluru District Superintendent of Police CK Baba said that based on preliminary findings, the Madanayakanahalli police registered an FIR under BNS 103(1) (murder), BNS 127(3), and Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The FIR named a police inspector and three policemen attached to the Viveknagar police station, and the rehab centre owners. The case has now been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation. “Was told he was recovering” Adilakshmi’s said two officers assaulted Darshan while detaining him outside their residence on 12 November. After he was taken into custody, she repeatedly requested the police to let her see him. On 15 November, the Viveknagar police arranged for his admission to a rehabilitation centre in Adakamaranahalli and reportedly demanded ₹2,500 from her, even though she had insisted that she could take him to a rehab centre herself. When she went to the police station to hand over the money, she again requested to meet her son. She was allowed to see him only from a distance. “He was shaking. His hands and legs were trembling. He could not even walk. He begged me to take him out of there,” Adilakshmi said in her complaint. For several days after his admission to the rehab centre, she repeatedly called the facility to check on her son. Each time, she was told that Darshan was recovering. However, on 26 November, the family received a call informing them that Darshan had died due to breathing problems. When Adilakshmi and her relatives rushed to the rehab centre, they were told that his body had been shifted to the Nelamangala government hospital. “When we saw him, there were injuries on his chest. Both his hands were swollen and his back was bruised. His feet were swollen too,” she stated in her complaint. Naveen, the supervisor of the rehab centre, told the media that the Viveknagar police called them to admit Darshan . “At the time of admission, there were injury marks on him, and we have taken photographs of them. After he complained of breathing difficulties, he was first taken to a nearby private hospital and from there to the government hospital,” he claimed. The People’s Union for Civil Liberties and Association of Prisoners’ Families for Justice, met the inspector of Viveknagar police station on Sunday, 30 November, and enquired details regarding the custodial death. They filed an RTI application seeking CCTV footages from the station. Anisha Reddy (Edited by Majnu Babu). Courtesy : TSP Note: This news is originally published on https:/thesouthpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Horniman photographic exhibition highlights Indian transgender culture
A new photographic exhibition at the Horniman Museum and Gardens in south London spotlights Indian transgender culture, through images captured by Zoya Thomas Lobo, India’s first transgender photojournalist. The series of 27 photographs in Meeting Mohini: Koovagam through the lens of Zoya Thomas Lobo follows the ancient Hindu festival celebrating the marriage of Hindu goddess Mohini – the feminine avatar of Vishnu* – to Aravan. In the Tamil month of Chithirai, falling between April and May, thousands of transgender women, non-binary and gender non-conforming people gather in the small village of Koovagam to reenact Aravan’s story. Having agreed to sacrifice himself for the greater good, Aravan asked the god Krishna (an avatar of Vishnu) to be married, even if only for a night. Krishna, god of compassion, protection and love, became the goddess Mohini to fulfil Aravan’s wish. Images in the exhibition follow transgender women, non-binary and gender non-conforming people – who have long played a central role in the final two days of the festival – capturing the excitement and joy of the wedding day as well as the sadness and pain of funeral ceremony. The exhibition also focuses on life outside the festival, centring Zoya Thomas Lobo’s own experiences in Mumbai. Meeting Mohini shines a light on not only on the rich history and traditions of one of the oldest recognised transgender and LGBTQI+ communities in the world but also on the barriers and challenges that they face and overcome daily. It is Zoya Thomas Lobo’s first solo exhibition and first exhibition outside India. Navjot Mangat, Senior Curator of Social Practice at the Horniman Museum and Gardens, says: ‘The Horniman is for everyone, yet this is the first time we have focused an exhibition on – and worked directly with – the trans community in this way. We’re incredibly thankful to our collaborators and consultants, and for Zoya’s talent and openness in undertaking this commission for us and creating this exhibition.’ Zoya Thomas Lobo says: ‘Koovagam is a very important festival for trans people and I’m very excited to be using my camera to share our stories, traditions, culture and history. I’m very happy to be sharing my story and my work at the Horniman Museum.’ The Horniman will add the photographs from Meeting Mohini: Koovagam through the lens of Zoya Thomas Lobo – and 175 others taken by her as part of this commission – to its permanent collection, to increase representation of LGTBQI+ communities, and to complement existing Indian and Hindu collections. Meeting Mohini: Koovagam through the lens of Zoya Thomas Lobo opens at the Horniman on 6 December 2025 and is free to visit. Courtesy : London Post Note: This news is originally published on https:/londonpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Hyd Metro integrates transgender personnel into frontline security
The Hyderabad Metro Rail has inducted 20 transgenders into its security services and after undergoing training, they have started working from Monday. They will be used for baggage scanner, overall station security and other purposes. The Hyderabad Metro Rail, one of India’s largest and most advanced urban transit systems, operates across three corridors with 57 stations, facilitating the daily commute of nearly five lakh passengers. Women constitute approximately 30 per cent of these commuters, and ensuring their safety, comfort, and confidence remains a foremost priority of the Hyderabad Metro Rail system. The HMR authorities said that in line with the Government of Telangana’s commitment to inclusivity, dignity, and equal opportunity, special emphasis has been placed on deploying transgender personnel across various public service sectors. To further enhance the safety and comfort of women passengers and to continuously strengthen the existing safety ecosystem, Hyderabad Metro Rail is adopting proactive, capacity-building measures across its network. These initiatives aim to reassure women commuters, improve their travel experience, and ensure a secure and supportive environment throughout the Metro Rail system, said a HMR official. After successfully completing their Induction Security Training, these trained personnel began performing duties from Monday at selected Metro stations and inside Metro trains. This initiative not only enhances security but also reflects the government’s broader resolve to empower marginalised communities through meaningful employment and social inclusion. The engagement of transgender personnel marks a significant milestone in Hyderabad Metro Rail’s mission to create a safe, inclusive, and commuter-friendly environment. Their presence will strengthen frontline passenger services and reinforce the safety framework, especially for women commuters The key responsibilities of the newly inducted personnel include women commuter Safety- supporting and enhancing safety measures in general areas and in ladies-only coaches. Passenger Guidance and Support -Assisting passengers with directions, information, and on-ground facilitation, and baggage scanner assistance- monitoring baggage scanner operations to ensure smooth and secure passenger movement. Street-level and concourse security involve maintaining a visible, approachable, and reassuring presence across station premises. This role contributes to overall station security by helping ensure a safe, orderly, and welcoming environment at assigned Metro stations. Courtesy : THI Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehansindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘You Belong To Filthy Caste’: Parents Allege English Teacher Of Using Casteist Slurs Against Dalit Students In AP
An English teacher at Yandapalli High School in Kakinada district, Andhra Pradesh, is accused of using casteist slurs against Dalit students. Parents and students protested after Headmaster Suresh Bhushan reportedly failed to act on initial complaints. The accused, Srinubabu, allegedly used derogatory language, leading to public outcry. Kakinada: A shocking and disturbing incident has come to light from Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada district. Parents and students have accused the English teacher at Yandapalli High School of using casteist slurs and derogatory language against students from the Dalit community, reported NDTV. “You belong to a filthy caste… Do you think SCs are some kind of special people?” parents said, quoting the children. The protest took place in front of the high school in U Kottapalli Mandal. The accused teacher has been identified as Srinubabu. Reportedly, he has been consistently humiliating and harassing students from the Dalit community. No Response From Headmaster The affected students and parents had first lodged a complaint with headmaster Bhushan regarding Srinubabu’s behaviour. However, the lack of a proper response from the administration led the affected parties to escalate the matter, culminating in a protest against the alleged institutional indifference and harassment. Courtesy : TFPJ Note: This news is originally published on https:/thefreepressjournal.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Honor killing in a Hindu-Buddhist love story: Father and brothers killed lover, girl marries corpse!
Anchal has now decided to live with Saksham’s family and has promised to spend her life with his mother. She has demanded the hanging of her father and brothers. Nanded – A tragic story of inter-caste love has emerged in Nanded district, Maharashtra, where a young woman, Anchal Mamidwar, symbolically “married” her 20-year-old lover, Saksham Tate, after killing him. This incident exposes the harsh reality of caste discrimination, where a Hindu family opposed her relationship with a young man from the Buddhist community and brutally murdered him. Anchal has demanded the hanging of her father and brothers. According to police investigations, Anchal and Saksham had been in a love relationship for the past three years. They met through Anchal’s brothers, and Anchal frequently visited Saksham’s home. But trouble began when Aanchal’s family learned of their love. Aanchal’s family belongs to the Hindu community, while Saksham belonged to the Dalit-Buddhist community. The family opposed the relationship, apparently due to caste differences, and repeatedly threatened to kill Saksham. On Thursday evening, Saksham was standing with his friends in the Junaganj area when Aanchal’s brother, Himesh Mamidwar, shot him. The bullet grazed Saksham’s ribs. Himesh then struck Saksham on the head with a tile, killing him instantly. Aanchal’s father, Gajanan Mamidwar (45), brother Sahil Mamidwar (25), and three others were also involved in the incident. On Friday evening, preparations for Saksham’s funeral were underway when Aanchal arrived. Deeply grief-stricken, Aanchal performed symbolic marriage rituals with Saksham’s body. She applied turmeric, kumkum (vermilion) to the body, and applied vermillion to her forehead, declaring herself a widow. Anchal said, “Our love has become immortal. This proves that love has no caste.” She claimed that they were about to get married soon, but a family conspiracy took everything away. Anchal has now decided to live with Saksham’s family and promised to spend her life with his mother. Videos of Anchal have gone viral on social media, where she is seen crying and saying, “My father and brothers killed Saksham. I want justice. They should be hanged.” Anchal alleged that the family had been plotting Saksham’s murder for weeks. 6 arrested for murder, SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and Arms Act Police arrested all six accused immediately after the incident, including Anchal’s father Gajanan, brothers Himesh and Sahil, three other adults, and a minor. The minor has been sent to a juvenile correction home. A case has been registered under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and the Arms Act. Police have initiated the process of recovering the weapon and recording Aanchal’s full statement. Additional security forces have been deployed in the area to prevent caste tensions, and further investigations are underway. This incident raises questions about inter-caste marriages and the growing problem of honor killings in India. Aanchal’s courage not only demonstrates the depth of her love but also teaches society to break free from caste prejudices. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
MP: Following the suspicious death of a Dalit youth in Narmadapuram, a protest was held by placing his body on the highway. Family members allege murder!
After an hour of tension, officials assured an investigation, after which the family removed the body from the road. The last rites were performed in Makhannagar at around 6 p.m. Bhopal. A tense situation erupted in Makhannagar, Narmadapuram district, Madhya Pradesh, on Sunday afternoon when family members and community members blocked the Narmadapuram-Pipariya State Highway by placing the body in front of the Makhannagar police station to protest the death of Jitendra Ahirwar, a 28-year-old Scheduled Caste youth. The family members, calling the death a conspiracy, insisted on registering an FIR for murder. The protest, which lasted for over an hour, caused a long traffic jam on the highway. Angry family members and community members began gathering outside the police station around 3 p.m. As soon as the body was brought to the station in an ambulance, the family members placed it on the road and began sitting on it. During this time, slogans were raised against the police administration. People alleged that Jitendra’s death was not due to a bike slip, but due to a physical assault, and that the police were trying to hush up the matter. The family alleged that Rakesh Sinha and Nihal Khan, with whom Jitendra worked, brought him in injured and fabricated the story that the bike had slipped. The family says that the assault caused serious head injuries, leading to his death 15 days later. A large police force was deployed. Seeing the situation worsening, the police increased their force. Sohagpur SDOP Sanju Chauhan, police station in-charge Anup Kumar Uike, and other officers arrived at the scene. The officers tried to pacify the family, stating that legal action would only be possible after the postmortem report. However, the family insisted on filing an FIR immediately. After an hour of tension, the officers assured an investigation, after which the family removed the body from the road. The funeral took place in Makhan Nagar at around 6 p.m. Head injury due to bike slip SDOP Sanju Chauhan stated that the accident occurred on November 14th. Jitendra, Rakesh, and Nihal were returning from Shukkarwada to Makhannagar when the bike skidded, resulting in a severe head injury for Jitendra. He was first referred to Makhannagar, then Narmadapuram, and later Bhopal, where he died on Sunday. He stated that after the postmortem report is received, all aspects will be investigated and legal action will be taken. There was a dispute a day before, hence the suspicion deepens Manish Ahirwar, the deceased’s younger brother, stated that a dispute had occurred at home with Rakesh and Nihal on November 13th, a day before the accident. The same people brought him home injured the next day. Manish said, “Only my brother suffered a head injury when the bike skidded, not a scratch on his body. Rakesh and Nihal also did not suffer any injuries. This clearly indicates that the case is suspicious.” The family members suspected that he was assaulted after the dispute and that the accident was staged. Assurance of Investigation Clearing the blockade in the presence of hundreds of people proved challenging for the police. Finally, officials clarified that if the postmortem examination reveals the nature of the injuries to be suspicious, a case will be filed under sections of murder or assault. Currently, the police are investigating the case as a case of unnatural death (incest). Ankit Pachauri Courtesy: Hindi News
Tamil Nadu: Dalit youth who spoke out against encroachment of Panchami land was fatally attacked; NCSC Director visited the hospital to inquire about his condition.
Fight to save 190 acres of land: Petitioner beaten by miscreants, enraged by High Court order; NCSC orders strict action Madurai: National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Director S. Ravivarman visited the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) in Madurai on Monday. He met the Dalit youth who was allegedly brutally beaten by miscreants. The victim’s only fault was that he had approached the court to remove illegal encroachment on Panchami land in Melur taluk. What is the whole matter? The petitioner, S. Muthuraja, filed a case in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. He told the court that approximately 190 acres of Panchami land in the Keeranur Panchayat of Melur had been illegally occupied by members of an influential community. Muthuraja is an earth mover by profession. Hearing the case, the court delivered a historic verdict on November 7th, ordering the administration to remove the encroachment and restore the land. However, just 10 days after the court’s order, the petitioner had to pay a heavy price. Attack with Sharp Weapons Recalling the incident, Muthuraja, who is hospitalized, said, “I learned a few months ago that members of the dominant community were using 190 acres of protected Panchami land for farming and other activities. When the court ruled against them on November 7th, they became furious and began threatening to kill me.” He further explained that on November 18th, members of the dominant community surrounded him. The attackers first hurled caste-related slurs at him and then attacked him with sharp weapons. Muthuraja suffered serious injuries to his hand, nearly severing it. Fortunately, locals intervened and rescued him and rushed him to the hospital. Compensation and Security Assurance NCSC Director S. Ravivarman, who arrived at the hospital on Monday, inquired about Muthuraja’s condition from doctors and officials. He issued strict instructions to officials to ensure the victim’s safety, compensation, and rehabilitation. Ravivarman said, “The compensation for the victim will be announced within the next few days. If the victim suffers any physical disability (incapacitation) even after surgery or medical treatment, they will also be provided additional compensation.” Police Action Taking the matter seriously, the Melur police have registered a case against nine members of the Unruly community under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Police have arrested four attackers, while searches are ongoing to find other suspects. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Fresh FIR against Rahul, Sonia in National Herald case
NEW DELHI: The economic offences wing of the Delhi police has registered a fresh FIR against senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, along with six other associates and business entities in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy to “fraudulently” acquire Associated Journals Ltd, then a Congress held entity having properties worth Rs 2,000 crore. The acquisition was made through Young Indian in which the Gandhis held 76% shareholding. The Delhi police FIR, dated Oct 3, is based on a complaint filed by the Headquarters Investigative Unit (HIU) of the ED, which has shared detailed findings of its investigation into National Herald money laundering case from 2008-2024. Sharing of information under Sec 66(2) of the PMLA allows ED to ask another enforcement agency to register and probe a scheduled offence, which can then become a predicate offence necessary for the ED to carry out its own investigation under the PMLA. The ongoing money laundering probe by ED is based on a private complaint from former BJP MP Subramanian Swamy and its cognisance by metropolitan magistrate’s court in Patiala House in June 2014. In this case, the central agency filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) under PMLA against Gandhis and other accused on April 9 before a special MPs/MLAs court here at Rouse Avenue. The court has not taken cognisance yet of the matter. Congress has consistently disputed the charges and has accused ED of carrying out a political witchunt at govt’s instance. When TOI contacted the party again on Delhi police registering an FIR, it said they are not aware of it. Besides Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, the FIR registered by the Delhi Police has named three others, including chief of Indian Overseas Congress Sam Pitroda. It also names three entities, AJL, Young Indian and the Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd, allegedly a Kolkata-based shell company that provided Rs 1 crore to Young India from which Gandhis paid Congress Rs 50 lakh to allegedly acquire AJL with assets allegedly worth Rs 2,000 crore. Sources said the police is likely to summon shareholders of AJL for questioning to ascertain whether the Congress consulted them and took their approval before transferring the company to Young Indian, beneficially owned by Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. 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
Was match-fixing already taking place in 11 Bihar seats? Statistics suggest otherwise.
Bihar Politics: RJD and Congress held separate meetings to review the Bihar election defeat. But what will be the gist of these meetings when both the losers and the losers were part of the Grand Alliance? In reality, they were defeated not by the NDA, but by their own stubbornness and arrogance. Patna: Both were blind, the fire was blazing ahead, yet they jumped into it. Now they are reviewing how they got burned? This is exactly what RJD and Congress did in the Bihar Assembly elections. Both insisted on jumping into the fire while they were still awake. They kept fighting for tickets, but the issue wasn’t resolved until the elections. They destroyed themselves in the battle of ‘Hum Mir Hum Hum Mir Hum Mir’. Defeat in 11 seats was certain even before the elections. Reviewing the defeat of those who deliberately lost is a mere time pass. The barn does not fill with lies. Instead of blaming each other in the name of review, we should look within ourselves to see what our mistakes were. Towards a Parting of the Ways A meeting has already been held in Delhi to review the Congress’s humiliating defeat in the Bihar Assembly elections. Now, a meeting of district presidents was held in Patna to gather feedback on the party’s poor performance. Other district organization leaders also attended this meeting. Reports were taken from each district on the reasons for the party’s defeat. After the meeting, Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee President Rajesh Ram said, “Our alliance with the RJD is only an electoral alliance; it has no organizational basis. The Congress party is expanding its organization to strengthen itself. There has been no discussion between the Congress and the RJD after the elections. Whether they will form a joint strategy as an opposition party is also unclear.” What did we gain from this reluctant alliance? There is a Bhojpuri saying: “Beman ke biyah kanpatiye senur” (unwillingly applied vermilion to the temple in the marriage). The alliance between RJD, Congress, and the Left parties was similar. Seat sharing is always clear in any electoral alliance. If a friendly fight ensues, it indicates a lack of trust among the constituent parties. Deception is inherent in the intentions. How did such powerful leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav agree to a friendly fight on 11 seats? If they had strictly adhered to alliance principles, would this have happened? Would any Congress candidate have had the courage to ignore Rahul Gandhi’s request? Is there any RJD leader who would disobey Tejashwi Yadav’s orders? But neither party made a sincere effort to avoid a friendly fight. Congress defeated RJD in Vaishali How could a heart break when a stone collides with glass? Glass collided with a stone, and it was bound to break, and it did. In 11 seats, the Grand Alliance hurled stones at each other’s glass houses. In the Vaishali seat, RJD’s Ajay Kumar and Congress’s Sanjeev Singh fought each other. JDU’s Siddharth Patel won. JDU defeated RJD by a huge margin of around 32,000 votes. Sanjeev Singh came in third. Clearly, if Congress had not contested this seat, RJD could have had the upper hand. Meaning, Congress defeated RJD. CPI defeated Congress in Rajapakad Congress’s Pratima Kumari and CPI’s Mohit Paswan contested the Rajapakad seat. However, JDU’s Mahendra Ram won. Mahendra Ram defeated Congress’s Pratima Kumari by a huge margin of 41,000 votes. CPI’s Mohit Paswan came in third. CPI defeated Congress in this seat. In the Beldaur seat, Congress’s Mithilesh Nishad and IIP’s Tanisha Bharti were contesting against each other. JDU’s Panna Singh Patel emerged victorious. Panna Singh Patel defeated Congress’s Mithilesh Nishad by around 35,000 votes. IIP defeated Congress in this seat. Congress defeats RJD in Kahalgaon In the Kahalgaon seat, Congress’s Praveen Singh Kushwaha and RJD’s Rajneesh Bharti were contesting against each other. Both lost the election, and JDU’s Shubhanand Mukesh emerged victorious. Shubhanand defeated RJD’s Rajneesh Bharti by over 50,000 votes. Congress defeated RJD in this seat, finishing fourth. Clearly, Congress should not have contested this seat. Congress suffered a humiliating defeat in the Sultanganj seat. Congress candidate Lalan Kumar received only 2,754 votes. Despite being weak, Congress insisted on contesting this seat. As a result, RJD’s Chandan Sinha’s position deteriorated. Seeing the two allies fighting each other, the public turned to JDU’s Lalit Narayan Mandal. Lalit Mandal defeated RJD’s Chandan Sinha by over 31,000 votes. VIP defeats RJD in Chainpur Mukesh Sahni’s stubbornness led to RJD’s defeat in the Chainpur seat. Brijkishore Bind of RJD and Balgovind Bind of VIP were fighting amongst themselves on this seat. Balgovind Bind is the state president of VIP. Mukesh Sahni forcibly fielded his own candidate on this seat. But the public gave a befitting reply to Mukesh Sahni. Balgovind Bind of VIP slipped to seventh place. This shows how big a leader Mukesh Sahni is of the Nishad community. Mahendra Gupta of CPI sank the boat of Santosh Mishra of Congress on Karhagar seat. Santosh Mishra was a sitting MLA. Both were defeated badly. BSP came second. Vashisht Singh of JDU won the election here. CPI defeated RJD in Bihar Sharif. Similarly, in the Bihar Sharif seat, CPI’s Shivkumar Yadav defeated Congress’s Umaid Khan. In the Bachhwara seat, CPI’s Awadhesh Rai defeated Congress’s Garib Das. BJP’s Surendra Mehta won this seat. In the Narkatiaganj seat, RJD’s Shashwat Kedar defeated RJD’s Deepak Yadav. BJP won this seat. In the Sikandra seat, Congress’s Vinod Chaudhary defeated RJD’s Uday Narayan Chaudhary. HAM’s Praful Manjhi won this seat. Congress finished fifth in Sikandra. When Congress, RJD, CPI, VIP, and IIP spent their energy trying to defeat each other, why is a meeting being held to find the reason for the defeat? It seems that perhaps a scapegoat may be found to save the honor of some senior leaders; this is the gist of the meeting. Authored by: Ashok Kumar Sharma•Edited by: Rishikesh Narayan Singh About the Author Ashok Kumar Sharma is a senior journalist